Residence of Catherine Willows
Las Vegas Nevada
Thanksgiving Day 2003 6:00pm
The silence around the dinner table was deafening. Sara had gone so pale that I could have sworn that she was going to faint. There were similar reactions on the faces of Greg, Grissom and Catherine.
"Are.. are they absolutely sure? I mean that's it, the last resort?" Catherine asked her voice shaking. I nodded. "that's the only way Cath. The chemo.. its just not working"
"But a bone marrow transplant.. Tessa, what are the odds of them finding a donor that will be a match?" Sara asked.
She had a point there. My parents were both dead, Meghan was my only living blood relation. And there was no way in hell that I was going to put my daughter through that.
"Let me be tested mom" I shook my head again. Meghan spoke up. I shook my head. "Im not going to put you through that hell Megs, besides you're a minor. you would never be able to"
"I'm a minor yes, but as long as I have parental consent its fine.' Meghan argued.
"You don't have parental consent Megs and that's final. The conversation is over"
Getting up I left the table and headed outside "Tessa" I didn't turn around even though I heard Nick' voice behind me.
I went over to the bench that was at he far end of the porch. "Tessa, hey, its ok." Nick wrapped his arms around me as I started to cry. " I cant do this Nick. I cant." I sobbed into his shoulder. I hate living like this. I wish"
"TESSA." Nick grabbed me by the shoulders and gave me shake. "Don't think like that. Do you hear me?" I looked at him in surprise I had never seen him get so upset.
"I'm sorry Tessa, I didn't mean to yell. But Honey, you have a group of friends who love you, you have a daughter who needs her mother, I love you more than anything. Tessa we're going to help you in any way that we can ok?" I nodded. "ok I agreed.
Desert Palm Hospital Two Weeks Later…
I opened my eyes to the all to familiar white walls. Nick was sitting in his chair, holding my hand. Meghan was curled up beside me, he head on my chest, sleeping peacefully. The last time that she had slept like that had been when she was 6 or seven.
The rest of the gang was standing around the room. "Hey hey sleeping beauty has awakend." Greg teased. I smiled. "yeah"
"How are you feeling Tessa?" Grissom questioned.
Truth was, I was feeling relaxed, peaceful almost. "I'm doing great" I said.
I took a deep breath. "Guys" I said quietly I um I think that ther's something that we should talk about." I said quietly. I glanced down at my sleeping daughter.
"Christmas is coming up in a couple of weeks. I want Meghan to have a regular Christmas, infact I want all of you to"
"Tessa what in the world are you going on about? Your going to be here come Christmas." Warrick said. I shook my head. " You don't know that." I said. "Tessa…" nick began, squeezing my hand.
"Nick, you shouldn't hold on so tightly." I said to him. " he looked guilty "I'm sorry Tessa I didn't realize that I was squeezing too tightly"
I shook my head. "I didn't mean my hand." I replied softly.
"Guys I know that this isn't what you want to hear, but we all know that the last eight months have been one dead end after another for me. And we all know that life holds no guarantees. Im tired, please just.. let me go." I was crying now and so was everyone else in the room. "Damn it Tessa stop." Nick said. Feeling worn out, I closed my eyes. "Maybe we should leave now." Grissom said as he ushered Greg, Warrick, Cath and Sara out of the room.
"Tessa, listen to me. Your going to get through this." I didn't answer.
"Knock Knock" I opened my eyes to see Dr. Hart standing in the doorway. "Tessa I have the latest test results here." "And? What do they say?" Nick asked. "what does what say?" Meghan mumbled as she sat up.
"I have your mother's test results here." The doctor said I watched Meghan's face pale.
But I noticed that the doctor had a smile on his face. "We did it Tessa. The cancer's gone." I sat in absolute disbelief, as nick wrapped Meghan and I in a hug. The next thing I knew my friends were in my room, everyone was hugging me. And this time there was a different reason that we were all crying.