Author's Notes: Thank you for reading and for your reviews! They mean so much to me! : ) I am glad that most of you enjoy the story so far! I hope you'll like chapter 3! : ) Please let me know what you think about it if you have a minute. Thanks. : )
Chapter 3: "Family Affairs"
"No match.", Abby said quietly.
Her and Carter were both sitting next to each other on the bed. The hospital just called to tell them Carter's results of the blood test.
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault.", she answered quietly, still staring at the phone in her hands.
"We knew that this would probably be the results."
She just nodded.
"You have to call your mother and Eric."
He knew that she didn't like to call her mother and her brother. She didn't want them to worry, didn't want to cause trouble in their lifes, especially since they were doing so great lately. But they were her closest relatives, she knew she had to call them sooner or later.
"I know."
"Do you want me to … ", he said, ready to get up to give her some privacy to call her mother.
"No, please stay with me.", she pleaded, looking into his eyes now. He could see how desperate she was.
"Of course." He took her left hand in his while she dialled Maggie's number with her other.
Maggie and Eric were living about an hour out of Chicago. Eric had to move there to make his therapy and Maggie agreed to stay near him to support him.
"Mom? It's Abby.", she said with a shaky voice. "Listen, I was at the doctor yesterday and he told me that", she took a deep breath, "I have Leukaemia. – Mom, please don't. It's not that bad. It's in an early stage, but I need you and Eric to get your blood tested. I might need a transplant. Can you both come here?"
Abby was about to cry and couldn't take to talk to her mother any longer. She knew how worried she was and that made her worry herself even more. It made it all more real.
That her mother was worried meant that it was something serious. But Abby was not ready yet to accept it all completely. She was hardly able to cope with it in half denial at the moment.
"Sorry, but I can't.", she whispered and gave the phone to Carter.
He looked at her intensely during the whole call and knew that he had to talk to Maggie, since Abby couldn't.
"Maggie? – Hey, it will all be okay. – Tomorrow is fine. I will pick you both up at the airport at 3 pm, okay? – Bye.", she heard Carter say before he hung up the phone.
"Thank you."
"Any time."
"She was crying."
"I know.", he said, wiping away a tear from her face before he pulled her into a hug once more. He did that several times already during the last hours, since they got the news. There was not much else he could do for her. He wanted her to know that he was with her through it all. She needed him to talk about her worries, to be with her. And he was glad that she let him.
"And she will take the plane to come here?", Abby asked into his chest in disbelief. She knew that her mother hated flying.
"She wanted to be here as soon as possible, she loves you.", was all he could say and kissed the top of her head.
***
"Abby, are you ready to go?", Carter asked and put a hand on Abby's shoulder. She was standing at the window, staring outside at nothing in particular.
She turned around and smiled at him weakly. "No, but we have to go eventually, right?"
He kissed her forehead and smiled, too. "Yes, I think so."
She sighed and put her arms around him to hug him.
"Hey, anything wrong?", he asked and put his arms around her, too.
"I am just scared. How will it be to meet my mother? She was already crying on the phone. I don't want her to worry. I wish I could just forget about all that."
"I know." He started to rub her back and rock her gently. "But you are her daughter, it's a normal thing for her to be worried about you."
He could feel that she was having a hard time facing her loved ones. He was glad that she let him be with her. And he knew what she needed. He knew she was still in denial and didn't want to talk about it. But he also knew that she'd come around when she was ready.
"And I will be by your side the whole time if you need me, okay?"
She nodded. She wanted to be in his arms forever, but she knew she had to face her mother and her brother sooner or later. "Okay."
He kissed her forehead, grabbed his keys and led her gently to the door. She was still reluctant to go, but they both knew she had to.
***
Abby didn't say a single word during the whole ride to the airport and stared out of the window absent-mindedly.
Carter put his hand on her knee to let her know that he was there.
She put her hand over his and squeezed it lightly to thank him silently. She didn't know what she would do without him.
***
They arrived at the airport way too early. Maggie's and Eric's plane wasn't even there yet.
So they sat down in the waiting area, close to each other, holding each others hands.
"Where will they stay?", Abby finally asked, looking at John.
"I don't know, depends on where you want them to stay." He was fine with them staying at their apartment, there was room enough. But he wanted to leave the decision to Abby.
"I am not sure. I want my Mom and my brother close. But I don't want them to worry all day. I don't know if I can take it to see them worried about me day and night."
