Tim wasn't someone who spoke a lot. He tended to keep to quiet, choosing instead to let Jason do the speaking for him. He knew Tim, he understood Tim, which was why the way Tim was acting now was so surprising, even for Tim. No one, not even Jason has heard a word out of him, for going on two weeks. He played ball still; in fact he'd had played the games of his life the last two Friday nights. Tim showed up for school (somber), did his homework, and didn't say a word. At first Jason just thought it was Billy getting on case again, or that he'd heard from his dad or something, but after Coach had pulled him into his office to ask what was going on with Tim, Jason knew something more was up. He'd looked his coach in his eye and told the truth, "I have no idea sir", which hurt like hell, because really wasn't he supposed to know this shit?
Jason showed up at Tim's house the next morning at 7:30 like he did every day of the school week, except Tim wasn't sitting on the stoop waiting like he usually was. Jason waited another five minutes before putting his jeep into park and turning the key to off. He jumped out of his jeep just as Billy came out the door.
"You know if he's up?" Street asked Tim's brother and caretaker.
"Nope, haven't seen him in a couple of days, check the local bar, I'm sure he's there." Billy said smirking as he climbed into his truck and took off.
Jason sat on the stoop of Tim's house for a good ten minutes trying to figure out where the hell his friend was, when he was out of options he sighed to himself and headed toward school. He wanted to get a workout in before his 2nd period class. He showed up at the locker room and changed before headed out to the back practice field that no one used, ready to run a couple of wind sprints, when he stopped in his tracks. There was Tim Riggins running sprints like his life depended on it. Jason stood watching him for a moment before heading over to where Tim's T-shirt and water bottle was laying in the grass. He watched Tim for a moment more before the other guy came over and took a sip of water.
"Six" Tim said by way of greeting.
"How long you've been here?" Jason asked.
"I don't know an hour or so?" Tim said wiping his chest with his T-shirt and taking a sip of his Gatorade.
"You okay?" Jason asked.
"Doing good," Tim said simply.
Jason sighed to himself; Tim wasn't going to give up anything. "You want a workout partner?" he asked.
"I'm doing 10, 20, 30's," Tim said by way of an answer.
"Let's get going." Jason said pulling his shirt off and joining Tim on the faded goal line.
They ran hard for the next hour, finishing the suicides, doing a couple of ladders, then finishing up with sit-ups and push-ups before heading in to shower and change for their 2nd period class. 1st period was always study hall for them.
The next two weeks went on much like the last two weeks, except now Jason was joining Tim in the morning for his workouts, and the two of them were virtually unstoppable in the 3 games they'd played since Jason began working out with Tim. After their game against Arnet Mead, where Jason threw for 4 touchdowns and Tim ran for 120 yards, the two best friends headed out to the lake to hang out and have a few beers. Lyla was with her family and Tim and Tyra had broken up again, so it was just the two best friends.
They'd been sitting out there for a good hour, when Tim pulled out a crumpled up letter from the chest pocket of his lamb skin coat and handed it to Jason, once again saying nothing as he did it.
Jason looked at him for a moment before opening the crumpled piece of letter. He noticed the Texas Longhorns logo on the top left-hand corner of the paper before reading the piece of paper.
Dear Timothy Riggins,
I was at your game against Larribee the other night, looking at Jason Street and I have to say, I was most impressed with your play. I've checked into your history and it seems you're quite a football player, but not quite a student. I'm writing this letter to let you know that Texas Football is interested in exploring options for you playing here in two years, however that's only if you clean up your act off the field. Stay in shape, keep up the great work in games, and get those grades up and I'll be looking for you in Austin.
Sincerely
Mack Brown
UT at Austin Head Coach
Jason read it two or three times before looking Tim, who was looking as his best friend wondering if he could do it. Jason shrugged and head up his fist, "Texas forever" he said simply. It was his way of telling Tim; he'd be there to get him to Austin.
"Texas forever," Tim said quietly. He knew Jason had his back, really he was the only one, well maybe coach, and Mrs. Coach, but that was it. He was on his own.
A few weeks later, Tim thought his head was going to explode. He'd studied for that test for hours and he still had gotten a D. He just wasn't any good at reading and then understanding it too? How was he supposed to do it? He thought to himself as he slammed his locker; the memory of Mach Brown's letter burning in his mind.
"Tim?" Tami Taylor said out of concern. "Everything all right?" she asked.
"Yeah, I just… I just don't get it." Tim finally said in defeat.
"Don't get what?" Tami asked standing in the empty hallway with Tim.
"This!" Tim said holding up his English test. "I studied for this for hours!" Tim exclaimed.
