Thanks for all the follows and reviews :-) Always good to know people are reading and interested in more. Hopefully I will be able to update this story fairly regularly. Again this chapter is unbeta'd but if there's anyone who would like to take on the job feel free to msg me :-)

Miranda barely had time to take in the news before the door opened and in walked another doctor.

"Ah you must be Miranda, I'm Dr Evans, a neurologist."

Any other time the woman would pay attention to his friendliness, his looks and how smartly dressed he was. More often than not these days it would be out of jealously, the desire for no one else to admire her Andrea but she. Possessive she may be but she was also not ignorant of her wife's beauty, after all she had been captured by it herself.

Dr Evans held out his hand for the Editor to shake, she however chose not to acknowledge it, choosing to keep her arms wrapped around Andrea. He instead gave her a small smile before moving across the room to flip a switch on the wall. A light box illuminated in front of them and Evans smoothly removed some scans from a folder he was holding and placed them on the board.

"I've had a chance to examine the MRI images a little closer Andrea. They show you have what we call a Glioma."

"What's.." Miranda had to clear her throat her throat from the lump that had settled there.

"What is that exactly? Cancer..?"

"I know the other doctor Andrea spoke to earlier to referred to it as cancer but to be more specific it's actually a tumour. We would normally take a biopsy in order to determine whether it is benign or malignant, in other wards cancerous. However in this case it's difficult given the location."

Andrea's heart sank, until now she had been quiet allowing Miranda to ask the questions she needed to know but now she was having to face the reality of the situation as it was laid out before her.

"Difficult how? Is it operable?"

Evans turned back to the scan, his fingers tracing over the image.

"The tumour has wrapped itself around the brain stem which complicates matters due to the importance it has in the body functioning. Think of it as a map made up of numerous nerves. Attempting a surgical procedure is extremely dangerous due to the risk of damaging one of these and if that happens you could end up with impaired abilities or paralysis. Worse cases scenario would result in death."

"Okaaayy." Andrea drew out the word and let out a shaky breath.

Miranda stood, turning her back upon the images and closed her eyes. Her body was tense, she was on edge and wanted nothing more than to take Andrea and just run but there was nothing she could do, no where they could hide that would shield them from the nightmare they had found themselves in. She gave herself a moment to try and regain some equilibrium and then found herself doing something she had been doing all her life; rallying against the impossible.

"I refuse to believe this, I don't accept it."

Andrea reached out to grab her wife's hand. If there was ever a time she needed her strength and the comfort of a simple touch then it was now.

"There must be something we can do."

Dr Evans turned back to the scans.

"Surgery has to be a last resort, the risk factors are simply too high. However we have the option of chemotherapy and radiation. Considering how long you have been suffering with symptoms and the size of the tumour now it appears to be slow growing. With some luck and an effective treatment plan it might be possible to stop, even shrink the growth. That may give us the option of surgery later on."

"So there is a chance I could get better?" Andrea felt unsure but she needed to know, she needed to know that there was at least a chance, that not all hope was lost.

Evans looked uncomfortably between the two woman in front of him. He had a duty to give the facts and while he enjoyed his job he also hated to be the bearer of bad news.

" I won't lie, the odds are not in your favour Andrea. The long term survival rates for people with this type of tumour is barely into double figures. You're going to have a battle on your hands."

The grip Miranda had on Andrea's hand tightened. The likelihood of her wife not beating this was terrifying her. And by the look on the younger woman's face, the Editor could tell she was feeling the same following the life altering news. If there was ever a time Miranda needed to live up to her ice queen image it was now, Andrea needed her more than ever and she would do all that was necessary to give her the love and support she required.

"Darling i'm going to make sure you get the best care possible. You're young, strong and until today relatively healthy, there is no reason why we cannot fight this."

The only thing Andrea registered in that sentence was 'we'. They would fight it together, with Miranda beside her she knew she could find the strength she needed to give herself a chance. She summoned the courage and smiled at wife before looking back at Dr Evans.

"So what's the plan?"

"Well I have a colleague at Sloan-Kettering who specialises in this sort of thing, a Dr Elaine Gulden. I can get in contact as soon as possible and we'll devise a plan of action."

Miranda nodded in agreement.

"She is one of the best Andrea, I was going to suggest her myself. We've met on numerous occasions at charitable dinners and her reputation is unprecedented. You'll like her I'm sure."

The brunette simply nodded her response, her faith in her wife meaning she had no questions about the plan.

"Good, we'll get treatment started as soon as possible. We'll be in touch to arrange everything. I know this news has come as a shock to you both. Take your time, there's no need to hurry out." He gave them an apologetic smile to try and make up for the fact he delivered some of the worst possible news they could have heard. Andrea was at least grateful and gave a half smile back whilst Miranda just gave him one last look before he left the room. The two women were now left in complete silence.

They still hadn't let go of one another and as Andrea tugged Miranda back down to sit next to her she took a moment to observe the Editor. She could see what the woman was trying to do; taking in the news, compartmentalising and pushing forward. It was a coping mechanism she knew her wife used all the time, every day. But this wasn't a normal day and this wasn't a simple bit of news that could be pushed aside. Miranda was hurting too and Andrea wouldn't allow the woman to bury her pain to try and save her the anguish of seeing it.

"We'll fight this Miranda, you said it yourself. We'll fight it. I don't want you thinking about the worst case scenario. The treatment will work and yes things may be bleak for a few months but it will all be worth it in the end."

For the first time since Dr Evans left the room Miranda turned and looked at the woman she loved. She ran the back of he free hand delicately over her wife's cheek before tucking a loose strand of hair back behind her ear.

"I can't lose you Andrea...Not now."