Disclaimer: C.L. Stone owns the Ghost Bird series. Not me.

Chapter Two

"I have cancer," I repeated in a whisper, and then lost my weak attempt at composure and dissolved into tears. The guys were completely silent for barely a moment before the room burst into motion and sound.

The first thing I heard was Silas muttering in Greek, faster than I'd ever heard him speak in his language before. I suspected that even someone who knew the language would be lost in the speed. Gabriel was nearly shouting, a rant full of profanity. But I caught the shakes in his voice and knew he was scared. North had started at a low growl, and I looked over to see him literally trembling with rage. Unable to help myself, I released a whimper. Despite the bomb I'd just dropped, all of their eyes landed on me. Several of them moved toward me, but North made it first, pulling me tight against him. He still trembled, but he clearly paid that fact no attention as he stroked my hair while I cried.

After a few moments, I managed to pull in enough control to rest my chin on his shoulder instead of burying my face against his chest. From this position, I could see all the guys. Kota stared at Sean with wide eyes as the doctor spouted off medical knowledge, trying to piece together my news. Luke was rubbing his stomach, whining about how the cookie he'd scarfed down was not agreeing with the situation. Owen…

On Owen, my gaze stopped. He was sitting with perfect posture, frozen solid. His eyes were on me, but it was his entire expression that tore me apart. Owen, my unflappable Mr. Blackbourne, appeared terrified. Everyone could do nothing to hide their fear right then, but Owen… his prominent emotion sent a sharp pain stabbing through my chest.

I couldn't stand just stand there. Not when my men were falling apart around me.

Lifting my hands, I pushed lightly at North's chest. But of course, North being North, he didn't budge. I sucked in a breath and took a quick second to wipe my face on his shirt, needing to pull myself together. Even though I'd surely left snot and tears on his shirt, North again didn't react.

"North," I said softly. "Let me go."

His only response was to tighten his grasp.

Mouth near his ear, I said, "Please?"

A second passed and then he groaned. North didn't release me, but he leaned back enough to meet my eyes with his arms still around me. His expression challenged me for a good reason to let me go.

Gifting a small smile that I wasn't really feeling, I rested my hands on his chest between us. "I'm not done talking with everyone. I need us to regroup." Pausing, an idea popped into my head. "Can you help me get their attention?"

After studying me closely, he turned to face the rest of our family, only one arm left around my waist. "Hey!" he shouted. Had I not anticipated the sound, I'd have flinched. "Shut the fuck up. Sang Baby's got something to say."

True to form, they all quieted, looking over at me. It was reminiscent of no more than ten minutes before when I'd been gathering the nerve to speak. I wished I could give them better news now, like I'd made a horrid joke or Dr. Roberts' had thought he'd found a tumor but it wasn't anything to worry about. Unfortunately, I didn't have anything like that to say at that point.

"I have cancer," I told them again, because now that I had their attention I couldn't figure out exactly what to tell them. Several of the guys flinched. I forged ahead anyway. Someone had to be strong here, and it was obviously my turn. "Dr. Roberts found a tumor." My mind spun, reaching for something to say, but I had nothing more. I'd left the office too fast, hadn't paid enough attention.

Sean spoke up helpfully. "Where is the tumor, Sang?" His tone was curious and non judgemental, though definitely more serious than usual. Fitting for the topic.

Clearing my throat, I was intensely aware of the soreness there. "My throat."

"Did he say anything about the area around it? Treatment? Tell me everything." He leaned forward in his seat, and I was vaguely surprised he was able to remain seated at all.

Helplessly, I shrugged. Why did I have to freak out at the appointment? This conversation would have gone so much better if I'd had more to offer.

Standing, Sean moved to stand in front of me, hands on my shoulders. "Do you not remember? Or has he not told you?" His fingers gave a reassuring squeeze. "I really wish I'd gone with you to that appointment."

"Fuck, yeah," Gabriel said from his place, and Sean stepped aside so I could see the rest of the guys again. "I can't believe you had to get that news alone, Trouble."

Silas frowned. "Are you okay, Aggele?"

North barked something at him in Greek, and Silas winced. "You know what I mean."

