Welcome back FWB fans this story is for all of you!
Yes it should be In Your Eyes there was a Freedom tonight but that will actually go up tomorrow night. I switched the stories because In Your Eyes because of how the day is going. The drama and intensity of In Your Eyes requires time I just don't have today but it will go up tomorrow no matter what happens.
Ch.2 Hang on Don't Cry Yet
(CLARE)
I park in front of the departures area at the airport and get out of the car with Drew. He opens the trunk taking his suitcase out and then closing the trunk. Then he takes me in his arms, locks his eyes onto mine with a grin and abducts my lips. Kissing me with feverish passion, tender lust and immense love, it's a kiss I could stay locked in forever but he has a flight to catch.
"I miss you already, come back to me soon, hug Eli for me. I love you," I say to Drew reluctantly pulling away.
"I will and I love you more," Drew responds still grinning from the kiss.
He takes his suitcase and quickly walks inside while I get back in the car. His flight leaves at eight so it's only six and I should be getting ready for work but I've been feeling off this morning so I return home to sleep. I return home, call in sick to work and get out of my clothes, putting on one of Drew's t-shirts and I'm about to get back into bed when I become nauseas. Running to the washroom I vomit a few times, I start shivering and stand up by pulling myself up with the sink. I rinse my mouth and grab the thermometer. I don't have a fever but my head hurts as I'm putting the thermometer down I notice a bruise on my arm. It's a deep bruise and I don't remember hitting my arm. I pick up my purse and take out my phone and text Adam.
Clare: Took Drew to the airport but I'm not feeling well. I probably have a cold or maybe the flu. I'm just going back to bed but can you check on me later I may need you to pick some things up.
Adam: Of course I will. Do you want me to come over now?
Clare: No I'm just going to sleep.
Adam: I'll be over in a couple of hours with supplies, get some rest.
I hate to think that Drew will be sick on his trip but if I have a cold he's most certainly already got it in his system. I don't want him to worry about me being sick so I text him that he should fortify his immune system being in an airport so he doesn't get sick. As soon as he texts back that he will and he loves me I fall asleep again. I wake up when I hear the bedroom door open to see Adam; he let himself in with his key of course.
"Hey how do you feel? Ash is ready to pick up supplies and she'll bring us lunch," Adam tells me sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Thanks that's sweet of her, I feel better actually maybe I was just really tired. I still feel slightly nauseas, could be a small stomach bug," I respond sitting up a little.
"That's a nasty bruise on your arm," Adam comments looking at my arm.
"Yeah I don't even remember hitting it," I reply taming my curls.
"Clare what were you feeling this morning? What symptoms did you have, tell me all of them," Adam insists.
"Headache, nausea, fatigue, I threw up, I was shivering but only after I threw up and then I went to bed," I reply.
"Okay that could be a lot of things but…"
"Don't say it," I cut him off, "I've been in remission for almost seven years. It's a cold or a stomach bug, or I'm overworked and my body just crashed because Drew is gone."
"Yes all of that is entirely possible but if it's not any of that, shouldn't you make an appointment with your doctor just to be sure? None of us want to watch you go through chemo again or be in the hospital," Adam says.
"I'll call, it's about time for my annual checkup anyway," I comment as a pit grows in my stomach. The thought that my cancer has returned is petrifying, I still remember the statistics of survival if I relapsed and they weren't good. With my hands shaking just slightly I grab my phone and call my oncologists office. They tell me there was a cancellation on Friday morning and to call if I have any further symptoms.
"I assume my brother will be calling when he lands?" Adam questions when I hang up with the doctor's office.
"Yeah, he has a layover in Denver he'll call from there too," I nod.
"And you'll tell him you're not feeling well and you're making an appointment to see your doctor," Adam states.
"I don't want to worry him while he's away for work," I shake my head.
"Clare he should know," Adam says with a reprimanding tone.
"But if it's not a cold or the flu Drew will want to come home," I point out.
