Written for the 'three letter body parts' challenge.
Title: In the End, the Truth
Bill was sure the pounding of his heart was audible as he barged through the now all-too-familiar doors of sickbay.
His immature plan was to sweep aside each curtain until he found her but Cottle cut him off at the pass.
"She's okay, calm down."
"I am calm."
Lie number one: he was ready to snap at any moment. His hand moved to feel the shape of the flask where it was buried in the back pocket of his pants. It would be his lifeline if he needed it tonight.
"She's broken a rib."
"She fell?"
"No. I've strapped it up. As you know from personal experience, Admiral, there's not too much else I can do except order her to rest."
Cottle was being deliberately evasive.
"How'd she break it?"
"Don't try those bully tactics on me, Bill."
"I wasn't."
Lie number two: he'd squared his shoulders and given Cottle his best Commanding Officer glare - all to no avail.
Bill sighed and lowered himself into the first available chair. They called him the Old Man. He'd never felt it until the last few months.
"She was coughing." Cottle's voice was uncharacteristically soft. "Coughed so Godsdamn hard she cracked a rib. It's in her lungs, Bill. Secondary cancer. Cubicle Two." Cottle gave his shoulder one last squeeze of sympathy before leaving to attend other patients.
Bill rose and strode towards her room. He'd convince her to fight this. They could beat this together.
He stopped.
Lie number three: she was dying and there wasn't anything either of them could do.
He pulled across the curtain which granted her the most minuscule level of privacy.
Her eyes were closed but she was awake. He knew what she looked like when she slept. He knew her. He loved her. That wasn't a lie.