Part V
The rest of the world blurred past him as he flew down the highway on his motorcycle to get to the hospital as quickly as possible. The adrenaline continued to pump through his veins as he anxiously watched the numbers light up one after another at snail's speed, mocking him. He restlessly jabbed at the elevator button labeled six. He didn't wait for the heavy steel doors of the elevator to open fully before he was barging through them into the bare reception area of the floor. Frantically, his eyes searched for the correct direction to take when they landed on his mother.
Reaching the veteran surgeon, he asked breathing heavily, "Where are they?"
Seeing the urgency in her son's blue eyes, Monica Quartermaine, could do nothing, but point him towards the ICU ward.
Pivoting sharply to the right, the enforcer sprinted down the corridors of the hospital he had come to memorize from visiting frequently. Once reaching the ICU, Jason's worried eyes connected with a pair of tearful cornflower blue ones. The adrenaline that had been coursing through his body stilled and the fear settled in, gripping at his racing heart.
Jason reached her within seconds as she hung onto him for dear life. He enveloped her body as the hot moisture of her tears connected with his skin as she buried her face in the crook of his neck. Her petite frame shook in his arms as her sobs racked through her body. With every sob that Jason felt pass through her, his arms tightened around her protectively.
Once, her tears subsided Elizabeth slowly raised her head, the sight of her teary face tore at his heart. Cupping her face gently, Jason wiped away the remnants of her tears with his thumbs. "What happened?" Almost whispered with his voice hoarse.
"I-I went to go check on him…check on Cameron and…and…" She trailed off, her lips quivered as a fresh set of tears pooled in her eyes.
He pulled her back into his arms and stroked her back comfortingly. "Shhh, you don't have to talk about it." Setting his chin on Elizabeth's shoulder, Jason took in their surroundings.
It was past midnight, the fluorescent lights in the hospital were dimmed, giving the place a ghostly appearance. The lights from certain rooms drifted into the area that he and Elizabeth occupied. From the moment he had opened his eyes the first time as Jason Morgan in this hospital he had strongly disliked it. Over the years that hatred for hospitals had continued to grow with the losses he had experienced again and again. The smell, people, machines, décor, and everything else of General Hospital grated on his nerves, but at the moment none of that mattered, but the woman in his arms and her child.
A shadow suddenly appeared on the floor a few feet away from them. Slowly, the shadow of the figure moved towards them and when it stopped Jason recognized who the man was. Dr. Steven Webber dressed in his white lab coat and light screen scrubs with a stethoscope draped around his neck, stared at him and Elizabeth. "Elizabeth? Jason?" he whispered uncertainly.
The brunette beauty in his arms pulled away from his embrace and turned weakly to face her brother. "Please tell me he's okay."
Standing firmly beside Elizabeth, Jason took in the appearance of the young doctor that gazed attentively down at his little sister. His hospital clothes were wrinkled, hair ragged, the wrinkles of exhaustion and stress visible on his cheerless face. Jason ignored the voices in his head that surged up at the sight of Steven to whisper what he knew in his heart.
Elizabeth swiped away a dry tear and stood up straighter. "Steven?"
Steven glanced up at Jason once before, breathing in deeply. He saw the reluctance in the older man's green eyes. He saw the struggle to be honest or sugar coat the situation to protect Elizabeth.
Grudgingly, but with honest eyes Dr. Webber looked his sister directly in the eyes.
The fear began to intensify in Jason.
"He's sleeping right now. I'm having some tests run on him. I've ordered the usual blood tests and a few others to try to figure out what's wrong with him. Cameron is stable at the moment, but..." Steven began to struggle with his words. "We—he's breathing with great difficulty."
The battle appeared in Steven's eyes again. The fight to be Cameron's doctor first or his uncle. He tried to hide it, but Jason saw it and the panic began to strengthen in his heart. Then, Steven said the words as Jason's concerned eyes flew to Elizabeth's profile.
"Cameron is terribly sick."
Cameron was sick. What his heart feared was confirmed, Cameron was sick and not the ordinary cold that a child got. From Steven's worried looks and how shaken up Elizabeth was, it was enough to prove that the child was not well.
"Please tell me he'll be okay." Elizabeth murmured, stepping closer to her brother.
Steven said nothing, his eyes downcast.
