Danger Zone. ● Sterling Archer.

Stage Two.

FALSE positive, that's what I thought, and that's what I said. But, Malory didn't care. I frowned deeply, watching her cry into her hands as she sat behind her desk. I didn't think the next time I would be in her office that I would learn there was a possibility she might have breast cancer.

I probably wouldn't had found out about it if Lana didn't tell me Malory was acting extra bitchy this morning. Pam had made a homemade farm gift for her father's birthday, and Malory ruined it by pouring her coffee on it due to Pam not completing her quarterly reports. So, while Lana consoled a distraught Pam, I followed Malory to her office, come to find out she got a mammogram, and they found a possible sign of cancer.

I stood in front of Malory's desk, my hair naturally down, wearing a long sleeve, tan cardigan shirt tucked into a pair of light blue, high waisted skinny jeans, and white tennis shoes. My heart was breaking so much for Malory because cancer was horrible, completely, extremely horrible.

No one should suffer through this disease— not women, not men, not kids, not even animals. I can't wait until the time comes that there will be a cure to permanently eliminate all cancer. But, until then, all we can do is pray, and stay positive with the limited medication we do have.

"Malory, I'm so sorry." I spoke as she continued crying in her hands. "Is there anything I can do for you?" Malory sniffed as she looked up at me.

"Yes." Malory breathed out, wiping underneath her watery blue eyes as she cleared her throat slightly. "You can promise me not a word about this to Sterling." I furrowed my eyebrows as she stood up from her chair.

"What?" I questioned, watching as Malory turned to walk over to her bar. "Malory, you can't hide this from him." Malory turned around to face me.

"You said it yourself, it might be a false positive." I sighed softly.

"But, what happens if it isn't?" I questioned.

"Then we'll cross that bridge once we get there." Malory claimed. "But, until then, don't breathe a word to-" Malory trailed off as she glanced over towards her door. "Sterling!" Malory exclaimed softly in a cheery tone, causing me to glance over to see Archer walking into Malory's office, holding a glass of Scotch in his hand. "Good morning dear."

"Uh, good morning?" Archer questioned, looking between us. "What's going on here?" I glanced over at Malory, who met my gaze, giving me a don't you dare say anything look, causing me to look down at the floor.

"Nothing." Malory responded.

"Mmhm." Archer spoke, clearly not buying it. "Lila." I looked over at Archer as he met my gaze, bringing the glass up to his lips. "What's going on here?" Archer repeated the question, causing me to bite my bottom lip softly as I was contemplating whether or not to tell him.

"I, um.."

"Lila." I glanced back over at Malory as she narrowed her eyes at me.

"Lila." I glanced over at Archer, who's eyebrows quirked up. The two kept going back and forth saying my name, trying their hardest to pull me onto their side as Malory wanted me to keep my mouth shut while Archer wanted me to spill whatever it is I was keeping from him.

But, I couldn't keep up with the pressure anymore, I nearly strained my neck from glancing back and forth at them. So, I was forced to pull a Pam as I just blurted it out. "Your mother might have breast cancer." 

Malory gasped as Archer dropped his glass of Scotch on the floor, shattering the glass, both looking at me with widened eyes before Archer glanced over at Malory. "Lila!" Malory exclaimed softly.