Post by cal54382 on Mar 30, 2015 1:04:47 GMT
Rosalind Caine waited in the hospital for the familiar face to appear. She was nervous and she hadn't even gotten to the hard part yet. Alexx came out to the waiting room, smiling when she spotted the familiar face.
Rosa smiled and hugged Alexx. "Thanks," she whispered before letting her go.
"For what honey?"
"Being you." She loved that she knew she could go to her friend when she was afraid to go to her dad.
"Well, you are more than welcome. What brings you here today?"
"Can we talk somewhere?"
Alexx nodded, leading her to an empty room.
"I need to tell you a story...and then I need you to help me tell Dad."
"Okay.... Is something wrong?"
"A year ago, I was diagnosed with cancer. I've recently recovered, supposedly. I...I want you to make sure it's in remission...and I want you to help me find a way to tell Dad. After Marisol..."
"I understand. We can do a blood test and I'll check. I should get the results by the end of today."
"I'm moving back home, because I want...I want my family. But I'm scared to tell him. Maybe as scared as I am of the results of that test. My doctor said I was in remission, but...I don't trust her like I do you."
"You'll be in remission sweetheart, I know you will."
"Do you think I should wait to tell Dad until the results are back?"
"Yes, that way you can be sure when you tell him."
"Will you come with me?"
"Of course."
She smiled for her friend, not even wincing at the needle, she who had always been so scared of even a flu shot. Her arms looked like she was a junkie. Alexx was quick, the test over before it could be noticed. She put a rush on the results, but could tell by looking at her friend, that she was okay. She didn't look sick, she actually looked like she had the last time she had seen her.
"I really am, you know?" Rosa looked at the closest thing she had to a mom, almost as if she'd heard her thoughts. "My hair's growing back, I still catch colds more easily, I still get tired quicker, but I'm alive and it's gone. I just...I want to make sure it's not coming back. So many that I was in treatment with..."
"Honey, you are strong. Nothing is going to be wrong."
"Do you have to go back to work?" She meant back to other 'patients'.
"I was on my way out actually."
"Do you still have my cell phone?"
"Yes."
"I know you have other things to do besides babysit. You'll....you'll call me?"
"Yes, but why don't we go get some lunch?"
She smiled. "I'd like that. I want to hear how the kids are doing. They must be so big now."
"They miss you."
"I miss them. I miss everyone."
"We all miss you. Especially Ryan."
"I...I never did find anyone else. Not like him. I dated, there were guys I liked, but...they weren't Ryan."
"I bet he would say the same."
"I was just a kid. He's probably changed his mind several times by now, Alexx. I wasn't...wasn't much older than Kaya is now." Her sister just turned a teenager; she'd been barely out of her teens when she'd dated Ryan, when she'd left Miami.
"Trust me. He still wants you."
"I guess we'll see. We'll see a lot of things."
"Let's go eat, then you can come home with me and see the kids. They miss you so much."
"I miss them." Almost as much as she missed Kaya.
"I can call Natalia, get her to bring Kaya over if you want."
"I don't want her to know I'm home until I talk to Dad."
"I don't want to cause problems by her knowing before he does."
"Fair enough but I'm sure that she wants you."
She was firm on her decision. She didn't want to cause problems for her friend and she didn't want her dad to know until she had the results.
"Alright, I can wait."
"Thanks." Gone was the fast food lunch the teen had usually inhaled. Rosa was extremely selective in what she would and wouldn't eat, finally selecting a salad and tea with no sweetener.
Alexx ordered herself a small meal, having missed lunch. She was watching her friend carefully, trying to figure out what was bothering her.
She saw Alexx's worried look. "Is something wrong?"
"There is something you aren't telling me."
She thought through and shook her head. "I wouldn't know what it is."
"Maybe it's just the way you're worrying."
"With the tumors when I was nineteen, now the cancer, I just...I want to be careful."
"Understandable."
She finally figured out what was bothering Alexx. "I've gotten used to eating this way. For so long I couldn't eat at all, I've retrained myself. Do I every once in awhile get a craving for McDonald fries and a coke? Yes. But is it worth dying for? Not hardly."
"You can still eat it honey, you just shouldn't eat too much of it."
She shook her head, not arguing, but not willing to take the risk.
"Fine, but at least have something more filling."
She smiled. "I'm fine, Mom."
"Promise?"
"Swear." She smiled again.
"Alright." Alexx raised her hands in a surrender.
*****************
Rosa watched Alexx as she talked on the phone, knowing what the call was about, trying to gauge her friend's reaction.
