Onward! Thanks to everyone who has left feedback, it means the world to know what you all think.
This was a kinda difficult chapter to write, and I hope that any medical details mentioned in this and subsequent chapters are correct, however, as I have no personal experience with this disease, some information may be incorrect, although I have taken some time to research this topic to try and get it correct as possible.

This chapter is for everyone who has been touched by this horrific disease, my thoughts are with you always.

Chapter 4

A buzzing noise disturbed Kate from her paperwork. Looking at the number flashing across the screen she recognised it as the number from of the Hospital. Picking it up nervously, she answered the call, her voice cracking as she spoke, 'Kate McGregor.'

'Kate, Marcus Green speaking. How are you?' the voice on the other end responded.

'I'm fine, how are you?'

'Good, thanks. Are you still in Port?'

'I am,' Kate replied, not offering any additional information.

'I have your test results here, are you free to come in this afternoon to discuss them?'

'I can be there in an hour,' Kate told him.

'That's fine, I'll let reception know, and I'll see you then.'

'Thank you Doctor.' The line clicked, signalling the end of the conversation. Kate pulled the phone away from her ear, staring at the item in her hand. Dropping the phone to the desk, she swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat, fear gripping her every sense. A knock at her door pulled her from her thoughts, and the door opened before she could respond. 'X, have you…' Mike began, pausing when he saw the terrified look on her face, 'Kate?' he asked, rushing to her side.

'The Doctor called my test results are back,' she whispered, 'I have to go in an hour.' Mike nodded, reaching his hand up to run it down the side of her face, 'Do you still want me to come with you?' he asked, a hint of fear in his voice.
'Yes,' she whispered, allowing the fear she was feeling to creep to the surface as she grabbed his larger hand with her smaller one, his strong grip reassuring her that she didn't have to do this alone.

An hour later, two Navy officers, clad in their Whites strode into the waiting room at Barry General. Their arms hung loosely at their sides, their hands brushing together in featherlight touches as they walked. Kate approached the dour receptionist, clearing her throat loudly to get the woman's attention. The chubby woman looked up, eying Kate curiously, 'Yes?' she asked rudely, annoyed at having been pulled from her computer, which, from the corner of her eye, Kate could see was logged into Facebook, a chat window in the lower corner flashing indicating a new message. 'Lieutenant Kate McGregor, I'm here to see Dr. Green.'

'Take a seat over there,' she said, pointing blindly in the direction of a bank of chairs, before returning her attention to her online conversation. Containing her anger, Kate walked over to where Mike was seated. However, the sight of her Commanding Officer, and sometimes lover, thumbing through an old copy of the Woman's Day was enough to dissolve her anger, even if it was only for a moment. Dropping into the seat next to him, she resisted the urge to kiss his gorgeous face, currently skewed in concentration as he read what was apparently a very interesting article. Shaking her head and chuckling, Kate was surprised when he looked up, 'What?'

'I can't believe you're reading that trash. I thought you were smarter than that,' she said, pulling the magazine from his grip and tossing it back onto the table.

'Hey! I was reading that,' he exclaimed, watching as his Executive Officer burst out laughing. Her laughter proved infectious as he too broke out laughing. Watching as she wiped tears from her eyes he was glad that he'd done something to take her mind off the reason they were here, if only for a few minutes. Her laughter stopped as suddenly as it had started as she saw Dr. Green approach. 'Kate, how are you?' he asked, offering his hand. Ignoring the outstretched hand, she nodded in response, eying the folders he carried suspiciously. Finding her voice, she introduced the man sitting next to her, 'Commander Mike Flynn,' she said, offering nothing on the nature of their relationship, 'Marcus Green.' Mike shook his hand politely, watching as the Marcus gestured towards his consulting room. Kate followed Marcus slowly, a last ditch attempt at avoiding what was awaiting her in the papers he held. Stopping in the doorway, he allowed Kate and Mike to enter before he followed, shutting the door firmly behind him. Taking his seat, he gave the couple sitting before him a few moments to settle, watching as Kate's hand positioned itself next to Mike's, the latter taking her smaller hand in his.

Flipping the cream folder open on his desk, Marcus spoke, 'How have you been feeling Kate? Any discomfort around the lump?'

