Mary's treatment was going well, better than she had planned actually. The same was true about things with her family. She was beginning to find that she really was pretty good at hiding things from them. Constantly, though, she worried about how long it would last. She was so scared that she would not be able to keep it up anymore, let something slip, and they would find out that she had cancer. But as far as she knew, no one was suspicious of her. Curios, yes, but not suspicious. Curiosity killed the cat, but suspicion would kill Mary.

She went to work that Wednesday for four hours, telling her family that she had to work the entire day, and then went to her 2:30 radiation appointment. She walked in, sat down, and to her surprise saw Dr. George walk into the waiting room. He hadn't given the radiation to her since the first time she had had the treatment.

"Will I have the pleasure of spending time with the famous Dr. George today?" she asked him light-heartedly.

"I'm famous?" he asked her jokingly. Mary laughed. "Yes, I'll be giving you your radiation. I felt bad that I kind of left you to yourself, so I made a point to come and do it for you."

"Well, thanks. That means a lot to me. All of these people in here are nice, don't get me wrong, but I'm just more comfortable with you," she explained, flashing him a smile. She really enjoyed him as a person; he was a good man, and so was his brother for that matter. They were so much alike that she thought that was why she felt so at ease with him.

They went into the secluded room that Mary had come to fear so much, and George decided to strike up a conversation to alleviate some of the stress. "So Mary, got any plans for the rest of your day...tonight maybe? A hot date perhaps?"

Mary blushed. "Why, what have you heard? Did he say something to you?"

George looked at her confused. "Who?"

Mary blushed again, but this time because of her false assumption. "You didn't...never mind."

"Oh no," George said to her, "you can't just expect me to forget it. You have to tell me now."

"It's nothing," she said to George. "I'm just going out for dessert with your brother tonight. It's not a date, just as friends."

"Ah, so I was right. I guess I'm out of it then. Apparently Wednesday is the new date night."

"It's not a date!" she said defensively. "I just like talking to him."

"Sure," George said as he finished positioning the machinery for Mary's radiation, "whatever helps you sleep at night Mary. But, in all seriousness, let me just say that if it were a date I would be happy for you. It would be something to help take your mind off of things for a little bit. I don't want them to have to haul you off to the loony bin one day because of all this." George liked the idea of there being a Wilson and Mary. Although he was never around when they were a couple and had never really even seen them together, he thought they would make a pretty decent couple.

"Thanks I guess," she said with a smile.

George looked down at his watch then back up at Mary. "So, ready to get this show on the road?"

Mary audibly sighed. "As ready as I'm going to be. Go fire her up Dr. George."   

***

That night around 8:30, Mary drove down to the GlenOak Promenade where she was to meet Wilson. She parked her car, got out, and strolled around aimlessly for about five minutes when she finally saw him. When he looked at her, it made her nervous. Why was she so nervous? Mary took a few deep breaths as she walked toward him, inhaling through the nose and exhaling slowly through the mouth.

When they finally reached each other, they briefly hugged hello and decided that they were both in the mood for some ice cream from The Dairy Shack. Mary ordered some pistachio and Wilson got himself some rocky road. Plastic spoons, styrofoam cups, and napkins in tow, Mary and Wilson walked through the promenade together side by side, shoveling spoonfuls of the flavorsome desserts into their respective mouths.

They didn't really say all that much, they just walked around for twenty minutes until their ice cream was finished while enjoying the other's company. There was no denying it; they both found comfort in spending time together. Whether it was an escape from the existence of their normal lives, or whether they just enjoyed the comfort an old friend can bring, they both took pleasure in the activity of shooting, or even just standing in, the breeze with each other.

Although all this walking sure was fun, Mary wasn't used to all of that physical activity post-radiation and quickly became very tired. "I…I need to sit down," she told him, the first thing out of her mouth since "pistachio."

They approached a bench against a storefront and Wilson sat down on it as Mary did the same. "Are you all right? Do you want me to do anything for you Mary?"

Mary rubbed her eyes. "I'm fine I think. You see, I, uh, kind of started radiation a couple of weeks ago. I just had my fourth treatment today. And, according to your brother, it can make you pretty tired."

Wilson looked at Mary dumbfounded. Radiation. She was actually going through treatment. Before, it was easy for him to fool himself into not believing that she was sick despite what she and his brother had told to him, but now he couldn't do that anymore. He had to face the music. "Was that what you wanted to tell me when you called a few days ago?" Mary nodded. "I'm so sorry. I feel so bad that I wasn't here for you."

"It doesn't matter," Mary explained to him. "You're here for me now, and that helps."

"Does it?"

Mary thought for a second. "It does actually. Before I just wanted to say it out loud, so that I would have something tangible to hold onto instead of just this vague idea in my head, but it feels more than that now. I guess it could have been anyone before, but now it had to be you."

"You still haven't told your parents?" he questioned.

"Speaking of my parents, I should go." Mary stood up and, without any more interrogation or comments, Wilson walked Mary to her car.

"Is there a reason why you keep on running away?" Wilson asked as Mary got into the vehicle and closed the door.

Mary backed out of the parking spot, but paused for a second before pulling out of the parking lot entirely. She rolled down her window and leaned toward the openness. "It's called fear."

A/N: This chapter is kind of, well, really boring. Nothing happened. She had two conversations and ate a bowl of ice cream. Who cares? And now after this, I kind of have a whole before the next "big thing" in the story- really the first big thing I guess.

Regardless of what I think, no one is reviewing. I got a total of 0 reviews last chapter and to be honest I am starting to get discouraged. If you are actually reading this, I don't care of you love it or hate it, please review just so I know at least one person is looking at this beside myself.