Announcement regarding Short Stories: I'm taking the number of revolving short stories down from 5 to 4, and eventually to 3. The reason being without a short story chapter a week, and most especially without the aid of short story months any longer the short stories are not moving fast enough. One shots, practically with chapters of 2 & 3 shots going up consecutively, and long stories now that they're getting nice long chapters are moving at a good pace and coming off the list at a good pace. Short stories are not and the time between chapters for each short story are too long! So I will not be replacing Light in a World of Dark with anything so there are now four short stories in rotation. When the next one ends there will then be three short stories in rotation which will mean less time between chapters for each short story and they should be moving at a better pace.
New pics are up there is now 130 stories represented in picture in the 200 stories gallery on the DeGrassi Saviors Website.
Guest reviewers please remember to check my profile page for a response. Mary and Olivia please see my profile page for questions on your requests.
Ch. 9 Girl with the Blue Eyed Tears
(DARCY)
"…it's very rewarding to see what we accomplish. It's hard work bu…"
"Darcy?" Clare questions cutting me off as I'm telling Dallas about building housing in a small Kenyan village. Hearing my little sister's voice I turn my head to smile at her and take her hand.
"Hi Baby Sister," I greet her kissing her cheek. Clare smiles before looking at Dallas.
"You're still here," Clare says with a grateful relief when she sees Dallas.
"I promised I'd stay. I slept for a bit and then your sister came in, she and I began talking and guess we talked the rest of the night. I should probably get home and shower before school. I'll come by at lunch with Owen at least," Dallas tells her and then waves to the both of us before leaving.
"You talked all night with Dallas?" Clare asks cocking an eyebrow with an impish grin.
"It just sort of happened. He introduced himself as your Distract-Friend and I wanted to know what that was. So he told me all about your distraction date and how your friendship started and I was talking about Africa and we just didn't realize so much time had passed. Enough about me I hear you're dating two boys?"
"Yeah the problem is choosing, I like them both so much and I don't think I can date the two of them much longer. Although if I do have cancer I may not have to choose," she sighs.
"You don't think they'd both dump you if you have cancer do you? From what Dallas told me they have been fighting pretty hard for you."
"They have, and I don't think they'd just totally walk away we'd remain friends and I'm sure they'd come by and see me like my other friends but who wants to date a dying girl, or one who can't walk," Clare says with a melancholy tone and her eyes fill with tears.
"Clare don't talk like that you're not dying and Dad says they don't know that you're still paralyzed yet. You were too agitated the last time they tried to test. Don't lose hope sis," I encourage her squeezing her hand.
She nods but tears start to fall from her eyes and she turns her head to cry into the pillow. I hold her and stroke her hair, not much else I can do and I hate this helpless feeling. Clare and I have never been super close, our personalities are so different and we're three years apart. When we were really young I used to dress her up and play with her like she was my personal doll. From about the time I was five and Clare was two until I was about twelve and she was nine we would play and got on pretty well, and then she just became the annoying little sister. I was interested in boys, fashion and cheerleading and dying to get out of our strict school and Clare wanted nothing more than to be the smartest and know everything. We started drifting apart in lot of ways but I would always protect her. When I found out she was in the hospital after surgery and was paralyzed, possibly permanently and worse that she might have cancer, I felt like I should have been here to protect her. I hate watching her and being so helpless, I really wish I could tell her it's all going to be fine. She cries for a while and all I can do is hold her hand and stroke her hair. When she hears someone else coming she wipes her eyes and looks at the door just as an orderly comes in with a tray.
"Breakfast," the orderly says putting the tray on her rolling tray.
"Thanks," Clare says quietly. She moves like she's trying to sit up but she struggles with it. Then she presses the button that makes her bed move up. It's not until she starts eating that I realize how long it's been since I've eaten. Dad picked me up and took me to his place but I wasn't hungry and when I couldn't sleep I asked to borrow his car and came to the hospital.
"Will you be okay for a few minutes? I'm going to find the cafeteria and get some food I haven't eaten since yesterday but I'll be right back," I tell Clare.
"I'll be fine," Clare replies forcing a small smile to her lips to assure me.
