Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men: Evolution. I do own the name Rogue and Gambit give their child – I'm not giving that away yet (even though most of you probably already know it).

Chapter Thirty – Pain & Relief

October 27th 1998

Meanwhile …

"This would be a hell of a lot easier if we knew where anything was." Wanda muttered as she lowered the stretcher on to one of the beds.

Lexa looked around, taking everything in. "I think we can manage."

Belladonna nodded in agreement. "It's not that hard if you know what you're looking for." She pulled a face, observing Kitty, who was still lying on her stomach. "How are we going to do anything about that?"

"Okay …" Lexa let out a breath. "You're right; there's not much we can do. So why don't you set …" She trailed off. "I didn't catch your name."

"Warren." He filled in.

"Why don't you set Warren's arm for him and we'll see what we can do here?" Lexa suggested.

"Good idea." Belladonna hurried over to one of the cupboards, rooting through it.

"Right, first thing we need to do," Lexa started, "is get you onto your back, because you'll make yourself sick if you stay like that."

"Do we have to?" Kitty whispered, her voice beginning to break.

Lexa took a few steps back. "I'd rather not go deaf." She explained when Wanda gave her a questioning look. "Enhanced hearing. It'll be quicker and smoother if you do it telekinetically."

Lance came running in. "Everything okay?"

"Hold on." Wanda told him. "Ready, Kitty?"

"No." Kitty took a deep breath. "But go ahead."

A pale blue light surrounded her and Wanda lifted her into the air. "Someone move that stretcher while we're at it."

Lance moved forwards and pulled the stained contraption out from underneath his girlfriend.

Then Wanda flipped her onto her back in one smooth movement, flinching when Kitty screamed in pain once again, this time breaking into tears, for the first time she could remember. She saw Lance move forwards automatically and shook her head, gently lowering her back down. "Any movement's going to cause her extra pain at the moment."

Sighing deeply, Lance knelt at Kitty's side, taking her hand and smoothing her hair back.

"We need a CAT scan machine really." Lexa commented.

Wanda pointed to the other end of the infirmary. "Is that one?"

"I think it might be." Lexa jogged down to take a closer look.

"Lance, this really, really hurts." Kitty whispered, her tears drying.

"I know." Lance murmured, squeezing her hand. "I know it does. It'll be okay, Kitten."

Lexa returned, eying the tiled floor. "Kitty, we need to x-ray you, alright?"

"I'll hold your legs still while we move you." Wanda assured her, removing the brakes on the wheels.

Carefully, the two women pushed the bed down towards the machine, every scratch in the floor feeling like a ravine that needed to be crossed, but finally, finally, they made it.

"You alright, man?" Lance asked, directing his question at Angel, but not moving his gaze from his girlfriend.

"Eh, nothing that can't be fixed." Warren glared at the sling Belladonna was holding. "Is that really necessary?"

"Unless someone round here has the power to heal your arm, then yes." Belladonna told him firmly. "Otherwise, the bone will slip out of place."

"At least you're right-handed." Another voice stated.

"Cyclops." Warren nodded to him, allowing Belladonna to tie the sling on. "Alright, I'll wear it, but I'm not happy."

"Where's Kitty?" Scott asked.

Lance didn't look at him. "They're x-raying her now. Jean back yet?"

"Why do you …?" Scott trailed off.

"She's my sister, remember?" Lance smirked weakly. "I'm allowed to worry about her."

Scott didn't grace this with a response, turning instead to Belladonna who was observing his left ankle. "And you are?"

Belladonna moved her gaze to his face and smiled. "Belladonna Boudreaux. You know why Remy left?"

"Just that he had family problems to take care of." Scott answered warily.

"We've been best friends since we were little." Belladonna explained. "He's the brother I never had and I was … well, it's a long story, best told when we're not here. That ankle looks sprained."

"Not broken?" Scott questioned.

Belladonna gestured to the cot Warren had just vacated. "Sit."

To everyone's surprise, Scott did as he was told, letting Belladonna prod the area around his ankle carefully.

"No, it's definitely just a sprain." Belladonna stood up and pulled an ice-pack and bandage out of the cupboard. "I'll wrap it up and you can go wait for your girlfriend. Assuming the woman you're talking about is your girlfriend."

"Yeah. She's …" Scott broke off with a slight hiss as the ice-pack pressed against his swollen ankle. "She's seven months pregnant."

"I'm sure she'll be fine." Belladonna assured him. "You alright, sugar?"

Roberto started. "Yeah, thanks. Just gave Scott a hand down here."

A soft beeping came from the other end and Lexa stood up. "Done."

Scott narrowed his eyes. "Aren't you …?"

"X-23." Lexa confirmed. "Lexa. Deal with it."

Wanda shrugged. "You heard the woman. Brace yourself."

"What?" Scott asked in bewilderment.

