Disclaimer: Dude, I own NOTHING related to the OC but rights to Adam Brody, Rachel Bilson, Peter and Kelly…I wish. (A girl can dream!)
A/N: Reviewers: Thanks, People reading: please review! I'm glad that this story took a turn for the better and that the reviews all rocked! I heart you guysss…
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Kirsten didn't want to get out of bed and she knew that she didn't have to either. She felt so sick and she knew that she was covered in a cold sweat. She looked at the clock and noticed that it was 9:00!
"Sandy?" she called out hoarsely. She listened and heard someone in the kitchen. She slowly sat up and made her way towards the kitchen.
"Hey babe, how are you?"
"Mmm…" she looked up at him with weak eyes.
"I guess that means bad doesn't it?" he asked her, stroking her hair.
"I start chemo today," she reminded him, "I know that they said that they didn't think that it would be effective, but they also say that it is worth a shot."
"That's why we need to head to the hospital," he scooped his wife up and gently sat her down on the seat at the end of the bed, "Ryan and Seth are both at school. Ryan decided to go back today."
"That's good," she responded, slowly standing up and heading towards the closet.
"Ryan took the news of you pretty hard," Sandy began, "I just can't believe how emotionless he is."
"Yeah," she looked at him, "I can't ever tell what he is feeling." She slowly pulled off her pajamas and put on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt.
"So we need to get going," he told her, "You have chemo waiting for you."
"Oh goodie," she rolled her eyes and started towards the front door.
"Do you want a bagel for the road?" he called, catching up with her.
"It won't stay down," she told him, opening the door and heading towards the Range Rover. She climbed in the front seat and curled up in a ball. Sandy got in the driver's seat and headed back down the driveway.
By the time they were at the hospital, Kirsten was sound asleep. Sandy slowly pulled into a parking space and went over to help her out of her side of the car. He gently tapped her awake. Her eyes fluttered open and Sandy gently helped her out of the car. He wrapped his arm around her waist and the two slowly walked into the oncology wing of the HOAG. People in the waiting area looked sympathetically towards the couple as they sat down in two chairs next to each other. She put her head on Sandy's shoulder and fell asleep again. As soon as she made it into dreamland, a nurse came out into the waiting room.
"Kirsten Cohen for chemotherapy?" the lady called out. Kirsten rolled her eyes and slowly stood up with Sandy by her side.
"They didn't need to make that a public service announcement," she hissed, following the nurse into the back. The room she was put in had a bed and a chair. The nurse directed her to a chair.
"When the doctor comes in he will check on you. For now, this IV will direct the medicine into your body. You will start feeling weak but for now it won't be as bad as later. We suggest staying overnight because some of the affects may need medical attention," the nurse rubbed her arm gently; "You'll be fine."
"Thanks," Kirsten responded hoarsely, grabbing Sandy's arm.
"Oh honey, you'll be great," he kissed her head; "I love you so much."
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Ryan and Seth walked through the walls of Harbor trying not to think about their mom in chemo.
"Hey guys," Summer walked up to the two and smiled, "How's it going?"
"The Kirsten is in chemotherapy right now," Seth shrugged, "I just hope she'll be OK."
"Try not to think about it," she gave him a hug, "Because you know that everything is going to be fine. Oh, and Chino, what the hell? I heard you completely face-planted at soccer practice and…"
"Yes, yes I did, it was graceful, and it hurt like hell," he pointed down to his hardware, "It still does actually." As the trio entered the physics lab, Ryan walked up to the teacher.
"Mr. Anderson?" Ryan hobbled even closer, "I'm sorry I don't have my report that was due yesterday. I understand if you take points off my grade."
"Oh Ryan, with all you've been going through I wouldn't have expected more. I'll give you two more days to finish," the teacher gave him a sympathetic look.
"Don't give me sympathy because of my leg," he told the teacher.
"It's not just your leg…" he started.
"And definitely not because of my mom," he told him angrily, sitting back down. He really wished things could go back to normal.
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Kirsten was woozy. Chemo was even worse than she expected. She barely noticed anyone else in the room because she felt so sick. She felt very light-headed and felt as if she was looking in on Sandy from another dimension.
"How are ya doin' sweetie?" he asked her, kissing her temple.
"So…sick…" she managed to spit out before heaving into the bucket. Since she was barely eating lately nothing came out.
