Chapter 30

AFTER TWO SPEEDING TICKETS and a slightly botched side mirror, David rushed into the hospital, sweating bullets and panting ferociously as he had taken the stairs rather than waiting in line to use the elevator.

Now, he was very much aware that his clothes looked the least presentable and his hair was all over the place like a crazed maniac but he didn't care. It didn't matter, all that mattered was his son. He needed him to be okay.

Just as he stomped up the front steps and walked into the main floor, Doctor Anthony came up to him with a tight smile on his face. He didn't look his usual demeanor and David had watched too many anatomy films to know that his smile meant nothing good. Nonetheless, he asked. "How is he?"

"Mr. Argent. I suggest you try and calm your nerves"

"I'm calm. How is he?" Even if he wasn't, he pretended to be.

"You need to rel—"

"I said I am fucking calm, just tell me how my son is" He particularly growled, nearly on the verge of losing his wits.

The doctor let out a long breath, almost a sigh. He rubbed his forehead, they certainly didn't pay him enough for this.

"There were changes in your son's calcium and sodium levels. Unfortunately, it caused a serious and potentially life-threatening seizure"

David rose his eyebrows and looked at him in a questioning manner. "I don't understand, he was perfectly fine yesterday"

"The thing about cancer is that it's never predictable. The good news is it didn't invade the linings of his brain and we were able to perform a quick spinal tap to stabilize his condition, but there is an 80% chance that it will occur again"

David's anger suddenly slipped into bone-deep terror. His shoulders sagged, realizing now that he could lose his son in a matter of days or even hours.

He cursed himself, he cursed himself for not being there sooner.

"He isn't getting better is he?"

"It all depends on his fighting strength, Mr. Argent"

"What about the test results?"

"Although the results are not yet out, I'm afraid we have to begin treatment without it. If this seizure should reoccur, it might lead to permanent neurological disorders"

"Do whatever you have to do, I'll pay threefold if I have to" there was a certain tinge of desperation in his voice that didn't go unnoticed. The doctor shook his head softly and then smiled.

"Everything will be alright. As long as your son keeps fighting, we will do everything within our power to see that he makes it out of this. Plus," he chuckled throatily "I promised him a date with my daughter once he gets out of here"

David smiled although it dropped slightly. "Thank you very much"

"It is what I do"

David turned to stare at the door, he was sick with worry and couldn't dust off the uneasy feeling in his chest. "Can I see him now?"

He nodded. "Yes you can but we had to put him on Diazepam injections for his brain to regain its muscle function so he might most likely be asleep"

"Thank you once again"

"I'm glad I could be of help. See you around Mr. Argent," With that, he walked away, giving David a moment to release the shaky breath he held.

Once he had regained his composure, he walked into the room, catching a glimpse of Alex who slept with Stella kneeling by his side.

Even In his sleep, he looked pained. His tiny and fragile body laid there, motionless and immobile with skin pale and pasty.

When Stella noticed his presence, she sniffed lightly and got up, motioning her hand for them to step out of the room and when they did, she released a long depressing sigh.

"What did the doctor say?"

Apparently, they had kept her in the dark and it only made her worry to the point of near-death.

David sagged against the wall. "Nothing," he said in a shallow voice. "Nothing useful"

She slumped her shoulders and sighed.

"You need to go home and rest Stella" he urged but she shook her head.

"How can I?"

"If you don't, you'll end up in no better state than he is"

"I don't mind. I don't mind switching positions with him" she turned to him, her eyes red-dimmed and unfocused. "He's all I have David, he's my life. I don't know... I don't know what I'll do if he—" she bawled out.

David hugged her and she melted into his arms, her full weight leaning on him as he tightened his hold around her.

"It's killing me, David," she whispered, making a gut-wrenching noise as her body began to shake, tears streaming down her face. She'd been so strong, that at some point, she forgot how to let her feeling out and it might have been inappropriate to hug her nephew's father but she couldn't help but feel good and solid around him.

"Everything's going to be fine" David assured, stroking her hair gently as he tried to stay composed. "It's okay" he silently mouthed, convincing her and himself that things were going to be alright but deep down he was far from sure of that.

He held her as tight as he could for a few minutes while they stood there and after her crying subsided she sniffed and pulled her head away from his partially drenched shoulder.

"I'm sorry David. I'm sorry for altering your morning routine" she said, wiping her nose with her knuckles. "I thought he was going to die. He was shaking and thrashing around and I didn't know what to do"

"It's okay, I understand how you feel, I probably stink right now cus I didn't even have the time to shower yet" he chuckled softly, elevating both their moods.

"Thank you, David" she smiled. "I wouldn't have wished for anyone else to be his father"

David smiled. "I'm glad you feel that way"

"Well, this is not surprising"

The familiarity of that voice made David turn and when he lifted his eyes, he saw Paula standing by the doorway. With the way she crossed her arms over her chest, he could tell she'd been watching them for quite some time.

Paula snorted, digging her hand into her lab coat as she took a few steps closer and stared dryly at both of them.

"Go you back in, I'll meet you" David urged, giving her a friendly tap and Stella nodded, never looking back as she began to walk until she disappeared into one of the hallways.

"Didn't know you worked here?" David asked breaking the awkward silence that had lingered between them.

"I don't. I'm just here to make an inquiry" she folded her arms "fancy meeting you here David, shouldn't you, I don't know, be with your wife instead of lounging in another woman's arm?"

He sighed. Sooner or later, it was going to get to this. "She's just a friend Paula"

"Oh and I'm Wanda vision" she rolled her eyes sarcastically. "I wager Dawn doesn't even know you're here?"