"I know and I'll convince him to stay but if he comes home and finds out you're ill and you're cancer's back it's just going to be worse for him," Adam counters.
"I'll tell him but you better convince him to stay there and do his job," I respond and he grins.
"I'm going to go downstairs and put on some tea for you, get some pajamas on and we'll have a movie fest," Adam tells me and I smile.
He leaves the bedroom and I get up, I take Drew's shirt off only to put on a bra and then put on some sweats. After brushing my hair and putting on some deodorant I go downstairs, Adam has my tea ready and a movie cued up. The movie is nearly over when we hear my cell ringing upstairs and Adam runs up to get it.
"Hey bro, yep we're watching movies. Hang on here's your wife," Adam says before handing me the phone.
"Hi how was the flight?"
"Long but at least I can grab some lunch before my next one. What's wrong Angel?" Drew questions.
"Nothing," I reply hesitating to tell him.
"Angel I know something's wrong I hear it in your voice and I heard it in Adam's. Please tell me," he requests with a slightly begging and very worried voice.
"I wasn't feeling well this morning, still feeling sort of queasy. I threw up and…I asked Adam to come over, it's probably just a cold or the flu but I called the oncologist and made an appointment just to be safe," I inform my husband and I can hear the frightened breath that seizes in his throat through the phone.
"Do you think…"
"No," I interrupt Drew before he finishes the thought. "No I think it's just a cold, or a touch of the flu but we're being safe that's all. Adam's here with me and Ashley is bringing us lunch. Owen's just a phone call away, so is Owen, your parents, Darcy, Glen, my dad, Dallas and Bianca. I think everything is fine and you shouldn't worry," I assert.
"Okay but I want to know everything the doctor says, when's the appointment?" Drew inquires.
"Friday, I'll tell you what the doctor says," I tell Drew.
"Call me after the appointment, I love you Angel, let me talk to Adam again," Drew says.
"I love you more, here's Adam," I reply giving Adam the phone.
"Hey…yep was planning to anyway…yeah no problem have a safe flight and call us when you get to L.A.," Adam says into the phone. Drew replies and they hang up.
"You're staying the night aren't you," I comment to Adam as he puts my cell phone on the table.
"Yup was going to anyway, you know I'm not leaving you until we know for sure," Adam comments.
"Yeah I know," I smile just as Adam's phone rings. I see that it's Ashley calling and I get up to use the washroom.
"Ash is on her way, she's bringing lunch I told her to bring you vegetable soup," Adam informs me when I join him on the sofa again.
"Thanks Adam," I smile as he turns the movie back on.
"So when are we going to tell the others?" Adam asks.
"Not until we know anything for sure, it's bad enough we're worried and Drew is worried. We don't need to worry everyone else until we know there's something to worry about," I tell him resolutely.
We watch the rest of the movie and Adam turns it off, he gets up and starts getting out dishes. When the doorbell rings he answers it, Ashley comes in with bags of food.
"Hey how do you feel?" She asks setting the bags in the kitchen.
"Better," I smile.
"Good Adam told me you're going to call your doctor tomorrow," Ashley says.
"Yeah, just to be cautious. Thanks for bringing lunch," I comment as I get up to help.
"My pleasure, but sit down we got it," Ashley replies.
I sit back down and she brings me a bowl of vegetable soup with a roll. She and Adam sit down with sandwiches and he puts another movie on. I eat all of my soup and I do feel better, still my mind can't stop thinking, and fearing, about the slight possibility that my cancer is back.
(DREW)
I hang up with Adam and Clare, leaning against the wall. Despite her assurances the thought that Clare might have cancer again has me terrified. All I can think about is when we found out she was ill, just hearing the word cancer sends a chill up my spine. She was so sick, pale, and frail and I spent weeks fearing that she would die. Now she could be sick again and all I want to do is go home and hold her. I take a minute assuring myself that Adam is with her and she's being well looked after. I start walking to the restaurants in this terminal but I've lost my appetite so I just get coffee. I called Eli yesterday and we're meeting for dinner tonight, I'll have to tell him about Clare, I can't hold this fear on my own while I'm so far away from her.
