( He reaches for his drink again, takes a deep gulp before he replies. There's a desperate need for fortification. This knowledge never goes well. )

Hank - he developed a treatment for my spine. It manages the pain, and helps me to walk. But a side effect is that my mutation is dampened. ( A huff of an unfunny laugh. ) Actually, it's practically nonexistent now.

( She doesn't need to know that he's glad for it, that the voices in his head became too much. )

For what it's worth, I honestly thought Erik would help. Shame on me, I suppose.