Disclaimer - See chapter 1.
AN – Firstly, thanks for the reviews. It's encouraging to see that people still have an interest in this story. Please keep them coming. This chapter is a flashback to Cameron's final year at Med School. I've made a small reference to something that is revealed in series 2, even though I've not seen that episode (I think it's aired here on Thursday), so sorry for the spoiler. It is not meant to have anything to do with that story - it's just a coincidence that I had the same idea. When I first wrote this I was unaware that it would actually happen. Anyway, enjoy the chapter. The next one should also be up today.
January 3rd 1999 - Philadelphia International Airport
Alison Cameron hurriedly pulled her dark hair into a ponytail as she rushed out of the airport arrivals lounge and into the taxi waiting outside, dragging her case behind her. She looked tired, her pale face contrasting with the dark crescents underneath her eyes. Her face was free of makeup, which only intensified the look of worry on her face.
She slung her hand luggage inside the cab as the driver put her suitcase into the boot. As he replaced himself at the driver's seat she instructed him to take her to her husband's best friend's house.
As the car pulled away Allison thought over the events of the last 24 hours. She'd been spending the Christmas break from medical school with her sister at her home in the UK, getting to know her newborn niece. Not long after she had got up that morning a phone call came through from James. He was the man whose house she was travelling to now, and the person her sick husband had been staying with while she was away. The phone call brought bad news. Mark had taken a sudden turn for the worse. James was worried for his health, but Mark insisted on staying put. He didn't want anymore medical treatment.
Allison had flown back on the first flight out of London. Desperate to get home, she had left half of her belongings with her sister to save time and prayed that her husband would change his mind and go to hospital. She knew the cancer had been attacking his brain for some time now, but he seemed to be improving.
"Why?" she thought. "Why now? Why when I'm so far away, too far away to help him?" Her eyes began to prick with tears. Conscious of being watched by the taxi driver, she turned to look outside. The cheery Christmas decorations adorning the homes failed to break her disheartened spirit. There was a feeling of dread inside her. For the first time in her life, Alison had to face the harsh reality that she would not be with Mark forever and that "Till death do us part" really wasn't that far away.
As the cab pulled up outside James' house the door opened. "Allison, thank God you're here," he too looked pale.
"How…how is he?" she stumbled over her words, not truly wanting to know his answer.
"I'm sorry," James look sympathetic. Before he could continue Allison broke down into tears.
"No…no…," her voice was barely more than a whisper and a look of confusion engulfed her face, "he was fine before I left for London. He can't…no…how? How did it happen?" She fixed her mind on this question among all the confused and distressed thoughts speeding through her head. Allison turned her head towards James and he saw her eyes brimming with tears. Red circles had already begun to form around them.
"Come inside and sit down. I'll get you a cup of tea and explain things." As James made his way into the small kitchen Allison made a few shaky steps inside before collapsing onto the sofa. She stared at the coffee table, but didn't take it in. Her mind was rushing with thoughts. Her life was over. Her hopes for a family were over. Her dreams of having a healthy husband would never come true. She was cold. An icy chill was engulfing her like nothing she had ever felt before.
A warm hand touched Allison's shoulder as a blue mug filled with steaming tea broke into her line of sight. She smiled gratefully at James and took a deep gulp from it as he sat next to her. She could taste the sugar he had added to it. Normally she would have turned it away but this time she took another gulp. It warmed her veins again and settled her nerves.
"What do you want to know?" James asked. He was staring at the wall, seemingly uncomfortable to be in this position.
"What happened?"
James swallowed hard before beginning his story. "Very early this morning Mark woke up in a pretty bad way. He'd been complaining of not being one hundred percent for the last few days, but neither of us thought it was something to worry too much about. After all, he was suffering form cancer-"
"Exactly why you should have been worried," thought Cameron.
"-He was complaining of dizziness, feeling sick and headaches. He definitely didn't seem himself. I tried to get him let me take him to hospital but he wouldn't have it. He said he'd had enough of the treatments. He was giving up. Well, naturally the way he was talking scared me. I called you, not thinking he would die, more for you to come he and talk some sense into him. As I waited for your return he gradually deteriorated. By lunchtime he couldn't see. He couldn't hold his food down and seemed dazed. Still he refused medical treatment. By then I knew it would be too late anyway." James trailed off.
"When did…it…happen?" Cameron struggled with the words.
"At about five this evening. He was pretty rough by then. It was the best thing for him. I've never known anything attack so quickly. In truth it was good for him to go without too much pain."
"How would you know? You're no doctor," Allison paused in her thought. "Nor am I."
"Where is he now?" She asked.
"The morgue. Do you want to see him?"
Allison shook her head. She didn't want the image of his dead body imprinted on her mind forever, a constant remainder of her failure as a wife.
By now her tears were beginning to dry. She was soothed by the company of this man, the man she had once loved. Somehow things didn't quite feel real. She put it down to the shock.
"Do you want to stay here for the night?" James offered.
Allison declined. She wanted to be alone and think things over. When he offered her a lift home she accepted.
Once back inside her apartment Allison slowly fell to the floor just two steps away form the door. She could hear James' footsteps fading away. Opposite her there was a photograph from her wedding day. Next to her stood her husband. They were so happy together. Softly she broke down into tears, curled up on the carpet, shaking in the agony of her bereavement.