A/N: Sorry it is taking me so long to post. I have two chapters finished. I've been dealing with a lot of things in my personal life. My brother passed away a couple months ago and it's been weighing on me hard. I've decided to write in memory of everyone who has experienced cancer, whether they are going through it or have someone they love going through it. Anyway... I hope you enjoy the next few chapters and I plan to write more!

Chapter 10-Canceled

Amilie jumped when the turbulence shook the plane. Her second flight was much rougher than her first time flying.

"We apologize for the bouncy ride, folks, we are starting our descent now into the Boise Airport." The flight attendant announced over the PA system.

"It's the snow..." Mark commented to her, pointing out the window from his window seat. Amilie leaned over Mark to peek outside. It didn't look good. The snow was so thick that she could barely see a few feet in front of her. There was a small glowing light in the distance, a bulb from the wing that blinked on and off.

"Don't worry... they always say it is safer to fly than to ride in a car." Steve said next to her. She looked over at him and smiled slightly, though she was still heavily concerned. The plane shook again and startled a lot of the passengers. It was almost as if they dropped several feet rapidly. Amilie heard Jesse moan behind them. He was sitting in the middle seat between two other passengers behind them. When Amilie looked back she noticed he didn't look too well.

"You ok, Jesse?" she asked.

"Yeah..." He flashed her a smile. "I just need to sit still once we set on the ground. Just a little woozy."

When the plane finally set its feet on the ground the relief was evident over the passengers. Several parents kissed the top of their children's head and rubbed their backs. Many of them had been frightened by the sharp movements of the plane.

"Please wait until the plane has come to full and complete stop before unbuckling your seat belts. Electronic devices may be turned on..." Amilie half-listened to the attendants as she looked around her feet to gather her things. She couldn't wait to finally be off the plane. "We are now being informed that several flights are being canceled. If you had a connecting flight please make sure to check the nearest stations for flight information. We can help you reschedule flights and also inform your options at the Delta information stations located..."

"What?" Jesse's voice in behind her. His tone was a sorrowful one. "Oh great..."

"Don't worry yet Jess, lets get out of here and look at the situation." Mark said.

oooooo

Steve helped Amilie with her bags from the upper compartment as they exited the plane. The airport seemed to be in a fit of chaos as they entered it. The reader boards all glowed red with each flight blinking the word "canceled". Jesse slowly made his way to the board and looked for his connecting flight number.

"Canceled..." His face dropped. Steve had never seen his friend so distressed before. His father had filled him in on a little bit of the situation. Jesse's mom wasn't doing so well and it was a great stress on Jesse right now. Steve didn't find the change in Jesse's feelings toward his mom strange at all considering the circumstance. There were several times Steve had wished he could have gotten his mom back just to tell her one more time that he loved her and cared about her. Jesse had been living so disconnected from his family that Steve was sure his friend was feeling some regret. While Steve didn't know what Jesse's mother suffered from, he knew that any time a family member was hurt or sick it was a tough feeling, especially being so far away.

"Jess, how about you call your family and let them know you will be delayed." Mark patted Jesse gently on the back and he nodded. The man slipped away for a quiet area and Mark sighed frowning at Steve. "I overheard someone say there may not be any flights leaving for a couple days. The snow storm is coming in for a long haul."

"Do you think he will get home in time... how bad is the situation." Steve was feeling out his father's impression of Jesse's conversation with him several days ago.

"Honestly Steve, I'm not sure. Jesse says his mother is acting very strangely and from what I know of her that doesn't sound like a good sign. She could have days or years depending on her tactics to get Jesse home."

"I wish she wasn't so vague in her description of her condition. I don't like seeing Jesse this way." Steve sighed, noticed out of the corner of his eye Amilie on the phone by the ladies room.

"There are two reason I feel patients are not forthcoming to their relatives. One is they don't want to worry them, and the other is that they can't accept their condition themselves and have trouble expressing it to others." Mark shared a look with his son. The silent conversations they could have without talking was a gift between father and son.

"Mark," Amilie was walking towards them putting her phone in her pocket. "First off... the signal here sucks... second, I got a hold of my mamma. She is coming to get us. Do you think Jesse needs a ride and place to settle, too?"

"Actually, Amilie, I think we should plan on it for now. But let us get a hotel..."

"I wouldn't hear of it. You'll stay with me. I have a big ranch house and honestly, it's unnerving being there by myself. Please, let me return the favor and keep you up for awhile." Amilie smiled and Steve felt his heart beat a bit faster. She sure had one of those smiles that could get her eyes to sparkle and felt truly genuine. Steve let himself look.

"How about I head to baggage claim and get our checked luggage."

oooooooo

"Mom, what is going on?" Jesse was frustrated. His mother's tone of voice changed drastically when he told her he would be delayed. "I'm obviously coming home, like you wanted. Why are you so upset?"

"Jesse, it's not you. I know you can't control the weather." His mother sighed. "I just... I just miss you." Jesse was caught off guard.

"I miss you, too." He said being very careful with his tone of voice. Something in his mother's voice made him want to cry and he couldn't place it. "What is wrong? Please tell me." It was quiet on the other end of the phone for several minutes and Jesse almost thought he had lost the connection. The phone had cut out on several occasions. "Mom?"

"I'm here. Jesse... if you really want to know now... I'm suffering from cancer." Her voice broke slightly and Jesse sat stunned.

"Cancer?" He repeated. "How long have you known about this? What is your condition? Have you started therapy? I don't understand why you didn'-"

"Jesse." Her mother's voice sounded strong when she said his name. What did she look like right now? Jesse couldn't think of his mother as anything else then this strong woman with her hands on her sides many times glaring at him in disapproval. "I know you are wanting answers to your questions. Right now, it's hard to talk about it..."

Jesse felt his eyes water slightly to his surprise. His mother's voice, her tone, it wasn't angry, or sarcastic, it was... it was sad. "I found out four months ago... I didn't have any symptoms, none of the usual signs. I went in for a gallbladder issue and came out to the news. I have stage four ovarian."

"Stage four?" The shock was immense. "How did they not-"

"Jesse, you know as well as I do that doctors are not all knowing. We try our best but sometimes there isn't anything we can do to stop the inevitable."

"Are you on treatments? How about surgery?"

"Jesse... it's everywhere. It was everywhere before we discovered it. It got into my lymph nodes and spread to the rest of my body. The chemo they've had me on seems to help a little but it isn't keeping up with the cancer and it's spreading. Jesse... I've exhausted all my options. I just want to see you again and spend my last days with my family."

Jesse couldn't talk. He had the phone up to his ear and felt like his throat had dried. He was holding back the watery barrier of tears in his eyes and blinked them back several times. His heart felt like it was literally turning upside in his chest. "Mom, I'm coming home. I promise. As soon as I get a flight, I'll be on it."

"Thank you." She was sounding tired on the phone Jesse knew he should let her go.

"I'll see you soon. Ok? Take care of yourself."

"I will." She murmured.

"And Mom?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."