"We're not going." Justin stated as he walked out of the school to find Vaughan and Leo by the car.
"Justin, I want to talk to Leo's doctor so I am going with Leo and with or without you." Vaughan replied. "And I'm sure the doctor would like to know about Leo being sick. I'm sure there's something they can give him."
Leo was already in the back of the car, having decided the best course of action was to go along with it. Anyway, he was sort of wishing he had something to take the nausea away right about now. Especially after he'd spent all day feeling like he was going to be sick, resulting in him being to preoccupied to listen in lessons. "Fine." Justin finally said, climbing into the back with Leo.
The older glanced at his younger brother, a silent question to ask if Leo was alright. Leo nodded, ignoring the way his stomach lurched when his dad set off. Slowly, Leo rested his head on the coll glass of the car window, feeling his eyes drift close. A hand to his shoulder brought him back to the real world and he was a little surprised to find they'd already reached the hospital Justin looked at Leo in concern but Leo ignored him, getting out of the car quickly followed by his brother and dad.
Leo had always hated hospitals. It was just something about the white walls, antiseptic smell and the fake looks of sympathy plastered onto the doctors and nurses that put him off hospitals. Funny that he was spending so much time in them. Justin led the way to the cancer unit, where they'd find Dr Scott, their dad already having booked an appointment. As they walked, Leo could feel Vaughan's worried eyes on him but the younger resolutely ignored it, hating the pity that was radiating from his dad.
...
"Mr Fitzgerald, I presume." a man in a doctor's coat said, offering a hand for Vaughan to shake.
"Dr Scott." Vaughan replied, shaking his hand while Justin went to stand next to Leo. Honestly, Vaughan would have preferred Justin wait at home, his oldest probably having had enough of dealing with hospitals and doctors but Justin had refused. Right now, Vaughan was grateful, having seen the way Leo was leaning a little towards hi brother as if looking for comfort. It just made Vaughan feel all the more guilty for leaving them.
The doctor led the way to his office, where three chairs were sat. Leo sat in one of the chair, Justin quickly sitting in the chair next to Leo, leaving Vaughan to take the final chair, furthest away from his youngest son. Glancing at Leo, a line of worry made its way into Vaughan's face when he saw Leo was looking straight at the floor, his hands clenched at his side.
"Right, what can I do for you Leo?" Dr Scott stated, eyes glancing from Leo and Justin before finally settling on Vaughan. The doctor looked at Vaughan as if he wasn't sure what to make of the man and Vaughan couldn't help but not blame him because what right did Vaughan have for demanding a meeting when he hadn't been there. "How's the chemotherapy going?" Dr Scott tried again, looking at Leo and getting only a shrug in answer.
"He was sick and I think he had a temperature." Justin answered and Vaughan was surprised at the grown up tone in Justins voice.
"We'll, there's nothing we can do for the temperature, except to make sure Leo stays cool but I can prescribe some anti-sickness pills. Of course I can't guarantee they'll work." Dr Scott said, obviously having decided to direct his answers at Justin.
"I'd like to ask if there's anything we can do to help Leo." Vaughan said, having decided that the best way forward was to dive straight into it, so to speak.
"I've already discussed treatment with Leo and Justin but right now the best course of action is chemotherapy. If that continues to have no effect, however, there is also the possibility of a bone marrow transplant. All of which is covered by the NHS."
"Isn't there any other methods, more sure of success?" Vaughan asked. He'd done his research that day, trying to find the best possible ways to make Leo get better.
"There are experimental drugs that you could try if all else fails." the doctor started only to have Leo interrupt.
"No." all eyes turned to Leo and the younger Fitzgerald ducked his head in embarrassment. "Only...I mean...I don't want it." Leo stammered, Justin putting a comforting hand on Leo's shoulder as he glared at his dad.
"Surely if it will help..." Vaughan started but Dr Scott cut him off.
"We don't need to look into any of the other options just yet. You've only justnstrted the chemotherapy and with any luck, it will work." he said, talking now to Leo. "If there's any more questions you need to ask, please come to me." the doctor said, turning to print off the prescription.
When the doctor passed Leo the prescription, Vaughan motioned for is two sons to go on ahead. Justin glanced back mistrustful at his father but Leo just pulled Justins arm out of the office. When they where left alone, Vaughan turned to the doctor. "I'm sorry if this has caused you any problems but I wasn't even aware Leo had cancer until last night." Vaughan said, earning him a surprised look from the doctor.
"While it's not common practice, Justin is over 16 so has been acting as guardian for Leo. Both here and in Edinburgh." Dr Scott stated, somewhat hesitantly. "though I am surprised you didn't know."
"Olga didn't call me and my sins, especially Justin, have been angry at me for leaving." Dr Scott nodded slowly.
"Well, now you know I hope the three of you can sort something out." Vaughan nodded, thanking the doctor before heading out of the office to look for his sons.
...