Tami took the test from the boy's hand and looked at all the red on it and sighed to herself. "Come on honey, I have some cookies with your name on it, in my office." Tami said knowing the way to this boy's heart and mind, was through his stomach.
"I have class," Tim said standing there dejected. He held up the bathroom pass, "I'm on pass."
"Don't worry I'll call down and let him know you're with me." Tami said leading Tim to her office. While he got situated Tami called his teacher and let him know Tim would be with her for the reminder of the period.
"So, you studied a lot for this test?" Tami said sitting down on her chair as Tim sat and stuffed cookies in his mouth.
"Ask 6, he saw me." Tim said quietly.
"I believe you." Tami said. "So what's the problem?" She asked.
"I suck at reading! I can't understand that shit!' Tim exclaimed which earned him a stare, "Sorry, I don't understand what's going on. By the time I get to the bottom of a page I forget what's happened at the beginning." Tim said frustrated. "I should just give up." Tim said quietly. "this is never going to work!"
"Oh don't go all drama queen on me now!" Tami said smiling. "Tim I've heard nothing but good things about you lately. I don't know what's changed, I don't really care but I do care about you quitting now that you're doing so well. I'll do whatever I can to help you." Tami said honestly to the boy sitting in front of her. His jeans were ripped in all the right places, his plaid shirt just the right fit to show of his shoulder, his hair, long hanging in his face, but as he looked up at her through his hair, Tami saw a boy who finally actually cared about what was happening to him. "How about I get someone to help?" she said.
"A tutor?" Tim asked scrunching up his face, not liking the idea. "I'm not wasting my time with some snot nosed smart freshman, who's only going to laugh at me." He said with venom in his voice.
Tami smirked, an idea popping into her head, "How about a clean, sophomore, who won't laugh at you." Tami asked getting a small chuckle out of him, "They're quiet and passionate about reading." Tami said trying to convince him. He still didn't look all that convinced. "I promise no snot." Tami said hoping that she wasn't convincing Tim only to find out Julie refused to help him.
"Who?" Tim asked sounding like he was a little more willing.
"Let me talk to the person, make sure they have time. I'll catch up with you before practice." Tami said standing as the bell rang.
Tim harrumphed, "Fine." He said standing ready to get away from Mrs. Taylor for now. "Thanks Mrs. Coach." He said using his usual name for her.
Tami laughed, "No problem honey, you just keep up the good work." Tami said walking him out of her office. Just as she was going to say a final good-bye Jason Street came running bye grabbing Tim's arm.
"Come on, coach got us Mickey D's." He said smiling before looking at Tami. "You too Mrs. Coach, he sent me to go get you too." Jason said smiling. Tami could only chuckle as she locked her door laughing at Tim and Jason as they jostled each other in the hall on the way to the gym and the player's meeting room, where there was in fact a massive amount of food waiting for them.
Tim nodded his thanks to "Mrs. Coach" and headed toward the food and his friends, and Tami headed toward her husband after grabbing her food.
"What's the occasion?" she asked sitting down next to her husband, giving him a peck on the cheek.
Eric Taylor rolled his eyes, "Buddy Garrity, he thought the boys would enjoy a little surprise." Eric said sardonically as he took a bite of his Big Mac.
"Well that's mighty nice of him." Tami said sweetly.
Tami looked all over for her daughter for the rest of the afternoon and couldn't find her anywhere, she kept missing her in the halls between classes, and Tami knew that she would be killed if she pulled Julie out of a class, so she stood by Julie's final period classroom, AP English Lit, her favorite, waiting for Julie to come out.
"Hello there sweetie." Tami said brightly following Julie toward her locker.
Julie smiled at her mother as she opened her locker, "What do you want mom?" Julie asked as she put away the books she didn't need for the night and grabbed the stuff that she did.
Tami tried to look insulted; it didn't work very well, "Now how nice is that? A mother just trying to say hi to her daughter and she thinks, I want something." Tami said smiling sweetly.
"You do want something mom, I can tell. What is it?" Julie said slamming her locker and turning to look at her mother sweetly.
"Well I remembered you mentioning wanting to get into tutoring someone after school, I have someone for you." Tami said as they walked toward the football fields, where Julie always sat and did her homework while waiting for her father.
"Who," Julie asking climbing the bleachers.
"Well now, he's a junior, who's really making an effort, everyone can see something has changed. He just needs some extra help." Tami said building her daughter up.
"Who mom," Julie asked not taking any of the B.S. her mom was spilling.
"Tim Riggings." Tami said bluntly not wanting to beet around the bush.
