As the 4th of July was around the corner and there was alot to do, Rick wanted to make sure things were together now that Lesley was better and she had less trouble where she wasn't back in the hospital and the kids were having a great time in summer camp which gave Rick the idea of where he wanted to take Lesley for just the 2 of them.

" Jessie, have you seen Rick? Alan needs him on a consultation in the clinic and I wanted to ask him about something for the kids.?" Lesley asked while in the lobby

" I can have him paged if you'd like… Lesley, how is everything with you?"

" I'm actually doing alot better. I haven't had any trouble the last couple of weeks and the kids are out of the house in camp which has been nice because it's giving me and Rick some time for ourselves."

" When do the kids come back from their camp.?"

" About in 2 and a half weeks. It's alittle crazy. The girls are growing up so fast and Riley he's gonna start growing up fast soon. And before Rick and I know it we're gonna have an empty nest as they all go off to college." Lesley commented

" Look on the bright side before you know it Jesslyn or Genesis will be starting their own families and you'll be there to guide them through their first few weeks of becoming a mother."

Jessie and Lesley got back to work and later Lesley met up with Rick before they finished their rounds and checked out where they went home to relax for a while.

" feeling okay?" Rick asked while sitting on the couch.

" Yeah I'm okay…. Tired but I feel alot better than I did a couple weeks ago." Lesley answered but kissed Rick before he could talk.

" You are beautiful, you know that… I just can't seem to imagine how my life would be without you."

" You don't have to at least not for a long time..." Lesley kissed Rick again.

~~~

Over the next few weeks Rick and Lesley were both on duty with the hospital while the kids were back in school for the new school year. Noting that Lesley's upcoming appointment with the oncologist was coming up, Rick made sure that everything continued to be fine even though Lesley was still showing some concerning symptoms that he was afraid with something coming back or developing.

" Rick, I am telling you that I'm fine now. Would you please stop with worrying so much."

" Lesley that is not something that is easy to do.." Rick pulled Lesley aside in the lounge. " You have lost alot of weight again and I am worried about that."

" Rick, I have questioned and worried about that too. But how many times has Jerry continued with the usual pet scans and blood work and everything has always come back normal and in good standard. I don't want to start becoming paranoid now about these things especially when I have an upcoming appointment with him." Lesley responded at a low tone

" I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you and you're right we shouldn't start getting paranoid now before your appointment… I'm hoping to later find some free time later. Would you maybe be up for a lunch date.?"

" I would love to Sweetheart but I have a half day today and the rest of this week. Steve approved it."

" Lesley, I want to know what's going on. That is not like you to take a schedule like that when you've said you've been feeling great now really what's going on.?" Rick asked with a serious look on his face.

" Rick, if I knew about anything or if something was really wrong, you know I'd tell you…. If I have been keeping something, please understand that I don't mean to."

" Sweetheart I know you don't mean to. Just promise me that when you do get home, that you'll try to rest and don't try to overdo yourself."

" I promise you Sweetheart I will relax when I get home." Lesley hugged Rick before he was paged to CICU.

The drive home was easy for Lesley to make as soon as she left the hospital to go home and while she had no trouble with getting home, she did however start to feel nauseated after getting home and downplayed it as Alice was there for her usual job and later on went to bed before dinner was ready for the kids.

" Ah Jess, could you stay with Riley? I'm gonna go and check on mom before Dad gets home." Genesis went upstairs to check on Lesley to make sure everything was okay.

" Mom…. I just wanted to check on you." Genesis knocked on the door and had poked her head up.

" It's alright Ladybug you can come in. l'm okay." Lesley sat up alittle bit but wasn't awake completely.

" Mom, what is wrong? Something doesn't feel right to me… Mrs. Grant said you came home you weren't feeling good and you just came up to sleep.."

" I Honestly have felt better…. Today has just been a tough day is all..." Lesley tried to deflect how she was feeling when in all truth she was close to getting up and running for the bathroom before she was to be vomiting in the bedroom. " I am gonna call dad, something is wrong and this isn't normal." Genesis called out when Lesley went straight to the bathroom when she started throwing up.

Genesis spoke to Rick for about 20 minutes and listened to what he was instructing her to do and after he got home he immediately went up to check on her and made sure she was okay before going to talk to Genesis about what was going on.

" Genesis's call scared me. But I think she was more scared than I was when she called. Are you feeling any better than you were alittle while ago?" Rick sat at Lesley's side after turning down the AC by a hair.

" Well I think the nausea has subsided and I feel alittle better. Rick l'm sorry that I said I was fine earlier I just didn't want you to keep worrying about me especially when I just want things to be easy for us."

" Lesley I would rather know what's really going on sweetheart rather than running around scratching at my head going scared because I wouldn't know how to help you. Genesis mentioned that you continued with the vomiting again?" Rick asked easily.

" Rick…. right now I just want to take it easy and relax." Lesley shifted when Rick laid down next to her hoping he could talk her into going in to see Dr. Richards. " Sweetheart, I think that it's time we see Jerry and get to the bottom of this. I don't want anything to creep up later where arrangements would have to be thought about or considered."

" I know you're right and I think we should be better safe than sorry about this." Lesley turned to look at Rick.

" Well for now how about you rest and just take it easy. I'll wait until sometime tomorrow to talk to the oncologist."

Lesley finally dozed off for the night and it gave Rick the chance to look over a few patient files that he had to catch up on and he left the lamp on a light glow with the door slightly cracked incase Lesley needed something or anything while he was up.

" Dad, how come you're still up?" Genesis asked when she came down.

" I'm working on paperwork and stuff for the hospital…. Why are you awake, do you have any idea of what time it is?"

" Trouble sleeping… but I'm okay."

" I have the same problems at times but mine come because I have to have an open ear if your mother has an issue."

" I know that Dad… it's just one of those nights for me." Genesis challenged.

" Go on to bed and get some sleep. You have school tomorrow." Rick asked.

" I wish I could just stay home."

After the kids went to school, Rick decided to give Lesley's oncologist a call to set up an appointment for the following day and later went back upstairs to check on Lesley before they eventually had to get ready to go to work.

" Feeling okay?" Rick asked.

" Yeah I'm okay…. I um… I think I'm gonna set up an appointment with Jerry when I get a chance today at the hospital."

" Why… what's wrong.?" Rick spoke up

" Well I hope nothing and it's all in my head. But I really do fear that I could have relapsed... Rick and it's got me worried." Lesley turned away

" I already had an appointment set up for you…. Tomorrow morning at 8:00." I hope and I pray that nothing has come back or developed."

Lesley looked back at Rick in disbelief that he had already set an appointment with her oncologist because she hadn't come to him but also knew that everytime that he had done things before she would know he did, or before she could ask he would just know to do so and for her, it made her feel loved as always as it came to Rick staying on top of her medical needs. After Lesley was ready to leave they both headed out to head for the hospital and left in Rick's car because Rick was alittle worried about Lesley taking her car when she wasn't always feeling great.

" We're checking in Jessie." Lesley slightly perked up.

" Alan left this for you and said he was gonna be late coming in but it wasn't anything too serious. Lesley, how is everything?" Jessie asked

" Everything is going… it's alittle slow but things are okay for right now."

" Lesley I don't want to pry or make it seem like I'm butting in to your personal business but you really don't look well… are you sure you're okay." Jessie asked after her and Lesley stepped into the lounge

Lesley took a moment because she didn't feel 100% and she knew that Jessie knew better than to pass it off when Lesley would try to say that everything is okay.

" Jessie, I swear to you that I'm okay. It's just alittle difficult sometimes in the morning." Lesley insisted after Jessie had her sit next to her in the lounge.

" Lesley you're like a daughter to me…. You're not just a dear friend to me… i'm asking because i'm concerned for you."

" I know Jessie and l'm sorry I just…. I don't want you to be so concerned but I do want you to know what's going on…. Rick and I are worried that the cancer has returned so this morning I have an appointment with Jerry and hopefully we'll get it all straightened out." Lesley answered and explained.

" Do you want me to go with you? Or are you okay.?" Jessie asked

" I think I'll be okay Jessie because Rick will be with me and if I need anything I'll have him come to get you." Lesley answered

Lesley went up with Rick's help, but was praying that nothing had returned or developed as she wasn't really feeling good that day. Hoping the nausea would subside, Rick suggested that she go lay down in the on-call room and later he would come by just to check on her throughout the morning.

" Rick really l think l'm okay I'm just alittle lightheaded." Lesley insisted but Rick intervened while he knew better that she can't push herself.

" Lesley I don't want you pushing yourself I want you to take it easy and steady yourself." Rick took a moment to gather his mind hoping it was gonna come out right and not like as if he was trying to make decisions for Lesley

" Lesley… I just don't wanna see you overdo yourself or to see you end up back as a patient again."

" I know and I'm sorry…. I don't mean to worry you." Lesley went into Rick's arms. " Maybe I should take today to relax and take it easy."

" Why don't I go and talk with Steve and see what he suggests and I'll see what Monica says as well." Rick offers

" I guess that would be a good idea… It just scares me sometimes Rick."

" What does bug…?" Rick asked while sitting with her in the on call room.

" That I would have to leave and give up what I have always worked so hard for. I don't want to give up the hospital. What if that has to be my only option? Or what if the board puts Steve in that position as chief of staff you know he'd have to choose what would be best for the hospital over anything else."

" Hey…. We're not gonna think about that right now because you're gonna be fine and whatever comes up Lesley we will face it together. I will not allow you to do or face it alone, not now nor ever." Rick pulled Lesley back to him again before he told her to take it easy and he then went to look for Steve and Monica to talk to them before he would go to meet his morning rounds.

