I own none of the characters of October Road
"Janet can you help me out here? Eddie asked walking into Jacob's bedroom where Janet was getting Jacob ready for Katie and Ikey's wedding.
"Give me one minute." Janet finished up with Jacob, picked him up and then turned around. "Look how handsome your son looks in his suit."
"Oh my God. He does look cute."
"He looks just like his dad." Janet laid Jacob in his crib and turned his attention to her husband who needed his tie tied. "Are you ever going to learn how to tie your own tie?"
"Why would I when I have you to do it for me?" He said with a grin. "How did you manage to tie Jacob's tie?"
"I didn't. It's a clip on."
"Why can't I get a clip on?"
"Because you're a big boy." Janet finished with his tie. "You look very handsome."
"And you look beautiful…in your robe." He said with a grin.
"That's thoughtful. Jacob's bottle is on the dresser. Why don't you feed him so I can get dressed and then you can compliment me again?"
"Deal." Eddie sat in the rocking chair and Janet placed Jacob in father's arms. Janet kissed both of her boys and disappeared into their room to get dressed.
Jacob was now six months old and it has been three months since their anniversary trip. Jacob was growing and changing everyday. He was rolling over, smiling, laughing and sitting up. Eddie was slowly going downhill. His left side was getting weaker by the day. He loved holding Jacob but he wouldn't or couldn't walk around with him so Janet always brought the baby to him. Neither of them was no longer working. They wanted to spend as much time together with their son as possible.
"Wow. You look amazing." Eddie told his wife when she walked back into Jacob's nursery.
"You're sister picked out the dress. I'm just wearing it."
"Regardless. You still look beautiful."
"Thank you but I had to look my best when the two best looking boys in The Ridge are my date." She leaned down and kissed her husband gently. "We better go. We don't want to be late for Katie's wedding."
"All right." Janet took Jacob from Eddie and the handsome couple and their son headed to the church.
--
"Oh my God. Look how cute my nephew and ring bearer is." Kate gushed when Janet and Jacob walked into the bride room of the church. Jacob was obviously too little to walk down the aisle and carry the rings but Kate really wanted Jacob in her wedding so he was going to be in a stroller pushed down the aisle by the flower girl. "I didn't know that they made suits that little. He is just adorable."
"I would have to agree." Janet said.
"How is Eddie?" Kate asked.
"Oh you know your brother. Bitching and moaning because he has to wear a suit, bitching and moaning that he has to give a toast, bitching and moaning that Ikey will be his brother. He is good." Janet said with a grin.
"How is he feeling? Will he make it through the ceremony?"
"His head hurts but it always hurts. He took more medications then normal so I think that he will be fine."
"I hope so." Janet could see the worry in her sister in law's eyes.
"Kate he is truly happy for you. I hope you know that but you know Eddie, he likes to give everyone, especially Ikey a hard time but he sees how much you and Ikey love each other and how happy you both are and that's what matters to him."
"Thanks Janet."
"Okay it's time to get started." Laura announced and everyone lined up.
Ikey couldn't decide which one of his four best friends would be his best man so he made all of them his best men. Since Kate's best friend was her maid of honor Ikey had Phil stand next to him. Next to Allison was Janet and Kate made sure that she and Eddie were paired together. Nick and Owen were paired with two other friends of Kate's that were also in the wedding.
The wedding started with Eddie walking his mother down the aisle then he returned to the back of the church to stand next to his wife. When it was their turn to walk down the aisle they both turned to look at their son who was snoozing in his stroller, they linked arms and Eddie escorted Janet down the aisle. When they reached the end, as they unlinked arms Eddie couldn't help himself, he leaned down and kissed Janet softly and then they went their separate ways at the altar. When the flower girl came down the aisle pushing the stroller with a sleeping Jacob inside the church was filled with "aww's" and Janet and Eddie smiled proudly.
The ceremony went by without a hitch. Jack and Laura cried throughout the service and when Janet glanced at her husband she saw that his eyes were red, a sure sign that he had been crying. The entire church erupted in applause when the bride and groom kissed. During the time that the receiving line was taking place Jacob decided that he was hungry so he and his parents snuck off into the groom's room so Janet could feed Mr. Crabmonster, as Janet loved to call him and Eddie could catch a quick nap before it was time for the pictures to be taken. By the time Jacob was done eating Eddie was snoring softly on a chair and Janet and Jacob were able to join the festivities again just as the bubbles were getting blown at the bride and groom. Jacob loved them. He just laughed as he tried to catch them.