"Not you." Wanda rolled her eyes. "Kitty." She and Lexa undid the straps and carefully rolled the bed back to where it had started.

Scott cursed under his breath. "Kitty …"

"I'm fine." Kitty bit out.

"She's not fine." Lance disagreed in an undertone. "She's stubborn."

Scott nodded. "Yeah, I know how that goes."

There was an awkward silence.

Lance cleared his throat. "Did we just have a moment?"

Scott didn't respond for a few seconds. "We never speak of this again." He stood up, testing his weight on his foot.

"Got it." Lance agreed quickly, moving to Kitty's side. "So what's the verdict, Lexa?"

Lexa shook her head, gazing at the x-rays. "It doesn't look good. I can't see how there can possibly be any recovery."

"What are you saying?" Kitty whispered. "That I'll never walk again?" She grabbed Lance's hand again, squeezing it tightly, willing him to tell her that she was mishearing things.

"I don't know." Lexa admitted. "Theoretically, eventually, maybe. But don't get your hopes up. I can't even work out how these breaks can mend; the bones have been shattered. It's like …"

"Like she stuck her legs inside a giant blender." Wanda finished, nodding in vague acknowledgement as Roberto murmured that he and Scott were going back to the hangar.

Lexa nodded. "Strange analogy, but yeah. Best thing we can do is set them and hope for the best."

"Is this gonna involve my legs moving?" Kitty asked.

"Definitely." Lexa admitted.

"Put me under." Kitty told her, her voice shaking. "I can't deal with that again." Her face cleared and she smiled. "Hi, guys."

Everyone turned to see Todd and Fred approaching them.

"You okay, Kitty?" Todd asked shakily.

"Been better." Kitty admitted, shooting Scott a warning look. "We're one short, aren't we?"

"Pietro's waiting for Tabby to get back." Fred explained quietly.

"Er, Wanda, could you help me over here?" Lexa asked, finding the drug she was looking for.

"I know what you're thinking." Wanda took the bottle from her so she could set up. "You're wondering how she's so calm all of a sudden."

"Yeah." Lexa nodded.

"Fred and Todd aren't the most secure of people … emotionally." Wanda explained in an undertone. "Kitty's not one of us, but she's still our sister. If they thought she was seriously hurt … it'd break her. She and Lance and Pietro, they're the strong ones."

Before Lexa could respond, the doors burst open again and two people stumbled in.

"Holy crap!" Kitty cried. "Rogue, are you alright?"

"Anna." Her room-mate reminded her though gritted teeth. "The baby's coming."

"Here, sugar." Belladonna hurried over to them, helping Remy get her into a bed. "You need to lie down."

"Am I okay?" Anna repeated once the contraction had passed. "Kitty, you look like hell!"

"Thanks." Kitty responded dryly.

The doors opened yet again and Pietro stopped at Kitty's bedside, letting Tabby down as he did.

"Damn …" Tabby whispered. "You'll be alright."

"Hold on!" Lexa called over the noise of Remy introducing the two women and Pietro accosting Lance for medical details. "There are a few too many people in here; there's about to be one more. Can we clear some space please?"

"Right." Tabby agreed, squeezing Kitty's shoulder. "Come on, Froggy, Freddy; let's go and get some hot cocoa. Good luck, ladies."

"Thanks." Anna winced. "Ow, ow, ow … that's another one!"

Remy grabbed her hand. "It'll be okay. Deep breaths."

"That's easy for you to say!" Anna snapped back.

"Lance, go and get Jean please." Wanda requested. "Pietro … just go." To her surprise, she got no argument from either of them and she turned her attention to Kitty. "Okay, you ready?"

"As I'll ever be." Kitty closed her eyes as Wanda slipped the mask over her face and took a deep breath, only vaguely feeling Lexa slip the needle into her arm.

When Lance found his sister, he had to hold back a grimace, as well as the urge to punch her boyfriend as hard as he could. "Not that I want to interrupt or anything, but Wanda wants you in the infirmary."

Jean pulled away from Scott and turned to hug her brother tightly. "Thank God! Are you alright?"

"Fine." Lance assured her, tightening his grip for a second, then releasing her. "Are you? And the baby?"

"Both fine." Jean told him with a bright smile. "Scott and I are getting married."

"Congratulations." Lance kissed her forehead, glaring at Scott over her shoulder, the unspoken threat perfectly clear.

A sudden scream pierced the air and the twins exchanged a panicked look, before hurrying back towards the infirmary.

By the time they got there, they realised they weren't alone; it seemed like everyone had beaten them to it and were loitering with intent, as though trying to decide whether to enter or not.

"Where did those reporters go?" Lance asked Jubilee, who was standing in Bobby's arms near the back.

"Quicksilver dropped them off in town about five minutes ago." She answered staring at the door.

"Oh, this is ridiculous." Jean whistled sharply. "Hey! Lady with a baby coming through!"

