Disclaimer: They aren't mine. I'm not worth suing.

Author: Catgurl83

Title: Shocking News

Feedback: Helps me think and keeps me motivated. My e-mail address is catgurl83@yahoo.com

Rating: G

Author's note: The medical site I used is mentioned in chap 2. Sorry for such a short chapter but that is all I had time for. Thanks to Kimberly for the beta reading.

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Annie, Eric, Matt, Sara, Mary, Lucy, Kevin, Simon, Hank, Julie, The Colonel, Ruth, Roxanne, Chandler, David, and Sam all sat in the hospital waiting room waiting for Dr. Richards. They were meeting him here because they wouldn't all fit in his office.

Dr. Richards's assistant had called Annie earlier that day to tell her that the results of the blood tests were back. They had made an appointment for the family to meet the doctor to find out what the results were.

Mary sat near the window. She absentmindedly reached into her purse and touched the letters Ruthie had given her. She had agreed to give them out if something happened to Ruthie to ease her younger sister's mind. But she had also told Ruthie that she hoped that she didn't have to give them out and that they could burn them together once Ruthie was better. Ruthie had just nodded but Mary had known that she didn't believe that would happen.

Simon glanced up at the clock several times. What was taking the doctor so long? Didn't he realize how important this was? That they had to know? They all had to know this. What they found out in this room today could make them all feel better or it could make them all feel worse but they needed to know either way. If Ruthie was dying, they needed time to prepare themselves. He needed time to prepare himself.

Annie stared at the doorway, willing the doctor to step through it. Willing him to have news of a bone marrow match. Willing him to tell her that Ruthie was going to be okay. She needed to hear those things. She desperately needed respite from the feelings gnawing at her. Respite that only those two sentences would give her.

As Eric waited for the doctor he prayed. He prayed that Ruthie would have a match. He prayed that she would be okay. But most of all, he prayed that they would all have the strength to deal with whatever the doctor told them.

Chandler studied the people around him. They were all waiting for news that could break their hearts. These people didn't deserve this. They had all made mistakes but they were good people. Ruthie was a good kid. They didn't deserve for this possible tragedy to tear their lives to shreds. But that was how it happened. It was always the good people. The people who didn't deserve it.

Dr. Richards stepped into the packed room and found the only empty seat. Everyone was watching him intently.

"Is there a match?" The Colonel finally demanded.

"I have not read the results." Dr. Richards explained. "I brought the sealed envelopes with me to read here."

Several people nodded their understanding.

"Would you like me to read them? Or would you each like to read your own?" The doctor continued.

The people in the room turned to look at each other. Their eyes asking each other the question. It was several minutes before they silently reached a decision.

"We'd like you to read the results for us." Kevin finally stated for the group.

Dr. Richards picked up the first envelope and carefully tore it open. He withdrew a sheet of paper. "Ruth Camden?"

Ruth nodded.

"There is only a two antigen match."

Sighs were expelled around the room. Everyone remembered that at least five antigens had to match.

"Dr. Hank Hastings?"

Hank nodded.

"There is a three antigen match." He picked up the next envelope. "Julie Hastings?"

"Yes." Julie answered softly.

"There is a two antigen match." He opened the next envelope. "Lucy Kinkirk?"

Lucy nodded silently.

"There is a four antigen match."

Lucy's head fell to Kevin's shoulder. One antigen. One antigen was preventing her from helping Ruthie. She had never felt this bad in her entire life.

"Mary Camden?"

Mary nodded her affirmation.

"You have a three antigen match."

Mary sighed as the touched the letters in her purse. "I'm sorry." She whispered so softly that no one could hear her. She knew it wasn't her fault but that didn't make her feel any less guilty about not being a match. She wondered if the others felt like this.

"Kevin Kinkirk?"

Kevin nodded at the doctor.

"There is a two antigen match."

Kevin watched the panic in the people around him grow with every name read and struck from the list of possible donors. Lucy's hand tightened on his as her eyes fell closed in prayer.

"Reverend Eric Camden?"

Eric met the doctor's eyes as he waited for the words he knew were coming.

"You have a three antigen match."

Annie clutched Eric's hand in desperation as her name was read. She held her breath as the doctor spoke. She silently begged him to say the number 5. It wasn't enough. He read the number 4. Inadequacy coursed through her veins. One antigen was preventing her from helping her baby girl.

Roxanne watched Annie as her own name was read. She barely heard the doctor as she watched the older woman. Annie was clinging to the hope that one of the seven names left on the list would be a match. A little of that hope left her eyes with each name read. The hope was replaced with a horrible realization. A realization of death. Roxanne only had two matching antigens.

The Colonel glared at the doctor as if it was his fault when he said the Colonel only had two matching antigens.

"Sarah Camden?"

Sarah met the doctor's eyes as an answer. She sent up a quick prayer that she would be a match and quickly glanced at her mother-in-law. She could see the fear in Annie's eyes. She could imagine how she would feel if it was Charlie in that hospital room waiting for a bone marrow transplant to save her life.

"You have a three antigen match," the doctor stated. He worked to keep his voice devoid of emotion. He knew he had to remain detached but as he dashed these people's hopes with every word out of his mouth, it was difficult.

Matt kept his eyes on the doctor as his name was read. He had a four antigen match. He glanced at his parents briefly and saw the pain flare in their eyes. There were only three people left on the list.

"Simon Camden?"

Simon looked up at the doctor, briefly. He had been staring at the carpet this whole time. He couldn't abide seeing anyone's expressions as they realized what he already knew. He didn't know how he knew, he just did.

"There is a four antigen match."

Simon showed no outward response. A few people even wondered if he had heard the doctor.

Dr. Richards allowed his voice to soften a bit. "David Camden?" He watched one of the terrified little boy's nod. "You have a three antigen match." He met Sam's eyes. "So do you."

Sam looked at his mother and the tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry Mommy." He whispered.

Annie looked at her young son. "It isn't your fault sweetie." She forced the words past her pain.

"We wanted to help Ruthie." David added in a whisper.

Matt knelt down next to his little brother. "We know you did. We all did. But it isn't any of our faults."

Lucy gave her little brothers a small smile. "For some reason this is what God wants."

"But why?" Sam demanded, his tone so much like the Colonel's that several people had to smile.

"We don't know," Eric answered.

"I'll add Ruthie to the registry," Dr. Richards offered standing up. He looked down at the twins and smiled. "There is still a good chance of finding Ruthie a match."

The twins nodded though they were unconvinced.

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