Disclaimer: I don't own Veronica Mars, or any recognisable characters. Enjoy! Chapter 2
The Surgery
The next morning, Keith has barely gotten Veronica home from the hospital when she says. "I want to go to school."
Keith gives her an incredulous expression as he says. "But you only just got home, you have a concussion, you need rest, not to mention…" He trails off uncertainly.
"Look, Dad, once I start treatment I'm going to be missing tons of school, and…" She pauses. "I can't really explain it, but this, this is something I have to do. Okay?"
Of course once she's pulled the cancer card, Keith gives in. "Alright kiddo, but I'm driving you there, and if you're not feeling well, you call me straight away. Deal?"
Veronica sighs long-sufferingly as she replies. "Okay, Dad."
Almost as soon as Veronica gets out of the car, Vice Principal Clemmons approaches her. "Veronica, can I see you for a moment?"
With none of her usual banter, she tells him. "I'm really not in the mood for this today, probably won't be tomorrow either."
He is clearly surprised by her defeated attitude, but after taking a look around, he tells her. "I need your help. Someone's stolen Polly, our mascot, and I need you to get him back before Friday's game, without anyone finding out that he's gone."
"No can do, find someone else to do your dirty work." Veronica says as she starts to walk away.
Clemmons just sighs as he watches her walk towards the school, too focused on what he's going to do now to notice the slightly too pale of Veronica's face, or the generally weary way she is holding herself.
By the end of the day Veronica is exhausted, emotionally and physically, she really should have stayed home. Trying to keep up appearances, even around her friends was shattering. It's all she can do to climb into her dad's car, and mutter. "Maybe that wasn't such a great idea."
Keith leans over, and places a soft kiss on his daughter's head before he drives away.
Three days later, Friday morning, Veronica is scheduled for surgery that afternoon, and she is getting ready to go to the hospital, and has just gotten dressed into a pair of track pants and a loose fitting shirt, when there is a knock at the door.
Veronica runs a hand through her hair before going to answer the door. "Coming."
A moment later she reaches the door, turns the handle, and opens the front door, revealing Wallace standing on her doorstep. "Hey, V. You haven't been at school in days, just wanted to check that you're gonna be at the game this afternoon." He pauses a moment, and after taking in Veronica's unusually dull appearance, he asks her. "Are you alright? No offence, but you don't look so great, V."
Veronica takes a step back, letting Wallace into the apartment. "Come in."
He's going to find out sooner or later, and it's probably better this way.
Wallace enters the apartment, and then follows Veronica into her small bedroom. He sits down beside her on the bed, and waits worriedly for her to speak. He can't help but notice the small duffel bag at the end of the bed.
"…" Veronica hesitates, not sure quite how to break the news to her best friend, eventually she decides to just bite the bullet, and get it over with. "I can't come to the game today, Wallace. I've got cancer, and today I'm meant to be having surgery."
Wallace's jaw drops so far that Veronica thanks it will hit the ground.
She continues quickly, not wanting to lose her nerve. "My doctor thinks that the surgery, along with chemo and some other stuff should get rid of it, so you don't really need to worry, I'm gonna be fine."
Once he's recovered somewhat from the shock, Wallace asks her. "What type is it? I mean there's lots, aren't there? Different parts of your body, and stuff?"
"…Breast cancer." Veronica answers simply, she then adds. "The surgery, cutting them off, it's the only way I can beat this." As she says this, Veronica drops her glance to the floor, not even able to look her friend in the eye.
Wallace's shell-shocked expression makes a second appearance upon hearing this, he briefly thinks about making a run for the door, but he can see that she really needs him right now, and he gently uses his hand to lift her face so that she is looking at him, as he tells her. "It's alright, V. It doesn't matter what you look like, I'll be here …you can't get rid of me that easily." He finishes with a laugh.
Veronica can't help but laugh with him, relived that he took it so well. Part of her, not part, all of her actually truly believed that he would walk away from her, and never look back.
Several minutes later, when Keith comes into Veronica's room to tell her it's time to go, he is surprised to see Wallace there, helping Veronica pack everything, keeping her smiling the whole time; he hasn't seen his daughter smile since she got the news. "Hey, Wallace, good to see you." Keith says, keeping the mood light for Veronica's benefit.
"Morning, Mr Mars. 'Just helping Veronica pack a few things up." Wallace says casually, as if he hasn't just heard that his best friend, the first friend he made in Neptune, has cancer, and she is having major surgery today.
Keith nods to Wallace in acknowledgement before turning to Veronica, and telling her. "It's time to go, kiddo."
Veronica's mood shifts instantly, and she quietly says. "Okay. I'll meet you out at the car."
Keith looks to Wallace, who nods in silent agreement to make sure she's alright, and bring her out when she's ready, before he leaves the room.
Once they're alone, Wallace gently asks Veronica. "Are you okay?"
Veronica nods quickly, and mutters. "Just give me a minute." As she walks into the small bathroom.
Wallace allows her some space, and a couple of minutes later she returns, her flushed cheeks the only outward sign of emotional turmoil.
"I'm ready." Veronica tells him in a hushed voice.
She goes to pick up her bag, but Wallace quickly takes it, and slings it over his shoulder, before wrapping his free arm around her, and then he begins leading her out of the apartment.
When they get to the hospital, Keith goes to start checking Veronica in, while she and Wallace sit in a couple of available nearly seats. "This is kinda crazy." Veronica comments, anything to break the silence.
"Yeah." Wallace agrees, but that is as far as the conversation goes.
After a moment, Veronica tells Wallace. "You should go, you've got school."
Wallace is quick to reply. "No way, V. This is way more important."
