Once again thank you for your reviews of this story. I'm going to try to be better about proof reading this before posting it. I get so excited to get you the latest chapter that once I'm done I post it. I reread the last chapter and was disappointed with the amount of spelling / grammar errors. Also I'm sorry about the lack of updates, if your reading my other story you may already know what happened. If you haven't read the other story, what happened is I fried my hard drive and had to get my computer fixed. Fortunately the hard drive ended up getting repaired but I did lose everything I've written. I'm very fortunate that I only lost 3 stories that I never published online. Anyway you didn't open this story to read my comments enjoy the next chapter.
Pine Valley Hospital had always been one of the top care facilities in the United States. Angie walked up and down the halls of the hospital filled with pride every day. Even when David had allowed the hospital to fall apart, they were still the best at what they did, take care of people.
Angie remembered the day she became a doctor, her family surrounding her as stood proudly saying the "Hippocratic oath". It was with pride that raised her hand and promised to "do no harm". From the very first time she put the white lab coat around her shoulders, when she placed the stethoscope around her neck, she took that oath to heart standing behind the honor and integrity of those words.
Angie thought back to that quite winter day just weeks ago, walking into the exam room to find Greenlee waiting in the room. Never before in her long career as a doctor had she been apprehensive to help someone. Seeing Greenlee brought back the memories of the months she spent not seeing the world right in front of her. Angie was usually a forgiving person but she couldn't help but wonder how different her life would have been if it hadn't been for the then, Dr. and Mrs. Hayward. In that moment standing in the exam room staring at the younger woman, Angie came closer than she ever had to refusing to treat a patient; she wanted to tell the other girl to find another doctor, another hospital, hell even another town. It was in that instant, allowing the hatred to take over, that her own voice repeated the solemn words over in her mind; "I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick."
She had made a promise to treat people, to turn the woman away, to deny her the best medical care this hospital care they had to offer, would break the very foundation to which she had built her entire career. Angie had never believed that that one decision would end with the outcome they had seen. She never once thought she would have to give that girl the diagnosis of cancer.
Now Angie found herself standing in the doorway of Greenlee's hospital room watching as the girl slept soundly. The past three days had been a whirlwind for all of them. Three days ago she was sitting in her office staring down at the blood tests trying to find the right words to use. The following day she sat with Greenlee as they confirmed the diagnosis. She had pleaded with the girl to not keep her family in the dark, to give her father a chance to stand up and be the man that everyone believed him to be. When Greenlee had told her, with her fists tightly clenched, she had no desire to involve Jackson in her fight, Angie made the decision right then and there she would be there every step away. No one should go through this alone and Angie wouldn't let Greenlee fight by herself.
First thing that morning Greenlee had met Angie and Dr. Harper in the newly renovated Oncology floor. Neither Angie nor Dr. Harper could help but noticed the scared look on the girls face. Over the next few hours Greenlee went from Cosmetic Executive to Cancer patient. She had asked the doctors question after question about what to expect, only to be frustrated with the same answer for every question; "Chemotherapy is different for every patient. We don't know how you'll react."
The doctors did their best to prepare her for the fight ahead of her. They explained each phase of treatment. After reviewing her Bone Marrow Biopsy results they had found the cancer was more advanced than first thought, they were going to start her on a higher dose of Chemo than originally intended. She would receive a combination of Chemo and other drugs every other day during the initial phase. Due to the amount of treatments she would be receiving the doctors had told her they would be putting a catheter in her chest, they told her it would reduce the number of times she was stuck with a needle, as well as reduce her chanced of getting infections.
Greenlee listened silently through the rest of their explanations trying to comprehend what was going to happen. More than anything she wanted to run out of the hospital as fast as she could, she wanted to crawl into her bed and pull the covers over her head and wake up when this was all over. She couldn't run away, giving up had never been an option her. She would let the doctors put this tube in her chest and she would learn to adjust to it. She would let the doctors give her the drugs that would probably make her sick, that would make her hair fall out, but she knew those drugs would save her life. Greenlee wasn't ready to die, as wonderful as being in heaven with Leo sounded, she still had things she needed to do before she was reunited with him again.
JR sat in his office at Chandler Enterprises. He had almost lost everything months ago but, for some reason, his father still trusted him and let him come back to work, with the promise that if work became too stressful he wouldn't hesitate to tell his father and take a break. He was back in his old office on the top floor. He had his own assistant again and a team of people working under him. When he sat behind his desk running the operations at Chandler he got back some of the power he felt before the alcohol stripped away everything he was.
A pile of paperwork sat untouched on his desk as he stared out the window overlooking Pine Valley. He thought back to the day the doctors told him he had cancer. While they told him about his treatment options the only though in his mind was, "I'm going to leave my child without any parents". More than anything leaving AJ alone had scared him. JR had made a decision before that first treatment; he would not leave his son alone.
