"You got anymore questions?" Michael said as they left the consult.
"No" she said, "He said exactly what they said in Llanview"
"It's a good diagnosis, Natalie"
"Easy for you to say. You're not the one getting surgery in two days"
"You of all people are going to beat this"
"I have to" she said, "I won't let Liam lose me. He doesn't deserve that"
"Have you thought about what you're going to tell Liam?"
"He's too smart. He might not know what cancer is, but he's going to know what's going on" she said, "He's not going to like me being in the hospital. He's his father's son, he wants to be able to fix anything"
"I see a lot of John in him"
"I know. I worry about that sometimes, especially when he gets quiet, but I think he inherited mostly good things. He takes it all in, you know, he's patient. Lord knows that didn't come from me"
"He got some good things from you, too" Michael said, "And he really loves you"
"I hope so" she said, "I worry about him growing up. I don't want him to be just like me"
"That wouldn't be a bad thing, Natalie"
"Don't be nice to me" she said, "That is not why I came"
Michael laughed, "I'm sure. But it took a lot to do that. More than I think I could do. You're not alone, Natalie"
"I know" she said, "But in a way I am alone. no one can go through the treatment but me. That's why I'd rather be here than at home. Everyone would tell me that they'd be in with me, that they'd be there every step of the way. But I'm the one that has to make those steps and no amount of support can change that"
"I guess that's one way to look at it" he said, "Does that mean you don't want John to come?"
"Of course I want him to come" she said, "He gets it better than anyone. He gets me. All that 'I feel for you' crap, he wouldn't say that, he'd say- I don't know what he'd say, but he could make me feel better about this"
"I called him last night"
"Do you know where he is?"
Michael shook his head, "Last I heard, he was in AC between missions, but that was a while ago"
"I hate that I want him to come. I shouldn't, I should want to do this by myself, just the way he left me-"
"You can be angry at him and want him at the same time"
"I shouldn't' want him anymore, he's put me through too much. But-"
"But if he walked into this hospital right now none of that would matter" he said, "I feel the same way, Natalie. I want to punch him for what he did to you, the John I know- Natalie, I thought you were it for him since that tornado. He came in with you on the ambulance and made me look at you and he breahed down my neck the whole time. I'd never seen him care about someone that much. Not me, not Mom, definitely no one else"
Natalie smiled, "He kept me so calm while I was bleeding. I didn't know he was freaking out until after" she said, "Liam loves that story. He's his hero. John would know exactly what to say to Liam about this"
"Well, I'm not his dad but I am a doctor"
Natalie smiled, "I owe you one Uncle Mike"
He put his arm around her shoulder, "We'll discuss your debt when you get through this"