Chapter 7

Thanks to everyone who took the time to read and review… hope you enjoy. As always, let me know what you think!

The early morning sun began to rise above the horizon of the city. It was Sunday morning, and DC was quiet- well relatively speaking. The air a bit brisk for that time of year, but the sun glowed bright golden yellow as it burned off the morning haze.

Jack's eyes fluttered open, his arm had long ago gone numb. The fuzziness in his brain began to clear and he looked to his side. There lay the reason for the tingle in his arm, Sue Thomas. Her blonde hair tossed about her head, lying lightly on his chest. He bent his head toward her hair, breathing in the scent of her. He laid a soft kiss on top of her head and brushed the stray locks from her face. His finger traced along the side of her cheek bone. She stirred at his touch. Soon her eyes fluttered open to meet his. He held her gaze, staring deep into her bright green eyes. She finally smiled at him.

"Morning." She said, wiping her eyes.

"Good Morning." He answered back, smiling down on her.

"How long have you been awake?" She asked.

"A little bit." Jack answered smiling wide.

"Why didn't you wake me?" Sue asked softly.

"I was enjoying watching you sleep." He said smiling again. Jack slowly leaned toward her, kissing her gently on the lips. Sue backed off their kiss, pressing her hand to his chest. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"Nothing. I just don't want to confuse this, that's all." She said as she nuzzled back into his chest. Jack held her to him tight, unsure if he should broach the subject or let it go. He decided for now to let it go.

Another half hour passed before either of them moved again. When they finally did, it was Jack who caved to the hunger.

"Hungry?" He asked. She smiled and nodded. "Me too. How 'bout breakfast?" He asked.

"What are you going to make us?" She asked playfully. Jack jumped out of bed and headed to the kitchen. Twenty minutes later, Jack reappeared with a plate full of French toast and two cups of steaming coffee.

"What's this? Room service?" She teased.

"What are you planning for the day?" Jack asked.

"Well, after breakfast, I want to shower and go to church." She smiled, looking at him hopefully. "Would you like to join me?" She asked.

"Weren't you just the one who said you didn't want to confuse this?" Jack said. Sue looked at him oddly. "Didn't you just ask if I wanted to join you in the shower?"

"Jack!" Sue gasped, shocked at his suggestion. "That is not what I was asking, and you know it!" She exclaimed, her cheeks glowing red as she smacked his arm.

He pulled his arm back, rolling to his side to avoid the hit, laughing wildly.

"Oh, you didn't mean that? Oh, church then? I would love to. But, I need to shower first too." He said smiling. "If you're interested in saving water…" He joked, again laughing hard. "Just kidding! Just kidding!" He said loudly as he tried to avoid another slap.

After breakfast, Sue and Jack showered, separately, and headed to church. Throughout the service, Jack could tell she wasn't paying much attention to the sermon, but was deep in thought and prayer. He knew she was thinking on the impending decision. Silently, he reached into her lap and took her hand in his, entwining their fingers. Sue smiled, but didn't look in his direction.

After services, the pair walked hand and hand toward the center of town. Jack spotted a frozen yogurt place and began to walk toward it. After each getting their dessert, they walked back to the car.

"Do you want to go back to my place or go home?" Jack asked.

"I should go home." She said. "It's been nice spending so much time with you though."

"I know." He said smiling fondly at her. He started the car and headed toward her and Lucy's place. He parked close to the apartment, and walked her to the door. He began saying his goodbye when she held his hand and asked him to come up with her.

"I need a friend, another friend. Lucy's probably home, but I'm going to need you too." She paused. He took her by the hand and guided inside. "I need to call my parents." She said softly. "I am not looking forward to that."

They walked in to find Lucy reading on the couch. Lucy jumped up when she heard the door open and ran to her best friend, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"Oh, honey, how are you?" She asked as she pulled away from her. "I'm surprised to see you. How are you?" Lucy asked.

"I'm OK." She answered as she walked into the kitchen and got a bottle of water for each of them. Levi trotted over to her and wagged his tail at her. She hugged him tight and patted him on the chest affectionately. "Love you too buddy." She whispered.

Lucy and Jack exchanged a look.

"Uhh. I've made a decision." Sue said, her voice cracking. She swallowed down the lump that suddenly formed in her throat. Lucy sat next to her on the couch, Jack on the chair across from her. She fiddled with the bottle she was drinking from. Slowly she lifted her head looking at her two best friends sitting next to her. Lucy rubbed her shoulder. "I'm going to have the full mastectomy." Lucy gasped at her decision. "It's- it's just the best option for me." Sue said, a tear slipped down her cheek. Lucy wrapped her arms around Sue, Jack did too. Lucy's tears fell as did Sue's. Jack held both of them for a long moment.

"Sue are you sure?" Lucy asked.

"Yes." She said evenly. "I want children one day Luce. If I go with the partial, and I have to have chemo and radiation, I chance becoming infertile. If there's even one chance in a million that that will happen, I have to try to prevent it." Sue said. Tears spilled onto Lucy's cheeks, but not Sue's.

"You should call Dr. Kerswell; let her know your decision." Jack said, his voice cracking a bit. Sue took her phone into her room and made the call. Lucy stayed out on the couch with Jack.

"Jack? Do you really think this is the best decision?" She asked quietly.

"It is for her." He answered. "You heard her Luce. She needs to believe this is best. This is the one option that will keep her from being sick all the time, losing her hair, and maybe the possibility to become a mom." Jack whispered. "I'm supporting her on whatever decision she makes."

