Tickled Pink

Chapter Eight

Firstly I apologise for not having updated in an appallingly long time. Since January I've been having computer troubles but im back now for good! I really want to bring this fic to an end as a particularly like it and can see the end of the tunnel now! Enjoy love me!

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Like a tornado ripping the heart out of a town, the words tore Smithy apart. The immense realisation of what Gina had told him began to dawn on him and the missing pieces of the puzzle began to paint a picture of what was happening.

"How long?" Smithy questioned

"Not long Smithy" Gina felt guilty now that she had been put in this position, forced to lie to her close colleague.

"Whereabouts has she got it? Is she going to die?" So many questions needed to be answered but Smithy hadn't prepared himself for what he might hear.

"Breast cancer, but that's all I know; you have to ask Kerry."

She heard the door go and winced in pain as she tried to mask how she was really feeling.

Unable to speak to her, Smithy just stood there taking her appearance in.

Her pyjamas were loose around her small frame; since the news her appetite had been the last thing on her mind.

Smithy also noted the grey tint her skin had become accustomed to, matched with the dark circles under her eyes.

"I'm sorry Smithy; I didn't mean to hurt you." Her words rang true but Smithy had an overwhelming anger that he could not suppress no matter how hard he tried.

"When did you think to tell me? When we were married, when we bring our first child home from hospital, after sex or not at all?" Tensed up so hard were his muscles that his vision became clouded.

A lone tear run down her cheek, disappearing into the palm of her hand as she caught it.

"I…I didn't know how to tell you. I was trying to protect you Smithy but I guess I failed." There was nothing to say apart from the blatant truth and she was aware of this as well as being fully ashamed of her actions.

Closing his eyes momentarily to stop the stinging sensation he pictured her beautiful face. Its warm hues and sparkling eyes captured his thoughts taking the place of the run down features that she now owned.

Running his hands through her hair he closed his eyes yet again in unison with her, he felt guilty for he once again tried to remember the image that he previously saw. Instead it was replaced with the same one that the woman was wearing.

Running his hand softly down her uneven cheek he tipped his head forward, foreheads resting together. The room was silent yet it carried so many thoughts, so many explanations.

"Will you let me back into your heart Kerry or will you shut me out?" His words ringing true with her previous behaviour.

"I will as long as you will stay with me tonight" Kerry's pitch was quiet but complimented her warm, husky tone.

"I'll stay with you forever if you will let me" Smithy said back. By now Kerry's eyes were firmly shut but a smile spread evenly across her face as they entwined their hands together.

"Hold me Smithy" She whispered as a tear ran down her cheek, but before Smithy could see the tear it had been wiped away without a trace, soaking up into her pyjamas.

The warmth no longer radiated from body to body and her hands were limp and cold. She was gone.

Again he whispered into her ear,

'I love you' followed by that single tear.

Sobs! Its all over folks, I actually had a little lump in my throat as I was coming to the end. I hope I did that fic the justice I wanted to, just to sum up a few missing chunks a small epilogue will be on its way but that's the main story over!

Thank you for being such fabulous reviewers, I love you all

P.S. Im eternally sorry for not making it the happy ending you wanted but K/S Babies will be along soon!