Alexx hung up. "Told you everything was fine."
She breathed a sigh of relief. "I...I have an idea." She paused and then lined out her idea for her friend.
"That is an excellent idea."
"They deserve more than to have it at the lab, have everyone watching, trying to figure out what's going on. I'll tell Cal and Eric later, maybe Kaya one day too, but right now, I just want it them. And you."
"At my house then?"
"No. I have a place." She wrote down the address.
"Alright. I can have everyone there in an hour."
"Thanks, Alexx."
Alexx nodded. "Anytime."
********************
Ryan was the first to arrive, together with Alexx. Horatio and Natalia weren't far behind them, having dropped Kaya off with Calleigh and Eric. Ryan knocked on the door, curious to know who they were visiting. Rosa opened the door, smiling. Ryan was so excited to see Rosa. He pulled her into a hug, having noticed the changes but honestly not caring.
"I missed you," she whispered.
"I missed you too Rosa. How long have you been back?"
She motioned for her dad and Natalia to come in. They stood on the doorstep, just staring, in shock. Ryan grabbed Natalia's hand, pulling her inside while Alexx tried to get Horatio in.
"Daddy, say something..." Rosa said quietly. "Please.?"
Horatio finally found his voice. "Rosa, what happened?"
She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Does anyone want anything to drink?"
They all shook their heads. Ryan sat Rosa down on the couch with him.
She slipped her hand into his, as if it had never left. "There's no easy way to say this. Or to hear it, I guess. I was sick, but I'm better now. I guess you could call it 'remission'." She waited for it to hit them, her dad especially.
Ryan's eyes watered and he pulled her to him, hugging her tight. Horatio was staring, shocked again, and he couldn't process it.
"Cancer?" Horatio asked in a whisper.
Natalia sat closer to Horatio, her hand holding his, her eyes looking not at Rosa, but at Alexx for confirmation that it really was in remission.
Rosa nodded. "I went through radiation and chemo, but it's gone now. I've gotten two different doctors, including Alexx, to confirm that."
"Then we should celebrate," said Ryan, having regained his composure. "Of course, after you see Kaya."
"Kaya would love that," Natalia said softly. "Wouldn't she, H?"
He nodded, but had stopped listening. He wanted to wrap Rosa in his arms and never let go.
"There's more good news. This house...it's mine. I've moved back to Miami. For good."
Ryan grinned happily. But Horatio didn't hear it. "You're sick?"
"Not anymore, Daddy. I promise." She looked at Alexx for help.
"She really is better Horatio," said Alexx. "I promise."
"Horatio?" Natalia looked at him now, worried.
"I'm so sorry sweetheart. I wish I could have helped."
"I didn't...I didn't want you to go through it all over again." Everyone, even Natalia, knew what she was referring to.
"You are my baby. I would do anything for you."
"I'll remember that," she said softly.
"You should be resting, not talking like this. You should lie down."
"Dad. I'm fine. I promise. In fact, if she doesn't have other plans, I'd like to see Kaya. I'd like to have dinner here, as a family."
"You'll tell us if you need to rest?" Natalia asked.
Rosa nodded.
"I'll go pick up Kaya then."
"I'll go start dinner. Alexx, do you want to stay?" She was almost sure that her friend would want to spend time with her husband and kids.
"Do you need anything? I can come past after dinner."
"I'm okay, but thank you. I couldn't have done this without you." She hugged her.
"I'm always happy to help."
She walked her friend out, aware that her dad's eyes were on her every second. "I'm going to start dinner," she said when she came back.
Horatio stood. "Let me help."
She started to say she didn't need help, but did want their company. "All right. Thank you."
Horatio shot up and almost carried her to the kitchen. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm sure, Dad." She told him what she had Alexx. "I get a little tired still, but my hair's back, my appetite's coming back, I'll be okay."
"I want you to come and stay with us."
She turned to look at him. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"But no."
"Please?"
She shook her head. "I'm going to be in the same city, Dad. Be happy with that."
"At least let Ryan stay with you then."
"Really?" This she looked interested in, teasing him slightly.
"I know about you two dating when you were kids."
"Well, I would hope you do since you getting him kicked out of the lab was the reason I left."
"One of them anyway."
"My point is that you two love each other and I think you know my motive for wanting him here with you."
"Because you don't think I can take care of myself?"
"Because I'm worried about you."
"I know you do, Dad." She kissed his cheek.
