"Baby it's bad," Brooke said to Tim on the phone, "come back home."
"What's the matter? I got your message the other day but I've been busy. I didn't think you sounded upset though or I would have called sooner. How bad is it?"
"It's bad real bad and getting worse," she paused, "Keith has that kidney condition but it's advancing real fast and they flew in a specialist. He needs a transplant."
"Oh wow," Tim said.
"It gets worse," Brooke said, "they've tested a lot of us to see if we're a match. So far Haley, Deb, Karen, Kaitlyn, Larry, Peyton, Mouth, Skills, Fergie, and I are all not matches. We're still waiting for results on Junk, Lucas, and Nathan and family members are the best match so we're keeping our fingers crossed."
"Well my flight is tomorrow mid-day do you want me to try and leave today or early tomorrow," he asked.
"No, no but maybe you could be tested there that way when you come home you'll know if you're a match," she said.
"Ok well I'll look into it but I'll probably need some information."
"Ok I'll talk to the doctor here then," Brooke said.
"Alright I'm going to try and do this then," he said, "love you."
"I love you too," Brooke said. Then she headed to visit Haley, Nathan, and Keith.
Brooke was plopped down on the play mat playing with Keith and explaining that Tim was being tested so they would have his results when he got home tomorrow. The doctor entered at the tail end of what Brooke was saying and took a card from his pocket and wrote on the back, "here have his information faxed to this number," he said handing her the card.
"Ok thanks," she said.
"No problem. Um Brooke could you excuse us for a moment," the doctor asked.
"Yeah sure," she said getting to her feet flashing Haley a concerned look as she left.
"Nathan we're still waiting on your results we should have them later. We got the results back for Lucas and Junk and we have spoken to them," the doctor paused. Nathan looked at Haley who looked at Keith still playing on the mat. "Neither of them were a match. I'm sorry."
Nathan sighed, "so it's up to me," he picked Keith up and put him in the playpen. He kissed his forehead and then walked over to the window.
Keith laid down and Haley walked over and covered him. "I'm going to set him up on dialysis since he's resting," the doctor said.
Haley watched over Keith until she heard the door shut then she turned around and Nathan was still staring out the window. She walked over and stood next to him. His hands were resting on the windowsill. "It's going to work out," she said, "you'll be a match." She put her hand on his and he quickly recoiled.
He turned himself completely away from her, "that's what I'm afraid of."
"What," she snapped quickly.
"No, oh God, no," Nathan said turning around quickly, "I hope I am a match. It's been hard enough asking the people already here to be tested but if I'm not a match we would have to go deeper into our family trees."
"Well then what is it," she asked trying to get close but again he turned.
"Hales you know if I'm a match," he paused, "he's my son for God sake."
She walked up behind him looped her arm in his and rested her chin on his shoulder, "Nathan what's wrong?"
"I can't believe this is bothering me this much," he paused, "I can't play basketball with one kidney. No NCAA, no NBA."
Haley turned him to face her, "of course that would bother you Nathan. Basketball has been in your life since you were Keith's age. It's always been your dream to play in the NBA."
"I don't know what else to do in life. What would I do? Who would I be," he asked going over to the chair. He sat and began to cry.
"You'd be my husband," Haley said standing in front of him. She took his head in her hands, "you'd be Keith's father, his hero."
He wrapped his arms around her waist, "I feel so guilty for feeling like this. I mean it's my son's life."
"Nathan you're only human," Haley said kneeling down.
"You know I'd do anything for him. If I'm a match there's no doubt I'm giving him a kidney," Nathan said.
"Baby I know," she said, "I know."
"I need you to know that," he said.
Lucas had stopped by to check on them. He was a little upset he wasn't a match. There was a feeling in the room that something was wrong but both Nathan and Haley said things were fine so he didn't push the issue.
"So Tim was tested," Lucas asked.
"Yeah Brooke just called to let us know. Tim was tested and she gave him the fax number to the lab here. We should know the results tomorrow when he gets back," Haley said.
"That's good but any word yet Nate? Maybe your results are good," Lucas asked.
"No nothing yet," Nathan mumbled. Just then there was a knock at the door and the doctor entered.
"Hi," he said, "Nathan we have your results."
"Yeah," he said looking away. He walked over to Keith, "doc he's been sleeping a lot today and well he seemed better the other day but now he seems worse again. Is everything ok?"
"Well you were told I'd be taking over the case because I'm a renal specialist. That means I deal with kidney issues. What's happening to your son, how it's happening, how quickly it's happening; I've only seen three other cases like it. One was an adult so it's irrelevant. The other two, one had a transplant rather quickly and is now about to start kindergarten in a few weeks. The other child we couldn't find a match for after three weeks his kidneys failed and he was on permanent dialysis for about a month before his other organs began reacting and we lost him. Dialysis is not a permanent fix it just buys us time to find a kidney that will function. So transplanting when we find a match is a must."
"Ok," Nathan said not sure that answered his question though some how it seemed like the doctor knew that answer would change the subject back to his results. "So the results?"
"Well you are a match," he answered.
Nathan sighed and Haley hugged Lucas.
"So, transplant tomorrow. I've booked the OR for 10am. Does that sound good?" Nathan nodded and the doctor left.
Nathan looked at Haley, "I'm going for a walk."
She could see the fear in his face and she didn't know what to say so she just nodded.