"Where is Eddie?" Jack asked Janet as Katie and Ikey pulled away for a quick drive around town and they headed back into the church.
"Napping in the groom's room. He can't make it through the day anymore without a couple of naps so we figured that this would be a good time for him to catch a short one."
"Honey I don't want you to be afraid to ask Laura or I for help if things get too hard for you. That's what family is for."
"Thanks and I will but things are okay now but I don't know for how much longer it will stay that way. He changes everyday. He can't even carry Jake anymore. He is shaking so bad and his left side is weaker than his right and when we were walking down the aisle I noticed that he was dragging his left foot slightly behind him as he walked."
"I didn't notice that." Laura said joining their conversation.
"It was very slight. He probably didn't even notice it." Janet adjusted her squirming son in her arms.
"Why is the cancer just primarily affecting the left side of his body?" Nick mused. Janet didn't even realize that she had an audience.
"Because the biggest tumors are on the right side of his brain and the right side of the brain affects the left side of the body and vice versa. Eventually when the tumors on the left side get bigger then the right side of his body will be affected."
"How is he dealing with the changes?" Phil asked. They really hadn't had time to talk with Janet without Eddie around.
"As well as can be expected. He tries to put on a happy face when I'm around but I know that it's really hard on him. He's not his normal, outgoing, energetic self. He sleeps a lot more but he does make it a point to get up out of bed and come down and interact with Jacob and I but he's more quiet and withdrawn then I have ever seen him." Janet said softly.
"Is there anything that we can do?" Owen asked.
"Just continue to be his friend. He needs you guys to help keep things as normal as possible for him. He wants you guys to come over and hang out, he wants guys night out at Sully's. He wants to feel as normal as possible for as long as possible."
"We can do that." Nick said and all of the guys nodded in agreement.
--
"I hate giving speeches." Eddie said nervously into the microphone and the crowd laughed. "But since my baby sister is the bride and one of my best friends is the groom I guess that I really don't have a choice. Ikey I've known you for years and for most of those years you have been our resident goofball. You were always the one we could count on to make a serious situation laughable. You really never took anything seriously until my sister came along. For the first time in your life you really took something seriously. You took your feelings for Kate seriously. I've seen another, great side of you my friend and I am so glad that I finally got to see it. I know that you already know this but I'm going to remind you anyways. Kate is an amazing woman and you are damn lucky to have her. Spend everyday that you have together loving her because you never know when it can be taken away and you don't want to leave this earth with any regrets. Welcome to the family Ike." Applause filled the room and most everyone had tears streaming down their faces.
"My little Katie bug. Even though I have spent most of my life giving you hell, torturing you, teasing you, scaring away all of your stupid little boyfriends you know I did that all because I love you. I remember when mom and dad brought you home from the hospital and told me that I had a sister, I got so mad because I wanted a brother but now I wouldn't trade you in for anything. You had a lot to contend with being the kid sister of Eddie Latekka and I surprised that you actually had dates during high school not because of anything bad but because of all of the guys that I threatened. I may have been mean to you but I wasn't going to allow anyone to hurt my baby sister. Kate I love you and I am so happy that you have found your true love, even if it is Ikey." Everyone laughed. "I wish you all of the happiness that the world can give you. I wish that you and Ikey are as happy as I have been with Janet. Co…" Janet watched as Eddie struggled to come up with the word. "Co…Con…" He closed his eyes in frustration, took a deep breath and tried again. "Way to go. I love you both." The room filled with applause again and more tears, especially from Janet.
"That was beautiful Eddie." Janet whispered when Eddie took his seat.
"I want to go home." He whispered back. He was frustrated and embarrassed. He just wanted to get the hell away from everyone.
"They are just getting ready to start the dancing and Kate has really been looking forward to dancing with you."
"I don't want to dance." He mumbled.
"It's your sister's wedding and she wants to dance with you more than anything."