"What happens between Ryan and myself is still between Ryan and myself. I appreciate your concern but I'm moving back to Miami. I'm almost thirty. I'm not moving home."
"Then come and visit every day."
"That, I'll do."
Rosa smiled and hugged Alexx. "Thanks," she whispered before letting her go.
"For what honey?"
"Being you." She loved that she knew she could go to her friend when she was afraid to go to her dad.
"Well, you are more than welcome. What brings you here today?"
"Can we talk somewhere?"
Alexx nodded, leading her to an empty room.
"I need to tell you a story...and then I need you to help me tell Dad."
"Okay.... Is something wrong?"
"A year ago, I was diagnosed with cancer. I've recently recovered, supposedly. I...I want you to make sure it's in remission...and I want you to help me find a way to tell Dad. After Marisol..."
"I understand. We can do a blood test and I'll check. I should get the results by the end of today."
"I'm moving back home, because I want...I want my family. But I'm scared to tell him. Maybe as scared as I am of the results of that test. My doctor said I was in remission, but...I don't trust her like I do you."
"You'll be in remission sweetheart, I know you will."
"Do you think I should wait to tell Dad until the results are back?"
"Yes, that way you can be sure when you tell him."
"Will you come with me?"
"Of course."
She smiled for her friend, not even wincing at the needle, she who had always been so scared of even a flu shot. Her arms looked like she was a junkie. Alexx was quick, the test over before it could be noticed. She put a rush on the results, but could tell by looking at her friend, that she was okay. She didn't look sick, she actually looked like she had the last time she had seen her.
"I really am, you know?" Rosa looked at the closest thing she had to a mom, almost as if she'd heard her thoughts. "My hair's growing back, I still catch colds more easily, I still get tired quicker, but I'm alive and it's gone. I just...I want to make sure it's not coming back. So many that I was in treatment with..."
"Honey, you are strong. Nothing is going to be wrong."
"Do you have to go back to work?" She meant back to other 'patients'.
"I was on my way out actually."
"Do you still have my cell phone?"
"Yes."
"I know you have other things to do besides babysit. You'll....you'll call me?"
"Yes, but why don't we go get some lunch?"
She smiled. "I'd like that. I want to hear how the kids are doing. They must be so big now."
"They miss you."
"I miss them. I miss everyone."
"We all miss you. Especially Ryan."
"I...I never did find anyone else. Not like him. I dated, there were guys I liked, but...they weren't Ryan."
"I bet he would say the same."
"I was just a kid. He's probably changed his mind several times by now, Alexx. I wasn't...wasn't much older than Kaya is now." Her sister just turned a teenager; she'd been barely out of her teens when she'd dated Ryan, when she'd left Miami.
"Trust me. He still wants you."
"I guess we'll see. We'll see a lot of things."
"Let's go eat, then you can come home with me and see the kids. They miss you so much."
"I miss them." Almost as much as she missed Kaya.
"I can call Natalia, get her to bring Kaya over if you want."
"I don't want her to know I'm home until I talk to Dad."
"I don't want to cause problems by her knowing before he does."
"Fair enough but I'm sure that she wants you."
She was firm on her decision. She didn't want to cause problems for her friend and she didn't want her dad to know until she had the results.
"Alright, I can wait."
"Thanks." Gone was the fast food lunch the teen had usually inhaled. Rosa was extremely selective in what she would and wouldn't eat, finally selecting a salad and tea with no sweetener.
Alexx ordered herself a small meal, having missed lunch. She was watching her friend carefully, trying to figure out what was bothering her.
She saw Alexx's worried look. "Is something wrong?"
"There is something you aren't telling me."
She thought through and shook her head. "I wouldn't know what it is."
"Maybe it's just the way you're worrying."
"With the tumors when I was nineteen, now the cancer, I just...I want to be careful."
"Understandable."
She finally figured out what was bothering Alexx. "I've gotten used to eating this way. For so long I couldn't eat at all, I've retrained myself. Do I every once in awhile get a craving for McDonald fries and a coke? Yes. But is it worth dying for? Not hardly."
"You can still eat it honey, you just shouldn't eat too much of it."
She shook her head, not arguing, but not willing to take the risk.
"Fine, but at least have something more filling."
She smiled. "I'm fine, Mom."
"Promise?"
"Swear." She smiled again.
"Alright." Alexx raised her hands in a surrender.
*****************
Rosa watched Alexx as she talked on the phone, knowing what the call was about, trying to gauge her friend's reaction.
Alexx hung up. "Told you everything was fine."
