"All right, darlin," Wolverine said as he sat down on a rock. They were far enough from the mansion to not feel in its shadow, but they were still on the grounds. "Tell me what happened to ya. An I wanna hear _all_ of it. Not just the parts you think I should hear."

She snapped her head around to look at him. *So much fo' _dat_ idea,* she thought acidly. *Cadie, girl, when y' gon' learn de man's too damn smart t' fall fo' y' tricks? 'Specially dat one.*

He was concentrating on the smoke from his cigar, obviously waiting for her to start talking. She kept silent. He swiveled to look at her, his eyes shadowed. "Won't talk about it? Maybe _I_ can tell _you_." He turned his head away again, but not before she'd seen something flash in his eyes. It took her a moment to realize he was speaking again. His voice was very low and she crept closer.

"You think you can control it; you think you can make the animal side of you do what you want, make it work for you. It makes you feel strong, almost invincible, because it knows no fear. Then slowly, you start to realize that maybe, just maybe, you aren't as much in control as you thought. It starts coming through, more an more, in places you wouldn't think about using it. Your temper starts to boil and there it is. Then you find yourself finding excuses to lose your temper, to let that side of you out more often. It gets harder and harder to take back control when you've let it loose. But you know if you don't, then you won't be able to the next time you let it out."

She stared at him, shocked. He continued without a pause. "Then, maybe, you find yourself in a situation where you _need_ that wild side of you, need the rage, need the power to keep going. But when you reach for it, you find it's gotten so strong, you wonder if you'll be able to put it back in its cage when the time comes. And you discover that maybe, just maybe, you don't really want to." He turned to face her and she shivered at the pain in his eyes.

"You been dere." It wasn't a question.

"Darlin, I've been there for so long now, I don't really remember any other way. Takes all my concentration to keep from losing control like I did today."

She laid her hand gently on his arm and turned his face back when he would have looked away. "Y' t'ink dis changes t'ings, don't you?" she asked quietly, her eyes locked with his. "Y' t'ink dat now Cadie seen what inside you, she run away again, non?"

He didn't answer, merely raised a fingertip and traced her cheek. She moved closer to him, taking in his scent, giving him time to answer, allowing him his silence. When it finally became obvious he wasn't going to speak, she gently touched his lips with her own, then drew back slightly and looked down at the ground, her eyes filled with tears. "Y' so wrong 'bout how Cadie feel, mon amour," she whispered. "T'ought b'fore dat we was too alike. Said as much. But dis..." Her voice trailed off as she struggled with her tears. He watched her, wanting to take her in his arms, knowing he never could again. He simply waited, his eyes on her face, until she was able to continue. But her words weren't what he was expecting. "We _need_ each oder, mon amour," she whispered. "Cadie know dat's hard t' believe, from somebody tried t' kill y' not too long ago. But we be truly kindred souls, non? And no matter what happen, Cadie still love you. Always will." She fell silent again.

He reached over and pulled her to him, cradling her head against his chest as she continued to cry silently. "It's okay, darlin," he whispered. "I'll take care of you. Have to." She looked up at him and he smiled. "I love ya darlin."

Her tears slowed, then finally stopped as he held her close. They sat together for a few more moments, then he gently pushed her back and looked into her eyes again. "Think it might be a good idea if we swing by the infirmary on the way back in, Cadie," he said softly. "I did some serious damage to you in there."

"Nothing too serious, I t'ink," she said slowly. "Don' even hurt now."

He stared at her, then slowly reached over to inspect what had been a deep gouge in her side. She gasped as his finger traced the line of the now almost completely healed wound. *How can dis be?* She looked up at him again, badly frightened. "What he do t' Cadie? He change evert'in, ever' part o' her, didn't he?" she whispered shakily.

"I don't know, darlin, but I think we need to let Hank have a look at you. Hey," he said as she ducked her head. He'd seen the fear in her eyes. "You know Hank won't hurt you. And I'll stay with you. You'll be safe, darlin. Promise."

She nodded slowly, fighting her fear. *It jus Hank, stupid. So it's a lab. Ain' like it Sinister gon' be workin in dere. Get a grip.* She rose, holding her hand out for him to take. He didn't hesitate, and they walked back toward the house.