Chapter Three

"What is this all about?" Murray demanded as he, Theora and Edison entered Bryce's studio.

Bryce was leaning on his desk, fingers clenched, as if readying himself for a painful talk. He stood there like that for several minutes, not speaking.

Murray was about ask again when Edison shook his head. Edison could tell something was troubling the teen genius, and he didn't want Murray to derail him before he got started.

FInally, Bryce turned to face them. Without saying a word, he reached up and removed the wig.

Theora could see that some of the bald patches were a little bigger.

"Another treatment?" She asked.

"Early this morning," Bryce told her. He looked at them all, his eyes full of fear and pain. "I… I want it to be the last."

Theora nodded. "It will be, Bryce." she told him.

"Now, wait a minute," Edison demanded. "What kind of treatment are we talking about?"

"Chemo," Bryce explained.

"You have cancer," Murray didn't asked. "How bad…"

"Stage four," Bryce told him. "I've been prolonging my life with chemo, but…"

He sat down and put his face in his hands.

This time it was Edison who was there to console him.

"I'll see if I can find…"

"No, Edison," Theora shook her head. "Bryce is suffering. You need to let him go."

"I can't just let him die, Theora!" Edison exclaimed. "I can't lose another friend."

"You're being selfish, Edison," Theora pointed out.

"Selfish?" Edison shouted at her.

"You're asking Bryce to suffer because of Paddy." Theora said.

"I'm not asking him to suffer! I want him to get better!"

"I've done all I can," Bryce said, quietly. "My body's too weak and too sick to handle the pain any longer, Edison. Please. Let me die."

"I can't. As long as there's hope for a cure. I just want you to hang on a little longer," Edison pleaded.

"Edison," Murray said, firmly. "Let him go."

"God damn all of you," Edison swore as he stormed out.

Bryce looked crestfallen as he whispered. "He already has."

"Edison's just upset," Theora told the young genius.

"I suppose I can't blame him," Murray said. He turned to Bryce. "Perhaps you should move in with one of us until it's time. I can't bear the thought of you dying alone."

Edison stormed into Dr. Duncan's office. The secretary tried to stop him, but he angrily waved her aside and barged into the examination room. "I want you to cure Bryce," he demanded angrily.

"Mr. Carter," Dr. Duncan said, looking up from his current patient, Lauren, "please wait out in the lobby until I am done with my current patient. And please refrain from …"

"No," Edison snarled. "There's no time for that. Bryce is…"

"Bryce Lynch is beyond my help," Dr. Duncan told him. "I've suggested he cease chemo. It's not doing anything for him other than prolonging…"

"Delaying," Edison said, "until a cure can be found."

"What cure?" Lauren asked. "What are you talking about?"

"It's private," Dr. Duncan told her. "Edison should never have…"

"Bryce has cancer," Edison cut him off. "And this quack is refusing to save him."

"Oh my god," Lauren said, her voice full of pain. She turned to Dr Duncan. "Can't you do anything?"

Dr. Duncan shook his head. "It's brain cancer," he explained. "And it's degenerative."