Guess who's back! Okay, this is the long awaited third and last part of secrets. (Yeah right) I was a little disappointed that I didn't get as many reviews as last time, but I can't argue, having thirty one reviews after only fourteen days. Okay my little bit of celebrating is over now. Read!!!!

Chapter Three

Idiot.' Thought Val. You told him to leave.' Val flopped down on her bed and started to cry. Stop it! Crying won't do any goon. Go find him.' Val dried her eyes and went to look for Tyler.

"Val. I'm sorry." Val spun around and the sound of her name.

"Tyler. I'm sorry too. I just want to go home sometimes and I guess I just let everything get to me."

"It's okay. Truce?" Tyler held out his hand and Val shook it.

"Tyler, I hate it when we keep secrets from each other, lets make a deal to tell each other everything." It was Val's turn to hold out her hand.

"Deal." Tyler shook her hand and almost immediately regretted it.

"Now, Tyler Connell, you're hiding something from me and I wanna know what it is."

"Val, please. Don't make me tell you. It's still too hard." Pleaded Tyler.

"Tyler Matthew Connell. We made a deal. No secrets. You're gonna tell me or you can take a hike." Said Val, her temper flaring.

"Val, please. You have no idea what you're asking."

"Exactly what am I asking?" Demanded Val.

"You're asking me to reveal a whole other side to myself that only my parents and William know about. You also have no idea how many times I've come so close to telling you. Val, I want to tell you, you'll have to know eventually, but I can't tell you right now, even after almost five years I still haven't been able to tell anyone. It's still too hard." Tyler looked deep into Val's eyes. "I just can't, not yet anyway. I already told you this."

"Tyler, does this have anything to do with our fight before?" Demanded Val.

"Yes." Whispered Tyler, almost to quiet for Val to hear.

"Why is it that you know more about leukemia than a second year med student?" Val's voice softened when she asked this.

"I already said I didn't want to get into it. Just Val, do me a favor and look into my eyes and tell me I don't understand what you feel." He grabbed both of her wrists gently and pulled her to him. She locked gazes with him for a full minute. She felt, rather than saw the love, trust, and understanding in his eyes. But the emotion that scared her the most, chilled her to the bone, made her blood run cold was the fear. It was barely there. Only one who loved him so much could see it, he hid it so well.

"Why are you scared?" She asked, so quietly Tyler had to lean over to her. "And Tyler, cut with the crap, I wanna know. You don't think I'll understand. I will."

"Val, You of all people will understand the best out of anyone, that's one of the reason's it's so hard to tell you,"

"Tyler, just tell me why you're scared." Demanded Val quietly.

"Val, I don't wanna lose you."

"You won't lose me, I'm a fighter."

"That's what I keep telling myself. You're a fighter. You're stronger than I am. If I can beat it, you most definitely-" Tyler stopped mid-sentence. He hadn't actually meant to say anything.

"Tyler, now you're scaring me." Val was pale, whiter that white pale, as a look of understanding crossed her face.

"Val, I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you, I really did. I just wasn't sure how you'd take it."

"I'm not sure how I'm taking it yet." Said Val quietly.

"You asked me why I knew everything you were going through as if I have. Val, I have gone through it. Val, I know every feeling you've had. Everything you went through. Val I've felt and gone through more than you have." Val let out a sorta strangled cry, suppressed sob.

"What exactly are you saying?"

"Jamie is not the closest person to cancer here, I am. I've lived through it. He hasn't. You and Marcy aren't the only one's who have cancer. I do too." Val was crying now.

"What-"

"Leukemia, same as you and Marcy." Replied Tyler anticipating her question. He gently wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Tell me everything." Said Val, realizing that she really did want to know.

"I got it when I was twelve, we moved here because of this hospital. My parents liked living here so we stayed. Eventually my dad left and my mom married William. I was in the hospital until the end of seventh grade. I finished the year with a tutor and started Kingsport Middle School in the fall. So far I've been lucky."

"No wonder you went pale when I had to have a spinal tap, and no wonder you had the Tylenol for me." Val was still crying softly. "It's just one more thing we have in common." A soft smile played on her lips.

Tyler took the opportunity to kiss her.

"Val, you can't tell anyone about me okay. Not even Hank, Jamie, Brooke, or Caitie."

"I promise. And I'll fight and win."

"And I'll be right there."

"Can I ask why you didn't tell me when you found out about me?"

"Val, You find out that you have cancer, then you find out that your boyfriend did. Can you imagine what a shock that would be? I was close to telling you, but every time something stopped me. It's still really hard to talk about."