Before North could argue more, I tried to answer. "I… I'm… well, I'm not okay. Mostly, I'm confused." At that moment, it was true. No doubt I was scared, but more than that I could not get a grasp on what was happening. I'd have cursed myself yet again for not listening to more of what Dr. Roberts had to say, but I was starting to annoy myself with my impression of a broken record.

Owen stood up, drawing our attention to him. The tortured expression was gone, replaced by a calmly determined mask. He wasn't fooling me-I knew on the inside he was falling apart just as much as I was-but I appreciated his effort. He was getting a grasp on his regular self. Taking charge and working things out. Thank goodness, since I was seriously fumbling in my attempt to do so. "We will find out more. I'll go call Dr. Roberts and arrange a meeting. He'll give us answers and we'll make a plan for treatment." Striding over, he stopped in front of me, bending to look me directly in the eye. "We will get through this, Miss Sorenson. You will get through this. We will all be here along the way to help you however we can. You can count on it." He leaned over to give me a quick and soft kiss, then whispered, "I love you."

Owen stepped out of the room, presumably to make the phone call he'd mentioned, and now I was left alone with my eight other men. Sean, who had moved even farther aside when Owen walked over, took ahold of my hand. "He's right, Pookie. We've got your back. You're strong, and you have us. We'll do everything we can to get you well." He sounded hopeful, but I got the feeling it was forced, which was probably the truth. I knew he and all the others would do what they could, but there wasn't much for them to do.

That said, it felt relieving to know I had their unconditional support through what I was facing. To know they'd be there no matter what. That they'd love me through it all.

Gabriel rose from where he sat, arms stretched toward me. "Oy, Trouble, come on. Give me some love."

With a smile that was getting less forced, I tried to move toward him, but North's arm around my waist didn't release me the way Sean's hand did. Glancing over, I raised a brow. North just shook his head.

Gabriel sighed, and I looked over to see his eyes narrowed on North. "Fuck. I thought we were past problems with sharing, North."

"Not now, Gabriel," North growled, tugging me closer to his side.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me," Gabriel laughed, but there was no humor in it.

Again, North pulled me closer. "Shut up, Gabe."

Gabriel started to step forward, but Luke placed a hand on his shoulder to hold him back. "Whoa, chill out."

My gaze kept shifting back and forth, watching the situation unfold, but what was I supposed to do? We hadn't had a problem like this in a long while. Years. We'd eased into our balance a few years ago. There was friction to work through sometimes, as expected, but for the most part we didn't have these types of problems anymore. I wasn't really itching to have one then.

But North wasn't letting me go.

Silas stepped up beside us, murmuring in Greek, tyring to help diffuse the situation on North's end. North grunted answers in response, but I couldn't understand any of it. The little bits of Greek I'd picked up were nowhere near the level I needed to be on to follow their conversation. The good news was that at least North wasn't pulling me in tighter anymore. I wasn't uncomfortable or anything, but if he'd still been tightening his hold that would have been steps in the wrong direction.

Sean caught my gaze. "You okay?" he asked quietly.

I nodded, returning my focus to Gabriel. He was talking animatedly to Luke, waving his arms. Nathan had joined Luke in talking him down. Victor was standing off to the side, surveying the situation intently. Preparing himself to help if he saw a way he could. Kota was walking my way. When he stood between North and Gabriel, he stopped, hands up.

"Hey!" he yelled, gaining the attention of everyone except the two people he wanted to look at him. Fingers lifting to his mouth, he whistled. "Hey!" he repeated.

"Fuck, Kota," Gabriel complained.

North said nothing, but at least he was focused on Kota.

Kota glanced between North and Gabriel, then settled his eyes on North. "What's going on, North? Gabriel has a point-we haven't had a problem like this in a while."

North's jaw twitched. "What the fuck does that have to do with anything?"

Kota's hand came up to push his glasses up. "Why are you doing this right now?"

"That's a dumbass question."

Kota didn't react. "It's a valid question."

"You are honestly asking me why I'm doing this right now? After what Sang Baby found out?" North scoffed. "Of course I want to hold her! What I don't understand is why you won't leave me the fuck alone about it."

