The next morning
"hey Zo" says Chase as he walks up to Zoey in Sushi Rox
"you're a real idiot you know that Chase" says Zoey focusing on Newa
"hey I never claimed to be smart, Logan gave me bad advice, the same advice he followed to bed Quinn, before he completely fell in love with her anyway, he's a different person now, I'd felt set up ok, I don't hate Lola" says Chase
"you really think a simple apology is going to make me feel smart for having a crush on you back then, all it proves is that I'm utterly stupid, Newa is part my daughter now, everyone else is busy and I'd agreed to teach her English, all I do is stutter when I try" says Zoey
"I don't expect you to believe me, agent Riley thought it would help, I'm training to be a therapist for Dillard Hall hospital, you should know her traumatic experience is what causes her to speak like that, your fear that you're unjustly replacing her parents is what's causing you to stutter, she may speak like a child but just talking to her helps her learn" says Chase backing away in case Zoey gets angry
"you don't know me like you think you do Chase, both my parents are gone now, I stutter because I have nobody to ask for advise and I'm afraid I'm going to mess up" says Zoey braiding Newa's hair
"every new parent makes mistakes Zo, do you love her as your own" says Chase
"she's very cuddly, of course I love her as my own Chase, why do you think I wouldn't make a great mother" says Zoey
"that was not what I meant, I thought you'd make an amazing mother Zo, though to be fair you do tend to baby people her age, Dustin is one example, it's not a bad thing but you are almost too motherly sometimes" says Chase
"not be mad at him mommy, he's right, I talk this way for reason, he can help me, he can help us" says Newa
"I hope you're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting Newa" says Chase
"no you never repwace dad, Robbie, he nice, he soft poken, you anawize too much, what you can do is make us bettaw, hewp us work together" says Newa
"if you believe that then I guess we can try" says Zoey
"come, eat Chasey" says Newa smiling
"ok, hey Kazu I'll have the special today" says Chase admiring Newa's new braids
"you got it Chasey" laughs Kazu as he starts on the sushi
"I'm never going to live that down now am I" says Chase as Sakura walks over with his food
"not on my watch cutie" says Sakura setting down the food
"I thought you hated me" says Chase
"I have cancer Chasey, I can't afford to be mean anymore, I didn't say anything about how I felt because you obviously had feelings for Zoey and you worked for my dad, I didn't want you to think it was some sort of trap, hiding feelings for me tends to make me very irritable, I may not have much time left, the surgeon doesn't have an opening for months, eight months to be exact, my doctor says I could be dead by then" says Sakura
"if your dad doesn't approve then we shouldn't" says Chase
"far be it for me to block what could my daughter's last chance at happiness Chase, do you love her" says Kazu
"she's why I came back, I have an obvious problem talking to girls, all I seem to do is make mistakes, I had hoped I'd cooled off enough about Zoey to talk to her about how to raise the question, I wasn't ready, all I could think about when I saw Zoey was betrayal, I'm only now ready, do I have your blessing Kazu" says Chase
"you do, a word of advice don't hold back your love, go all the way if she wants to, if her time has come let her go happy" says Kazu bowing to Chase
"what kind of cancer Saku" asks Chase
"it doesn't matter, if I don't get treatment in a month I'm terminal, I had a surgery date, I waited because I was scared to do it without you, I guess that makes me dumb as a rock huh" says Sakura
"what cancer, I need to know" pleads Chase hugging Sakura tight
"ocular cancer Chase, even if they operated on her tomorrow it wouldn't save her, it spread, it's attacking her brain, there is nothing the doctors can do" says Kazu
"what about chemo, it could work" asks Chase desperate for an answer that doesn't mean death
"my dad can't afford it, he agreed that we wouldn't choose a treatment option our insurance wouldn't cover" says Sakura
"I can pay" says Chase
"I didn't accept Quinn's money, I didn't accept Lola's money and I didn't accept Tori's money, why would I accept yours" says Sakura
"because I need you in my life, talking to you is a lot easier when your walking around and not six feet underground" says Chase
"ok fine but we don't even know if Chemo will do anything, I'm going to lose my eyes either way" says Sakura
"it will at least give us more time together Sakura, more time for me to make you feel loved" says Chase
"but I'll lose my hair" says Sakura
"I'm not in love with you for your hair Sakura, you have a kissable nose and an amazing personality, cancer doesn't change that" says Chase
"really" asks Sakura blushing
"yes, now let's go talk to Quinn" says Chase
"but I'm working" says Sakura
"your life is more important than working till you drop Sakura, I bet your dad agrees" says Chase
"do you dad" asks Sakura
"I do actually, your sight does not make you who you are, losing that won't change that but you can't only care about making others happy, you have pushed away boys and girls in fear of how I'd react to you dating them, had you asked you'd have learned that I don't care who you date as long as you truly love them, I fired Logan because he saw girls like you as objects, that people with his wealth could buy, Chase isn't like that, he never was, granted he has an obsession problem once his heart makes a choice but that can be a good thing, go see Quinn, see if she can help" says Kazu as Sakura holds Chase's hand
"lead me, I can't see because of the cancer, the only reason I can work here is because I've worked here my whole life, I know it like the back of my hand" says Sakura
With Sakura 10 minutes later in Quinn's office
"it might be too late Sakura, I can't guarantee chemo will do anything now, the cancer is now in a very very delicate part of your brain, if it does anything to the cancer it could paralyze you for life" says Quinn
"all I want is more time with Chasey, I don't care if I can walk, please help me" says Sakura
