Chapter 19 – Ticking Seconds

Liam's POV

I laughed as I passed the basketball off and I ran the drill before trying to do a dunk but I wasn't tall enough. I landed on my ass as the whole group laughed, "Bolton, you better hope your dad's height kicks in soon," the instructor said with a laugh, "I know right?"

I was already six foot but to play in college I needed another six inches, all of the six inches my dad has.

"Liam!" I spun around back to the instructor as a lady was standing with him, an urgent look passed over her face as I felt my gut sink. My heart began to race, as I knew something was wrong, something wasn't right. I felt the weight of vomit against the back of my throat as the coach waved me over. I was slowly, trying not to drag my feet. Once I got to her she smiled, "You have a phone call in the main area,"

"Do you know what it is about?" I asked, "No, I don't," she said, she looked away as we both knew she knew. A wave of dizziness washed over me as I have only been gone a week, what could have happened in a week?

We made it to the main hall as she handed me the phone, "Hello?"

"Liam, hey," it was my dad, he didn't sound good, nothing sounded good.

"Dad, what's going on, what happened?"

The seconds seemed to tick by, my stomach growing more nervous with every passing second that happened. "It's your mom Liam," his voice broke as the tears welled in my throat and eyes, "You promised she was fine when I left,"

"She was Liam, she was, but she isn't now. She…they don't know how much time she has Liam,"

Two Days Earlier

I curled up as I felt Troy move into the bed, "Hey," he said as he kissed my forehead, "Hi," I said with a sigh, "Not sleeping?" he asked me, "No, where did you go?" I asked him, "I went to check on Lo,"

"Lies,"

Troy laughed as he wrapped his arm around me, "Fine, I didn't check on Lo, I couldn't sleep and went to play video games in Liam's room." I laughed as I nodded, "I see," I wrapped my arms around him as I snuggled closer to him. He smiled into my hair as he rubbed my back, "What should we do today?" Troy asked, "I think we all need to get out of the house if you are up for it."

"I am, I have been feeling a lot better."

"Good,"

"Let's go to the Zoo or something, a theme park?"

"Liam would kill us,"

I laughed, "He would, I think the Zoo or driving to Santa Fe would be fun." I said, "You know mine and the girls vote," Troy said with a smile, "Yes, they all inherited your zoo love,"

"I vote Zoo, we haven't gone this summer,"

"Okay," I said as I kissed his lips, he ran his hand down my side, "How good are you feeling?" Troy asked, his lips two inches from my face. I wrapped an around his neck, "How about a really good make out session?" I proposed, he smiled, "I can handle that," his lips pressed against mine as I wrapped my arms around him tightly. His hand ran down my side as he kissed me again and then sucked on a spot a little below my chin. "Troy," I said with a laugh, he laughed himself, "I can't help it," he said with a lazy grin, I shook my head as I kissed him, I let go of him and I moved my hands down to his waist.

He breathed against my neck as we both paused for a moment of air; my eyes looked down at me him as his hair was growing out, falling right above his eyes. His blue eyes looked at me with so much power. He looked at me with curiosity wondering what in the world I was thinking about. I was straddling him as he ran his hand along my lower back causing goosebumps to travel over my arms.

I reached down as I pulled at the hem of his shirt, I pulled it up and he looked at me with curiosity, he began to say something but I shook my head, as he didn't argue. His shirt landed on the floor as I moved to take his shorts and boxers off. His eyes following every move I made. My fingers gazed his inner thigh, his body tensed slightly before relaxing under my touch.

I slipped off my shirt and then my sports bra hit the ground, Troy watched, his eyes glued to me. I then began to slide my shorts off. His eyes were full of amazement and wonder of where this wife came from. I wrapped my arms around his neck as I leaned my naked body against his, "Make love to me Troy," he closed his eyes as he breathed in, the words he seemed to die for most of the time. He reached up to secure me close to him.

He kissed me so softly I could barely feel his lips but the passion between it made it feel like the hardest kiss you could receive. He easily rolled me onto my back, his hands wrapping around my body to hold me against him, his lips so perfect as he entered me slowly, his eyes connected with mine and I reached up to kiss him as he began a slow motion, his body finding the beat of mine, my hands slid through his hair as I pressed my face against his skin.

My moan reached out as Troy kissed me to silence me. So early in the morning anything could wake the kids. Troy picked up the pace a little bit as the seconds ticked by, Troy as close as he could be, his arms touching mine, everything seemed to be perfect and in place.

Troy came first and I was right behind him, lowered his sweaty body over mine, using his forearms to keep most of his weight off of me. He kissed me softly on the forehead, my nose, and my lips as he lingered for a moment longer. "You are so gorgeous," he whispered, "and I am so in love with you everyday Brie, everyday you do something else to make me fall even more in love with you and I never want that to end."

I buried my head against him as I pulled the blankets up around us. His arms pulled me closer to his body, "I love you too Troy,"

"Get some rest," Troy said, I nodded my head as I curled against him, never wanting to leave this spot.

Allison's giggle made me look up as Troy picked her up so she could pet the horse that was standing in front of her, Troy smiled as she giggled louder when the horse made a noise. Lauren had wondered off with Emma as they were petting the baby goats nearby while Wes was standing next to Troy.

"Mommy look!" Allison said, I looked and I smiled, "He likes you!"

She laughed as Troy grinned watching her, those are the moments I would never forget. Troy set her down as they both headed this way, my eyes looked at Troy, how he walked and how he seemed so content. He had been pretty happy all morning and I can only assume it was due to our early morning sex. It had been a couple of weeks since we had anything, mostly due to me not feeling right.