Kota opened his mouth to respond, but Gabriel shouted over whatever he'd been about to say. "How shitty is that? You aren't the only one that loves her, North! We're all worried and scared and want to hug the fuck out of her. You've had your turn. Stop being an asshole."

Kota opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, and then simply shrugged. "Basically."

That was so unlike Kota, to not at least try to rephrase in a less offensive way, that I couldn't stop myself from letting out a giggle. Kota's eyes widened slightly as he turned to smile at me.

"What I don't understand," Owen voice said from the doorway, "is why none of you have asked what Miss Sorenson wants."

Kota's smile faded as it turned to a gape. "What?"

Owen's steely eyes leveled on Kota. "I understand that we're all worried right now. We have a right to be. And I understand Mr. Taylor's urge to keep her close. I also understand Mr. Coleman's desire to do the same, and his anger when North isn't being reasonable." North grunted, but Mr. Blackbourne paid him no mind. "What I am having trouble understanding is why you and North and Gabriel and everyone else, except Sean who asked Sang if she was okay, aren't asking Sang what she wants. Maybe she wants to stay with North. Maybe she wants to go around and talk to everyone. Maybe she wants a moment alone. Why haven't you asked her?"

Kota and the rest blinked, processing Owen's words. Well, except Sean who winked at me. In that moment, the act was so out of place-and so Sean-I had to stifle the urge to giggle again.

Oblivious to my humor, North released a heavy breath. "Damn it." He rested his face on my hair, breathing me in. Leaving a kiss there in his wake, he leaned back. "You want me to let you go, don't you?"

Sheepishly, I shrugged. "It's not so much that I want you to let me go as I want to check on everyone else, too," I told him softly. "This whole thing is difficult."

Frowning, he rubbed his hand down my arm. "You don't need to worry about us. We need to take care of you."

I shook my head. "I want you guys to be alright."

"We will be," he murmured. "As long as you are."

Ignoring the weight those words added to my shoulders, I nodded. "I'll do my best."

Another heavy breath left his mouth, this time blowing over my face. "Oh, Baby. I know you will. I know." Dropping another kiss to my hair, he gave me a quick squeeze before letting me go. "Love you, Sang Baby."

"And I love you," I said as he moved to stand beside Silas. Turning, I planned to go to Gabriel, but he swept me into his arms first.

"Trouble," he said.

"Meanie."

"Shit." His grip on me tightened.

"Mr. Coleman, I believe she needs to breathe," Owen said with the barest trace of humor from beside us.

Instantly, Gabriel's grasp loosened. "Right, right. Sorry."

I shook my head. "It's okay. I could breathe just fine." While what I said was true, I was grateful Owen had stepped in. Any tighter and my breathing likely would have been in jeopardy.

"I need a word, anyway," Owen said.

Gabriel scowled. "I literally just got my hands on her, Mr. B. Surely I get her for at least a few more minutes."

"She is not a possession," Owen warned. "But you can stay right here for this." He met my eyes, his steely orbs making my heart flutter. I loved those eyes. "My call with Dr. Roberts went fast. He'd been expecting my call. We can head to the hospital and meet with him whenever we're ready."

Sean, who'd apparently been listening, asked, "Phil has an open schedule? I find that hard to believe."

"He said he'd make the time to speak with us. As I said, he was expecting my call."

All three of them looked at me, and I blushed. "I might have been a little out of it when he tried to talk to me about…" I couldn't say it. Why couldn't I say it? I'd already broken the news. There was no reason to hold back now.

Gabriel pushed some hair away from my face. "Don't you worry, Trouble. We've got your back."

Sean nodded. "That's right. I know all the right questions to ask. We'll find out all we need to know and get this ball rolling."

It was almost shocking how optimistic they were acting, but I figured they were trying to take this one step at a time. A logical approach. First, find out the full extent of what was wrong with me. Second, find out what to do about it. Third, go through with the treatment. Sounded manageable when put that way. Realistically, I knew it'd be much more challenging. But for now, I didn't need to think about that. One step at a time.

"Okay," I said, a new determination surging through me. "Let's go see Dr. Roberts."

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