XXV. Good Day

Good day doesn't have to be a Friday
Doesn't need to be your birthday
The next one then you won't survive
Sing along hold my life
A good day is any day that you're alive
Yes, a good day is any day that you're alive
-Paul Westerberg

Things felt more balanced with Rowan back at school. After getting out of the hospital on Sunday she was strong enough to return to Spenser the following Wednesday. And with Pogue and Hope fully reconciled, their group's harmony was back to rights. Hunter stayed over at Rowan's place for a few days to let Pogue and Hope have some alone time at the apartment. Bubbe was back with Ernie, Bruce Lee, Mo and Bo, the tropical fish that resided in Rowan's sanctum sanctorum.

"Yay, you're back!" Maria exclaimed upon seeing Rowan Wednesday morning.

Pinkie sniffled. "It's just not the same without you."

Rowan smiled in the sandwich-hug Maria and Pinkie had her in. "I'm glad to be back, too."

"That's right," Reid interjected. He made a shooing motion with his hand to get them out of his way. The blond put his arm around his girlfriend's shoulders. "You got to take it easy still, though," he reminded her.

She rolled her eyes. "Because I haven't been told enough." The fever may have gone, but the long bout still had its after effects on her body. "I think my mom and Cay told me a total of ten times."

"Just making sure you heard, Row," Tyler said. "We know how you are."

Rowan pursed her lips. They made their way through the halls to first period.

"So anytime you want to go to the dorms and…rest," Reid said quietly in her ear.

"I thought you said I needed to take it easy?" she inquired coyly.

He smiled. "Well…"

"You're still cut off for two months, Reid," Rowan told him.

"Ah, come on! You weren't serious!" She wasn't grinning. "No…you were just joking…right?"

Rowan shrugged. "Come on, we have to get to class."

"But…" Reid protested. "Me and Hope are cool now, so what I said before doesn't count."

Rowan stopped, stood on her tip-toes and kissed him briefly, but firmly, on the mouth. The act was rewarded with some whoops and hollers from passersby. It sufficed to shut Reid up for the time being; and was also enough to cause his mind to roam the entire class lecture about things he planned to do with Rowan once she was completely better. And one of the images must have been strong and clear enough for Rowan to pick up because half-way through class her head jerked off of Hunter's shoulder where it'd been resting, and turned around to look at him, face flushed.

----

Toby was telling her how glad he was that she was back because Spenser was no fun without her to talk to. He knew everything and everyone at the school, every nook and cranny, love and heartbreak, lie and truth; and when you had that much information and no one to tell it to, it could get pretty lonely, even for a ghost.

Rowan chatted with her friend – dead or not, Toby was just that – as she shelved the books on the second floor of the library. It was snowing lightly outside, and it was quiet. Except for the various text messages she received from both her brother and boyfriend inquiring about how she was. Her phone would vibrate in the pocket of her blazer, startling her. She was tempted to turn it off but Rowan knew that their minds would jump to the conclusion that she couldn't answer the phone, as opposed to wouldn't answer it.

"Well, if it isn't Rowan Danvers, back from the dead."

She frowned. Aaron Abbot was standing at the end of the aisle, arms crossed, smirk pasted on his lips. At first she thought he was drunk, but upon second glance Rowan saw that he was just severely hung over. His eyes were bloodshot, pallor wan; chin unshaved, hair uncombed and oily.

"Hi, Aaron," she said. "What's up?"

"Nothing." He approached, bringing along the aroma of alcohol.

"Are you okay?" Rowan asked.

He scoffed. "Always."

She nodded, slowly. The cart of books squeaked as the wheels moved. "Well, uh…you look a little…peaked, Aaron. Been drinking?"

"Constantly," Toby said.

"Been talking to Garwin?" he sneered.

"I don't need to talk to anyone to see it." She wasn't lecturing him, merely commenting. "But if you don't feel well you should lay down."

Aaron chuckled. "Only if you lay down with me, babe."

Rowan's jaw twitched. Now was the time to end the conversation.

"Wait, I didn't mean that," he said quickly, sensing her retreat. "I was just messin' with you, Danvers."

Pause. "All right."

