Disclaimer: I don't own anything regarding "The O.C." nor am I affiliated with any of the cast and characters used in the story. Anyone or anything that you don't recognize is mine, and anyone and anything else that you do recognize is not mine.
Note: It's been a week, so here is the update. I'm on track for weekend updates so far, so I'm planning to keep it that way. The first week has been okay, but I already have loads of work to do, like a lot of reading and such... 19 credits are such a pain. Anyway, thanks for still reading,and I know that this is somewhat off-topic, but last Thursday's episode was awesome!
Against All Odds
Chapter 16 – In Sickness and In Health
"Didn't I tell you that we'd pull it off?"
"You sure did," Ryan smiled at his new bride. "Thank goodness your mother didn't go berserk."
"We have to thank Caleb and my dad for that, but I think deep down, she's happy for us."
"A lot has changed."
"For the better," Marissa smiled at him, before leaning into a kiss.
After they pulled apart, Ryan's smile was met by a worried look. At first he thought that maybe it was something that he did, but judging from Marissa's eyes, the source of the problem was directly behind him. Without warning, Marissa pulled away from him and practically ran towards the other direction. Ryan turned around to see the commotion, and as soon as he saw Seth in the middle of it all, he immediately followed Marissa's trail.
"Oh my God," Marissa cried in panic. "Ryan, call 911!"
"Calm down, honey," he said soothingly. "Maybe she's just…"
"Call 911!" Marissa said, this time more firmly. "Now!"
"I'm on it," Ryan answered right away, sprinting inside the house.
"Summer, please wake up," Marissa pleaded as she shook her shoulder slightly.
"I… I… Uh… I don't know what happened," Seth stammered. "One minute we were dancing, and the next thing I know, she just collapsed in my arms."
"It's not your fault," Marissa gave him a quick glance before returning her full attention to Summer.
Marissa's eyes wandered over her friend until she spotted some bruises on her thigh. A look of panic came over her as her hand instantly went to feel Summer's forehead. She was definitely running a fever. She shook her head as she remembered Summer's appearance from earlier. She looked tired and fatigued, and even under some concealer, Marissa could tell that she had dark circles under her eyes.
"Has she been sleeping well lately?" Marissa asked Seth.
"She's been working a lot all week," he informed her, his eyes not leaving Summer's face. "She did mention that she couldn't sleep as calmly for the past several days, but when I asked her about it, she just attributed it all to work and stress."
"This can't be happening," Marissa whispered to herself, but Seth managed to hear it.
"Why?" Seth looked at her questioningly. "What's going on?"
She barely even met Seth's eyes before she started crying, holding on to Summer's hand.
"Summer, please wake up," Marissa begged tearfully.
"Marissa," Seth said, grabbing her shoulder to get her attention. "What is it that you're not telling me?"
"She…" Marissa started to say, but she quickly changed the topic when Ryan came back. "Ryan, did you call…"
"An ambulance was around the area, so they're sending it over here as soon as possible."
"I should have seen this coming," Marissa started talking to herself again.
"Seen what?" he asked her heatedly.
Marissa cried some more, and the more she cried, the more Seth got frustrated. He knew Marissa well enough to know that she was hiding something. While that fact alone angered him, nothing irritated him more than the fact that he had no control over the situation. As he watched Summer's limp body, he couldn't help but feel that he had failed her somehow. It would have been okay that if the issue was solely on fatigue, but by the way that Marissa was acting, he knew that it was something serious.
A few minutes later, the ambulance arrived. Seth didn't even know that they had quite an audience until he saw the crowd part as the medical technicians made their way.
"What is the situation here?" one man asked.
"She needs to go to the emergency room or whatever where she can get treated and tested immediately," Marissa told him. "I think she may have gone into relapse."
The man nodded knowingly as he instructed the rest of the crew on what to do. Seth stepped back and let them do their job, but he couldn't help but notice the worried looks and the gasps from some of the guests. He understood that they should be worried, but now he had a feeling that they knew something more about the situation than he did. He didn't really pay close attention to what Marissa was saying earlier, so he turned to her again to get some answers.
"Marissa, what the hell is going on?" Seth asked, his impatience clearly showing. "What's all that stuff that you just said?"
"She's going out of her remission," Marissa acquired a more serious tone.
"Remission?" Seth said as he tried to figure out its meaning. "Wait, that can't be. It just can't. For that to be possible, that would have to mean that…"
Seth didn't even finish his sentence. The look that Marissa gave him said it all.
