Your Best Friend, Benedict Cumberbatch

Chapter 38

"Hey Karon." Ben answers the phone as he walks through the front door. He had just got back from picking the kids up from his parents. They'd been looking after them while you had your chemotherapy session.

"Everything alright?" He asks as he throws his keys on the side. "Millieee," he calls out, "stay down here please." Amelia loved to run up to your room when you were home from hospital, but the side effects were really bad today, and Ben knew you needed to rest.

"Sorry, what was that Karon?" Ben continued as he leant his phone on his shoulder while reaching out to the stairs and picking Amelia up. "Go and take Kit in the playroom while daddy takes this call." He whispers as he lets her down by Kit, who was crawling around the hall.

Once they went into the playroom, Ben walked to the study and closed the door shut. "Of Ella?" He asks as he takes a seat in the computer chair and puts his glasses on. "One second, I'm just getting it up." He opens up his laptop, before typing and flicking through some photos. "Yeah, from the pub." He replies as he places his elbow on the desk and rubs his forehead with his hand. "They said they wouldn't post them."..."No, I'm not making a comment."..."Because it's no ones fucking business, that's why!" He scoffs as he starts scrolling. "You can tell the Daily Mail to go shove it up their arse." He lets out an exasperated sigh."Just make sure Ella doesn't see these. She's been through enough, without these scumbags trying to make some fucking money out of it."..."Ok. Bye." He hangs up the phone before shouting, 'fucking hell!" And frustratingly throwing his phone down on the desk.

Ben gave himself a moment to calm down, before getting back up and switching back into dad mode. "Right, what shall I make for dinner?" He asks as he leans his arm on the doorframe of the playroom.

---

"Hey you." Ben whispers as he walks into the bedroom. "I've brought you up some soup. Are you hungry?"

You shake your head weakly. "I feel too sick."

"A little bit might help, El." He moves over to sit on the edge of the bed. "Why don't you try some, darling?"

"No." You shake your head weakly, again. "Thank. You. Though." You say breathlessly. "Not.Now."

"Ok, darling." He replies as he gets up to move the soup to the side table. "I've just put the kids to bed. They're excited for your birthday in the morning." He smiles as he starts to change out of his clothes and into a t-shirt and some pyjama bottoms.

"I...want to say good night. To. Them." You start to move as much as you possibly could to get out of bed, but Ben stops you. "El, I'll go and get them."

"But. They're. Asleep." You then look in Ben's eyes as you say, "Please." He couldn't resist that look.

"Ok." He smiles softly before walking round to you. "Come here." He helps you get up and puts a supporting arm around you, placing a kiss to the side of your head as he does. "I hate seeing you like this, El." He whispers.

"It's just. Side effects." You reply, as you place your arm around him. "Will be better. Tomorrow."

"You will, my love."

A little while later, after you had said goodnight to the kids and gave them a kiss, you were in the ensuite being sick while Ben held what was left of your hair back.

"That's it. Let it all out." Ben says softly as he rubs your back with his other hand.

Around ten minutes later, you were done throwing up and were sitting on the bathroom floor, with your elbows resting on your knees. "Ah, fucking hell." You say frustratingly as you run your hands through your hair.