A.N: Huh. Reviewers. Well, I guess THATS WHOMPIN' AWSOME! Seriously, though, thanks for all the reviwes, ppl! It keeps me going!
Push Me: Please do not cry on my sofa. Be strong, man! (or woman. Whatever.)
marvlix: Origanal or x-tra crispy, all reviews are great!
STIG: (takes pills dubiously) Cliff does not bite. I think. ...Uh, I hope. (runs screaming)
Numbuh half way hell: Hmm...good guess...
Toxic-Beetle: Poooooor Lance. Cute Lance. ...Poor cute Lance. ;)
whylime: Muchly sensirific, me thinky!
Rogue14: Gambit! (smiles and drools) Mmmm...yummy.
persian85033: Yep, gotta luv em.
Well, your answer as to who it is gets answered here, although the summary pretty much gives it away. By the way, is anyone actually reading these clever disclaimer-quotes? I work quite hard to find just the right one to set the mood of each chapter...and no one noticed! (bursts into tears as Pietro walks by "Shesh. Get a midol!" Beats him mercilessly)
Disclaimer: The healthy man does not torture others- generally it is the tortured who turn into torturers. -Carl Jung
Chapter 14
"Mystique!"
She looked at Peitro, the first to respond. "What's the matter? Did you imagine I had disappeared? Dear boy," She said slowly, holding his chin in her hand roughly. "I always return in the nick of time."
"Get lost, Mystique. I don't want anything to do with you anymore." Lance glared at her.
"Harsh words." She turned to him now. "Yet you live in my house, eat my food…"
"Want me to leave?" He stood, his anger creeping over him again. "No problem."
"And where will you go? Do you imagine Xavier will welcome you with open arms? He won't even let you see your dying girlfriend." She spat out, deliberatly.
"You had better shut up, or you'll get crushed." He said this close to her face, staring down her arrogant look, then turned to leave.
"If you want to save her," Mystique returned now, back to him, "there is a way."
He stopped. The others watched this exchange carefully, wary of both Lance and the blue mistress of evil.
"I have no reason to trust you." He said, over his shaking shoulder.
"You have no other option. Unless, perhaps, you want her dead?" She smiled devilishly.
"How do you know she won't recover?" He spun around to face her now. "Huh? There's always a chance-"
"Chance of what, exactly, Avalanche?" She said, slowly easing her words into hismind like salt in a wound."That the chemo therapy developed for humans using radioactive chemicals will heal her mutated genes? That the best neural doctors in the world would be willing, much less able, to remove the lump from her skull? Don't be a fool." She spat out the words as if they were arrows.
He walked over to her slowly and raised his fist.
"But I can offer you a treatment guaranteed to work."
Slowly, his fist fell.
"Start talking."
"Rogue?" Kitty shook her roommate gently. "Wake up."
"Wha-" Rogue sat up groggily. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong…but…I need to talk to you."
Rogue took a breath and rubbed her eyes. Glacing at the clock, which read 3:47 a.m., she cleared her throat to answer."Yeah?"
"Rogue…I've kinda been in a daze lately. Denial, or whatever, I guess. Then the whole thing with Lance." She waved her hand dismissively. "But the fact is, even if the professor is optimistic about the therapy, there's a good chance it may not help."
"But, Kitty, Hank will-"
"I know, Rogue. I know the plan. Hank is working hard, trying to come up with a chemical that'll help without killing me…but…what if he can't? I can't just keep sitting around helplessly."
Rogue knotted her brow, but finally nodded. "What do ya wanna do?"
Kitty smiled. "Rogue, I need you to help me make a list."
"A list?"
KLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKL
A.N. Okay, I know this is all very "A Walk to Remember", but bear with me here. Feel free to drop me ideas about what things you would put on your list of things to do before you die, if you knew it was going to be soon. Thanks!
