Chapter 8
Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter. Please keep reading and letting me know what you think.
Sue pushed the door to personnel open and walked in. The office was well lit, full of cubicles with lots of people walking about. Phones were ringing as Sue walked up to the front desk.
"Mr. Murphy?" Sue asked.
"Yes?" The man behind the desk asked, looking up.
"I'm Sue Thomas. I need to speak to you about taking a medical leave." She began.
Thirty minutes later she was headed up to the bull pen. She slowed her pace, beginning to feel the nerves she'd managed to keep at bay so far.
"Hey! Look at the pretty little stray Sheila that just walked in!" Bobby said as he got up to greet her with a hug.
"Nice to see you Thomas." Myles commented. Lucy was impressed with the fact that it sounded like he meant that.
Tara made her way over to Sue and gave her a hug. "We've missed you." She said, smiling at her.
"I've missed you guys too." She said, smiling back at her trying to hold it together. "Umm, is D in his office?"
'Yeah." Bobby answered. Sue turned and walked to his office and knocked softly. Levi pawed at her, telling her that D had answered.
"Hi." Sue said.
"Hi yourself." D answered. He got up and gave her a quick hug. "It's good to see you."
"That seems to be the general consensus." She smiled. "Do you have a minute? I need to talk to you." She said nervously.
"Sure, what's going on?" D asked. Sue began to tell her tale of what she'd been through, and what was coming, and told him in the end she was going to need time off. After a long talk with D, she headed out into the middle of the bullpen.
"Can- Can I have everyone's attention? I need to talk to you, all, about something that's been going on." Sue began. She took a deep breath, wringing her hands as her closest friends gathered around. "I'm sure you all noticed I took a couple days off last week."
Everyone nodded.
"I've been diagnosed with stage one breast cancer." As she looked around the room, the look of shock and sadness showed on the faces of her friends. Tara's hand instantly flew to her mouth, covering her shock. Tears slipped down her cheek. "It's in the milk glands. It's operable. My chances are really good, although I didn't ask for any statistics." She let out a nervous giggle. "I wanted to tell everyone before I have the surgery. I wanted it to come from me. I didn't tell anyone because I didn't want anyone else to have to worry about this until I knew something." She said.
"How?" Tara muttered.
"I don't know, they don't know." Sue answered.
"When did you find out?" Myles asked.
"Friday." She answered.
"When you and Lucy left to interview that witness on a case that doesn't exist…" Tara concluded.
"Sorry about that. Like I said, I didn't want anyone to worry. I only told Lucy because I felt I owed it to her." Sue explained.
"You don't owe us an explanation." Myles assured her.
"When's the surgery?" Bobby asked.
"Wednesday. I have to be there at 6 AM." She answered.
"Wow. That's soon." Tara added.
"It is, but they said the sooner the better. We don't want to give it a chance to spread." She answered.
"How long will you be in the hospital?" Tara asked.
"About three days. I should be home on Saturday." Sue answered.
"So, we'll see you at your desk on Monday morning?" Myles teased.
"Yes. In about six weeks." She said, smiling.
Myles walked to her and wrapped her in his arms, hugging her. The whole team looked at him surprised, it was so out of character for him.
"I'm sorry for what you're going through Sue. If there's anything you need, let me know." He said.
"Thank you Myles. It means a lot." Sue said, allowing a tear to fall onto her cheek. "I want to tell you all something. It's been a difficult week, but knowing that I have my family" She began, as she raised her hand across the group before her. "Here for me. I know as long as I have you in my corner, I'll be alright." She said smiling. Lucy and Tara had tears flowing down their cheeks. Jack and Bobby were misting up, but trying to fight showing it. Myles had left the office altogether.
"Sue's going to need some nurse maids, any volunteers?" Lucy asked laughing through her tears. The whole office erupted into laughter.
"We'll all be here for anything you need Sue. We'll split the days, take turns helping you out." D assured.
"Thanks, but I think I'm going to have plenty. I will have a daily nurse for at least the first 2 weeks. After that, I should be able to get around a bit." Sue said.
"Not from the research I've done." Lucy said. "You'll need someone longer than that. Let us help you Sue." She said.
