Ch 10.
"Oh my god!" Ethan stood in the doorway, shocked.
Teresa sat on the floor of the bathroom, blood covering her hands and mouth. She was coughing uncontrollably.
"Teresa, oh my god, what's wrong?" the sight of blood made Ethan's heart jump in his throat.
"Ethan" Teresa managed to say in between coughs. "Its nothing."
"NOTHING?" " I'm going to go find Dr. Russell."
"NO, Ethan don't!" Teresa yelled. "Just wait a minute"
A few seconds later, the coughing died down.
"Teresa, you need a doctor…for god's sake, you're coughing up blood! Look at your hands!"
"Yea I see them Ethan." She stood up and washed her hands in the sink, before slowly losing her balance and falling again.
Ethan ran over to her, and caught her before she fell.
"Teresa, please tell me this hasn't happened before."
She just looked at him. He could see the truth in her eyes.
"Does Fox know?"
Her face became very serious.
"No, and you cant tell him Ethan."
"But Teresa, you-
"NO buts Ethan. Fox has enough to worry and deal with right now…if he finds out, he'll go crazy with worry. I've finally got him treating me semi -normal again, I don't want to ruin that."
"Teresa, I can understand all of that…but this is serious. You're coughing up blood…that obviously is something to be concerned with."
"Ethan please promise me you wont tell Fox. Please!"
He looked at her.
"Ok fine, I wont tell Fox…but only if you PROMISE me that you will go see Dr Russell and get this checked out."
"Ok I promise." Teresa said smiling. "Thank you Ethan."
"Don't thank me Teresa. I'm already regretting that I said ok."
She laughed.
"Oh Ethan, it's fine. I'll go see Dr Russell and everything will be taken care of."
They sat there for a moment, both not knowing what to say next.
Finally Ethan spoke up.
"Teresa…can I ask you something?"
He seemed really serious.
"Sure Ethan," she said questioningly.
"Are you scared?"
She sat there for a minute, registering his question.
Was she scared?
"Terrified." She answered truthfully. "I don't want to die. I've got too much to live for… For starters, I don't want to miss my son growing up…his first crush, first kiss…getting married…having grandchildren. And Fox…god I don't want to leave him.
Ethan smiled.
"You really love him don't you?"
"Ohhh love doesn't even begin to describe it Ethan. Fox is who I am...he's everything. I don't know what I'm going to do if I have to leave him."
A small sob escaped her throat.
"Oh Teresa," Ethan said. "I didn't mean to make get you all upset."
She wiped her eyes.
"You didn't Ethan. It's just that…I feel like I'm being such a burden to him. Like, his life would be so much simpler if I wasn't a part of it…if he didn't have to deal with all of this."
Ethan couldn't believe his ears.
"Teresa," he finally said. "His life may be simpler…but it would be completely empty. Fox loves you…if you weren't a part of his life, then he wouldn't be whole."
"Yea but Ethan, that's the problem…God only knows how much longer I even have to be a part of his life."
"Teresa, look at me."
She did as he said.
"No matter what happens, whether you are here or somewhere else, whether you live to be 25 or 125, you will always be a part of his life. Nothing can ever change that. You're in his soul, Teresa, in his blood. Nothing can erase you from him, not even, god forbid, death. Face it Teresa…he's stuck with you." Ethan smirked.
Teresa laughed.
"Gee Ethan, you know just what to say to make me feel good about myself."
They laughed.
"All right, enough of this serious talk in the bathroom," Ethan said. "This is a party! And I want to dance." He stood up and reached for Teresa's hand.
She smiled and took it.
They both were smiling as they walked back downstairs and back to the party.
*****(A/N hey guys don't worry this isn't turning into an Ethan and Teresa fic! This is just showing that they are really good friends! Oh yea and please send feedback, I'd love to hear from ya! Thanks! )