Julie whipped her head around to stare at her mother, "are you absolutely crazy? Tim Riggins? He does nothing but drink and have sex! I'm not tutoring him!" Julie exclaimed.
"Now come on! He's changed this last month I promise!" Tami said.
"He has not, that boy doesn't care what happens to him in school, just as long as he can play." Julie said with venom but more quietly when she noticed her father staring up at her with question when he heard her scream.
"Julie please, I know how you feel about football players, I do, but I really need your help on this, he's trying, he really is, but he needs our help." Tami said quietly appealing to Julie's sensitive side. "He's got no one, Jules no one." Tami said quietly. She sat then, not saying anything knowing that Julie needed to make this decision for herself.
Julie had a right not to like football players, she'd been burned by them too many times in her young life, by the players themselves and by the coach, her father who'd left her in a time of need one too many times for a "football thing". Tami knew she had a right, but she also hoped that Julie realized this was a chance to help some one achieve a dream, that was otherwise unachievable.
After watching her father beat down his players for fifteen minutes, watching Tim Riggins run his heart out during the suicides her father was having them run, Julie sighed. She'd sworn never to get involved with football again after dating Mathew Blake, the star running back for her father's team at her old school. They'd dated for 5 months before she found out he was cheating on her, that he was only dating her to get on her fathers good side. It had backfired in his face with playing time, but she didn't care about that, what she cared about was being burned once again by football. But the truth was she'd always liked Tim Riggins, he was always nice to her, treating her with respect; but the fact was he was a football player and that scared the hell out of her.
"Riggins! Move! Move those legs Riggins!" Julie heard her dad yell as she watched Tim jump through some ladder thing looking like he was going to puke.
Julie sighed, "Fine, I'll help him. Tell him to come by the house at 6." Julie said standing and heading for the car. She'd decided her mom could wait for her father today, if she was going to help Tim Riggins, she needed to get home and do her homework.
Tim Riggins sat outside coach's house at 5:55 scared to death. He'd come to Mrs. Coach for help and she said she'd get it for him; he didn't however think it'd be in the form of Julie Taylor. The girl, quiet and reserved scared the crap out of him, not something Tim easily admitted, but nonetheless, she did. Her steadfast hate of all things football, her love of school and her obvious ability to do well at it, they all scared him. He didn't want to go in there and have her find out that he was 17 years old and he was stupid as could be. Heaving a big sigh he climbed out of his truck and went up to start his tutoring.
Julie had been tutoring Tim for a week now and was impressed with what she'd seen so far. Tim was honestly trying. He was always on time for their sessions, and except for the occasional sexual dig, he behaved himself. She could see where he was having trouble though. He wasn't the strongest reader and by the time he'd finish reading a section, he hadn't picked up on the meaning of what he'd read because of how hard he'd been concentrating on getting the words right. Julie had been working on his reading skills with and taught him a few tricks to keep him on track with what was going on in the story.
As the fall went on, things were continuing to go well for Tim. His classes were going well, including English. The help Julie Taylor was giving him was just the what he needed. It was helping in all his classes not just his English class. And once he was struggling less with the reading, he found he actually enjoyed what he was reading, although he'd never admit it, he still had some reputation he cared about. But lately he hadn't been living up to it. He was so tired all the time. Between school and football, by the time he finished with his work at night, he'd fall into bed exhausted. Saturday and Sundays were spent sleeping in he wasn't practicing or hanging out with Street and Lyla. Julie had started hanging out with them some as well. Tyra was back into their little group as well. Despite their history, they'd always had fun together, and Tim could say he was honestly very happy for Tyra, who was obviously over the moon about Landry Clark, although for the life of him, he couldn't figure out how that happened.
Julie kept telling him he should "go to the doctor and figure out why he felt like shit" and he kept telling her to "shut the fuck up about it. He was fine, he just had a lot going on at that moment if she didn't fucking notice." They talked to each other that way; it was how they interacted. Not taking shit at all. They gave just as much as they got, which included glares from the librarian when their swearing got a little to loud. When that happened they moved their tutoring session to the bleachers of they'd head back to the Taylor's. Tim enjoyed this because it meant Mrs. Coach usually invited him to stay for dinner, and she could cook a hell of a lot better than Billy, who was all of a sudden taking his job a lot more seriously lately and consequently never home.
Three months later Julie was still helping Tim three times a week. They'd meet in the library after school before practice. It was the end of November and they were headed to the playoffs, thanks in no small part to Tim Riggins. He was the talk of the town, up there with Jason Street and Brian "Smash" Williams. He was relieved on some level though as much of the hype was being piled on those two, who despite the nuisance it caused, welcomed it whole heartedly. Tim did not want that shit he just wanted to play. He was just interested in getting into college, he was interested in preserving Texas' interest in him, and so far he'd done that.