"Did you see what happened to me up there?" Janet reached for his hand.
"Everyone forgets a word that they want to say."
"I didn't forget the damn word Janet. I knew exactly what I wanted to say. I just couldn't get my mouth to say it."
"Eddie…"
"It's the cancer."
"I know but are you going to let the cancer keep you from dancing with your sister at her wedding?" He looked at the table and then back at her.
"No I'm not."
"We'll leave as soon as you dance with Kate. I don't think that Jacob will last much longer anyways."
After watching Katie dance with her husband and then with Jack they called all of the best men and bridesmaids up on the dance floor. Not wanting to disappoint his sister, Eddie followed Janet to the dance floor, wrapped his arms around her waist, Janet laid her head on his chest and they slowly swayed to the music. Eddie loved the feeling of his wife in his arms and Janet always felt safe and loved in his arms. After the song ended Janet left the dance floor to get Jacob ready to leave and Eddie began to dance with his sister.
"Janet and I are heading out after this dance. Jake isn't going to make it much longer." He explained to his sister. Kate glanced over at Janet and saw that Jacob was fussing.
"He has hung in there really well today. You should be proud."
"I am. You look beautiful by the way bug. I don't I told you that yet today."
"Thank you. You look pretty damn good yourself."
"Are you happy Kate?"
"Very. Thank you for your wonderful toast. It meant the world to me and Ikey."
"I just said what I felt."
"I gotta know something."
"What?"
"Did you really threaten guys in regards to me?"
"I sure the hell did."
"Why?"
"Cause I was a stupid teenage boy and I know how stupid teenage boys think and you were or are too special and I didn't want your heart to get broken by a stupid teenage boy."
"What did you threaten them with?"
"Bodily harm." Kate laughed. "First of all I made it clear to my boys that you were off limits, that if they put one single move on you I would beat them within an inch of their lives."
"Why? They are your best friends and you have great taste in friends."
"In high school they were just a bunch of horny dumbasses, same as I was and I wasn't letting them near you. That's why Ikey didn't kiss you the first night you guys were together. He wanted my permission before he kissed you. As for the rest of the boneheads that wanted to date you The Ridge is a small town and when I heard that someone wanted to ask you out I always had a friendly conversation with them."
"Friendly my ass." Katie muttered with a grin. "Do you approve of Ikey and me?"
"If I didn't you wouldn't be standing here in this wedding dress kiddo."
"I'm not a kid."
"Don't I know it?" The song ended and Katie stood on her tip toes and hugged her big brother.
"I love you so much Eddie. I am so glad that you were here." She mumbled into his neck. She was trying to hide her tears but he knew that she was crying. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and kissed the top of her head.
"I wouldn't have missed this for the world. I love you to Katherine."
Once they arrived home Eddie and Janet divided parental duties since Jacob was exhausted, very cranky and he needed to get to bed fast. Janet changed the baby into his pajamas while Eddie made the bottle. "I know baby, I know you have had a long day and you are tired. Daddy is getting your bottle and then you can go to sleep because I know that's what you want." Janet whispered to her crying son. She put a binky in his mouth, hoping that would calm him down but it was pointless. He just spit it out and cried harder. Jacob was a good baby except when he was hungry or tired and then he was a hellion. "Just hang in there my little prince. Mommy is almost done." He was squirming around so much that she was finding it more difficult than normal to get him ready for bed.
"Someone is not happy." Eddie said walking in the room just as Janet finished snapping up Jacob's pajamas.
"You can say that again. He is acting like he hasn't ate in a month." Janet lifted her crying boy up from his changing table. "Are you ready?" Eddie sat in the rocking chair and Janet carried Jacob over to his daddy. As soon as the bottle was placed in his lips Jacob's cries stopped.
"He is just like his old man." Eddie said with a grin. "He loves nipples in his mouth."
"Oh my God. No you didn't just say that." Janet said giggling as a blush crept on her cheeks. "He is just a baby you perv." Eddie just smiled at her.
"Okay little man, how about a story?" Since Eddie's arm has begun to shake he hasn't been able to properly read Jacob a story from a book so he has resorted to making up stories about pirates, princes, mermaids, lions, and anything else he could think of to entertain his son. Janet had set up the video camera on the dresser and had begun to tape these stories so one day when Jacob was older he could listen to these amazing stories again. Janet walked over and hit record on the camera.