I smile back and leave her room, I start walking down the hall although not really sure of where I'm headed. I don't get very far before the emotions take over and I can't walk anymore. I find a dark room without a name on the door and duck inside, leaning against the door I sink down and cry. Letting out everything I've been holding in since I first heard Clare was in surgery. After a few minutes I compose myself, wipe my tears and stand up leaving the room. I ask a nurse where the cafeteria is and she tells me how to find it. I get coffee and a muffin and sit down, I eat pretty quickly returning to Clare's room and find Mom, Glen, Jake and Dad in her room too. She's done eating and Mom is telling Clare that everyone at church is praying for her. Clare smiles at me when I come back in, all the chairs are filled so I lean against the wall. Mom is still talking when a doctor comes in.
"Good morning everyone, I'm Dr. Locane. How are you feeling today Clare?"
"Okay I guess," Clare replies quietly.
"I know you've had breakfast so if you feel up to it I'd like to test your mobility again. I see from Dr. Pearl's notes that the tests yesterday were inconclusive because you were too upset. Do you feel up to trying again?" The doctor asks. Clare looks at all of us and we all nod or smile with encouragement so Clare nods. "Very good, okay family you can be in the room but I'm going to have you move back from Clare's bed," Dr. Locane says and our parents move away from her bed. "I want you to close your eyes and tell me if you feel me touching you and where. I'm not going to ask you if you feel it if you feel something then you tell me."
"Okay," Clare nods before closing her eyes.
"Alright Clare I'm going to start remember to tell me if you feel me touching you and where."
Clare nods and the doctor touches both of Clare's shins through the blankets. We all look at Clare hoping she says something but she says nothing and the doctor removes her hands. Next the doctor touches Clare's stomach, laying one hand on the blanket on Clare's stomach. Clare can't lie on her back all the way because of the surgery but she's propped up with pillows to keep her mostly on her side.
"You're touching my stomach, I can feel that."
"Good Clare," the doctor smiles removing her hand and then pulling the blankets from Clare's feet up above her knees. Dr. Locane touches the bottom of Clare's feet and Clare says nothing. Dr. Locane then touches Clare's knee and Clare says nothing. The doctor then moves the blanket again, this time lifting it off Clare's hip and she touches her hip.
"I feel that you're touching my hip but…" Clare's sentence trails off and I see her biting her lip.
"But what Clare?"
"I only feel half your hand."
"Okay you can open your eyes," the doctor says and Clare does so. "I'm going to push on the bottom of your foot and I want you to push back as hard as you can," the doctor tells her and Clare nods. Dr. Locane moves to the foot of Clare's bed and with the way Clare is lying Dr. Locane pushes on her top foot. We see the doctor's hand moving Clare's foot but Clare isn't pushing back. I look at her and I see Clare struggling, concentrating and trying to move her foot but she cant. I find myself moving my own foot, such a simple thing that for most people takes no effort or concentration it's second nature but Clare can't do it and she breaks into tears.
"I can't," Clare cries turning her head into the pillow.
"Okay Clare I know this is scary but the fights not over yet. Right now I want you to rest, I'm going to look over your tests and speak with some colleagues and I'll be back in a little while."
The doctor leaves the room and we all go back to surrounding Clare's bed. She cries for a bit and then just stares at the hospital bed sheet, fingering it between her thumb and forefinger. We try to be encouraging, looking between each other for something to say to make her feel better but it seem like she's paralyzed and what is there to say? While we all desperately search for something to say the door opens and another doctor comes in. A somewhat salty looking older man in his fifties or sixties with white hair and glasses.
"Good morning I'm Dr. Jarvis, the neurologist specialist at the hospital, Dr. Locane and Dr. Pearl asked me to do a consult. You're surgery was a success but you're still unable to move or feel any sensation below your waist is that right?"
"Yes, well it starts sort of halfway around my hips," Clare nods wiping the tears from her eyes.