"Thanks." Was all she said. "Look, I've asked for a medical leave for at least 6 weeks, starting today. I have to get some things taken care of with the doctor and hospital." She said. One by one, the team made their way to her, hugging her, giving her their reassurance that she'd be fine. They all promised to stop by and see her.
Jack walked Sue out.
"I thought everything was settled with the doctor?" He asked.
"Most of it. I have to make sure all the paperwork is taken care of, all the forms are signed." She said, leaving out her first stop once she left.
Jack opened the back door for Levi then helped her into the car, giving her a light kiss on her cheek.
"Call me later, OK?" He said, smiling.
Sue smiled back and nodded as she drove away.
She looked in her rearview mirror to see Levi's dark eyes staring back at her. "Don't give me that look. I didn't exactly lie to him. I am doing all of those things, I just have something else to do first." She said as she drove.
Sue moved through the downtown streets until she found the office building she had a two o'clock appointment at. "Klapproth and DeLuca 205" read the sign on the directory. Sue and Levi made their way up to the second floor to the attorney's office.
"Good Afternoon. You must be Sue?" The woman behind the receptionist's desk asked. Sue nodded. "Take a seat, Ms. Klapproth will be with you shortly."
Sue took out the book that was given to her at the hospital by Anne, and began to read. Fifteen minutes later, a woman in her early thirties with soft brown hair and smoky blue eyes came out of the office and called to Sue. Sue was engrossed in her book, and didn't see the woman standing there. Levi intervened by nuzzling Sue's hand with his nose.
"Ms. Thomas?" The woman said walking toward Sue, her hand out stretched. "I'm Carol Klapproth."
"Yes. Hi. It's nice to meet you." She responded.
The women walked into Carol's office and closed the door.
"Can I get you something to drink? Coffee, tea?" She offered.
"Coffee would be great, thank you." Sue said. Carol brought over a spinner of K-cups for her to choose. After the cup was delivered to Sue, Carol opened the file.
"Ms. Thomas, you phoned wanting to discuss a last will and testament, as well as the possibility of a living well?" She asked. Sue nodded. "May I ask why?"
"I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and will be having surgery on Wednesday. I want all my ducks in a row, as they say." Sue answered.
"I'm sorry for your trouble." She said.
"Thank you, but I'm sure others have had worse. I'm sure I'll be fine, but it's still scary." Sue said smiling. "I want something in place, 'in case', that will cover my personal belongings, savings, and take care of Levi." She said nodding her head toward Levi sitting on the side of her.
"I totally understand. It's a good idea to have everything in order. You're right in thinking there could be a need." She said. "Do you know how you want to divide things up? What you have specifically?" She asked.
"No. Not really. I was hoping you could help me with that." Sue said.
"That's what you're paying me for." She laughed. Sue joined her.
"Do you want to generalize it? We can list it as, 'savings', '401K', 'insurance' and 'belongings'. I have found that putting it in simple general terms is usually best." Carol explained
"Sounds good to me." Sue agreed.
"Do you have any idea who you want for a beneficiary?" She asked. Sue went on for the next hour answering similar questions. Finally it came time to decide on Levi.
"I want him to stay with Lucy Dotson or Jack Hudson." Sue said.
"Not your parents?" Carol asked.
"No. They don't understand him. Lucy and Jack do, they'll make better care givers for him." Sue reassured.
"OK. That only leaves us with the choice of life support or none. If you sing a DNR, you will not be resuscitated. That means, if your heart stops beating or you stop breathing, nothing will be done to bring you back.
"I don't want that. I just want it so I'm not lifeless being kept alive by machines for years." Sue said shaking her head. "I wouldn't want that." Sue said.
"I understand. I will note that. Are you an organ donor?" Carol asked.
"I am. I have it on my license. " Sue explained.
"I'll indicate it here as well. If you'll just sign here, here, here, here, and here we'll be all set." She explained. The woman took out a stamp and stamped a mark on the bottom of the documents, making them official. "I will have a copy sent to you. Do you have any questions?" She asked.
"Will my beneficiaries receive a copy?" Sue asked.
"Not unless the unthinkable happens, then they will be summoned to a meeting where your last wishes will be revealed." She answered.
"Thank you, for everything." Sue said taking Carol's hand in hers.