"ok but I'm obligated to tell you that it will be painful, I have no idea how you will be after the chemo, you could be completely brain dead" says Quinn texting the best surgeon in America
"I'l take braindead and happy over being actually dead, like I said I only want more time with him, I kept myself from him, I tortured myself, kept telling myself I was not worthy, I need to fix that" says Sakura as Quinn gets a reply
"I have the best surgeon in America at this moment on her way, she will be here by morning, you guys will discuss the options and the risks and if at that moment you guys chose to go forward then you will go under that afternoon in the Dillard Hall clean room, after that you will be on chemo and or radiation therapy, they have to take your eyes Sakura" says Quinn
"if it means I have a higher chance of living I don't mind being blind Quinn, if I can get even a fraction of my life back that is enough, I just want to not die" says Sakura
"you're in Room three Sakura, in Dillard hall Hospital, Chase can drop you off but he can't be there during your first hour as the nurse will have to do some tests and get any information you have on your medical history, you will be informed when you can have him visit, he can stay as long as the nurse wants or you request" says Quinn
"ok" says Sakura
At the Dillard Hall Hospital
"wow this really does look like a hospital, how can Quinn afford this" asks Sakura as Nicole walks over
"government funding Sakura, it's always government funding, though she doesn't expect many patients, it's basically only open to mega famous people and the poor at the moment, her hope in opening Dillard Hall as a hospital will allow LA General and Malibu central hospitals to send people here to relieve the system, Quinn was only able to hire two doctors and two nurses, definitely not enough for this hospital" says Nicole
"you're not my nurse right, because I'd prefer someone else if you are" says Sakura
"no I'm not, your nurse will be here in a minute, I'm here as support until Chase can come back, I hate the idea but it's a job and I get paid and I racked up debt for Christmas buying Dana a bunch of gifts and in my momentary confidence clicked the option that said 'one time sale, no returns' so I can't return it nor can I sell it, if you are worried about me being gay don't be, I'm solid with Dana, neither Dana or I have any intentions of looking for a third, if I stare it's out of concern for your health and safety not out of a desire to kiss you, I promise that was a one time thing" says Nicole handing Sakura a gown
"do you mind turning around while I change into this" asks Sakura as Nicole turns around
"what kind of cancer is it" asks Nicole as Sakura changes
"do I have to say" asks Sakura
"the nurse will ask anyway, I know I wasn't exactly fond of talking to the nurse when I had a cancer scare when I was little, they seemed so scary, if you tell me I can put it in your chart and she won't ask" says Nicole as Sakura indicates she's finished changing and Nicole turns around
"ocular cancer that spread to the brain, my doctor said it's attacking my pre-frontal cortex, basically affecting my ability to reason, which is why I need Chase in my life, I have maybe eight to nine months to live, though closer to eight so no chance of Chase getting me pregnant and me making it to term alive, not without treatment" says Sakura laying in the bed as the nurse comes in
"hi my name is Hanna and I will be taking care of you while you are here" says Hanna
"I wrote down in her chart why she's here, she's really nervous" says Nicole handing the chart to Hanna
"ahhh ok so Sakura we're going to need some blood" says Hanna
"last time I had blood work I threw up all over the nurse, I don't do well If I can see it" says Sakura
"hide the blood, got it" says Hannah as she expertly inserts the needle
"ow… is that supposed to hurt" asks Sakura terrified
"you're nervous Sakura, it happens though we can't rule out that the cancer is messing with your skin sensitivity, you will get through this" says Hanna
"you can't possibly know that" says Sakura
"you're right I can't, however my little sister beat the odds when she was six, she had two months to live when they found it, ocular cancer isn't usually able to spread, not like this, like yours my sister's ocular cancer spread to the brain, my family feared the worst, I myself was paralyzed with fear, they tried a few doses of chemo and two radiation passes as a last ditch effort, it had worked, the cancer gave up its hold on her brain, now she writes music for those who are suffering, she performs and records it for them, because of what my sister went through it inspired me to become a nurse, to help people with cancer feel less afraid, ok that's all the blood we need for now, Nicole let her rest and let Chase know he can visit in half an hour" says Hanna as she hides the blood so Sakura doesn't see it
"understood boss" says Nicole fluffing Sakura's pillows
"you like her don't you" asks Sakura laying down
"nah, she's my big sis" says Nicole
"but you're not blind" asks Sakura
"I'm the youngest, when she says her little sister she means physically, the cancer severely slowed her growth, she's only four foot six, I was born a year to the day Breanna was cancer free" says Nicole
"I guess that would explain why you've never talked about her, she must hate attention" says Sakura
"no she loves attention, what she hates is how easily people assume things about her, there was this theory a few years ago that Hanna groomed her so she could be some sort of medical miracle that Hanna could present to her professor, Hanna would never, the professor sued the accuser and the theory died but every so often a theory comes up where she is some sort of grooming victim with different goals, Breanna has been hopping cities for years to avoid anyone realizing who she is, which is hard because she's dating Lacy but still" says Nicole
"are you the only formally boy obsessed girl in your family" asks Sakura
"I was confused, not boy obsessed, I suck at acting normal, in attempt to not be made fun of for being gay I ended up looking like a complete idiot" says Nicole