Clenching her fists in Steven's scrubs Elizabeth shook him. "Tell me my son is going to be okay." She demanded.
Still, Steven's eyes remained on the hospital floor.
Once again, Elizabeth shook him violently. "Tell me!" Her panicked words echoed in the empty area.
Finally, Steven looked up and Jason saw it in his sincere, sad eyes.
Remorse.
"I'm sorry Elizabeth, I-I don't know."
Shame of possibly failing his sister and nephew.
Jason watched Elizabeth closely as her brave face crumbled and her body began to tremble. She inhaled sharply. Tears filled her eyes and slowly made their descent down her now ashen colored face. Her hands fell limp to her sides. "No." With every step she took back she whispered "No." Her pleading eyes fixed on a regretful Steven. She shook her head vigorously as she retreated away from him and Steven.
Emotions began to overwhelm Jason as he witnessed not only Elizabeth's physical retreat, but emotionally shut down as she drifted away from the ICU ward. "No," she whispered repeatedly.
"No," the young mother sobbed.
Jason reached out for the young mother. "Elizabeth—"
"No," she cried one last time before rotating on her heel sharply and fleeing the scene.
His arm dangled in midair for a second before Jason took off, trailing the brunette beauty.
She didn't know where she was going; just let her legs carry her tired body to wherever they pleased. The only thing she saw was a dark hazy world as she traveled further into the deserted hospital. Her mind barely noticed her surroundings as she slumped against a wall in a dim hallway. A sob escaped her lips as she slid down to the floor. Pulling her knees up to her chest and her arms around herself, she stared at the darkness encircling her with tears pouring down her face.
The memories of recent occurrences slammed through her with a vengeance. She squeezed her eyes shut as the images from Cameron's nursery filtered through her mind. She fought to push them to the back of her mind, but they only continued to stream through her mind. The fear and pain speared through her body as she wailed for her child.
She had lost one child and now she might lose Cameron. She might never again hear his bubbly laughter or his squeals of joy. Never wrestle with him to eat his meal. Never rock him to sleep. Never watch proudly as he took his first steps. Never love her son to the fullest.
She should have checked on him earlier, but she had found one excuse after another to delay her job as a mother. Either it was cleaning a different space of the apartment or checking on the laundry. And now her mistakes could possibly cost her—her son.
Her body shook as she cried on. It hurt her heart to even have to think of Cameron lying in a hospital bed, connected to various equipment that only beeped signaling the state of his health. She opened her eyes and stared into the darkness around her that had already seeped into her heart. Tears continued to flow down her face as she looked skyward and sobbed at the thought of life without her child.
Then, there was Jason. His dominating figure materialized through the darkness like a guardian angel and appeared before her. Without a word he lowered himself down next to her and pulled her onto his lap and held her. Instantly, Elizabeth laid her face against his broad chest, clinging to him and wept, holding nothing back.
The tears flowed out of her as her heart wrenching cries filled the silent hallway.
The blonde enforcer held the miserable young mother close to him as he stroked her silky tendrils comfortingly. "Shhh," he whispered into her ears as strong arm pulled her closer and tightened around her small, unstable frame. He rocked her gently in his arms as he repeated "Shhh."
Time passed them by as they sat in the dark clinging to the other. Elizabeth's sobs were now sniffles as the tears continued to fall, but the pain in her continued to gain strength with every moment that elapsed. She felt numb.
Jason leisurely drew circles on Elizabeth's back as he took in the scent of her skin mixed with tears. Her talented digits began to fiddle with the lapel of his leather coat. Every sniffle that he heard chipped another part of his heart. There was nothing he could do, but hold her and lend an ear if she wanted to talk.
The deep silence that had fallen between them was broken by Elizabeth's low, hoarse voice.
"I-I don't know what happened."
She sounded so far away.
She breathed in deeply before continuing. "I went to go check on him. He-he was on his on his back with his chest rising and falling rapidly." The tears began to fall fiercely now. "When I got closer I felt his skin. He was so cold and his skin—"
She broke off on a sob and Jason fought the emotions that ran through him. He moved his hand soothingly up and down her back as his arm tightened his hold on her. "Shhh. You don't have to talk."
She sobbed harder. "Cameron was blue."
Jason grimaced. He squeezed his eyes shut and willed his tears from falling.