"The tumor was removed successfully but it was in a sensitive area and the tumor was growing for a while. It definitely did some nerve damage and some possible spinal cord damage. I don't want to do a CT just yet though. The good news is that it's possible that you will get some sensation and mobility back if we can train your brain to learn to move your legs in a new way. We're still waiting on the pathology from the tumor so until we know if it was cancerous or not we'll stave off treatment and physical therapy. I'm going to do a physical exam of my own if that's okay," the doctor tells Clare and she nods.
The doctor does his exam, using a few different tools to try and get Clare to react to sensations on her legs and feet, all the way to her hips but she never shows that she feels it until he gets about halfway up her hip bone. He moves her legs and feet and tries to get her to move them back but she can't. He even twists her ankle in what seems like it would be a painful way but Clare doesn't react and when she doesn't move it back on her own the doctor moves it back. Like Dr. Locane Dr. Jarvis agrees that she's paralyzed from the waist down but tells us again that she may be able to get some mobility back. Clare like the rest of us pretty much just hears that she'll never walk again. When the doctor leaves Clare turns her head into the pillow to hide, she doesn't cry this time but I don't think she has any tears left. We sit there silently, Mom and I hold Clare's hands it's all we can do right now. It's devastating news for anyone to know that you're paralyzed and then Dr. Locane comes back in the room and she does not have a good look on her face.
"I have the results of the tumor biopsy back and it was malignant, Clare you're in stage two group three of rhabdomyosarcoma a form of leukemia," the doctor tells us and Clare goes entirely pale while my heart stops. "We're going to keep you here for another couple of days while you heal from the surgery more and then you're going to be transferred to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. I'll give you all some time, I'm going to consult with Dr. Jarvis and call the cancer hospital. I'll be back later to talk about treatment."
The doctor leaves the room and Clare breaks into a torrent of tears, burying her head in her pillow as she sobs. Mom reaches her hand out to touch Clare's arm and try to comfort her but then Mom also breaks into tears. Dad is crying too and Glen is holding Mom, he's not crying but he looks devastated as does Jake. I want to be here for Clare but I've been at the hospital since three this morning and this day just keeps getting more depressing and terrible. I need some air and I get an idea.
"Clare's friends should be told, I know some of them were planning to come see her after school," I speak up.
"Yeah good idea I'll come with you," Jake says. He looks a little green I'm sure he needs some air too. "We'll be back in a bit," Jake comments and his dad nods that he heard us.
Jake and I walk out to Dad's car and I drive us to DeGrassi. It's a silent and awkward ride, this is not how I thought I'd be seeing Jake again after so many years. We played together as kids at the lake, he was kind of obnoxious but I didn't make it out to the wedding and it's really meeting him again after so many years of not seeing each other. I have seen him over a computer screen during one of my rare video calls home but we never said much to each other. Now we're are together but because of something so devastating and it's like neither of us has anything to say that isn't about Clare.
It's lunch time at DeGrassi but it's cold and January and no one is eating outside so we go into the building. It feels so odd to be back here and I wish desperately that I was back here under better circumstances.
"I don't know where everyone is eating but we should probably tell Simpson anyway and he can page them," Jake comments after we stand in the entry for a moment. I nod and we walk to the office, Simpson is at the secretary's desk talking with her but stops when he sees us.
"Jake, Darcy how's Clare?"
"Not good, can you page Adam, Owen, Dallas, Eli and Fitz to your office please. We want to tell everyone at once," Jake tells him.
Simpson nods to the secretary and she pages everyone to the office. Within a few minutes they all walk quickly to us and a few people that were not paged follow them. I recognize Sav's little sister and Clare's first boyfriend although I forget their names at the moment.
"What's going on?"
"There's news on Clare isn't there? Is she okay?"
"Can she move?"
"Did her biopsy come back?"
Her friends all talk at once and I exchange a look with Jake and we shake our heads.
"She is paralyzed and the tumor was cancerous she has rhabdo…rhabdomy…a form of leukemia. She'll be in the hospital a couple more days to recover from the surgery more and then she'll get checked into the cancer hospital. She's really worried and sad, she needs her friends right now more than ever," I tell them and it's deathly silent.
