He drummed his fingers impatiently on the table, his eyes focusing on the patterns and lines of the floor. He didn't dare look up, knowing those familiar brown eyes were looking in his direction. She would be searching for answers to her burning questions, but it was answers he wasn't sure he had for himself. Or her.
"Joe?" her small voice cutting through the silence of the room.
He sighed before looking up, running his hands through his long hair that fell around his face, his eyes locking with hers. She offered a small smile before closing the distance between them, allowing his head to cradle on her shoulder. He gave a longer sigh, more of relief and comfort now, as he wrapped his large arms around her and closed his eyes.
"We'll get through this, no matter what he says." she said, rubbing the tension from his neck and placing small kisses atop his head.
"I know sweet girl, but…." he trailed off.
"No but's. We have to take this as it comes. I know you are physically going through this, but it does have an effect on me, too." she said, stepping back from him, forcing him to look at her once more.
"I know, Jami. I know." he replied, his voice evident of the frustration that was growing within him.
"Joe, I don't know the right things to say all the time…" she started, before being cut of by the sound of the door opening.
"Hello folks. How are we doing?" Dr. Smith greeted as he entered the room and sat down across from Joe.
Jami took a seat once more, allowing Joe to give his attention to the door. She wasn't sure how to feel or even what advice or comforting words she could offer him. It was a situation she had been in before with her other patients and she was able to offer them as much comfort and smiles to try to ease their day Now being on the other side of cancer, she wasn't sure how to navigate the waters she was in now. She felt lost and she couldn't begin to imagine how he actually felt.
"Joe, I have some good news and some bad news. So, I'm just going to cut to the chase, okay?" Dr. Smith said looking at them both.
"Let's hear it, doc." Joe replied.
"Well, the medication is working great. It's doing exactly what we were hoping and then some. After 12 weeks of therapy and getting this properly diagnosed and the medication dialed in at the right dosage levels, your levels of dramatically shrunk. We're not out of the woods yet, but I will say I expect remission in the next week or so with the way things are going now." Dr. Smith said with a smile.
"Okay, that sounds great, but what is the bad news?" Joe asked, looking at Jami before returning his focus back to the doctor.
"Well, with that comes the issues with your physical pain and stiffness you have been experiencing. Considering this isn't your traditional chemotherapy or radiation type treatment and this is a medication you will take for the rest of your life, we can prescribe medication to ease your pain and discomfort but there isn't much more I can offer at this moment." he said.
"What do you recommend considering my line of work?" Joe asked, the sinking feeling of what was about to be said, he feared he already knew.
"Well, right now, I'm not saying a return can't happen. However, the question is how long will you be able to continue with your line of work? I'm anticipating that you may have a good year left, Joe. Maybe less, depending. And I know with your age and what you do for a living, that isn't the best of news, but I'm trying to prepare you for whatever you may have to get in order over the next little bit of time." the doctor continued.
Joe felt the wind taken from his lungs, leaving him stunned and light headed. He wasn't prepared for hearing those words, especially considering a year's time was nothing in the world of professional wrestling. Sometimes a program could take a solid 5 or 6 months to build. He didn't think he could leave a legacy with that allotted time.
And the scariest thing was the fact he had no other skills to fall back on. What would he do moving forward and providing for his family? What could he actually do other than the thing he loved the most?
"Um, well, that's a lot to take in." Joe finally retorted back. "Does this mean I can be cleared at least once I'm in remission?"
"I would give you a letter of recommendation to give to Mr. McMahon for you to be released and cleared." Dr. Smith said.
"Um, well, this sucks." Joe said, giving a small chuckle.
Jami stood then, closing the distance once more and grabbed his hand. She knew part of his world was crashing down and once more, she didn't have the right answers or words to offer him.
"In the meantime, what do you think he should do?" Jami asked.
"I think for the next few weeks, he needs proper rest and to eat what you're able to tolerate. Has eating been an issue?" the doctor asked.
"Not as much as I thought. There's certain things I can't eat, but for the most part, my appetite and eating isn't an issue." he answered, relieved to have some symptom that truly wasn't a problem.
"Well, rest and eat. I'd say on your good days, try a light workout to get back into the swing of things. Test those waters and just don't push yourself too much." He replied.
"Well, I'll get ahold of Vince and let him know. Can you send the reports to headquarters for me?" Joe asked.
"Of course. They have everything we have ran on you and you're results of everything." Dr Smith said. "I know this is something you didn't want to hear and probably wasn't prepared to hear. Your health is priority over everything else. That's my job and I'll do everything to make sure you are treated and comfortable to have quality in your life."
"I do appreciate everything, doc. I really do. It's just a lot to digest." Joe answered, standing from his chair and shaking Dr. Smith's hand.
"I'll have you scheduled for 2 weeks. Just relax. Do things you enjoy in moderation. We'll see where you are then." he said giving the couple a small smile before exiting the room.
"We'll get through this." she said, her voice once more cutting the silence of the room.
"I know. It's just…." he began, before she finished the sentence for him.
"A lot." she said for him.
He shook his head in agreeance before once more grabbing her and bringing her flush against him. She had never felt him hold her so tight, but she didn't dare move or say anything. In that moment she learned something valuable. Perhaps sometimes no words were needed and in their near future especially, maybe all he needed was her and a simple embrace.