He looked up at me and he let a slow smile roll over his lips, he came around as he wrapped his arms around me, "How are you feeling?" he asked, I shrugged, "I'm feeling okay," he kissed me softly, "Let me know when you need a break or are ready to leave okay? We are only a little past a week of post chemo,"

"I know, I'm okay though," he nodded as he kissed my cheek and took my hand as we followed the kids around as they explored the zoo with curiosity like they did every summer. We walked through the different countries looking at the tigers, bears, giraffes, lions, seals, penguins, they were all there, Troy smiled as he watched his kids enjoy the zoo as much as he did.

I still remember coming here pregnant with each other them, walking the trails with a swollen belly or a flat on that was waiting to grow. I remember Troy always taking my hand as we walked along the zoo paths, or how he would stop under certain places and kiss me softly until I wanted to melt. The dates we had here I would remember certain things by just looking at the spot.

It all came back to me, this zoo holding such special memories that I would never forget. Troy called out Lauren's name as Emma and her came into view. I smiled as she came running over and I picked her up, "I'm hungry!"

"We just ate a little bit ago!" Troy said as he looked at her, "I ran!" she said, Troy laughed, "You ran huh? That makes you hungry?" Lauren swallowed hard and nodded her head, "Yes daddy,"

Troy smiled as he kissed her forehead as she hugged him. I smiled, as I loved my family in every special way you could love a family.

Troy's POV

After all of the kids had gone to bed, I went upstairs to see Gabi hunched over the toilet. Panic shot through my body, as she should be fine, it had been over a week, she hadn't puked in three days. The nausea was better or she claimed.

I moved as she was already moving backwards, her eyes looked dead and her body exhausted. "I think we over did it today," she said, her eyes drowsy, I kissed her forehead, "I'm sorry, we should have left earlier,"

She nodded as she rested against me, almost falling asleep instantly. I picked her up as I laid her down in bed. I crawled into the bed with her, as she didn't move after a while, her breathing shallow at times, as something wasn't right.

I thought back to wonder when this had happened but really she had been in a perfect mood all day today, she was happy and laughing. She played with the kids and made dinner tonight staying up even for a movie. It most likely was just overworking today, not letting her body rest like it should have. The clock ticked into Friday as I got up and I put on a new pair of shorts with a clean t-shirt.

Doing a final run through of the house, I turned off all of the lights and grabbed my phone off the kitchen table. I checked on the girls and I made my way back into the bedroom. I laid down in the bed as I turned on the TV, making sure the volume was low. I watched Sports Center for a while as Gabi moaned in her sleep, confused, not right. I looked at her and she twisted, I kissed the top of her head, hoping she would sleep all night because I knew on the inside, she was miserable.

I woke up without a single blanket, my eyes moved towards the clock, my eyes scanning the numbers of just a little past three forty five. I looked over at Gabi who was wrapped in the blankets that once covered me. I smiled as I tried to move the blankets but she cried out as if I was hurting her. I sat up and turned on my bedside lamp, as I looked at her, her face chattering and her head red.

"Brie, hey," her eyes opened as they looked dead. I leaned forward kissing her forehead as she was burning up. "Oh Brie," she closed her eyes tightly as I got out of the bed and went looking for a thermometer. Finding it in the girl's bathroom, I went back as I took her temperature.

I pulled it away as it flashed a 103.1. Fear ran through my body as I began to panic, I reached for my cell phone as I called Jenni first. "Hm?" she answered, "Jenni, I don't know what to do, I'm,"

"Troy, hey breath," she said, I could hear her moving, "What's wrong?"

"Gabi has a temperature of 103,"

"Shit, Troy, she needs to go to the ER now,"

"Now? Liam isn't here, I have nobody here,"

"Troy, there is something wrong, you need to go,"

"Jenni, I need you to come here or something, I can't leave the kids,"

I looked at Gabi as I went into the closet as I pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a different t-shirt. "I'm coming, you need to leave though, and I'll be there in five minutes. Lock the house, but you need to get to the hospital. I'll call the ER and let them know you are coming,"

"She is going to be okay right?"

"Troy, I don't know, that is a high fever,"

Fear paralyzed my body, "Troy, you have to keep moving though. You need to get her to a hospital,"

"Okay,"

"I'll be there soon to take care of the kids, you go though, now,"

"Okay," I said, nothing else coming into my head, "I'll call you in a bit,"

Jenni and I hung up as I went to grab her a sweatshirt, she cried as I pealed the blankets away. "Brie, we have to go baby girl, you need to get to the hospital,"

She cried shaking her head, my heart broke looking at her as I helped her sit up, slipping the sweatshirt over her arms her brown eyes just didn't hold anything. I kissed her forehead, my lips burning in response. "I'm so sorry baby girl, I'm sorry," I said, I picked her up as I grabbed her flip-flops but I knew her feet were not going to hit the ground.

I moved down the stairs, as I made sure I had her purse and my wallet. I got her into the car as she tried to curl up, chills over taking her entire body. A sickening feeling washed over me as I shut her door and opened the garage. I got into the drivers side and I turned the keys to the car.

She closed her eyes, panic set in, "Gabs, hey, stay awake for me okay?"

She looked at me, her eyes holding nothing, "Okay," her voice was dull, quiet, "Good, good," I sped out of the neighborhood, did I lock the door? I looked at my phone that said Jenni was leaving, next call, mom, that could wait until I was in the waiting room.