"Can I come?" Marissa asked one of the medical technicians. "I'm the only one who knows about her condition."
"Do you want me to go with you?" Ryan asked her once she was granted permission.
"You stay here with Seth and everyone," Marissa told him. "I'll call you later or something."
"Call me if you need me, okay?" Ryan said as he hugged her tightly. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
With a parting kiss, Marissa went off with the ambulance to the hospital, Ryan to handle the situation at hand. He looked towards the guest, and then at Seth, and as much as he wanted to handle his guests, he cared about Seth more. He searched the crowd for Jimmy, being that he was the person that he could trust the most among anyone.
"Jimmy, can you do me a favor?"
"Anything."
"Can you look after the guests and everything," he told him. "I want to take Seth to the hospital, and being that Marissa is there as well, I want to make sure that she's okay too."
"I'll take care of everything," Jimmy assured him. "You go do what you need to do."
"Thanks."
"Anytime, son," he smiled at him.
Ryan nodded as he went back outside to look for Seth. Sadly, he was in the same spot as he was before, but Ryan was glad that he didn't have to look far to find him.
"Are you okay?"
"She had cancer," Seth mumbled as he was totally out of it.
Ryan looked at him sympathetically. The news came as a shock to Ryan as well, but he did remember a few years ago when Marissa made a handful of visits to New York stating that Summer was sick. She didn't go into details, but he didn't inquire as well. Seeing that Summer turned out fine years later, he figured that it wasn't as serious as Marissa had made it seem. Nonetheless, the news never reached Seth. Summer's supposed illness came just a couple of months after the death of Sandy and Kirsten, so Marissa was able to convince him that it was best not to worry Seth with any more news.
"Come on," Ryan finally spoke up as he put his arm around his shoulder. "I'll take you to the hospital."
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Ryan, Marissa, and Seth sat in the lobby for hours, waiting for any news about Summer's condition. It was already a little past four o'clock, so only the three of them occupied the room. Ryan and Marissa sat on one couch with Ryan's arms around her, while Seth sat the one adjacent to it. His face was expressionless for the most part as though the situation hasn't sunk into his system yet.
"I should talk to him," Marissa said softly to Ryan.
"I'll get us some more coffee," Ryan said, getting the hint that they needed some alone time.
Once Ryan left the room, Marissa came over and sat next to Seth.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked coldly as though sensing her motives.
"She asked me not to tell anyone, especially you," Marissa told him. "I wanted to tell you, but I didn't want to break our confidence."
"Even if it was a life and death situation?"
"Seth, it happened two months after your parents passed away."
"So what?" he cried out. "If Summer had died, would you not have told me?"
"That's not the point," Marissa retorted. "She got better after that, so it doesn't matter."
"Even so, why didn't she tell me?"
"I don't think I'm in any position to answer that question."
"Why not?" Seth yelled. "You seem to know everything."
"Excuse me," a man spoke softly behind them. "Are you here for Ms. Roberts?"
"Yes," Marissa replied.
"My name is Dr. Greg Barry…"
"Is she okay?" Marissa cut him off from his introduction.
"Well, I'm sure that you're all aware that Summer had leukemia."
"Leukemia?" Seth spoke up. "I'm sorry. I know she had cancer. I just didn't know what kind. That's cancer of the blood, right?"
"Yes, that's right," the doctor gave him a weak smile. "I got in touch with her doctor from New York, and apparently, her recent blood work showed some abnormalities."
"Was this blood work from November?" inquired Marissa.
"Normally, I wouldn't discuss these details to family, but since she put Marissa Cooper and Seth Cohen on her list of contacts in place of her parents, I guess I might as well," the doctor said. "You are Marissa and Seth, right?"
"Yes," they both said in unison, although Seth was more shocked than Marissa.
"According to her records, her most recent blood work was a couple of days ago. They called her back from a test done in November since they saw something that was potentially harmful. It would have been dealt with sooner if not for some mishaps from the testing department. Anyway, the last test confirmed their suspicions, but Ms. Roberts did not return their calls or paid the hospital a visit."
"How is she doing?" Marissa asked.
"We gave her a blood transfusion, so she should be feeling better," the doctor said. "As of now, I think it's safe to say that she has gone into relapse. Dr. David Abney, who is her doctor from New York, should be coming here later today to give us a more accurate diagnosis. Further testing will be done, but until then, Summer will be staying here."
