The IVs digging into Myka's wrist turn most of her hand cold until it is all but numb. The nurse assures her that there will be no scar but the marks left behind from the very first day tell a different story. Helena brushes her hand over Myka's, now used to the sharp contrast between her own warmth and the brunette's cool skin.
"Just one more," Helena s smiles softly as the nurse plunges a needle into another bag of medicine and shakes it vigorously before replacing the empty plastic bag.
Myka just grumbles and rolls her eyes before turning away. The moment the nurse walks away Myka's eyes flick to the slowly dripping droplets. She groans as she moves forward.
"How slow has she kept this stupid thing?" She glares at Helena as the woman forces her back ruffling Myka's bottle green sweatshirt in the process.
"Darling they know what they are doing,"
"Do they?" Myka snipes, "Because this is the third cycle, Helena, the third damn one and nothing is happening!" Myka is louder than she intends to be but the closed door of their private room makes sure no one else will hear.
"The Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was meant to shrink your tumor so they could resect the entire thing once they performed surgery, but this does not mean all hope is lost, Myka, it just means you need to keep fighting harder"
"Fight harder," Her voice does nothing to hide how worn out she is. "How much harder, Helena? How much longer? I am tired of fighting, look at me" She runs her hand through her shortened hair.
She could not bear the thought of losing it all at once so they devised a plan where they would cut off an inch every day. Every day Helena stood behind Myka with a pair of scissors and Myka closed her eyes allowing a piece of her former self to fall away until all she had left was a few inches of curls that shed every time she ran her fingers through them and a woman that was a mere shadow of herself.
"I am looking, love" Helena cups Myka's face, "And you look no different than the first time you stood at the end of my barrel"
Myka pauses then erupts into laughter, Helena follows her lead. The only moments of genuine joy are when she pauses to reminisce and she has been doing that a lot lately.
"If only that were true"
"If you are going to argue with me on this one, darling, you should know, you will lose"
"Ladies, interrupting something, am I?" Pete strolls in.
He comes around the bed and places a brotherly kiss on Myka's forehead.
"So, how are we doing today?"
"The usual, I'm being grumpy, Helena charming as always."
Helena blushes as Myka meets her eyes.
Pete knocks his finger against the bag of fluids and raises his eyebrows. "Five minutes?"
"Ten." Both women say together.
"I don't get why Pete has to be our chauffer, I am perfectly capable of driving us?"
"Helena, honey, while you may excel at many things being in a car with you in the driver's seat is like walking into a death trap."
Helena moves back and brings her hands her face to exaggerate her shock.
"I still love you, despite this great hamartia"
"Well, in that case," Helena presses her lips against Myka's.
"Come on, get a room you two"
"We are in a room, Pete." Myka chuckles.
The nurse comes in to remove the drips and frowns at Pete.
"You know the rules, one visitor"
"I do, Sophia" Pete turns on his charm, "But I thought dinner with me tomorrow night would grant me a free pass"
Sophia just shakes her head as if this is not the first time she has heard that but Helena notices the blush creep up on her cheeks. She places everything in a metal tray and bandages Myka.
"You're all set," Sophia smiles, "We'll see you again in two weeks. I'll get the wheelchair-"
Myka raises her hand but before she can start to speak Sophia shakes her head.
"Right, no wheelchairs for you. My bad." She nods slightly and turns away.
It is only after the door closes behind the perky blonde that Myka gets up staggering slightly before Helena lends her support and punches Pete in the arm.
"Stop hitting on all my nurses!"
They all laugh leaving the hospital, for a moment forgetting that the treatment isn't helping, only making things worse.
Thanks to everyone still reading! :) Next chapter shall be up soon.