Again, sorry for a late chapter. I'm doing the best I can people. But don't worry, it'll be worth the wait.

Reawakening

Ororo and Hank treated Serena's wounds as best as they could. They cleaned the cuts and bandaged them. Ororo had to change her into a clean cotton T-shirt and pants since her uniform was covered in blood. She was still lying in the medical room unconscious. All of the students had been questioned about what had happened at the pool. Although some versions of the story were slightly different from others, they all ended the same with Serena's cuts spontaneously rupturing her skin. The X-men were gathered in the infirmary discussing what had happened.

"I really think she's a danger." Scott said seriously.

"No she's not," Rogue protested. "She's just going through a lot." Everyone turned to look at her.

"Is there something you want to tell us Rogue?" Jean asked her.

Rogue shifted uncomfortably. "She told me not to tell you."

Scott's voice was urgent. "Rogue, we need to know what is going on so we can help her with whatever it is. Don't you see? This isn't the time for secrets. We need to know now!"

Rogue hesitated. "She's got sort of a spilt personality, only she says she shifts into or it comes out or something. She also told me it's been tryin to take control of her."

"What?" Kitty said stunned.

Scott frowned. "This is serious."

"Wait, you mean…all this time…" Kurt looked over at Serena lying on the bed.

Scott nodded. "We've been blaming the wrong girl."

"Well technically, if you think about it, she can't really blame us." Evan said. "I mean after all we didn't know anything about this split-personality thing."

"But it still doesn't explain why she sustained all those injuries." Jean said closing her eyes in thought.

"I believe I can explain." Hank said stepping into the room. They all looked at him. "I scanned Serena for anything unusual and did a biopsy."

"And?" Scott asked.

He sighed. "The results were quite disturbing."

"How bad is it?" Kurt asked worried.

"I found that there are two separate life forms sharing Serena's body." Hank stated.

"I'm gonna take a guess and say that's pretty bad." Evan remarked.

"Wait, so you're like, saying there are two different people living inside Serena?" Kitty asked in disbelief.

Hank nodded. "That is correct, one of them being Serena herself."

Evan scratched his head in confusion. "But I thought that all she had was a split-personality. Split-personalities can't do that, can they?" He looked at Scott who shrugged.

"One thing is clear, this thing is much more than a counterpart," he explained to them. "It is its own self and is now sharing Serena's body."

"But who ever heard of a split personality evolving into its own person?"

"I am still not quite sure on that matter," admitted Hank.

"So what will happen to her now?" Rogue said glancing over at the girl asleep in the bed.

"It is possible that Serena's body is too unstable to house two beings at once." Hank told them in a heavy voice. "And if that is the case, her body will literally fall apart if one doesn't leave soon."

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Tabitha knocked on Todd's door. There was no answer. "Todd, come on. I know you're in there." Tabitha had not seen Todd since he had come home last night looking utterly miserable. He had shut himself up in his room and had refused to come out, eat, or talk to any of them at all. Pietro didn't seem to want to look at Todd and had rushed out of the room the second Todd had entered it. They had thought that it would be better if they just left him alone, but not Tabitha. She knew better. She wasn't going to let him waste away in his bedroom. "Todd, if you don't open this door," she said forming an energy ball, "I'm going to blast it open." Still no answer. "Okay, have it your way." She formed a little bomb and slipped it into the keyhole. It exploded destroying the lock and she kicked the door open. Todd was lying face down on his bed. Tabitha wondered if he had even notice her forced entry. She sat down on the bad next to him. "What's wrong? I've seen dead people look less miserable than you do."

Todd spoke into his pillow so that the words came out muffled. "I don't wanna talk about it."

"Come on Baby Green," she teased. "You know you can talk to me about anything."

"What," he said slowly lifting his head and turning to look at her, "did you call me?"

"Baby Green."

"I am not a baby!" Todd said hotly. "So don't ever call me that."

"Of course," She said quickly. "Now what's wrong?"

His head drooped down. "Me and Serena, we had a fight."

"Really?"

Todd nodded. "She got angry, said some things to me."

"What kind of things?"

"Horrible things," He said shaking his head. "And worse, I think she meant every word."

"I doubt it." Tabitha said dismissively.

Todd looked at her inquiringly. "What do you mean?"

"Todd sometimes when people are really hurt or angry, they just say things without meaning to." She smiled at him. "But I know she still loves you. I've seen the way she looks at you. There's no way a little fight could ever break the two of you up, which is kind of sickening in a way."

Todd's face seemed to lighten, "You really think so?"

Tabitha nodded. "Definitely. In fact I'll bet you anything she's waiting for you right now to tell you she's sorry."

"Then I gotta go." He said leaping up. "Can't keep her waiting."

"Go get em, Tiger."

"Thanks Tabitha!" He said and rushed out of the room.

She smiled after him. "Don't mention it."

