Title: Better than Nothing
Fandom: X-men Movies
Characters: Rogue, Hank
Word Count: 1150
"So, you found a cure?" Rogue's voice was skeptical, but hopeful.
Dr. McCoy shook his head. "I'm sorry, Rogue, but it's not that simple." At her sigh, he held her gloved hand between his furry ones. "It's not a cure, more like a temporary respite."
"Temporary?" Rogue deflated, her shoulders sagging and head drooping. After a moment, she looked back up at Hank. "I guess it's better than nothin', right?"
Hank smiled at her. "Yes, it is." He stood up, letting go of her hand, and walked to his desk. He pulled out a file from a large stack, and placed it on top. "I'm going to need to take a blood sample from you Rogue."
Rogue nodded. It seemed that every time she came down here, Hank wanted to run another test on her.
"Well, we've learned a lot about how mutations develop and work in the past few months. I've made a breakthrough of sorts. We've been running a lot of tests, both DNA and biochemical, on any blood sample we can get our hands on." If Hank could blush, he'd be doing so right then. "We've even been receiving samples from the Westchester Morgue. Not exactly ethical, but most people won't give a blood sample to a big furry blue man in a white lab coat."
His smile was ironic. "Hank, never thought you'd stoop so low!" Rogue shook her head with a matching grin.
Hank stood up and continued talking. "Through our test, we've found several very surprising things. First, and most surprisingly, is that between twenty-five and fifty percent of the human population carries the X-gene."
Rogue's mouth dropped open. "But, they're not all mutants! Hank..." As he waited for her to process this information, Hank went about collecting the necessary equipment for the blood sample. "That was our first reaction tooÑmine and the rest of the team. But it turns out that while the X-gene is essential to have a mutation, it's not the only key. We started looking for another link between mutants that non-mutants don't have, and found a protein. We're calling it the X-protein for now, but will eventually rename it, I'm sure."
Rogue watched, intrigued, as he assembled the syringe. She rolled down her glove, exposing her inner elbow. As he inserted the needle, she prodded, "Go on."
Hank grinned. "It's clear that people with the gene, but not the protein, will never manifest a mutation. Introducing it artificially can create a mutation, but not permanently. The gene needs too much of it to effectively create an artificial mutation for more than a few hours. It needs to be naturally produced." He pulled the plunger, suctioning a few milliliters of blood into the cylinder. "Magneto had it all wrong. We think the radiation his machine produced triggered production of the X-protein in Senator Kelly, but there was too much of it. It started attaching to other genes, eventually dissolving his cells.
"We've learned that the X-protein isn't the only one that works with a mutant's DNA to create one's mutation. Several other proteins combine in varying ratios to produce the actual mutation." He removed the needle, capping the cylinder, then labeling it. "For example, your sister and the Professor probably have the same ratio of proteins, though Charles has many, many more, making his mutation much stronger. That's why similar--"
Rogue cut him off. "Hank. So, you're sayin' that it's not genes, it's proteins? And it's manipuable?" She looked so hopeful.
Hank saw the hopeful look and his chest felt tight. He hated to let a patient down, especially this patient. "No, Rogue, it doesn't quite work that way. The proteins that interact to cause mutations are naturally occurring. They're the same ones that keep your normal bodily functions running. Everyone has different body chemistry, and therefore, different mutations."
When Rogue started crying, Hank put his arms around her, and drew her into a safe, furry hug. "Rogue, please listen to me. Please." Her sniffles slowed, then stopped. "I told you we found a way. It's not perfect, but it'll give you some respite while you work with the professor."
Looking up at Hank, she murmured, "I don't want a temporary respite, Hank. I want it gone."
He sighed. Grasping her upper arms in his hands, he held her at arm's length, so he could look into her eyes. "Listen to me. I know how much you want a cure. I can't offer that to you right now. What I can offer is something that will help you." He let her go, and stood up. "We've developed a drug that suppresses the X-Protein. It's temporary, but it seems to work on everyone we've tried it on."
Rogue blinked, her eyes still shining with tears. "You tested this on people? On mutants?" Her shock and gratitude was evident in her voice.
"We all volunteered Rogue. And not just for you. Scott can now go out in public without his glasses. Professor Xavier has even taken this drug occasionally, to sleep in peace." He smiled sadly as he picked up a pill bottle. "Unfortunately, it does not work on physical mutations, like mine or Kurt's. The protein is no longer needed to trigger our appearances; it is so ingrained in our cells that it is unlikely anything could change it.
"Here," Hank said as he handed Rogue the bottle. "Each pill will suppress the X-Protein for approximately six hours. It takes about an hour for full effect, then you have six hours of safety, before it starts wearing off. During the first and last hours, your mutation will gradually weaken and grown, respectively. In Scott's case, he can control his beams for half an hour, then they are simply less strong than usual. I suspect it will have a similar effect on you.
"The effect weakens with repeated use. When we tested it on genetically altered mice, after three weeks of constant use, the effect was negligible. We suspect the safest dosage would be one or two uses per week, and absolutely not more than three." He looked at Rogue. "Until we can find a permanent way for you to control your mutation, this is possibly the only way you'll be able to touch. Your body will find a way to overcome the medication, and produce the protein, probably in record numbers." Hank sighed. "If you abuse this, your mutation might get stronger."
Rogue took the bottle. "Six hours of safety, no more than twice a week." She smiled at Hank. "Thank you. Thank you so much." She stood up and threw her arms around his neck, nestling her head against his shoulder. "You're my hero," she murmured into his fur.
She untangled herself from him, and nearly skipped out of the clinic. Hank sunk into his chair. He wondered what Rogue would do with her newfound sense of touch.
