A/N This chapter wasn't supposed to exist.  More than one of you brought up a very good point about how the girls were exposed to antidote X in the past.  I originally had a brief explanation about that mentioned last chapter but I edited out due to length, thinking that it wasn't really necessary.  I was wrong.  But this did provide me an opportunity to have a more detailed explanation about that and give Buttercup and the Professor some one-on-one time.  There's not enough of that in general.  It's also important to note that I know squat about chemistry, so I hope it doesn't seem obvious, and I hope it makes some sense.

Chapter Nine: Clarification

Later that night Buttercup lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep despite how tired she was. Her mind was restless and her muscles and head ached. She wanted to get away. She needed to get away. She needed to fly. She needed to soar through the sky, proud and free. She wanted to fight monsters, fight crime, be a hero. She wanted to cry, she wanted to scream, but if she did so, that would prove her weakness. She had to be strong. If not physically, then she needed to remain strong emotionally. She was tough. She could handle anything that came her way, including antidote X. She did it before.

Buttercup sat up quickly. Huh? Where did that thought come from? Buttercup closed her eyes and remembered. They were exposed to antidote X in their first year of existence. She climbed out of bed, staggered at bit then quietly checked on the Professor. He wasn't in his room so she gathered he was probably still busy at work. She carefully headed downstairs, clutching the banister to keep her from falling over with dizziness. The light was still on in his lab. She knocked on the door quickly and excitedly before entering; her mind filled with hope. She hoped that it was indeed a memory, and not just something her mind made up to fill her with false hope. Maybe the Professor, like her and surely like her sisters forgot about the incident that happened twelve years ago.

"Professor? Weren't we exposed to anti-" Buttercup stopped suddenly as she saw the Professor. He was at his desk, pencil in hand, papers scattered, his whiteboard was filled with equations and stuff she couldn't understand, and he sat at his desk, fast asleep. She went over to him and sat down on the extra chair and nudged him. "Hey, Professor?"

He snorted but did not wake. She nudged him again.

"Yo, Professor?" she raised her voice. "Come on, it's time to get to bed, you've been working hard enough." Finally, he slowly opened his eyes.

"Buttercup? What are you doing here?" he asked, looking at the clock which said 3:17 am.

She smiled a small smile, "I can't sleep, and I had a question to ask you, but I'll ask you tomorrow, right now you should get to bed, OK?"

"What is it?" he asked.

She hesitated.

"Come on, you can ask me. Obviously it's important if you wanted to ask me at this time of night."

"Only because I thought you'd still be awake busy at work, but you're not, you're tired and you've been overworking yourself. Even before this antidote X crap came along," Buttercup replied.

"Buttercup, just ask the question," he insisted.

She was doubting herself. Maybe she had dozed off and only dreamt that they were once exposed to antidote X. But then she decided it didn't hurt to ask, "OK, Professor, when we were little, weren't we exposed to antidote X? Or am I imagining things?"

Ptofessor Utonium closed his eyes, "Yes, yes you were. When you were in your first year, not yet completely developed as little girls, Mojo Jojo sprayed you with antidote X."

Buttercup grinned, with an almost Bubbles-like squeal she exclaimed, giving him a hug, "Great! Problem solved, right? What did you do then, because obviously we recovered…We'll just do what you did then!"

He pushed her away and positioned her to face him, holding her shoulders gently, "Buttercup, there are a few things you need to understand. One, you were still developing. Physically, you were not complete as little girls, you still hadn't developed noticeable fingers, or noses or toes and such- you were still physically catching up with the rest of the kids your age. The chemical X in your system was also still developing and growing which is why some of your super abilities came later.  It took Bubbles a few months to develop her special power, Blossom a little bit longer, and you almost a year to develop your special talent. It took two years to develop super immunity systems and it wasn't until you hit puberty that you became as everyone declared, invincible…"

"I don't understand what that has to do with anything, if we were weaker then, why were we able to overcome antidote X?"

"I'm getting to that," Professor Utonium said, "You see, up until you reached puberty, the chemical X cells were growing, multiplying. But now they've stopped multiplying- they didn't decrease, but they stopped growing. Back then, because of that, they stood a fighting chance of overcoming antidote X… but now…"

"But that makes no sense!" Buttercup exclaimed, "We're stronger now!"

"That's just it, you became stronger to everything else, but as you grew, the more powerful antidote X became. Not from the antidote itself, but because the chemical X in your system stopped multiplying," he explained, "and another factor to consider about that incident is well, really the most important factor: it was how you acquired the antidote X. Then, you acquired it through touch, it was sprayed on you, the effects though drastic, were temporary. All you had to do was wash it off thoroughly and take it easy for a day. This time though, I believe you consumed it which affects things greatly."

"How?" Buttercup asked.

The Professor shook his head, "I don't know. I've tested all the food we have in this house that we've had over the past few days, I've tested the quality of air, I've tested the water, I've checked everything in this house. So unless it's coming from something at school… Quite honestly, I'm baffled."

Buttercup nodded absorbing the information. "This really sucks." That was an understatement. The news had shattered her hopes.  It was all she could to keep herself from screaming and throwing things, but she had to restrain herself. She couldn't let him worry. She couldn't do that.