She looked at him, pleading silently for him do decide, because she really didn't know what was right.
He looked into her eyes and knew that she couldn't make the decision. He understood that on the one hand she needed them, but on the other she didn't want to make it even harder for them. Finally he decided for what he thought was the best for her.
"I think they should stay with us, what do you think?" That way there would always be someone with Abby, even when he had to work. He knew that Abby needed them.
She looked at him, relieved and rested her head on his shoulder. "Thank you ."
They both knew that it was the right decision.
Suddenly she felt him squeeze her hand again.
"They are here."
They both got up. He could feel that Abby was nervous, he was still holding her hand.
And he could see that her eyes became more and more teary the closer her mother and her brother came. They were all getting teary eyed actually.
When they finally reached them, none of them could really find words.
"Abby ... ", was all Maggie could bring out before she hugged her daughter tightly while Carter let go of her hand.
Eric and John also hugged each other. Then Carter gave Maggie a hug and Eric his sister.
"So, how was your flight?", Abby asked nervously after they parted from their embraces, trying to avoid them talking about her while reaching out for Carter's hand again. She relaxed a little when he took it and she felt her hand back in his and he squeezed it gently.
"Do you really want to know?", Eric asked, looking at Maggie with a smirk. "I am glad that it was not a long flight. She was about to climb onto my lap.", he added, trying to light up the situation. He could feel that Abby wasn't ready to talk yet. And he himself didn't want to think about it either, think about, that his sister's life could be in danger.
"I'm sorry, Mom. I know you hate flying. Did they at least have peanuts?", Abby tried to joke and forced a smile.
But Maggie didn't let them distract her. She was staring at her daughter the whole time, expecting an explanation of the situation. She didn't know anything about Leukaemia, she needed to know how serious it was for her daughter.
"Abby, please tell me all you know about it!"
She was looking into her eyes, with the intention not to stop before she had the answers she needed.
Abby didn't know what to say. What was she supposed to tell her mother?
She looked at Carter helplessly, her eyes pleading for him to do something.
He understood immediately what Abby wanted from him.
He took Maggie's bag and started to walk towards the exit doors.
"Let's not discuss this here. Let's go home first. You will stay with us while you are here.", he said to Maggie and Eric with a smile.
Maggie was not pleased with it, she needed to know what was happening to her daughter. But she had to agree, the airport, with all these strangers surrounding them, was really not the right place to talk about it.
Abby was glad. John always seemed to know what to do. He was great with her family.
She squeezed his hand lightly on their way out to let him know that she thanked him.
Carter understood her guesture and squeezed it back. He would do anything to make it easier for her.
***
The ride back was quiet. Maggie and Eric were sitting on the backseat while John was driving and Abby was sitting next to him.
She was biting her lip and playing with her fingers. She was nervous. She had no idea what to tell Maggie later. She was glad that John was with her. Though she felt guilty that she let him do all the unpleasant things. But she just couldn't do them herself at the moment.
As if he could read her mind he put his right hand over hears to calm her down. When she turned her head to look at him she could see that he was smiling at her reassuringly. She smiled back at him. She knew he'd help her through it.
***
When they came home Carter showed Maggie and Eric the rooms they'd stay in before they all gathered in the kitchen to have some coffee.
Abby was pacing through the kitchen, making the coffee and doing other things that really didn't need to be done at that moment.
John knew that she was trying to keep herself busy. She tried everything to avoid a silent moment to talk to her mother and her brother. They were both sitting at the table, waiting for Abby to sit down and talk.
But he could understand her. How do you tell your mother and your brother that you are sick, that you could even die from it?
Thinking about it brought back his own fears. Usually he pushed them away to be strong for Abby. But he was scared to lose her, too.
When he saw her leave the kitchen the hundredth time he decided to excuse himself and follow her to talk to her.
"I'll be right back.", he said to Maggie and Eric before he left them.
He could just see that she closed the bathroom door behind herself when he walked around the corner. He knocked at the door and followed her inside when he didn't hear anything from her. He knew she was only in there to hide.
She knew it was him the minute he knocked at the door. And she was glad that it was him, she needed him.
She was standing at the sink, staring into the mirror in front of her.
"I'm sorry, but I can't.", she said with a shaky voice. "I can't talk to them. I don't know what to say, or better how to say it."
He walked over to her.
"Hey, don't worry about it, I'll talk to them.", he said, rubbing her back carefully.
