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A day later, and everything was still changed.
Nathan had held Haley in his arms all night, listened to her sobs, listened to her worries and her upset. Listened to her denial. She had told him to get tested again, maybe the results got mixed up? And then the dawn had rose, and a indifferent Haley had rushed off, saying something about needing to prepare Jamie for school
Nathan had sat on his own in the house, looking at the tempting bottle of gin in front of him. The thing that had helped him through his problems with basketball.
But another voice niggled inside of his head..It hadn't helped, it had just made Nathan avoid it..and he didn't do that anymore..
And thats why he found himself on Clays doorstep, knocking on the door for the third time
"Chillax dude im coming!" was the response from Clay, clearly thinking it was the postman or something
"Oh hey Nate, whats up?" Clay asked, in his normal everyday tone upon opening the door..this was what was going to make the conversation even harder
"Can we take a walk?" Nathan said, looking at Clay's reaction carefully
"Sure buddy lets go" Clay grinned, shutting the door and bounding down the stairs, Nathan following him in pursuit
"So, you wanna talk business? Because you have some great stuff coming up Nate.." Clay started, but Nathan cut him off almost immediately
"Clay I cant do anything for the next couple of months at least" Nathan admitted, bowing his head
"Nate, I know your a bit shy sometimes but you cant just take a break like that for no reason" Clay said,looking conflicted between being the agent or the friend in this situation
"No Clay, I have a reason" Nathan frowned, looking at his friend, determined to look him in the eye and tell him instead of bottling it
"Well tell me then buddy, whats a problem between friends?" Clay smiled, giving Nathan a reassuring pat on the shoulder, before sitting and turning to look at the sea. Nathan sighed and sat next to him
"Clay, you remember those tests we did for cancer, when I got that ad?" Nathan asked, and Clay watched him, nodding
"And we got ours back at the same time..you told me yours was negative, right?" Nathan continued, and Clay motioned for him to carry on, nodding his head still
"Mine came back positive Clay..I have cancer" Nathan confided, and watched Clay's facial expression drop immediately, in concern for his friend. Nathan silently pleaded with him to accept it and not become in denial. He couldn't be asked to have another test..
"I don't know what to say Nate..im so sorry" Clay compassionately stated, putting a hand on Nathans back and keeping it there
"What kind of cancer is it?" Clay asked, his blue eyes contorting between the obvious emotion of sadness, and a subtextual one of strength
"Testicular" Nathan said to the floor, trying to cover his eyes, his expression, to show he was not breaking in any sense of the word
"There are so many cures for that Nate..we will get you through this..we'll get the best treatment money can buy" Clay quickly said, trying to reassure his friend
"I cant buy good treatment, I need to support Haley, Jamie, the house, everything, without basketball.." Nathan worried, putting his head in his hands again "I don't need the best treatment" he bravely concluded
"I'll pay" Clay suddenly piped up, watching Nathans mental battle with himself..Nathan wheeled around to face him
"What?" Nathan asked
"I'll pay for your treatment, private hospital, best doctors in the world, the works. THey worked on me when I had my shooting, and so many people said I could of died then. So how about it..give him another client, and i'll pay" Clay said, as if he had just initated a lightbulb moment
"Clay thanks man but I cant ask you to do that" Nathan said, looking at him
"Your not asking Nate..im doing and im not going to feel the slightest bit better until I do it, I need to help you" Clay said, and Nathan responded
"I cant ask you do to that" Nathan repeated again
"I didn't ask you to consider giving up your whole career to try and donate me a kidney and save my life, but you did Nathan, because you were being selfless and you were being a good friend" Clay said, rubbing his hands together
"Thats not the sa-" Nathan started, but it was his turn to be cut up
"Same? Of course it is Nathan, If I pay for you to get the best treatment possible on private health, not only will you be quicker, but you'll be more comfortable, you'll recover in better time, let me do this Nathan" Clay said, holding out a hand as if it was a business deal
"What if it doesn't work huh, then what Clay, ive wasted your savings" Nathan said, almost angry at himself for telling his best friend
"It will work. Don't think like that. And if it doesn't, your in debt" Clay grinned, surveying Nathan and hoping he was a bit happier
"How did Clay take things?" Haley asked, watching her husband file into the house, and quickly pouring her 3rd glass of wine back in the bottle
"Fine actually...he offered to pay for my medical treatment" Nathan said, hoping to get a reaction, opinion..just something..
"Right" Haley said, her stomach churning
"Well, ive cooked Jamie's favourite so you better be hungry" Haley grinned, acting as if everything was normal all over again
"Haley.." Nathan started in a warning tone
"He should be coming back from Chucks anytime now" she mentioned
"Haley you cant pretend its not there" Nathan said, wrapping his arms around her from behind, but she knocked them away
"Whats not there" Haley answered, almost viciously
"The testicular cancer ive got" Nathan honestly said, and Haley looked flabberegasted
"Don't say that word" she said, almost angrily
"What word?" Nathan asked, now confused
"Cancer..we don't mention it here, and I don't want you making it all popular within the household" Haley said, as if she had suddenly turned into a iceberg
"Haley I thought we were getting somewhere last night, you understood, you believed, you cried with me!" Nathan cried out, watching his wifes eyes dart around the room
"I guess I cant get used to the fact that im loosing someone else I love to the same disease that killed my mum...sorry if I deny it a bit Nathan!" Haley suddenly shouted, through tears, and ran upto her bedroom
"Haley your not gonna loose me-" Nathan tried..but he had already heard the slam of the door..for tonight, she was gone