"Oh, god," she whispered. "I can't lose him. I can't lose my son." Her body trembled uncontrollably in his arms. "I can't."
Gripping the back of her neck, Jason raised her face away from his chest. Brushing hair out of her face, he tried to get her to look at him. "Hey, hey." Her eyes remained downcast as she continued to cry. "Hey, hey look at me." He gently cupped her chin and leveled their eyes. "Hi." Her heart shape face was covered with wet tears as more continued to fall. Cupping her face lovingly, he spoke with conviction, "Cameron is going to make it through. He's strong, he's more like you than you think and he'll pull through just like you always have." Using his thumbs, he stroked away the tears that fell from her sparkle less sapphire eyes.
Elizabeth lowered her head back to his chest as the tears lessened. "Thank you for being here." She looked up at him with grateful eyes.
Jason gazed down and brushed his lips tenderly against hers, lingering for a moment. "I'll be here as long as you want me." The brunette in his arms sighed heavily. He pressed a kiss to her hair and began to rise off the cold hospital tile floor with Elizabeth in his arms.
Setting her down on her feet, he weaved his larger, rough hand with her smaller, softer one. She looked up at him with questioning tired eyes. Jason brought their clasped hands to his lips and pressed a kiss to her hand and gave her a small smile. "Let's go see your son."
The soft rhythmatic beeping penetrated Jason's sleep, awakening the slumbering enforcer. Opening his eyes Jason waited for the fog of sleep to fade away before he realized where he was. Draped across a small sofa in the corner of Cameron's ICU room Jason laid beneath a sprawled out Elizabeth over him. Her hand was on his heart and her cheek right besides it.
Last night, they had returned to the ICU ward and Jason had encouraged Elizabeth to go in and see Cameron. He had planned to keep watch at Cameron's door, but Elizabeth had gotten Steven to approve Jason entering Cameron's room. They had then washed up, adorned yellow hospital gowns, and pulled on white latex gloves before entering the room. Elizabeth had squeezed his hand hard when they entered the room to see Cameron with his eyes closed in a hospital crib with an oxygen mask on. She had stayed strong while murmuring supporting words in her son's ear. The tears only came when Elizabeth had sat down and once again he could do nothing, but hold her.
The sleeping brunette in his arms looked peaceful now; he only hoped that she would be happy again after this whole ordeal was over. He hoped he would be the one to make her and Cameron happy. He loved Cameron that was without a doubt and as for the child's mother, she had a hold on Jason's heart since the day he meet her at the box car. She was with Lucky at the time, but he was still taken by the strength and determination that he saw in her blue orbs to protect the man she loved. It was different now. Lucky was no longer her love interest and neither was Robin for him. Things had changed over the years, but the strength and determination in Elizabeth was still alive and burning, which relieved Jason, for he knew that Elizabeth and Cameron would be able to survive and move on with their lives and hopefully they would still want him around. And maybe then he could come up with the courage to tell her at least once that he loved her.
Elizabeth rustled in his arms and her eyelids fluttered open. For a moment she remained where she was and then looked up at him. The pain that Jason witnessed in her eyes took his breath away. There was anger and confusion in them as well.
"Good morning," she muttered rising on her arms and away from him.
He instantly missed the warmth that radiated from her body.
Elizabeth drifted away from him and stopped at Cameron's bedside. The yellow hospital gown she wore hung off her body, making her look smaller than she was. The young mother gazed down at her child and softly stroked his hair. Cameron had been in and out since last night. The oxygen mask made it easier for him to breathe, but it didn't help Elizabeth's emotional state. Jason could see the creases of concern in her face and the uncertainty in her eyes. Her lip trembled as she remained at her son's side.
The enforcer rose off the sofa and drifted towards her. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, but before Jason could utter a word of support there was a knock at the door.
They both turned to see Emily poking her head into the room through a crack of the door. "Hi," she greeted them with a smile.
Jason and Elizabeth acknowledged her and Emily quietly entered the room, dressed in the same getup as them.
"I—well—have either of you eaten breakfast?"
Elizabeth returned to watching Cameron, leaving Jason to answer his sister.
Running a gloved hand through his hair Jason wondered when was the last time he ate. Now, that he thought of it, his last meal was in Spain during the afternoon of the past day. "No, we haven't."