She turned around to face him. She was relieved that he'd take care of it. But she still felt bad that he had to do it again.
"I'm sorry that you have to do it, but I really can't."
"It's okay, really. Don't worry about anything.", he said and kissed her forehead before he pulled her into his arms. "Go to bed, it's late and you need some rest. I will follow you soon.", he added before he pulled away from her to kiss her lips gently.
"Thank you."
"Any time."
He led her over to the bedroom and kissed her again before he went back to the kitchen.
"Night, love you."
"Night, love you, too."
He wasn't looking forward to talk to them either. But someone had to, and he was the only one who could at the moment.
Maggie and Eric were already awaiting him and gave him a puzzled look when he came back without Abby.
They were sitting next to each other on one side of the table.
"I told her to go to bed. It was a long day and she was exhausted.", he told them while he sat down on the other side of the table to face them.
They were disappointed, but understood.
"Don't worry, I will tell you all you want to know."
He spent the next hour explaining Abby's mother and brother everything they wanted to know and what was understandable for someone who didn't know anything about medical stuff.
Maggie was crying and Eric was trying to comfort her, though he had tears in his eyes, too. Carter was glad that Abby didn't have to see them all worry that much.
"But her chances are really good. Leukaemia is treatable and we found out very early."
"Thank you for explaining everything, John.", Eric said and put his hand over his. "We really needed to know what's going on with Abby."
"I know.", he answered, and he really meant it. He knew he'd go crazy if he didn't know everything about it.
***
When he entered the bedroom he saw that Abby was still awake.
"Hey, why aren't you sleeping?", he asked her while he got rid of his clothes and crawled into bed next to her. "Your mother and your brother have gone to bed, too."
"I couldn't sleep.", she answered while she moved closer to him and lay her head on his chest. "Did you talk to them?"
He nodded but couldn't speak suddenly. The talk with Maggie and Eric had been very emotional and he could feel the lump in his throat. To tell them everything meant to realise everything even more, accept that it was real. The fear of losing her was overwhelming him. He swallowed hard and tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall. He didn't want her to see him worry. He knew that she was having a hard time accepting that people worried about her. And he didn't want to make it even harder for her.
But when she turned her head to look up to him and he could see her eyes, he couldn't help it, he couldn't hide anything from her.
Tears flooded his eyes until the first hot drop started to trickle down his face, leading the way for many others to follow.
"I'm sorry.", he whispered, hardly audible.
"Hey, don't be sorry.", she whispered back and kissed his cheek, wrapped her arms around him to hold him tight. She knew why he was crying. She knew he was worried, scared to lose her. And she knew that he always tried to be strong for her. It was not easy to accept it, but she could understand that he needed to let go of his emotions, too sometimes.
"It's okay to cry.", she added, crying herself.
***
The next morning they awoke early. Today was the day, the day they had the appointment at the hospital for Eric and Maggie to get their blood tested.
Abby was lying with her back against Carter's chest and turned around to face him when she woke up from the sunlight coming through the window.
He was already awake and looking at her.
"Hey, good morning.", she said and kissed him. "For how long have you been awake?"
"Good morning.", he said back to her. "I don't know, I've been watching you for a little while."
"You didn't.", she answered with a smile, kissing him again.
"Oh, I did.", he said against her lips.
"Wasn't it boring?"
"Not at all."
"Liar."
"No, really. You are beautiful when you sleep."
She didn't know what to say, he was just the most charming man on earth. All she could do was grin when she looked into his eyes.
They were both feeling much better that morning, after they let out their feelings.
But he just wanted to forget about last night, he felt guilty that he showed her how much he worried. In his eyes he made it only harder for her.
But Abby saw it differently. She was glad that he was so open with her, that he didn't treat her like she was made of glass only because she was sick.
"Feeling better this morning?", she suddenly asked.
"Yeah, much better. I am sorry, though."
"Hey, it's okay. You let me cry so many times, it's only fair that you let me be there for you, too."
"But it's already hard enough for you."
"Shhh." She put her finger on his lips to make him stop. "I know it's not easy for you either."
He bend down and kissed her forehead. He was amazed by her strength. She had so much to worry about, but she was still there for him. But he also knew that she was only strong from the outside. Only a few people knew that she wasn't that strong from the inside.
"Do you come with us to the hospital later? We have to be there at 11 am."