Speeding into the hospital parking lot, after running two different lights, I pulled into the emergency room entrance. Dr. Roads was already standing there along with a couple of nurses, a gurney waiting, my stomach flip-flopped again as I got out, the Dr. and nurses moved forward as I opened Gabi's door, I undid her seat belt and picked her up easily as she grabbed my shirt.

"Troy, tell me what you know,"

I set her down as the nurses began to move her, I took her hand away from my shirt but she tried to grab a hold of me, I stopped them for a second as I kissed her forehead again, "I love you, I'll see you in a bit they are going to take care of you," she nodded as I let go, I looked at the doctor as I ran my fingers through my hair. "She woke up in a great mood, the chemo side effects winding down, we were able to go out today and be a family. Did a bunch of fun things and then after everybody went to bed she was puking and she didn't look right."

He nodded as he looked at me, "And she fell asleep after that, not comfortable as she would toss and turn. Then about thirty minutes ago I woke up and she was hot but freezing, the dad I am, I check for a fever and it was 103, I panicked and called my sister. That's all I know, whatever it is it's been quick because she was fine this morning."

He nodded, "Okay, I'm going to go back there and see what I can do. I assume you'll be in the waiting room,"

"I wouldn't go anywhere else,"

"I'll come find you in a bit,"

He raced back inside as my stomach launched, I could puke. I got back into the car as I parked it, I didn't move for several minutes as I grabbed my phone as I slipped out of the car. Jenni had sent me a text that she was at the house.

I dialed my mom's phone number as I stayed outside of the hospital, the black air around me as the sun wasn't even close to coming into the sky. It rang a couple of times as I let my hand trace my jaw.

"Troy?"

"Hey ma," my voice cracked just saying the words, "Troy, what's wrong?"

"Gabi, something is wrong with Gabi," I said, "I don't know what's wrong with Gabi but it's serious whatever it is, she isn't okay mom,"

"Troy, slow down, what do you mean something is wrong with Gabi?"

"She has a fever of 103 degrees, she was puking and every time I moved her she cried in pain, something isn't right."

"Are you at home?"

"No, we are at the hospital,"

"Is Jenni at the house?"

"Yes,"

"Do you want me to come up to the hospital?"

"Please, I can't sit here alone."

"Okay, I'll be their soon Troy." She paused, "You know she is a fighter Troy, she'll be okay."

I gripped my phone, as I didn't have words because I wasn't sure of anything right now. I hung up with my mom and I went into the waiting room. I sat down as I buried my face into my hands as I reflected on where everything went wrong and I couldn't come up with anything. There was just the first sign of puking and then it was over but nothing before that. Nothing hinted that she wasn't feeling well.

Fear crept across my body, as I knew none of this was good.

Gabi's POV

After leaving Troy, I was rushed back into a room where I was being accessed by my port, I heard Dr. Roads voice directing the nurses to do things, he came over as he checked my eyes, I looked straight at him, my eyes not moving.

I closed my eyes again as Dr. Roads was trying to speak to me, he was trying to talk to me about what was feeling bad. I couldn't find words or courage to open my eyes; the room around me was too bright. I wanted Troy.

"Troy?" my voice managed, "He is waiting in the waiting room," Dr. Roads said, the words I felt were hard to hear, I wanted him right here. Suddenly I felt so alone, I closed my eyes again having no strength to being able to keep them open. "Gabi, I need you to keep your eyes open," Dr. Roads said, I opened them for them to only fall shut again, my body hurt and I was losing my fight.

I thought to Liam who was at basketball camp, I hadn't seen him in a week. I missed him. Emma had cuddled with me as we watched the movie, I was playing with her hair as Wes and I read a book together. Allison hugged me tight. Lo kissed my cheek and pronounced how much she loved me. The last interactions with my kids.

Troy.

My mind drifted and my mind swirled in blackness, my throat felt swelled, my head hurt, my body was stiff as my eyes were completely shut. Done fighting the monster inside me.

Troy's POV

After two hours of hearing nothing, I got up as I walked to the main desk. "Is there any information on my wife?" I asked, I pleaded as I was becoming drained of energy; my mom followed me up to the counter, as she stayed close.

"Sir, if the doctor who took her back hasn't informed you of anything then no, I don't know anything either. We will both know when he comes out okay?"

"Can you page him or something, I need to know how she is doing." My stomach felt like I ate a rock and it was just sitting there. "I'll see what I can do but no promises. She is busy with your wife most likely,"

I gripped the counter as I nodded, I went back to the chair I was sitting in and sat down. I had drunk two coffees in the past two hours of sitting here. I was getting ready to go for my third, as I was exhausted. It was almost six as the sun was starting to make an appearance outside the windows, my head beat against my skull as my dad had apparently went to sanitize the house of whatever Gabi claimed.

He didn't want Jenni doing it since she was pregnant. My mom rubbed my back; "We will know something soon," she proclaimed, I rubbed my jaw as I hoped I knew something soon or I would probably go crazy. I would probably die. I would probably flip out and have a panic attack.

My cell phone rang, as it was Jenni, "Hey," I said answering the phone, "Nothing?" she asked, "Yea, nothing,"

"Well, I don't want to be a bear of bad news but I need to know what to tell the kids, more so Emma and Wes," my gut tore into twenty pieces thinking of the kids, Liam, who was in Colorado, a fucking state away.