Truth was Aaron had missed Rowan during the several days she was absent. He came up here everyday in hopes of seeing her, just talking with her a little. Especially since everything else in his life was shit. He was shit. Sometimes Rowan was the only real person he came in contact with. He'd wanted to go visit her in the hospital, an unexpected urge that had been, and he almost had. Thursday he'd been at the hospital for a follow-up with his doctor, getting news he didn't want to hear…

Rowan got flashes of what Aaron was thinking of. He was at the hospital. Talking to a doctor. His mother next to him. The atmosphere was tense. Doctor reciting bad news. For Aaron.

That was all she got.

Aaron sighed. Slipped his flask out of his blazer, took a drink.

"You sure you're okay?" she asked, quietly, worried.

His eyes fastened on her. He almost told. Almost.

"Like I said, Danvers. I'm always okay."

----

Rowan sighed. She was idly flipping through her Book of Shadows reading nothing particular.

"Hey, beautiful," Reid greeted, walking in with a smile. He'd just gotten off of work at Beans and came straight to see his girlfriend.

"Hi," she said with a weak grin.

"What's wrong?" he asked. He gave her a kiss, tugged her off the stool and led her to the sitting half of the apothecary on the comfy pixilated couch.

Rowan shook her head. "I don't have a job anymore." For starters, that wasn't what was really on her mind.

"What?" he exclaimed. "Why?" No way in hell could Lacey have fired her.

"Lacey has this friend with two little kids whose husband just left her high and dry. But she couldn't really afford to pay another employee, so I opted to resign."

"She told you that?"

"Not exactly. I kind of got it from her mind. Lacey was worried about it." She shrugged. "Besides, I've been missing so much work with being sick. Besides, I don't really need the job."

She had liked working there, though, Reid knew. "Sorry, Row."

"It's okay. I've just got more time for the humane society."

"And me," he nudged, teasing.

A smile spread on her lips. "Of course."

"But why do I get the feeling there's something more?"

This time she truly hesitated because…

"Aaron?" he griped. "What about him?" Reid pulled back a little to get a better look at her.

"There's something wrong with him," she blurted.

"That's not news."

"I mean, he was at the doctors and got bad news. Plus, he's been drinking so much."

"So what? He's a lush."

"Reid…what if something is really wrong with him?"

"I don't care!" he asserted. "You shouldn't either. Abbot's a pain in the ass to everyone; even Coach gave up on him."

"He's off the swim team?"

"Yup." Then, "And when did you get all this?"

"Um…" Rowan averted her eyes, concentrated on petting Bubbe who had just ended her staring contest with Mo and Bo and came to sit on her lap. "We talk…sometimes."

This did not make him happy – at all. "Sometimes."

"Just in the library, you know."

"I really don't," he uttered blandly.

"Toby's with us, so it's okay."

"A ghost doesn't count if the other person doesn't know about him."

Rowan pulled a face. There was no coming to an understanding with Reid when Aaron Abbot was involved. Mostly it turned into a stalemate; an agreement to disagree.

"He hit on you?" he interrogated.

"No," she said.

"Only if you lay down with me…babe?" Reid repeated Aaron's words from earlier that day. Their blood bond was getting stronger and they were picking up each other's thoughts like lucky pennies off the ground.

"He took it back! Don't get upset, Reid, please."

Only the sincere entreaty in her voice simmered him down and stopped him from uttering a few more choice words. "Fine," he grumbled. She rested her head in the crook of his neck; he kissed her on her forehead. "Don't worry about him, Row. Really. Nothing bad ever really happens to guys like him."

Rowan wasn't too sure about that, but she took Reid's words as a light balm to her concerns, anyway.

After a moment, she said, "No one's here but us, you know."

A smirk tweaked his lips, his eyes peered at her mischievously. "I don't know if you're up for that yet."

She captured his lips in a long, deep kiss to quell his misgivings. "What was going on in your mind in class today didn't exactly involve me doing much to you."

"Ah…that's true," he beamed. Reid gently put Bubbe aside; then unceremoniously scooped Rowan up in his arms. "Behave, kids," he said to the three animals. "We've got grown-up things to do."

----

"Oh, my God!" Maria and Pinkie flanked Rowan at lunch the next day.

"What?" Rowan asked.

"Aaron got in a car accident," Pinkie whispered.

"He's in the hospital," Maria put in.

