Fighter

Chapter 19

Jay starred at the door where Erin had just disappeared. He had waited so long for that moment, and it had been such a spur of the moment. Pulling the keys out, and marching over to the door, he knocked and waited for her to answer. No way was he leaving things like this, they both deserved better.

On the other side of the door, Erin's heart was was thumping hard against her chest with the anxiety arising, the sudden knocking startled her out of the miniature anxiety attack. She knew without a doubt it was Jay, so taking a deep breath, she pulled open the door to face him.
"Okay. Are we going to talk about what just happened?" He said awkwardly. "Do we have to?" She said, avoiding his eyes. "Erin, come on. Almost a year without you, then this happens and you really don't want to even discuss it?" She pulled him by the hand inside the house and out of the cold air now filtering in behind him, and closed the door. "Why does this have to be a thing? I got caught up in the moment and just did it on impulse." "And you don't think that deserves even a small discussion?" He raised an eyebrow at her and folded his arms across his chest. "What do you want me to say here, Jay? I'm about to start cancer treatments. Cancer!" Her voice was shaky now, and raising with each word to leave her mouth. His expression softened, as things began to piece together in his mind. "I can't do this to you. I can't let us become a thing again...in case...you know." Battling against the tears that threatened to fall, she turned away from him. "I'm sorry I did that, and gave you hope that there was still something there." 'No matter how much I want there to be'. She thought the unsaid words to herself. "Please don't shut me out again. I want to be here for you, everyone does...but especially me. I was mad at first, but I didn't even have the whole story, and I'm sorry for that. I want us to be together again." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Please." He begged. The look in his eyes when she turned back to face him was overwhelming. "I want us to try again. Be like we were before things got so messed up." She scoffed at this. "Jay, things are messed up. Why would you want to have to deal with me now? I'm sick, and things are going to get ugly. I can't ask you to stick around for this." "It's a good thing you're not the one asking them. I'm a big boy, Er. I can decide what I can and cannot handle and I don't want you to have to do this alone. Before you say it, I know you have Voight. But I want to be there for you, too." She was silent. Contemplating his words, knowing no matter what she said - he was willing to fight for her.