I continually check my phone and think about Clare all through my flight. Granted I'd probably be doing that anyway but they aren't happy thoughts they're scared ones. Visions of my wife, my angel, the love of my life being sick with cancer again and. Thoughts of her being in the hospital, having to go through chemo again, having to watch her go through chemo again and wither away. I can think of nothing worse, it's been a nightmare in the back of my mind since she went into remission. I'm so caught up in my thoughts I barely notice that the plane has landed, I follow everyone else off and down to baggage. The other people from my office remarked about my mood and I just told them I was worried about Clare but didn't go into detail. We grab our bags and find a town car waiting for us; it takes us to our hotel. I check in get up to my room and call home.
"How are you feeling?" I ask Clare as soon as she answers.
"I feel okay, mostly just tired. How was your flight?" She questions.
"Took forever, all I could think was…"
"Andrew we don't know anything yet, don't jump to conclusions. You need to concentrate on your job and not worry about me," she insists.
"I will concentrate on my job but I'm going to worry about you. Is Adam still there?"
"Yeah he hasn't left; we've just been watching movies all day. Give my love to Eli," She tells me.
"You know I will Angel, I love you," I reply.
"I love you more," she says and I hear the smile on her lips as she says it.
I hang up but my fears have been alleviated, maybe if I could hold her in my arms and see her for myself but I can't. Still I can't let my fears overrun my trip so I take a quick shower and change to meet Eli for dinner.
"Hey Drew," Eli smiles when he sees me at the bar.
"Hey Eli, good to see you Clare and Adam send their love, everyone back home does," I say hugging my formal rival who then became one of my closest friends.
We're seated, order drinks and look at the menu, after bringing our drinks the waiter takes our order.
"How is everyone, I got an e-mail from Adam a couple of weeks ago but I've been so busy. We were still filming in Fiji until last week," Eli comments when the waiter leaves.
"Yeah I know we saw the pictures. Adam is good, falling in love with Ashley and they're both happy. My dad just had his birthday and my parents are good, anxious for their first grandkid and keep reminding us of this. Owen and Paige picked a name, Andrew Dylan Milligan after me and Paige's brother," I tell Eli and he smirks.
"Nice I bet Owen's excited to be a dad," Eli says.
"Yeah he can't wait. Dallas and Bianca are doing well; they're still living together and everything. Fitz is still working at the hospital and dating Jenna. Haven't heard much from Spin, Emma, Jenna, Alli, Maya, Tris or Cam recently but Tris is still in London and Maya's touring. Darcy and Peter are busy with work but Krystan's growing like a weed," I tell him taking out my phone to show him pictures of my 18 month old niece.
"Whoa hard to believe she's that big, I feel like I just got the birth announcement a few weeks ago," Eli says looking at the pictures.
"Yeah I know, Jake and Katie are thinking about kids too, when they get back from Brazil anyway," I say as our food is brought.
"So I've heard about everyone accept Clare so what's up?" Eli questions and I sigh.
"She wasn't feeling well this morning, nauseas and stuff, she said she felt better by the time I landed but she still made an appointment with her oncologist to be safe. She keeps telling me it's nothing but all I can think is…" I pause; I can't even say it out loud because I'm afraid it will make it happen.
"If she's sick again I'm coming home, I can't imagine her going through that again," Eli says with a sigh very similar to the one I made.
"Yeah and she'll need all of us," I nod and decide I'd better change the subject or neither of us will eat. "So how's the movie coming?"
"Great filming is done and we've started post. No retakes yet but I'm sure there will be, always is."
We make a lot of small talk through dinner, I get a picture of us and text it to Clare and we get a drink after. Eli says to call him if I get bored while in L.A. and we part. When I get back to the hotel I get ready for bed and call Clare.
"Looks like you had fun with Eli," she answers.
"Yeah it was good to see him again, still feeling okay?" I question.
"Yeah just tired but I'm already in bed," she says with a yawn.
