Rick had finally gotten back from surgery just in time to get a chance to call the house to check on Lesley again before he went to get his rounds finished.

" She's okay... I was just about to head up to check on her." Jessie said while on the phone with Rick

" Tell her I love her and everyone else is asking about her hoping she feels better soon... Even my patients are asking and told me to tell her they hope she gets better soon." Rick replied.

" I'll let her know that she's loved and missed over at the hospital."

" How are the kids? Are they home from school yet?" Rick asked

" Yeah they're home as a matter of fact I actually just talked to Genesis again when you called she went upstairs to finish homework and I also spoke to Jesslyn, she and you need to have a talk. She was in a fight today at school and from what she told me, other kids are making comments and talking about both Lesley and you." Jessie answered.

" I'm gonna be home soon... Tell Lesley I love her and Gail said she'll try to keep her trip short after she leaves for the convention." Rick got out before getting paged to CICU.

Jessie got off the phone and headed upstairs to check on Lesley before dinner was to be ready.

~~~

" Lesley..." Jessie said softly

" It's alright Jessie... I'm alright come on in we can talk for alittle bit..." Lesley pushed to sit up alittle more.

" I just had a talk with Jesslyn... And Rick called to see how you were feeling... He wanted to be sure to tell you that the hospital loves you and Rick said some of his patients were asking about you... How are you feeling... Better than earlier?" Jessie sat down on Lesley's side of the bed next to her side.

" Well I haven't vomited in a while so I think it's been an okay day... At least I haven't had too much with the pain throughout today.."

" I'm gonna have your medications refilled later tomorrow but for now I'm gonna get a bath ready for you so when Rick gets home, you can just relax for the night..." Jessie said

" I hate that he has to see me this way... And then he feels like he has to try to make it better except there's nothing he can do...and he doesn't even know that treatment isn't happening, or nevermind that I was ever even back on it.." Lesley expressed

" We have to tell him you know we can't keep it from him indefinitely..."

" Jessie, I don't know how to tell him... How do you tell someone that you're terminal and soon you're not gonna be here... I don't think I could tell him that..." Lesley tried to keep herself calm and together

" I know it's hard for you Lesley, it's hard for me because I picture what my daughter could've been like or in your case who she would've been like... I've done that since the day after you and I have become so close... You are that daughter I lost and you will not be alone... I promise you that." Jessie gave Lesley a hug

After a few hours Lesley was able to get some sleep while Jessie stayed with the kids before Rick had gotten home for the night...

" Jessie, thank you for staying with the kids and then looking out for Lesley..." Rick said shortly after Rick got home

" It was no issue Rick the girls and Riley are asleep and Lesley just went to sleep alittle while ago before I fed the kids around 7... She hasn't been feeling good at all but she's doing okay for the most part..."

" I wish I knew why her treatment isn't helping her like it's supposed to... But she won't talk to me, she won't open up about what's going on... It kills me every time I see her suffering and I can't help her... I'm gonna head upstairs to get some sleep... Thank you Jessie for being there." Rick gave Jessie a hug and started to head upstairs.

" Goodnight Rick. I'll see you tomorrow. Um before I go, Jesslyn was involved in a fight today. She came home shaken up and she had a few bruises and a couple of cuts. I talked to her and she explained why she was in it to begin with... You're gonna have to talk to the school because they only suspended Jesslyn." Jessie said as she was leaving for the night.

Rick went up to head to bed and eased carefully to not wake Lesley since Jessie filled him in that she was real sick throughout the day.. Rick gently pulled up the blanket so Lesley could be comfortable but it didn't help him settle his worries about her when she started to feel like she was in alot of pain again..

" Lesley sweetheart... Take this, it'll help you rest alittle easier and more comfortably." Rick said softly while sitting beside Lesley.

" I'm sorry... I must've woken you up."

" No sweetheart you didn't I actually just got home... Jessie mentioned that you were having alot of trouble again today... Is my little bug feeling any better now?" Rick slid Lesley slightly closer to him and was gently rubbing her arm and her back.

" I think I feel alot better when you're here... I'm ju-just sorry you have to see me like this Rick..."

" Lesley, don't be sorry... I just wish I had a clue on how to help you get better... I wish you would open up about things because it kills me that you're struggling and I can't help make it better." Rick gave Lesley a kiss after pulling up the blanket slightly when she relaxed enough to go back to sleep for the night.

" Are you gonna come to bed so..soon?" Lesley slightly shifted to look towards Rick after slightly pulling her respirator mask down

" Course I will little bug…. I'm just gonna take a quick shower and then I can climb into bed to snuggle with you close before we both get some sleep." Rick replied but not before he had put her oxygen mask back where it's supposed to be

