Chapter 15

Murdoc awoke with a start. Where was he? He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and sat up slowly. He was in the TV room.

"How much did I drink last night?"

Murdoc grumbled as he fell off the sofa. He landed face first on the floor.

"Ugh."

He lay there for a few minutes. He felt as though someone was watching him. He lifted himself off the floor and looked around the room. There was no-one there. He sighed deeply and headed to the toilets.

As he got close he could hear a strange sound. There was a low moan. It sounded painful. Murdoc edged his way into the toilets, not knowing what to expect. He relaxed when he saw the cause of the noise. It was Noodle.

She was kneeling on the floor clutching her stomach and moaning softly.

"What's wrong love?"

Murdoc walked into the cubicle and stud behind Noodle. She didn't answer him. She sobbed weakly and retched violently. Murdoc leaned over and quickly pulled the hair from her face. Her body was shaking.

"Oh love. What's wrong with ya?"

Noodle stopped shaking and let her body slump to the floor. Murdoc tore off a large wad of loo roll and began wiping her face. She didn't look too good. He finished wiping Noodle's face and flushed the toilet. Noodle had stopped crying and was now staring blankly at the wall.

"Is there something ya want to tell me love?"

Noodle nodded.

"Let's go to the TV room. It's comfier than in here."

He bent down and picked Noodle up, carried her gently back to the TV room. Her face was paler than usual, black marks forming under her eyes. He sat her in the chair and went to get a glass of water. Noodle stared at her feet and sighed. How could she tell him? How could she tell him what she'd found?

"Here ya go love."

Murdoc passed Noodle the glass of water and watched her drink. Her face was expressionless, she looked vacant. When she's finished he took the glass from her and put it on the floor.

"Now love. What is it you want to tell me?"

Before Noodle could answer Troy started to cry.

Noodle put her head in her hands and groaned.

"I'll get her."

Murdoc left the room and returned a few minutes later, cradling Troy in his arms.

"I think she's hungry love."

"I can't do that."

Noodle still had her head in her hands and started shifting in her seat. Murdoc knelt down in front of her.

"What do ya mean love."

"It hurts."

"Oh love. You've got to feed her. She's too young to go onto the bottle. Here."

He passed Troy to Noodle and pulled her up straight.

"Go on love."

Noodle looked down at Troy and burst into tears.

"I can't do it."

"Why not?"

Murdoc was starting to lose his patience.

"I I I …"

"Continue love."

Noodle gulped.

"I've found a lump."

Murdoc stared at her in shock.

"You mean…"

Murdoc gestured at his chest.

Noodle nodded in silence.

"Shit. This could be serious. Is it big?"

Noodle laid Troy on her knees and started to undo her nightshirt. She pulled it back over her shoulders and took Murdoc's hand. She positioned it over her left breast.

"There. Feel it."

Murdoc blushed. This felt so wrong. He did as he was told and came across a large lump. He pulled his hand away and looked Noodle in the eyes.

"When did you find it?"

"Nearly two weeks ago."

Noodle hid her face and sobbed.

"Why didn't you tell us?"

"I didn't want to worry you."

Noodle was crying hysterically.

"Am I going to die Murdoc-san?"

"No love. We're going to sort this out. Today."

He leant over and wrapped his arms round Noodle. She was shaking and had given herself hiccups from all the crying.

"It's gonna be alright love."

He stroked her hair gently and hushed her back to sleep.