"Max, how long have these been happening?" Iggy asked.
"Since my first day and I found out about the...cancer."
"Are they always that bad?"
"No, only sometimes."
"What happens if it was just an okay one?"
"I go sweaty and warm, my heart speeds up and it feels harder to breathe."
"What do you do when you have one?"
"I go to my office, pace around then go to sleep."
"Have you had one in front of anyone."
"Yeah, but they never realised luckily."
"Who?"
"Georgia-"
"I did?" Georgia questioned.
"Yeah." He sighed.
"Who else Max?"
"A patient, Dora, Sharpe and at a board meeting."
"Okay, what happened at the board meeting?"
"I excused myself and left."
"How many times have you had these really bad ones?"
"5 times but 3 were today."
"Where did you have the big ones?"
"Both at the hospital."
"When?"
"Both after chemo sessions."
"You weren't having chemo nausea that time were you?" Sharpe asked sitting next to him.
"No."
"Why didn't you tell me, I could've helped you Max."
"I didn't know how." He said looking down at his lap.
"Chemo is hard, your body isn't having the best time with it either. Depression is as normal as the vomiting you experience." Sharpe said placing her hand on his shaking back.
"I can help you with that Max, and your panic attacks if you let me."
"Help." He whispered bursting back into tears.
"Oh Max." Georgia frowned as he leant forward onto her shoulder.
"I'm...sorry." He sobbed.
"It's okay." She soothed rubbing his shivering back. "Your gonna be okay,"
He sobbed for a few more minutes as Georgia looked at the two other terrified people, possibly more terrified than her. He sat back against the couch resting the back of his head on the couch back.
Max looked dreadful: his skin was pale; his body shook like am autumn leaf; his eyes were red and puffy and his neck had red marks on it where he had clawed away at it. Iggy and Sharpe looked worried, especially Sharpe. She placed her hand on his shoulder, making him jump.
"I'm sorry." He whispered.
"No don't apologise Max, you can't help it."
"I'm tired Georgia."
"Just stay awake for a little longer Max."
"Kay." He slurred.
"Max, I'm prescribing you some anti-depressants, you need a day off and if you feel like your going to have another attack, come to my office so I can help you." Iggy said.
"Okay...thank you."
"I'll page Helen and ring Georgia as well because then you don't have to."
"Thanks." He slurred only just awake.
"You go to bed Max."
"Okay."
He stood up and walked towards the bedroom grabbing the doorframe,
"Love you Georgia."
"Love you,"
The next day Max stayed at home except for when he had to get his chemo but Georgia went with him for company. He woke up that morning with a huge headache from crying but with Georgia snuggled around his waist it made everything feel automatically better. All morning he watched some movies so that he could take his mind off the work and chemo.
The chemo took 4 hours to infuse fully. He felt really tired after it and just wanted to collapse into bed but the nausea wouldn't let him.
"You ready to go?" Georgia said rubbing his back.
"Yeah." He sighed.
As soon as he stood up, he collapsed back down from the dizziness that took over his body.
"Let's get a cab." She smiled helping him up and linking his arm.
They very slowly walked through the hospital with the eyes of other staring at them. They managed to get through the atrium without him collapsing which was good. Georgia beckoned a cab which pulled up right in front of them. She helped Max in before getting herself in. She gave the cab driver their address and after 10 minutes they arrived home. Max weakly gave in 10 and got out of the cab, walking straight upstairs. Georgia unlocked the door and Max walked straight over to the couch, collapsing down onto it.
"What do you wanna do?"
"Sleep."
"How do you manage this when you are working?"
"I don't know...just distract myself."
"Your so brave Max, and strong and courageous and I love you so much."
"Thank you."
"Love you so much Max."
"Love you." He said standing up.
He shakily walked towards the bed and collapsed down on it. He was asleep before he could even pull up the covers. Georgia waddled over and pulled an afghan over his shoulders before leaving again to make some dinner.