"Oh God," I said as I rubbed my forehead, "I guess just tell them what we know. She is sick and had to go to the hospital to make sure she was fine. Once we all know more we can inform them of more but Jenni,"

"Yea,"

"Liam is in Colorado,"

"He isn't going to take this well,"

"What if this is serious, we made him go because we promised that nothing would happen," I rubbed the back of my neck as I felt the stress come over my shoulders, "Calm down Troy, we don't know if this is a simple virus or if it is something serious. We have to wait and see. Let's not panic Liam until we know what we are dealing with okay? Once we know what we are dealing with then I will personally drive to Colorado and pick him up okay?"

"Okay,"

"Let me talk to mom,"

I handed her the phone as she talked to Jenni for a couple of minutes as she looked at me, they exchanged a couple of words as she then hung up, "Jenni is going to try and pull a few strings to see what she can do,"

"Okay,"

She rubbed my back again as I looked at the picture on front of my phone, All seven of us on top of a mountain after a day of hiking as a family. My eyes traced every feature on her face as I felt like I could puke.

I didn't have any good feelings.

Emma's POV

Nothing felt right when I woke up, the air seemed dead around me. Something had happened in the middle of the night, the rush of the area around me seemed to be buzzing. The seconds you could clearly hear in the air.

Something was wrong.

I slipped out of the bed as I went downstairs to see Aunt Jenni sitting on the couch with Grandpa Jack. He was hugging Jenni as I swallowed against the lump in my throat, "Is something wrong?" I asked, my voice breaking as Jenni looked up at me. Jenni took in a large breath as she looked at me. "We need to talk about something," Jenni announced, fear struck through me. "Is my mom okay?" I asked, tears were already in my eyes, as I knew something was wrong with my mom.

"No, she isn't," my grandpa said, my chin trembled as I went over to the couch as they made space for me. "She is pretty sick with something, they don't know what but its not good Em,"

I started to cry bending over, "I want my dad," I cried, I tried to get up but my Grandpa Jack held me back. "He is with your mom,"

"I want my daddy," I cried, Jenni rubbed my back as I began to sob, "She was fine last night," I began to blubber as Jenni looked at me as if her heart was breaking, "She was fine,"

"It'll be okay," Jenni, confirmed in my ear, I shook my head, "No, I want to see my dad, I want to see my mom,"

"Oh Emma," she whispered, I knew something was really wrong and I knew it wasn't going to end well.

Jenni's POV

Once Emma stopped crying she went quiet on us, I knew she just wanted Troy and nothing I did would make a difference. Wes had come up while and he took the news a bit better but he went back to his room while my dad was done checking on him.

I chewed on my lip as I picked up my phone and called my mom. It rang twice as she answered in a hush toned, "No news and I think he is about to flip out,"

"Emma wants to see him pretty bad, she took it hard, she already knew something was wrong. I think she needs to see him,"

"He isn't leaving this hospital,"

"I think I am going to bring her up, he needs something to distract him because they could be doing hundreds of tests right now and he probably won't get to see her for a couple more hours until they have a cause. I'm going to bring her up, don't tell him because he is going to protest,"

"You know Liam would be here," my mom said quietly, "Yea, we all know that and Emma would have gone with him. Wes kind of left the room and the younger girls are still sleeping."

"Leave you dad their with the younger ones and bring her up for a little bit. I think it will help both of them,"

"I will, I'll see you in a little bit,"

I hung up the phone as I looked back at Emma, my stomach in knots, as she loved Gabi as much as she loved Troy. Nothing could tear those four apart and I knew as the younger kids grew up they would be the same exact way.

"Em?"

She looked up at me, "Do you want to go up to the hospital?"

"Can I see my mom?"

"No, your dad hasn't even seen her yet but you could see your dad," she sat up and nodded, "I need a daddy hug," she said quietly as if she was two all over again when she always wanted a daddy hug. It was her thing, she always used the statement, "I want a daddy hug!" she would claim walking up to Troy, he always smiled and I sometimes heard her use it as she grew up, the older she got, the less she used it. Over the past few years, I sometimes heard it but I knew right then that she did need Troy.

"Of course, go change into whatever you want to sit around in. We'll stay for a while,"

"Okay,"

She went to change as my dad came back up, "He isn't talking much, Wes like,"

"I'm taking Emma to see Troy, she just wants a daddy hug," I said throwing him a look, "That's probably a good idea,"

"I need a daddy hug," I said, he smiled as he opened his arms and wrapped me inside of his arms. "It's going to be okay Jenni, you know how strong Gabi is,"

"She was strong and Chemo destroyed her insides,"

"In spirit she is strong,"

"Spirit can only get you so far," I said looking up at him, he nodded as he hugged me tighter, "I know but we'll see, let's not get worked up before we know."

"It's bad," I whispered, "I just have a gut feeling, so does Troy, so does Emma. It's not good,"

"I know what you are talking about,"

Troy's POV

After another hour ticked away, it was past seven. I paced the room and I sat down, changing between the two options. Distress rolled through my body as I rubbed the back of my neck, my head hanging, my stomach twisted as I waited for anything. The only good thing I knew is the longer I waited the longer I knew she was alive. They would have told me already setting a fear out of my mind.

Although the longer they took the more scared I was becoming knowing it wasn't just simple virus. The sun was up and I looked at the clock, I watched the seconds tick by as my feet went up and down. My mom had just ended a phone call as she was walking back to sit next to me. She rubbed my arm, "Troy, you are going to have a heart attack if you keep this up and then all of your kids will be freaking out. Relax," she instructed, "I can't," I claimed, "I have no freaking clue what is going on back there, I don't know," I rubbed my eyes as I took in a large breath.