Through the painful side of effects of the Chemo he kept the image of his son in the back of his mind using that to keep him strong day after day. JR thought back to his conversation the night before, hearing Greenlee admit she was facing the same fight he had managed to win. He wondered what would keep her strong through everything; she refused to tell her father, everyone knew her mother was only around when she needed money. Who would keep her strong on the nights she prayed for death? Who would hold her hand when she fought the nausea? It didn't seem right that she had to face this fight with no one standing beside her.
Adam walked into his son's office only to find him staring off into space looking out the windows. His first thought was the young man was slacking on his duties. His anger grew, he had come back to Pine Valley because JR had allowed alcohol to take over his life and had almost ruined their family. Adam was ready to lay into his son for being distracted at work. It was when he saw the determined look on his son's face he softened his stance and called out to him, "Son?"
JR turned his chair quickly facing the older man standing before him, "Dad! I didn't hear you come in."
"You looked like you were in your own world. Is everything ok son? If this is too much I can find someone else to do the job." Adam tried not to sound too harsh. He wanted his son to be a part of the company, but if working in such a high profile position was causing the man to want to drink again or slack on his duties, than he would rather find someone else to lead the company.
"What? No Dad I'm fine. I was just thinking about something a friend told me. I was actually going to come to your office today. The team is two weeks ahead of schedule on the new prototype. They're going to use the extra time to see if they can find any bugs in the system and find away to make it more secure than we originally planned for. I made sure the new upgrades wouldn't cost any additional money and was assured we would come in under budget." JR handed Adam the file on his desk with the details.
Adam browsed through the file impressed with the work that JR had gotten out of the R&D team. "Good work son. I'm sorry I overreacted…It's just I found you looking well a little out of it…"
"Look Dad I understand I screwed up. It's going to take a lot to regain your trust I get that. I'm not going to go back there again…" JR emphasized his words hoping Adam could see his desire to truly change.
"I know son. I'm trying my best to trust you, I really am. Now listen came up to ask you a favor and, since you're ahead of schedule, I think you can handle it."
"Sure what's up?" JR asked curiously.
"There's a meeting for the hospital board today. I forgot all about it and scheduled a game of golf with some new investors in New York. So son which do you want? Board meeting or golf?" Adam was sure JR would jump at the chance for a round of golf.
"Oh tempting. Man I'd love to play today but I promised AJ I would be at his parent teacher conference tonight so Board meeting it is."
An hour later JR found himself sitting in the board room at PVH listening to the hospital's profitability. He voted on the different measures and was grateful when the meeting was finally over. After the meeting he found himself walking aimlessly around PVH and found himself on the oncology ward.
Greenlee looked down at the tubes stick out of her chest. She knew when she woke up they were going to be there, but that didn't make seeing them any easier. With each passing moment everything was become more and more of a reality. In what felt like just a blink of an eye her life had changed. She should be at Fusion right now helping Kendall finalize the summer colors. She should be flying to New York to find her summer wardrobe. Summer had always been her favorite season. She like the snow but growing up in San Diego it was the sun and warmth that she loved best. Sitting beside the pool, having a cold drink and sun tanning, nothing seemed better.
She looked down at the tube protruding from her chest and knew this summer would be like any other. She wouldn't be wearing the newest and hottest bikinis, heck she probably wouldn't be wearing a bathing suit at all. Low cut shirts and dresses were out as well. That was assuming she would even be around for the summer.
Greenlee hated thinking that way, wondering if she would see the summer sun; it didn't seem fair that this cancer could take her life in just a few short months. Sitting in her hospital room alone she was faced with her first doubts of surviving this. It was almost April and July seemed so far away.
Rather than focusing on something she could not control she focused on the tray sitting in front of her. Dr. Harper had encouraged her to eat something before her first Chemo. Greenlee had wondered if that was such a good idea, if the Chemo was going to make her sick wouldn't it be better if she didn't eat anything? She used the fork to move the food in front of her around her plate trying to believe the doctor when said it was better if she ate something, as it would give her more strength.
As she forced the last bite into her mouth a friendly nurse walked into the room carrying three IV bags. Each held a different drug that was supposed to save her life. Greenlee watched silently as the nurse started what would be a long process before hooking up the IV's.
During each step the nurse explained what she was doing. She explained to the scared woman before the importance of keeping the catheter clean and changing the dressings. From a drawer next to Greenlee's bed she took out different tubes. The first was a saline solution used to clean out the catheter. Greenlee felt the fluid enter her body and watched as the next tube was hooked up.
"This is an anti-nausea medication to hopefully help keep the nausea down, and keeps you from throwing up, sadly there's no guarantee." The nurse grabbed the next tube, "These are steroid's to keep you strong through the treatments and to give you an appetite. The worst thing you can do is stop eating. And lastly what some of my patients consider being their favorite, Benadryl."
"Isn't that for allergies?" Greenlee asked.
"It is. Just in case your body as an adverse reaction to any of the medication. It will also make you drowsy, which is why so many like it, they're able to sleep through the entire treatment. I know the doctors explained to you that each person reacts differently to the medication. If you need anything just push this button right her and I'll be right here." She placed a comforting hand on Greenlee's shoulder before hooking up the IV bags she had brought in with her.