She breathed a sigh of relief. "I...I have an idea." She paused and then lined out her idea for her friend.
"That is an excellent idea."
"They deserve more than to have it at the lab, have everyone watching, trying to figure out what's going on. I'll tell Cal and Eric later, maybe Kaya one day too, but right now, I just want it them. And you."
"At my house then?"
"No. I have a place." She wrote down the address.
"Alright. I can have everyone there in an hour."
"Thanks, Alexx."
Alexx nodded. "Anytime."
********************
Ryan was the first to arrive, together with Alexx. Horatio and Natalia weren't far behind them, having dropped Kaya off with Calleigh and Eric. Ryan knocked on the door, curious to know who they were visiting. Rosa opened the door, smiling. Ryan was so excited to see Rosa. He pulled her into a hug, having noticed the changes but honestly not caring.
"I missed you," she whispered.
"I missed you too Rosa. How long have you been back?"
She motioned for her dad and Natalia to come in. They stood on the doorstep, just staring, in shock. Ryan grabbed Natalia's hand, pulling her inside while Alexx tried to get Horatio in.
"Daddy, say something..." Rosa said quietly. "Please.?"
Horatio finally found his voice. "Rosa, what happened?"
She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Does anyone want anything to drink?"
They all shook their heads. Ryan sat Rosa down on the couch with him.
She slipped her hand into his, as if it had never left. "There's no easy way to say this. Or to hear it, I guess. I was sick, but I'm better now. I guess you could call it 'remission'." She waited for it to hit them, her dad especially.
Ryan's eyes watered and he pulled her to him, hugging her tight. Horatio was staring, shocked again, and he couldn't process it.
"Cancer?" Horatio asked in a whisper.
Natalia sat closer to Horatio, her hand holding his, her eyes looking not at Rosa, but at Alexx for confirmation that it really was in remission.
Rosa nodded. "I went through radiation and chemo, but it's gone now. I've gotten two different doctors, including Alexx, to confirm that."
"Then we should celebrate," said Ryan, having regained his composure. "Of course, after you see Kaya."
"Kaya would love that," Natalia said softly. "Wouldn't she, H?"
He nodded, but had stopped listening. He wanted to wrap Rosa in his arms and never let go.
"There's more good news. This house...it's mine. I've moved back to Miami. For good."
Ryan grinned happily. But Horatio didn't hear it. "You're sick?"
"Not anymore, Daddy. I promise." She looked at Alexx for help.
"She really is better Horatio," said Alexx. "I promise."
"Horatio?" Natalia looked at him now, worried.
"I'm so sorry sweetheart. I wish I could have helped."
"I didn't...I didn't want you to go through it all over again." Everyone, even Natalia, knew what she was referring to.
"You are my baby. I would do anything for you."
"I'll remember that," she said softly.
"You should be resting, not talking like this. You should lie down."
"Dad. I'm fine. I promise. In fact, if she doesn't have other plans, I'd like to see Kaya. I'd like to have dinner here, as a family."
"You'll tell us if you need to rest?" Natalia asked.
Rosa nodded.
"I'll go pick up Kaya then."
"I'll go start dinner. Alexx, do you want to stay?" She was almost sure that her friend would want to spend time with her husband and kids.
"Do you need anything? I can come past after dinner."
"I'm okay, but thank you. I couldn't have done this without you." She hugged her.
"I'm always happy to help."
She walked her friend out, aware that her dad's eyes were on her every second. "I'm going to start dinner," she said when she came back.
Horatio stood. "Let me help."
She started to say she didn't need help, but did want their company. "All right. Thank you."
Horatio shot up and almost carried her to the kitchen. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm sure, Dad." She told him what she had Alexx. "I get a little tired still, but my hair's back, my appetite's coming back, I'll be okay."
"I want you to come and stay with us."
She turned to look at him. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"But no."
"Please?"
She shook her head. "I'm going to be in the same city, Dad. Be happy with that."
"At least let Ryan stay with you then."
"Really?" This she looked interested in, teasing him slightly.
"I know about you two dating when you were kids."
"Well, I would hope you do since you getting him kicked out of the lab was the reason I left."
"One of them anyway."
"My point is that you two love each other and I think you know my motive for wanting him here with you."
"Because you don't think I can take care of myself?"
"Because I'm worried about you."
"I know you do, Dad." She kissed his cheek.
"What happens between Ryan and myself is still between Ryan and myself. I appreciate your concern but I'm moving back to Miami. I'm almost thirty. I'm not moving home."
"Then come and visit every day."
"That, I'll do."