"Do you think you should call Liam?"

"No," I said with a shake of my head, "Not yet, I will once I know something. I don't need him worrying if it is nothing."

"Troy,"

"Mom,"

"You know this isn't nothing,"

I shut my eyes tightly; my hands covered them, as I didn't want to face any of the truth that was sitting behind the doors. I didn't want to know anything. I just wanted my world back. I wanted my world of my family. Doing our day-to-day things, not rushing and laughing. Being with my kids and Gabi. To how yesterday morning was, the slow sex we had together.

Everything was perfect yesterday and today? Today I felt like everything couldn't go worse yet it kept spiraling down. It kept getting worse. It kept daunting at me that I may never hear her voice again but I couldn't face that reality. I don't think I ever could.

"Troy,"

"Mom, I don't want to talk about it," I said, "I need some air,"

"Troy," she said again, I opened my eyes as I looked up to see Jenni and Emma. Emma looked like she had been crying, her face red and her eyes red. She looked small standing next to Jenni. "I needed a daddy hug," she claimed, her voice shook with the words as my heart fell into my chest, I stood up as she walked forward, I opened my arms as she wrapped her arms around my waist burying her head into my chest. I hugged her tightly as she began to cry against me, "It's okay," I soothed, "It's okay,"

I sat down as I pulled her into my lap as if she was my little five-year-old all over again. She pressed her face into my neck, her tears were hot, "I'm sorry," she said, "I'm sorry," she began to cry harder as I rubbed her back, I wanted to ask what she was sorry for but I didn't ask. Not now. I just held her close as I looked at my mom and Jenni. I didn't know who thought this was a good idea, if it was bad news.

I suddenly couldn't be in this suffocating room anymore, "Em, you want to go for a walk?" I asked she nodded her head as I stood up with her feet hitting the ground. We walked side by side as she grabbed on to my arm as we walked out of the waiting room. "What's wrong with her?" she asked as we hit a different hallway, "I don't know Em, I wish I knew what was wrong with her. She just had this extremely high fever and she didn't look right. That's all I know, I wish I could tell you more." I said to her, "She is going to be okay though right?"

The question made me suck in a tight breath, the air seemed to be disappearing, "I have no idea Em," I said as she looked at me, her brown eyes that looked so similar to Gabi's filled with tears. We made it to the outside as the warm air was already sending goose bumps down my cold skin. We walked a few more feet before finding a bench as I sat down as she followed.

"Mom has to be okay," Emma said, her voice seemed distant as I looked at her, "She has to right daddy?" I bit on my lower lip, as I didn't know how to answer her questions. I didn't know how to keep it positive. I didn't know what to do, as I looked at my fourteen-year-old daughter just as confused as me. Just as lonely in the world. "I wish I knew Em, I wish I could tell you all of the answers but I can't." she turned away as I knew she had started to cry, I rubbed her back, "I just want mom," she said, that's when I felt my own tear drop, my first of the day as it took my daughter to completely tear me down.

"Me too," she turned towards me and she looked so heartbroken. I wrapped her in my arms and I held her close because that's the only thing I knew was right.

Emma had fallen asleep with her head in my lap in the waiting room. Jenni asked if she wanted her to take her home but I declined, as I knew Emma was probably better off with me right now. I stroked her hair, as it had been another hour.

Eight.

I pulled out my cell phone as I called Chad.

"Hey! I was just getting ready to call and see if you wanted to take the kids out with my today, let Taylor and Gabi have,"

"Chad," he stopped immediately, knowing the tone in my voice threw everything off.

"Troy, hey, you okay?"

I turned away as I stared out the window, "Gabi is in the hospital Chad, we have been in the hospital since about 4 this morning, I haven't seen her yet, I don't know what's wrong with her. I know nothing. I just, I need to ask you a huge favor,"

"Dude, yea, I'm sorry man,"

"I need you to go get Liam,"

"Dude,"

"It's bad Chad,"

"You don't know everything though,"

"Four hours of no information is not good news Chad, I know they already ran the simple test. Something is wrong."

"Okay, he is in Denver right?"

"Yea, I was going to let you drive most of the way before I call him to talk to him."

"Good plan, don't make him worry too long,"

"Exactly,"

"How is everybody at your house handling it?"

"Emma is currently sleeping in my lap at the hospital and I think it's honestly the best place for her. Wes shut down and is just playing video games, not talking. The girls don't really know what to think."

"I'll send Taylor over to help unless you want her at the hospital,"

"No, she can go to the house. It will probably be nice for the younger girls and to give Jenni and my dad a break."

"Keep me updated okay?"

"Thanks man, I would go get him myself but I can't spend twelve hours away from Gabi."

"No, no, you stay. I'll get him. I'll have him to you by eight tonight, okay?"

"Thanks man,"

"No problem,"

I hung up as my mom looked at me, I rubbed my eyes and she sighed. "I hate waiting."

"It's the worst part."

"Until the worst part is having to wait forever,"

"Troy, don't talk like that,"

"I don't know how to talk, I barely know what the hell is going on."

"I'll check in with the nursing station again okay?"

"Thank you,"

My mom stood up and she walked over to the nursing station as Emma moved her head. I secured her so she didn't fall off of my lap; she decided to sit up though. Each fist rubbed her eyes as I rubbed her back; she leaned against me, "No word on mom?"