Veronica smiles at Wallace weakly as she says. "At least go once I've gone into surgery, you don't need to hang around, and besides, you've got the big game this afternoon."
Wallace looks confused for a moment, Veronica can almost see the gears turning in his head, trying to remember what she's talking about. He then says. "Oh yeah, that's today. It doesn't feel like it should be on today."
"But it is, and you're gonna go out there, and kick ass." Veronica says, and then in a lighter tone she adds. "I know you'll miss having me there, waving pompoms and spirit fingers in your face, but..." She trails off as she sees her father walking over with a nurse wearing theatre clothes.
When Keith and the nurse, Charli reach the pair, Charli quickly introduces herself to Veronica. "Hi Veronica, my name's Charli. I'm going to be looking after you before your operation. If you'll just follow me, I'll show you into our pre-op area."
Veronica and Wallace stand up wordlessly, and follow Keith and Charli into a too white room, only contrasted by pale blue blankets on each of the beds along the wall.
Charli shows them over to one of the furthest away ones, and puts down the side so that Veronica can sit down on the edge. She then takes a hospital gown out of the stand beside the bed, and instructs Veronica. "Can you just change into this, and I'll be back in a minute to take your vitals, and get you to answer a few questions for me."
"Okay." Veronica answers her, accepting the gown.
As Charli walks out she suggests to Keith and Wallace that they should give Veronica some privacy while she gets changed, and they agree immediately and follow her out of the cubicle.
Once Charli has left, and drawn the curtain around the bed on the way out, Veronica stands up, and quickly strips off her clothes and changes into the thin material gown. Veronica is careful not to spend any more time than necessary looking at, or touching her body; it just doesn't feel right.
Meanwhile, Wallace and Keith get to talking while they are waiting for Veronica to let them come back in. "I really appreciate you staying, Wallace. I don't think many guys your age would."
"She's my best friend, Mr Mars. It sounds cheesy, but there's no way I'd be anywhere else right now. I just wish she had'a told me sooner."
"Me too." Keith says softly, but before he can say anymore, Veronica draws back the curtain.
Holding the back of the ill fitted gown together, Veronica looks pointedly at Wallace and her father as she warns them. "Don't say a word."
Charli returns several minutes later, and goes straight over to the bed, where Veronica is sitting with her legs hanging over the side. "Okay, Veronica. Once we've got these forms and a couple of other things out of the way we'll take you down to surgery."
Veronica just nods in acknowledgement, subconsciously shifting closer to Wallace, who is sitting beside her.
Charli picks up a clipboard from the stand, and begins asking Veronica a number of questions, standard procedure, and Veronica answers them all without emotion, until. "And what procedure are you in for today?"
No matter how many times she says it, it doesn't get easier. "A double mastectomy."
"Okay, and you've chosen not to undergo reconstruction at this point?"
Wallace and Keith both look at Veronica, shocked as she replies. "Yes."
Charli marks off several boxes on her clipboard before she hooks it over the end of the bed. She then goes over to the stand, and retrieves what look like a pair of thickly woven stockings, she hands them to Veronica as she explains. "These are to prevent clots forming in your legs while you're not moving around." She hands them to Veronica, and then pulls a couple of bands out of her pocket. "I just need to put a couple of id bands around your wrist now." She only takes a moment to double check the information on the tags, and secures them around Veronica's slender wrist. She then moves back over to the trolley, and bringing a small trolley with some kind of kit on it over. "Finally I'll just need to put an IV in your hand, okay?"
"Sure, why not?" Veronica says tiredly, putting her hand out.
Veronica barely even flinches as Charli inserts the large needle into her hand, and within a few seconds she's finished, and the IV is taped into place.
"Alright Veronica, can you just hop into the bed for me, and I'll help you put on the stockings, then I'll leave you alone."
Veronica obediently repositions herself in the bed, so that she is almost lying down.
Wallace climbs down, and moves out of the way as Charli moves to help Veronica pull on the stockings.
Once Charli has helps Veronica put on the stockings, and done a complete set of vitals, she tells Veronica. "You're all set, Veronica. An orderly will be in in a few minutes to take you into theatre. Just try to relax."
Veronica laughs quickly, she's about to have surgery, and they're telling her to relax, that's not happening.
Charli smiles at Veronica understandingly before turning, and walking over to the nurses' station.
When she's gone, Keith and Wallace move back to Veronica's side. They both sit down, either on the side of the bed, or on a nearby chair, and wait with Veronica in silence.
When an orderly walks over to Veronica several minutes later, she instantly tenses. Keith is at her side instantly, and soothingly says. "It's alright, honey. Everything's going to be alright." Please don't let me be made a liar, please. "I'll see you in a few hours, Veronica. I love you." He says as he plants a gentle kiss on her forehead
"I love you too, Dad." Veronica murmurs softly.
As he steps back, all Keith can think is. What if this is the last time I ever see her? Why is this happening to her?
Once Keith is out of the way, Wallace hesitantly moves closer to Veronica, and all he says is. "See you in a few, V." But his thoughts pretty much match Keith's.
Putting on a smile, Veronica says. "Yeah, now get your butt to school, and I'd better not find out that you lost the game, because you were worrying about me, I'm gonna be fine."
Wallace smiles in return, knowing that she is humouring him, and is actually terrified, but knowing that it won't do any good to say that.
As soon as they've each said their piece, the orderly moves to the bedside, and quickly gets ready to go. When he starts pushing the bed towards a set of doors at the end of the room, Veronica is surprised, but hastily hides that, and slides further down in the bed resignedly. As she catches a glimpse of her dad and Wallace, she thinks. I've got to get through this. Please don't let me die.
TBC...
Thanks for reading! Please review, I'd lovwe to hear your thoughts on this fic!