Disclaimer: see chapter three

AN: yeah, I reckon this story is coming to an end, elongating it would just ruin it. Next story will be up as soon as this one is finished.

Also, this chapter has a big time jump- after the first bit, you need to jump ahead by four months, and then after the second bit, you need to fast forward by a week. Just to make it clear. :)

Oh, by the way, in response to TB True's review of Chapter 31, loose threads two and three will be answered in the next story I write. 'Kay?

Chapter Thirty five- Nervousness is not good for the Mind.

After Gordon and Scott's little talk, Scott felt more optimistic. He knew that if Gordon could fight his way back to 100 percent, then so could he. His old energy seemed to return, and he was laughing and living life to the max.

Four months went by, and Scott's chemotherapy came to an end. Everyone was relieved, but apprehensive.

Scott had made an appointment with Dr. Handley, as the doctor had wanted to see him. Scott, Virgil and John would all go back to Manly in a week.

The trio sat in row in Dr. Handley's drab waiting room. They were apprehensive and nervous. Virgil and John were anxious. It felt like there was a horde of angry rhinos stampeding through their stomach, and their intestines were tied in sailors' knots.

Scott was fidgety, and try as he might, he couldn't keep still. He was constantly standing up and walking around the insanely small waiting room.

"It's really making you nervous, isn't it, Scott?" Virgil asked. He was highly amused at Scott's antics.

Scott and John shot a look at Virgil.

"No, Virgil, I'm as cool as an iceberg, that's why I can't sit still for five minutes." Scott replied sarcastically.

"No need to be sarky. All I did was ask one question." Virgil grumbled.

John sided with Scott. "Virg, you have to admit, it was a stupid question." He then turned and faced Scott. "You need to relax. Everything will be fine. Nervousness is not good for the mind."

Virgil was about to retort to John's comment, but he caught a slight movement out of the corner of his eye.

Almost as though it was timed to diffuse the situation, Dr. Handley's office door opened slightly, and a hand beckoned them in.

Once the three brothers were seated, Dr. Handley addressed Scott.

"So, how are you feeling now, Scott?"

"Nervous, anxious, apprehensive. Otherwise, I'm fine."

"How did you respond to the chemotherapy?" Dr. Handley asked.

Scott frowned; what was the doctor trying to ask?

"Let me rephrase." Dr. Handley said. "What type of side effects did you have? I mean, apart from the hair loss." Dr. Handley looked at Scott's hat as he said that.

"There were quite a lot." Scott started to list his side effects. "Nausea, vomiting, vision distortion, tiredness, memory loss, and everything I ate tasted of rusty nails. And, of course, the hair loss."

The doctor nodded as he made notes. These were common side effects; majority of chemotherapy patients had these effects.

"Anything else?"

Scott looked at Virgil and John uncomfortably. "There were times when I felt really down."

John and Virgil looked at Scott in shock; they wondered how they could have overlooked at Scott's emotional state.

Scott looked around at Virgil and John. "It wasn't your fault." He reassured them. "You weren't to know. Only Gordon knew how I felt, and it took a while for me to tell him."

"Depression is quite common in chemotherapy patients. It can be treated by support and care from family. In this case, it was." The doctor paused, and then he spoke again.

"Now, you will want to know whether you need another course of chemotherapy. To establish this, we need to run blood testa. I can take the blood from you right now, and process and I can have the results in about two to three hours or so. Otherwise, you could have the blood taken at a later date, if you can't wait around today."

Scott looked at Jon and Virgil. They both nodded their heads in mutual agreement. Scott nodded his head.

"I would like to have the tests done today, if that's possible. Get it over and done with, and it puts me out of out of my misery."

"That is very possible, Scott." Dr. Handley said. He indicated that Scott should roll up his jumper sleeve, so that he could access the intravenous line, to draw some blood from Scott's vein. He took the sample and sealed it. He showed them out of his office and told Scott that he would see him again in two to three hours.

To Scott, it felt like the hours crawled by, at a snails' pace. Even sitting on the beach with his brothers didn't calm his nerves. He still felt jumpy and apprehensive.

'Just relax, Scott, you'll find out that everything is OK, and then your mind will be put at ease.' Scott thought positively.

John stood up suddenly, and hauled Virgil to his feet. Scott looked questioningly up at John.

"We need to head back now. Dr. Handley should have your results."

Scott rose to his feet, and the three of them headed back.

Once again, the trio sat in Dr. Handley's office. Dr. Handley held a white sealed envelope. He opened the seal carefully, and took out one single sheet of paper. He kept a poker-face as his eyes scanned the paper. He looked up and started to speak.

"I have the results."

AN: Yes, another cliffie. Probably two or three more chapters left in this story now, so it will be complete soon. Please review.