Emily dropped her head to the side and looked up at her brother. He looked exhausted. "You should go eat something. Both of you should." She gestured to both of the adults. She moved towards her best friend and placed a gentle hand on her arm. When Elizabeth looked up she said, "Why don't you come down with me to the cafeteria and get something to eat? Some hot chocolate?"
Looking at Elizabeth, Jason tried to think of the last time she could have eaten something. He knew that she ran around the half the time and mostly relied on dinner after work for energy and proteins.
Elizabeth began to protest as Emily urged her to come with her.
"Elizabeth," Jason intruded. When he had the attention of both brunettes he continued. "You should listen to Emily and get something to eat." Moving closer to Elizabeth, he looked down at her and asked with his eyes to listen to him. "You won't do Cameron any good by getting sick yourself."
"Jason's right, honey you need to eat something. It'll be quick I promise."
Never breaking their eye contact Elizabeth slowly nodded her head and agreed. She followed Emily reluctantly to the door before, turning back to look at Jason. Her glance flickered to Cameron for a second.
"Please look after him."
He nodded his head in compliance. "Don't worry I will."
Steven took the last sip of the coffee Emily had gotten him. Tossing the cup into the trash can, the young doctor entered the ICU ward, and walked straight into the scrub in room. Turning on the water, Steven stared at his reflection in the mirror above the metal sink. He was running on four cups of coffee and three hours of sleep in the lounge, he looked like hell. There were bags under his eyes and his hair was a mess. His clothes were all crinkled and for the life of him he couldn't remember what he did with his stethoscope.
He was tired, but it was nothing close to what his sister was living through at the moment. For all her life Elizabeth had suffered. The treatment she received from their sister and parents, dealing with school, and the rape. For the past few weeks he had witnessed his sister be truly happy for the first time in a long time. There was always a soft smile on her face and she floated around on her feet. After seeing Jason Morgan rush to the hospital the pervious night it made sense as to why she had been in such a good mood. He wasn't sure about Jason, then again which brother liked a man that was possibly interested in his sister, but apparently Elizabeth had a long and rich history with him. Jason and Cameron brought joy into her life and now it could be torn from her in an instant, possibly leaving her lost to the world.
Sighing heavily, the doctor tore his gaze away from his mirror image and moved his arms under the cold water. Then, applied a fresh out of the packet sterilized soap and scrubbed the square accessory over his arms. After, a final rinse, Steven dried off and removed an uncontaminated yellow gown from a white supply cabinet. Pulling, the gown on, he reached for latex gloves and a spare stethoscope.
Dragging his thick soled shoes to a halt in front of an occupied ICU room, Steven took in a deep breathe and wrapped his hands around the knob, when something caught his eyes. Looking through the observation window, Steven found himself staring at Jason Morgan.
The younger man stood besides his nephew's hospital crib, gazing down at the sick child. Steven watched as Jason gently brushed Cameron's hair. There were emotions on Jason's face he had seen only once during the time he that he knew the man.
Fear, concern, and love.
From Steven's observations he came to the conclusion that Jason was close not only with his sister, but with his nephew as well. Steven watched as the infamous enforcer bowed his head and murmured to the young child. A sad smile tugged at Steven's lips, the notorious heartless enforcer once again proved him wrong.
Steven shook his head and walked towards the door. Turning the knob this time, he pushed the door open wide enough and waited until Jason acknowledged his presence. He saw the tall blonde reluctantly tear his gaze away from the child and step away. Grabbing Cameron's chart, he entered the room and immediately Steven's heart panged in pain. While Elizabeth and Jason had scrubbed in, he had last checked on Cameron to authorize tests and the child had been still weak, but fighting. Now, the young child was paler and he was depending greatly on his oxygen tank.
Jerking his head slightly, Steven began checking Cameron's vitals, taking note as well. He could feel Jason's stare boring into his back. The silence between them tense. Placing kind fingers on Cameron's wrist, Steven angled his body facing Jason. "Where's Elizabeth?"
Using the wall to keep his figure upright, Jason answered softly not to disturb Cameron. "Emily took her down for breakfast and I think has been distracting her since then."
The younger man never took his gaze off Cameron.
Steven raised an eyebrow in question when the other man cleared his throat.
"Do you," he paused, "Do you know what's wrong with Cameron?"
