A/N- Hey guys! Kait (rentislife0619) here with my last chapter for now. So sorry about the wait on this chapter! I'm horrible at updating quickly, I know. Don't kill me! And if you read, PLEASE REVIEW! We aren't getting a lot of reviews for this story and it's starting to make me kind of upset. And upset authors means torture for the characters...and you don't want that, now, do you? I didn't think so. So be a doll and review! Thanks! : )


CHAPTER THIRTY

Title- Broken Mugs and Mark's Hugs

I walked down the busy streets of New York City in a daze. I was pretty scared for this doctor's appointment. Actually, the only person who knew what the appointment was for was Mark.

When I walked into the Life Café, I found Mark sitting in our usual seats, his head buried in the menu. I sat down, but he didn't notice me until I spoke. "Hi, honey," I said.

He looked up. "Oh, I didn't see you there. How are you?" He stood up, leaned over the table, and kissed me.

"Scared. Just…scared," I told him.

He reached across the table and took my hands into his. "I know you are, sweetie. But there's nothing to worry about. Everything's fine. Don't freak yourself out, okay?"

All I could do was nod and look down, for I was suddenly interested in the 'Life' logo on the menu.

"Oh, I forgot to ask you this in the morning, but who'd you leave Sara and Owen with?" He took a sip of his soda.

"Maureen." He spewed his soda all over the table.

"Maureen? Maureen Johnson? Has she ever even babysat by herself before?"

I shook my head. "Oh, you'd be surprised, Marky. After she got over the initial shock of changing diapers, she did just fine. I trust her now."

Mark just laughed. "The words Maureen and trust should never be used in the same sentence!" he joked. "You sure they're alright with her?"

I nodded. "Yeah, they'll be fine. Don't worry, honey."

"Okay, but if she screws this up I'm picking out the babysitters from now on."

"Sure, Mark, whatever you say."

The rest of our time at the café was spent eating and talking about anything but the appointment. I had a seaweed salad and Mark had miso soup. When we were finished eating, I glanced down at my watch. "Mark, we'd better get going. If we don't leave now we're going to be late."

"Oh, okay." He slurped up the last of his soup and waved to the waiter so he could get the check.

After he paid for lunch, we began our four block walk to Dr. Latham's office. We arrived, signed in, and sat in the waiting room. I sat down in the orange chair with my legs crossed, hands trembling in my lap, and a blank stare on my face

"Mary Cohen?" the nurse called, seeming slightly agitated and very impatient. Mark nudged my shoulder.

"That's us, Mar." The color drained from my face as I was taken out of my daze. He stood up and helped me out of the chair. We walked to the room and waited for the doctor to arrive. Mark took my hand and squeezed it. "Mar, don't worry. Everything will be fine." He kissed my hand and set it down back on my lap, still squeezing it periodically.

About five minutes later there was a knock on the door. I didn't even notice Dr. Latham had come in until Mark snapped me out of my daze again.

"Hi, Mary. Hi, Mark. How are you two today?" Dr. Latham asked.

"I'm fine, thanks for asking. Mary, on the other hand…well, I'm not quite sure what to say about her."

"Oh? Well let's just ask her." She looked at me. "Mary, how're you feeling today?"

I shook my head, coming out of a trance. "I'm okay." I paused. Dr. Latham looked skeptical. "Okay, that's a lie." Mark squeezed my hand again.

"It's okay, Mary. Just tell me what's wrong. That's what I'm here for, isn't it?"

I nodded and sighed. "Well, it all started last week at work…"

---

Flashback-One week earlier

I walked into Joe's Book Shop, bracing myself for another day of boring work. At least my co-workers were fun. I went into the office and put my coat on the hanger. I punched in and—oww! I got a paper cut on my forefinger from the timecard .It wasn't that bad so I didn't bother to do anything about it.

I walked out of the office and looked up to see Cassie, my co-worker, running frantically around the bookstore. In her hands, she held a coffee mug and five thick books that she couldn't see very well over. She looked like she was having trouble so I went over to help her.

"Need any help, Cassie?" I asked as I ran over to her.

"Yeah, Actually, that'd be great," she said, starting to walk over towards me.

"Mary? Is that you?" Joe, my boss and the owner of the bookstore called out.

I stopped walking towards Cassie and turned my head in his direction. "Yeah, it's me. I just got her a few minutes ago. I'm gonna help Cassie. Is that alr-oof!" Cassie ran right into me, causing both of us to fall over. She fell right onto her mug, which had shattered upon hitting the ground. She had cuts all over her arms that were bleeding all over the carpet.

I immediately started to help her pick the chipped mug out of her arm. She pulled away as if she was scared of my touch. "No! Don't touch me! I'm fine, really," she yelled.

I took her arm again. "Cassie, look at your arm. It's a mess. I've got to help you clean it out."

She pulled away, yet again. "NO, you don't! Don't you understand me? DON'T TOUCH ME!"

I pulled away. "Well, why the hell not? I was just trying to—"

"I have HIV."

I immediately looked down to my finger, the finger with the fresh paper cut. It was covered in blood.

End of Flashback

---

When I finished telling the story, Mark instantly put his arm around my shoulders and hugged me tightly.

"Oh, Mary. I'm so sorry to hear that. Well, thank goodness you came to see me." She paused. "Now, as a precaution, have you switched Owen and Sara to formula instead of breast milk?" We both nodded.

"Of course," I said.

"And you two haven't been sexually active since the incident, correct?" We nodded again.

She looked down at my medical charts. "Better safe than sorry, right? Right. Okay, I'm gonna have Nurse Hannah come draw some blood and we'll have your labs back as soon as possible. Hang in there, okay?"

I nodded, slowly slipping back into my trance. Mark sat there, squeezing my hand the whole time.

Dr. Latham left and Hannah, the nurse, took her place. She drew my blood without uttering a single word. She left the room in a dash and went to go bring the blood to get tested.

I didn't even know I had been crying until I felt a tear fall freely onto my hand. Mark wiped the tears away and hugged me tightly. "I love you, Mary," he whispered. And it was then that I knew everything would be okay. I had someone that will love me unconditionally, through the good times and bad. It was the best feeling in the world and I was never gonna let it go.