A/N: Hello Hello! I have decided to work on this story and finish it up before I finish up The Sickness of Insecurities. I actually know more about how that one is going to play out, whereas this story is more open to change. Anyways, I would like to thank rx9872, LaurenLaneLover, Lucky Starz,, ladybrin and the-reverie for taking the time to review chapter 10! Anyways, I hope you all continue to read and enjoy this story.

Chapter 11 – Heartbreaking News, Unbearable Guilt

"I'll have the Baked Ziti."

"And for you ma'm?"

"The same."

"Great, I'll bring that right out for you as soon as possible."

"Thanks." Niles said nicely. CC, on the other hand was completely silent as the waiter walked away to put in the order.

"C.C., you've been distant all night. What is the matter? Please talk to me. "

As he looked into her eyes, which appeared void of life and were focused on some unrecognizable point on the wall, he could clearly see that something was desperately wrong, for they appeared wet, although no tears had actually fallen.

She continued to focus on the wall in front of her, completely unaware that Niles had spoken to her.

Niles lightly placed his hand on hers, which was resting on the table.

She was shaken out of her thoughts somewhat from the sudden contact, as she was made aware that he was trying to get her attention.

"C.C. what's wrong?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Why."

"Because I would like to believe it isn't true. I would like to believe that my life is simple and that you and I are just out enjoying ourselves. Just, no worries. But it seems as if as soon as one person I care about finally gets better and I feel like I have room to breathe, another person I love is struck with a blow!"

"C.C. what's wrong?"

"Not now!" The tone in her voice had become loud and desperate. Others in the restaurant had turned to look at them.

The tears, which, she had been fighting the entire time were slowly starting to fall now as her blue irises were met with his own. The look on his face showed a variety of emotions including love, concern and the need to protect her from whatever it was that made her feel this way.

He scooted his chair, which had been across from her at the table, so that it was right next to her own before using his napkin to wipe the tears flowing down her cheeks.

Without even asking her, he knew that she wanted to leave, for she hated showing her innermost emotions to others, particularly complete strangers.

The waiter came by the refill their drinks and Niles asked him to wrap their dinner up in to-go boxes.

C.C. did the best she could to hide her tears, but was unsuccessful in this attempt as everyone in the restaurant could hear her uncontrollable sobs. Niles did the best he could to protect her from this by pulling her close to him, her head nestled in the crook of his neck and his palm protectively cradling the back of her blonde head of hair.

He used his other hand to console her, rubbing her back lightly as the two of them sat there waiting for the waiter to bring their food.

After about 15 minutes, he was out with their food and the bill, which Niles paid. He whispered in C.C.'s ear that their food had come and she slowly stood up and headed out of the restaurant, making sure she made no eye contact with the other guests. Niles followed close behind with the boxes of Ziti.

Although they had used her car, Niles insisted on driving them to the restaurant. Earlier, C.C. had given him a little trouble about it, insisting that it wasn't necessary. Now, however, she had little fight in her as Niles unlocked the doors so they could enter the vehicle.

The drive that the two of them had shared earlier to the restaurant had been silent, although it was no comparison to the somber mood that hung in the car on this drive home.

At every traffic light, Niles would immediately turn and check on her and every time he did, he saw the same lifeless expression on her face. It sickened him tremendously to see her this way, so defeated. It was certainly not the C.C. Babcock that he knew and loved so much.

Seeing her this way made him realize that whatever it was that she had found out today must be very serious, for he had never seen her completely devoid of all her normal fire.

He parked her car and the two of them headed up to her apartment building without speaking to one another. They approached her apartment door before Niles fumbled with the keys and opened it up.

C.C. dragged herself in the door before putting her purse on the table and dropping down on her leather sofa. Her tears had slowed down and she resorted to staring at her reflection in the TV as Niles brought their Styrofoam boxes of Ziti along with silverware and set them on the table.

"Niles, why do bad things always happen to good people? I mean, look what happened to you! And now this! I just don't understand it. My brother is probably the best person in my entire family. He's the only one of us that has managed to make his marriage work along with raising a family and having a stable career. I just don't understand how this could happen to him?"

"C.C., what's wrong with your brother?"

"He has cancer. Leukemia, I have to go this weekend to Illinois and get tested to see if I am a match to be a bone marrow donor. Apparently, siblings are usually the most likely to match. My whole family has been tested and none of them matched. They even tested his little girl, my niece. I feel like I'm his only hope and even if I am a match, there is no guarantee that the treatment will work."

"Oh C.C…God…I'm sorry."

He hated seeing her this way, for he knew her and her brother were quite close. The fact that he couldn't fix the problem for her made it all the worse as he sat there, unsure of what to say next.

He did all he could think of to do and pulled her close to him once again. She laid on her side, placing her head in his lap before he stroked her hair.

"Niles…could I ask you a favor…don't feel like you have to say yes…but…do you think…that…you could come with me to Illinois this weekend? It's just that, I've heard the test is painful and my other family members and I don't…."