Slowly, Steven shook his head unable to lie or break eye contact with the enforcer. He watched the emotions play out in Jason's clear blue eyes. Emotions filled them and Steven saw the torture in them as Jason stared on at Cameron. Inhaling deeply, Jason regained his composure and straightened to his full height. Steven moved aside without a word to grant Jason access to Cameron's bedside. Stepping back he watched Jason tenderly stare down at Cameron with glazed eyes. There was a strong bond between the child and adult visible even to the naked eye.
Silently, he moved to the door and paused. Turning back around, he faced Jason's back. The younger man moved with ease around the child, touching the child without hesitation. "Jason?" Steven called out, quietly.
Turning around with puzzled eyes, "Yes?"
Looking directly into Jason's eyes, Steven spoke with conviction and determination. "Elizabeth has been through a great deal in her life and I regret to say that I have not been there for her as a brother." Steven's face grew void of feelings. "You make my sister and my nephew happy. If you ever hurt them, you'll be answering to me."
Jason's shoulder's slumped in surrender as his head dipped. Steven waited a few moments before Jason raised his head and met his gaze straight on. His voice was gruff. "I would die before I hurt Elizabeth or her son."
Emotions filled Jason's already softened features. Making the young doctor realize that he was wrong completely about the enforcer that was keeping vigil at his nephew's bedside. He had cast judgment on Jason Morgan and recent events had proven his conclusion on the man wrong. There was something in Jason's eyes that he hadn't seen before. As he spoke of Elizabeth and Cameron his eyes filled with a protectiveness of a man—. Steven stopped the thought as it flooded his mind.
The vibration of his beeper tore him from his thoughts, bringing him back to his surroundings. Steven watched the way that Jason stood mesmerized by Cameron and he came to acceptance of what he knew was a truth that could not be denied. The missing piece of Elizabeth and Cameron's family had found his way to them.
With that thought Steven turned on his heel, leaving the young man and child in their deafening silence.
Closing the heavy metal door behind her, Elizabeth turned in time to see Jason look up and meet her eyes. He gave her a reassuring smile. She had been gone the last few hours and every minute that she sat in the hospital cafeteria with Emily, her heartbeat sat in her throat. She had fidgeted, wanting to return to Cameron as immediately as possible. The young mother had been comforted by one thought, knowing that Jason was with her son.
The few days that he was in Spain, she had missed him immensely. She knew Cameron did as well. The sound of a motorcycle had them both searching for the familiar blue eyed blonde. Unfortunately, it never turned out to be him. When she had called last night she hadn't expected him to be back, but she took the chance and it was worth it, he was here now. The fact that he had rushed to the hospital in a heart beat and stayed even though he must have been jet lagged, made her love him more. She wouldn't have been able to do this without him.
The brunette flashed the observant enforcer a weak smile and moved towards her son. Her throat tightened. Closing her eyes shut for a second she told herself that Cameron was strong and would make it through. Opening her eyes again, she stared down at Cameron and took in the color of his skin. It was no longer pale, but his color was still off and his breathing had yet to improve. They had run tests on him, but none of the results we back. For her sanities sake she hoped Steven had some news for her soon.
"What are you thinking about?" Jason's soft voice came from directly behind her.
She hadn't even heard him move. Sighing, Elizabeth gazed down at Cameron, her eyes misting. "I can remember the first time I saw his eyes. They were so beautiful and then it hit me, he was mine. To carry. To watch grown up. To love and no one could take him from me. TO spend Christmas Eve at home with." She swallowed past the lump that formed in her throat. "I never for a second, thought that I could lose him. The last few months I lived in a bubble, thinking that nothing could touch me and my son. But, I was wrong." Tears pooled in her eyes. "And—And now I could lose him. All because I wasn't as good a mother as I should have been." Her voice broke, her lips trembled. "I-I can't imagine my life without him, Jason. I can't."
Jason's arms slipped around her waist, pulling her small frame against his chest. He held her tight as he settled his chin on her shoulder. "Don't think like that. You're a great mother and Cameron is lucky to have you as will the other children you have." He hoped that they would be his. The thought surprised him, but ignoring it he continued. "It's not your fault that Cameron is sick. Children get sick. Their immune systems aren't that well developed yet." Hearing her audible, sniffles, he pulled her closer, tightening his arms. "You could have never known that this would happen. Things happen fast for a reason, you just have to live through them slowly."
