Truth And Deception
(Chapter Twelve: Down Time)
It had been just over a month since her transplant surgery and Olivia, with the exception of the occasional lack of energy, was pretty much back to her old self again. Elliot pretty much had to force her to slow down and sit down every few hours or she would have probably just kept going until she passed out.
He did really well taking care of his wife. Bringing her medication and making sure she got plenty of rest. He even enforced naps at least once a day, laying down with her whenever he could. Olivia sometimes felt almost child like about the fact that he waited on her hand and foot, but to Elliot taking care of her was the only one thing he could do to help the situation out and he loved it.
In the mornings she would get up and climb into the shower as Elliot cooked her breakfast. They would sit down and eat together before he had to leave for work. He came home every day and brought or fixed them lunch. After lunch they would climb into bed and watch television together, Elliot would hold her until she finally fell asleep then he had to slip out and head back to work. He called her from work several times a day to check on her and ask her how she felt. Carry on a little small talk for a few minutes before he had to go again.
The truth was he felt horrible about the fact that he had to leave her at home alone and be gone to work so much. He did as much of it as he could from home and on her occasional bad days when she wasn't feeling well or was running a fever, he stayed home and didn't leave her side for a second. He loved her so much and was determined to help her make it through this.
Olivia went back to the doctor for her four week check up and received wonderful news. Her blood samples looked really good and everything seemed to be working out really well. She was not completely out of the woods yet and there were a few precautions she would have to take pretty much for the rest of her life, but at least she would have a life.
She asked her doctor about the possibilities of still being able to conceive a baby and he told her that she should wait about six months after her surgery and the chemotherapy before they started trying to get pregnant. But what Olivia heard was more important, the fact that he didn't tell her she would not be able to conceive. He did say that with the short amount of time she was treated with chemotherapy, there was a good chance it would have no effect on her reproductive system. But there were tests that they could run to make sure. Things were actually starting to look up for them for the first time in a long time.
That Sunday morning Olivia attended church with Elliot and all five children. She really enjoyed the service and being their with her family. That night before they went to bed they made a secret pact to encourage each other to go as often as they could. They would take the children and make it a family event and afterward they would all go out for a family meal and spend Sunday afternoon together before dropping the children back off with their mother. They had both realized how much they had to be thankful for and lately with the stress of work and her illness, church seemed to provide a great comfort for them.
Olivia climbed into bed and closed her eyes as Elliot leaned over massaging her shoulders gently. He laid down beside her in bed and stroked the side of her face with his thumb, then leaned in to softly kiss her lips. She opened her heavy eyes and smiled at him.
"I love you," she said softly.
"I love you, too baby."
Olivia scooted in against him and Elliot closed his arms tight around her holding her until they had both fallen asleep.