"You sure you don't want to take a break?" Grant watched Issey's head bob as if she were falling asleep and waking up repeatedly. "Not a chance pal, we're getting through this today. We need to get the scenes filmed as fast as possible, Brad and Ryan are on my ass about how far behind we are." She was wondering how she was going to get through the next 20 minutes let alone another 2 hours of recording but they needed to get ahead of the game in order for Darren to get as much rehearsal time as possible in New York. Alex entered quietly, "how's it going in here?" "We're getting there. You?" "Naya sounds great but the board is crapping out in studio C, been complaining about it for weeks. You okay?" "A little tired." She patted her belly, "comes with the territory." "You look flushed, your eyes are a little red. Why don't I take over in here, we can't get much done in there anyway." "It's just hot in here. We're still mostly rehearsing, if you guys are down to tracks we can switch studios." "Is, it's freezing in here." Alex touched the back of his hand to her cheek, "you're burning up. I think you'd better call it a night." "Fever. It's from the chemo. Really, I'm okay." "I'm calling Darren. You need to go home." "He's on set until late. Let him be." "I will if you go grab a nap." That was Tuesday. The fever never broke and the exhaustion became insurmountable so Issey had no choice but to stay in bed until Friday. It would be the last dose of the last round of chemo until after the twins were born. Darren had wanted to take her out to celebrate but she could barely hold her head up. She settled into her chemo chair, the ever faithful Walker next to her. Everyone brought little treats and toys for him to show him how much better he made their days. He accepted gratefully and with impeccable manners. "Morning Isabelle, last round today huh?" Doris was cheerful as always as she set the drugs up. "Thank God, I don't think my body can take much more." "You getting sick again?" "Fever, and I'm so tired I can't get anything done." "You take your temp this morning?" "No, I took it last night, 101.2" "I'm gonna grab it now if you don't mind." "Be my guest." Issey didn't pay much attention, falling asleep quickly once the medication was started. "Isabelle?" She opened her eyes to find Dr. Burchsted bending next to her. "Dr. B, don't usually see you down here. How are you?" Issey tried to get her bearings as she woke. "I'm fine. Seems like you're running a pretty high temp." "Yeah, that's normal though right?" "It can be, but Doris told me it's been high for a little while." "Earlier in the week, yeah." "I'm going to have you come upstairs to my office when you're done here." "You think something's wrong?" "I think you're not feeling well and we should touch base about that." "I'll have to bring Walker up." "He's always welcome." When Issey got to Dr. B's office she didn't have to wait. "Can you call Darren and ask him to pick up Walker? I'd like to admit you today, get you hydrated and check on the fever." "Can I bring him home and come back? I'd like to get some things." "I'd rather you not drive can someone bring them?" You're that worried?" "I don't think you should be driving now, no." "It's just bad timing. I have a lot going on." "You might have too much going on. I won't force you, but I'd prefer if we admit you right away, I'm calling Dr. Chandravarti to come check on the babies as well." "Alright, let me call and see if someone can come get the dog." Walker looked up at her and sniffed. "I'm sorry, come get Walker. He doesn't like being called, The Dog." She called Joey and got his voice mail. Against her better judgement she called Darren. "Hey, you all done?" "Sort of. Dr. B wants to admit me because of the fever but I've got Walker with me. I can't get Joey, can you find someone to come pick him up?" "I'll be there as soon as I can, sit tight, where are you now?" "You can't leave set, I'm at Dr. B's office. Don't worry about it, I'll call the car service to come grab him. I'll give you a call when I'm settled." "Are you insane? I'm leaving now." With that he hung up not giving her the opportunity to argue. Joey arrived only 20 minutes later, Darren had caught him leaving the gym nearby and asked him to get Walker so he could stay with Issey when he got there. Walker was only too happy to be getting out of the hospital but not especially excited to leave Issey behind. By the time Darren got there Issey was in a room. She was asleep again when he came in. He waited quietly, watching her sleep and feeling fear eat away at his insides. She looked pale beneath the flush of the fever and he had to admit, though he rarely let himself think it, she looked sick. Dr. Burchsted and Dr. Chandravarti came in together after 20 minutes of nail biting worry. Darren stood as they entered. "She's been asleep since I got here. What's going on?" "I'm not sure but her fever gives me concerns about the cancer spreading. I asks Dr. C to join us to make sure her condition isn't putting the twins in distress." "Today was her last dose of chemo, until earlier this week she was doing so well. I know we changed the meds this time, could that be the problem?" "It could. We're erring on the side of caution here. I'd rather be proactive about my concerns." Darren ran his hand through his hair, forgetting that he was a gelled into the Blaine helmet. He motioned to the bag hooked to her IV. "What's that?" "Saline. She's dehydrated. I want to fix that before we do any further investigating. I'm going to be honest Darren, I'm concerned that the cancer is advancing. It's possible she's in stage IV." Darren sat with a thud, the wind knocked out of him. Tears pricked behind his eyes and he pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth to stop them. Stage IV was incurable. Life expectancy was not nearly what it was in stage III. "I...how likely...what do we do?" So many questions raced through his mind but he couldn't voice the only one he cared about, "how long will I have her?" "I want to stabilize her, get the babies checked out, then we'll run some tests. We won't know really for a week or two. In the meantime I'd like to keep her here." Darren could only nod. "I'm going to wake her up, we need to get an ultrasound." Dr. Chandravarti wheeled the machine into the room from where the intern had it parked in the hall. "Let me." Darren reached his hand out and brushed it against Issey's cheek. "Honey? Can you, can you wake up?" His voice broke with the thought that one day the answer would be no. She swatted at his hand as if it were a fly before realizing where she was. "Hey, when did you get here. Are you crying?" Panic rose in her voice and her hands went automatically to her belly, "what's happening?" "Shh, it's okay Babe, it's okay. I just got a little choked up seeing you looking so tired. I should be home taking care of you more." "Rubbish. You shouldn't even be here now, go back to work, you're over tired and over emotional but you have to get everything done before next week." "Forget Glee, forget New York, I'm staying right here." The ultrasound showed less fetal movement than the last few. It was possible they were sleeping but the dehydration and fever could be making them lethargic. "What's the danger to them? The dehydration or the fever?" Darren thumbed across Issey's hand nestled in his. "There is some talk of correlation between high fever and birth defects but your fever does not appear to be high enough to cause concern and most of the research available suggests it is more likely to occur if your fever happens I your first trimester. My biggest concern right now is preterm labor. We're going to do all we can to make sure that doesn't happen. If you feel anything remotely like a contraction you tell a nurse immediately. Also if you notice any strange vaginal discharge let us know." When the doctors were done for the day and the saline drip finished Issey's eyelids were once again drooping. "I'm no company. You should go, they're probably freaking out on set" "I'm going back to finish one scene, then I'm gonna come sleep here. Do you want anything from home?" "Just you."