A month had passed since Cal left the mansion. Professor Xavier watched his team and students as they mourned the departure of the woman in their own ways. It wasn't final like it had been with Jean, but it was almost as desperate. Such a strong woman, so stubborn, and so bent on doing what she thought would be best for those around her. She was a little bit of everyone combined it seemed. Rogue missed her companionship, one of the few people she could touch for a short time without damaging them.She had managed to keep a solid block up, and it was rare that Charles encountered someone like her. He had only been able to feel her twice. Once had been within days of her leaving, and all he'd sensed was tremendous pain and torment. The second faint brush with her consciousness was within the last week. He'd felt anxiety, fear, and then satisfaction; determination.
Logan had taken to going to the bar quite often. He would sit on his barstool and drink his beer. Normally he would ignore the other people in the bar. He knew he could've asked Chuck to see if he could read anything, but he wouldn't. If the girl had wanted to stay she'd have stayed. He knew how she felt. It was hard after being alone for so long to now be a part of something. It was a strange feeling having others depend on you. Some couldn't handle it. He'd thought for a long time he'd be one of those type of people. Instead it seemed he was getting good at being depended on.
It was a saturday and the students were enjoying a day of sports on the grounds of the school. Logan was out for a ride on Scott's bike, and the rest of the X men were in various parts of the mansion. They all got the call to meet Professor Xavier in the school's entry. Charles was waiting there, and the others, except for Logan, had just arrived when the double doors were pushed open. A filthy and exhausted Cal stood on the other side. Huge jeans blackened with grime and dirt hung off her thin frame, and a man's work shirt, torn in several places, was buttoned haphazardly.
"Well looky here." she said in her cocky southern lilt. "A welcome back party just for me." She ambled into the foyer as best she could. She took a ragged breath. "What no balloons?"
"Didn't think you were the balloon type of girl." Logan's voice came from behind her, and she turned to see him leaning in the doorway. "Looks like your bike's been through hell. In fact, so do you."
She cocked an eyebrow at him. "You always did say the sweetest things Slick." Cal tried not to show the weakness that invaded her body. Her legs barely worked. She almost laughed telling Logan that he wouldn't look so good if he'd been through what she had the bike had been through in the past week. Thoughts were running rampant through her head, and she couldn't control what would come next. She moved forward again leaning heavily on the wall. "Hey Wheels, ya got any water in this place? I sure am parched."
Rogue ran up and hugged the fading girl. She gasped. "She's burning up Professor."
"Yeah, I guess ya could say I'm not feeling so good." She almost laughed, but caught herself. She looked up and into Xavier's concerned eyes. "They got me good. Can ya hear that?" She looked around with wide eyes. "All the whispering." Cal dropped to her knees, and a sob choked out of her. "What'd they do to me?"
Logan came up behind her, picked her up, and cradled her to his chest like she was a child. Heat rolled off the woman, and he could see sweat running down her face now that he was so close. He headed straight to the infirmary with the others following closely behind. Once he got her into the room Ororo helped him get the too large clothing off of her. Underneath she wore a military issue tank and shorts.
Ororo ran her hands lightly down the insides of Cal's arms. She met Logan's eyes with a horrified expression. "Logan, Professor, there are needle marks all along her skin. These should have healed by now."
Taking a closer look they saw that some of the marks would start to heal then they would reopen, with the muscles twitching from the strain.
"What did they do?" Scott asked coming out of his state of shock.
"They experimented on her." Logan muttered.