~~~

After Lesley's appointment, Rick took Lesley home at Monica's recommendation and made sure she went to get some rest before he had to go get the kids and later pulled Alice aside to clue her in on the situation while she would be there during the day.

" Dr. Webber, is there anything I could do for you?" Alice asked when she went to check up on her while cleaning up in the hall.

" Hm no Alice, but thank you for asking. I'm just trying to take it easy today. Dr. Quartermaine recommended that for a couple days I take it slow with a few things. Otherwise, I'm okay, I'm just tired today." Lesley answered

Alice went about the day like normal with straightening up in the hall and later went back downstairs to finish up in the living room before Rick was gonna call in to check on Lesley before he had to take a patient into surgery.

" Webber residence" Alice answered.

" Alice its Rick, I had alittle extra time before my patient goes to pre op so I thought to use the time to check on Lesley."

" I just checked in on her. She's sound asleep and is doing okay. Later I was gonna see if she'd like to get something to eat before the kids get home." Alice answered

" That's a good idea because she has to take her medication after that too and I should be home after 6pm. I know you'll be just about ready to head home after that, which works perfectly."

" I can stay if you need me too, sir I don't mind." Alice commented and Rick assured her that she didn't have to do that.

Over the next following week, Lesley went back to work without any problems and Rick was able to worry less now that Lesley's medical was on a more stable point for her to continue working and later they finished their rounds so they were able to sign out on a decent time to head home to see the kids before bed and then they later spent the evening before they had the whole following week off.

" Lesley sweetheart, are you asleep?" Rick asked as Lesley was relaxed at his side.

" Hmm" Lesley adjusted beside him but was content.

Allowing a smile to form, Rick carried Lesley up to bed and made sure her nasal oxygen was on before he quietly changed into his nightwear and went to bed for the night himself