"C.C. I wouldn't have it any other way. I would have insisted on going with you, whether you asked me or not."

He kissed her on the forehead in order to further reassure her of his complete and utter devotion to her.

They sat in silence for several minutes before C.C. finally reacquired her appetite and the two of them ate their food, in silence once again. It was one of those times in her life when just his mere presence was enough to keep her sane.

They finished up before Niles' gathered up their empty boxes and disposed of them. It was somewhat late as this point and the lack of sleep the two of them had suffered the night before was starting to catch up with them.

The two of them dressed for bed before crawling under the sheets and shifting close to one another. Being the she was emotional drained; C.C. fell asleep just minutes after hitting the mattress.

Shortly after falling asleep, Niles' was immediately awoken by the ringing of C.C.'s cordless. C.C. was in such a deep sleep, that the sound of the ringing did not wake her as Niles went to go answer it.

"Hello."

"Hello, is Miss Babcock there?"

"She is unavailable at the moment. May I take a message?"

"Just tell her to call us back ASAP so that she can provide an alternate form of payment for Mr. Brightmore's treatments. We have checked the numbers again and again, and the transaction has been declined."

"This is Mr. Brightmore speaking, so may I ask exactly how my expenses have or I guess in this case would have been paid?"

"What do you mean? I just said Miss Babcock's account…."

"Yes, yes I understand that, but was the cost split? I would expect that my employer, Maxwell Sheffield would have covered a least a portion of the expenses."

"Let me just double check here…nope…C.C. Babcock is the only one listed to provide payment. Would you please tell her to call me immediately?"

"Hello? Sir, are you still there?"

But the line was silent as Niles hung up the phone after finding out this new information. He knew that C.C. had taken on a small portion of his medical bills but was completely unaware that she had taken on the entire cost.

His emotions were flying off the handle now as he had processed so many life-altering events in the course of the day. He was grateful to have the love of this beautiful woman sleeping next to him, although, now that he realized the extent of what she had taken on for him, a huge ball of guilt ate at the pit of his stomach as he thought about what she had done for him over the last 6 months.

Feeling the sudden urge to leave, he slowly crawled out of bed, desperate not to wake her. He put on some sweatpants and a t-shirt along with some sneakers before walking into the living room. There he started pacing around the room, unsure of what to do next. On the one hand, he felt this unbearable guilt that she had been so good to him at a time where he really didn't believe he deserved it. On the other hand, he knew that she was going through a great deal and she certainly shouldn't have to go through it alone. He continued to think of what he should do for a while longer before grabbing a pen and scribbling a note for her. His handwriting was shaky as he transcribed his thoughts:

C.C.

I don't even know where to begin with this. I just needed to get out for a while. The hospital called and asked for you. They were looking for you to provide them with an alternate form of payment for MY medical expenses. I wish you would have told me that you planned on paying for everything yourself so that I could have stopped you. I don't deserve half of what you have given me and I don't expect that I'll ever be able to provide you with near as much as you have provided me. Don't worry about paying for me. Whatever money you have, put it towards your brother's treatment. I really do pray he pulls through. My expenses can be covered with whatever little savings I have and Mr. Sheffield can pay the difference. You have done more than enough for me. I just wish I could do the same for you. I'm sorry for all the pain and the burden I have been to you over the years. I guess it was the only way to show how much I actually do care. I guess I knew I just couldn't measure up.

Niles

He finished the letter and placed it on the table where he was sure she would find it in the morning. He had a hard time explaining to himself why he felt the need to leave her at this very moment. He could justify it with the fact that she did not tell him about the phone call and wasn't initially honest with him up front. But, that wasn't what was eating at his core this very second.

Any guilt that he felt over making himself entertained at her expense was creeping to the surface as he thought about the sacrifices and accommodations she had made for him over these last few months. He was even starting to feel horrible at the fact that he had questioned her motivation for so many months.

Now, her closest family member was terminally ill. Surely, he had known about the illness months ago, for usually bone marrow transplants are considered only after other types of treatment fail to have an effect. C.C. should have been there, supporting her brother through his illness, not helping me.

With this thought in mind, he slowly walked out of her apartment door, headed down the elevator and out of the building. He walked the streets for several blocks before hailing a cab. He realized as he stepped into the vehicle, that he had no destination in mind.

He said the first address that popped into his mind.

The cab driver drove him there, somewhat erratically, before Niles paid and tipped the man. Niles turned and faced the door of the house, before briskly walking toward it. When he was in front of the door, however, he hesitated about what to do next.

Slowly, he lifted up his hand and rang the bell. He waited for several minutes before the door was open and there appeared Fran, dressed in a silky negligee, which was covered up mostly by a fluffy robe she had on over it.

"Niles?"

She knew by the sorrow and solemn expression in his retinas that something was definitely not right.