A few minutes later Todd had arrived at the X-Mansion. He quietly snuck across to the house, making sure not to trip any security defenses. Once he made it to the mansion unscathed, he climbed the wall searching for Serena's bedroom. There were so many he could not quite remember which one was hers. He clung there to the wall of the mansion wondering which window to try. "Now which window should I pick?" He thought out loud to himself.

"Try the one on the left."

"Oh thanks-- Omigod!" He screamed as he looked down and saw Logan standing there glaring up at him.

"What are you doing there?" Logan asked.

"Ah, just hanging around." Todd said weakly.

Logan gave him a sour look. "You're not a comedian."

"Eh," Todd shrugged. "So I suppose your probably gonna throw me off the property right?"

"Nah, too much trouble." Logan grunted. "Besides you'd probably just come back."

Todd let out a thankful sigh. "That's a relief."

"If you're looking for Serena, she's in the infirmary."

"What?" Todd said nearly loosing his grip the wall. "What happened? Is she okay?"

"She's fine, for now," Logan said darkly. "You better go see her, but be careful no one sees you."

"Why are you doing this?" Todd asked him. It wasn't like Logan to be so helpful.

"Because I know she'll want to see you, that's why. Now hurry up before I change my mind, kid."

"Thanks Wolverine," Todd said before crawling in through the window.

Todd didn't hear Logan mutter under his breath, "Sure kid."

Todd managed to navigate his way through the mansion undetected by crawling on the ceiling. Not one person noticed him. He was able to listen to some of their conversations, most of them being about Serena. According to what little he overheard, she was in bad shape. When he had finally found the infirmary he leapt from the ceiling onto the floor and pushed the door open. There was Serena lying on the bed asleep. Todd was shocked to see she was covered in bandages. What had happened? He approached her bed, her face looked so peaceful. As he got closer he could here the soft, steady sound of her breathing, a good sign. He knelt next to the side of her bed and gazed at her, hoping she would open her eyes and upon knowing he was there, welcome him with an affectionate smile.

"What happened Serena?" He whispered softly to her. "What could've done this to you?" Silence was his only answer.

He gently slipped his hand into hers; it was warm. Without warning he had the sensation of leaving the floor and was falling through darkness. After a few moments he landed softly on what seemed to be a floating platform. He looked around but could see nothing. 'Where am I?' He thought. Walking to the edges of the platform he searched for a way off but found none. "How do I get off this thing?" He said, his frustrated voice fading away into the darkness. As if in answer to his question a stone pathway appeared before him. He cautiously followed its winding path and after a while saw something up ahead. It looked like… "Serena!" He cried out. Serena was kneeling on the ground illuminated by an unknown source of light, her head hanging off her shoulders so her hair hid her face. Todd started hopping frantically towards her calling out to her. She slowly raised her head to look at him. She looked weak and in pain. Todd saw her lips move but couldn't hear what she was saying.

"I'm coming Serena!" He shouted. Suddenly a dark shape appeared in front of him and he skidded to a halt. The shadow had glowing green orbs for eyes that burned into his.

"Get out," it hissed.

"Out of the way!" Todd shouted. The creature's eyes glowed brighter and suddenly Todd felt himself being hurled through the emptiness. The next thing he knew he was back in the infirmary, still kneeling next to Serena's bed clutching her hand. His heart was beating rather quickly. 'What happened?' he thought to himself. 'Was all of that real?'

"You!" Todd straightened up and whipped around to see Kurt standing in the doorway looking at him with the utmost hatred and fury. Behind him was Rogue. "GET AWAY FROM HER!" He lunged at Todd. Without time to react Todd was knocked to the ground.

"Kurt, stop!" Rogue shouted. He didn't hear her, he was too busy wrestling with Todd who was trying to get away from him before the entire mansion found out he was there. Rogue tried to pull them apart but they teleported away before she even got the chance. Rogue stared at the spot where the two had disappeared. She had to inform everyone else what had happen. She quickly left the room sparing a backward glance at Serena who was still asleep in her bed.

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Serena sat in the darkness as a shadow loomed over her. "You'll never get away with this," she said softly.

Flood gave out a laugh. "Get away with what? Once you're gone this body will be all mine."

"I won't let that happen." Serena said through gritted teeth.

"Face it Serena," Flood spoke while she slowly circled Serena, "you're weak and getting weaker and all you're so-called friends have abandoned you."

"But Todd…"

Flood swiftly cut her off. "He's left you, just like everyone else."

"No…that's not true." Serena refused to believe it.

"You're all alone now Serena," she shoved Serena in the back with her foot so that she fell onto her hands and knees, "and there's no one to help you."

"I'm….alone." Serena hung her head, defeated.

"Just give up now," Flood said in a softer voice. "Make it easier on yourself. I know it hurts terribly. Just surrender your body to me and the pain will stop. It will all go away. Just let go."

"You want my body? Fine, take it!" She sank the rest of the way to the floor. "I just want to disappear…"

Flood's glowing green eyes snapped open. She was in the medical ward. She sat up in bed laughing triumphantly. "Oh don't worry Serena," she said smiling wickedly. "You will."