~~~

Over the next few weeks as April 1st started to approach, Lesley finally started to feel better but started to notice though that as time went... It was getting harder for her to come up with ways to ease and help Rick to not be so concerned about her health... and Rick wasn't blind to the situation that Lesley was ill... Though for the life in him, as arrogant as he always has been, he couldn't figure out how he could try to help Lesley when she really needed him. Lesley for the life in her, she wanted to tell him how bad her situation was and the truth about her condition... She wanted to be honest except the thought that she was gonna hurt him after she'd tell him she was dying. It terrified her the most.

" Lesley... I hate to wake you but we both have a slow schedule today.. plus I miss my little bug's smile.."

" Good morning... Were you up watching me sleep again Richard Webber?" Lesley said with a smile and a raised brow

" Why do I look that tired?" Rick grinned

" Very... R-Rick please don't be so concerned about me I'm alright... I better get up and get the kids ready for school and listen... I love you Rick even when you're cranky.." Lesley laughed alittle bit but gave Rick a kiss before he left for the hospital.

Lesley had just finished picking up in the bedroom with Alice before she finally woke up the kids and got them ready for school

" Dr Webber, are you sure everything is alright...?" Alice asked

" Alice, I promise you I'm okay... I've had a few hard days with the hospital and everything I've had going on but I'm alright... and I really do appreciate that you have been a help for me with everything... Even though I have yet to tell Rick about this... I just wish that I could tell him..."

" Dr Webber if there's anything you need, let me know... and if you need to talk... I'm always there." Alice replied and gave Lesley a hug

" Thank you Alice I'm thankful that you've been here to help... and I won't have to worry as much with Rick after I..." Lesley stopped for a moment when hearing what she said. " I'm sorry... I shouldn't be getting you or myself upset."

" Dr. Webber it's alright you need someone to talk to and I'm here for that. You can always come and talk to me if you need to... Do you want me to get the kids up and ready for school?" Alice answered

" Oh that would be a big help Alice thank you."

" They're going... Um mom, are you sure you're okay, you don't look good..." Jesslyn asked

" I'm gonna be alright... I promise you Snoopi now you go and have a good day today..." Lesley replied with a forced smile.

" I can't… I've been suspended for 3 days."

" For whatever for Jesslyn. That is not like you?!" Lesley asked stunned

" I got into a fight trying to defend you and dad." Jesslyn admitted.

Lesley finally managed to be ready to leave for the hospital with Jessie but was still thinking of that morning with Alice and the realization that her treatment had stopped.

" Lesley, are you feeling okay today?" Jessie asked gently.

" I've had my small moments but I'm okay right now... I can do this Jessie. I think I can handle it today." Lesley forced a smile hoping to convince Jessie

" I'm gonna be with you just as I've been from the beginning."

" Later Jessie could you set up to maybe have lunch with Claudia... I haven't seen her in what feels like years since I've been ill and then in and out of the hospital." Lesley asked

" Of course... I'll arrange it in a few minutes."

" Jessie?" Lesley looked up from the window

" Yeah? Is there something you need me to do for you?" Jessie asked.

" Thanks for being there when I need you… I know it hasn't been easy for you to have to see me this way and then have to just sit by where you can't do anything except give your support."

" You're right about some things Lesley, it's not easy… I think of the kind of woman my daughter would have been had she been given the opportunity to live. Lesley you have become like the daughter I lost. It's not easy to deal with how sick and difficult your condition has started to get. To hear that you want to end your appointments and medical care Lesley it breaks my heart because I don't want to lose you. I want you to be able to do the things you want to with your children. As hard as things are going to get, Lesley I wouldn't go anywhere else but here for when you need me."

As much as Lesley wanted to stick out to get through the day, Jessie insisted on taking her home when Lesley started throwing up again and she couldn't concentrate like she used to.

" I think I need to go home Jessie…. I'm really not feeling good today." Lesley started to feel nauseated and later started to feel dizzy

" Alright come on I'm gonna take you home. You can't go on like this." Jessie tried to help Lesley out to the car.

Alan saw that Jessie was having alittle trouble helping Lesley to get out to the car. " Jessie lemme help you…"

" Alan, th-thank you…. I really app-appreciate you coming to help."

" Lesley you just go home and get some rest…" Alan said gently.

" Alan, would you meet me over there? I think it would be easier for her with getting into the house and get her up to bed." Jessie asked but hated to put Alan out like that.

