Chapter Six: Down and then Up

Gradually, the number of extra voices depleted until only few were left; just under 15 if I wasn't mistaken.

I sat on the bench outside, shaded by a tall tree just above me. I could feel the eyes of the staff on me, waiting for me to slip. They were all positioned there, waiting to pounce and bring me back to my room.

So, who's Alex? One voice asked, making me hiss.

"None of your damn business." I snapped quietly. In my anger, I focused on pushing it out until the questions about my dead lover ceased.

Moira was proud, now that I had begun to rid myself of voices without her help. If the action of kicking them out wasn't so exhausting, I'd be on that jet back to New York by now.

Was fighting Vulcan difficult? Another voice asked.

Why the hell was that certain part of my life so interesting all of a sudden? Probably because I wasn't thinking of anything else.

"Was closing your mouth difficult?" I answered, shoving him out as well.

Honestly, I had been working on being nicer. I was just in a bad mood, that's all. Nothing personal.

"Lorna." A nurse came up to me, holding a phone. "It's for you."

That was new. I was actually touched that they trusted me with a phone.

"Thanks." I said softly, taking the bulky device into my hands. "Hello?" I asked as the nurse walked away.

"Lorna?"

"Scott!" I was almost as happy as I sounded and I sat up straight.

"Hey." He said, his voice also pleased. "How are you doin'?"

"I'm okay. This place isn't very action packed by the way. How are you?"

He chuckled. "I'm alright. We came back from Europe a few days ago."

"Lucky. What was the situation?"

"Oh, some group of mutants were terrorizing a small town."

"Cool." I sat there, debating on saying it or not. "Scott?"

"Yeah?" His voice sounded pained, like he missed me too.

"Do you think about Alex all the time?"

The line was silent, like the question caught him off guard. I know it was bold and out of place, but the curiosity was beginning to eat away at me.

"Yeah. Everyday. Why?"

"I feel like he's following me." I did. I didn't believe in that ghost crap (although I should, considering I had about a million of them locked up in my head) but I just felt like a bunch of the things I did here had something to do with Alex.

"Why would you say that?" His voice took on a pitch higher, showing his total confusion.

"Did you pack the gray knapsack? It's here with me." I had to know. If Scott didn't, then no one could have. No one but Alex.

"I did." My heart sank partially as he said so, but I continued.

"It's his bag. How did you know to pack those things? His bracelet and t-shirt, it was in the bag along with a few other things...how did you know?" My fingers trembled and threatened to drop the phone, but I continued. I had to know, I just had to.

"Lucky guess. I saw you wearing them a few times, I figured to give you a few things to make you feel more at home."

"Scott, they were my favorites. Nobody knew but Alex."

"I guess I know you better than you think I do."

I was devastated. Part of me wanted to believe Alex, in some form, packed them and gave it to me. The other part wanted to believe Scott, that he knew me better than I thought he did.

"Lorna?" His voice broke through my haze.

I shook my head. "Sorry. I have to go. I have another session in a few minutes."

"Please don't."

I froze. Something about his voice sounded horribly similar to Alex's.

I covered my mouth with my hand, stopping the sound of my oncoming whimper of surprise and pain.

"What...what did you say?" I asked. I had to hear it, I had to hear Alex again.

"Please don't go." It was Scott. Unmistakably Scott. I slowly accepted that it was my imagination trying to fill the void and grasped my head.

"Sorry. I'll talk to you later." I cut off the rest of his sentence, ending the call.

Stop it, imagination. You're ruining everything.

I placed the phone down on the picnic table, rubbing my temples. The only way to end this "Alex obsession" was to go home, and the only way to do that was to get rid of these voices and act like a good girl.

I leaned into the table and continued shoving personalities out.

"You can't do that, Alex." Scott said, placing the phone on the hook. "You nearly blew your cover right there."

"I know. I'm sorry, it slipped." I said, rubbing my forehead. I had been listening to Scott's conversation with Lorna. As she was hanging up, I begged her not to go; I didn't mean to say it out loud. It just fell out.

"What were you thinking, packing a bag full of your stuff?!" My brother continued his lecture. "This isn't the time to play romantic boyfriend! Did you miss the part where she gets even sicker if she finds out you're alive, much less thinks your ghost is following her around?!"

"What I was thinking? I was thinking about her! I was thinking that she would need something to relax her while she was there!" All I wanted was for her to be comfortable. I was just thinking of her. I wished Scott would get past the criticizing part and say, "it's the thought that counts."

"No, Alex, you weren't thinking!" His voice raised the more concerned he seemed to grow. "If she thinks you're dead, then just play dead!"

I flinched slightly at the words. "Thought you would be glad to have me back." I mumbled, stalking out of the room.

I just want Lorna back. I want things to go back to the way they were before, where she was here and I was here and we weren't afraid of losing each other. Now? I'm killed by my long lost brother, she's destroyed by Sentinels, and we're forced apart by a few million voices, several thousand miles, and my supposed death.

Life couldn't get much better than this.

Several weeks passed without word from Moira or Lorna. Hank said it was normal, but it didn't stop me from growing nervous.

"Alex!" Hank called as I was walking passed the lab. I was on my way up for a shower having finished my personal training simulation.

"Yeah, what's up?" I asked, backing up into the lab.

"Got a call from Moira." He said, smiling. "She's done it."

My heart burst, yet I couldn't be certain. "Who's done what?" I asked, ruffling my sweat dampened hair.

"Lorna. She's gotten rid of the personalities."

I felt like going out into the hall and doing a happy dance, but I kept my cool. "That's great! Is she alright?"

"She's tired, but Moira said she was going to do the mental screening tomorrow. If everything is clear...well, we have to start planning a party." Hank's white teeth showed in a glistening grin and I returned it; just less wide.

"What about...well, what about me?" I asked.

"What about you?"

"She thinks I'm dead. Wouldn't appearing at a welcome back party knock her back into oblivion?" Despite the hilariousness of it all, I was serious. I didn't want our romantics spoiled by her insanity.

"Well...I'm hoping that it would actually be quite a surprise. Like a soldier returning to his family for the first time."

I rubbed my face. "You're telling me...there's a possibility she'll freak out?"

"Yup. A small one, though. If it doesn't work, we'll take care of it quickly. I promise."

I stared at him for a moment. "...okay." I mumbled, turning and headed back for the elevators.

Time to plan.