A rock settled in Rowan's stomach. Poor Aaron. "Is he okay?"

"It's his fault," Reid interjected. "He was drinking."

"Reid!" She chastised him for his insensitivity. Rowan turned back to Maria and Pinkie. "How bad is it?"

Reid rolled his eyes. Nobody else at the table was overly concerned about Aaron. Reid figured the guy got whiplash and he'd be back in a couple of days. When Maria and Pinkie said they didn't have any more information beyond that, Rowan said aloud that she should ask Kira or Brody.

"No!" Reid exclaimed.

"Dude," Tyler said.

"What?" Reid looked around the table. "You guys can't pretend like you actually give a shit."

Silence. They didn't wish Aaron fatal harm, but they consented that he had brought it upon himself.

Rowan sighed, got up. She didn't have an appetite right now.

"Way to be sensitive, bro." Hunter slapped the blond on the back. They all knew car accidents were a dark spot for Rowan.

Reid groaned, got up and followed Rowan out of the cafeteria.

"So, what's with all the hate?" Hope asked. Pogue's chair was as close to hers as it could get, his arm was around her. "I don't know Aaron so…"

"Unpleasant," Pinkie and Maria said in unison.

Judy peered at Caleb. She knew her boyfriend and his friends had no love lost between them and Aaron, but even she did not know the reason why Aaron Abbot was anathema.

"Trust me, you don't want to get to know him," Pogue said.

"Hmm," Hope mused. All right, she wouldn't push…now. But judging by the adverse reaction; she suspected Rowan was involved in the equation, and the little sister didn't know it.

----

Not caring what Reid thought, Rowan went to the hospital anyway to see Aaron and get some news on his condition. She wasn't family by a long shot, but she was well known around the place; and this once Rowan thought it wouldn't be so bad to use that as an in. Luckily for her, one of the candy stripers, Nina, was on Aaron's floor, and she loved to talk.

"Almost wrapped his car around a tree," Nina dished. "Three sheets to the wind."

"How bad is it?" Rowan asked.

"Let's see…a few bruised ribs, concussion, couple of contusions, broken wrist… Nothing fatal since I last heard."

She nodded. That was good. "Is he awake?"

Nina shook her head. "Sedated. But I can get you in."

"That'd be great, Nina. Thanks."

"Anytime." Then, "Oh yeah! He's also been here before, too, you know. On the oncology floor."

Rowan's heart thudded. The bad news.

"Cancer of the balls," Nina revealed.

Five minutes later Rowan was sitting next to Aaron's hospital bed. His face was an amalgamation of blues and purples, and he had all the trimmings and accessories that came with the injuries Nina had told her about. She knew Aaron was down good so she didn't wind up staying long. Rowan held his uninjured hand for a bit before telling him that she would come back to visit him later.

Back outside, the cold hit her, cleared her senses. Thinking about the argument she'd had with Reid at lunch. He didn't understand why she cared so much, it was Aaron Abbot after all. Plus, the accident had been his own fault, just another one of those drunk drivers that had almost taken her out four years ago. Yeah, Reid had had to go and mention that.

And of course, Reid was standing next to her car when she got to it. There went that blood bond again.

He tipped his head to the side. "So?"

She handed over the car keys.

He opened the door for her, went around the front, got in. They were quiet for a while.

Rowan told him about Aaron's injuries.

"So, he'll be back at school in a few weeks," Reid said casually. Nothing to worry about.

She shook her head. "Maybe not."

He stole a look at her from the corner of his eye. "Is there something else?"

Pause. "He has cancer."

Reid was silent. What the hell did you say to that? "Okay…"

"Testicular."

The car swerved.

"Shit," Reid cursed. He took a breath. "Jesus Christ." His hands clenched and unclenched the wheel.

"Are you okay?" Rowan asked, jarred by the momentary imbalance.

"Uh, yeah…I mean… Maybe try not to mention ball ca…you know." Reid couldn't say the word. "When I'm driving." He could feel his own aching right now.

"See, you're feeling his pain already."

He chuckled dryly. "How 'bout an early dinner?"

"All right."

Ten minutes later they were at Denny's. They ordered.

"He has a good chance though," Rowan was saying. "He's young, even in some cases if the testicular cancer is malignant there's an eighty-five percent cure rate."