"I'll let you go then, get some sleep and I'll call you tomorrow," I tell her.
"Okay good luck tomorrow, I miss you and I love you," Clare says barely awake.
"Thanks and I miss you more and I love you more, goodnight Angel."
I hang up with Clare and take a sleeping pill or I'll never get to sleep and tomorrow is a big day.
(CLARE)
My appointment is in four hours and I can't concentrate at work. Adam and Ashely stayed at the house for a couple of nights but I finally forced him to go home. I was sure that I didn't have a cold or the flu as my symptoms came and went. It was feeling more and more like I'd relapsed, I would get nauseas at all times of the day and night. I'd thrown up more than once, my stomach hurt and I was very tired and getting dizzy. I was petrified of my appointment this afternoon just sure that I was going to be told I had relapsed. I had barely been able to concentrate all week. Owen and the others had found out I wasn't feeling well but I didn't tell them what was wrong or what I feared.
I'm staring blankly at my laptop screen, my fingers lightly tapping over the keys as my mind wanders. I'm not typing anything just tapping my fingers on the keys and then knocking on my office door startles me.
"You okay?" Justin asks opening my door.
"Yeah just spacing out," I reply as he closes my door.
"You've been doing that a lot this week and you were sick on Monday what's up?" Justin questions.
"Nothing, just tired and missing Drew," I reply.
"Right, when is he back?" Justin queries.
"Saturday evening, I should get back to writing my copy. We're filming my segment in an hour because of my appointment this afternoon," I comment.
"Yeah your doctor's appointment, just a checkup right?"
"Yeah," I nod.
"You want someone to go with you?" He offers and I smile.
"That's sweet but Adam is taking me," I reply.
"Okay I'll let you work then, let me know if you need help," Justin says and leaves my office.
I finally force myself concentrate typing out my copy, editing, rehearsing and racing to meet the crew in the garage. We head out and I do my job but as soon as we return to the office I get ready to leave. Adam meets me downstairs and takes me to the doctor, I sign in and the nurse shows me to a room. She takes my vitals and has me change into a gown telling me the doctor will be in soon. Adam turns his back while I change into the gown but as soon as I'm sitting on the exam table he turns around again.
"Clare you're shaking," Adam comments taking my hand.
"I'm petrified, what if my cancer is back. I can't go through chemo again, I can't put Drew through that again," I say with a shaky breath.
"If that's why you haven't been feeling well then we'll all be here for you. We'll all help you know that," Adam assures me as there's a knock on the door and a doctor comes in.
"Hi Clare you're in a couple months early for your annual," Dr. Conlon says coming into the room. Dr. Conlon was my original oncologist, she's a great doctor and I always see her for my annual.
"Yeah I've been feeling sort of sick this week and thought I should come in," I reply.
She asks what I've been feeling and I tell her, then she does a physical exam and asks more questions. She has a nurse come in to take some blood and says she'll call me in a couple of days when they get the tests back. Since I'm feeling bad she tells me she'll put a rush on it and if I keep feeling this way I should come in for an MRI. I get dressed again and Adam waits with me, I don't really feel any better, she didn't say it wasn't cancer just that it could be other things.
"So you want to go home and call Drew?" Adam asks when we're back in the car.
"Home yes but I don't really have any news for Drew, still I should call him, I promised I would right after my appointment. My car's back at the station you can just drop me off," I reply.
"I'll drop you off to get your car but I'm coming home with you," Adam states.
He takes me to the station and I get my car then he follows me home. As soon as I get home I call Drew but he must be in a meeting because I get his voicemail. I tell him about the appointment and what Dr. Conlon said, tell I miss him and I love him more, and that I'll call him after I get the results if he's not home yet. Adam calls Ashley and she comes after work, Adam cooks us dinner and Drew calls while we're eating.
"Hi Angel how do you feel?"
"I feel okay, still tired but we're eating dinner. I threw up again this morning and was tired all day. I'm okay and the doctor said she'll put a rush on my tests. She said it could be a lot of things," I tell Drew.