Some people have gone pale, others are petrified by shock, Sav's little sister and the blonde girl are crying. Even Simpson looks ill at the news. A boy with sandy brown hair and freckles, whom I remember from a picture Clare sent me in an e-mail, looks like he might pass out. The boy next to him, tall with short dark hair and dark blue eyes, is holding him up. Dallas is pale, clenching his fists and his eyes glossed with saltwater.
"We'll be over right after school," Dallas comments after a moment of silence.
"Yeah all of us," says a boy with longer dark hair and green eyes. I've seen pictures of him in Clare's e-mails too I just can't remember his name right now.
"Please tell Clare we're all thinking of her. I'll inform all of her teachers and tell yours that you may not be back this week Jake," Simpson tells him.
"Thanks," Jake nods just as the bell rings.
"I've got a spare right now, I'm coming to see Clare now," Dallas speaks up.
"Yeah I've got a spare too I'm coming with you," the boy with long dark hair and green eyes says.
"Okay Dallas and Eli back in time for fourth period, the rest of you get to class," Simpson says to the others while we leave with Dallas and Eli.
Jake and I get back in Dad's car, drive to the hospital and park. We go back up to Clare's room, she and Mom are still crying, Dad just looks lost and devastated and Glen is holding Mom with a mournful and helpsless look on his face.
"We just came back from DeGrassi, Simpson said to tell you they're all thinking of you. All your friends will come see you after school but Dallas and Eli are on their way right now," Jake tells Clare.
She sort of nods, wipes her eyes and puts her bed up a little so she's able to greet her visitors. Jake and I sit at the back of the room near Dad, just after we sit down Dallas and Eli come in the room.
"Hey Edwards," Eli smiles at her.
"Hi Distract-Friend," Dallas grins at her.
"Hi," she replies with a smile she managed to paint on her lips.
"We heard the news. Don't worry you're going to be just fine," Dallas tires to assure her.
"But I won't, I can't walk and I have cancer," she replies sharply but with a sad tone and the tears start rolling down her cheeks again.
"You're strong Clare you'll beat the cancer, what did the doctor say?" Eli asks.
"I'm paralyzed from the waist down and I have cancer, stage two group three rhabdomyosarcoma. I'll be here for two more days and then to the cancer hospital for treatment, I probably won't be back at school," Clare tells them wiping the tears from her face.
"You'll be okay Clare, you can fight the cancer but not if you lose hope," Eli encourages her again.
"Yeah I know you can do it and we'll all be there to help you fight. We'll bring you books and movies, and visit all the time so you don't get bored and to keep your spirits up," Dallas assures her and she smiles a little.
"I don't want to talk about it right now. It's all I've thought about all morning," she replies after a moment.
No one else is talking because everyone is thinking about Clare being sick and partially paralyzed. After a moment of silence Eli begins talking about his play and then Dallas talks about hockey until they have to leave. I'm not entirely sure that it gets Clare's mind off of things but she's not crying anymore and she even smiles a couple of times. Dallas and Eli leave with enough time to get back for fourth period but both assure her that they'll be back right after school.
"I'm tired," Clare says after Dallas and Eli leave.
"We'll let you rest Clare. We have arrangements to make and people to call. We'll be back later," Glen comments.
"Do you want any of us to stay?" I ask Clare.
"Will you stay? Jake too, I'm just going to sleep but I can't take everyone being sad right now," she replies in a whisper I think so that Mom doesn't hear her.
"Yeah we'll stay," I reply and Jake nods.
"I'll go with your mom and Glen there's some things we need to work out and then I should go home but I'll be back later if I can. Otherwise I'll be back tomorrow and call me if you need anything," Dad tells her and she nods.
Dad borrowed Elaine's car and just says to bring his back tonight. The adults leave, Clare turns a bit so that she's lying on her side and her eyes close. She falls asleep after a short time and Jake turns on the TV, we're not really watching it's just on so that there's noise and something to watch besides Clare.
(CLARE)
I was having a dream about not being able to walk again, being confined to a wheelchair and then withering away and dying of cancer when I wake to sounds in my room. My eyes open and I can feel my cheeks wet with tears. I hear voices in my room and I know that school must be out, the only one I can see right now though is Mark because he sits on the edge of my bed.