Elizabeth took the strength he offered in his words and from his presence. She leaned her head back on his chest and let her breathing even out. The tears on her face dried, but she remained in his arms, comforted by his company. Elizabeth weaved her hands with his, which rested on her stomach.
"Don't worry." His breathe whispered against her hair. "We'll get through this together." He placed a gentle kiss on her hair.
They swayed from side to side, watching Cameron, neither wanting to ever let go of the other.
A soft tentative knock on the door, broke the peaceful atmosphere that had surrounded them. They remained in their spots, both turning their heads to see who the visitors were.
Carly and Steven stood at the threshold of the door, looking in, both dressed in gowns. The older blonde woman with her hand poised to knock. "Are we interrupting? I can come back later." She began to wring her hands, anxiously.
The couple broke apart, but Jason stayed close by Elizabeth.
"No, it's okay," Elizabeth said with a sad, but grateful smile.
Steven stepped further into the room and contemplated something for a second, before speaking. "Elizabeth, can I speak to you outside for a second?"
"Sure," she and Jason exchanged puzzled looks as she moved towards the door.
Carly moved aside without a word for the petite brunette to exit, giving her a friendly smile as she passed by. Waiting until Elizabeth and Steven were in the hallway, Carly shut the door and looked up. She found Jason no longer facing her, his attention solely on the child that lay hooked up to the various equipments in the room.
At the sound of her clicking heels he looked up as if noticing her for the first time. Continuing to wring her hands, she said, "Hi," uncertainly.
"Hi," he sounded tired, turning around to face her now.
Standing in the ICU room with Jason and Cameron, Carly felt as if she were intruding. Jason seemed so comfortable in the room and around the child. He moved around as if it were his own child, fixing tubes, making sure that the IV was straight, and etcetera. There was nothing Carly could do, but watch in amazement as Jason took care of the child. Then, she saw it. His hands shook as he fixed Cameron's blue blanket. Concern filled her heart.
"How are you?"
He kept his back to her, but the older blonde could tell from the tense set of Jason's shoulders that it was a difficult question to answer. "I'm fine, but Cameron's not and neither is Elizabeth."
She had been a little surprised when Sonny had informed her in the morning that Jason would not be joining them for Christmas Eve dinner. At first, she had reacted as she usually did; erupting in disappointment that Jason would not make it the first normal Christmas for the Corinthos, breaking his promise to Michael and the rest of them. Then, the grim look on Sonny's face registered in her mind, alarming her. After listening for once to Sonny, Carly obtained all the information and then set out to visit her friend. And now that she had seen him, the anxiety in her began to intensify. Jason was strong, but even he had a breaking point.
Moving until she was standing besides Jason. As she gazed down at Elizabeth's son, she was surprised at what she saw. Cameron had many of his mother's features, but there was something about the child that seemed familiar. "The muffin did good." Carly smacked her forehead as Jason turned to face her. "Wait, let me try again, Elizabeth did a good job. He's a beautiful child." Carly's heart went out to Elizabeth.
Jason returned his gaze to Cameron. "Yes he is. Like mother like son."
He sighed and the stone facade that had descended on his face when she had entered now broke letting the emotions spill out. The love that she saw in Jason's eyes when he was with her son's shined now, but extremely powerful as he stared down at Elizabeth's son. Dropping a gentle hand on Jason's shoulder, Carly whispered, "Want to talk about it?"
He remained silent.
Gripping his arm, Carly turned him around. "You've always been there for Sonny and me. Let me be here for you now." Her brown eyes pleaded with him to speak. In the past she had seen Jason bury his feelings, letting them build up until he exploded, holding nothing back. Jason erupting when he went over the edge wouldn't help anyone especially Cameron and Elizabeth.
Jason glanced over at Cameron.
The silence in the room grew tense.
Carly sighed, ready to try again when Jason spoke. His voice thick with emotion.
"I-I thought my heart wouldn't be whole again after the baby died, but then like an angel Elizabeth appeared out of no where."
Carly's throat constricted as she listened to Jason's pained voice.