Allie and her could hidden were out when the three Fitzgeralds returned home. They'd gone via the chippy on their way home so while Vaughan set about setting the table, Justin went to talk to Leo. "You okay?" Leo slowly shook his head and Justin breathed out in relief, glad his brother wasn't trying to hide what he was feeling. "You going to tell me what's wrong?" Justin asked, waiting with bated breath for his brother to talk to him.
"Just feel a bit sick." Leo stated and Justin frowned knowing that wasn't it but not wanting to push Leo.
"Okay, you can have the pills when we've eaten." Leo went to protest but their dad called them to come to have food sonde couldn't.
As it was, Justin barley touched his food, to busy watching Leo eat his own. Leo was pushing the chips around the plate, only eating a few but barley touching the rest. Their dad was trying to get them talking but both brothers ignored him until they fell into an uncomfortable silence. Eventually, Vaughan spoke again and what heard made Justin see red.
"I think we should tell the staff at school." Leo's folk fellnto his hand as he turned to his dad.
"What, why?" Leo said, panic in his tone. Justin knew Leo was afraid of what might happen if people knew and Justin couldn't really blame him for it.
"When you start taking days off school then they'll need to know why."
"No they don't." Leo said, his hand shaking a little. "I'm not staying off school either."
"Leo..." Vaughan started but Justin interrupted him.
"Dad, just leave him alone. He said he doesn't want people knowing so why can't you just leave it at that bwhy do you think, just because you know, you can barge in and take over when we were doing just fine on our own before now." Justin shouted, surprised to find his eyes were burning with unshed tears.
"Justin?" Vaughan started but Justin ignored him, jumping to his feet.
"What right do you have to any of this when you left us?" Justin shouted, before practically runningfrom the room. He faintly heard Leo shrugged up his name but Justin ignored it, the tears running down his face now.
He'd stayed silent, bottlebrush all these emotions for months now and finally they were coming over and Justin couldn't ignore them anymore. All the pain and anger at his fathers leaving and their mothers breakdown. The worry and stress that had been there since he'd found out Leo had cancer. It was just to much. To much for him to deal with alone, even if he would never, could never, abandon Leo to deal with it he just wished someone had been there for them both. To help with the doctor appointments, with Leo being sick. With the aftermath of them finding out it was cancer. All of it. Justin needed someone to be there but what right did his dad have for being there after running out on them.
...
"Justin?" Leo's voice penetrative the darkness When Justin crept into the house. It was going on midnight and Justin had hoped no one would be awake.
"Hey what are you doing up?" Justin asked, glancing at the water in Leo's hand and the fact his little brother was shivering where he sat on the stool.
"Waiting for you to get back." Leo replied and Justin ignored the fact that it was Leo there and not Vaughan.
"well , I'm back nowand you should be in bed asleep." Leo ignored Justin, looking intently at his brother and Justin was acutely aware of the red like quality of his eyes. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Justin replied, because how could he not be when he needed to be there for Leo.
"You're lying." Leo stated and Justin was a little shocked that Leo was arguing with him. His little brother never argued with him.
"It doesn't matter. I'm here for you, you shouldn't have to deal with me." Justin said, hoping Leo would listen to him.
"No. I mean, I want to help you."
"Leo, you're sick..." Justin started but Leo interrupted him.
"Sick, not an invalid." Leo said with a small smile and Justin couldn't help but smile back. It was so rare that either of them had anything to smile about recently. "Please talk to me Justin nyoure always here for me so let me be there for you."
"I'm the oldest, I have to be there for you." Justin said, ruffling Leo's hair which earned him a half hearted push from his brother.
"I hate seeing you like this." Leo said and Justin frowned down at Leo. "I want to help."
"I don't want to put this on you." Justin said but Leo only frowned stubbornly, ignoring his brother.
"Just like I've put everything on you. I hate doing it to but you keep making me so let me help. Please." Leo added and Justin slowly nodded, pulling his brother into a brotherly hug.
"I hate this cancer. And I hate what it's doing to you. To us." Justin said, mumbling into Leo hair as tears leaked down his face. He stubbornly wiped at them but they didn't seem to want to go.
"Dad knows now. He can help." Leo said. "And at least you don't feel terrible everyday." Justin knew Leo was trying to make a joke out of it but the bitter tone in his voice soured it a little.
"Dad left us. He left us for someone else and their kids. And mum's not here anymore. Not like she could handle it. Don't you get it yet, Leo, it's just us." Leo shook his head as Justin pulled back and slammed his first into the table.
"Mum will get better and dads not going to abandon us now he knows. He'll help." Leo said and Justin smiled at his little brother, wishing he could believe that.
"Come on, let's get some sleep." Justin said, leading the way upstairs. Justin could only wish that he could believe what Leo said but how could he, after everything that had happened.
Wow that was a long one but I couldn't find a good place to stop. Also, sorry for anyone who wanted Allie, Floyd and Tiffany but I wanted a chapter focused on Vaughan, Leo and Justin. Anyway, Thank you for reading and hope you enjoyed. As always please review.