"I know exactly what you mean. I thought telling people would make it easier for me. I was wrong, it just made it more real."

"Val, this is why I want to be a doctor. I want to help kids with cancer. I actually want to understand what they're going through, and I will."

"Tyler, you'll be a great doctor."

"So will you."

* * *

A week later Val was informed about a support group for leukemia patients and family. It met in the library every Thursday night at six. Val figured she'd go, she had nothing better to do. She asked Lauren if she could bring a friend. Lauren said it would be alright. So that was how Val and Tyler wound up at the meeting. The group was small, there were only about seven of them.

"Everyone, we have two new people joining us so please say who you are, If you have cancer, or if you're a friend. Also please say how long you've had cancer if you do." Said Doctor Johnson. Val had never met him before, he was apparently the person in charge of the group.

"I'm Nick, and I've been here for three weeks." Said A young looking boy of about eleven. Their group consisted of Natalie, who's sister died from cancer, Nick, Beth who had cancer. Tommy, who had a cousin who died, and Mark, who had cancer.

"I'm Val, I got Leukemia a month and a half ago."

Tyler stood up and took Val's hand. "My name's Tyler. My girlfriend has cancer." Tyler started to say more but was interrupted.

"Then why are you here? This is for patients and Family members." Said Beth stressing the word family.

"I've also had cancer since I was twelve." Said Tyler pointedly. For the next hour and a half they talked about how they felt about having cancer. And about things in general. Val said it was a good idea but that she didn't think she'd be back, Tyler agreed with her.

Three weeks later the test results said that Val was in remission. She could go home.

"Val, We all got you something." Said Tyler handing her a box. Inside was a wig exactly like her old hairstyle, the color matched perfectly. Val took it out and put it on and had to laugh at what she saw in the bottom of the box. There was another wig like the other one, only this one was purple.

"That's from me and Jamie." Replied Caitie.

"I think I could have guessed that." Val picked up her bag and sat in the wheelchair on the way out to the car. Hank, Jamie, and Caitie all got into Hank's car and drove off. Val, Brooke, and Tyler piled into the backseat of Val's mom's car.

"Mom, could you drop me off at the station please?" asked Brooke.

"Sure, Val would you like to go home first?" Replied her mom.

"No, I'd really like to go to the station."

"You should rest." Said Her dad.

"What have I been doing since I went to the hospital? I wanna go to the station."

"Alright." Agreed her Dad. "But only for a little while." Brooke jumped out of the car before it actually stopped. She ran on ahead. Tyler and Val walked more slowly.

"How's it feel to be home?" Asked Tyler.

"Great, but a little weird. Life went on without me while I was at the hospital.

"Time tends to do that." Teased Tyler. "I felt the same way when, you know."

"Surprise!!!" Shouted Everyone when Val and Tyler walked in. There were streamers all around the station. All said Welcome Back Val in black letters. A few of the other teen EMT's were there along with some of the cheerleaders. But the people she cared most about were Hank, Jamie, Caitie, Brooke, and Tyler. Mostly Tyler.

"Cut the cake." Yelled someone. There was a small cake on a table. The squiggly icing said Welcome Back Val, You're Here For Good. Someone popped in a CD. When everyone started to dance Val went to go sit down. She was starting to get tired. Tyler plopped down on the couch next to her and put his arm around her.

"Tired?"

"Yeah. But it's a good tired." Replied Val.

"Val, welcome back. I expect you to help Brooke out a little bit around here until you can go out on calls again." Said Alex, coming up to see how she was.

"You bet." Someone put on another CD and the opening notes of Crash and Burn played. Couples paired off and Tyler offered Val his hand.

"May I have this dance?" Val had never felt more in love with Tyler at that moment. She somehow knew that her feelings were returned. After everything Val and Tyler had continued to grow closer. Finding one more thing in common that no one would have guessed.

Let me be the one you call

If you jump I'll break your fall

Lift you up and fly away with you into the night

If you need to fall apart

I can mend a broken heart

If you need to crash then crash and burn

You're not alone

No one knew what the future held for them, but somehow Val and Tyler knew theirs included each other.

AN: This story is dedicated to and written in memory of a friend of mine. There is another story planned after this, called Revealed. You don't think only Val would find out now do you? It may take a few days to get out, I've got to rewrite a lot of parts. Plus three papers and or projects and daily work. (Oh joy. It's Christmas in July, or September as the case may be.) Please review, takes thirty seconds.