The week of Thanksgiving they had a by week, so no game, which was good because Tim still wasn't feeling well the last couple of weeks and needed a break. It took all he had to get through the day and practice, never mind the games he'd been playing. There was no more partying and girls, he had no energy for it lately. It was Tuesday afternoon and he was walking toward the library to meet with Julie. He had a big paper in his English class and she was going to go over his rough draft he'd written that weekend with him. He just needed to get to the table and sit down he told himself as he walked toward the library. The doors felt like a million pounds as he pulled them open. It was empty given the fact school had let out for the holiday week; no one but Julie and the librarian were there. Tim tried to keep his eyes focused on Julie and the table just five feet ahead of him, but things were blurry and before he knew it, everything went dark.
Waking up two hours later with beeping and buzzing laying in a hospital bed scared the daylights out of him. He was in a hospital gown and hooked up to all sorts of monitors. He could see Coach and Mrs. Coach standing outside the room with Billy talking to a doctor. They looked worried. Coach looked like he'd seen a ghost. He wanted to stay awake to find out what was wrong but his eyes just wouldn't stay open for him. He woke up a while later and they were all sitting around his bed. He'd been moved to another room he observed. This time Street and Julie were with coach and Mrs. Taylor and Billy.
Billy, Tim didn't remember the last time he looked like that. He looked completely wrecked. Like someone had taken the wind right out of him.
Tim groaned a little before opening his eyes again it was too damn bright, especially with the headache he had.
"Hey there son," Coach said leaning over his bed.
"What the fuck happened?" Tim asked with a dry throat.
"You hit the deck buddy." Jason said. "I told you not to faint in school it's really bad for the reputation." He said smiling although Tim noticed it didn't quite reach his eyes, as he handed Tim a cup of water, who drank the water in one sip.
"What? When?" Tim asked.
"When you were meeting me in the library. You nearly gave Mrs. Smith a heart attack. If you didn't want to go over your paper today, you could have just told me." Julie said her lip quivering trying to make light of the situation in spite of what Billy Riggins had just told her was wrong with Tim.
"Oh man I'm sorry." Tim said sitting up. "Well when can I leave?" Tim asked.
"Tomorrow morning. They want to monitor you over night." Coach said quietly.
"Man, I skipped breakfast this morning, guess I shouldn't do that anymore huh?" Tim said looking up at everyone. They did not laugh or smile. "What, it was just one day it's not a big deal." Tim said seriously.
"Tim, lay down, there's something we have to discuss." Billy said quietly. He'd been worried about telling Tim, but when the coach had offered, and he'd been willing to let him, he realized this was something he had to do himself.
"What? What's wrong?" Tim asked with a sinking feeling in his stomach. He'd felt like shit the month or so and he had a feeling that it had something to do with that.
"When they brought you in this afternoon. They did a few tests, just to make sure everything was all right. They found something?" Billy said quietly.
"What? What did they find?" Tim said jutting his jaw out to keep from getting emotional.
"You have leukemia Tim," Billy said his voice cracking.
"What? That's impossible! I just lost my balance! I'm fine, I'll eat more." Tim said desperately.
"Tim, it's going to be fine. We'll help you through this." Eric said.
"No! I'm fine, it's just a flu; I'll be fine!" Tim said getting upset.
Billy looked at Eric and Tami Taylor at a loss for what to do with his brother. This was not in the cards, take care of his brother, feed him, bring him to school, make sure he doesn't die, those were the things that he was supposed to be doing, not helping his brother fight cancer.
"Riggins," Jason started to say quietly.
"NO!" Tim yelled jumping up from his bed and running of the room and away from all of this. He could hear his coach yelling after him, but he didn't care. He could feel the blood pouring from his hand, from where the IV had ripped out, but he didn't care. He had to get away, away from this nightmare that was becoming his life. After he'd worked so hard!
Soon enough he was outside in the garden set up by the local women's club in Dillion. He was freezing, even though it was warm, but he realized not for he first time, he'd lost a lost of weight and was a lot weaker than he used to be. But he couldn't go back in; it just wasn't possible! He couldn't go back in yet.
Soon enough Julie Taylor came out and sat down next to him, holding what appeared to be a Dillion Panther sweatshirt. She didn't say anything to him for a long time, merely offering him the sweatshirt, which he wordlessly took after ten minutes of shivering.
