What is it? Professor Xavier asked, frowning.
"The results for Kurt's examination," Jean gasped, not realising that she was speaking aloud as well as mentally. "You know that the tests we had to conduct when he arrived, all showed that his body chemistry was unique. I almost thought that he had been poisoned by something here, but his body had adapted to whatever the toxin was – well, the adaption seems to have worn off!"
So he is being poisoned by his own body? the professor asked blankly. Jean nodded, knowing that he would pick up the affirmation from her mind. But why now? the professor continued. What could have changed since his arrival?
Jean shook her head. And the professor felt her confusion and lack of answers as clearly as if she had shouted it.
Behind the door, Rogue and Evan looked at each other in shock. "Kurt's really ill?" Evan whispered.
"Thaht jest ain't raht," Rogue muttered. "He cain't be too sick to get betta. He jest cain't! Whut's gonna happen t' him?"
"I – I dunno," Evan replied. They looked at each other silently, and both realised the same thing at once – Kurt must have been ill for a lot longer then they had been told, if it was so serious now. "What are we gonna do?"
"Way-ell, et seems ta me as if the fihst thang we're gonna do is try t' fahnd aht abaht whut's bin haypennin' t' Kurt," Rogue suggested cautiously. Evan blinked, then nodded.
"How?"
"Uh – mebbes we could aisk," Rogue suggested sarcastically. Evan flushed, but had to admit that she was right.
Rogue stormed into the room. "Jean, whut's up with Kurt?"
Jean looked up in surprise. "What? Oh, did you hear…" she trailed off.
"Yeah, me an' Evan both heard ya talkin' with the Professor," Rogue affirmed briskly, gesturing through the open door to where Evan was lurking, uncertain of what he should do. Jean sighed, and explained as briefly as she could what the test results had been, and what they meant.
"Ya cain't be tellin' me thaht we're jest gonna geve up on Kurt!" Rogue cried, her voice wobbling slightly. Jean shook her head.
"No, we certainly aren't. But – we may not be able to do very much, and his condition is evidently worsening by the day. As it is, we need to constantly make sure that he isn't – isn't –" she broke off, unable to finish the sentence. Either ending – that they needed to keep him hidden, or that they needed to keep watch in case he died – was not what Rogue and Evan needed to hear right now. It's not what I need to hear, either, she admitted to Charles Xavier silently. He projected reassurance as he replied, None of us do, Jean. None of us.