Chapter 21

Bec burst through the front door of Kate's townhouse. Stowing her set of keys in her pocket, she ran through the townhouse, yelling for Kate. Getting no initial response, she raced into the lounge room, finding the blonde woman lying on the floor. Grabbing the phone that was on the floor next to Kate, she spoke into the receiver, 'Nikki?'

'Is she ok? I haven't heard anything for a while,' Nikki asked, frantic.

'She's unconscious, but,' she pressed two fingers to Kate's neck, searching for a pulse, 'she's breathing and there's a pulse. I'm just going to call an Ambulance.'

'I have to go, but can you call me when you know what's happening?'

'Absolutely.' Nikki hung up on the other end, and Bec quickly dialled for an Ambulance. Going through a multitude of details with the operator, Bec was relieved when she heard the sirens in the distance.

Two paramedics raced through the door minutes later, rushing to the unconscious woman on the floor. Rolling her onto her back, they could see the sticky patches of bile stuck to her shirt. Attaching a heart monitor to her index finger they recorded their observations before one of them retreated to grab the trolley from the back of the Ambulance. The remaining paramedic spoke some more with Bec trying to ascertain what had happened with the woman who was still unconscious on the floor.

'I don't know what happened. She's about to start her third cycle of Chemo. I got a call from a friend who said Kate sounded sick.'

'Is there anyone staying with her?'

'Her boyfriend is, but I don't know where he is.' Bec stepped back, watching as Kate's limp body was shifted onto the trolley and she was wheeled out to the waiting Ambulance.

Minutes later Bec rushed through the front doors of the hospital, phone in hand, attempting to contact Mike as she made her way through the corridors, following the signs to the Admin desk. 'I'm looking for Kate McGregor.' Looking up the name on the computer, the young man responded, 'She's with the Doctor now, if you take a seat over there, they should have some news shortly.'

'Thank you.' Slowly, Bec made her way over to the bank of chairs that lined the wall, taking a seat and pulling her phone from its place in her pocket. Running her fingers across the touch screen, she decided against calling Nikki until she knew more about how Kate was. Sitting the phone in her lap, she leaned against the hard back of the chair, allowing her eyes to slip closed.

A clearing throat pulled Bec from her light slumber. Standing before her was a young man, 'Are you with Kate McGregor?'

'I am. Is she ok?'

'Would you like to come with me?' Scrambling up from the chair, Bec straightened her chef's uniform and followed the man. He led her into a small room just beyond the waiting area. 'I understand that Miss McGregor has breast cancer. What can you tell me about that?'

'She had a double mastectomy and reconstruction about eight weeks ago and she was due to start her third round of chemo tomorrow. What's wrong?'

'We're running some tests now, but from my observations it appears that she has contracted a chest infection. I don't need to tell you that for someone who is undergoing cancer treatment, an infection like this could prove fatal.'

'What can you do?'

'She's still unconscious, we've got her on oxygen and are administering antibiotics to help her immune system fight the infection. Do you know how long she's been unwell?'

'I spoke with her last night and she seemed fine. She told me she'd been sleeping a lot, but she's been doing that since she started chemo, so it didn't seem out of the ordinary.'

'What about visitors?'

'She had a barbeque with our old crewmates last night. No one seemed sick.'

'What about her home? Is it air conditioned?'

'Of course, the AC was on when I got there this afternoon, and it was on yesterday as well,' Bec paused, 'Could the AC have done this?'

'The recycled air, too little clothing on her body, it's possible, but it's just as likely she's contracted a virus from somewhere else. Has she been out of the home lately?'

'I saw her out on Friday. She was with Mike at Central.'

'And Mike is?'

'Her partner. He's caring for her.'

'Where is he today?'

'I'm not sure. He wasn't there when I got there.' There was a knock on the door, and another person entered the room, handing a folder to the Doctor who had been speaking with Bec. 'Excuse me,' he said, exiting the room, leaving the woman confused and alone.

Ten minutes later the man returned to the room, 'You can see her now if you like. She's still unconscious, but you can sit with her.' Bec nodded and followed the man out of the room. Stopping in front of a closed curtain, he pulled it open slightly, revealing Kate lying beneath the plain white sheet, an oxygen mask sitting comfortably over her nose and mouth. The monitors next to the bed beeped steadily in time to her heart beat. 'We'll be moving her up to the ward shortly, but you can sit with her until we transfer her.'

'Thank you.' Bec took a seat next to Kate, taking in the sight of her former Executive Officer unconscious on the bed. 'Kate,' Bec whispered, 'Just hang in there, it'll be ok.'

It was almost an hour before Kate was transferred to a ward. While Kate was settled in her new room, Bec took the opportunity to once again attempt to contact Mike. His voicemail picked up, again, "You've reached Mike Flynn, leave a message after the beep and I'll get back to you as soon as possible."

'Mike, its Bec, again, call me as soon as you get this. Kate's in the hospital.'Hanging up the phone, she sent a quick email to her former Navigator, and waited patiently for Nikki to call her back. Minutes later her mobile started vibrating against her leg. 'Nikki?' she asked, answering it automatically.

'Bec? Is she ok?'

'She has a chest infection and she hasn't regained consciousness yet.'

'Oh God.'

'They've given her antibiotics and they're postponing her next round of chemo until she recovers.'

'Will you let me know when she wakes up? I'm on Watch, so I can't talk.'

