ways_infirmary | (no subject)

For one who almost never sleeps, the feeling of slowly stirring to wakefulness is, rather than being comforting, quite unnerving. Especially when it's accompanied by the groggy sensation of throwing off the last of a batch of sedatives. It's several moments before she's aware enough to feel the pressure of the straps against her limbs.

And then, cue the X5 jerking suddenly into full awareness, heartrate skyrocketing as she reflexively tries to lunge upwards against the straps. Where she had been doesn't quite register - the scent and sound of a medical bay are entirely too familiar.

And there is a Hank at her side almost immediately.

"Max! Max, it's me, Hank McCoy, you are safe, at Milliways. Give me a minute and I will undo your restraints."

he tries to catch her eyes.

Her eyes are blank as her head whips towards the sound, pupils wide enough that they would appear to be pure black. Her upper lip curls back in a snarl, rage and defiance not quite masking her obvious fear.

And then she stops, his appearance filtering through where the words hadn't. It doesn't fit the mental image - he's not someone one would ever see at Manticore.

She doesn't relax so much as stop struggling, still tense, but less likely to lash out, or harm herself.

He undoes the restraints and steps back slightly, out of her way.

"You had a really bad siezure yesterday. Do you remember?"

His voice is quiet and gentle.

"Vaguely." Her voice is raspy, and she swallows before continuing. "Don't usually remember everything, when they get bad."

he nods and offers her a glass of water from the monitor.

"Here, slightly cold water, should help that throat. It was pretty bad. Logan and I brought you in. I gave you some tryptophan and then I used the time it gave me to find a way to give you some more time, so we can stop this, once and for all."

He breathes.

She pushes herself up into a sitting position and takes the glass of water. It's halfway to her lips when she stops, eyeing him over the rim. "...More time?"

He nods. He looks her in the eyes.

"The siezures were bad, Max. Had they gone on... Well, I dont kno eveerything about your condition yet, but there is every chance it might have killed you. With this stop gap I whipped up, We have two weeks. And in that two weeks, I will find a way to fix them. Once and for all."

His eyes are steely and his voice firm as he looks at her. he has taken on diseases and conditions noone thought could be beat and he will defeat this one as well. No matter what.

There should be shock, or fear, or grief. Not just that small, faintly bitter smile. "S'been tried..."

"Hasnt been tried by me. I dont make a habit of letting down my friends, or my patients and especially not someone who is both. You should get soemthing to eat as soon as you feel up to it. Being out cold and then asleep has undoubtedly sapped your energy levels. After that, I will ask you to return here and let me take a little blood and cell samples. So far I have been operating purely on scans which can do the job, but maybe not as fats or as well. "

he looks down then up at her.

"Give me a chance, Max."

"People who made me couldn't fix this, apparently." She smiles wryly. "They tried, when they captured me. I hadn't had a seizure for nearly a year. Until now..."

He nods.

"I dont know much at all about what is going on in yoiur system yet, but it looks like more than one condition were colliding, as if different things were osmhow affecting one another. Have you had any incidents lately? been exposed to soemthign new to your condition?"

He smiles a little then.

"And I have accesss to technology most worlkds dont dream of. I am not God and I cant promise anything, but I will do my damndest."

"Aside from the lycanthropy, whatever the hell it is the Familiars put in me, and possible adverse reactions to healing magic that doesn't exist in my world?" There's a hint of amusement in her tone. She has to laugh. Has to pretend that it doesn't matter that she might well die from this. Breaking down is Not An Option.

"I don't think so. The last time the seizures were this bad, it was due to an...implant. But I'm pretty sure that was removed, and even if it wasn't, it's been utterly dormant for a long time. I don't think it even can be reactivated."