Chapter 4: One week later

"Buffy, these headaches have been going on for a week now, I want you to see a doctor. Giles and I both want you to see a doctor."

"Okay, fine, whatever. But I'm really fine, I promise. You're just being over sensitive because you know I'm going to be moving out soon. You feel like you have to get in any last minute mothering before I leave."

"You aren't getting married for another 8 months and you aren't moving out until then, so I still have you for a little while yet! We're going now so get your stuff." They drove in almost total silence to the doctor's office. It only took a few minutes before the nurse called Buffy's name.

"Miss Summers, we're going to take a little blood before the doctor sees you, so if you would follow me, please?" Buffy glared at her mom but followed the nurse anyway. After the blood work she was lead to a small examination room in which the doctor was already in.

"Good morning, Miss Summers, go ahead and have a seat and we'll see what we can do for you." After only a few questions and a few pokes and prods the doctor didn't have much he could tell her. "So how long has this been going on?"

"About a week, no more than 9 days."

"Hmm and has it been getting worse as time goes on?"

"Yes, but it's really nothing serious. I'm fine right?"

"No, I don't think so. I'd like to do some MRIs and a CT scan. I'm going to go get your mother now and then we can see what we can find."

Buffy sat nervously twiddling with her ring. Joyce just sat almost immobile, fearing the worse and hoping for the best. As time wore on Buffy became more and more agitated, finally getting up and walking to an empty hallway to call Spike.

"Hey, Spike. How're you?" Buffy said in a rush as soon as he picked up.

"Hey, luv. I'm good, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, why would anything be wrong?"

"You sound like you've got your knickers in a knot. What's up?"

"Miss Summers? The doctor would like to see you now." A young nurse called her over.

"Hey, I gotta go, but I'll call you later, okay?"

"Yeah, sure luv. Talk to you then." Buffy followed the nurse with Joyce and sat down in the doctor's plush office. 'Nice place,' Buffy thought to herself. 'I hope I can get an office this nice one day.'

"Miss Summers, how much do you know about cancer?"

"Um, not much." Wild thoughts began forming in Buffy's head as she heard Joyce gasp.

"Well, there are several types of cancer, some of it is easily controlled and some times it isn't." He looked down at his notes. 'This is never easy' he thought, "I'm afraid that the cause of your headaches are stems from a tumor in your brain. Currently, it is no larger than a pea, but it could get bigger." He sighed heavily, "Unfortunately it is in a place where we cannot operate on it without killing you. I'm very, very sorry to have to tell you this."

Buffy felt numb. She had no feeling what so ever. Tumor? No, she was young, healthy. She couldn't have cancer. Joyce slipped her hand into Buffy's and squeezed. Buffy looked at her, still in shock.

"What can be done?" Joyce asked slowly, as if afraid of the answer.

"Nothing for now, I'm sad to say. It cannot be operated on but chemotherapy is an option later. Even at that, I don't know if it would do any good." He took on his glasses and whipped them on his shirt. This was the hard part. "I'm afraid that after approximately 8 months the tumor will be the size of a golf ball, at which point it will kill you.

"I'm going to die in 8 months?"