No Day But Today

DISCLAIMER: I do not own RENT or anything affiliated with it.

Mark leaned back and stared up at the television set attached to the wall. "I hate hospitals," Roger muttered. Mark turned and looked at where he was sitting across the room.

"You didn't have to come, you know," Mark told him.

"I know." Roger looked up at the TV for a moment, before turning back to his friend. "How are you?" he asked. Mark shrugged.

"Okay, I guess," he replied. He looked down at the IV attached to the port at his collarbone. "I'll be better when they take this thing out." Roger nodded. "How are you?" Roger smiled.

"Don't worry about me," he replied. He glanced back up at the TV. "I guess now I understand how you feel, knowing you're going to lose your best friend."

"Now do you understand why I always make you take your AZT?" Mark asked. Roger nodded. "Hey, Roger, promise me something, okay?"

"What?"

"Promise you won't let Liz get left out, okay? After I'm gone," Mark said. Roger shook his head.

"There's still a lot of time before you need to worry about that, Mark," Roger told him.

"Just promise me. We're all she's got here," Mark said. Roger nodded.

"Okay. I promise." Mark nodded and closed his eyes.

Roger watched as his normally pale friend became even paler. "Mark?" he asked. Mark only responded by closing his eyes. After a moment, he got up and ran to the bathroom. Roger followed him. "Mark?" The only reply he received was the sound of Mark retching. He went in and sat down on the floor next to his friend, waiting for it to stop. After a moment, Mark sat back and leaned against his friend. He was exhausted.

"Sorry," Mark said. Roger put his arm around him.

"It's not your fault. Don't be sorry," Roger told him. Mark suddenly leaned up and began again. Roger sat there and rubbed his back, hoping that he was helping. "It's okay," he said. Finally, Mark was finished. He leaned back against Roger and closed his eyes. "Hey, you can't go to sleep on the bathroom floor."

"I don't think I can make it back to my room," Mark admitted. Roger began to stand up, picking his friend up in the process. Mark let him, too weak to protest. Roger carried him back into his room and laid him down on the bed gently. "I can't do this, Rog."

"It'll get better," Roger told him. He didn't know if that was true or not, but he knew that was what Mark needed to hear. He covered his friend with the blankets from the bed. "You should get some sleep." As he went to walk away, Mark grabbed his hand.

"Please, just stay with me," he said. Roger nodded and sat down. "Collins told me you got the money from your mom." Roger sighed and looked down.

"Yeah. She… I…" he began, unable to finish his sentence.

"Thanks, okay? For making me do this," Mark told him. He just nodded.

"Our family just won't be the same without you," Roger said. Mark closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry."

Mark sat across from his boss. "You're sure you want to go through with this?" she asked. Mark just nodded.

"What choice do I have, Linda?" he asked. She sighed.

"You could just take medical leave. You would still have your job when you got better," she told him. He shook his head.

"You would be without a cameraman for months… it's just easier this way," Mark said.

"Just because this is easier doesn't mean it's the right choice. I can't guarantee that I'll have a job for you if you quit now," Linda told him.

"And I can't guarantee that I'll ever be back," he replied.

"If you quit, you lose your health insurance," she reminded him. He looked down at the floor and sighed. "Please just think about this, Mark. Medical leave guarantees that you'll still have your job when you get better." Mark shook his head.

"You actually think I'm going to get better?" he asked. She could hear the cynicism.

"I know it's possible. You'd do yourself a big favor by remembering that," Linda told him. He just nodded.

"Whatever."

Mark shoved his hands into the pockets of his coat. Despite the fact that it was May, he was freezing. He pulled the coat tighter around himself as he approached the Life Café. He entered and camped out at a table near the back, ordering a tea. He sat there for a while before Jeff showed up. "You called?" he asked.

"Yeah. I've got to tell you something," Mark replied. Jeff sat down and ordered a coffee for himself. He stared at Mark for a moment.

"So, what's going on?"

"Jeff, I…" Mark began. He shook his head. He couldn't finish his sentence.

"Mark, what's going on?" Jeff asked. Mark took a deep breath.

"I'm dying," he whispered. Jeff just looked at him, confused.

"What do you mean? You look fine," Jeff replied. Mark just shook his head and pulled back his shirt so Jeff could see the port at his shoulder.

"I have cancer. Leukemia." Mark let go of his shirt and looked down at the tables. "I don't want the girls to see me like this."

"Mark…"

"Please. I don't want them to watch me die, too. It's bad enough they had to be there to see Mom die," Mark replied. Jeff just shook his head.

"How long have you known?" Jeff asked.

"About three weeks. I didn't want to say anything until everything with Cindy was settled," Mark replied. Jeff nodded.

"What am I supposed to tell the girls when the time comes?" he asked. "They won't understand. Hannah's been wanting to come see you."

"Just make it soon, okay? I don't want them to watch me die," Mark said. Jeff nodded.

"Call me if you need anything, okay? Whatever it is," Jeff told him. Mark nodded and stood up. He started to throw some money on the table, but Jeff stopped him. "I've got this."

"Thanks, Jeff."