"Can we see her?" Marissa asked just as Ryan came back.
"I'll tell the nurse that you are coming, but don't stay too long," he warned them lightly. "She needs all the rest she can get."
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The three friends waited in the lobby some more until the nurse calls them. In the meantime, they all helped themselves with some coffee as Marissa filled Ryan in about the situation. Seth remained quiet throughout the wait as he thought about the situation.
The more he thought about it, the more everything started to make sense, and he was quite mad at himself for not picking up on the signs. He knew about Marissa's trips to New York, although as strange as it sounded, he bought her excuses about them being for a report for school. When he saw her about a year ago, she was at the hospital worried about something. Although he had no concrete proof that it was about her illness, he had a feeling that his hunch was correct. Then there was that day when she invited him to see The Phantom of the Opera…
"You had it all planned, I see."
"I can't really afford not to plan ahead these days."
"Can I call you?"
Later that night, Summer had mentioned something quite glum about happiness…
"Doesn't it make you lonely?"
"Sometimes, I mean, walking around here by yourself and seeing all these people with somebody does make you feel that, but I don't like the idea of needing people to make myself happy. I guess it helps to some extent, but life doesn't quite work that way, you know. You have to learn that down the road you have to learn how to make yourself happy first."
"Ryan and Marissa always drag me around to places, but most of the time, I'd rather be alone by myself. I guess I understand what you're talking about, although sometimes I'd have Captain Oats with me."
During Thanksgiving, he was a bit surprised to see how Summer and the Nana got along, and given that the Nana was a cancer survivor, it wasn't much of a surprise anymore. Even her crazy talk finally made sense…
"I love you, grandma," Seth told her. "Thanks for everything."
"I love you, too," she said before letting him go. "Take care of her."
"Grandma…"
"Promise me that you will. No matter what happens."
"Is there something else that I don't know about?"
"Seth, please, do it for me."
"I will. I promise."
Finally, their last few days together during Chrismukkah. The sick children patients from the hospital were really close to Summer, even the nurses knew her. He always knew that anyone could reach out to the patients, but it was as if Summer really understood what they were going through…
"Me?" he turned his head towards her slightly before focusing on backing out of the lot. "I've only done this for one night. You've been doing this for years."
"It's the least I can do."
"What you've been doing here is beyond amazing. It goes beyond giving your money to show your support."
Seth's thoughts were interrupted by a foreign voice.
"You can come see her now," the nurse said.
Marissa stood up quickly, followed by Ryan.
"Are you coming, man?"
"I'll be there in a few minutes," Seth responded, although he was still staring into space.
Ryan just nodded as he caught up with Marissa. Ryan could sense her anxiety as she hesitantly opened the door.
"It's going to be okay," he assured her.
They came in slowly into the dimly lit room to see Summer lying peacefully on the bed. She stirred a little and turned her head towards them when she heard their footsteps. The nurse slightly propped up the upper half of the bed so Summer could see her guests better before giving them some privacy.
"Happy Wedding Day!" she said weakly with a smile.
"Oh Summer," Marissa said as tears started to form in her eyes.
Marissa came over to the side of her bed and held her hand.
"Don't ever scare me like that again," she said, trying to sound mad, but ultimately she just started to cry again.
"Don't worry about her," Ryan interjected as he put a hand on Marissa's shoulder to calm her down. "She's just doing what she does best."
"I'm sorry I ruined your wedding."
"Don't apologize," Ryan told her. "It was getting boring anyway."
"Have I told you that you're a bad liar, Chino?"
"Plenty of times in the past, but not recently," Ryan smiled at her. "I have to agree with Marissa though. You scared the hell out of everyone tonight."
"I'll be fine," Summer said, although the words didn't sound so comforting as they seemed in her head. "Sorry to ruin your honeymoon."
"We've waited years to get married," Marissa said.
"Yeah," Ryan agreed. "I'm sure we can wait."
The three of them chatted some more until another visitor came into the room. Summer didn't need to look to know who it was. Ryan and Marissa turned around and immediately had an unspoken understanding as they said their good-byes.
"See you later, Seth," Ryan said as they left the room. "You know where to find us."
Seth nodded, his eyes not leaving Summer. As soon as Ryan and Marissa left, anything that he had planned on saying just flew out of the window. She looked better than before, but seeing her in hospital clothes and on a hospital bed didn't put him at ease. It only made it clearer that she was sick.