Lance watched the crowd part like the Red Sea. "You're enjoying being pregnant."

"I am now." Jean confirmed cheerfully, dragging him into the infirmary, where two of the beds were surrounded by curtains.

"Well, that one's Kitty." Lance whispered, pointing to the one on the left. "And that one's Rogue … sorry, Anna. That's gonna take some getting used to."

"Yeah, it is." Jean agreed. "Who do you think …?"

Before she could finish, Remy slipped out from behind the curtains, his face pale, but wearing a grin. "It's a girl!"

"Congrats, man!" Lance caught his arm as he stumbled slightly. "How are they?"

"Both fine." Remy shook his head slowly as though he had water in his ears. "It's a girl."

Jean hugged him tightly, kissing his cheek. "Congratulations." She glanced up as Belladonna slipped through the curtains as well. "You must be Belladonna; I'm Jean."

"Hi." Belladonna shook her hand. "We've got a scanner here; you want me to check on yours?"

"I can feel him moving." Jean assured her. "But that'd be great, thanks. Is she up for company?"

"Go ahead." Anna called.

Jean stuck her head through the curtain, finding Anna sitting up, a swaddle of blankets in her arms. "How you feeling?"

"Tired." Anna admitted. "Exhausted. Unbelievably happy."

"I bet." Jean gave her a careful hug. "What's her name?"

Anna pulled the blankets back to reveal a sleeping newborn. "Lorelai Katherine. We wanted a traditional Southern name."

"Well, you got that." Jean paused. "Katherine after …" She trailed off and nodded towards the other closed-off bed.

"Yeah." Anna admitted. "You wanna hold her?"

"Can I?" Jean held her arms out and cradled Lorelai gently. "Hi! Oh, she's beautiful! And I'm so glad you went though this before me."

Anna laughed quietly. "I'll take that in the spirit it was intended."

Wanda's head appeared through the curtains. "Can I open these?" Receiving a nod, she pulled them back. "Boy or girl?"

"Girl. Lorelai." Anna smiled.

"Congratulations." Wanda moved behind Jean to gaze down at the baby. "She's gonna look just like you."

"God, Lance, we were this small once." Jean whispered. "Can you believe it?"

Lance joined her. "No, Jeannie, I was this small; you were even tinier."

"Is that even possible?" Anna wondered.

"Yeah, especially with twins; one's usually bigger than the other." Jean answered absently.

"Kitty's awake." Wanda told them quietly. "She's asking for you." She added, glancing at Anna.

Anna nodded. "Got it." She got out of bed carefully and took her daughter back, before moving through the gap in the drapes surrounding the other bed.

Wanda and Lexa had clearly moved Kitty before she woke up, because she was sat up, both her legs in plaster. She looked considerably more cheerful now. "Hey!"

"Hey yourself." Anna sat down. "You alright?"

Kitty waved her concern away with an airy hand. "Forget about me; you had the baby!"

"Yes, I did." Anna gently placed her baby in her arms. "This is Lorelai Katherine LeBeau."

"That's a … Katherine?" Kitty repeated, sounding startled.

"Well, some people name their children after their parents." Anna smiled wryly. "Not gonna happen. So we decided to name her after my sister. And we'd like you to be her godmother."

Kitty looked up from the baby in her arms. "Really? Anna, I'd be honoured."

"Now how do you feel?" Anna asked quietly.

"Well, it doesn't hurt anymore." Kitty smiled weakly, running a finger down Lorelai's face as her eyes blinked open. "But only if I keep my legs still. And I still don't know if I'll ever walk again."

"Kitty …" Anna pulled out a tissue and wiped away the tear that had begun to make its way down her cheek. "We'll figure something out. Come on, it's us."

"Thanks." Kitty whispered. "I think it's the anaesthetic."

Lance pushed the curtain back. "You okay, Kitten?"

"I'm drugged up." Kitty giggled quietly. "My emotions are all over the place." She glanced over at the door, where several faces were pressed against the windows. "I think it might be time for Lorelai to meet the others."

"Good point." Anna stood up, stretching slightly. "Remy, could you …?"

Remy lifted his daughter into his arms, kissing her forehead. "Got her. Now go and sit down."

Anna sighed. "Remy …"

"He's right." Belladonna interrupted. "You just gave birth; you need to rest. Back into bed."

"Yes, ma'am." Anna muttered, doing as she was told.

Jean pulled the doors open. "You can come in. Quietly."

The girls immediately flocked to Anna's side, cooing over the baby, while the guys hung back, quietly enquiring as to the welfare of the child and her mother.

It was amazing, Kitty reflected, how something so vulnerable and innocent could emerge from the hell they had just been through, almost, she thought to herself, like a phoenix from the ashes.

AN: Yes, I just made a phoenix pun and I apologise. Review please!