"You know, Mark, you don't have to do this," Joanne told Mark. Mark looked surprised.
"Wait, I'm a match?" he asked. Joanne nodded. "I want to help." Joanne slipped out of Maureen's arms and gave Mark a huge hug.
"Thank you so much, Mark," she said quietly. Mark returned the hug. "I can't thank you enough."
"I only want to help." When Joanne finally released Mark, Maureen gave him a grateful hug. She had been uncharacteristically silent. Mark rubbed her back. "Are you okay?" Maureen nodded. Mark, her Mark, was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for Joanne.
Everything after that afternoon moved at warp speed. Mark was added to Maureen and Joanne's health insurance to help him take care of the bills. There were countless meetings, more than Maureen had ever expected. She felt completely useless at these meetings. Mark was providing Joanne with what she couldn't. That tore Maureen up on the inside every time they went to another doctor appointment. All she could do was provide support when she was needed.
Finally, a surgery date was set for in two weeks. Now, Mark and Joanne had to inform everyone else on what was going on. A small get together was planned at the loft. Joanne was curled up on the couch with Maureen's arms around her.
"So, what's up with this little meeting?" Roger asked rather bluntly. Mimi elbowed him in the stomach. "Ow!" Roger pulled Mimi off the arm of the chair and onto his lap. Mimi squirmed, but Roger refused to let her go. Mimi finally gave up and nestled against his chest comfortably.
"We've set a date for the transplant," Joanne started. "It's in exactly two weeks, the surgeon had an opening."
"That's great sweetie!" Mimi gushed. Roger turned his attention to Mark.
"So you're really going to do this?" he asked. Mark nodded.
"Yeah, I'm really going to do this." Roger kept his mouth shut. It was obvious that something was bothering him.
once everyone was gone, Roger was still in one of his moods. Mimi pulled him onto the bed next to her. he settled his head on her chest.
"What's wrong, baby?" she asked as she played with his hair.
"Nothing," Roger replied bitterly. Mimi sighed.
"Roger Davis, don't you dare pull this tough guy bullshit and block me out!"
"I'm not!" Mimi sat up abruptly, causing Roger to fall back on the bed. "God Mimi, what the hell's your problem!?"
"You are my problem! All I want is for you to talk to me."
"Fine, I don't see why Mark has to go through with this. Things could go wrong; he could die."
"Joanne will die if she doesn't get this transplant. Don't worry, everything will be alright." Mimi kissed Roger tenderly and lay back down in his arms. In truth, she was a little skeptical too.
A/N: Sorry about the chapter being so short!!
Tina101