"I am too. I wanted to know where you stood on it." Lucy answered. "Jack? Do you think she's right on some level?" She paused. "I mean, you're a guy. Will having only one breast change things for her? Does it make a difference with men?" She asked.

"It doesn't matter to me." He said. He paused, Lucy smiled. Lucy read a lot into that answer, she liked it. "She has to call her mom. I want to be here for that. That's going to be a hard phone call." Jack said.

"I'm not going anywhere." Lucy agreed. "Jack? What about work?" She asked.

"I'll take care of it if she's not up to it." Jack said.

Sue walked out of her bedroom. "Well, I have to be there for 6 on Wednesday morning." She said. As she reached for the bottle of water, Jack noticed how much her hand was shaking. He walked to her and wrapped her in his arms. She accepted his gesture of support, and hugged him back.

"I'm OK. I am, Jack, really." Sue said. Something about finally making the decision has me at ease with it. Maybe it's because I've finally accepted it?" She said.

"OK." Jack started. "You've made your decision, told your doctor. You need to tell your parents. Do you want to tell the team, or do you want us to do that for you?" He asked.

"Uhh, I haven't thought that far, yet. I need to go in tomorrow and ask for the time off, probably short term disability. I don't want to call mom and dad. This will kill them." She said.

"Sue. They're your family, they'll want to be here with you." Lucy argued.

"I know, that's the problem!" Sue joked.

"And, speaking of that…" Jack started. "We should come up with a care schedule for you." He said.

"I'll be taking care of her, but would like some help." Lucy offered.

"Do I get a say in this at all?" Sue asked.

"Sorry…" Lucy said. "We're just trying to help."

"I know, and I appreciate it, but I need to be making these decisions." Sue said, sounding exasperated. She took a deep breath and blew it out hard. "I'm sorry, I'm just starting to feel overwhelmed." She paused. "OK. I'm going to go to work tomorrow and talk to HR about time off. I will come up to the bull pen and see if I can get through some sort of explanation before I lose it altogether." Sue said. "As for my care team, I was thinking of just getting a nurse. This way no one feels like they have to come and help." Sue said.

"What those of us who want to help?" Lucy asked.

"Do you not want us helping?" Jack asked.

"No. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way." She said. "I don't want to burden you guys." She said.

"Let us worry about that. I think you should have a nurse come in to take care of the wound, but we can help with the daily things you'll need. Things like getting dressed, exercising your arm, feeding yourself. You're not going to be able to do much." Lucy said.

"OK." She said softly. "I do want you guys with me."

Sue turned away and dialed her mom's number. "Hi Mom, it's Sue. I wanted to talk to you and Daddy. Can you call me when you get this message? Talk to you soon. Love you." Sue said, shutting the phone.

Lucy walked past the calendar and stopped in her tracks.

"Sue? You didn't get your mom because they're on vacation." Lucy said. "It says there they're on a cruise until Wednesday." Lucy said.

"Oh, I forgot." Sue said. "I'll call her when I'm feeling up to it after surgery. I'm not ruining her vacation, especially when she can't get off the ship anyway." Sue said.

"Don't worry, it'll work out." Lucy assured her.

"OK, dinner?" Jack said, clapping his hands together. "What do we all want?" He asked.

"Nothing." Sue said as she headed for the couch. "I just can't eat right now."

"Sue. You need to eat. It's three days before your surgery, you can't go that long without eating." Lucy argued.

"Lucy's right. You need to keep your strength up." Jack added. "How about some soup from the deli on the corner?" He offered. Sue rolled her eyes and sighed before agreeing. Lucy wrote down what she wanted and Jack left to fetch their dinner.

Sue sat on the couch, Lucy watched her closely, unable to read what she was thinking or feeling.

"What?" Sue asked.

"Just wondering how you're holding up? What you're thinking?" Lucy said.

"I'm ehh, OK I guess. It's so surreal right now, I feel like I'm in a fog." Sue admitted. She looked at Lucy and smiled. "I'm sorry for being such a downer."

Lucy laughed. "A downer? Sweetie, you're not even close to what I would be like if I was going through what you are right now." She said. Sue laughed with her.

"I'm scared Luce." Sue admitted.

"I don't blame you. I am too. This is a scary thing you're going through." Lucy said softly finally sitting next to her on the couch. Sue half smiled at her. "What I do want to know is…" Lucy said with a teasing smile on her lips, raising her eye brows suggestively. "What happened last night?" Lucy's smile spread.

"A lady never tells." Sue said slyly. Lucy's mouth dropped open as she gasped in mock disgust that Sue was keeping her secrets.

"Does that mean there's something to tell?" She teased. "Tell me this… was it worth it? Wait, first, did he go along with it?" Lucy asked.

"Luce!" Sue protested. Sue thought for a minute. "I'll say this." She paused, lightly biting her lip. "It is going to be extremely hard for me to pretend that I'm not in love with him." She said letting a smile grace her face. Lucy arched an eyebrow, her smile never faded.

"Somehow, I don't think you'll have to pretend, or hide it. I know Jack feels the same." Lucy said.

"I can't think about that right now. I can't set myself up for a huge disappointment." She looked at Lucy. "I know Jack loves me- as a friend." She held up her hand to Lucy who was about to protest. "But I can't let myself think there's more to us. I have to concentrate on fighting this." She said solemnly.

"OK." Lucy agreed. Jack walked through the door with dinner.