Finally, after almost and hour Julie chuckled to herself before looking at Tim, who looked at her curiously, "Well this fucking blows" she said bluntly and he finally lost it. He didn't cry out loud, no tears or sobs, but from his shaking shoulders Julie could tell that this guy who'd worked so hard the past 4 months, was feeling like he was right back where'd started, going nowhere fast. Another twenty minutes past before Julie convinced him to go inside, at least so he wouldn't loose his feet to frost bite.
Billy, Coach and Mrs. Coach weren't there when he got back to his room on the pediatric floor.
Just Jason, who was sitting on the love seat next to Tim's empty bed looked up, "They left, they'll be back in the morning to meet with your doctor," Jason said quietly. He looked at Tim, who stood at the door to the room, looking like he might run again. "Will you at least sit down again, you're to big for me to lift if you keel over again." Jason said smiling.
Tim entered the room and sat on the bed again, exhaustion hitting him all at once. They all sat quietly absorbing the news, before long a nurse came bustling in wearing Winnie the Pooh scrubs.
"Well hello there." She said smiling as she went about reinserting Tim's IV. "I'm your nurse, my name is Shelly. If you need anything, the buzzer is right there." She said with sunshine in her voice as she went about checking his pulse and temperature, and writing them in a chart and the end of his bed before looking at Jason and Julie, "I'm sorry but it's time for Timmy's friends to leave. You can come back tomorrow. He needs to get his rest." She said smiling brightly, like he hadn't just been told he had cancer.
"What the fuck? My name is Tim, no one fucking calls me Timmy! I'm not 5. And they can stay as long as they fucking please." Tim said with venom in his voice. He didn't know who the fuck this women was smiling at him like a grandma, but he wanted her to leave now!
"Well that's no way for a young man to speak!" Shelly said looking aghast.
"I don't' know who the fuck you are, but get out." Tim said glaring at the women who looked shocked by Tim's language.
"That's not a Christian way of speaking young man." She said.
"Good thing I'm not a fucking Christian then. Get out" He said again yelling at the women in front of him. Julie and Jason understanding he needed to vent somehow just sat quietly. Just as Tim began to yell at Shelly again the head nurse, a guy who looked to be Billy's age came running.
"What is going on here?" he asked looking at Shelly.
"Timmy here is acting very unkind." Shelly said quietly.
"Don't fucking call me Timmy. I told you to get the fuck out of my room, and I meant it!" Tim said grabbing his water canister and throwing it at the women, who looked completely shocked.
"Timmy, that's no way treat a lady. Much less someone who's trying to help you. I'm here to help you through this hard time!" Shelly said with a sweet voice.
Jason really wished this women would get a hint and get the hell out of Tim's room before did something really unchristian.
"Look Lady, I don't know who the fuck you are, but if you call me Timmy one more fucking time…" Tim said with venom in his voice.
"Okay, that's enough, Shelly, go round on your patients. I'll take Tim tonight." The guy said. The women nearly shook her head and scurried off to see her other patients as the male nurse came in further to check on Tim's IV, which he'd ripped out again, throwing the water canister at the nurse.
"I'm Jeff by the way. Can I suggest you refrain from doing anything that rips this thing out again? We're going to run out of veins to put it in." Jeff said expertly putting the IV back in. Tim just laid back on his pillow back fuming. "So you're Tim Riggins" Jeff said writing some notes in Tim's file
"What the fuck do you care?" Tim asked.
"I don't, I just was told you'd be on my floor for the next couple of days." Jess said calmly, trying to keep Tim calm as well. He looked at Julie and Jason, "I'm sorry to do this guys, but I got to kick you out, hospital rules." He said quietly.
"We can't stay a little longer?" Julie asked quietly.
"Naw, not tonight. I just gave him some pretty potent sleep stuff as well; he'll be sleeping like a passed out drunk in no time anyway. Say good-bye Tim" Jeff said before leaving his room.
Julie saw that Jason needed a minute alone with his best friend, "I'll wait outside." She said standing up. "I'll be back in the morning okay? I'll bring us some coffee and donuts," Julie said smiling at Tim as brightly as she could.
"By coach Jules," Tim said quietly using her nickname he'd called her.
"By 33" Julie said before walking out the door. She stood a little ways down the hall and slid to the floor crying silently as Jason stood to talk to his buddy.
Jason stood for a long time looking at his best friend. Now that he really looked at Tim, he could see the paleness of his skin, and how skinny looked, but most of all he saw the exhaustion on his face.
He stood and looked at Tim and finally held up his fist toward Tim's "Texas forever" Jason said emphasizing forever, like he wasn't going to let Tim get away with not getting through this.