'Sure. Stay safe Nik.'

'Bye.' The line clicked as the call was disconnected. Watching the screen on her phone turn black, Bec, headed up to the ward where Kate was, prepared to sit by her friends side until she was well.

Early the next morning, Mike unlocked the front door, pushing it open, half tripping over as he stepped inside. 'Kate?' he called, finding the place dark. Dropping his keys on the kitchen bench, he went up to the bedroom, and upon finding it deserted, he began to worry. The pounding in his head increased as he looked around the room. The bed looked the same as it did when he left the day before. Her old sea bag, the one she took to hospital with her was still sitting in the corner. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he tried to locate his phone, hoping it might be able to shed some light on the situation. Unable to locate the device, he went back out to his car, finding the object in the compartment inside the door. Unlocking the screen, a message flashed up, "Five Missed Calls", clearing the screen, the phone beeped, "Four new voice messages." Tapping the phone icon on the screen, he checked who the missed calls were from. The list appeared on screen, Kate, 10:03am; Bec (2); Nikki (2); frowning, he hit the icon for voicemail, lifting the phone to his ear. Listening to the messages first message was enough, he ran back to the house, locking it up before rushing back to the car, starting it up and throwing it into gear.

Minutes later he arrived at the hospital, parking in the nearest available space. Rushing through the front doors of the building, he ran to the Admin desk, 'Michelle,' he said, recognising the woman behind the desk, 'Where's Kate?' Scrolling down the screen in front of her, she located Kate's name on the list, 'She's in room 256.'

'Thanks Michelle,' Mike said, running towards the elevator.

The elevator doors dinged as they opened on the second floor. Eying the directional signs opposite the doors, Mike turned to his right, speed-walking across the tiled floor, counting the numbers on each side of the passage. Finally locating his desired number, he took a minute to catch his breath, unsure of what he would find behind the currently closed door. Not bothering to knock, he pushed the door open, stepping inside the small room. Bec looked up from her place next to Kate, 'Mike?'

'I just got your messages. Is she ok?' Bec shook her head,

'They don't know. She hasn't woken up yet.' Tears pooled in his eyes as he took in the sight of the woman before him. Kate was lying dead still in the centre of the bed, an oxygen mask still covering her mouth and nose. A clip was clasped on her left index finger, connected to one of the monitors at the head of the bed, which was beeping at steady intervals. A blood pressure cuff was around her right upper arm, and an IV line had been inserted into the back of her left hand, running into the bags of fluid that were hanging from the pole at the head of the bed. 'Oh, Kate,' he whispered, running his fingers down her pale cheek. 'I'm so sorry. God I shouldn't have walked out, I'm so sorry.' There was no response from the woman on the bed, so he took a seat next to her. 'What's wrong? She was fine when I left.'

'Chest infection. They're giving her antibiotics but they've delayed the chemo until she's stronger.'

'This is all my fault. I took her out the other day, she wasn't feeling well, but I took her anyway.'

'This isn't your fault Mike, her immune system is weak, it's the cancer, the chemo, it's not your fault.'

'I should've been there. And I wasn't.'

'Where were you?' Bec's tone was accusing, and Mike shook his head, trying to suppress the memories,

'We had a fight…and I walked out. I just…I couldn't look at her.'

'What did you do?'

'I got drunk. Passed out at Buffer's.'

'And you didn't have your phone?'

'Found it in the car this morning.' His last statement angered the woman across from him further, 'She could've died Mike. If Nikki hadn't have called her and realised something was wrong, then she would've been lying there until you got home.'

'I know,' he said, ducking his head shamefully.

'She could still die!'

'I know that!' he yelled, the Commander coming out in him, causing the woman to shrink in her seat, 'And the fact that she's sick? I'm going to have to live with that for the rest of my life. I'll never forgive myself for that.' There was an awkward silence between the pair, both choosing to focus on the woman that lay between them, completely unaware of the drama occurring around her. Bec opened her mouth to respond to his last comment but was cut off, 'Don't you have somewhere else to be?' he asked, his tone icy. Knowing that she had pushed more than one button with her former Captain, Bec nodded and stood up, 'I'll come back later,' she whispered, gathering her things and leaving the room.

'Kate, I need you to wake up now,' Mike whispered, sandwiching her smaller hand between his larger ones, 'I need you to know that I'm sorry for everything that I said yesterday. I need you to wake up so we can fight this disease together, and so that when you're better we can start a family.

'I love you Kate McGregor, and I need you by my side.' Leaning forward, he dared to press a kiss to her cheek, reaching up with one of his hands to push the stray strands of hair away from her eyes. Several of the strands he attempted to move came out in the relocation and he clenched his fists around them, trying to diffuse his anger. Holding the delicate strands in his hands, he thought back to something Buffer had suggested the night before:

'I think there's something you could do…'

'What?' Mike asked, taking another sip from his beer.

'You could shave your head.'

'But what does that achieve?'

'It's a gesture of support. It might not mean much to you, but it'll mean a lot to her. Trust me.'

Looking at the small bald patch that had appeared along Kate's hairline, Mike ran his hand across his own locks. 'It'll grow back,' he whispered to himself. Yawning, as the past couple of days caught up with him, he again clasped her hands in his own, and rested his head beside hers, dropping a kiss on her forehead before he settled in the uncomfortable position and drifted off to sleep.