Greenlee stared up at the bags watching as the medicine dripped into her body. She was surprised when the drugs entered her body and she felt nothing. She had expected such a strong drug like Chemo would burn when it went in. As the drugs continued to make their way into her system she braced herself for the symptoms she had read about. With each drop she expected for something to happen, but she felt no different. Her eyes began to grow heavy until she finally closed them letting sleep grace her.
Emily had been a nurse at Pine Valley Hospital for almost ten years. She had grown up on the west coast enjoying the mild weather of California. It was her desire to help people that had brought her here. When she was ten her older brother had been diagnosed with cancer, watching him fight the disease had inspired to go into nursing. Her family had been torn apart when he passed away after losing his own battle with Cancer. Not a day went by when she didn't think about him, it was his fight and his drive that inspired her.
When the job had opened up at Pine Valley Hospital she had jumped at the chance to join their oncology team. There were times when she went home and cried for the patients that she saw, watching them fight for life, seeing what cancer did to them. While the stress was often too hard to bear, it was when she saw a patient beat the odds and get the news they were in remission that she was able to keep going.
Emily walked up and down the halls checking on her patients. Her day was almost half over and she was looking forward to heading home for the night. She walked back into Greenlee's room and noticed the woman was out, just like she had expected. She checked the IV bags and estimated it would be another hour or so before the last of the Chemo was in. Before leaving the room she picked up Greenlee's chart to make a few notations.
JR walked away from the Children's ward of the oncology department. He loved spending time with the children there, encouraging them by telling them how he beat cancer. He made his way past the nurses' station waving at the nurses before he made his way back to the elevator. He still wasn't sure what had made him come up here.
"JR Chandler! What are you doing here?" a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.
JR turned towards the voice and smiled down at the woman. He recognized her immediately. "Emily! How have you been?" She had been one of his favorite nurses when he was stuck in this hospital. Most nurses had learned over time to harden their hearts. They would walk into the room; hook you up to whatever meds they were giving you that day and walk out, never once saying a word. Emily was different even though, she always put the patient first. She sat with him for hours sometimes listening to his family stories, trying to distract him from the side effects from the drugs.
"I'm doing alright. How are you? Did you have an appointment today?" Emily looked at him solemnly hoping his cancer hadn't returned.
"Nope, no appointment today. I had labs done a month ago and everything looked good. I'm still in remission." He smiled at her.
"That's great! Now I seem to remember telling you I never wanted to see you up here again." Emily smiled back at the blonde man. She told all her patients the same thing the day they were released. As much as she grew attached to each patient in her care, she genuinely never wanted to see them in that capacity again.
JR laughed appreciating the humor behind her words, "You did. I was here for a board meeting and wanted to see the new digs. The place looks nice." JR looked around the new facilities. The ward was set up like a wagon wheel. In the middle was the nurses' station. Directly across from there was the hallway that led to the children's ward which was set up the same way. On either side of the hallway were patient rooms. There was also a waiting room for family members and a kitchen where nurses could prepare anything the patients might be craving. This place, for being a cancer ward, was more inviting than he had imagined.
"Yeah, the facilities are some of the best around now. Please thank your Dad for me. The money he donated made all this possible. I'm just glad we didn't have to name this the Adam Chandler Jr. Memorial Oncology Ward. There was a minute that we weren't sure you would make it. But look at you now. You look good JR."
"Thanks. You look good to, are you holding up ok?" He knew better than most how deeply personal she made each case. She had shared with him the loss of her brother and how that influenced her daily life.
"Yeah, I'm good. I'm dating a Doctor here. He's helped me maintain a better work-life balance. We've even been talking about marriage and kids, if you can believe that." She smiled thinking about the man she came home to each night.
JR pulled the nurse in to a hug, "Good for you Em you deserve the best."
Realizing the amount of time she spent with him Emily said her goodbyes and went back to work, telling him once again she didn't want to see him there again. Before JR could turn to leave he noticed the woman lying in the bed before him.
Greenlee's eyes shot open suddenly. When the Chemo first entered her body she hadn't felt any different. She had hoped that she was one of those lucky people who didn't get sick during treatments. She had been waken up suddenly, her body racked with nausea. She groaned as she tried to get the feeling to subside. Just an hour into her first Chemo treatments and she was already feeling the harsh side effects of the drug. Greenlee grabbed the bowl the nurse had left for her, praying she wouldn't have to use it. She laid her head back on the pillow and closed her eyes tight trying to get the nausea to subside.
"It makes it worse if you fight it." A man's voice said softly from the door way.
Greenlee looked over at the man before leaning forward, giving into the nausea. She felt the man walk closer to her; she could feel him standing next to her. He placed a comforting hand on her back and began rubbing his hand gently across her back. As her body racked with pain and, she lost what little food she managed to eat during lunch, he pulled her hair back, telling her it would be ok.
With everything finally out she leaned back against her bed and came face to face with JR. "What are you doing here?" she asked confused as to why he would be in this room with her.
"I don't know. I just kind of felt drawn here today. I guess…" he started looking into her pain filled eyes. "I guess no one deserves to go through this alone."