[Test Scene - Hank - Kitty's Required Medical Exam upon Returning to the X-Men]

[just_a_phase]

She doesn't want to do this.

Mostly because she knows Hank will find evidence of--don't think about that.

But she'd rather do it on her own terms than have Hank drag her in because she's put it off too long.

She refuses to let herself take a deep breath.

"Hank?"

Comments

[lexiphanic]

Hank nods again, not pressing for further information. He's not completely incapable of helping to manage the minefield that is the human (or mutant) mind and spirit, but this is most certainly a case left in more delicate hands than his. If Kitty prefers to stay to the narrow path of what will get her field clearance, his job is to be with her through that much.

That doesn't mean the comment concerning her father goes unnoticed. It's simply unremarked upon. Her further description is met with an equally neutral expression, but inside Hank is baffled and incensed. Increase the speed of pregnancy? Human (or mutant) gestation is fixed for a reason and increased the number of embryos might result in a faster birth but the infants would still lack the necessary prenatal development. Disgusting in addition to being misguided, never mind the complications that could arise from a mutant with Kitty's particular abilities getting pregnant. The entire thing is horrifying.

"They are not. The minimum would be three weeks but even that is incredibly fast. Your body needs time to recover, people are not--" Hank cuts himself off, simply shaking his head. This is not what she needs to hear right now and he knows that. There will be time to deal with his own reactions later on. Kitty has asked to keep this clinical. That is his primary obligation.

"Thank you for being so forthcoming. The most effective way to make those determinations is via a transvaginal ultrasound, however given the circumstances," specifically his lack of knowledge with respect to what exactly the procedures she endured entailed where violations were concerned, "a standard abdominal ultrasound will certainly at the very least allow us to confirm the presence of your ovaries, if not precisely your capacity for fertility."

[just_a_phase]

"It was less than three weeks with the first doctor," she says quietly, deliberately not saying how much less than three weeks it actually was. "The second doctor wanted to wait longer, but was forced to implant the third embryo about four and a half weeks after the second miscarriage."

He doesn't need to know, of course. He cut himself off for a reason.

But she can't tell him the vast majority of what happened. This she can.

It's a strange sort of comfort to be able to do so.

She listens silently to what he then says; a moment passes when he's done before she clears her throat and meets his gaze, smiling crookedly.

"Show me a woman who enjoys transvaginal ultrasounds and I'll show you either a liar or a masochist," Kitty says wryly. "...I need to know, Hank. It's been years. I need to know. I'd rather just get it over with. Because if not, I--"

Kitty looks away from him before whispering, "They made other embryos. I need to find them anyway, find out what was done to--with--them. But if I can't--"

She shakes her head for a few seconds before just saying again, "I need to know," as she focuses her gaze on his eyes again.

"So let's get this damned procedure done with, okay?"

[lexiphanic]

He cut himself off out of concern for her. It's not even that he particularly wants to know--he is not that curious sort of a cat--but rather that some part of him wants Kitty to relieve herself of what she's carrying. It won't be to him, though, and it won't be right now, and so, he moves on.

His glance at her is a little dry when she replies. "It's an invasive procedure; I simply didn't want to subject you to any more anxiety than was absolutely necessary, but it is the most accurate way to determine the answers to your questions. Rest assured, any doctor who claims to enjoy it is a liar or a pervert."

He gentles his expression when she meets his eyes, though. "Then you will know. Finish disrobing, and try to relax." Hank stands, nudging the stool out of the way and stepping away to allow her some privacy while he retrieves the necessary equipment.

[just_a_phase]

"I've had it done, Hank," and her voice is oddly gentle. "Six month is a long time, and they were pretty interested in anything to do with my reproductive health, y'know? I can deal. It's not--"

She's silent for a moment before continuing slowly, choosing her words with care--to get them right--instead of trusting whatever comes out of her mouth the way she normally does.

"I can stand any procedue," Kitty says honestly.

Well, except for one involving powder only found in the Savage Land--but a medical procedure it definitely was not.

"It's the people who did it that I can't. But the rest is just medicine. And you're one of the very fe--actually, you're the only doctor I trust, other than Moira. This isn't a big deal."

She stands to finish undressing as he steps away.

"--Oh, hey. Other thing I said my file needs updated with, the less important one--well, less important, but related, I guess. I said my dad was the one who helped them grab us...for a reason. When I was in Chicago, Mom slipped up and accidentally confirmed something I've wondered about for a while. Carmen Pryde apparently was my dad, but not...so much my father. She isn't saying more and is pretty much avoiding contact with me because she knows I want to know. And she ain't talking."

Here's the thing:

It needs to be mentioned. But it's mentioned now because she's nervous. Not about the procedure--she was honest when she said she could handle it.

It's the results that have Kitty telling that to Hank now rather than later.

The problem is that with the way her brain works, just talking to Hank about this fact and wondering again who the mystery man who helped make her is...aren't anywhere near enough to distract her or to take up her thoughts so she can't worry about the results.

Not even close.

...She hates her brain sometimes. Not often. But sometimes.

Now being one of them.