I own none of the characters of October Road.
"What do we have?" The emergency room doctor asked as Eddie was rolled in on the gurney nearly unconscious from the pain.
"Thirty year old male with N-stage brain cancer complaining of a severe headache. BP 164/98 Pulse tachy at 120. Resps 12." The paramedic answered.
"On my count 1. 2. 3." The doctor ordered while Janet stood in the doorway watching with tears streaming down her face.
"Please can you give him something for the pain?" Janet begged.
"Are you family?" The doctor asked. Janet automatically shook her head forgetting her wedding that took place a few hours ago.
"No I'm his girlfriend."
"Does he have family here?" Janet reached down and began to twirl her new ring that had taken up residence on her ring finger of her left hand and she suddenly remembered that she was married.
"I'm sorry. I'm his wife. We were just married this afternoon." The doctor looked like he didn't believe her. "I swear." She held up her left hand. "I've just been so worried and upset regarding Eddie that my wedding slipped my mind." She heard Eddie groan. "Please, he is in so much pain. He needs something."
"What medication is he on?" Janet had familiarized herself with Eddie's condition and the medication that he took so she quickly rambled off the medicine that he was taking. "Let's start him off with Dilaudid 4mg." The doctor ordered and then turned back to Janet. "Mrs. Latekka I need to get in touch with your husband's oncologist."
"Of course." Janet gave him Dr. Turner's number.
"I want to get an MRI of his brain."
"Why? We already know that he has cancer."
"With the severe headache I want to make sure that it's the tumor that's causing his pain and not something else like an aneurysm." Janet clamped her hand over her mouth.
"Could that be a possibility?" She gravely whispered.
"I need to rule it out."
"Can I sit with him until he goes for his MRI?"
"He probably won't be very receptive because of the pain medication."
"That's okay. I just want to sit with him." The doctor nodded and Janet went to sit with Eddie. As soon as she linked their hands together his eyes fluttered open.
"Janet?" He whispered.
"I'm here Eddie. How are you feeling?"
"Hurts so bad." He mumbled. "I think I'm going to puke." A nurse rushed over when she heard him. With Janet's help they quickly rolled him to the side and he puked.
"How is the pain Mr. Latekka? Any better?" He shook his head and closed his eyes because the light was making him sick.
"Give him another 4 of Dilaudid." The doctor ordered.
"Janet…stay with…me." He whispered.
"I'm not going anywhere." With her free hand she cupped his cheek. "Just rest now baby. I'll be right here when you wake up."
"Sorry…ruined…wedding."
"You didn't ruin anything. Just sleep." She leaned forward and gently pressed her lips to his. "I love you."
"Love…" He finally drifted off to sleep.
Janet stayed with Eddie until they took him away for his MRI and then the nurse took her to the waiting room where all of Eddie's friends and family were waiting anxiously. She gave them an update and then she joined them in waiting.
"You look like you need this cup of crappy coffee." Hannah said, handing her friend a cup.
"Thanks." Janet gratefully took the cup. She took a sip and then made a face. "This is really bad."
"Are you okay sweetie."
"I'm fine but Eddie's not." She mumbled wiping her tears away.
"Can I do anything?" Janet shook her head so Hannah just sat next to her friend in silence.
--
"Mrs. Latekka." Dr. Gibbons said as he came out into the waiting room. He saw Janet sitting there, staring at her cup of coffee but she didn't respond. "Mrs. Latekka." He repeated more loudly but she didn't move.
"I'm Mrs. Latekka." Laura said to the doctor.
"You must be John's mother." Dr. Gibbons said and Laura nodded. "I need to speak with his wife."
"I'll get her. She must not recognize her new name. They just got married a few hours ago." Laura walked over to Janet and placed her hand on her shoulder causing Janet to jump in surprise. "Sweetie the doctor is here. He wants to talk to you."
"Please come with me." Janet pleaded. Laura nodded and waved Jack over and the three of them walked over to Dr. Gibbons. "How is he?"
"The MRI results were what I expected. There was no aneurysm just the masses. I spoke with Dr. Turner and comparing the MRI that he just had today to the last one that he had in Boston one of his current masses have grown 1.3mm and there has been one new one that has developed."
"Is it bad?" Laura asked.
"It's very small, 0.3mm."
"Does this change anything in his treatment?" Jack asked.
"I'll adjust some of his medication but nothing major."
"When can he leave?"
