Ryan was woken up by a nurse who checked his blood pressure and something on a machine beeping next to his bed. Once he was up he checked his phone, it was 05:30AM and he decided to take a shower. While standing under the hot water trying to wash the hospital smell from his body. He has to admit he is nervous about the tests they're going to conduct today. He put up a brave face for Alex because he knows how concerned she is.

Once he got out of the shower he went back to the small bed as breakfast was served. He snapped a picture of the hospital breakfast and sent it to Alex, in the hopes that she will come around the hospital with some comfort food. At the moment Burger King will serve him best, but non the less, he ate what was served, it's not like he had much of a choice.

Alex woke up without her best friend next to her. But a cp of coffee next to her bed and voices downstairs made her realize that's where Shelby was with the kids. She sat up in bed, feeling like she hasn't slept at all. Glancing at her phone she smiled at the message she got from her husband about his hospital breakfast. Not willing to sacrifice to buy him fast food she told him that he should stick to the diet the hospital prescribed to him. After a shower Alex went downstairs to join the rest of the household.

"Mama!" Phoebe smiled when she saw her mother appear in the kitchen. She was at the kitchen counter eating breakfast with an apron on. A good choice since half of the apron were full of yogurt already. Asher was sitting on Shelby's lap as she fed him. Wordlessly Alex exchanged a grateful glance towards her best friend and Shelby nodded. Handing her a bowl of muesli and yogurt.

"I can't eat. I'm not hungry." Alex said shaking her head.

"You're not leaving this house if you haven't eaten." Shelby demanded. "See how far you get you don't have to eat all of it, but you should eat Alex."

With that Alex ate the breakfast forcing each spoonful down her throat suppressing the urge for the food to come back up.

"Are you going to work today?" Shelby asked giving Asher a bottle. Alex took Phoebe's apron off and started combing her black curls.

"Yeah, I'll leave at lunch time to see how Ryan is doing. They're doing tests today an might start operating later in the week." Alex explained making Phoebe's hair into two pig tails.

"Mama, where my dada?" Phoebe asked turning around when her mother finished her hair.

"Dada's in hospital bub." Alex explained picking up the toddler.

"Dada ouwie?"

"Yeah, but the doctor's are gonna make him better."Alex smiled kissing Phoebe's forehead the entire time until she started laughing.

"I'll take them to day care, go to the office and tell Maranda or Liam you're not going to be working today." Shelby said but Alex shook her head.

"I don't want special treatment because I'm married to Ryan. I'll go do my job like the rest of you." Alex said a bit irritated when she saw Shelby's expression. "I don't mean to be rude but right now I have to stay busy."

Shelby nodded and hugged her best friend, walking out the door with Asher and Phoebe while Alex gathered her things for work.

Maranda walked into the morning briefing minutes after Alex took her seat at her desk. The conversation died down when their superior entered and Maranda's eyes rested on Alex and her brows furrowed. "Good morning agents. Ryan Booth was admitted to hospital last night. He gave me permission to share the information, he has a brain tumor and they'll be doing tests today to see how far it progressed and when they will start operating. Please keep his family in thought." The curly haired African American concluded.

Everyone's eyes drifted to Alex who sat in her chair twisting her wedding bands around her finger, when Maranda called her to her office. Alex blew out a long steady breath as she walked to her superior's office.

"Parrish what are you doing here?"

"I work here." Alex said looking at Maranda.

"You know what I mean. Go home, be with Ryan he needs you. There is no way I'm letting you out on cases."

Alex bit her bottom lip, "I don't want special treatment because I'm married to an FBI agent. Treat me like you would've treated everyone else."

"That would be the same way I am treating you right now. Go home." Maranda said and there was something about the tone of her voice that meant it was final.

Alex grabbed her things from her desk and left the office without a word. Her three girlfriends followed her outside and gave her a group hug not knowing what to say to make her feel better. "I'll keep you guys updated. I'm sorry I'm a mess and if I keep talking any longer I'm gonna burst out crying."

They nodded and reminded her that she should let them know when she's arrived at hospital.

Ryan laid in bed waiting for the porter to come get him so they can figure out what they're going to do about his tumor. Alex walked into the room with the porter who was ready to come get her husband.

"I'm gonna be here when you get back." She said kissing his forehead as he was wheeled out. Standing alone in the empty hospital room she looked out the window, folding her hands around herself. Taking out her cellphone she decided to call her mother in law and inform her on what is going on.

Hi guys, I'm going to cut back on the FBI cases for a while since I want to get through Ryan's illness. The FBI cases won't be as intense as it was previously. I'm gonna stop complaining because I don' t know how to get out of this dark hole I am in. I have no self confidence anymore and even less self esteem. So I'll take everyday as it comes. Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Thank you for reading

Lovies-S