Disclaimer: I own nothing related to the OC.
A/N: Yeah this story will get more angsty I guess by the chapter. At the moment, I'm about to start writing, and I really don't know what about…free-writing I guess you'd call it…a more experimental chapter…better than studying for biology
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Kirsten rolled onto her side and groaned. Her head was pounding and all her joints were sore. She slowly threw the covers back over her head in desperation to get a few more minutes of sleep.
She felt soft kisses on her cheeks as she slowly opened her eyes. Sandy stood over her, stroking her face oh so gently. She smiled; he always knew the perfect way to make her feel better.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" she asked hoarsely, coughing to try to make her voice sound normal again.
"A doctor's appointment," he told her with a half-smile, "just to get your stitches out. No chemo or anything." Kirsten's smile turned into a frown as she pulled the covers back over her head.
"Up and at 'em," Sandy pulled the covers back off her and gently helped her sit up. She slowly eased her way out of the bed and into the closet.
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Kirsten sat in the waiting room in the hospital. It was almost a relief not waiting in the oncology wing. The tiredness showed under her eyes and the tighter fitting shirt showed off the amount of weight she had lost.
Sandy sat back and watched his wife. She was obviously in a deep state of mind. He looked at the signs of her illness; they were all too evident. He sighed; this was not what he was expecting when the doctor announced the dreaded news that day. He didn't expect the disease to take over as quickly as it did. He did everything in his power to ease her pain but it was near impossible. The boys were almost done with their junior year and Sandy didn't really know how to comfort them. There were also indications of how hard the boys were taking the news.
Sandy felt Kirsten give him a light tap on the arm.
"Hmm…" he asked, snapping out of his trance.
"I'm going back, and after this I want to go talk to the other doctor…in oncology…and I want to do it privately," Kirsten requested, "So after this appointment you could maybe go get the car and pull it over to oncology; my question won't take too long."
"Whatever you say sweetie, now let's get back there, the doctors have lots of patients," Kirsten gave him a sarcastic smile and followed the nurse back into the room.
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"So you're saying that my life-span has gone down some?" Kirsten asked the doctor hopefully. She was sitting in a plush leather chair as he reviewed her files.
"The chemo isn't proving itself as effective as I thought it would," he told her.
"Really? So I might not get to see my kids graduate?" Kirsten felt more tears rushing to her eyes.
"I'm thinking that if you get any sicker I'm going to recommend an in-home nurse, so you don't have to spend the last span of your life living in a hospital bed," the doctor told her.
"How am I supposed to tell my family?" she asked the doctor, "They mean the world…and more."
"Well, that's the most important thing here," he told her, "and I'm sure they'll back any decision you make. They'll be with you up until the day you go into remission…or otherwise." He smiled.
"I know," She half-smiled, "Thanks."
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Ryan and Seth sat at the table doing their history homework as Kirsten shuffled into the room.
"Hey mom, how was your day?" Seth asked sincerely, "You were napping when we got home." She smiled at her boys. She wished that she could tell them the bad news but she didn't have the heart.
"I'm pretty good – I start chemo again tomorrow – and I'm dreading it," she sighed, "But such is life."
"How did the other appointment go?" Ryan asked.
"It was fine, I don't have stitches anymore – which I am happy about," she smiled.
"Whatever makes you happy," Seth smiled at his mom, "and you know what makes me happy…" He began.
"Not tonight," she stopped him, "I want to eat at home with you guys. I love spending time with the family." She laughed as Ryan and Seth both rolled their eyes.
"Sounds great," Ryan gave a cocky grin, Seth nodding.
She gave him a fake bop on the head, "I hope you are looking forward to it more than your face shows right now, Seth."
"Be ready at 6:00 sharp, look at least a little bit presentable," Kirsten smiled, "I'm going to go read for a little while – I'll see you then…and NO LATER!"
"Mmm…" they both mumbled, not really paying attention to their mother.
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The four sat at the dinner table, eating the take-out Sandy had picked up from the store. Kirsten looked more exhausted than she had for a while; she couldn't seem to lift her head and she barely picked at her food.
"Kirsten," Sandy began, "Do you just want to call it a night?"
"No, no, I'm fine," she told him, shaking her head, she didn't want to admit that she felt AWFUL, "I'm just going to go to the bathroom." She started standing up but suddenly found her legs couldn't support her own legs. At the moment she went tumbling forward, passing out.
"KIRSTEN!" Sandy cried, leaping onto the floor and trying to revive her. Her eyes fluttered but closed again.
"Get the car, one of you," Sandy ordered, cradling Kirsten's head in his lap. Seth sat in his seat, completely frozen. His face had turned a ghastly shade of white and his hands were in his lap. His breathing was sporadic and he seemed to be staring into space. It was a scary reminder of when she first found out about her cancer.
"Seth!" Sandy called from the floor where he was stroking his wife, "Seth!" Seth suddenly stood up shakily and walked towards his dad.
"R…Ryan's ready with the car," Seth announced. Sandy scooped his wife into his arms and continued to the car.
"I love you," Sandy whispered quietly into his wife's ear.
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It wasn't the first time that the Cohen's had waited in the oncology wing of the hospital. Sandy watched for the thousandth time as her doctor came out.
"There is something I need to talk to you about," the doctor began, "I think it would be beneficial for Kirsten to have an in-home nurse come and live with you."
Sandy looked at the doctor as if he had grown horns and a tail, "Why?"
"Because she is getting worse fast and I'm afraid starting soon I'm going to recommend she stays in bed," he explained.
Seth put his head in his arms and Ryan focused on a tile on the floor.
"I can recommend some good ones if you'd like," he suggested.
"Okay," Sandy shrugged, "Anything for my wife."
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Her name was Susanne, she had curly black hair, a few freckles, brown eyes, and was of average to larger size. She wasn't very tall and she was very modest. It was like car-shopping; or more clothes shopping, Kirsten had the opportunity to choose any she wanted. Susanne came home from the hospital with the family, telling about her parents and where she grew up. Seth sat with his nose pressed against the window as Kirsten listened intently. Susanne was growing on her by the second.
That night was the first night with a nurse. She helped Kirsten get to her room; she helped her prepare dinner, as Sandy stood back. She took her temperature and gave her more meds than she had ever had to take.
Sandy felt one tear that night.
He knew her time was coming to an end.