"It was very nice meeting you. I'm sure you just wasted your short term money." She joked with Sue. "I wish you the best of luck with everything." With that, Sue parted ways with the lawyer.
The next day was busy, making last minute preparations. She took Levi for an extra-long walk in the park, knowing it was the last she'd be able to take him on for a while. She packed a bag for her stay at the hospital which included her toiletries, changes of clothes for the trip home, and the book that Anne had given her. Anne was right the story was a good one. It had a strong female lead, a great back ground of a town, which became a character of its own, not to mention a hot, strong, rugged leading man.
She took the time to write a letter to her parents telling them she loved them very much and thanking them for taking the time to make sure she had a good life. There was one to the team as a whole. She wrote a letter to Lucy telling her she was the best friend she'd ever had, and was glad she'd bugged her into getting a place together. She also explained to her that the lawyer had a copy of her will, and she's set up a fund for Levi, and if Lucy was willing, she wanted her to take care of him. Then there was Jack's.
Dear Jack,
I don't know where to start this letter. First I want to say thank you for taking a chance on me, and my ability. If it wasn't for you, I probably never would have become an agent. I owe you, a lot. I want to thank you for being a great friend. You've been there for me through a lot of stuff.
There is another thing I've needed to tell you, but couldn't. I shouldn't now, but I figure you won't see this unless I don't make it… I love you. I've been in love with you since almost the first day I met you. Please don't feel bad that you didn't know, or that you don't feel the same way- it's OK. The kiss we shared at Callahan and Merced meant something to me, but I never let on. Saturday night was the most special, most incredible night of my life. Thank you for not even trying to cross the line with me. I could tell, you wanted to. Honestly, so did I. If I do make it through this, maybe one day… I love you so much Jack, it hurts to think about it. Please promise me that you'll take care of yourself. Love, Sue.
Sue put her pen down, and put each letter into envelopes and addressed them. She put them in her dresser drawer with the note which read "Do not read unless I don't make it."
Just after 5:30, Lucy made her way through the door with Jack close behind. Jack carried pizza, Lucy a bottle of wine, and a movie.
"What's this?" Sue asked.
"A celebration!" Jack said.
"Of?" Sue asked.
"You're six week vacation!" He answered. Lucy shrugged her shoulders.
"Hey, don't ask me, he said pizza, and he was buying… need I say more?" Lucy poured the wine, Jack divvied up the pizza and they all sat.
"A toast!" Jack called, holding his glass up. The ladies joined him.
"To Sue. To quick recoveries, and good health!" He said. They clanked glasses and drank.
"Thanks you guys. It means a lot. I can't eat or drink after 9 though." She said. Well, I can have clear liquids til 2."
Jack looked at his watch. "Well, then, we need to eat up! Only 3 hours left!" he teased. The friends ate the pizzas and drank the bottle of wine. The movie never made it to the DVD player.
The evening passed quickly. Lucy decided to get her shower in early and go to bed, since she needed to be up early. It also gave her the excuse to leave Sue and Jack alone for a bit.
"Night Luce. I'll see you in the morning." Sue said.
"Good night you two." Lucy said walking into her room.
"Night Lucy." Jack called out. "You should get some rest too." Jack said.
"I'm going to rest all day tomorrow. I'm fine." She said.
"Too nervous?" He asked, taking her hand in his. She nodded. "You're going to be fine. You know that, right?" He asked.
"Yeah. I believe that I will make it through this, it's just going to be really hard. I have a long fight ahead of me." She said.
"No, you have a long recovery ahead of you, but we're going to be here for you. Lucy and I aren't going anywhere." Jack said squeezing her hand. "Now, you need to get some sleep. So do I." he said.
"Yeah, you have a busy day at work tomorrow no doubt." Sue said.
"I'm not going in tomorrow. I already called out." He winked at her. "I have the 'support Sue flu'" He joked. "I am taking you to the hospital with Lucy, and I will be there til… well, we'll see." He said winking at her.
"You don't have to…" Sue started.
"I want to." Jack said. "Now, if you don't mind, I want to get some sleep. Will you please go to bed already?" He smiled at her and sat on her couch.
"I didn't realize we were having a sleep over tonight." She teased back. "I'll see you in the morning." She said as she disappeared behind her bedroom door. She closed the door behind her and smiled wide.