Once was lost but saved by a cowboy

A diagnosis and a drift down memory lane

Jason's pov

We get to the doctor's office, me nervous as hell, Miranda in tears and the kids confused as to why their mother is crying. I squeeze her hand. "It's gonna be alright. They're gonna help you." "God, I hope so Jason." She whimpers, brushing some hair out of Bryson's face. He looks up at her. "Mama cry?" I bite my lip. "Mama's gonna be okay son." "Miranda Aldean?" She stands up, shakily holding Bryson. Sierra holds my hand tight. "What's wrong with mom?" She whispers. I don't want to tell her something especially if I don't know if it's that so I just shrug. We go back there and the doctor does all kinds of tests. I'm so worried. Her hand shakily grips the metal on the bed. I hold it tight. "Stay calm honey, you might be stressing over nothing." The doctor looks at the papers coming out of the machine. He then looks at me wide eyed. "It's not nothing." He says, making my pace quicken. He wants to talk to me in the hallway. I know it isn't gonna be good news. He lets out a deep sigh before continuing. "Between the red cells and white something's not right, but we're gonna take care of her. 3 chances in ten it won't come back again with the therapy we're gonna try. I think we caught it in time." "S-So what you're s-saying is m-my wife has c-cancer?" My heart pounds out of my chest. He nods sadly. "I'm sorry sir." I walk as calmly as I can back into her room. She looks up. "B-Baby, w-we have a problem." Tears instantly fill her eyes. "I do have cancer don't I?" I nod and walk to her bed, enveloping her and the kids in a hug. "What's cancer?" Sierra asks. "A disease." Is all she can say. "I'm gonna take the kids to mom's." I mumble, picking Bryson up. I drive them to my mom's, trying my best not to cry in front of the kids. But Sierra knows. She always knows when something is wrong. She's one smart kid. She and Bryson go inside and play with my mom's dogs and mom comes out on the porch. I hug her. "Mom, we have some serious stuff going on. If you could watch the kids for a few days, I'd be very grateful." "Sure Jason, but what's wrong?" "M-Miranda has breast cancer. We just found out today. I need to get back up to the hospital with her." Her eyes go wide. She hugs me. "I've got the kids. Keep me updated." I nod. "Thanks."

Miranda's pov

Jason opens the door, his eyes red rimmed, a worried frown on his face. He sits by my bedside, his hand clasping tightly in mine. "I'm scared, Jason." "I know you are, baby. I am too. I'm not gonna leave this bedside til you're better." He says, kissing my forehead. "Mom said she's got the kids for as long as she needs to." I sit up, shaking from fear. He wraps his arms around me in a warm hug. I pull the picture out of my pocket. The picture of me, Sierra, and James. I stare at it tears on my cheeks. "Sierra has grown up to be such a great little girl." I whisper. Jason squeezes my hand. "I remember the time when she was annoyed that I couldn't take her with me on the road." He says, smiling. I remember that day vividly.

~flashback~

Sierra, four years old then, clings to Jason's leg as he holds his guitar. "Darlin' you can't come with me, you have school!" "I don't like school!" I set Bryson in the playpen. He whines a little but I hush him. "Sierra let go of him. He'll be late." "Baby girl, I have to go. But I promise next time I do a show here in Nashville, you'll be up onstage with me." "You promise?" She whimpers, wiping her eyes. He kneels down on one knee, and picks her up, sitting her on his leg. "Cross my heart." "Are you sure? You didn't cross it!" He smiles. "Sure as there are stars in the summer sky." He says, crossing his heart. "You have to promise you'll be a good little girl for mama while I'm gone?" She smiles. "Of course daddy. And I'll make sure Bry goes to bed on time." He pats her head and stands up. "That's my girl." He hugs me and kisses Bryson's head. "I'll see y'all soon."

~flashback over~

"Bryson cried for hours wanting you to come back home." I say, forcing a smile. "Oh yeah and remember Bryson's second Halloween?" Jason says laughing.

~flashback~

Bryson runs out in his superman cape, pretending to fly. We both laugh, my head on Jason's arm. Luke walks in with Bo and Tate dressed as Batman and Robin. Sierra runs out wearing her costume. She dressed as Carrie Underwood. She holds Jason's mic, belting out the lyrics to temporary home. Luke smirks at little Bryson. I pick him up. "If I wore a cape, I bet I'd trip on it." Luke says, making us all bust out laughing. "Come on kiddos, let's go get candy before Jimmy Kimmel does." I playfully push his shoulder. Jimmy Kimmel has a bit on his show where he tells parents to tell their kids that they ate their kids Halloween candy. It's hilarious. I lace my fingers with Jason's. "Happy Halloween, baby." I whisper, kissing his cheek. He smiles and grips my waist. "I can't wait for Luke to take the kids." I laugh hard.

~flashback over~

That was such a good day. I prop my head on my hand. "You know about Tate having a crush on Sierra right?" His eyes go wide. "What? No!" I laugh hard to where my stomach hurts. "He does. And I think she likes him back." He covers his eyes with his hand. "She's growin' up too fast it won't be long before I gotta put the fear of God into some kid at the door!" He mutters. I sit up, ignoring the pain in my left breast. I kiss him softly on the lips. "I hope I'm here to see her grow up." I whisper worried. Jason holds both my hands, forcing me to look at him. ""You will baby girl, you'll beat this and be taking Sierra to dance and soccer and see Bryson bring home his first deer and his first day of school. You will be here for that if it's the last thing I do. You will not die." Tears fall down my cheeks. "I love you Jason." He presses his forehead to mine. "I love you Miranda. And that won't stop." He kisses me softly, my hands shaking. Then the doctor walks in. "Are you ready for your treatment, Mrs. Aldean?" I shakily still hold Jason's hand. I look up at Jason. "Yeah." He puts the IV in my arm. "Well here goes." He whispers, staring at my arm. "Don't ever leave me Jason." "I'd rather die baby." He kisses my forehead and I lay back down.