As Janet listened to tonight's story about a troll who trekked through the wilderness fighting dragons and anything else that crossed his path to save his one true love, tears filled her eyes. All of his stories had a general theme, one character that saved their true love from some unspeakable horror and lived happily ever after. Unlike Eddie's stories their life was not make believe and she could not save her one true love from death and they would not have their own happily ever after.
"Janet." He looked at her and saw that she was staring at the wall with tears in her eyes. "Janet, honey." She blinked and focused on him. "Jacob is sleeping."
"Oh yeah." Eddie leaned down and kissed his baby's head and then Janet took the sleeping child and placed him in his crib. After covering him up, Janet turned on the monitor, turned on the night light and she and Eddie snuck out of the room.
"I think that I am ready for bed. Care to join me?" Eddie asked Janet.
"Yeah. It's been a long day. I'm going to go down and lock up. I'll be up in a minute." Eddie nodded and headed to their room and Janet made her way downstairs.
By the time Janet retuned upstairs ten minutes later she found Eddie sound asleep in bed. After changing her clothes she crawled in bed next to Eddie. She reached out and laid her hand over his heart so she could feel it beating. Eddie must have felt the movement because Janet suddenly felt Eddie's hand on top of hers. "Checking to make sure that it's still beating?" He quipped.
"That's not funny." Janet muttered.
"Sorry." Eddie removed his hand and wrapped his arm around Janet. "I tried to stay awake honey but it's been such a long day and I couldn't keep my eyes open."
"I understand."
"I had a nice day today." He commented.
"The wedding was beautiful."
"I can't believe that my baby sister is married to Ikey of all people."
"Aww come on. Ikey stepped up and he is good for Kate. They both really love each other."
"Yeah he is. I think that they are going to be happy."
"I agree." Eddie let out a big yawn. "Go to sleep baby. You're exhausted."
"What about my kiss?" Smiling Janet lifted her head and they shared a soft, passionate kiss. "I love you Janet, so much." Eddie whispered breathlessly when they broke apart.
"I know. I love you too." Janet settled her head onto Eddie's chest. "Sleep well."
Within five minutes Eddie was snoring softly beside her and Janet was wishing that she could sleep as well. She has known for over a year that Eddie is dying but over the past month his symptoms have gotten worse and his death is more obvious to her now than it ever was before and it was scaring the hell out of her. She didn't know if she was going to be able to stay strong for Eddie or for Jacob. Seeing him giving his toast and not be able to say congratulations broke her heart and Janet knew that it was only going to get worse.
Two weeks ago they discovered that they could no longer make love. Eddie had taken his pill but no matter what he did or Janet did he could not get an erection. They both tried that night for over an hour doing everything that they could thing of to get it up but it never happened. After it was determined that making love was no longer an option in their relationship they held each other and sobbed for the loss of one of the most magical aspects of their relationship but at least they had the memory of their last time together.
It was the night of Eddie's birthday. His parent's had thrown him a party that had gone pretty late. Jacob had ended up falling asleep and Laura offered to keep him for the night. Janet agreed because she didn't want to wake the baby up just to take him home and put him right back to bed. By the time they got home Eddie' "sex pill" as he called it was most definitely working. Since they were alone they took their time undressing each other and making love, concentrating on touching and kissing each other. Prior to their last time, Janet had been on top a lot but this time Eddie was on top with most of his weight on Janet and he moved very slowly inside of Janet savoring every second that they were one being. When it was all said and done their orgasms were the most powerful that they had ever experienced. In fact, it was the most amazing, most wonderful sex that they had ever had and thinking back on it now Janet wonders if maybe they both knew, subconsciously that would be their last time that they would ever make love and that's why it was so wonderful.
--
"Eddie you shouldn't encourage him." Janet said laughing. Eddie, Janet and Jacob were in the kitchen and Eddie was feeding Jacob his lunch. Every time that Eddie put a spoonful of baby food in Jacob's mouth Jacob would laugh and spit most of it out. Eddie would then laugh which would just encourage Jacob to continue to spit his food. Jacob and his highchair were covered in orange carrots but father and son were having a blast.
