Desperate Measures

Dearly Departed

A week later...

It's been about a week since the show in New York and now I'm in Seattle with Matt and my parents as I've been trying to help Dad out with getting mom moved closer to Vancouver. I was sitting in the chair in the hospital room as I was starting to write a song I've been working on for a while. At least the treatments are starting up today but I know it'll take a toll on my body. A few minutes later I heard a knock on the door as it was this intern. "Hello I'm Dr Murphy and I'll be placing your central line for your treatments." I looked up at her as I nodded smiling a small smiled setting down my pencil as I let her look at my chest for a place to stick the needle as Meredith walked into the room. "Leah we have to take him to the bed for this procedure. Sorry Josh she's just an intern." I sighed standing up slowly as I was still getting dizzy spells but not as bad as it was last week. I walked over to the bed laying down as they started setting up.

"It's okay my case is rare to come by so why not learn." I smiled a small smile as Meredith placed some numbing crème over the area. "Alright I'll be back in five to let that numb the area. Did you need anything or any questions?" I shook my head as the intern left as she suddenly went all pale and ran into the bathroom getting sick. "Um are you okay?" I looked over at the bathroom considering getting up from the bed as she came out wiping her mouth. "Yeah I'm just pregnant. Do not tell Derek yet. I haven't told him yet due to my hostile uterus." I smiled handing her my glass of ice water. "I promise I won't and when did you find out?" She took it taking some sips and sitting down. "This morning while watching Zola try to use the potty. I know you don't have kids but I just needed to tell someone." She's right I never want kids but I don't mind her telling me. I looked out the window seeing Derek walking to the desk. "Mer he's outside the room just take deep breaths." She sighed as he walked into the room holding my chart.

"Morning Josh and hey you okay love?" He looked over at Mer as she nodded smiling. "Yeah I'm fine let's go over his treatment." She stood up from the chair as they started to go over the plan. "Alright so we're starting you on IL2 for the next few weeks to shrink the mets. And Meredith with go in today and see how bad it is in there and try to remove as much as she can. Now for the brain I'll see after a month on this treatment and go from there." I sighed as I looked over at Mer for her part as she looked so pale again from the morning sickness. "Mer are you okay?" She nodded leaning back against the wall. "Anyways I'll see you later Josh." I smiled as they both left as I went back to writing lyrics in my sketchbook for a while.

It's the third of October, you should come over. Best laid plans are not sober. Maybe not the way we thought we planned. But both of us will take this hand. For a couple days, then we'll disappear. We don't have to talk from where we go from here. My dearly departed.

One final shoulder here before we're none and then there were none. This last call could be all we can do for each other. Embrace for a dear old friend, bring wine to bed. We'll toast for what could have been, my dearly departed.

Right in the middle of writing that song down someone walked into the room and it was just Matt. "Hey sorry did I come at a bad time?" I shook my head sighing tossing my book onto the bed as he placed a bag on the bed. "No their about to put in my port. What did you bring up?" I looked at the bag as he pulled out some of my things from home. "Since you'll be in here for a while I um brought some things up from home. I also took Bennie in since dogs aren't allowed in here. Plus Fred would love to see his friend more often." He pulled out some photos of my family and one of the band and some more recording things if I get any ideas or anything. I sighed as I smiled a small smile. "Thank you Matt. This means a lot and you didn't have to take in my dog." He sighed sitting next to me as the intern walked back into the room with the supplies.

"Okay so I'm gonna put in your port Josh. You shouldn't feel too much pain and who is this?" She said while she started setting up as I laid back in the bed fidgeting with the hospital band. "This is Matt, he's my best friend and basically my brother from another mother." I said as she took off the wrap over the numbing creme as I looked over at the tray of stuff that they would be using on me. Holy that's a huge fucking needle...I looked back over at Matt with a terrified look. "Josh it's okay they have to do this and you probably won't even feel it. You're numbed up and I'll be here the whole time I promise." He said taking my hand into his as I took a deep breath as the doctor prepared my chest and took the needle into her hand. "Just close your eyes and it'll be over in a second. You'll just feel some pressure but only for a minute. I'm going in now okay?" I nodded gripping onto Matt's hand tightly as it did hurt a little bit but the fucking pressure. "It's in, hand me the saline flush please." She said as I opened my eyes looking down at my chest while she taped the line down onto my chest.