This kind of subject is and has been an open wound on me for 3 years it is no walk in the park for me to think about nevermind reminding myself of what my Aunt went through the last 5 years she had.

This wasn't a rewrite or a storyline that was given on GH but for me it was a way to let go of my Aunt and what she went through so she could rest in peace .

On the morning of March 4th, it was just a few days before Riley's 4th birthday, which Lesley felt she still had an endless trail of work to do to put together his party. Lesley waited until Rick left for the hospital and Alice was there for the day but Lesley knew Alice was gonna be asking if she was okay as she started to notice she was losing more weight and she wasn't really feeling good that morning but she also started to find what looked to be a few bruises again.

" Girls come on... You're both gonna miss the bus if you don't get going for school." Lesley called out while picking up in Riley's room.

" We're going... Mom are you sure you're feeling okay?" Genesis asked

" Yeah I'm fine Ladybug... Both of you have a good day and remember to go straight to the hospital after school today because no one will be home this afternoon with your Dad heading to catch his flight for Nevada after tomorrow and we both are going to be working late." Lesley replied while starting to try to get ready for work

" We will… We'll see you later."

Lesley started to let out a breath she wasn't aware she had after the girls left meanwhile, she started to feel like she was gonna need to run to the bathroom after Jessie had just gotten there to give Lesley a ride but noticed and didn't pretend that Lesley was fine and made a point to question Lesley after she had seen that Lesley was just freshening up again after vomiting again that morning

" Lesley are you alright... You really don't look good."

" Jessie honestly this morning and last night have been alittle bit difficult, I was up on and off again throwing up I've started to lose more weight and I have started to notice that I have a few bruises but it isn't from anything I can think of and it isn't from Rick, because he would never do anything like getting violent."

Now Jessie gave Lesley a serious look " Lesley how long has this been going on?"

" Almost a couple of months since just after we surprised Rick... But I've been so busy with everything going on that I haven't had the time to schedule a check up."

" Has Rick said anything about this?" Jessie asked

" I've been keeping this so far from him... I've been keeping the bruises from him I mean. He's been so concerned about everything else, and then he gets worried about me... I just don't want to worry him more but he has been trying to get me in to going to see someone which is where l sometimes feel stupid because l kept telling him i'd get it taken care of and then l always get steered to something else.." Lesley turned away slightly

" Lesley... Sometimes it's okay for someone to be frightened or worried about us... It means they love us and with you it shows just the kind of a man that Rick really is... I'm gonna schedule and have you seen today... I don't want you to wait or put it off anymore."

" No... I don't want to do that until Rick takes off for Nevada to see his brother... Jessie please... I don't wanna worry him or tell him anything unless there's something to worry about.." Lesley pleaded

" Alright... When does he leave for his trip?" Jessie asked

" He leaves the day after tomorrow" Lesley answered quickly.

" Lesley, I don't think we should wait only because it's gone on too long already. I'm gonna set up for this afternoon and I will make sure that Rick won't know about it until we have something to worry about." Jessie stated when Lesley was about to go back to the bathroom throwing up

~~~

Rick had just gotten back from CICU when he was paged to take what seemed to him to be a concerning call

" Dr. Webber." Rick answered

" Rick, it's Jessie..."

" Jessie what's wrong, did something happen?!" Rick got out but tried not get worried

" Lesley is okay for right now. I had her go back to bed to lay down. Could you have Steve call when he gets a chance... It's nothing serious but I do want to talk to him?"

" Yeah I'll track him down... Is Lesley awake?" Rick asked

" Well I told her to get some rest. She was vomiting again when I had gotten here..." Jessie explained

" Again?... Why isn't she coming here to get checked out..." Rick asked

" I told her I was gonna make an appointment... Rick, don't worry about Lesley, she's gonna be fine..." Jessie assured Rick the best she could

" Jessie it's hard not to worry about her and what bugs me is, she hasn't come to me about it and I have no idea what's wrong..." Rick replied as he was paged.

" Look Rick I'll make sure she's okay when you're not home you go and do what you do need to do with your patients..."

Jessie hung up and later spoke to Steve and had an appointment for Lesley set up as soon as it was possible.

" I agree Jessie, I'll have an appointment set up for tomorrow between noon and 1:00... How is she otherwise?" Steve asked

" Well she's asleep right now I made her go and lay down... Steve, she's just in no shape to go in for work today her fever is up and she has a few of what looks to be bruising but I'm not sure that that's what it is and that has me concerned... Um there was another thing Steve that she wanted about this... She doesn't want Rick knowing about anything... Not her appointment, not anything of what might be wrong." Jessie replied and told Steve how Lesley wanted it to be

" I can try Jessie but you know how things are."

" I better get going Steve incase Lesley needs anything... Let me know about anything.." Jessie replied before getting off the phone to check on Lesley.

" Lesley, how are you feeling any better?." Jessie asked

" Jessie I'm sorry that you have to be in the middle... I just... I just don't want to have Rick so worried and then he cancels his trip... He needs this trip to visit his brother."

" Lesley it's no problem with me you know I'm gonna help you! But I do think that you need to tell him what's wrong because by keeping it from him that's what is getting him so worried about you.." Jessie helped Lesley to go downstairs.

" Has Rick called at all?" Lesley asked

" He did alittle while ago and he started to worry about you when you hadn't gone into work... Now the only thing he knows is that you aren't feeling well and I made you stay home for today.." Jessie replied while sitting beside Lesley in the living-room.

" I want to tell him Jessie I promise you I do but I just... I don't think I could tell him if it's something as serious as I think it might be... I can't hurt him.."

Now Jessie gave Lesley a hug and had her sit up... " Lesley let me tell you something out of the time that I have known you since you first came to work at General and you moved to Port Charles, you have yet to ever have a selfish bone in your body. You couldn't hurt anybody even if you tried... You and I will figure it out of what's wrong and then we can worry about Rick... For right now let's take care of you and worry about what follows later."

" Jessie what if it's Cancer again… How would I tell Rick? " Lesley looked away

" Lesley when we know. We will face it and you will get through it and telling Rick, I will help you with that I promise you." Jessie answered as she turned Lesley back towards her.

" Jessie what would I do without you?" Lesley swiped away a couple of the tears that had escaped from her eyes

" Hey I'm gonna be around for a very long time for you." Jessie hugged Lesley again. " Get some rest Lesley."

