Chapter XX-Let's Get Going

"Yea; Yea I am coming." Kris said to Tim.

"Good; then start packing out plane leaves in the morning. We have a 7:20 flight." Tim said as he began to get up and leave.

"Wait!" Kris grabbed his sleeve. "First you need to tell me what's wrong." Kris looked around as a sign for everyone to give them a minute. Everyone began to walk out. Sabrina had an uneasy feeling about the whole thing. As Junior passed he rubbed Kris' arms as to say it will be okay; then he whispered in her ear' "Yell if you need anything." He still didn't completely trust Tim.

Tim waited until everyone was outside when he finally looked Kris in the eye. Kris tried to look tough and serious but Tim could tell she was scared. She knew something was wrong but she wanted to make Tim believe she could handle it; even if she couldn't.

"Kris; I'm sick." He was her big brother. He didn't want her to think any less of him so he tried not to make eye contact. He couldn't let her see how afraid he was himself.

Kris began to tear. She couldn't hide it anymore. "Wha…What do you mean? What are you talking about?"

Tim held up his arm. It had a very big bruise on it. "I fell last week Kris. I fell and the bruise won't go away. I went to see a doctor and he ran some tests for leukemia. I have a mild case that isn't growing…yet. The doctor gave me a few years."

Kris was now in full blown tears. "Then why the hell do you want to take me on my birthday weekend. I would just like to have you get better. I want you to get better! Go home! Go home Tim and I will come! I will help out! I…"

"Kris!" Tim yelled interrupting her hysterical screams. "I am not going to live the rest of the life that I have sitting in bed having people wait on me hand and foot! I am going to take care of myself and live my life. Why do you think I made your birthday weekend when you turned 20 instead of 21 like we planned!"

Kris tried so hard to hold back her tears. She did a pretty good job of it too. She ran over and hugged him; she didn't want to let go. She would give almost anything to just know for a fact that he would be okay. He would live a long healthy life. Tim was a songwriter who enjoyed life. He broke the long helpful (and needed-which he wouldn't admit) embrace and he told Kris to wait here. Tim ran out of the trailer and came back fairly quickly with his guitar. He told Kris that he met a sweet young girl at the clinic and he wrote a song about her. She loved music too. He sang a song (the real song is Skin by Rascal Flatts but I am borrowing it for Tim's character).

Sarabeth is scared to death
To hear what the doctor will say
She hasn't been well
Since the day that she fell
And the bruise, it just won't go away
So she sits and she waits with her mother and dad
Flips through an old magazine
Till the nurse with a smile
Stands at the door
And says will you please come with me

Sarabeth is scared to death
Cause the doctor just told her the news
Between the red cells and white
Something's not right
But we're gonna take care of you

Six chances in ten it won't come back again
With the therapy were gonna try
It's just been approved
It's the strongest there is
I think we caught it in time

Sarabeth closes her eyes
And she dreams she's dancing
Around and around without any cares
And her very first love is holding her close
And the soft wind is blowing her hair

Sarabeth is scared to death
As she sits holding her mom
Cause it would be a mistake
For someone to take
A girl with no hair to the prom

For, just this morning right there on her pillow
Was the cruelest of any surprise
And she cried when she gathered it all in her hands
The proof that she couldn't deny

Sarabeth closes her eyes
And she dreams she's dancing
Around and around without any cares
And her very first love was holding her close
And the soft wind is blowing her hair

Its quarter to seven
That boys at the door
And her daddy ushers him in
And when he takes off his cap
They all start to cry
Cause this mornin where his hair had been
Softly she touches just skin

And they go dancin
Around and around without any cares
And her very first true love is holding her close
And for a moment she isn't scared

Kris found herself sobbing uncontrollably in the middle of the song. What would he do if he couldn't sing anymore? She couldn't think about what would happen if he were to…um…leave her. When he finished the song she ran over and hugged him once again. She really didn't want to let go.

"You are you are up for this weekend?" Kris asked looking him straight in the eyes.

"Yeah; Kris I still feel fine. That's why I want to go before I can't anymore." Tim answered looking straight at her. There was no need to be afraid of looking her straight in the eye anymore because he was sure of this. He needed to bring Kris on this weekend.

"Okay; just…if you feel sick or anything. Please just stop doing what we are doing; or tell me. I guess I just want you to stay honest with me. Ya'know?" Kris asked a little uneasy about all of this.

"Of course." Tim put his arm around Kris' neck and kissed her head. "Don't worry; I am going to take care of everything. I am going to be fine."

Kris couldn't deal with this. "Come on; let's get going."

Tim understood that Kris dealt with things by burying herself in work. "Okay; pack up and I will stay with the Ritters. Okay? I will come over in the morning. Be ready by 7."

"Okay;" Kris sat on the bed and just tried to let it all sink in. She wanted to give Tim some great memories; just incase they were his last. Then Junior walked in.

"Kris? Tim looked a little uneasy coming out of here; are you okay?" Junior asked concerned.

"What. Oh yeah. I will be fine. Listen, Junior I just really don't want to talk about it okay. Let's just get going."

"Okay; okay." Junior said turning around. He was going to go home and pack. He would come back tonight to be here for Kris.