Disclaimer: I still own nothing.

A/N: Thanks again for all the lovely reviews. You guys make me smile! Oh, and I am so sorry that it's taken me a while to update. My computer had a virus or something because I definitely couldn't be on the Internet for more than two minutes before it either kicked me off, froze, or restarted itself. And our other computer doesn't have Word for some unknown reason so I couldn't update it on it either.

Well, that's my pathetic story as to why I haven't updated in a while; hope you'll forgive me.

Chapter 19

It never went away

Graduation came and went and Kitty was finally free of the crap she had to put up with everyday. She loved the thought of never having to go back to that place. The only friends she really had there were those who lived at the Institute.

Lance had taken Kitty out to dinner after graduation and then they went to a movie. After the movie they headed back to the mansion, looking forward to going to sleep. Kitty was worn out from graduation. It had lasted forever; well, it seemed like forever.

Lance had been staying in Kitty's room every night since the incident at prom. Kitty slept better knowing that he was there, as well. Lance had noticed though, that Kitty seemed to be losing weight again. She was also starting to look pale again. He decided he'd make her go see Mr. McCoy in the morning.

So, once they had both woken up the next morning, Lance brought it up. Unfortunately, it didn't go over the way he had planned.

"Lance, how many times do I have to tell you that I'm fine?" she asked, looking for something to wear that day.

"Kit, I'm not saying that you aren't fine, I'm saying that you need to have Beast check you out." Lance said, watching her stubborn form search through the closet. He knew she really wasn't looking for something, she was just avoiding him. He sighed, "Kitty, it's just a check-up."

"No." she said, grabbing an outfit and heading for the bathroom.

Lance went and changed and came back to her room, waiting for her to get out of the shower. He wasn't going to give up that easily. But, he just couldn't understand why she was so against a simple check-up. Unless…unless she was afraid that it had come back. It had been gone for over a year now and she probably didn't want to have to go through all of the treatment again.

Kitty came in to see a confused looking Lance sitting on her bed. He didn't seem to notice her, so she went and sat down beside him. They sat there in silence for a few minutes, until Lance spoke up.

"It…it's back isn't it?" he asked, fearing the answer.

Kitty looked down at her hands. Yes, she did believe that it had come back, or resurfaced, considering she didn't really think it had gone away to begin with. She looked back at Lance and took his hand in hers.

"I think we should go talk to Mr. McCoy." She said in a small voice.

Lance stood up and pulled her into a hug. He wanted it to just go away and never come back. He still couldn't understand why this was happening to her, to his Kitty.

They then walked downstairs to the med. lab and Kitty sat down on one of the beds. Lance sat down beside her and they waited for Beast to join them. They had run into him in the hall on the way down and he said he'd be there in a few minutes.

Beast came in just then and noticed the solemn looks on their faces. He sighed and walked over to them, not sure whether or not he wanted to hear what they had to say. Lance stood up, but didn't move far.

"So, what seems to be the problem today?" Mr. McCoy asked with a smile, but it quickly disappeared.

"Um, we were like, wondering if I could have a check-up." Kitty said in a small voice.

"Of course." Mr. McCoy said, and then he turned to Lance. "Which means, Mr. Alvers, that you must leave."

"Right." Lance said, and he kissed Kitty's cheek and left the room.

They were in there an awfully long time. Lance was pacing outside the med. lab, praying that Kitty was fine. He didn't want her to have to go through any of it anymore. He would have gladly traded places with her, just so she wouldn't have to go through the pain.

And then the door opened. Kitty was standing there, fresh tears in her eyes. Lance walked over to her and put his arms around her, holding her close. She was shaking…hard. There was something other than the leukemia and he knew it.

"Kit…Kitty, please, what is it?" Lance asked, still holding her.

"I think you should come take a seat, Lance." Mr. McCoy said, standing in the doorway. He then turned and headed back into the med. lab.

Lance walked Kitty in and they sat down in two of the chairs across from Mr. McCoy. Lance had his arm around Kitty protectively and she was still sniffling occasionally. Mr. McCoy cleared his throat.

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but," he paused, staring at the two teens in front of him. They had come so far in the past few years. He had had the pleasure of getting to know them and watch them grow, and he hoped to see where their lives would take them. He sighed, bringing himself out of his reverie and continued with what he was going to say. "Kitty, as you know, has leukemia. Over the past year or so she had been fighting it and it seemed as if she had gotten rid of it for good." He was stalling, and they all knew it. "But, it seems that the cancer had spread and it is now in her brain. There…there isn't much I can do. She must continue on her medication, but the chance of overcoming this is slim. I…I'm sorry."

Lance slammed his fist down on the table.

"No! Damnit, there has to be something else that you can do. Chemotherapy? Radiation? Transplants of some sort? Come on, Mr. McCoy, tell me there's something." Lance shouted; he was starting to shake as well.

"I…I'm sorry Lance, there's nothing. We can't try those things because they could be dangerous on a mutant. We'd only be putting her in more harm." He explained.

"So you're telling me that all we can do is sit by and watch her suffer?" Lance asked, unwilling to believe what he is hearing.

"The medication helps. There's always the chance that the medication Kitty takes can kill the cancer before it-"

"Kill's her?" Lance asked, standing up; the ground shaking slightly. "I'm not going to stand by and watch her die." He said, and then he stormed out of the room, leaving a very upset Kitty behind.

"Come on, I think it may be best if you laid down for a while. Take a nap. I'll make sure someone calms him down." Beast said, turning the light off. "I really am sorry." He whispered as he shut the door.

Kitty woke up two hours later to find Lance lying beside her, fast asleep. She noticed that he still had tears on his cheeks. She kissed him and made to stand up. Lance though, had other plans. His grip only tightened around her. She sighed, and rested her head on his chest.

"I'm sorry I overreacted earlier." He whispered.

Kitty jumped, she hadn't realized he was awake. She smiled, reaching up and playing with his hair.

"Want to go for a walk?" she asked him.

He reluctantly let go of her as they both stood up. But once they were out of the med. lab he put his arm back around her. They made it to the front doors when an extremely worried looking Nightcrawler greeted them.

"Kitty, zhank zhe lord you're alright." Kurt said.

"What's wrong Kurt?" she asked.

"I told him." Lance said, quietly.

Kitty closed her eyes and bit her lower lip. When she opened them she saw that Kurt had also been crying. She felt fresh tears form in her eyes. She broke away from Lance and put her arms around Kurt and cried into his chest for a few minutes. Kurt just held her, not knowing what to say.

Kitty then broke away and took Lance's hand.

"I…I'll talk to you later. Okay?" she said, as Lance opened the door.

Kurt nodded and they left. Kurt bamfed away, leaving no trace that he had been there except for some smoke and the familiar smell of brimstone.

A/N: Lance, Kurt, and Beast are still the only one's who know about Kitty's illness. And I guess the Professor does too (that man knows everything). In fact, he knows more than he should, no one should know that much…maybe I should destroy him. Yes, destroy him… (Evil laughter)