"Don't they like…" Reid got light-headed in his seat just thinking about it. "Never mind."

"Remove the testicle?" Rowan provided.

"Okay, you know, I tried, but I can't talk about this right now," Reid declared, holding up his hands in surrender.

Rowan smiled a little. "It's a guy thing?"

"Yeah," he replied. "We like our balls attached."

She nodded. "Gotcha."

----

"How can you sit there and not even flinch when I say 'ball cancer'?" Reid demanded.

Tyler was propped up on his bed with a school book on his lap.

"Forget it, Dr. Simms," the blond dismissed. "You'll probably hear worse when you become a cancer doctor."

"Oncologist," Tyler corrected. Following in his parents footsteps into the medical field had been expected, good thing it was an expectation Tyler liked. He had decided on oncology at a young age because of Rowan. It was a field he felt drawn to.

"Yeah, whatever." He turned off his light, folded his pillow in two and put it comfortably beneath his head. "You think he'll die?" Reid asked.

Tyler shrugged, turned off his light. "It has a pretty high cure rate. And a guy can live a perfectly normal life with just one testicle."

Reid cursed. "Christ, you're going to give me nightmares, Baby Boy."

----

"So, what's the deal?" Hope asked.

"What deal?" Pogue repeated teasingly. He was looking up at Hope who was straddling him. The blanket and sheets were rumpled, the pillows helter-skelter.

"You know what I'm talking about." She held him down with both palms flat on his shoulders. "With Aaron."

Pogue pulled a face. "Don't mention that name when we're in bed."

She laughed. "All right. Is it that bad?"

"He's that bad." He pulled her down, kissed her. But he could tell she wasn't going to let it go. Well, whatever, Pogue didn't want to have any secrets between them anyway. "It was back in the eighth grade. Reid overheard Aaron and Brody at a party talking about how they were going to put something in Rowan's drink to loosen her up."

Hope was disgusted. "That's awful."

"Yeah. We didn't like him before, but after that it was like war."

She nodded. "And you never told Rowan?"

"Nah."

"Hmm." Hope slid down so she was next to him; propped herself up on her elbow. "Why?"

"None of us wanted her to know. She was young. Just twelve at the time, going on thirteen in a few months. More vulnerable and sensitive than she is now."

"Just a boyfriend and a bunch of big brothers wanting to protect her."

Damn, Pogue loved her. It was the first time he hadn't heard any scorn in a girl's voice when commenting on how he and the rest of the guys treated Rowan. No jealousy or resentment.

"Pretty much," he replied.

"She could probably handle it if she knew now."

"Maybe," he mumbled. "But-"

"I won't tell her," she interrupted. "Row suspects there's something more though, doesn't she?"

"Yeah," Pogue sighed.

Hope giggled. "You're so adorable when you get that look on your face."

"Adorable?" Pogue playfully tackled her, pinned her to the bed. "Who're you calling adorable?"

A knock came at the door.

"You two sex fiends want to take it down a notch?" Hunter asked, not impolitely.

"I could say the same about you and Gabe a couple of nights ago," Pogue retorted.

Hope shushed him. "Sorry, Hunter, we'll try to be quiet."

Hunter chuckled, walked away back to his bedroom.

----

"Aaron, a friend from school is here," the nurse said chipperly.

He would have groaned, but even blinking was too painful. Aaron had woken up some hours ago in a haze of post-sedation. Bits and pieces of him losing control of his car flashed through his mind; then his foot hitting the brakes; the spinning. And who the hell was coming to visit him? Brody? Kira?

The last person he would have expected.

"Hey," Rowan said with a soft smile.

He said nothing.

"Yeah, it's probably too painful to even move your lips, huh?" She scooched a chair next to his bed and sat.

"I'll leave you two alone," the nurse spoke with a smile pasted on her lips.

"That woman drives me nuts," Aaron managed to grind out.

Rowan chuckled. "Yvette is nice."

Aaron scoffed and instantly regretted it. Rowan winced, too, like she was feeling his pain. In the interval of silence her autumn eyes scanned the room. There were no flowers or boxes of chocolates, no cards bearing well wishes and hope you get betters.

"I'm a popular guy," he rasped.

"You're only one day in. The room'll be filled by tomorrow."

