Part 4
"Leukemia..are they sure?" Wally asked shocked.
"Of course they're sure Wally. Look Roy's going to be back here this morning, I've asked Dinah to keep Lian for the rest of the week, it's best we let Roy absorb the news without worrying about other things for a while." Dick said.
"How...How did this happen Dick, why Roy?" Donna asked wiping tears away and leaning against Garth as he placed a comforting arm around her shoulder.
"We'll never know why it happened to Roy, Donna...But I do know it's caused by a genetic change in one of the white blood cells in the bone marrow...the cell turns malignant and reproduces until it overwhelms the healthy cells, normally our white cell count is around five to ten thousand per cubic millimeter, Roy's is way above three hundred thousand...The cancerous cells then start to attack some of the body's organs...ones that produce blood..."
"That's what caused the bruises I saw?" Garth asked.
Dick nodded. "Without medical intervention death can occur fairly quickly."
"So what are they doing about it? When will he start treatment?" Wally asked.
"They've already started on a course of chemotherapy, he'll have to take a pill each day until he completes the course...The thing you guys need to know is that the treatment isn't going to cure the disease." Dick said softly, running a hand through his hair before continuing. "This disease is eventually fatal with standard cancer treatments, the abnormal cells are tough, the treatment doesn't get them all, and when the ones that survive reproduce they're immune to further chemical treatment...all it'll do is buy him time."
There was silence in the room as the other three heroes turned to face their leader, shocked looks on their faces.
"I thought they could cure this...I've heard of people being cured before..." Garth started, stopping as Dick cut in.
"As I said it's eventually fatal with standard treatments, there is one chance though, and that's a bone marrow transplant following a combination of high dose chemotherapy and radiation to kill off all the cancerous cells. The problem is that the odds of finding a compatible donor aren't terribly high and it can be a long wait to find a match..it's higher amongst family members...but I know Lian's blood type is different to Roy's, he found that out a while back."
"What can we do? There has to be something we can do to help?...What about his Mother, Roy's never mentioned her...but maybe he has other brothers and sisters out there he doesn't even know about..What if she was still alive?...I mean no one ever said she was dead that I know of." Wally said as he nervously began to pace back and forth.
"Roy said he never knew her...he was never told anything about her..it could be a possibility Dick." Donna said anxiously.
"A possibility I already have a couple of associates looking into...If she's still alive I intend to find her. Mean while I suggest you guy's ask as many of your humanfriends and family as possible to be tested and placed on the national registry for donors. That's the best we can do for now...that and be there for Roy when he needs us." Dick said as he moved to leave..he still had three other team members to talk to about this, but he had wanted to speak to Wally, Garth and Donna first, they were as close to Roy as family, and it had made him feel sick to the stomach at having to break this news to them.
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Roy lay on his back, his hands tucked under his head, staring at the ceiling as his mind went over and over the events of the last couple of days. He didn't know what he felt at the moment...he'd had a million thoughts and feelings surging through his mind and body, but he had become emotionally drained and now all he felt was a sense of dread, and emptiness. When he had first found out he had felt a wave of fear..not of the disease, but of the possibility that he would be leaving Lian alone..it was a fear he'd always harbored that it seemed he was now going to have to face.
There was a gentle knock on the door, and without waiting for Roy to respond, it opened and Donna walked in.
"I didn't wake you, did I?" she asked softly.
"Nah..just laying here thinking."
Donna quickly crossed the room and sat beside him. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Roy shook his head. "Not yet." he said quietly.
Donna nodded and lay down beside him as Roy moved one hand from behind his head and wrapped his arm around her drawing her closer, she lay her head on his chest listening to his heart beat, drawing comfort from the closeness. "When your ready, I'll be listening." she murmured.
Roy nodded. "I know." he said as he gave her a gentle squeeze of reassurance. "Maybe in a couple of days..Just need a bit of time to get my head straight." he replied softly. He felt her nod against his chest, grateful for the support she offered him.
They lay like that until his breathing became deeper and he drifted off to sleep. Only then did Donna allow a couple of tears to escape and roll down her face and soak into his shirt.
end 4