END.
Fandom: X-men Movies
Characters: Rogue, Hank
Word Count: 1150
"So, you found a cure?" Rogue's voice was skeptical, but hopeful.
Dr. McCoy shook his head. "I'm sorry, Rogue, but it's not that simple." At her sigh, he held her gloved hand between his furry ones. "It's not a cure, more like a temporary respite."
"Temporary?" Rogue deflated, her shoulders sagging and head drooping. After a moment, she looked back up at Hank. "I guess it's better than nothin', right?"
Hank smiled at her. "Yes, it is." He stood up, letting go of her hand, and walked to his desk. He pulled out a file from a large stack, and placed it on top. "I'm going to need to take a blood sample from you Rogue."
Rogue nodded. It seemed that every time she came down here, Hank wanted to run another test on her.
"Well, we've learned a lot about how mutations develop and work in the past few months. I've made a breakthrough of sorts. We've been running a lot of tests, both DNA and biochemical, on any blood sample we can get our hands on." If Hank could blush, he'd be doing so right then. "We've even been receiving samples from the Westchester Morgue. Not exactly ethical, but most people won't give a blood sample to a big furry blue man in a white lab coat."
His smile was ironic. "Hank, never thought you'd stoop so low!" Rogue shook her head with a matching grin.
Hank stood up and continued talking. "Through our test, we've found several very surprising things. First, and most surprisingly, is that between twenty-five and fifty percent of the human population carries the X-gene."
Rogue's mouth dropped open. "But, they're not all mutants! Hank..." As he waited for her to process this information, Hank went about collecting the necessary equipment for the blood sample. "That was our first reaction tooÑmine and the rest of the team. But it turns out that while the X-gene is essential to have a mutation, it's not the only key. We started looking for another link between mutants that non-mutants don't have, and found a protein. We're calling it the X-protein for now, but will eventually rename it, I'm sure."
Rogue watched, intrigued, as he assembled the syringe. She rolled down her glove, exposing her inner elbow. As he inserted the needle, she prodded, "Go on."
Hank grinned. "It's clear that people with the gene, but not the protein, will never manifest a mutation. Introducing it artificially can create a mutation, but not permanently. The gene needs too much of it to effectively create an artificial mutation for more than a few hours. It needs to be naturally produced." He pulled the plunger, suctioning a few milliliters of blood into the cylinder. "Magneto had it all wrong. We think the radiation his machine produced triggered production of the X-protein in Senator Kelly, but there was too much of it. It started attaching to other genes, eventually dissolving his cells.
"We've learned that the X-protein isn't the only one that works with a mutant's DNA to create one's mutation. Several other proteins combine in varying ratios to produce the actual mutation." He removed the needle, capping the cylinder, then labeling it. "For example, your sister and the Professor probably have the same ratio of proteins, though Charles has many, many more, making his mutation much stronger. That's why similar--"
Rogue cut him off. "Hank. So, you're sayin' that it's not genes, it's proteins? And it's manipuable?" She looked so hopeful.
Hank saw the hopeful look and his chest felt tight. He hated to let a patient down, especially this patient. "No, Rogue, it doesn't quite work that way. The proteins that interact to cause mutations are naturally occurring. They're the same ones that keep your normal bodily functions running. Everyone has different body chemistry, and therefore, different mutations."
When Rogue started crying, Hank put his arms around her, and drew her into a safe, furry hug. "Rogue, please listen to me. Please." Her sniffles slowed, then stopped. "I told you we found a way. It's not perfect, but it'll give you some respite while you work with the professor."
Looking up at Hank, she murmured, "I don't want a temporary respite, Hank. I want it gone."
He sighed. Grasping her upper arms in his hands, he held her at arm's length, so he could look into her eyes. "Listen to me. I know how much you want a cure. I can't offer that to you right now. What I can offer is something that will help you." He let her go, and stood up. "We've developed a drug that suppresses the X-Protein. It's temporary, but it seems to work on everyone we've tried it on."
Rogue blinked, her eyes still shining with tears. "You tested this on people? On mutants?" Her shock and gratitude was evident in her voice.
"We all volunteered Rogue. And not just for you. Scott can now go out in public without his glasses. Professor Xavier has even taken this drug occasionally, to sleep in peace." He smiled sadly as he picked up a pill bottle. "Unfortunately, it does not work on physical mutations, like mine or Kurt's. The protein is no longer needed to trigger our appearances; it is so ingrained in our cells that it is unlikely anything could change it.
"Here," Hank said as he handed Rogue the bottle. "Each pill will suppress the X-Protein for approximately six hours. It takes about an hour for full effect, then you have six hours of safety, before it starts wearing off. During the first and last hours, your mutation will gradually weaken and grown, respectively. In Scott's case, he can control his beams for half an hour, then they are simply less strong than usual. I suspect it will have a similar effect on you.
"The effect weakens with repeated use. When we tested it on genetically altered mice, after three weeks of constant use, the effect was negligible. We suspect the safest dosage would be one or two uses per week, and absolutely not more than three." He looked at Rogue. "Until we can find a permanent way for you to control your mutation, this is possibly the only way you'll be able to touch. Your body will find a way to overcome the medication, and produce the protein, probably in record numbers." Hank sighed. "If you abuse this, your mutation might get stronger."
Rogue took the bottle. "Six hours of safety, no more than twice a week." She smiled at Hank. "Thank you. Thank you so much." She stood up and threw her arms around his neck, nestling her head against his shoulder. "You're my hero," she murmured into his fur.
She untangled herself from him, and nearly skipped out of the clinic. Hank sunk into his chair. He wondered what Rogue would do with her newfound sense of touch.
END.
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