"I changed my flight and I'm coming home on a red eye, I'll be home early in the morning," Drew informs me.
"Drew you don't have to do that, I'm okay really and you have a job to do," I remind him.
"I've already booked the flight and I'm done here, I want to be with you. I'm coming home Angel," Drew asserts.
"Should I pick you up?" I ask.
"No I won't get in until 11:30 and I'll have to get my bags and all that, I'll get a cab or get Dallas or someone to pick me up," Drew assures me.
"Okay I'll see you tonight then, I love you."
"I love you more Angel," he says and hangs up.
"Drew got a flight home tonight," I tell Adam and Ashley when I return to the table.
Adam calls Drew and arranges to pick him up from the airport. We finish dinner and Ashley goes home but Adam hangs out until he leaves to pick up Drew and I get ready for bed. I'm so tired I'm practically asleep by the time Drew does get home. I hear the front door open and set my book down putting a robe on before I go downstairs.
"There's my gorgeous Angel," Drew grins wrapping his arms around me and capturing my lips for a welcoming salacious kiss.
"I'm glad you're home," I grin several minutes later when we pull out of the kiss.
"Me too, come let's get you back to bed," Drew says leaving his suitcase by the door, picking me up and carrying me upstairs.
He puts me in bed and quickly gets ready for bed himself, I rollover and nuzzle up to him as soon as I'm in bed. It's amazing how much you can miss somebody you love. He kisses my forehead and I fall asleep happy to be back in my husband's arms. I wake up late the next morning to the smell of breakfast downstairs. I don't even feel nauseas just happy that Drew's home. I get up putting my robe back on and going downstairs.
"My husbands home and I get breakfast, lucky me," I smile kissing Drew good morning.
"I missed you it's been a week and as soon as I know you're okay we're going to have so much sex," he grins and I giggle smacking his naked butt.
He moans and kisses me again; we eat breakfast cuddled up on the sofa. I help Drew clean up and we start talking about what to do today. We're discussing getting together with Owen and Paige or Adam and Ashley as we wash the dishes. Suddenly I get overwhelmed by dizziness and then it all goes black. I wake up in Drew's arms with his worried face looking down at me.
"You passed out I'm taking you to the hospital," Drew tells me.
I don't even try and argue, Drew carries me upstairs and we get dressed. He drives me to the hospital and doesn't let go of me the entire time. We go to the oncology ward to check in and tell them I think I need an MRI; they'll call Dr. Conlon of course.
"Alright Clare we'll take you back to a room and get your vitals while we call Dr. Conlon," the nurse says.
"Clare," Fitz's voice makes us both turn. Fitz is an orderly at the hospital, he likes his job and he's good at it. He's good with people; he's come so far from that bully he was. "What are you doing here is everything okay?"
"We don't think so she's been feeling sick again, we came in for an MRI," Drew answers.
"Clare that's awful I'm so sorry," Fitz says hugging me and then looks at the nurse, "I'll take them to a room."
Fitz shows me to an exam room, tells me a nurse will be in to check my vitals and he'll check on me. We thank him and then I sit on the exam table and Drew sits behind me with his arms around me.
"Drew I could have cancer again, I don't think I can go through that again. Feeling so sick and weak, it took me months to recover. What if I can't work?"
"The only thing I care about is getting you healthy again no matter what it takes. We'll get through it and we have support, lots of it. If you're sick again I will do anything it takes to make you better," Drew assures me when there's a knock on the door. We expect the doctor but it's Fitz again.
"Clare you don't need an MRI the lab results came back, you're still in remission," Fitz tells us excitedly.
"Are you sure?" I question with hope and trepidation in my tone.
"I'm positive you white cell, red cell and platelet counts re all normal," Fitz answers with a grin. "You've been feeling sick because you're pregnant!"
And there will be a Torres baby! Everyone do the happy dance! Next update will be Friday January 23rd from right around here and everyone finding out Clare is pregnant.