"She helped." Jason paused as a far off look appeared in his pale blue eyes. "Just like she always does. I didn't have to hide my feelings. She welcomed me back into her life with open arms after everything that we said and did. She brought joy into my life and helped me." He struggled with his words. "And…And I-I can't help her like she helped me. Elizabeth loves Christmas and she's stuck here with Cameron and there's no way that I can change that. There's nothing I can do, but be here."
"Jason," she whispered. There were so many emotions now swirling in his eyes as he focused on Cameron. Jason was the type of person that took action instead of sitting around for something to happen. She knew it was killing him to sit around with his hand tied behind his back. "You being here is enough for her."
"No, it's not."
She gripped his arm gently. "Listen to me. Sometimes we can't do anything, but be there to lend a shoulder to cry on. You being here to support her, listen to her, and taking care of her while she waits for Cameron to get better is more than enough for Elizabeth. She knows that you're doing everything that you can. It's what a true friend does."
Sighing profoundly, Jason's center of attention remained on Cameron as Carly watched her words slowly sink in. Just as Jason turned his head to face Carly, a brisk knock at the door interrupted them.
Sonny's head popped into the room and smiled at them. "Hi, sorry to interrupt, but may I join you."
Carly smiled at her husband's antics and ushered him in. Once he took his place beside her, Carly leaned against him.
The older dark haired man took in his best friend's appearance and then shifted his eyes to Cameron's and his heart stopped. Turning back to Jason with rueful eyes, Sonny murmured, "If you or Elizabeth need anything please let me know."
"No," Carly said, startling Jason and Sonny. Her eyes softened in understanding. "Please let us know."
Methodically Elizabeth followed Steven's heels a few feet away from Cameron's room. As she trailed Steven, she noticed the Christmas decorations that adorned the hospital walls. They barely had any effect on her the night before, but today they cut into her hurt. They came to a stop and she had a perfect view of Cameron's room. Pulling her attention away from the group assembled in Cameron's room, Elizabeth focused her attention on her brother.
"How are you holding up?"
Weakly, she smiled. "Okay as I can be." Her eyes drifted to the green and red decorations.
"I know this is very difficult for you."
"It's Christmas eve, Christmas day tomorrow. I want to Cameron home." Her heart climbed to her throat. "I just want to be with my son at home on his first Christmas."
Steven choked out a sigh and the small flame of hope that had grown in her that she would receive good news, flickered. Her brother raised his olive green eyes and her breathing hitched. There were a variety of emotions in his eyes, one Elizabeth recognized right away as gut wrenching fear.
"I—We have the results from Cameron's tests." He took in a shallow breathe. "The complete blood count answered many questions about Cameron's condition. His red blood cell count was lower than the normal level for a child at his age, meaning that the level of hemoglobin in his body is also low."
Elizabeth's heart stilled.
"With the information of the CBC and the symptoms that Cameron has…" He began to struggle with his words.
All hope in her faded away.
"Cameron has anemia and…and its—his body isn't producing enough red blood cells for him to function."
Her eyes filled with fresh tears as her body began to tremble. "What are the treatment options?"
"The fastest and quickest treatment is a blood transfusion."
The hope in Elizabeth began to reignite.
"That's good, right? I can donate the blood." Her voice filled with optimism.
Then she saw the doubt in Steven's eyes.
"You wouldn't be able to donate the blood." Seeing the shock in Elizabeth's eyes, Steven continued. "You're blood type is A- and Cameron is an AB-."
"Well, can't you call the blood bank?"
Regretfully, the young doctor shook his head. "Blood type AB- is very rare. Only 1 of AB- exists. A person usually inherits it from a parent and the Red Cross hardly ever has AB- donors. I've placed Cameron on the list for a donor and hopefully they'll find someone."
"What happens if a donor isn't found?" Her voice shook as she willed herself not to break down.
Steven looked away, crushing Elizabeth's heart.
The wheels in Elizabeth's tired mind began to turn and process the words that had come out of Steven's mouth.
"Cameron has anemia…"
"The fastest and quickest treatment is a blood transfusion."
"You're blood type is A- and Cameron is an AB-."
"A person usually inherits it from a parent…"
Her mind began to spin as the lessons from nursing school filled her mind. Steven's words and past occurrences began to twirl in her mind, each thought plaguing her mind. Then like a lightening bolt realization spread through her body and she grew stiff. Her eyes now fixated over Steven's shoulder.
"Oh my god…"