Because You're Mine (A Tom Hiddleston Fanfic) #Wattys2016 #pfcc2k16

Chapter Eighteen: A Promise To Keep.

IMPORTANT:  First of all, thank you so much to everyone reading this story. I'm so happy you made it this far! Now, please make sure you've read chapter 17 before going any further with this one. It's an important chapter for the story and since Wattpad blocked it, I uploaded it as a separate story. You can find it on my profile under the not so original name of Chapter 17. If you already read it, keep going.

Keep smiling through, just like you always do...

*****

"What do you think? I mean, what should we do?" I finally speak up.

We are in the cafeteria; Harry is sitting in front of me with his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes filled with trouble.

He has spent almost an hour explaining the details of Rose's condition to me and the plan that him and this doctor, whom I haven't even met yet, have been discussing before I got here.

He literally had to go over the procedure, step by step, three times before it finally sink in inside my brain and I think I understand it completely now.

First, Rose would be sedated with the right dosage of a combination of several drugs that would put her under a very deep sleep where she could no longer feel any pain. Then she would only be treated for any kind of infection she could get by just being on a hospital, nothing more. All kinds of treatment for her cancer would stop immediately after she gives her consent to do so and as far as I know, she is more than eager to sign the paperwork.

After that, it comes the last and most difficult part. Wait. Wait for her body to finally shut down completely.

"You know what I think, Clementine" he answers as kindly as he can but he can't hide his exasperation over my question. I know he is tired and as sad as I am so I decide to ignore it.

"I know this is hard for you but I think she needs to hear you say it, mate" Tom's voice is calm and restricted. He speaks out in my name and it is like he is reading my mind. I do need to hear Harry say what his opinion on this is. Even if I know exactly what he will say.

Tom is sitting next to me and he has been holding my hand under the table this entire time. In fact, he hasn't let go of me since I ask him to in the elevator.

He held me for countless minutes before I was finally ready to move and face the situation but even then, he wouldn't let go of my hand. I can feel my palm is sweating against his but I don't really give a damn. He is my ground wire right now and I need to be as grounded as possible if I need to make the right call.

Not that this is actually my call, since Rose has already made up her mind and Joseph seems to agree with her, but still. I know that she cares for my opinion and I want to be one hundred percent sure that this is the right path to take in order to spare her a slow, painful dead. I need to be on her side, no questions asked; and for me to not make any questions I need to have all the answers.

"I'm a human rights lawyer. I believe in sparing people all sorts of unnecessary suffering. I believe in our right to decide when enough is enough. And she had enough, lovey" he says with a little more understanding in his eyes.

I know that this is truly what he believes in. I have heard him expressing his opinions on the matter more than once and that was one of the many reasons I fell for him in the past. I believe in all those things as well.

But is not that easy to believe in those things when it is so goddamned close to home. This is not about statistics or a few numbers in a piece of paper. This is Rose we are talking about here; Rose and her beautiful face and kind soul. This is the woman who came into my life to play the role of a mother when I needed one.