"No," I kissed the top of her head as my mom came back over, "They paged the doctor and they said he would be out in a few moments to talk to you."

I felt my spine straighten, as it had been four hours since I had seen Gabi, since I knew what was happening. My mom squeezed my shoulder as she smiled at Emma; I gave worried glances to the door and the clock, wondering what was happening. How it was happening.

The door pushed open as a tried Dr. Roads appeared in the doorway, I stood up and parted from Emma. "Troy," he said, "Not here," I said, "Not in front of my daughter,"

He glanced over my shoulder and nodded, "Come this way," I turned to face Emma, "I'll be back,"

I walked back into the waiting area as he opened a door and allowed me into a small office. He shut the door as I looked at him, "Troy, sit,"

"Dr. Roads, I need you,"

"She is alive, barely," he answered looking at me, "I don't know how much time she has though, she could die tonight or she could live for another fifty years," I sat down as my legs felt weak, my stomach dropped as my heart raced. "Gabi has Bacterial Meningitis which by itself is deadly but she has no immune system according to her blood work. She is basically at a zero. It is just attacking every part of her body and I don't know if she is going to make it through the night."

I felt tears as I pressed my hands together against my lips. "Is there anything we can do?"

"We have her on antibiotics, we are doing a lot and running tests but during the spinal tap she had a seizure on us and we are concerned with her kidney function and it's just not looking good Troy, I'm sorry,"

"No, she is still fighting,"

"She is, I would just start preparing for the worst," the words were so shocking to hear, "Can I see her?"

"She is unconscious,"

I rubbed my forehead, "Troy, I'm giving her a 15% chance of beating this because her kidneys are already starting to go, she has already had a seizure, she has splotches on her body, it attacked her fast and if you would have waited any longer,"

"Can I see her?" I requested again, "I just need to see her,"

He nodded his head, "Alright,"

"Dr. Roads," the door banged open as a nurse was standing there and then she looked at Dr. Roads, "Mrs. Bolton BP tanked and she started having another seizure,"

"I want a stat CT and consult Dr. Morgan,"

"Okay,"

He ran his hands through his hair, as I felt to stunned to move. "I'll come update you after I have the MRI," he said, "Okay?"

I nodded slowly as I felt like I couldn't move, he walked out of the room as I let my head fall into my hands. Sobs left my body, as suddenly it was all too real.

I pulled myself together as I stood up, as I needed to start making calls, 15%.

Going into the waiting room, I saw Emma and my mom close together. They both looked up as I left and my stomach sank as I looked at Emma. I turned my head to look at the sky, another hour.

I suddenly thought of Liam, he was going to need to fly in. I would work out a ticket for him, my mom and Emma looked at me as I pressed my lips together tightly, "It's not good," I said, my voice flat, my body felt numb, "It's not good at all," I said, my voice cracking, my mom stood up as Emma looked at me scared. She was so afraid, "They aren't sure she is going to make it another 24 hours,"

Emma stiffened next to me as my mom looked at me, "It's bacterial meningitis. Her kidneys are apparently starting to fail, she has had a couple of seizures and they are consulting doctors but they said 15%."

"Oh my god, Troy," I shook my head as I pressed my palms into my eyes, trying to stop any tears that might form as Emma began to cry. "No, I need to see her, I need to see mommy," she began to cry, she stood up as I wrapped my arms around her waist, "Em, I know, I want to see her too but we can't," she cried as she tried to push away but I held her tighter, "I just want my mom,"

"So do I Em, so do I," she cried against my chest as I looked at my mom. "I have to get Liam a flight home, I can't wait for him to get here by car. I'll have Chad pick him up and take him to the airport."

"Okay, I'm going to take Emma home,"

"No, I need her to stay here, if we have an opportunity to see Gabi, Emma needs to stay,"

"Okay," my mom sat down next to Emma as I walked to the window, I began to make calls and I went to a computer they had for people to use. I bought the ticket for Liam as I then called Chad. I left the room as I found an empty hallway as I slid down the wall.

"Hey, I am about four hours from him,"

"Can you drop him off at the airport instead? The one in Denver?"

"Yea…Troy, it can't be that bad,"

"It's bad," I confirmed, "its terrible Chad, they don't think she is going to make it through the night."

"God, Troy, man,"

"I can't lose her Chad because I don't know what the hell would happen. I don't know, I can't do it,"

"Liam is going to be a mess,"

"I know I don't know how the hell I am going to tell him."

"I'm sorry Troy,"

"What am I going to do Chad?"

"You are going to hold strong and then we'll go from there. You have us."

Dr. Roads had come out thirty minutes later to have me sign to let Gabi have surgery. She needed a shunt placed to drain fluid out of her brain, he then asked me about a DNR, I looked at it, and my eyes pained looking at it.

I then crumpled the piece of paper, "Try, I need you to try and save her. I need her."

He nodded as he took the documents and left.

He then turned around, "Troy, do you want to see her before surgery?"

"Please," my voice choked, I looked back at Emma, I took a big breath as I made the choice that this wasn't the time for her to see Gabi. I disappeared behind the door as he led me through a couple of hallways as he came to a door with so much going on inside. I couldn't even see her at first; I just saw a body, so many machines doing so many different things.

I went over to her as she was on a breathing machine, my stomach hurled as I shook my head softly, I pressed my face closer to hers as I kissed her temple, my eyes closed keeping her scent close to me, "Fight baby girl, fight like hell, I love you so much." I kissed her forehead as I then watched as they began to take her back for surgery. "It could be a couple of hours. I'll come to you if anything happens okay?"

