Chapter 1

"Bam you feeling any better today?" Jenn asked

"Yeah I guess so. I mean I'm not puking any more, and I don't have a fever anymore. But man that flu really kicked my ass."

"You were pretty sick there for a couple days."

"Tell me about it. I still haven't got my energy back. I'm so tired."

"You'll be back to your old self soon enough. God help us when you are."

"I guess I'm going to hop in the shower. Hopefully the water will wake me up."

"Ok." She kissed him quickly. "I'll be out here waiting. Unless you're well enough for me to join you."

"Jenn, normally I would love to." He said in between kisses. "But I'm just getting over being sick."

"Ok if you say so. I'll be waiting then."

Bam smiled at her and then went into the bathroom. Allowing the water to fall on him felt good to him, but it didn't wake him up like he thought it would.

As he stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom, still dripping with water, he frowned. He reached up to rub his neck and shoulder and then he froze.

"Hey Jenn? Jenn?" He called, hoping she was nearby.

"What is it?" came her voice from the bedroom.

"Just come here."

She went into the bathroom to see him holding the top of his shoulder with one hand and looking concerned into the mirror.

"Jenn, here, put your hand on my shoulder right here."

"Why?"

"Just do it." She placed her hand on the spot her said and felt around the area. "You feel something?"

"Yeah what is that?"

"I don't know. It wasn't there before."

"Hmmm… that's weird."

"Think I should get that checked out?"

"Couldn't hurt. Right?"

Jenn walked away and Bam stood there staring into the mirror with a frown.

Bam didn't waste any time in making a doctor's appointment. He was anxious and very uneasy during his checkup, especially when he had to have a blood test.

He was told he would have to wait at least two days for the results, which made him feel worse. When he got home he tried to keep his mind off of his doctor's appointment but he quickly found that there was no use.

He was up all night worrying about it, which made him even more tired than he already was. He couldn't even eat his breakfast that morning, because every time he made an attempt to take a bite, his stomach would churn.

The next day he tried to make himself feel better by having his friends over to do what they normally do. It helped keep his mind off of everything for a while.

He even forgot that he was waiting for a phone call from the doctor, until Jenn came up to him with his cell phone.

He walked away from everyone else so they wouldn't be able to hear his conversation. When he came back, he went up to Jenn and whispered to her.

"Let's go over here. I don't want them to know about this yet."

"Ok." She said softly as they left the others.

"Jenn that was the doctor." He said, still with a hushed voice.

"He uh… he gave me the results of the blood test."

"Is it what we thought?"

He nodded sadly.

"It's cancer."

"Oh God."

Bam looked over at the other guys, and held onto Jenn's hands. His lower lip began to quiver as he tried to fight back his tears.

He looked back at Jenn and saw that she was trying to hold back tears of her own. Dropping her hands, he then wrapped his arms tightly around her.

"Jenn this isn't fair!" He sniveled. "W…why did this have to happen to me?"

They both could no longer keep their tears under control, Bam more so than Jenn. He started crying so hard that he had to sit down.

Jenn kneeled down next to him, wrapped an arm around his back, and tried to calm him down.

"My God what's going on over here? Why is Bam crying?" Ryan asked as he and Raab reached them.

Jenn looked up at them, her eyes showing them the great dismay she was feeling.

"He'll be ok. Just give us a minute alone."

"What's wrong?" Asked Raab as he looked down at Bam concerned.

"We'll tell you later after he calms down. Ok?" She looked back at Bam.

"Bam? Bam look at me." He shook his head and kept his face buried in his knees.

"Bam I think we should go inside, ok sweetie?"

"I w-want to st-stay here."

"No Bam we should go in. It's getting cold. Come on." She looked back up at Ryan and Raab. "Could one of you help me get him inside?"

"Yeah. Come on Bam." Ryan took hold of one of Bam's hands and Jenn took the other, then they lifted him up onto his feet.

They helped Bam inside and guided him over to a chair where he plopped down. Ryan left Jenn alone with him so she could try to calm him and understand him through his incoherent blubbering.

It took a while before Bam was able to stop crying. By that time his voice was horse, but he didn't want to talk to any one any way.

"I think I'm going to lie down for a while, and hopefully get some sleep. I really don't want to be around any one right now."

He said to Jenn when he finally decided to speak.
She nodded.

"Ok. If you need anything let me know. I come to check on you in a couple hours." she tried to give him a kiss on the cheek, but he moved away from her.

He just turned and headed upstairs.

About two hours later Jenn went upstairs into the bedroom, keeping her word to check on him. He was curled up on top of the blanket with his back toward the door.

His eyes looked like they were being forced shut, which they most likely were.

"Bam I know you're awake."

"Good. Now could you please leave me alone?"

"Were you able to get any sleep?"

"A little." He rolled over onto his back and opened his eyes. "As hard as it was."

"Your parents are downstairs. And so is everyone else."

"Yeah so?"

"I think since they're all here, you should tell them."

"What? Now? But Jenn I just found out. I'm not ready for everyone to know about this yet."

"They're all down there and they know that something's going on with you. You should just get it over with now. Besides, when were you planning on telling them? When you're in the hospital?"

"No. I…"

"Come on. We let you be alone long enough. Time to get out of bed." She said as she helped him sit up.

"Oh I don't want to do this. Do I really have to?" He groaned.

"Yes!"

"Fine."

Bam reluctantly stood up and followed Jenn downstairs. They entered the living room where most of every one else was waiting.

The others who weren't in the room at the time were rounded up to wait for Bam to give his news. Bam looked at Jenn with pleading eyes.

"I don't want to tell them right now."

"Bam." She answered firmly.

"Ok! Jeeze. Um…" He looked down at the floor and rubbed the back of his neck. "I have some bad news. It's just uh… I went to the doctor two days ago because I've been feeling pretty tired lately. Just haven't had any energy to do anything. And I found a lump right on top of my shoulder. The doctor checked me out and took a blood sample. Well earlier today he called me with the results of the blood test." he paused and ran his hands through his hair, pushing it back. "It turns out that I have cancer."

At first everyone just sat or stood there in silence. April slowly stood up and walked over to Bam.

He still had his head down when she wrapped her arms around him. She patted his back soothingly as he returned the hug.

"Ape I already cried enough today. Don't make me cry again." He said trying to force a smile as best as he could.

"I'm so sorry Bam. How are you feeling?"

"I'm a lot better that I was when I first got the news. But I'm going to be ok."

"Good. Good. I can't believe this is happening to my little boy."

"It's ok, April. It's ok," he half whispered. "I… I can get through this. I'm not going to let it beat me."

She looked at him and kissed his cheek before breaking away from him.

"You say that you're going to get through this… I believe you. You're going to be just fine. I know you are. I love you Bam."

He gave he a peck on the cheek and a smile.

"I love you too."