David pressed his lips together, remembering how he had dashed out of the house without due reason.

Dawn was probably worried.

"Thought as much" she stepped forward, getting uncomfortably close to his face.  "Look I don't like you but I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt because Dawn is madly in love with you and frankly, I don't get what she sees in you but get this, if you ever make her cry or hurt her in any way, I will make you suffer"

"I will never hurt Dawn, Paula"

"Something we can both agree on" she scoffed. "Have a nice day Mr. Argent"

***

LATER THAT DAY, AFTER boarding an impromptu flight to New York and having it delayed for a few hours, Amanda finally arrived at the airport and wasted no time in pulling her son into a bone-crushing hug.

"I've missed you!" she exclaimed, squeezing him tighter.

David chuckled. "It's only been a few weeks mother"

"I don't care, you're not allowed to leave me for that long" she finally let go.

"I'm sorry. I'll call more frequently" he assured, opening the door for her to step in.

As the chauffeur drove to the hospital, David stared outside the window and stayed silent as he fidgeted with his watch. He'd practiced the things he was going to say to her over a thousand times, yet when she arrived, he became unable to speak.

Amanda who'd been watching closely finally sighed and spoke.  "I had to cancel all my appointments and take a week off work because you said it's important. The least you can do is at least try to talk to me or explain the reason why we are going to a hospital" she frowned.

David pried his eyes away from the window and turned, his next words coming out in a near whisper. "Something happened, mother"

Her brows furrowed. "Is Dawn okay?"

He nodded. "Yes she is and this isn't about her"

"You're making me anxious David, what is it about?"

"I —" the car came to a halt in the hospital parking lot and the chauffeur jumped in with his announcement.

"We're here"

Amanda looked outside the window and swung her gaze back to him. "Tell me, David"

He sighed. "Why don't I show you instead. Come with me"

They walked into the building and David guided her inside whilst thinking of ways to break the news to her.

Though he had rehearsed it in his head, nothing sounded right and maybe it was because no matter how hard he tried to sugar coat it, the truth was that he had a son and the news was going to be a shocker no matter how he put it.

"You remember Stacey right?" He began as the metal doors leading to the VIP floor opened.

"Stacey?"

"Albucho's Daughter?"

"The one you were in love with?"

He blew out a deep breath. "Well yes that one"

"What about her?"

He turned to her. "We had a child together" his words were slow and his voice strangulated, almost like a whisper.

Amanda suddenly stopped walking and abruptly turned to him. "A child?!" She exclaimed, her voice mirroring her shock.

David nodded and released a breath as he ran a hand through his face. The look in her eyes only made him realize how much he had fucked up.

"Is there any woman you haven't slept with David" she scolded and shook her head softly. "Take me to Stacey, I want to see her"

When David didn't say anything, she sighed wearily. "She's dead, isn't she?"

He nodded and she groaned. They didn't exchange words but the air was thick with tension and after few depressing minutes, Amanda cleared her throat.

"Take me to the child, let me see for myself"

David didn't utter a word, he just led the way and when they arrived at the doorstep, he paused, looked over his shoulders, and inhaled sharply before opening the door and stepping in.

When they walked in, Stella approached him.

"David I'm so glad you're back, Alex has been asking for you"

She made eye contact with Amanda.

"Mrs. Amanda" she greeted with a nod and Amanda nodded in response.

When Alex heard distant chatters and caught the hint of his father's voice, he forced himself to turn.

"Dad" He muttered and David immediately walked to his bed.

He gazed down at his tired blue eyes. "How are you feeling?" He asked, settling on the edge of the bed.

Alex shut his eyes back and tried to take in a deep breath. "I just want to go home" he slowly fluttered his eyes and looked desperately at his father. "I want to go home with you"

David held his hand and squeezed gently. "You will Alex, once you win this fight, we'll go home and then travel the world together. Just you and me"

"Promise?"

"Cross my heart and hope to die?"

For the first time that day, Alex smiled and the sight of it made David smile too.

"Why don't you say hi to your grandma" he turned to Amanda, urging her to walk forward and when she did, Alex settled his gaze on her.

"May I?" Her voice came out wobbly as she reached for his hand and held it inside hers. "He looks just like you David" she muttered, a hearty smile finally forming on her face.

"Yes, he does" David smiled.

She looked down at him, her heart beating faster than usual. "Hi, chéri, I'm Amanda but you can call me grandma"

She had always wanted to say those words, she had always wanted a grandchild, maybe not like this but she couldn't help but feel gratified.

"Your hand is warm grandma" Alex muttered and they stayed that way, talking and laughing until he'd fallen asleep.

David him in the head and said his goodbyes to Stella before walking out with Amanda by his side.

"Does Dawn know?" She asked and David shook his head.

"Not yet"

"The more you stall the more it becomes harder, David"

"Don't you think I know that?" He took a deep breath. "I just can't find the right words to say to her"

He couldn't bring himself to do it. He'd sworn to love her, to protect her happiness. The thought of being the reason for her unhappiness made his chest ache.

"All you have to do is be honest and I know she'll certainly understand" Amanda urged.

"It's not as easy as it sounds"

"You never know until you try, David"

"You don't get it, she'll ask questions, questions I'm not ready to answer. I just can't"

Amanda reeled him into a hug. "My poor baby" she tapped his back gently. "You have to take things one step at a time. If Dawn loves you she'll understand"

"Thanks, mother" he mumbled, basking into her tenderness.

Amanda pulled away and smiled at him. "I'll stay with Alex a little longer, go home and eat something okay"

He nodded. "I love you, mother"

"I think there's someone who loves you more waiting at home"

Home.

He didn't know where his home belonged anymore.