"Texas forever," Tim said, he voice raw. Jason stood for a minute more and then left, stopping at Julie before continuing on to his car, giving Julie a ride home.
Tim eventually fell asleep thanks to the sleep aid Jeff had given him, but for Coach and Tami, Billy, Jason and Julie it was a sleepless night. Billy went home and cleaned the entire house, calling Jackie over to help since he didn't know the first thing about cleaning a house. He then went over his finances that night, staying up late trying to figure out how he was going to do this, and not for the first time he was happy he'd had that savings account. He'd been putting money away for as long as he could remember saving up to go pro one day. Even after he'd taken over Tim, he'd been doing it, so now he at least didn't have to really worry about finances, not yet at least.
Coach laid awake all night worried about Tim. The boy who'd finally gotten his life on track, he was going places, and now it looked like it was all up in the air. Tami was worried about Tim, she was worried about Billy and Jason and Julie. She was worried about that boy laying in that hospital room, worrying that his future was over.
The next morning Coach and Tami met Billy at the hospital to meet with Tim's doctor and the oncologist that had come one board. Billy had asked them the night before as they left the hospital if they'd be willing to be there, to ask questions, as he was worried he'd miss something. Tami and Eric could tell Billy was worried something he did could mess up the situation more.
Tim lay in his hospital bed absolutely silent, staring away from the doctor, as DR. Stevens, who was explaining to him, Billy, coach and Mrs. Taylor what kind of cancer he had, how bad it was and how they were going to fix it.
He'd start a 6-week round of chemo three days a week starting the next day. He'd be fitted for a shunt, and then his first round of chemo. He'd get sick from it; he'd loose his hair. It'd pretty much wreck him, but they were hoping with aggressive treatment, he'd be in remission within 6 months. Tim didn't hear a word of what they were saying, he just knew he wouldn't be playing football anymore that season and wouldn't be playing ever again. The only thing he said during the whole two-hour meeting was that no one and he did mean no one was to know about this. Billy looked like he wanted to object to that but he didn't, he was at a loss for how to help his brother so he was willing to do whatever it took.
After the meeting, Tami and Coach left, both needing to head into school, as they both had meetings to attend. The student's had the day off, but teachers and staff had meeting all day. Their first stop when they got to school was the principle's office, to explain what was going on, and to ensure the principle knew how private Tim wanted this kept. Mr. Strice promised no one would know until Tim told people, which despite his reluctance, was going to have to be sooner than later. People would want to know why he wasn't playing for the rest of the season. The team would want to know. Eric sat in his office for a good two hours staring at the latest picture on his wall. One of Tim Riggins, Jason Street, Lyla Garrity and Julie sitting in the stands after practice one day laughing, without a care in the world. Tim had his arm around Julie, in friendly manner while Lyla was sitting in between Jason's legs. The four of them had grown close in the past months, with Julie tutoring Tim, and Tyra dating Landry, they all hung out often these days. Eric knew Tim would need these people in the coming months, more than he even knew.
Billy had called in and explained the situation to his boss, who was very supportive, saying the let him know if Billy needed anything, which was surprised Billy. Soon enough Billy took Tim home; there was no reason why he needed to be in the hospital so Dr. Stevens had released him, with strict orders to rest.
Jason showed up to the
Riggins house around 5 with the crew.
"He Billy" he said
when Billy opened the door.
"Hey Street what's up?" Billy asked quietly.
"I was wondering if I could borrow Tim for the night." Jason said quietly.
Billy looked up alarmed, "I don't think now is the time to go party Jason" Billy said.
"No, no it's not like that. It's just the gang. We're going to go out to the lake. He needs to tell them Billy. They need to hear it from him." Jason said of Tim telling Lyla, Landry and Tyra. He felt Tim needed to tell Tyra himself especially given their history.
"He hasn't left his room all day. If you can get him to get up." Billy said letting Jason in. "Just make sure you're back early, or he at least gets some rest tonight. He's going to get fitted for his shunt tomorrow." Billy said quietly.
"Will do I'll have him back here by 8am." Jason said walking into Tim's room without knocking. He was lying on his bed staring at the sealing.
"Come on." Jason said grabbing Tim's football bag and shoving random pieces of warm clothes in it.
"Go away." Tim said.
"You'd like that right now I know, but when did I ever listen to you. Get up." Jason said standing by Tim's bed, kicking the side by Tim's head.
"Street" Tim said with gritted teeth.