"There's those beautiful blue eyes," he grins softly and wipes the tears away. "Can I help you move so you can see everyone?" Mark asks.
"I'll move the bed up first," I reply smiling because I'm happy to see him and that everyone came.
I press the button to make the bed sit up. I still can't see many people lying on my side and this side is starting to hurt, I've been lying on it since last night I'll have to ask the nurses to help me move when people leave. I use my hands to push me up a little and turn my waist to better see people, I still can't quite see everyone but they move around so that I can. Jake and Darcy are still here, Eli sits on the other side of my bed with Adam, Dallas sits next to Darcy, Owen leans against the wall, Jenna, Alli, Connor, Dave and K.C. are all sitting or leaning against the wall. Even Drew and Bianca are here, he sits in a chair and she's on his lap.
"How do you f…" Alli starts to ask how I feel then thinks better of it. "Sav wanted me to tell you hi," she says and I smile a little. For a few minutes the room is quiet as people try to think of something to say.
"Anything new from the doctor?" Dallas asks.
"No, no one's been in here since you and Eli left and our parents went home," Darcy answers for me.
"Is there anything we can bring you?" Jenna asks me.
"For now I guess just things to keep me from getting bored. When they move me into the cancer hospital I might want more."
"Anything you want at all we'll get it for you," Adam assures me.
"Yeah and there's no way we'll let you get bored," Owen says.
"I'm going to have my birthday in the hospital," I sniffle as the tears start again. I can't help it a couple of days ago I was active, walking and as far as I knew pretty healthy. I knew something was off, that the way I got dizzy and the pains, tingling and numbness in my back and legs wasn't normal but I never expected it to be a tumor and cancer! Now I can't move anything below the lower part of my hips and in a couple of days I have to get moved to a cancer hospital for treatment.
"We'll make sure you have a fantastic birthday Clare, no matter what," Alli tries to assure me.
"Yeah we'll talk to the hospital staff and make sure you have an amazing birthday with all of us and anyone else you want there," Jenna says.
"It'll be okay Clare. The doctors at Princess Margaret's are like the best in all of Toronto," K.C. comments.
It goes quiet again, no one seems sure what to say after that. When the silence becomes too much people just begin talking, about school and classes mostly. The room goes silent again when the doctor comes in.
"We've got quite a full room but I'm going to have to ask you all to leave while we put Clare through one more test," Dr. Jarvis says.
"Okay," Darcy nods.
"I'll be back in a few minutes Clare," Dr. Jarvis remarks before leaving the room.
"We'll be back Jake and I are going to grab something to eat," Darcy tells me.
"Owen and I skipped practice, with the coaches permission after we told him what was going, but I'll check on you later tonight we have something we need to do," Dallas informs me.
"The rest of us should probably get home but if you need anything call us," Adam says and everyone nods.
"Thanks," I smile as much as I can.
Mark and Eli both kiss me before they leave. Adam, Alli, Jenna, Dallas, Jake and Darcy hug me before leaving and the others smile sympathetically. The room seems so quiet after everyone leaves even though the sounds of the monitors are still going. Dr. Jarvis returns with an assistant and tray with a terrifying looking needle on it, also some medicine or something in a vile.
"Alright Clare, we need to do a lumbar puncture to look at your spinal fluid. It's very important that we find out if the cancer cells have spread to your spinal column or effected your meninges. Nurse Holly is going to help you into a curled position," the doctor says. They both help me to my other side, and it does feel good to be lying on my left side, then the nurse helps me curl my legs up so that my spine curves. "I'm going above your surgical incision Clare, don't worry the suture is holding, nothing will pop and I'm watching it. Is it painful at all?"
"No."
"Okay I'm going to surround the area for the puncture with sterile towels and clean it. I'll numb the area and tell you when I'm going to do the puncture."
"Okay."
"Good, I'm cleaning the area now the soap might feel a bit cold," the doctor says and I feel the cold of the soap drawing circles on my back. "Okay you might feel a pinch while I give you the anesthetic," he tells me and then I feel a poke and a little more cold as the medication takes effect. "You're doing great Clare, now take a deep breath for me and then hold very still while I insert the needle."