"Please say something," Summer said, practically begging him. "I'm so sorry."
"You already told me that," he snapped back.
It took Summer a while to figure out what he was talking about, before it dawned on her that it was her last thought before fainting. She assumed that she might have said it to him out loud. He looked horrible, probably from the lack of sleep. The last time she saw him, he was so happy and had a huge smile on his face. Now, he looked like he just lost his best friend, and even something more.
"I know you're upset."
"That's very perceptive of you," Seth retorted. "Of course I'm upset. I'm upset, and I'm angry, and I'm feeling every kind of emotion right now. And to find out from Marissa that you had cancer…"
"Cohen…"
"Don't even say it, alright?" he yelled at her. "I thought we were being honest with each other. Why? Did you think that I would run away from you? That I would abandon you? Who do you think I am? Don't you know me at all?"
"Can I say something now?" she said through tears, causing Seth's anger to soften. "My boyfriend of two years left me as soon as I told him. Many times before, he said that he loved me and that he was committed to me, but all of those were just false claims. He looked at me as if I was inferior, and then he told me that I would just hinder his career and bring him down, as though it was my fault. He left without any note, and if it wasn't for Marissa and the Nana, I don't think I would have gotten through it all. A guy that I loved and trusted just bailed out on me when I needed him the most, and even though I got over it eventually, the feeling still comes back, and they still hurt a lot."
"But I'm not that kind of guy."
"But you left me twice, and that was even before I was sick," Summer said angrily. "And even when I wasn't sick anymore, I was still afraid at how you'd react. I thought it was okay and that I was fine. In that case, I wouldn't have to tell you because it wouldn't have mattered. Now, I'm not fine, and I understand if you're mad. You have every right to be. If you want to go, I'm not going to stop you."
"You are not going to get rid of me that easily," he said, although his voice was getting soft. "Do you know what you put me through back there? I was such a mess. Something terrible was happening to you, and I couldn't do a damn thing about it. If I had known, I wouldn't have forced you on this trip, and I…"
"Cohen, it's not your fault. It's mine. I knew about it, but I didn't want to face it."
"Why not?"
"Because I was hoping that it would be a false alarm like last year."
"So you were seeing a doctor that day instead of a friend."
"Yeah," Summer admitted. "I was having such a great time being with you, but if I got sick again…"
"You were afraid that you were going to lose me," he finished for her.
Summer just nodded as tears fell from her eyes.
"You know that I love you, right?" Seth said as Summer nodded. "And I know that I've messed up in the past, and as much as I was upset that you didn't tell me, I'm more worried about you. I care a lot about you, Summer. I already lost you twice, and I would die before I lose you again. I'm going to stick around, in sickness and in health…"
"Till death do us part?"
"Don't even joke about that," Seth said. "It's not funny."
"I know," Summer said. "I'm just trying to make light of the situation."
"Well, do something else," Seth said, grabbing her hand. "I'm forbidding it."
"Are you?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Well, as the man who loves you the most in this whole wide world, yes, I am putting my foot down, and I'm forbidding it."
"I'm sorry for ever doubting you."
"It's okay," Seth assured her. "As long as you know that you have no reason to doubt me ever again."
For a long time, they just stayed in their position in silence as Seth held her hand. Seth moved his other hand to touch her cheek, but suddenly Summer caught it and pressed his hand on her cheek.
"I'm really scared, Cohen," she cried. "I just hate being sick."
"It's going to be okay. I promise."
His words gave her some comfort, but they didn't take all her fears away. She was starting to get drowsy as she felt her strength draining away. She closed her eyes for a moment before looking up at Seth.
"Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?"
"I'll stay as long as you like," Seth told her as he caressed her cheek. "I'm not going anywhere, but I do have one question."
"What's that?"
"Can I give you a kiss?"
"I don't think that's a problem," Summer smiled.
Seth bent down and kissed her tenderly, the kiss lingering longer than usual.
"I love you," he whispered against her lips.
"I love you, too."
Seth watched her eyes close and her breathing grow deep and more regular, yet he kept his grip on her hand tight. Even now, he was still shaken from the events earlier. As pessimistic as it sounded, he knew that the worse was ahead of them. He could feel it in his gut. Nevertheless, he was not going to give up easily. Summer means everything to him, and he will do whatever he can to hold on to her. He brushed the back of his fingers on her cheek.
"I am not going to lose you again," he whispered as he kissed her forehead. "Not this time. Not ever."