I nodded as I felt my legs grow weaker. I pressed my lips together and returned to the lobby.

Liam's POV

I laughed as I passed the basketball off and I ran the drill before trying to do a dunk but I wasn't tall enough. I landed on my ass as the whole group laughed, "Bolton, you better hope your dad's height kicks in soon," the instructor said with a laugh, "I know right?"

I was already six foot but to play in college I needed another six inches, all of the six inches my dad has.

"Liam!" I spun around back to the instructor as a lady was standing with him, an urgent look passed over her face as I felt my gut sink. My heart began to race, as I knew something was wrong, something wasn't right. I felt the weight of vomit against the back of my throat as the coach waved me over. I was slowly, trying not to drag my feet. Once I got to her she smiled, "You have a phone call in the main area,"

"Do you know what it is about?" I asked, "No, I don't," she said, she looked away as we both knew she knew. A wave of dizziness washed over me as I have only been gone a week, what could have happened in a week?

We made it to the main hall as she handed me the phone, "Hello?"

"Liam, hey," it was my dad, he didn't sound good, nothing sounded good.

"Dad, what's going on, what happened?"

The seconds seemed to tick by, my stomach growing more nervous with every passing second that happened. "It's your mom Liam," his voice broke as the tears welled in my throat and eyes, "You promised she was fine when I left,"

"She was Liam, she was, but she isn't now. She…they don't know how much time she has Liam,"

I felt the wind get knocked out of me; my legs grew weak as I gripped onto the table. "What?"

"I'm so sorry Liam, Chad is almost there to get you and you are flying back, Grandpa Jack will meet you at the airport and bring you to the hospital,"

"Mom isn't dying, stop playing a joke,"

"Liam, I can't think about joking about this, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry,"

I sat down as I cried in the lobby of the room, my dad trying to talk to me from the other end. The seconds began to slow down and the next thing I knew Chad was there. He sat down next to me as I had hung up with my dad five minutes prior.

"Hey," he looked at me and I shook my head, "I know how much this sucks, I know how much this hurts right now but she is still alive Liam, it's not over yet and she has a shot at this and she is going to fight. She made it through a two-hour surgery and is currently in the ICU, she is alive. It's going to be a hard fought battle back but she is going to fight and you know this. You are probably scared and I understand I would be scared too. I imagine myself in your dad's situation and I can't imagine Liam,"

"She can't die,"

"I know," he hugged me as he was basically my second dad, I wouldn't want anybody else here right now. "I'm going to fly back with you okay? I got myself a ticket and I am not going to leave you alone until you are with your dad."

"How is Emma?" I asked, "She is holding up,"

He grabbed my hand as we both walked out; my stuff was already sitting in his car, as I didn't know who got it. We both got into his car and he drove as I felt like nothing could go much slower.

Troy's POV

Gabi had survived the surgery. It was a small step as they began to drain fluid but her organs were starting to fail. Nothing was going right. She was on so many different machines, they kept telling me everything but I couldn't remember any of the information.

The cancer did this, if she would have had an immune system she could have fought. She could have fought so much harder. I looked at her from my spot by the door as there were so many machines surrounding her. I knew Emma wanted to see her but I didn't have the strength to bring her back here.

"Troy," Dr. Roads came by as I looked at him, "I don't know," he said shaking his head, "She is having to be on life support and,"

"Ten days," I said looking at him, "I'm giving her ten days."

He pressed his lips together, "Okay,"

"If after ten days there are no signs of her getting better then we can remove the machines, I'm not going to make a decision off of a day, I need time for my kids to come at least see her and to be with her without thinking of her dying.

"She is dying Troy, her organs are failing,"

"They can work again, you know this,"

"I do but,"

"Ten days," I repeated, "Ten days," he said with a sigh, "Ten days," I confirmed, "Okay, I'll come back by later. Feel free to have the kids come see her," I nodded as I watched a machine breath for her. Come on Gabs, you must fight.

When I walked into the waiting room, I saw the sun had gone done. It was dark. A day I had witnessed outside of the window, the sun in every spot of the sky. Emma stood up as I took a deep breath, "You can come and see her but she doesn't look like your mom. She has a lot of machines and wires, she is on life support," my mom turned away at the words as Emma looked at me. "She is going to be okay right?"

I bit my lower lip trying to stop the tremble that ran through it, "I don't think so Em,"

She shook her head, as I knew it wasn't the answer she wanted. "I'm so sorry Em, I'm so sorry," she cried as she held on to me, I held on and I didn't move. "Do you want to go back and see her?"

She nodded, "I need to tell her how much I love her and I need her,"

"Okay," I pushed a piece of her hair away from her face as the doors to the emergency room waiting room burst open, Liam looked at me with his intense blue eyes as I looked at him. I saw his tears as he came over, "Has anything changed?"

"It's not good Liam,"

He looked at me as I hugged him; suddenly he wasn't six feet tall anymore as he cried. "I can take you to see her but she doesn't look good Liam, she is on a lot of machines to keep her alive."

"I need to see her,"

"Okay," I let go as I looked at Chad, I raised an eyebrow, "I wasn't letting him get on a plane alone," he said with a shrug, "Plus, I needed to come make sure my best friend was going to be okay."