" Hey it's no problem Jessie." Alan answered and followed Jessie and Lesley back to the house to help Lesley inside to head up to bed.

Alan carried Lesley carefully up to bed and made sure she was comfortable before heading back for the hospital to get for work.

" Lesley, do you need anything before I go?"

" No but th-thank you…. Alan…" Lesley answered but was weak enough that she lost consciousness.

Alan stepped in the hall shortly after his concerns about Lesley's condition started to show. " Jessie how long has Lesley been this sick…?"

" It's not good Alan… her treatment was officially stopped almost 4 months ago before she was last in the hospital..."

" It's a shame. Lesley is such a wonderful person… she was so caring when Monica tried so hard to pin off my son as Rick's all those years ago… Lesley always gave a shoulder to lean on." Alan replied

" Lesley has always been there when someone was down or upset. I can't tell you how many times she's been there when I would need a friend. Now I'm gonna have to soon say goodbye to her and I…. I just don't think I can do that"

" I have to get over to the hospital… Jessie if you need anything let me know and tell Rick the same." Alan said.

" Alan… don't say anything about Lesley's condition to Rick… Lesley has been trying to find a way to tell him and I think it's best that he hears it from Lesley. I somewhat told him alittle of this but he doesn't know that the cancer returned to be terminal he only knows that it had come back'' Jessie asked

" I can understand that. And I will keep it between us."

Alan left to head back to the hospital for the day meanwhile Jessie stayed nearby between Lesley and the phone incase she needed to call an ambulance or if Rick called to check on her. Jessie wasn't sure if she should take a chance to step away or not as Lesley had alot of difficulty doing alot of things by herself. Part of Jessie wanted to call Rick and wanted to tell him everything else but the other part of her reminded herself that she promised Lesley she wouldn't tell him as she wanted to eventually find the words to tell him she was terminal.

" She's alright Rick and i'm with her every minute to make sure she's okay… right now she's asleep and in alittle while when Genesis gets home with Riley im gonna have her help with maybe running a bath for her so it could maybe help her relax for the night when you get home."

" Jessie…. I know I'm asking you to break the confidence of Lesley and I'm sorry but I need to know… how bad is it really?" Rick asked, hoping Jessie would help him ease his concerns.

" I wish I could give the answer you're looking for Rick because I want to but Lesley wants to be the one to tell you when she's ready. Believe me Rick, she wants you to know she really does but she's scared to tell you because she's afraid it's gonna hurt you the most.." Jessie answered Rick as best as she could.

~~~

Over the next few days things seemed to get alittle easier for Lesley as Dr. Richards had changed her anti nausea medication and had placed her on permanent oxygen as she started to have trouble during the night and throughout the day.

" I'll see you later sweetheart... '' Rick kissed her on the forehead when she went back to sleep because she didn't have to be up until alittle later for the hospital clinic

Rick left for the hospital just after he got the kids up for the day for school " come on girls you have to get up for school."

" We're up Dad, it's just alittle slow this morning. We had alittle trouble getting a good sleep last night or at least I did. I was alittle concerned about mom because she's been sick lately I'm worried about her." Jesslyn replied while reaching for her jacket.

" Has she told either of you much of what was all going on?" Rick asked

" What do you mean? She hasn't said much of anything to you that's not like mom she usually tells you everything?"

" I know that's why I'm real concerned about her. You try to have a good day girls and when you guys get out, go straight to the hospital just incase no one is to be home." Rick gave the twins a hug and walked with them as they were heading to catch their bus and Rick was about to put Riley into the car to take him to school.

~~~

After a few hours, Jessie had gotten to the house as the usual to help Lesley with what she needed as well as helping her to get ready for work for the day.

" Lesley, are you sure you wanna be heading in for work? You really don't look to be feeling that good." Jessie asked as gently as she could.

" I don't Jessie. I feel terrible but I want to try the best I can. I feel like I owe Steve that. He's been so wonderful with all of this even when I do try but always seem to end up coming back home because of the difficulty." Lesley answered.

" Lesley you don't owe anything to Steve or anyone else. You only have to take care of yourself when you have trouble." Jessie helped with Lesley's hair and had helped her into her chair.

" Did you want me to see if Claudia was free for today for lunch?" Jessie asked.

" Oh that would be perfect Jessie… I still have to tell her about everything that's been going on, especially because I may not be able to do much of anything soon and it's becoming clear that soon I will be leaving my work behind when I transition to hospice care here at home." Lesley replied and reached for her coat.