Chapter 7 Help From Hank

Scott glanced at his watch once more. Five minutes had passed from the time he had sat down. So far, his emotionless expression hadn't cracked, but the furrowing of his brow was begining to give him away. Kurt hadn't changed much over the last few minutes, worry still in his eyes and evident from his expression. The German didn't seem at all like himself, so different from the usual care-free youth. He had to admit, that this French girl was really changing him. Already he seemed a bit more serious than usual, and he was taking this accident rather hard. His eyes then moved to the rather irritated Canadian as he leaned against the wall, his eyes moving about every few seconds, perhaps paranoid. Scott knew Logan was a bit fearful of hospitals, and he had every right to be. Even Scott was begining to shiver slightly. This place was a bit creepy. He relaxed instantly when his eyes spooted Professor Xavier being gently pushed in by the large and powerful hands of the one and only Dr. Hank McCoy. Xavier's brows were already furrowed, worry evident upon his face." Have you heard anything?" Logan gave a sigh." I think they left a bunch of trainees and interns in there without any briefing. These guys don't seem to have a clue." His usual gruff voice was dripping with sarcasm as he glared towards the closed blinds which made it impossible for them to see into the room. Charles nodded, giving a soft sigh." Well, I suppose I'll go in and relive them." Hank nodded, gently opening the door as Xavier's powerful mind quickly placed thoughts and memories within each of the five minds within the room. " We'll take it from here." He said simply. Slowly, the doctors and nurses looked up towards The two. Each gave a nod and began to leave the room, talking amungst each other, making a dinner plan for later. Slowly Scott stood and put a hand on Kurt's shoulder." Come on Kurt, let's go in and see her."

Now Kurt and Scott were seated inside up against the wall, Logan at the door just in case of any disturbances. Xavier sat at the foot of Aurelie's bed as he attempted to grasp her mind to try and bring her to conciousness as Hank quickly monitered her body and vital signs, trying to work up a diagnosis. Kurt stared at the bed in mere awe. There she laid, the golden haired girl that he had stayed with in the ambulance. How he wished that Her eyes would open. She was rather different now, the usual white hospital grown upon her body, but barely able to cover her body passed the hips. He kept his mind away from that as best as he could. Now was not the time. He couldn't help but be angry, The doctors had been in her for what seemed like hours, and the only thing that had been accomplished was that she was dressed in that white gown, her bracelet on and her vital signs being monitered. Upon a tray set some various drugs and a syringe filled with a soft yellow toned liquid which made him quiver. After two minutes, Xavier's determind look became a confused one." Her mind, has reverted back to another time, like a memory of some sort. It's impossible to bring her to conciousness this way." Hank slowly nodded." Just as I though, Her body temperature is at seventy degrees. Apparently it's been declining for some time now. What's odd is that she shows every sign of a hypothermic patient, except that her limbs all appear healthy. Usually the body would begin to die after going lower than eighty-seven degrees. Her body isn't dying, it's almost as though she's just sleeping, like some form of suspended animation."

Suddenly, Scott recalled a lesson in biology, amazed." Isn't that what snakes do? Like a hibernation? Their body temperature lowers but they just sleep through it?" Hank slowly nodded, slowly smiling in pride that Scott had remembered." Yes.. In snakes it's because of the anti-freeze substance that lies within their venom...glands.." He looked to Aurelie, in sudden realization." Those glands... That's why she had the reaction in the first place. They're very sensitive to temperature, especialy of cold things." Scott nodded as he spoke." Those shakes were freezing, hurt my teeth a bit." He admitted. Hank nodded grimly.' Yes... exactly.. Those fangs touched that substance, the pain from the cold signalled for the body to begin slowing down and eventually she simply fell unconcious."

Logan gave an impatient growl as he looked to Hank, a mixture of anger and fear evident within his eyes." Well, we're glad you figured out the problem, now how do we get her out of this hibernation?" He was irritated as it was, and hospitals always seemed to remind him of laboratories with all the weird machines and needles. Hank frowned." Warmth should snap her out of it. But we'd have to warm the entire body at the same time, just as you would with a hypothermic patient. Perhaps a bath, or simply many blankets." Xavier gave a slight smile and a nod." Will we be able to move her back to the institute?"

Hank thought it over quickly, giving a nod." She'll need to be kept in a warm vehicle though. It'll be best if we take her back." He said as he looked to Logan and Scott. Logan gave a nod and smirked." Good, I don't have that much room on my bike anyway." Kurt slowly looked up, his mind snapping back into the present." Can I ride with her Professor? This is all my fault, I just want to help her." Xavier looked to the boy for a few moments, then once more lightly searched the surface of Aurelie's mind before giving a nod." Yes. It'll be best if she has a very fimilar face to wake up to. I'm afraid some of the things going on within her mind are very frightening, when she wakes, she may even be somewhat dangerous." Kurt gave a gulp of fear, but nodded, accepting this possibility. If she did attack him, he'd fully deserve it.