"I'm not above more drastic measures if you don't get your ass in my truck now." Jason said with steel in his own voice. Tim thought about making Jason try, but then decided against it before rising and leaving with Jason, telling Billy he'd be back. Everyone was already in Jason's truck; they were just waiting on Tim. Everything was in the back ready for the night out by the lake, like they'd done so many times before. Tim was silent on the hour ride out to their spot. He was silent as they set up camp; he was silent as they sat around the campfire talking. Lyla and Jason cuddled together, as was Landry and Tyra. Julie sat next to Tim, quiet for the most part, but answering questions and putting her two sense in every one in a while when she had something to contribute.
It was getting late, they'd been out there for hours, just shooting the shit laughing about life when Tim looked up and looked at his best friends, "I have cancer." He said bluntly. Landry, Tyra and Lyla immediately shut up and looked at him shocked.
"What?" Tyra asked.
"I have cancer," Tim said enunciating each word.
"When did you find out?" Lyla asked from Jason's arms. She'd known something was wrong when Jason climbed through her window last night and crawled into her bed, needing to be near her but he said what was wrong.
"Yesterday." Tim said looking up to Landry, who was a new part of their small group, but an important part.
"How?" Tyra asked quietly.
"I fainted actually. I have been feeling like shit these last few weeks. I was on the way to my tutoring with Coach Taylor and I felt like shit. I remembering just praying I could get to get to the table and sit down as I walked toward the library. Apparently I didn't quite make it. " Tim said using his nickname for Julie that they all knew he called her.
"How bad, I mean, what's going to happen?" Lyla asked.
"I have no fucking clue!" Tim said flinging the bottle of root beer at the fire, the glass shattering. "I just know that my life is over." He said standing from his chair, and stocking off toward the lake, leaving his chair flipped over and his friends in shock.
"It's stage 3, acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He starts chemo tomorrow. He's going to get a shunt tomorrow then he'll have a half round too. It's high does chemo. He'll feel like shit. The seasons over for him." Julie said having quizzed her parents from their meeting that morning. "If you'll excuse me" Julie said going after Tim.
She and Tim had had something growing the last couple of weeks. It was slow to form and they were taking their time, not wanting to screw anything up. Julie didn't want to loose that growth now with this development, however Tim had a lot going on now, she didn't want to be a burden either. She saw him sitting out on the dock by the water, his silhouette lit up by the moon. His shoulders were bent over and shaking. Julie walked up quietly, not saying a word as she sat next to Tim as he continued to cry silent tears. She took his big muscular hand in hers, and held on for dear life. Eventually she unwrapped her hands and looked at his hand in hers. It was beet up from football and working on his truck. There were scars all over, little ones. Julie sat holding his hand in hers for along time, not pressuring him to talk.
"I don't want to die." He said finally just above a whisper. He wouldn't say that to anyone else, but that was part of the reason why he liked Julie Taylor so much. He could talk to her. He could yell and scream and she'd sit there and listen. She'd let him be who he was. She gave as good as she got when it came to him giving her shit, but she saw something in him, he had no fucking clue what, but he was willing to take whatever he could get when it came to Julie Taylor. He just hoped it was as much as he wanted.
"That's good considering you're not going to," Julie said looking over at him.
"You don't know that." Tim said.
"I do, I know that you've just started living your life Tim Riggins and you have too much living left to do." Julie said quietly.
They were silent again, the faint strains of their friend's voices coming over in the wind.
"I love you" Tim said quietly. They were officially dating, they hadn't even gone on a real date, but from the second week she'd been tutoring him, he'd been in love with her and he wanted her to know that. "You don't have to say anything, but I just thought I'd tell you."
"I love you too." Julie said quietly looking up at his face. She gently brought a hand to his cheeks, pulling so he'd turn and look at her. "You're so beautiful" Julie said quietly kissing him gently on his lips, just a whisper of a kiss really.
"Will you come with me tomorrow?" Tim asked.
"I'll be right beside you. I'm not going anywhere." Julie said.
They sat for a while longer before rejoining the group. Tyra and Lyla hugged him tightly, especially Tyra and Landry looked at him and smiled.
"Don't think this is going to get me to do your homework for you." He said breaking the ice. They all laughed at that and things were a little more relaxed after that. Tim and Julie were that last ones awake before falling asleep under a bunch of blankets on a mattress in the back of Jason's truck.
They all woke early and cleaned up before heading back to Dillion. Tim called Billy from the road and told him to just meet at the hospital.
He'd go under for procedure to put the shunt in then they'd give him a half dose of chemo. They were given a private room to wait in, Billy, Eric and Tami and the gang. He would be brought back there and later on, he'd be given his chemo there as well.