'A little, but I expected that.'

'Do you mind if I have a quick look, just to check for any infection.'

'Go ahead,' Kate told him, rising from her seat. Mike watched as she sat on the bed situated on the far wall, pulling her shirt free from the confines of her pants before removing it and laying it across the bed. Marcus closed the curtain around them, giving a degree of privacy while Mike sat nervously in the chair, his gaze wandering the pieces of paper sitting on the wooden desktop.

Tuning out from the conversation continuing behind the curtain, he took a moment to think about the implications of the results which were to be delivered to Kate in the next few minutes. He didn't doubt her strength to face this battle head-on if need be, but he had reservations about his own strength. His feelings for her ran deeper than friendship, and he knew enough about this disease to know that it didn't just affect the person suffering from the illness, but had a profound affect on those around them, and deep down he was concerned about whether he could stand to see her suffer, potentially to her death. And children? He knew that she wanted kids, had told him so months earlier, and this could certainly throw a spanner in her plans. His mind flashed to an image of a young girl, maybe three, blonde pigtails swinging through the air as she ran around the playground. Kate watched from a short distance away, feeding a young boy, his hair dark like his fathers. The boy, more interested in running around with his sister than eating, batted the spoon away with his chubby little hand. Giving up on feeding the stubborn boy, Kate places the jar on the bench beside her, lifting the boy out of his pusher before placing him gently on the ground, allowing his little legs a moment to balance before she let him go, smiling as she watched him toddle over to his big sister. A pair of arms wrap around her from behind, kissing her neck softly as he ran his hands over the small swell in her stomach. 'Mike…' something grabbed his hand, pulling on it lightly, interrupting his daydream.

'Mike?' a female voice asked again, 'Are you ok?' she questioned, noticing the far away look in his eyes.

'Huh?' he said, confused, 'Oh sorry?' he apologised, noticing Kate sitting back next to him, confusion etched on her features.

'Where did you go just now?' she whispered, not wanting to disturb Marcus who was furiously writing notes on the pages in front of him.

'Nowhere,' he replied, visions of their children drifting from his mind. He watched as the other man sat up, facing the pair. Seeing the emotionless expression on his face, Kate grabbed Mike's hand again, squeezing it as tight as she dared. 'Kate, I have your results here. What I've done is compiled the biopsy results with those of the mammogram, and from your initial examination with Doctor Peters, so we have a complete picture of this issue,' he paused, unsure of how to tell the young woman the next part, 'The biopsy we completed earlier in the week confirmed our suspicions that the lump is malignant.' Kate squeezed Mike's hand tighter as her fears were realized, tears rolling from her eyes as the word "malignant" rolled around in her head. She had cancer. Test results confirmed it. Barely thirty-five and she was facing death. She unsuccessfully choked back a sob, reaching for the tissues she'd spotted on the desk as she dabbed at her eyes. Having delivered news like this on more than one occasion, Marcus gave her a few minutes to process the information before continuing. 'The cancer itself is defined as stage two, and I'll give you some information regarding treatment options, but having spoken with an oncologist about your case, we believe the best course of treatment would be for you to have a mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy. I know this is a lot to take in, but the good news is we've caught this cancer fairly early and with swift treatment, I believe you can beat this.' The older man reached out to grab Kate's other hand, currently gripping a sopping tissue like it was the last thing on earth, squeezing it in some form of reassurance. Continuing, he spoke softly, 'I'll give you a referral to see an oncologist and she'll go through the treatment options with you in more depth and will be more equipped to answer your questions.' Kate nodded miserably, resisting the urge to bury herself in Mike's arms. A few minutes later, after a one-sided conversation the appointment was over, Mike standing to shake the other mans hand before helping a near catatonic Kate to her feet, supporting her weight as she all but collapsed into his arms, the diagnosis proving to be too much for her to deal with. Mike took the stack of paper that was offered by Doctor Green, thanking him politely as he led Kate from the room, passing the stunned receptionist, dragged once again from her online conversation by Kate's loud sobs. Exiting the building, Mike stopped the pair in the park opposite the hospital, carefully sitting them down on the bench, tucking his pile of paper under their hats as he took the devastated woman in his arms, their tears mingling together as they processed the news that had changed the course of their lives.