"Sure." Aaron knew he didn't have any sort of friend that would send him cards or flowers.

"How are you?" she asked.

"How do you think?"

He could have sunken into his bed with her concern filled eyes focused on him. Her wavy black hair framed her beautiful face with its natural glow and strawberry hued lips. She wore jeans, a fitted hoodie, rainbow scarf, black coat. It must be the drugs; they were making him not right. Or the concussion, his brain was obviously not firing at full capacity.

Rowan half-smiled. "You know what I meant."

Pause. "Freaking fantastic. I guess driving your car into a pole can do that to a person."

"It was pretty bad."

"Not bad enough," he muttered, as if he wished it were worse. Part of him did. He was already craving alcohol to bring on the numbness.

After a pause, she cleared her throat. "I got you something." She pulled a card out of her messenger bag and set it on the table next to his bed. "You can open it later. I'd have brought flowers but I always thought it sort of depressing to see them wilt after a few days, you know?"

Aaron swallowed painfully. Instead of saying thank you, like a normal person would, he said, "Does Garwin know you're here?"

"Yeah." She leaned in and whispered, "I left them all notes."

The corner of his mouth twitched.

"Sorry to interrupt, but it's time for Aaron to rest," Yvette announced with her ever-present smile.

"Okay." Rowan stood. "I'll come by later."

"Why?" he blurted. "I don't need your pity, Danvers."

"Aaron! What an awful thing to say," Yvette exclaimed. "She's the only friend who's come to visit you and that's how you behave?"

Rowan pursed her lips to keep from laughing. "It's all right, Yvette. It must be the meds talking."

"Must be," the nurse replied huffily. "I'll be back in a moment."

Rowan slung her bag over her shoulder. "Remember what I said about pitying you?"

"Eh."

"That's what I thought…Cornelius."

His brow shot up, sending bolts of agony throughout his face and the rest of his body. When they subsided he bit out, "In case you haven't noticed, I'm injured here."

"There are confidentiality clauses everywhere in a place like this. No worries." She touched his hand gently, sobering. "It'll be okay Aaron. All of it."

"What are you talking about? All of what?" Does she know?

Rowan just smiled gently.

----

All things considering, it wasn't really surprising that Aaron crossed Rowan's mind more often. It was Friday, the day after she'd gone to visit him at the hospital. It was a no-school day because of some teacher event; now she and Reid were in his bedroom where they'd spent the last few hours. He was sleeping; Rowan was warmly cuddled against his side, head on his chest, her thigh over his waist, covers pulled up over them both.

The steady thump, thump, thump of his heart was reassuring to her. It was cold outside, but the sky was pure blue without a cloud in the sky. The sunshine wafted into the bedroom. Her fingertips ran lightly down Reid's arm; the natural light set off the golden hairs on his body, so fair you had to look close to really see them. The dark inks of his tattoos were a stark contrast with his equally fair skin. Rowan remembered when he'd gotten his first one in the eighth grade; his parents had been livid; Reid hadn't cared. Instead he just got a few more.

"Do I feel someone checking me out?" Reid mumbled.

She smiled. "In your dreams."

A lazy grin played on his face. He hugged her tighter to his side, ran his fingers through her hair. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

Rowan shrugged. "Not tired, I guess."

His eyes opened slowly. "Then we better go again then." Without warning he flipped her on her back and hovered over her, a wicked grin on his lips.

"Hey!" She giggled.

"You said you weren't tired."

She hmmphed. Already her boyfriend was fully awake, mind and body. She felt it against her lower abdomen. "You…are a horndog."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Reid kissed each side of her neck slowly; lowering his weight against her body.

"Do you think you'll ever get tired of this?" she asked.

His eyes widened. "Tired of making love to you? Hell, no." Pause. Then, "Why?"

"Hmm, I don't know. It happens with couples."

Reid peered at her inquisitively, wondering what had brought on this train of thought. "I think that happens to couples because they let it."

"Really?"

"Yeah." He kissed her. "We won't, though." Her small smile satisfied him. "Besides, I could never get tired of that sound you make right when I push."

"I don't make a sound," she denied.

"Yeah, you do," Reid beamed. "Every single time." And he pushed; Rowan made the sound without thinking. "See?" he said, as he went further, nudging apart her thighs firmly as he sunk deep.