"He's knocked out right and I want to admit him for observation. His blood pressure was high when he came in which I think was due to the extreme amount of pain he was in so I want to make sure that his blood pressure returns to normal and his headache is gone once the pain meds wear off." Dr. Gibbons explained.
"We have a flight to catch tomorrow afternoon. Should I cancel it?" Janet asked.
"If everything is good when he wakes up I'll discharge him in the morning."
"Can we stay with him?" Laura asked.
"Visiting hours are over but since he just got married today I'll make an exception and let his wife stay."
"Thank you." Janet whispered.
"He'll be in a room within thirty minutes and I'll send a nurse to find you when he's settled."
"Thanks Dr. Gibbons." Jack said extending his hand to the doctor and the two men shook hands and then the three of them returned to their friends and family.
"Thank you all for coming here with me. Eddie will be fine." Janet told them. "He's been given some pain medication and he is sleeping. They are keeping him until he wakes up and as long as his headache is gone he'll be discharged. I'm going to stay here with him."
"Do you want us to stay here with you?" Nick asked.
"No. You guys should go back to the hotel and get some rest. We'll call you in the morning when I have some news." They all exchanged hugs and kisses and everyone slowly filed out of the room with the exception of Katie.
"Want to go outside and get some air?" Katie asked her.
"Sure." Both women headed out into the muggy Las Vegas night.
"So I take it this wasn't what you had planned for your wedding night." Katie said with a grin.
"Far from it."
"I admire you Janet. Not many women would marry a man who was going to be dead in a few months."
"The marriage was my idea. Eddie didn't want to marry me and leave me a widow but I love him and I'll never love anyone like I love him and I wanted to spend what time we have left as his wife."
"Janet I've checked the internet and it sounds like there are some possible surgery options but he is refusing to listen to me. Why doesn't he want to try surgery?"
"According to Dr. Turner the position of one of his tumors is inoperative so even if the other ones were removed he would still have the one and then the way the doctor explained it to me his tumors kind of have tentacles that have traveled down into his brain tissue and any attempt to remove them could kill or leave him a vegetable and he doesn't want to risk it."
"So there is nothing that he can do?" Katie asked sadly.
"No." Janet and Katie lapsed into a comfortable silence for about five minutes before Katie spoke again. "I'm coming back home."
"Your brother wouldn't want you to give up your entire life in Georgia to come home and watch him die."
"I've got nothing in Georgia anymore. I went there with a guy and that is no longer an issue. I've got a shitty job taking pictures in a department store that wouldn't even let me take a week off to come home and see my dying brother. I've been thinking about coming home for awhile and when mom called and told me about your wedding and I couldn't get off I quit. Mom and dad are going to fly to Georgia with me, help me pack then we will drive to The Ridge."
"Do you have a place to live because you are welcome to stay with Eddie and I." Janet offered.
"I appreciate your offer but I'm going to stay with mom and dad until I can afford my own place. I want to put my college degree to use and open my own photography studio and mom and dad are going to help me out but I would like to visit as often as I can."
"You are welcome anytime Katie."
"Janet you are a wonderful woman and I am so glad that you are my sister."
"I'm glad that we are sisters for the next few months." Katie's mouth fell open in shock.
"Next few months! What the hell is that supposed to mean? Are you planning on writing off my family once Eddie is dead?" Katie snapped with tears in her eyes.
"No of course not." Janet began to cry. "I just assumed that after Eddie…I'm no longer family." They both walked over and sat on a ledge.
"Janet you married my brother so that makes you family forever. I know that without his cancer you and Eddie would have been married forever. You are part of our family girl, whether you like it or not."
"Thank you." Janet whispered and she hugged her new sister.
--
One of the first things that Eddie noticed when he woke up was the extra weight on his abdomen. He knew without even opening his heavy eyes that Janet was sleeping on his stomach. As he opened his eyes, he reached down and his fingers found her curls. At the slight movement Janet awoke.
"Are you okay sweetheart?" She asked.
"Better."
"Does your head still hurt?" He nodded and she reached across him and pressed the call button.
"I'm so sorry." He whispered hoarsely.
"Don't be."
"Mr. Latekka, what can I do for you?" His nurse Chrissy asked.
"His head still hurts." Janet told her.
"Can I have something for the pain?" Eddie asked.
"The doctor okayed some Dilaudid for you if you need it."
