Chapter 10

"So the results?" Derek asked frantically, although he wasn't sure he was ready to hear the words the doctor was about to say.

"The blood test showed that the number of Amilias leucocytes is way too high. That accompanied withthe nose bleeds, the lack of energy and enthusiasm..."

"Are you telling me that she has leukemia?"

"Yes. I`m so sorry, but we found it in time. You know that leukemia is treatable. But even if we found it in time we have to look for a donor. She needs bone marrow."

"Oh my god, Addison, she`ll…"
"I know, but Mark will know how to help her. Her chances of surviving this are great. Maybe Amilia would be a perfect donor or even Addison or you. We have to test you as soon as possible."

"Let`s hope one of us will fit." Derek said still in shock.

"When will Addison and Mark be back?"
"They`ll be back late tonight."

"Okay, will you tell them or do you want me to tell them?" Peter asked.

"I`ll tell them. I think they would want to hear it from me, but they`ll probably have questions and come here tomorrow morning."

"That`s perfectly fine."
"What about Camala, does she have to come here straight to start the treatment or can it wait until Addie´s back?"

"Another night home won`t do any harm. Just make sure she's doing okay. If she experiences anymore bleeding or pain bring her straight here, other than that there is no reason she can't stay home. But we should definitely start doing more tests as soon as possible."

"Good. What if she asks me what`s wrong with her? I can`t tell her? I have to do it with Addison, right? I mean she just met me"

"She`s six. Just hope that she won`t ask."
"Thanks."

The doctor was right and neither Amilia nor Camala asked about the test results.

It was almost midnight when Addison and Mark arrived back home and Derek was still awake. He had to stay up and tell them about Camala's test results and of course they were already asuming that something was terribly wrong because Dr. Peter Roberts asked them to come straight back home.

"Derek, thank god you`re still up. I was afraid you would be asleep." Addison greeted when she walked into the house to see Derek had been waiting up for them. Both she and Mark looked obviously concerned but Mark was trying to stay strong for Addison until they knew what was wrong. Until then he could pretent there was nothing wrong with his step-daughter. The girl he loved as much as his own biological daughter.

"Hey." He gave them a small smile.

"Do you know anything yet?"

"The blood results showed that the leucocytes aren`t produced in big enough amounts. Together with all her other symptoms and other things the results showed," he paused. Derek just didn`t know how to tell them and that he had to be the one telling them the news which would destroy their little perfect world right after it destroyed his. "It`s leukemia."

"You are telling me that my 6-year-old daugther has leukemia? Are you absolutely sure?" Addison asked with tears running down her cheeks.

"Her doctor ran the blood test twice. It`s definitely leukemia."

"This is my punishment for cheating on you, for keep your daughter away from you..." she stood up andwalkedout of the livingroom up the stairs probably to Camala.

"Should I go after her?" Mark asked a little unsure. He wasn`t prepared for anything like that and felt completely helpless. Not even in his dreams has he imagined that Camala could have cancer.

"Give her a few minutes." Derek stated and sank into the couch.

"Okay. So anything I should know?"

"Yes. Addie and Amilia have an appointment tomorrow at 11 am. I already let them test me today. Peter also referred us to a doctor, Dr. Annabeth Cameron. She is a specialist. She specialized on children with leukemia. I made an appointmet for tomorrow right after Addie and Amilia got tested and I asked Nancy to take Amilia after she got tested so we can talk to Dr. Cameron."

"Okay. Do we have to take Camala to that appointment?

"Yes. They want to do a few more tests so we can find out about the type of leukemia she has. Of course they want to start treatment as soon as possible."

"Okay, I`ll go look how Addison is doing now."
"All right."

"Derek? Thanks for everything."
"Not a problem. Now go to your wife and help her adjustwithwhat just happened. I'veknown for already 14 hours and still don`t know what to do. Whether I should laugh, because I just got my daughter back and it`s just so ironic that she now is so sick or if I should have a break down"

"She`s going to be fine Derek. She has to be." Mark said and left to find his wife.

Thanks for reading, this was chapter 10. I hope you enjoyed reading it. I still could kick my ass, because of the cancer thing. Well anyway please tell me what you think and maybe some ideas what could cause some problems between Mark and Addison.