~~~

Rick was going half way through his rounds but found it difficult to concentrate as he continued to think back to when he spoke to Jessie and how she had let him know that Lesley was back in bed laying down not feeling good and the fact that she started throwing up as Jessie got to the house didn't ease his fear that something was wrong either.

" Rick... Rick... Doctor Webber." Bobbi called out

" I'm sorry Bobbi, I guess I'm alittle distracted right now..." Rick replied

" Something wrong?"

" I'm not really sure Lesley hasn't said anything to me and I'm worried about her… she's been real sick lately" Rick answered

" Go home Rick and be with Lesley... If you feel that something is wrong, go be with her. I'll cover and tell Steve that you had to go home..." Bobbi suggested

" That's actually a good idea Bobbi thank you I just may do that... Have Monica take my afternoon patients and let Steve know I'm gonna head home to check and stay with Lesley.."

Rick went home just after talking to Steve so he can try to be home incase Lesley needed him for anything and he could talk with Jessie while she was there for the rest of the morning. Seeing Lesley not feeling right tore at his heart though because to think that something was real wrong it scared him half to death.

" Rick, what are you doing home? Couldn't stay away?" Lesley asked the moment she saw him walk in.

" No Les, I had alot of trouble staying away from you for too long and when Jessie told me you weren't feeling good I knew I had to come home incase you were to need me."

" Rick, I promise you I'm alright… I'm alittle more tired than usual, and maybe alittle weaker than before but I promise you Rick i'm alright."

Rick immediately pulled Lesley into a hug and held her briefly before she felt like she was gonna start throwing up again.

" Come on sweetheart I want you to lay down." Rick helped Lesley up the stairs

~~~

Over the next couple of days Lesley made sure Rick went on his trip to see his brother and later she went for her scheduled appointment with Steve as Jessie has had enough with Lesley not knowing what was going on.

" Lesley look I know you don't want to think of what it could be but not knowing will make your situation worse... And whatever it is we will handle it Lesley just as we always had at times.."

" What scares me Jessie is not knowing what the problem is but what it is that we may have to tell Rick... I don't want him to feel like he has to be a hero or feel like he's supposed to have known that something was wrong or something was off..." Lesley slightly turned away

" Lesley what's gonna matter is that man is gonna stop at nothing to make sure you are okay... I have never seen anyone look at another person with the way Rick looks at you... He loves you and so do I..." Jessie turned Lesley back gently to look into her eyes

After waiting for about an hour Steve had finally gotten back with Lesley's blood work results but had consulted with the head of oncology before going back to talk to Lesley about her condition.

" Without a doubt it's good you brought me onto Lesley's case.. Are these current or recent?" Dr Richards asked

" I had just gotten these back when I called you for a consultation." Steve replied

" I think we should do a full bone marrow biopsy to confirm the Acute myeloid Lymphocytic Leukemia... And to determine the severity of the cancer however, Steve by looking at her bloodwork, we may not be able to do much if we can do anything. It's at such a delicate stage already and by looking how far it's gone, she's not gonna be a candidate for a bone marrow or a stemcell transplant. Frankly I'm amazed that I hadn't diagnosed this sooner."

" I agree.." Steve replied as he was heading with Dr. Richards to talk to Lesley

Lesley and Jessie were waiting in Steve's office to get her results from the biopsy that Steve wanted to get just an hour earlier

" I hate waiting for tests to come back... Which is silly because I do it all the time for patients that I have.. oh Jessie what if something is really wrong?"

" Lesley you are gonna be fine... Rick and I will make sure you ar..." Jessie paused abruptly when Steve and his consultation came in to talk to them.

" Jessie, please don't leave me, I really need you to be here with me..." Lesley slightly gripped for Jessie's hand

" Lesley I'm not going anywhere."

Steve and Dr Richards sat down to explain the situation and what was found.

" As soon as Steve called for a consultation, I had a pretty good idea about the severity of your case... Lesley I'm not gonna sugarcoat this with you. The biopsy confirmed what I suspected from the start after seeing your blood work..."

" It's cancer… I have cancer again?" Lesley stated

" Yes. Lesley and what you will need to understand is this cancer can and will be very aggressive... Looking over your blood work, Lesley it's in a very delicate stage in which it may be too aggressive to treat effectively." Dr Richards explained

" How long do I have..." Lesley asked as if she knew she was gonna be terminal.