"I know," he said sympathetically, "And I won't rest until I find a way to stop this. I've been reviewing the research I've done in the past on the subject and I'm determined to find a cure. I won't let anything happen to you, not if I can help it."

"What about our powers?" Buttercup asked. She had enough faith in the Professor to believe that he would indeed find a cure. "When can I go back to crime fighting? Isn't there anything you can do about that?"

"Honey, it's all I'll be able to do to make keep it from… from killing you. It'll be hard, and as of now, it's not possible. If…I mean when I find a cure, I don't think I'll ever be able to restore your powers to their full extent. I can try, but I doubt it," Professor Utonium wiped a tear from his eyes. He used to think it foolish, to see a grown man cry, but when he saw his girls, his angels suffering he found the tears came easily. He discovered it to be a great release of tension and he wanted to break down again right then and there, but he had work to do.

Buttercup shifted her gaze to the floor and then to the tempting beaker of chemical X in the cabinet. It seemed so easy, so obvious. She still couldn't understand what the big deal was about chemical X and antidote X; she didn't understand how it could be dangerous. She didn't understand how Professor Dick, the one adversary they faced when they were very young that still haunted her memories once in a while, turned into such a monster when he took chemical X and yet she and her sisters came into being because of it. It didn't make sense. None of it did. But then again chemistry was one of her worst subjects so what did she know? But still… why not take chemical X? She shook her head. She trusted the Professor's judgment, he knew what he was talking about- she didn't. She may be foolish sometimes, but she wasn't stupid.

"Anything else you wanted to talk about?" Professor Utonium asked.

Buttercup shook her head.

"OK, then perhaps you should get to bed. It's late and you do have school tomorrow," he sighed,

"Do we have to go?"

"I'm afraid so," he replied, "We don't want to let the public know- yet. If you don't go, it'll arouse suspicion. If you girls just take an aspirin and take it easy, you should still be well enough to go."

Buttercup sighed, she wanted to argue that it would arouse suspicion if they did go and were seen looking like pathetic invalids, but she decided it wasn't worth it. It sucked too. She hated school and finally an excuse not to go (without skipping) and she had to go anyway. "Maybe you should get to bed too Professor. You need to rest as well, and it's been scientifically proven you're less productive when sleep deprived," Buttercup said with an ironic smirk.

"Thank you Einstein," Professor Utoium smiled dryly. "But you've got to realize I don't have time to rest."

"You don't have time to make yourself sick either. Come on, you're exhausted. Even before this has happened, you've been working too hard. Get some sleep, and you'll be way more productive."

The Professor thought a moment, "Very well, you've got a point."

"Thank you," Buttercup replied.

"But I think you'd better heed your own advice, especially now that your health is poor," he looked solemn as he thought about it. His tired eyes were watering up again.

Buttercup's lower lip quivered slightly but she put her chin up and shook her head, pushing her emotions back in. "Well then, good night Professor." she rose to her feet but quickly experienced a head rush. Startled, she swayed and lost her balance but the Professor quickly jumped up and caught her and steadied her. Embarrassed she leaned into him for support until the feeling passed.

"You OK?" he asked concerned.

Buttercup smiled, trying to seem nonchalant, "Yeah, I guess I'm just not used to that sensation. It's really weird. Well anyway, g'night."

"Night," he gave her a hug. "I'm just going to clean up a bit."

"OK," with that she headed upstairs closing the door to the lab behind her.

Professor Utonium sank down into his chair, shaken. From his point of view it looked as though Buttercup had nearly passed out on him. That terrified him. And yet, typical Buttercup tried to remain cool about it, and tried not to make him worry. But that was an impossible task. The Professor was a worrier to begin with and his girls were his reason for living sometimes. He couldn't lose them. He had intended to follow Buttercup's wise advice, but after seeing his toughest daughter almost faint, he realized he needed to think of something soon. Even if it was only temporary to buy time. There wasn't enough time to sleep. He needed to get back to work.

As he reviewed his calculations he began to scold himself for dozing off. His mind raced as he filled them with negative what ifs and worst case scenarios, and how it was his own fault for abandoning his research on chemical X and it's antidote a few years back. He scolded himself for taking their powers and super abilities for granted as well, which was why he put his research aside. His overtired, overworked and overprotective mind was driving him crazy. With a frustrated cry he banged his fist on his desk and cried. After a few minutes he regained himself and went back to work. He worked until his eyes could no longer stay open and he once again dozed off.

A/N The action will begin to pick up in the next chapter or two. 

Pilfered Sympathy: Yeah, their superpowers did sometime get in the way of a normal childhood.  I think the episode "Super Friends" was especially poignant in conveying that. 

Cmd1: Thanks for the review!  I'm so glad you like it!  And don't apologize; you don't have to say a lot.  I appreciate any review! (except flames ^_^)

Hairy Gregory: So yeah, I guess this chapter is partially dedicated to you because you pointed out the 'flaw' in the last chapter.  Did it clear things up?  I hope so anyway.  And the show never does show the girls ever taking more chemical X (as far as I know) but it's a safe assumption about the episode. 

PinkPuff514: I have to admit I was happy with the way I portrayed Bubbles and Buttercup's personalities in the last chapter ^_^!!  Keep it up with the reviews!  I appreciate them so much!