"Okay," I reply and take a deep breath.
"Alright Clare I'm inserting the needle now," the doctor tells me. I feel another pinch and then it's just sort of cold. "You're doing great Clare we're almost done," he says. I feel the needle coming out and then a bandage being placed on my back. "We're all finished Clare, you might get a back ache and will probably feel tired, if you have any trouble sleeping in the next couple of days we can give you something. If you do feel back pain or a headache let us know right away. Some people experience these and they usually go away but we need to keep an eye on them. We'll be checking on you of course but if you get chills or a stiff neck alert us immediately. Right now you should rest, someone will be in to check on you soon."
I nod and the nurse straightens my legs again, she asks if I'm comfortable, I nod and she leaves with the doctor. I close my eyes, I feel exhausted and hopeless, I can't walk, I have cancer and now they're worried it's spread to my brain. I start to cry as all I can think is that I'm going to die. A few days ago I didn't even really feel sick but now every time a doctor comes in, or there's another test, or more news it just seems to be more bad news and I'm feeling sicker and sicker and more and more like I'm going to die.
(DALLAS)
"So who are these guys that are helping us?" I ask Owen as we walk out to secluded part of the ravine after leaving Clare's hospital room.
"You've probably seen Spinner at The Dot, he used to date Clare's sister," Owen tells me as we get out and start walking.
"Darcy?"
"Yeah in his senior year but don't worry he's no competition he married his real high school sweetheart," Owen grins.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I refute.
"Yeah right, I saw you and Darcy exchanging flirty glances this afternoon," Owen laughs and I push him playfully. We come into a clearing and there's four faces lit by a small fire in thrown together fire pit.
"Well 'bout time you two got here we've been waiting," one of the guys says.
"Dallas I believe you know Spinner," Owen remarks and I do recognize Fitz's boss from The Dot I just never knew his name was Spinner.
"This is Johnny and that's Lucas, they used to hang around Fitz," Owen tells me and I nod hello to the two.
"And this is Jay," Spinner says introducing me to the oldest guy here.
"Nice to meet you, thanks for coming," I reply.
"Owen said this was about Clare, Fitz told me she's in the hospital after a tumor and now she has cancer. I'm assuming we're not here because she's in the hospital," Spinner comments.
"In a sense that's why. Clare had co-op this semester and was working with Asher Shostak, she was thrilled about it but started getting worried about his behavior when he held her a little too long after she felt dizzy. A few days later he kissed her, we found out and wanted to kill him but she stopped us, she wanted to talk to him first. She came back to school happy and told us it was a mistake so we let it slide. It was only the next day we found out she was in the hospital and possible paralyzed. She called me back last night and told me that after Asher told her it was mistake and took her with him on an assignment he tried to assault her in his car," I'm telling them when Jay cuts me off.
"So we're going to kill him now."
"That's the plan but we need to make sure he can't identify us. Here black hoodies, all the same we all wear them," Owen says pulling them from the bag. We bought them after school before going to the hospital.
"Yeah and goalie masks," I tell them taking them from the bag.
"Sweet I'm Jason Voorhies," Jay grins putting his mask on.
"Keep them off for now. If Asher isn't still at work we won't do this tonight. I'll call the Interpreter office and see if Asher is still working," Owen tells them and walks away a bit getting out his cell to call the office.
"So is Clare really paralyzed?" Johnny asks while we wait for Owen.
"Yeah from about the waist down although the doctor did say that she might be able to regain some mobility. They just don't know how much damage was done by the tumor and what the cancer has done or will do, or the treatment for it. And she's really scared and worried, bordering on depressed but it's understandable, she was walking and basically healthy a couple of days ago."
"We'll all go see her. I made it through cancer, so will she," Spinner says just as Owen comes back.
"Asher's still there let's go," Owen tells us.
We all start walking back to Owen's car quickly, while we walk we put our black hoodies on taking off all coats. We get in the car and Owen starts driving to The Interpreter building, he parks near the garage and we wait in the narrow alley between the garage in the building and one of the few places without a security camera. Jay calls up this time to see if Asher is still there and make sure that we didn't miss him as we were driving over.