"I can't help it. It's so damn funny."
"Well I hope you're still laughing when you're cleaning up your son and his highchair." Janet kissed the top of Jacob's head and then turned towards the sink. Suddenly she heard the baby food jar crash to the floor. "Eddie?" She turned around and gasped in horror when she saw him shaking uncontrollably in the kitchen chair. He was having a seizure. Dropping the dishrag on the floor she rushed over to him but before she could reach him she watched as his body jerked forward, his head hit the corner of the table and he crashed to the floor. "EDDIE." She screamed.
Dr. Turner had told her that when Eddie had a seizure that she shouldn't restrain him that she should just let him seize and make sure that he was cushioned so he wouldn't hurt himself and so far she has already failed. Janet dropped to the floor and watched helplessly as Eddie's body jerked and shook.
"Janet are you…Oh my God." Laura, who was over visiting, gasped when she saw her son on the floor.
"He's having a seizure." Janet cried. "Bring me the pillows from the living room." Laura returned a few seconds later with some pillows that they threw on the floor surrounding Eddie.
After what seemed like an eternity but was only a couple of minutes Eddie finally stopped convulsing. "He's bleeding. Will you grab me a dish towel?" Janet asked Laura. A second later Laura tossed the towel to Janet and she pressed it to Eddie's wound. Janet heard Jacob screaming from his highchair but she couldn't leave Eddie. Laura saw Janet's internal struggle and she took care of Jacob. "The gash looks deep. I think that he's going to need stitches." Janet mumbled tearfully.
"Janet." Eddie groaned when he opened his eyes a minute later. "What happened?"
"It's okay. You're okay."
"Why are you crying?" He reached up and touched his head where Janet was pressing the towel. "Owww. What happened to my head?"
"You fell off your chair."
"How? Why?"
"You had a seizure baby." Janet's tears fell from her eyes.
"Was it bad?" He was so tired.
"You're going to need stitches in your head."
"I don't want to go to the hospital."
"I know but you need the stitches." Eddie pulled himself up.
"Eddie…"
"I'm fine. Really I am." He stood and Janet was right behind him and it was a good thing because as soon as he was on two feet he realized too late that he was exhausted. He couldn't stand on his own. He started to fall back but Janet was there to help him stand.
"Come on; let's get you to the couch to rest." He nodded and allowed Janet to help him to the couch.
"Jake, did I hurt Jake?" He asked fearfully.
"No sweetheart. Jake is fine. He was in his highchair. Your mom is cleaning up the mess he made from lunch." Janet pressed the towel to his head.
"Oww. God Dammit." He snapped.
"I'm sorry but I have to stop the bleeding."
"I'm so tired." Dr. Turner had also told her that he would be exhausted after his seizures.
"I know. Just lay your head in my lap and just rest."
"I'm scared Janet. I'm losing control."
"I know you're scared honey. Try and sleep." Eddie settled on Janet's lap, closed his eyes but he didn't sleep. Instead he just laid there with tears streaming down his cheeks while clutching Janet's free hand.
Five minutes later Eddie's body began to shake again. It wasn't as severe as before but it was a seizure nonetheless. When this seizure was done Janet noticed that Eddie's lip was bleeding. On closer inspection she saw that he bit his lip during the seizure. Now Janet was beginning to freak out. She didn't think that his seizures should occur this close together. "Sweetheart are you okay?" She asked him and he just groaned in response.
"How is he?" Laura asked walking into the living room carrying Jacob.
"He just had another seizure. Can you bring me the phone? I need to call Dr. Turner."
"I'm not going to the damned hospital." Eddie mumbled.
"You're going to get stitches at least." Janet told him and Eddie sat up and glared at his wife.
"Put a damned band aide on my head. I'm not going to the hospital."
"Eddie…"
"It's final. I'm not going." They sat on the couch, glaring at each other until Janet finally relented.
"Fine. I won't take you to the hospital for stitches."
"Fine."
"Good."
"Good." Laura brought the phone to Janet. "You don't have to call the doctor."
"Yes I do. He told me to call him with any changes in your condition."