"Is that what I had when I got here?" Chrissy nodded. "Can I have something less strong like my Percocet?" Chrissy flipped through Eddie's chart. "That will be fine. I'll be right back." Eddie closed his eyes until Chrissy returned. "Okay Mr. Latekka." With Janet's help Eddie pushed himself up and with a shaking hand he reached for the cup of water. With his free hand he took the cup of pills, tossed them in his mouth and washed them down with the water. "Do you need anything else?"
"No thanks." Chrissy nodded and left them alone.
"Have you been sleeping?" Eddie asked Janet when he laid back down.
"Yeah I'm good. Don't worry about me."
"Sleep with me." He requested.
"Eddie I'm fine."
"You shouldn't sleep sitting up and besides it's our wedding night. We should be sleeping together."
"I don't want…" Eddie opened his eyes and squinted at his wife.
"Please Janet." She couldn't say no to him. He scooted over to the far side of the bed and rolled to his side. Janet slipped off her shoes and climbed in next to him on her side. Staring at each other they reached out and linked their hands together. "This isn't what I had in mind for tonight." He mumbled sleepily.
"Don't talk. Just sleep so you'll feel better and you can get the hell out of here in the morning."
"Love you."
"I love you too." She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his and within a few minutes they were both sound asleep.
Eddie woke the next morning when his nurse came in to check his vital signs. The first thing he noticed was that he was alone in the bed. "My wife, have you seen my wife?" Eddie asked his new nurse Connie.
"I'm right here Eddie." Janet said coming out of the bathroom.
"How are you feeling Mr. Latekka?" Connie asked
"Much better thank you." Connie placed the blood pressure cuff on his arm.
"Headache gone?" She pressed the button and the cuff inflated to check his pressure.
"Just a slight one which is normal."
"Would you like any pain medication?" She took the cuff of his arm and noted his reading in the chart.
"I have a prescription for 800mg of Ibuprofen. That's what I usually take."
"I'll get some for you. Would you like some breakfast?"
"Maybe some dry toast."
"I'll put the order in. Dr. Gibbons will be in shortly to check on you."
"How are you feeling?" Janet asked once he had taken his pills and his dry toast had been delivered.
"Much better."
"Are you sure?" He gave her a confused look.
"Yeah I'm sure. I just have my normal everyday headache." He grinned at her.
"Good." She said and then slapped him on the arm. "Don't ever do that again." She said, her eyes filling with tears.
"Do what?"
"Lie to me. Let yourself get so sick that you have to be admitted to the hospital."
"Janet…I…"
" Nick told me. You had a headache. A bad one and instead of taking your medication like you should have you had to be stubborn and then you ended up in the hospital on our wedding day."
"I thought I could deal with it."
"And how did that work for you?"
"Not well." He mumbled sadly.
"Why Eddie? Why didn't you just take your Percocet?"
"Because we were getting married. If I would have taken the pills I would have been knocked on my ass. I wouldn't have been able to stand at the altar and marry you."
"So instead you stood at the front of the wedding chapel in obvious pain to marry me. Thanks a lot Eddie because now every time I look at our wedding album I'll remember how much pain you were in."
"No Janet that's not true. It was the most amazing thing. My head hurt so bad but when I saw my beautiful bride walking towards me the pain in my head disappeared." Janet looked deeply into his eyes and saw that he was speaking the truth.
"Don't ever lie to me again." She whispered softly.
"I just didn't want to ruin your day."
"Our day Eddie. It was just a wedding. We could have rescheduled until you felt better."
"I'm sorry Janet. I just wanted to make you happy."
"Yeah Eddie, seeing the man I love in so much pain that he could have avoided, finding you practically unconscious on the ground and spending my wedding night in the hospital made me real damn happy." Eddie reached out and wiped her tears off of her face that had fallen.
"I've said this already but I'm sorry. This is not how I wanted our marriage to start."
"Don't hide your pain from me no matter what we have planned. If your head hurts I want to know. I want you to take your medication so you can feel better. When I saw you lying on the ground next to the limo I have never been so furious with you and scared for you at the same time. I don't want to feel like that again. Promise me Eddie. Promise me that you won't ever hide anything from me."
"I promise Janet." He placed his hand behind her neck and drew her face to his and they kissed until they were interrupted by Dr. Gibbons.
"I see that you're feeling better." Dr. Gibbons commented with a smile and Janet situated herself on the edge of his bed.
"Yes sir." Dr. Gibbons shined a pen light in Eddie's eyes checking his pupils.
"How is your headache this morning?"
"Better."
"But not gone."