"Breathe, just take a deep breath," he rubbed her back as she leaned back in the chair.
"Stop the chemo," she moaned, taking short, sporadic breaths.
"You only have about ten minutes left. Try to hang in there baby," he stroked her hair as she whimpered.
"I don't have anything left to give," she cried, half-falling asleep.
"Oh sweetheart, you're definitely the greatest person I know, you can make it through this. As much as I know how badly you just want to call it quits, so many people here need you. Seth hasn't been acting normally and he really needs someone to rag on their cooking. Ryan looks up to you more than he ever looked up to Dawn. He thinks that you are definitely the greatest thing in the world. I need you more than I could ever explain. You are my better-half. Summer, Marissa, Hailey, Jimmy, Julie, your dad…they all need you here so give a little effort in these last few minutes and just relax," he rambled, kissing her cheek. She did as he said and relaxed. Ten minutes later the nurse came back in and took the IV out of her arm.
"Do you want to lay down?" the nurse asked her, helping her up.
"Mmm…" she responded, grabbing onto Sandy for support. Sandy watched as his wife got curled up under the covers with the morphine in her arm. He sighed.
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The door opened about an hour later and two heads popped in.
"Hey guys," Sandy greeted them as they came into the room.
"How's Kirsten?" Ryan asked, sitting down and placing his leg up on another chair.
"She took the chemo pretty hard and she's sleeping right now," he motioned towards his wife. She was curled up under the blankets and looked adorable. There was an IV in her hand. She tossed over towards Sandy and then tossed the other way. Sandy grabbed her hand and rubbed it, hoping that she would stop tossing and turning. She suddenly jolted up causing Ryan and Seth to jump backwards.
"Get away!" she yelled, looking over towards Sandy.
"What's the matter sweetie?" he asked. She panted and put her hand on her head.
"Sorry, not you guys, I had a nightmare," she admitted, sighing and leaning back against the pillows, "I am so glad I didn't have any breakfast." Sandy rubbed her hand some more as she tried to slip back into sleep. Suddenly, when he was sure she was asleep she jolted up again and threw up all over him.
"Eww…you can definitely project mom," Seth took a step back from his mom.
"Oh my God Sandy, I'm so sorry," her face would have suggested that she just shot someone, not threw up on them.
"Nice aim!" Ryan laughed, patting Sandy on the back, "Do you want me to go and get you some new clothes?"
"No need, Kirsten wants to come home tonight so the nurse will come in whenever she's awake, which is now, make sure her vitals are strong, and then we'll take her home," Sandy told Ryan, "By the way, how's your leg?"
"Sore," he rolled his eyes, "But I'll be fine."
"I feel bad that we haven't been able to properly worry about it," Sandy looked at him and over to Kirsten, she was already back to sleep.
"Its fine," he started laughing, "By the way you smell gross."
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Kirsten was asleep on the couch as the rest of the family ate dinner. Sandy knew how hard chemo was on her and decided not to wake her up. He knew she wouldn't eat anything anyways.
"How was mom's first day of therapy?" Seth asked his dad, taking a bite of chicken, "Like, not sugar-coating it like you did in the hospital?"
Sandy looked at Seth and sighed, "She took it pretty hard. She looked like she was about to rip the IV right out of her arm."
Seth started picking at his food and then looked over at his mother, "What if she isn't OK?"
Sandy and Ryan both looked up at Seth suddenly.
"We don't have to worry about that yet," Sandy told him with a stern look on his face, "So don't even think about it." The boys continued dinner in silence.
Ten minutes later Kirsten slowly sat up on the couch and looked towards the boys in the kitchen. The three were eating silently.
"Hey guys," she managed to make out, even though her voice was hoarse. The three turned around and all greeted her at the same time.
"How are you feeling?" Sandy asked her, walking over to sit by her on the couch.
"Better than I was earlier," she smiled at him, "and sorry for the vomit episode." It was that moment that Sandy was pretty sure that everything was going to be alright.
"Oh its fine sweetie," he kissed her forehead, "Everything will be fine."
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A/N: Next 2 weeks (starting Saturday) I'll be in the mountains for camp and I won't be able to write (boohoo) and right now I have to go finish Sometimes YouCan't Make It on Your Own because it's almost finished! YAY!
Review please please please please if love it or hate it. I really need responses. Expect more soon!