"Whatever." Janet knew he was scared and snapping at her was his way of dealing with his fear. By the time Janet put the request in to have Dr. Turner to call her back Eddie was sound asleep. After laying his head on the couch Janet went to the kitchen where Laura was with Jake. Janet immediately took her son in her arms and held him tightly.
"He is refusing to go to the hospital." Janet told her mother in law.
"Why?"
"Because he is a stubborn ass." Suddenly Janet handed Jacob back to Laura. "Hold him." From her spot in the kitchen she still was able to see into the living room and she saw that Eddie was seizing again. By the time this seizure was over Eddie had fallen off of the couch and onto the floor. Janet grabbed the phone and called Dr. Turner again, this time holding until he came on the line.
"Janet what's going on?"
"Eddie started having seizures today."
"You knew that this was going to happen."
"I know but he has had three in the twenty or thirty minutes."
"You need to call the paramedics and get him to the hospital."
"He doesn't want to go to the hospital."
"Janet he needs a shot or his seizures won't stop. Do you want them to continue?"
"No." She sobbed.
"Then call the paramedics. I'll give the hospital a call and let them know what I want them to do and Eddie will be released in a couple of hours."
"Thanks." Janet slowly disconnected the call and then called the paramedics.
"You're doing the right thing Janet." Laura said from the doorway after Janet hung up with the 911 operator.
"He's going to be so mad."
"He'll get over it."
"Can you stay with Jake? The E.R. isn't the best place for him."
"Of course I will."
While waiting for the paramedics to arrive Janet threw on her shoes, put her purse by the door so she could grab it on her way out and kissed her baby boy goodbye. By the time the paramedics were walking through the front door Eddie was in the middle of yet, another seizure. Janet gave as much information about Eddie's condition as she could as they were loading his shaking body up onto the gurney.
"Are you riding with us ma'am?"
"No. I'm going to follow you so I can bring him home."
"When you get to the emergency room just let them know that your husband was brought in by us."
"Thank you. I will."
--
"Mrs. Latekka as soon as your husband wakes up and we evaluate him you guys will be all set to go home." Dr. Moore explained to Janet.
When Eddie got to the hospital they gave him an injection of Ativan, which finally stopped his seizures. They upped his current seizure medication and added a new medication and he had been seizure free for two hours and since he was sedated Janet requested that they stitch up the gash on his head
"Thank you for everything Dr. Moore." He nodded and stepped out of the cubicle and a nurse stepped in to check Eddie's vital signs. "I need to step outside and make a phone call. If he wakes up will you let him know?"
"Of course Mrs. Latekka." Janet kissed Eddie's sleeping form then went outside to use her cell phone.
"Mom."
"Janet, is everything okay?" The tears that Janet had been hold back fell hard and fast.
"He's…dying…mom…" Janet blubbered into the phone.
"Honey…"
"He started having seizures today."
"Oh honey."
"You said that when I needed you, you would come. I need you mom." Janet realized that if Laura hadn't been at the house when Eddie had his seizures she doesn't know what she would have done. Now that Eddie's cancer was worsening Janet know that he would need more of her attention which meant that Jacob would be getting less of her attention which wasn't good for a six month old baby. Sharon had told Janet that when she needed help, she would be there and right now Janet needed her mom.
"I'll be on the first plane. Can someone stay with you until I get there?"
"I'm sure Laura will stay."
"I love you Janet. Stay strong."
"I love you too mom."
"I'll call you with my flight information as soon as I have it."
"Thanks." Janet hung up the phone, wiped her eyes and returned to Eddie's cubicle where he was just waking up.
"Janet why am I in the hospital?" He asked.
"You don't remember?" He shook his head. "You had a bunch of seizures. They weren't stopping so I had to call 911. The doctors changed your medication and added a new one so hopefully it won't happen again." Eddie held out his hand and Janet took it and he pulled her to his bed.
"Are you scared?"
"No."
"Liar. I'm sorry I scared you."
"It wasn't your fault."
"It's too soon Janet. I'm not ready."
"I'm not ready either so we're going to keep fighting okay?"
"Okay." As Janet wrapped her arms around Eddie and hugged him tightly she knew, no matter how hard they fought, this was one fight that they would not win.