Rowan made a throaty sigh in the crook of his neck as her body adjusted to his.

"Know what else?" he breathed.

"Hmm?"

"I like when you tell me not to stop, and the way you say my name before you come." He was moving rhythmically now, heat increasing. His words trailed off because he couldn't quite think straight.

Rowan digested every word he said. Bashful that she did those things, unaware; and pleased that Reid liked it even more. Rowan enjoyed every thing he did, too. When he would slowly kiss his way down the middle of her body; or when they made love in her favorite position, he held her up easily so there was no chance of her slipping; and when he was positioned behind her Reid's arms were wrapped tightly around her; the way he always remained inside a minute or two afterwards before pulling out.

Like now. They'd reached their peak and came down from up high. Reid's forehead rested against hers; feeling shockwaves throughout his body when Rowan ran her soft hands down his back.

"I think maybe now I can sleep," she said.

Reid smiled. "Then I did my job right."

----

Once again to Reid's chagrin, Rowan went to visit Aaron later that afternoon. Unlike yesterday there were now a few bouquets of flowers and cards. They still exuded an impersonal air that was rather depressing.

Ernie's nails clacked against the tile; he walked into Aaron's room with his tail up and wagging, eyes bright, looking professional in his therapy dog vest.

"Uh…" Aaron said. He was sitting up, still looked like crap though.

"Ernie," Rowan spoke, "this is Aaron. Aaron, Ernie. You have met before."

He gave her a quizzical expression. "Long time ago."

She smiled. "You remember then."

Ernie went right up to the bed and sniffed Aaron's hand, gave it a lick. The shepherd sat down, his tail now swooshing back and forth against the floor.

"You can pet him," Rowan said.

With his good hand, Aaron patted the dog on his head uncomfortably. Ernie caught the human's hand with his tongue again.

Aaron's face scrunched up and made a sound of disgust.

Rowan rolled her eyes, sat down. "How're you feeling?" She put her arm around Ernie and scratched his ears.

"They're starting to get stingy with the meds."

"Ah. Yeah, they do that."

He didn't say anything more. Kira and Brody had come by earlier today and stayed for a collective twenty minutes. Both of them had been glad to leave, no doubt about that. It was fine with him, because the pain was intense and he didn't want to deal with that and his wayward friends both.

"Have Kira and Brody come by?" Rowan asked.

"Earlier today for a bit."

"Hmm. That was nice of Kira. She hates hospitals."

"I forget you two used to be friends."

She shrugged half-heartedly. "Can I bring you anything next time?"

He smirked. "Sneak me in some beer."

Rowan wasn't amused. "Do you have a death wish?"

He scoffed. Winced. "Doesn't matter if I live or die. No one would care."

"Not even your parents?"

"Please."

"You've got a few decades to go."

"No, I don't."

"You're young. Healthy."

"Healthy? Okay."

"You're not then?"

He stared out the window. If anyone would understand, she would. "I have cancer."

Pause. "I know," she answered softly.

His brow furrowed. "How?"

"The grapevine. Testicular, right?"

He mumbled something.

"High cure rate," she said.

"Whatever."

His was advanced. For months he'd ignored the pain in his lower abdomen, his back; the discomfort after having sex until he lost interest in it entirely. He doused it with booze and aspirin. But he couldn't ignore the trace of blood in his semen, or the disproportion of his balls. He was too young to have cancer, damn it!

"They're removing it in a couple of weeks," he finally said. Christ, am I really talking to Rowan Danvers about my balls? What is the world coming to?

Rowan nodded sympathetically. Ernie felt it too because he whined and put his paw up on the bed, nudged Aaron's hand with his wet nose.

"What's his problem?" Aaron grumbled.

"He's comforting you." She hid her smile when Aaron pulled a face but reluctantly pet Ernie.

"Did he have ball surgery?"

"When he was seven months. And he's quite happy."

"I'm not a dog."

"I can see that. Like I said yesterday though, you'll be all right."

Aaron sighed tiredly. "How do you know?"

"Because you still have things to do. People to meet. Places to go."

He eyed her for a moment before saying, "You're seriously twisted, Danvers."

"So they say."

Thanks for continuing to read and review, peoples. Very much appreciated.