"Secretary says he's just on his way out," Jay tells us hanging up.
We all get on the goalie masks so he can't identify us. As soon as we see him Owen grabs him by the jacket and pulls him into the alley. We surround Asher and shove him into the wall.
"If you're after money I don't have any," he says and his voice trembles with fear.
"We don't want your money," Lucas snarls at him.
"This is about keeping your hands and lips off your interns," I growl shoving him into the wall again.
"She's lying," Asher growls in angry defensive tone.
With those pathetic words from his lying mouth our anger takes over and we start hitting. Punching and kicking his head, chest and stomach and we don't stop until he slumps down with a groan and coughs up some blood.
"If we find out you mistreated anyone else we'll be back," Johnny tells him and we walk off.
We're back in the car and driving off before Asher gets up. We take the goalie masks off once we're in the car, everyone but Owen also takes off their hoodies and gets their jackets back on.
"You think he learned anything?" Johnny asks.
"I think the next time he thinks about touching a young intern he'll think about all the pain he was in tonight and think again," Owen replies.
"Hey is it too late to see Clare?" Spinner questions.
"We can probably get in, at least to say hi," I respond.
"As long as she's not sleeping but the hospital is close so we can stop there before I take you guys back to your cars," Owen comments.
Owen parks at the hospital and we go in through emergency because it will look less suspicious at this hour. Technically visiting hours are over but we manage to sneak through the halls to Clare's room. I peek in and the room is empty of anyone else, Clare does seem to be sleeping but her eyes open when the light comes in from the door. She's lying on her other side now they must have turned her.
"Hey Distract-Friend you up for some visitors?" I whisper to her and she smiles.
"We just wanted to come by and say hi," Owen tells her as we come in.
"And tell you that we took care of Asher," Spinner says.
"Johnny, Jay, Spinner, Lucas what you guys doing here?" Clare asks surprised to see them.
"We heard what happened and we wanted to see you," Spin says kissing her cheek. "I made it through cancer and chemo and so will you."
"And Asher will never touch you again," Jay assures her kissing her forehead.
"We made sure of it and he won't be able to identify us. It's good to see you again Clare," Johnny smiles kissing her cheek as well.
"You look a lot different than I remember," Lucas comments kissing her lips.
"Hey hey hey she's already got two boys fighting for her don't your start," I scold him and Clare laughs a little.
"You haven't seen me in three years," she reminds Lucas.
"So how you feelin'? What test did they do this afternoon?" I inquire.
"A lumbar puncture to test the spinal fluid for cancer cells, if it spread to the spinal fluid it could have spread to my brain," she laments in a sad and terrified voice.
"Don't worry kid you'll be just fine," Jay tells her with an assuring smile and she nods although doesn't look like she believes it.
"You'll beat this Clare and we'll all do whatever we can to help. We should probably get going before they find us here, it's a little past visiting hours. You should rest anyway, if you need anything call you know we'll come," I tell Clare.
"I will," she says.
"We'll be back," Owen tells her and everyone else nods.
We say goodnight to Clare and leave the hospital, driving Spinner and the others back to their cars and then Owen drops me at home. I say goodnight to Owen and go inside. Drew and Adam are still doing homework and I realize I haven't even started on mine.
"Where did you and Owen go?" Drew asks.
"With Spinner from The Dot and some guys Owen knows to beat the crap out of Clare's co-op boss for kissing and then trying to assault her in his car," I inform them and both their eyes go wide.
"She didn't tell me about Asher," Adam finally says.
"She only told me about the attempted assault last night and we took care of it. I gotta start on homework, is there dinner still I'm starving."
"Yeah on the stove," Adam tells me.
I go upstairs to get some dinner and return to the basement to do homework. It's hard to concentrate because I spend most of the time thinking about what Clare's going through and what we did to Asher tonight. It's almost two in the morning by the time I'm in bed, it takes a while to get to sleep but I spend the whole night happily dreaming about Darcy.
Update soon will have some more Dallas and Darcy and probably include Clare being moved to the cancer hospital.
Next story to get updated will be I Need Your Love much more than I Want it.