Within and hour of him getting his chemo, he was throwing up, violently sick. When he knew he was going to be sick, he made everyone leave, not wanting to be sick in front of them. Billy and Julie stayed. Julie stayed in the corner, letting Tim's brother do most of the work. When it was apparent that Tim was mortified, Julie went over whispered I love you and left, giving him his privacy. She sat outside his room for three hours listening to Tim throw up everything in his stomach, by the end there wasn't anything in there, so it was merely dry heaves. Tami had to go and pick up Gracie Bell, and Tyra had to go to work. So Tami drove Tyra. Landry also needed to get to work and Lyla needed to get to the church, so the left as well. Jason sat with Julie outside Tim's room, refusing to leave. At one point Eric stood up getting ready to leave.
"Come on sweetie, I'll give you a ride home before I head in" Eric said of heading to the office.
"I'm not leaving him daddy." Julie said looking up at her father with conviction.
"Sweetie there's nothing you can do right now. I'll bring you back later when he's feeling better." Eric said quietly.
"I'm not leaving him." Julie said again.
"Street?" Eric said to his star quarterback.
"Sorry coach." Jason said remaining next to Julie.
Eric knew this was coming, he could see how Julie and Tim felt about each other, and he was okay with it, really, especially with how Tim had turned himself around this fall, but it still concerned him, a lot. Eric sighed and looked down at his daughter. "I'll come get you later, for dinner. You or Tim need anything, you call me okay?" Eric said in his southern drawl.
"Okay Daddy," Julie said looking like she was ten, not 16.
Julie sat quietly with Jason Street next to her waiting for the guy that she'd fallen in love with to stop puking his guts out because he had cancer. 'What happened?' Julie asked herself. 'How did it come to this?' She wondered sitting on the floor outside Tim's room. Two hours later Billy came out looking absolutely wrecked, he turned to look at Julie and Jason and bit his tongue before looking at them again after looking away so he could keep himself together.
"He said you could go in now," Billy said quietly walking down the hall to give himself some air.
Julie sat stock still, not able to move, she barely registered Jason Street squatting in front of her.
"He needs us Julie," he said quietly before standing and walking into Tim's room. Julie stood, took a moment and walked in as well.
Tim was lying on his bed, looked absolutely wrecked. The room smelled of throw-up and the air was warm and stagnant.
"I'm finished. The nurse said I could leave when I'm ready, get me the fuck out of here." Tim said quietly. Jason hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should really listen to his friend but thought better than that. He quickly helped Tim out of bed, Julie grabbing the Panthers sweatshirt for Jason to put on Tim, then the three of them quietly walked out, Tim leaning heavily on Tim and Julie.
They were seated in Jason's truck, Julie squashed in between Jason and Tim, instead of in the backseat, because Tim wouldn't let her go.
"Where to?" Jason asked.
"The field." Tim said quietly.
Jason looked at his friend alarmed, "Are you sure?" asked.
"Take me to the field, please." Tim said quietly.
Jason sighed and put his truck in gear heading toward the high school and the Panthers Football field. The got there just as Eric was finishing up for the day, intending on heading toward the hospital. He walked over to the passenger side window.
"Riggins," Eric said by way of greeting.
"Coach" Tim said looking at his coach.
"I called Billy, be at the house for dinner by 6. He'll meet you there." Eric said.
"Coach." Tim said as recognition. Eric went to his car and headed home and Jason and Julie helped Tim to the fifty yard line where he laid down and looked up at the sky. Twenty minutes later Tyra, Lyla and Landry showed up, obviously Jason had called them. Tim didn't know how they'd all gotten away from what they were supposed to be doing but he was glad that they were there.
He was feeling better, a little weak, but better so he'd had Jason grab his football from the truck and they'd all thrown the ball around, joking about like Tim didn't have something in him that very well could kill him. No one tackled, Tim couldn't risk it with the shunt, but they all laughed and ran about like the teenagers they were. Eric, having forgot his playbook in his office sat in his car and watched as Jason threw the ball and Tim ran to catch it in the end-zone, throwing his hands up in victory. He didn't know how it would all end, but he hoped to whatever god there was that Tim Riggins would get through this and go on to live the life he was supposed to, because he deserved it.
They left the field at 5:30, Jason dropping Julie and Tim at Taylor's. Tim wasn't very hungry, but he had the soup that Tami fixed him and then crashed on the couch while Billy finished his dinner. Tami and Eric had invited Billy and Tim over for Thanksgiving weeks previous, so after waking Tim and helping him to his truck, Billy asked if there was anything he could bring, getting a reply of just yourselves, before heading home with a sleeping Tim in his Truck.