A/N: I was inspired by PCGirl's note about other people writing the story about Natalie having cancer and decided to share my own version of the story. I wrote this a while back, before I was really sharing anything. It's one that I still go back to every once in a while to reread. Please note that I did no research about breast cancer when I wrote this so please excuse anything that's way off.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, don't sue me.

"Ms. Banks-"

"Just tell me. I don't know that I can take any more waiting"

"It's what we feared" the doctor said, "You have breast cancer"

Natalie sat back in her seat. She should have known. After all, her life had been one disaster after the next, why would this be any different. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath to fight the tears that stung behind her eyes.

"Ms. Banks, is there anyone you'd like to call, we don't recommend you hear this news by yourself"

"No, there's no one" she said, looking down. She knew who she wanted to call, but that wasn't exactly an option right now, "What treatment am I looking at?"

"We caught it decently early, stage 2, there's a good chance you'll-"

"I'm a single mother, I have to survive"

"Well, I'd say your odds are good" the doctor told her, "That being said, you might want to think about- making arrangements"

Natalie shut her eyes again. That was something she didn't want to think about. Liam was the best thing to happen to her, especially right now, and she couldn't bear the thought of leaving him.

"Let me make this clear. I have beaten a lot of odds. I am a single mother. I will beat this. I don't have another option" she told the doctor, "What is the recommended treatment"

"The tumor is still rather small, if we move quickly, a lumpectomy and some radiation therapy should get it all out of your system" the doctor paused, "If you're open to travelling, I recommend Seattle General, their oncology department is next to none and they have one of the best radiation specialists in the world"

"Seattle? You've got to be kidding me" she whispered. Of all places, it had to be Seattle. Where- but wait. That could be a good thing. Her plan started to take shape, and suddenly, Seattle seemed like a much better option.

"Is there a problem?"

"No, that's actually great" she said, "How do I make an appointment?"

"I can take care of that for you" the doctor said, "When-"

"As soon as possible. I just need two or three days to get things in order"

"I'll call you when I get the information" the doctor said, "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"yes" she said, "I need to be tested for the BRCA gene"

"That doesn't seem-"

"My mother had breast cancer and I have a twin sister. She's a single mother, too. If I have it, she needs to know"

"We'll do that right now"

When that was all said and done, the doctor gave Natalie some pamphlets and cards to help her deal with everything.

"and Ms. Banks, I know what you said, but" the doctor paused, "I highly recommend calling someone to go to Seattle with you"

Natalie simply nodded and headed to her car.

She'd thrown the pamphlets into a mess, hit every surface in her car and finally broke down in tears. Why her? Why now? Why like this? She was angry and upset, and she felt so alone. She didn't want to tell anyone, but she knew that wasn't an option, either. Well, she didn't have to tell everyone, at least not until it was all said and done. She could do this, she had to do this. For Liam, for her.

Unfortunately, the doctor was right. She had to tell someone. She took out her phone and stared at it. As much as she hated it, there was only person she wanted to talk to about this. She scrolled through her contacts slower than she ever had before, more nervous about this than she was about the results of her tests. She finally reached his number and her finger hovered over the call button.

He'd stopped calling her. She didn't know why, but she wanted more than anything to hear his voice again, especially right now. For all the shit he'd put her through, he was still the best friend she'd ever had.

She hit call and put the phone to her ear. She closed her eyes and counted the rings. His voicemail started and she hung up. She hung up and hit the steering wheel, tears pricking at her eyes again.

"Damn it, Natalie" she muttered to herself.

She stared at the phone again. He needed to know. She needed him to know. She knew she couldn't just leave a voicemail, but it didn't look like she had many more options. She wiped the tears away and called him one more time. Voicemail picked up and she took a deep breath.

"Hi John, it's Natalie. Something, actually a lot of things, have happened and I need to talk to you. I can't do this on a voicemail, so you're going to have to call me back. John, this is really important, I need- I need you to call me. Please, John. If you ever loved me, just please call me" she hung up, new tears already falling.

She didn't know why, but had genuinely thought he'd pick up. She didn't know where he was or really anything since he'd left Port Charles. She didn't even know if he knew she'd lifted the restraining order. She hated that she wanted him here for this, she shouldn't, he'd made her life hell. But he was the only one who'd be able to help her through this without making her crazy. If he was here, she wouldn't have to worry about Liam-

She wasn't going to think about that.

She looked in the mirror and tried to make it look like she hadn't been crying. She put the car in drive, heading to work.