"Oh my stars and garters," Hank breathed. He was watching the monitors closely to make certain Cadie was in no distress, when suddenly he leaned over to get a closer look at one of them.

"What is it, Hank?" Wolverine asked quietly. He hadn't left the girl's side since they'd moved her to a bed in a darkened room. "She okay?"

Gambit looked up from the other side, catching Hank's eye. He'd come down when he was told what was being planned. Nothing was going to keep him from her side.

"I really don't know. These readings are quite unusual. Remy, a question. Has Cadie ever exhibited signs of a multiple personality disorder?"

He shook his head. "Non, Cadie jus Cadie. Not weird, or actin like she not herself. Least, Gambit never see her dat way."

"What's this all about, Hank? Cut to the chase."

Beast sighed. He took a graph from the table and motioned the two men over to a table where he could lay it out. "This is a normal EEG from our friend over there," he said quietly. "No indications whatsoever of any abnormality. This is the one I just scanned." He placed another graph over the first, so they could clearly see the differences. "As you can see, there is a significant amount of activity where before, there was almost none. And yet her other brain functions haven't decreased in activity."

"Bottom line, Hank. What's goin on in the little darlin's head?"

He regarded them steadily, unblinking. "It appears that there is another personality emerging, and she is resisting it. If she is successful, she will simply reabsorb that personality into her normal psyche. After all, it is a part of her mind. However, if she is unsuccessful..." His voice trailed off, unwilling to consider the alternative. He took a deep breath, knowing that what he was going to say would hurt his friends, not willing to keep it from them even so.

When he spoke, his voice was a whisper. "If she is unsuccessful in reintegrating the renegade part of her personality, it could completely destroy her mind."

"Get outta m' head, y' witch!" Cadie raged as she took yet another swing at Cougar. "Dis my life, my body. Y' got no place here!"

Cougar laughed in her face as she closed with her. The two grappled, neither giving an inch. "Don' y' get it, girl? I can' go nowhere. I'm part o' you, an y' can' get rid o' me wit'out destroyin y'self!"

Cadie froze, her hands still entangled in Cougar's, keeping the deadly claws from her skin. "Dat's it," she said softly. "He only made me t'ink y' was some sorta outsider. I know who y' are now, ma petite chat, an y' goin right back where y' belong!"

Cougar screamed as Cadie's hands began to draw her closer to a small portal that had appeared near them. "Non! Please, non! Cougar play nice wit' ever'body, don' lock me away again!" Her voice broke as Cadie thrust her inside, and her screams became louder. "Please! Cougar a part o' you, y' got t' lemme out!" Her sobs were heart-rending.

"Y' ain' real, Cougar." Cadie's voice was soft, soothing, and infinitely sad. "Y' jus' the scared, the hurt part o' me tryin t' take control again. An I ain' bout t' let y' do dat, chat. Not when I got so much t' go back t'."

"Y' got not'in, girl," the captive spat. "Y' t'ink he really care bout someone like you? Y' been a t'ief, one o' de best. Maybe even better den Gambit. Done s' many t'ings he would never accept. T'ink he really love you? 'Specially after he know he not de first man y' been wit'? Oh, dat's such a big laugh!"

Cadie went white. Cougar continued, sure she had an advantage. "Why y' t'ink he want t' break t'ings off de next mornin'? Y' a fool. He don' love you, jus wanted t' see what you'd let him get by wit'. He usin you."

Memories flooded Cadie's mind as Cougar released her control. She smiled wanly and turned to leave Cougar in her prison.

"Y' tricked me! Y' witch, I get loose, y' gon' pay!"

Cadie ignored the ranting and began to walk, paying little attention to how exhausted she felt. She concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other until she reached a doorway that until now had remained hidden. She turned, and her voice was soft, full of sorrow. "I pity y', Cougar. Y' never gon' know how it feels. 'Cause I sure ain' gon' let y' outta here again. Count on dat, mon ami."

Then she turned and passed through the doorway.