Disclaimer; I do not own the X-men.

Chapter 11;

In Sickness And In Health

"So, any theories, Chuck?" Logan asked, still grinning.

"Many. But I think Cat might have the most accurate one." The Professor replied.

Everyone turned to Cat, who was testing the reflexes of her new tail by waving it from side to side. Kurt sat on the floor behind her, following its movements with his eyes. Kurt looked up as he realised everyone was staring. He grinned.

"Why did no-one tell me tails were so hypnotic? No wonder I drive all the fraülins mad!"

Cat flicked his nose with the tip of her tail.

"Well those fraülins had better learn to live without you coz if I catch you with one of 'em I'll gut ya!" She said grinning.

She turned to the crowd.

"Well, I can't be certain, but I think my full mutant physical features and potentials were subdued by the drugs Shale gave me." She said thoughtfully.

The Professor rested his chin on his fist.

"Interesting. How did you come to this conclusion?"

Cat gave a lop-sided grin. "Well, if they stopped my puberty, I guess that means they can stop mutation."

Logan chocked on his beer. "Your waaa?"

Cat pulled her legs under her.

"I was only thirteen when they took me Logan. I wasn't fully developed as a woman, let alone as a mutant. The drugs somehow made it so that at eighteen I didn't look any different than when I was thirteen."

"But wouldn't the drugs have worn off before now?" Ororo asked.

Cat shook her head. "Nope. I only developed my breasts about two years ago."

"But you're fully developed now, right?" Logan asked.

Cat bowed her head. "I think my puberty was completely thrown out of whack with the drugs. I'm still not finished, and I'm not sure I ever will be."

"Well, what's missing?"

Cat smiled sadly. "Let's just say I don't think I'll ever have kids."

Ororo raised a hand to her mouth. "Oh Cat, no."

Cat shrugged. "I came to terms with it a while ago 'Ro."

Logan's fists were clenched. "That…woman…has a lot to answer for!"

Scott leaned forward. "So these drugs are still affecting you?" He asked.

"Well yeah. There were a lot of drugs."

"Is there nothing we can do to get rid of them?" Kurt asked placing his hands on Cat's shoulders. She had told him about her lack of essential child-making attributes before, but it still saddened him.

The Professor closed his eyes.

"An old friend may have a way of flushing them out, yes."

Scott grinned. "Time to call in the Beast, eh Professor?"

The Professor smiled.

"Yes indeed."

"I can't do it! I won't do it! I already tried once, I won't try again!"

"No, you will try again. Do you have the item?"

"Yes, but-"

"No 'buts'. Do it!"

"No!"

"Do you want to come back?"

"No, please…"

"Then do it!"

"…Alright."

Kurt's eyes snapped open. He sat up and ran his hands through his hair. He'd had a bad feeling all evening, and it hadn't passed with the hours of sleep.

"It's probably indigestion." Cat had said when he had told her earlier. "Just go to sleep and you'll feel better when you wake up. And don't forget that my loo's not working, will ya luv?" She'd given him a kiss and suggested they go straight to sleep tonight.

"That's probably a good idea." He had said smiling. Cat had fallen asleep almost immediately.

Kurt now glanced at the clock. 3:35am

And now he needed the loo. He sighed and teleported into his own room on the next floor. As he stood up after washing his hands he suddenly felt like he couldn't breathe.

Something's wrong! He thought instinctively.

He teleported back into Cat's room to find a small black box emitting a kind of gas. It stank of rotten eggs. He ran forward and grabbed it as it seemed to have no effect on him or Amethyst who was mewing at him from the bed.

The box closed the second he touched it. Just to be safe he quickly teleported it into one of the few detention cells they had in the lower levels. Then quickly teleported back to Cat's room to find her still lying on the bed as though nothing had happened.

He sighed in relief and climbed into the bed. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, closing his eyes.

But after a few seconds his eyes snapped open once more. Cat's chest wasn't rising.

She's not breathing! He thought suddenly and rolled her over. There was no breath coming from her mouth or nose. He felt desperately for a pulse and found one, but it was faint.

"Oh, God! Don't do this to me. C'mon Cat, honey. Wake up! Logan, Professor, Scott!" He yelled as loud as he could.

Logan burst through the door.

"Kurt? What's wrong?"

"It's Cat! She's not breathing! He pulse is really weak, Logan! I think she's-"

"Don't even begin to say it, Elf!" Logan grabbed Cat off the bed, Ami grabbing at her with her claws for taking her mistress away.

"Let's get her down to triage and call the Professor."

Kurt nodded and grabbed hold of Ami. Then he held Logan's shoulder and teleported down to triage as quick as his abilities let him.