"Thanks Chad,"

He nodded, "Of course,"

After making sure everybody was still okay, I led them back to Gabi. My mom came too as when we came to her room, they both didn't move any further into the room. I wasn't going to rush them as they walked further in as Emma stepped up first as she went close to Gabi. She grabbed her hand as she rubbed it gently. "I love you mommy, I need you so much, and I can't lose you. Please, please," she cried, as she wanted to lay with her but so many tubes.

Liam didn't say much of anything as he just watched her before saying he loved her and walked out of the room. I hugged Emma as she closed her eyes tightly, her cries quiet. My eyes focused on Gabi, "Don't leave me," I whispered, "Please,"

Liam's POV

I called her. I called her five times. I called her so many times I thought my fingers might break but it kept going to voicemail. Her inbox was full. I sent her a text and it bounced back. I sat in my dark room as I broke down.

Picking up my phone, I called Alexa. She answered on the first ring.

"Liam?" she asked confused, "Lex, can we talk? I just need someone to talk to,"

"Liam, are you alright? I heard about your mom but I didn't know you were home,"

"Your dad took me home, I'm here, I just need someone to talk to."

"Of course, talk,"

"Can I come over?"

"Liam, I don't know if that's a good idea,"

"Alexa, I need to see you, I need to talk to you, I need out of this house where I can hear Emma's cries from my room."

"Alright, alright, come over, we can sit on the front porch,"

I walked to my car as I started it, pulling away from my driveway and driving to the Danforth's. She was already waiting on the top step as I left my phone in the car and walked up to the front step. She was sitting in a pair of shorts with a long sleeve shirt as the night summer air wrapped around us.

"I'm sorry Liam,"

"She could die,"

"I heard,"

"What am I going to do without her? She does so much for me and I can't imagine losing her."

"It'll be okay," Alexa, said, I looked her, as I couldn't stop the tears in my eyes, "How do you know it's going to be okay How do you know it's going to get better? How do we know, we say all of these things but we don't know anything. Tomorrow I could have a dead mom and a dead dad because we all know he isn't going to survive without her. She has to live or my whole family is going to be somewhere else. My mom is our glue; my mom is our everything in our family. This morning I was a normal sixteen year old and now I have a half dead mom,"

Alexa wrapped her arms around me as she hugged me, she didn't say anything as we sat on the front porch, her breathing soft against my ear, as we didn't talk.

Troy's POV

Emma was curled in a ball on our bed, as I was restless. They were not letting me stay the night with Gabi for fear of what might happen in the middle of the night and I am in the way.

I sat up as Emma shifted; she had been in tears most of the night, as I had not seen Wes. Even when I got home and was mobbed by the young girls, asking questions about mommy and when mommy will be home for me to not be able to really hold it together.

Going downstairs, I went into Wes's room as he was leaning against the wall that his bed was on, "Hey," I said, he looked up at me as he was busy thinking like Wes was always doing. "Mom is going to die, isn't she,"

"I hope not buddy," I sat down next to him, "But she might, she is stable right now though." With about a hundred machines keeping her alive. That detail was left out though.

"So she might get better?"

"Hopefully," I said, "Everything bad happens to mommy's," he said, "They do?"

"Yea, and they do so much for everybody and are always hurt or getting hurt. They get cancers and mommy gets sick and also has cancer, why couldn't it have happened to me, I'll get sick for mom and then she can keep fighting cancer but it keeps happening to mommy,"

My jaw locked, as here was my 12 year old, trying to figure out why bad things happened to good people. A question we have asked for years and are never getting answers to. "I wish I knew buddy but we don't want you getting sick,"

"But mommy is double sick and she doesn't deserve to be double sick,"

"No, she doesn't,"

"She is the best mom," Wes said as he looked at a picture of them, "She always takes care of us and when we need her help she is always there. She loves us and nothing could change that. She would never be mean or hurt us in anyway and I see some kids who have mean moms and who don't deserve to be moms that are always healthy and are never hurt but then mommy is always sick and I don't like seeing her sick."

"Me too Wes, I wish we could make it all better," he nodded as he leaned against me, "Sometimes bad things happen to good people because it shows their family how good they really are and when mommy gets better, we will always be there to help her and to make her better. We only have a couple of days though so we have to keep strong and have to pray she gets better. You're mommy will be okay, she will live, I know her, she isn't done being a mommy yet."

"I just want her to be perfect all the time,"

"She is perfect all the time," I said, "In her own way of course but your mom doesn't get sick that often. She hasn't had a surgery since she was in a car accident way before you were born and that's good! She was pretty hurt there but then she had three more kids, you, Alli, and Lo, and now she has to deal with cancer, which isn't fun but your mom was beating it. Today, her doctor told me that nearly all of her masses were looking a lot better, that she was getting better. The chemo was working. She was beating the cancer,"

Wes looked at me with happy eyes, "So this, this is just another bump in our roads but hopefully, in a couple of weeks, we can have mommy back at home. With us, so we can take care of her and watch movies with her. How does that sound?"

"Do you think that could really happen?"

"Yes," I said, "I think it can really happen,"

Wes smiled as he yawned, tired, I laid in his bed with him as I thought about Gabi laying in a hospital bed somewhere. I prayed that she would grow better; I prayed everything would be okay when I walked in her room tomorrow morning. I prayed that everything I just told Wes came true because I am not ready to lose Gabi; I was determined to keep her alive, I was determined to have her wake up. I was determined to love her for the rest of my life, I was going to die first but I wasn't dying anytime soon.

….sorry. It's a major turning point in the story, mid way through. You know how it goes.

Hope you all enjoyed it though!

Love you all…even though you hate me!

See you next week!

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