A/N: This chapter contains explicit violence.
"You are totally rocking that no-hair look." Alex said to Cameron, making the little boy smile. He was a quarter of the way through his chemo now and had lost his hair. He was weak, but he had been given IV anti-emetics so he hadn't had much nausea after the first few days.
"Hey Alex." he said quietly. He didn't normally talk to the doctors, but his mom was in the cafeteria so he was lonely.
"What's up, bud?" Alex said, taking a seat in the chair beside Cameron's bed.
"Why does my mommy hate that red head doctor?" Cameron asked. Alex looked confused.
"The guy or the girl?" he said, referring to either Owen or April.
"The guy." Cameron said.
"I didn't know he came to see you, but I'll ask him about it and get back to you. " Alex said. Cameron nodded at him.
"You okay being here by yourself for a little bit, or do you want me to stay?" Alex asked.
"I'm okay. You gotta go be a doctor." Cameron said. Alex smiled at the boy and left the room. A few minutes later, Owen walked in.
"Hey, little guy. Remember me?" Owen asked. Cameron nodded.
"You're the guy my mommy hates. Why does she hate you?" Cameron asked curiously. Owen sat where Alex had been.
"Well, I did a bad thing a long time ago. Your mom was part of that." Owen said.
"What bad thing?" Cameron asked, sitting up in bed now, fully engrossed. Owen contemplated whether or not to tell this five year old the full story. There are bits he would definitely have to leave out, but he should at least tell Cameron some of it.
"Why the hell does it take you so long to get home every night?" Natalie asked angrily as Owen walked through the door at 11pm.
"I'm a surgeon. I'm busy. I told you that." Owen said, walking right past her.
"Don't walk away from me!" Natalie yelled, grabbing Owen's arm. He quickly spun, hitting her with his closed fist. She backed away from him until her back hit the wall.
"God, I'm sorry." Owen said, looking shocked at his own action. Natalie reached up to her face and her hand came away wet. Her nose must be bleeding. She didn't do anything to stop it, just stood flush against the wall, not moving.
"Your nose is bleeding." Owen said, grabbing paper towels off the counter and walking towards Natalie. She couldn't back up any more so she just stayed where she was and waited for another hit. Instead, Owen tenderly held the paper towels to her nose, helping to stop the bleeding. He put his other arm around her shoulders and led her to the bathroom.
"I am so sorry."
"What the hell are you doing in here?" Natalie asked angrily, interrupting Owen before he could begin his story. Owen held his hands up in surrender.
"Just leaving." He said, walking out. Natalie closed the door behind him.
"Mommy, why do you hate him?" Cameron asked. Natalie faked a smile at her son.
"I don't hate him, baby." She said sadly. Cameron didn't want to make his mom sad, so he didn't ask any more questions. He closed his eyes and slept, instead.