Thanks for all the love on the last chapter! I will forsure try to get some more Natalina into these chapters!
Chapter 14
"We're still hopeful, but I think moving towards radiation and even looking for a stem cell transport would be the smartest plan of action," Dr. Walker explained to Nat and Rosalina in the hallway weeks later. "So getting anyone you know that would be interested in donating to get tested to see if they're a match would be a great proactive step."
"We will look into that right away, all of us," Nat replied. "Please keep us up to date with anything else."
"Of course, I'll check in with Chris tomorrow before starting radiation," Dr. Walker gave a comforting smile before walking away. Rosalina sighed and leaned into Nat's frame, his arms wrapped around her.
"Well you and I should probably get tested, Alex too," Nat said, rubbing his hand up and down her back.
"Yeah, yeah we can check with the nurse about that," Rosalina muttered. She squinted her eyes towards the waiting room at two women talking at the front desk. "Is that...is that Victoria and Grace?"
"Rosalina! Nat!" The two women yelled from down the hallway, running towards the couple. They each embraced with one, then switching to the other.
"You guys, you guys didn't have to come," Rosalina said.
"Yes we did, we wanted to be here sooner but we didn't want to interfere on family time," Victoria explained.
"Oh come on, you guys are family," Nat told them. "Thank you for coming though, I'm sure the guys have missed you."
"We've missed them too, I can't believe those haircuts!" Grace exclaimed. "They should would do anything for that boy. We all would."
"Yeah he's pretty lucky," Rosalina slightly smiled. "You guys should get in there, Chris should be awake and would love to see you."
"Well we can't let the boy down," Victoria shrugged and smiled as the two headed into the room. Nat and Rosalina remained in the hallway, Nat leaned up against the wall with Rosalina leaning into him. Nat rested his chin on Rosalina's head as they stood in silence, still reflecting on Dr. Walker's news.
"What's with the long faces?" Thomas asked the couple as he, Kristina, Alex, and Juanita came walking back from the coffee stand. "Didn't you see Victoria and Grace?"
"Yeah...yeah," Rosalina struggled to string a sentence together, looking at Nat for support.
"Dr. Walker just informed us they're moving onto radiation and that we should start looking for a stem cell donor match…" Nat explained. "Just in case."
"Test me," Alex quickly said.
"Me too," Kristina nodded. Thomas and Juanita also nodded their heads. "There's a ton of us, one of us has got to be a match."
"I'll go in there and tell the rest of the gang, no one will question it for a second," Thomas told them both before walking into the hospital room.
"It's going to be okay, bro," Alex patted his brother's back and smiled sincerely at his sister-in-law before heading into the room with Juanita. Kristina still remained in the hallway, her hands holding onto Rosalina's arm in a sign of comfort. The three of them followed them into the room, which was quiet for the amount of people in it.
"Why the long faces?" Cooper asked the group as they walked in. "Oh come on guys, one of us is bound to be a match."
"But what if we're not? Do you know how hard it is to find a stem cell match?" Rosalina asked him, emotion running through her voice.
"We need to boost the morale around here, get us all in good spirits," Cooper stated. "I've been thinking, why don't we do a benefit concert?"
"Come on Coop, we don't need money, we just need Chris to be better," Nat shook his head at the idea.
"No, the money would go towards childhood leukemia, and we would promote becoming a donor. It doesn't even have to be a stem cell donor but any kind. It's a simple box to check on your driver's license that can save a lot of lives," Cooper explained. "We could do it in town here, so Chris could come. I mean I hate to make him the poster child for all of this but it would do a lot of good and it sure would boost the spirits of us all. What do you guys think? Nat, Rosie?"
"I think, I think it would be great," Rosalina said, looking up at Nat for a response. "What do you think?"
"On one condition, it's not a Nat and Alex Wolff show," Nat said, earning him weird looks from the room. "We do it as the Naked Brothers Band."
"I'm sure that can be arranged," Cooper grinned, looking at the faces in the room. "Are you guys down?"
"For this kid, anything," Thomas said, putting his hand on Chris's shoulder. David and Qaasim nodded in agreement, as well as Alex and Kristina. "What do you say, Rosalina? Ready to sing some high school love songs again."
"Anything to be back with family again," Rosalina smiled slightly. "What do you think Chris? Want to see the Naked Brothers Band back together on stage for the first time in your lifetime?"
"Would I get to go?" Chris asked weakly.
"Your picture won't be on the posters for nothing," Cooper winked. "I'm sure you're Uncle Coop and Aunt Patty will be able to pull some strings with Dr. Walker to get you out of this place for awhile."
"Sweet," Chris smiled a closed lip smile, just like his uncle and father did.
"I suppose we should start making some calls," Patty smiled a little bit and headed out into the hall.
"Rehearsal tonight, the girls and Patty will stay here with Chris. The Naked Brothers Band is back, ladies and gentleman," Cooper smirked a bit before following his girlfriend into the hallway. His comment earned smiles, cheers, hugs, and high fives from those remaining in the room.