She had completely forgotten what day it was. It was the day she was scared of since Carter's blood test came back negative for her. Her mother and her brother were her only real chance in case she needed a marrow transplant. And she was scared that their blood wouldn't match either.
She was silent, but he could feel her heart beat faster against his chest.
"Hey, everything alright?"
She shook her head.
"What if … "
"Don't even think about it. We will find a donor, do you hear me? I promise."
She nodded and laid her head against his chest while he kissed the top of her head and wrapped his arms around her. He noticed that she needed him close lately and he didn't mind. He would do everything for her, just to make her feel better.
"I am not sure if I can do it.", she finally answered his question.
"I'll be with you the whole time."
She smiled. "Thank you."
"So you come with us?", he asked.
"Yeah."
"I'm proud of you.", he said before he kissed her one last time and got up to go over to the kitchen to meet Eric and Maggie.
"Good morning.", he said when he entered the room. Maggie and Eric were already sitting at the kitchen table, drinking coffee.
"Good morning.", they answered almost at the same time.
"Where is Abby?", Maggie asked.
"She's having a shower. She is getting ready for the hospital later."
He could see that Maggie was glad Abby came with them. She must have had the feeling that Abby was avoiding her and her brother. And he knew Abby was feeling guilty because she could hardly face them. But he knew it was because they meant so much to her. He thought it was good for all of them that she came with them later.
***
"Ouch!", Eric exclaimed when he felt the needle go through his skin. "Have you been a butcher in your earlier life?", he asked her jokingly.
But she only gave him an annoyed look before she disappeared with his blood.
John and Abby smiled at him. "You should be nice to nurse Ingrid.", he joked. He liked Eric and admired that he could always light up the situation. Even Maggie had to smile a little. John noticed that she was pretty tensed and quiet. Her face showed how much she worried about Abby. How worried she was that their blood was not right for Abby. She was not taking her eyes off Abby who was sitting next to John on a gurney.
2 minutes later the nurse came back to take the blood from Maggie.
"Let my mother live.", he said to her. "She's the only one I have."
Ingrid gave him the look that could kill people before she disappeared again, this time with Maggie's blood. "You can have the results in the afternoon." That were her last words.
"She's really one nice lady.", he finally said after she was gone and they all couldn't help but laugh a little.
They decided to leave the hospital, since they wouldn't have the results before the afternoon.
Eric took Maggie shopping. She didn't really want to, but she couldn't say no to her son. He wanted to distract her a little from her worries.
Abby and Carter headed home.
***
"Abby, the phone."
She was staring at the phone, but didn't pick it up.
"Don't you want to answer it?"
She shook her head. "Could you?"
He picked up the phone to answer it.
"John Carter – Yes, I am her husband. – Okay, thank you.", he said and put down the phone again, standing with his back towards Abby. He could feel the tears in his eyes when he turned around to tell her what the hospital told him.
She looked at him, full of hope that the test of their blood was positive for her.
He didn't know what to say. He just shook his head and from Abby's reaction he knew that she understood.
"I'm sorry.", he said before he pulled his sobbing wife into his arms.
It was as if the world stopped turning, stood still for a moment. All their hopes were destroyed by just one single phone call. They both didn't know what to do now.
They were standing in the living room, holding each other tightly, when Maggie and Eric came trough the door, back from their shopping.
They understood immediately that the hospital didn't have good news for them.
They walked over to Carter and Abby and wrapped their arms around the both of them, sharing the pain they felt.
After a moment Maggie pulled away from their hug and started to search for something in her bag. Eric was watching her with a puzzled look while Carter and Abby were still hugging.
"Mom, what are you searching for?", Eric asked his mother.
"A piece of paper.", she answered, not even looking at her son but going on to unpack lots of things out of her bag.
"What piece of paper?"
"A number."
"What number?"
Eric had no idea what number she could need now.
"A phone number.", she simply answered, going on to search through her belongings.
Now she even had the attention of Carter and Abby. All three were looking at her now.
Finally, she found what she was looking for and returned to the others.
She walked over to Abby and gave her the piece of paper she held in her hand.
It looked really old, but she could tell that it was her mother's handwriting.
"I never thought I'd ever use this number, but now I don't see another way."
Abby looked at her, still confused, as Carter and Eric were.
"Whose number is that, Mom?", she asked her mother. She sniffed while she wiped a few tears from her eyes.
"It's the last number I have from your father. Call him, he needs to get his blood tested."