"My headache never goes away but most of the time I can manage it." Dr. Gibbons spent the next fifteen minutes discussing his MRI results and some different pain management strategies.
"Your blood pressure is still elevated. It's not as high as it was when you were brought in yesterday but it's still high so I would like to start you on some blood pressure medication." Dr. Gibbons explained.
"Do I really need more pills?"
"Eddie if you didn't need it then Dr. Gibbons wouldn't prescribe it." Janet told him.
"Fine." He sighed.
"I want to adjust your pain medication too. Obviously the ibuprofen isn't enough so I'm going to give you a prescription for Darvocet. Start taking these when you have one of your level 1 headaches. If the Darcovet doesn't take care of it then move to the Percocet before it becomes worse. Your body can't handle many more of those headaches like you had yesterday. Do you have any questions?"
"Can I get the hell out of here? We have a honeymoon to get to."
"Dr. Turner wants you to go home and see him."
"Not happening. Not now. I'll see him in another week when we get home."
"Eddie please. We can reschedule." Janet begged him.
"No Janet. I decided that the cancer is not going to control what time I have left." Eddie snapped. "It already ruined our wedding night and I'll be damned if I'm going to let it ruin our honeymoon."
"John I really don't recommend…"
"My name is Eddie and I'm leaving this hospital to start my honeymoon. Now get me my discharge papers."
"I'll send a nurse in. Eddie I wish you the best of everything." Dr. Gibbons said before stepping out of the room.
"Eddie that was unnecessary. You were rude." Janet chastised.
"I want to get the hell out of here and spend time with you. Is that so wrong?" He practically shouted. When he saw her eyes fill with tears he felt like an ass. "Janet I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell. Spending time inside of a hospital is the last thing I wanted and going home today won't change a damn thing." He reached out for her and she laid her head in his chest. "Being laid up here in the hospital puts the cancer that's killing me front and center in my life and it's all I can think about but when it's just me and you I never think about it. All I can think about is you, loving you and making you happy." He leaned forward and kissed her head.
"Well hopefully the nurse will be in her quickly because we have a flight to catch." She mumbled into his chest.
"Thank you for understanding. I love you Janet."
"I love you too Eddie."
--
"Mom, dad thank you for everything that you did for Janet and I." Eddie told his parents before they boarded their flight.
"We didn't do anything." Laura said.
"Yes mom you did. You dropped everything to come to our spur of the moment wedding and you'll never know how much that means to me. You used your Latekka charm to get our friends here and you love and accept my wife. Thank you."
"You are our only son. We wouldn't have missed your wedding day for anything. And the love and accepting, that was easy. She is a wonderful woman who loves you and makes you happy." The boarding call for his parent's flight filled the airport terminal so Eddie embraced his parents.
"I love you guys."
"We love you son." Jack said.
"Be safe." Laura said.
"I will mom." Katie and Janet joined them and they all hugged.
"Take care of him Janet." Laura whispered.
"I promise. I will."
"Katie I guess I'll see you at home." Eddie told his sister.
"She told you?" Katie asked.
"Of course she told me. She's my wife. We have no secrets."
"I'll see you in a week."
"Hey Kate." She looked at her big brother. "I'm glad you'll be home, where you belong."
"I should have listened to your warnings about Joel."
"Yes you should have." He winked and then kissed his sister's head. "Love ya kid."
"Love you too old man."
Eddie and Janet stayed at the gate until the plane was out of sight and by that time it was time to board their flight.
"Nervous?" Eddie asked as they settled into their seats.
"No. I've got you hear to protect me."
"Damn right."
"I changed my mind about something." She told him as their plane ascended into the air.
"We're already married and we have already consummated the marriage. It's too late to change your mind."
"Not about that. I'm going to get a tattoo with you." Eddie's eyes lit up in surprise.
"Do you know what you want to get?" She nodded.
"I want the Chinese symbol for love tattooed on my wrist with my initials above it and our wedding date below it."
"Your initials are my initials too you know."
"I know."
"I've decided what I want my tattoo to be." She looked at him, waiting expectantly. "I'm getting the same one as you in the same place."
"With these tattoos we will always be a part of each other." Janet told him softly.
"Even without them we will always be a part of each other."
"I know." She quickly laid her head in the crook of his shoulder so he wouldn't see her tears. Eddie wrapped an arm tightly around her and they both drifted off to sleep.
Thanks for continuing to read and review. I really appreciate it.