Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! It's so awesome to get that kind of feedback. Because of all you nice people out there, I'm posting two chapters - that's right, two! Stay tuned, folks! :)
Cam and Brennan both stayed back that night so that they could use the X-ray room uninterrupted. This didn't raise any suspicion with Angela and Hodgins – they were used to seeing both women work late practically every night.
Brennan helped Cam recalibrate the X-ray machine for use on a live person, and Cam took X-rays from the front and side of both her abdomen and her back.
It was going to take a little while for Cam to develop the X-rays, so whilst she was doing that, Brennan headed back into her office to catch up on a little paperwork. She was expecting to see Cam come through her door once she was done, but when she didn't arrive after awhile, Brennan decided to walk down to her office.
She found Cam standing in her office, back to the door, staring at the X-rays on the light box attached to the wall. Her arms were folded. She heard Brennan behind her, and turned around. Brennan could tell from the tears welled in her eyes that the news wasn't good but she needed to see for herself. She walked up to the board and peered at the films.
"I'm sorry Temperance," said Cam, looking at her with concern.
"You'll need a CAT scan and probably a Gallium scan to confirm, but you can quite clearly see outlined areas of enlarged lymph nodes in your right axilla, chest cavity and upper abdomen. Most likely-"
"Lymphoma," said Brennan, not looking away from the X-rays. "Most likely lymphoma."
"Yes."
Brennan didn't seem to really react to the news. She turned to Cam. "Can you do the biopsy now? I want to examine the cells."
Cam nodded. She had already set up a little area in the autopsy room with a scrub tray and a sterile biopsy needle.
"You understand I don't have any local anaesthetic to help with the pain?" she asked.
Brennan nodded, and led the way to the autopsy room. She removed her shirt without prompting and lay down on the cold stainless steel of the autopsy table. She didn't even flinch when the steel touched her skin; just lay there ready, with her arm up over her head.
"This is going to hurt, but I really need you to keep as still as you can, okay? I'm not used to dealing with a body that actually moves," said Cam. Brennan merely nodded.
Cam took the needle and pushed it into the solid mass of lymph node tissue. It would have hurt like hell but Brennan didn't move an inch. This girl's tough, Cam thought.
Now, for the hardest part. She withdrew some cells. Brennan moaned, but still didn't move. Cam quickly withdrew the needle and placed a gauze pad over the site. Brennan took over applying pressure with her left hand and sat up, watching Cam as she took the needle over to a slide and pushed the cells onto the glass.
By the time Brennan had her shirt back on, Cam had the slide under the microscope and was adjusting its focus. The microscope was hooked up to a large LCD screen that was on the wall. Brennan looked at the LCD screen as the image began to get sharper.
Brennan could hear Cam's quick intake of breath, and she felt that knife in her chest again. The cells looked abnormal. They looked…
"The cells are malignant, Doctor Brennan," said Cam, getting her composure back. "I'm so sorry."
"What kind of lymphoma?" said Brennan, her voice still emotionless.
She pointed to the screen "These cells here look like Reed-Sternberg cells, so it's most likely Hodgkin's, but this really isn't my field. You need to see an Oncologist as soon as possible. I have a friend at Mercy General; he's one of the top Oncologists in the country. Doctor Marcus Rawlings. He's very good. I can get you an appointment with him…" said Cam, studying Brennan's face. She was still staring at the LCD screen, her expression blank.
"Yeah. Yes, that would be good. Thanks Cam," she said. Brennan turned to walk out but then turned back to face Cam. "Thank you for your help. I'm sure you can understand that I want this kept between us?"
"You have my word," said Cam. "I'll call Marcus first thing in the morning. Again, I'm so sorry."
Brennan clenched her jaw and nodded, and then strode out the door.
Again, please R&R, I likes it! :) :) :)
P.S. I'm so sorry for giving Bones cancer but remember, she isn't going to die. I promised.
