The Baker

Chapter 38

"So...are you packing yet?" Ben asked Cassie over the phone. Cassie darted her eyes around her office, which was being newly renivated to make more room for clients and so her and Alice's desks won't be so damn close to each other. Jess would have never allowed this because she didn't think it they'd need it.

Well, now that paparazzi have spotted a certain Benedict Cumberbatch popping by, potential advertisers were flying in! Only problem with the paps spying him was the rumors about the two flairing up again. Ben's PR has been trying to put out the flames for a while now.

"Yes," she told him, as she shuffled through some papers on her desk. "As a matter of fact, I'm just about finished." Of course, she said that right when a construction worker decided to drill something into the wall.

"What was that?" Ben asked. Cassie flared her arms around trying to find something to say. "It was, um...the T.V.! I'm watching...Home Improvement." She flinched. Home Improvement hasn't been on for years and she didn't even know if they got it in the UK.

"Home Improvement? The Tim Allen show? How and the hell are you getting that there?" Shit. "Look, I should go. I have to get up early tomorrow, you know." But he wasn't going to let up that easy. "It's only two o'clock there, darling. Come on, I've been thinking about your body all day and I've had to sport a massive hard on just imagining what I would do to you if you were here already. Tell me what you're wearing."

"Benedict Cumberbatch, you will behave until I get there and I really do have to go now. I'll see you tomorrow, alright? I love you." He let out a massive sigh. "I love you, too, baby. But you owe me! And I promise to repay the favor..." Oh, he knows what that does to her. Kinky asshole! "Bye, Benedict." She hung up before he could say anything else.

She did manage to leave just a few hours later and get home and pack. She made sure she had everything she needed, even some lingerie.

She was turning out the lights to turn in early when her cell phone rang. She sighed and answered, "Hello?" She waited a moment, before her brother's voice said, "Cass? It's Leo." Cassie's eyes widened. Leo? He never calls her because he's horrible at those kinds of things.

"Hey, Leo," she skeptically drew out. "What's up?" Knowing him, he probably just called for money or something. Boy did Cassie wish that was the case, after he told her, "Dad's in the hospital. His cancer spread. It's everywhere, Cass." His voice broke a bit and she could tell he crying.

"Oh God," she breathed with tears running down her cheeks. "Okay, I'll...God, I'll be there as soon as I can! I'm looking at flights now."

***

Ben was jolted awake from his peaceful sleep when his phone started buzzing furiously on his bedside table. He groaned and reached for it without opening his eyes. After feeling around for a few seconds and finally grabbing it, he slapped it to his head and grumbled, " 'ello?"

"Ben," Cassie's strained voice cried. He immediately shot up and asked in a husky voice, "Cass, baby, what's wrong? What's going on, talk to me." He waited for an answer, but all he got were sniffles and sobs.

"Okay, honey, I'm going to call you on Skype. Maybe you'll be better telling me face-to-face." He started to get up, when she told him, "I'm not at home." His mind suddenly jumped to the worst conclusions. "Where are you?" He urgently asked. "Are you alright? Are you hurt?" He was getting his private phone ready to call Karon to get him the next flight home, but then she answered, "I'm at LAX."

Confusion was washing over him like mad. "Wait, what? Your flight doesn't come in until five tonight and it's...four in the morning. Cass...jesus, I'm so confused." He actually wondered if this was a dream.

"I'm waiting for Leo to pick me up," she told him. That's when the alarm bells started going off in his head. This wasn't a dream. Something happened. "Wh-why is Leo picking you up? I can be there in five minutes if--."

"My dad is in the hospital," she said, choking on tears. "His cancer spread everywhere and...they don't think he's going to make it past this week. I'm so scared, Ben! I so fucking scared!" Ben started to hurrily pack his things and shot a quick text to Karon, before telling Cassie, "I'm on my way, I'm packing right now. When is Leo going to be there?" As he was throwing his shampoo and conditioner into a random bag, she answered, "A few minutes, but Ben you should finish up your filming." 

He stopped his movements and scoffed, "I will not! Not when your father is the bloody hospital, Cassie! You need me and I am going to be there! I just texted Karon to let J.J. know that a family emergency came up, he'll understand." 

"Benedict Cumberbatch, you will finish filming your goddamn scene before you even think about coming up here, do you understand me?!" Ben froze with his eyes wide open. "Y-Yes, ma'am," he answered. "But--."

"No "buts"! After today you have the three days off, so please just finish it for me, okay? I'll be fine, I'm going to be surrounded by family and I'll see you tomorrow, er--today." Sighing, he told her, "Fine. But you call me as soon as you get to the hospital. Text me whenever there's news and if you need me to get there earlier, you call me as soon as possible. Understand?"

"Yes, sir," she answered. "I love you." He faintly smiled and said, "I love you, too, baby. Are you alright, though? Tell me." She sniffled a little bit, before saying, "Not really. Like I said, I'm really scared." She started crying again and Ben wanted nothing more than to pick her up and hold her and kiss her and tell her everything was going to be okay. "It's alright to cry, sweetheart," he softly told her. "Crying is good. I promise things are going to be alright. Your father is quite possibly the strongest man I have ever met. I know he'll fight to stay with you and your family. Okay?"

"Okay," she lightly cried. "Listen, Leo's here. I'll call you when I get to the hospital. I love you." Ben ran his hand down his face and said, "Okay. I love you, too." He hung up and tossed his phone on to the bed. He felt like he had just told her a bunch of lies because he really didn't know if things were going to be alright with her dad. He didn't even believe his own words.