Moving Forward

Part 22

Spencer Reid's POV

"...They have leukemia. They caught the flu, but it became worse because of leukemia. They are okay, but we need to talk about the options that we have."

I look at JJ; she doesn't seem right. She falls, but I catch her before she reaches the floor.

"I got you. It's okay."

The doctor and I help her to sit. I give her the bottle of water. She takes a sip of water.

"Are you okay?"

"I... I don't know what happened."

I look at the doctor.

"How could they have it?"

"If someone in the family had it, it could be possible."

"Nobody in my family had it. What about you, Jennifer?"

* * * * * * * * * *

Jennifer Jareau's POV

Oh my God! I haven't told anyone about it, but my mother had it. My sister had it too when she was younger. I think she was 8 when she had it. I remember I had to pass a lot of tests to know if I had it, but I never had it.

"Spence. I have to talk to you."

I look at the doctor and he understands, so he walks away.

"What's wrong?"

"I never told anyone about it, but my mom had leukemia and my sister too."

"Roseline? The one who committed suicide?"

"Yes. I think she was 8."

"And?"

"I passed a few tests, but I never got diagnosed."

"Okay. So the kids have leukemia because of your mother. Why didn't you tell me?"

"It was a hard time. I hate thinking about it!"

"But... I'm your boyfriend and your future husband. I'm the father of your kids!"

"And you? Why didn't you tell me that your mother has Alzheimer?!"

There's a little uncomfortable silence.

"How...? How did you know it?" Spencer declares, calming down.

"I saw a letter. It was for you, but it was coming from LA. It was from... I don't remember the institute... I decided to open the letter and read it. I read it and I called the institute to make sure it was true. I was waiting for you to tell me. I really love Diana! She's my mother-in-law, but she's like my mother. I have the right to know what's happening to her."

"I know..."

"And when were you supposed to tell me about your mother?"

"Soon."

The doctor arrives near us.

"I don't want to bother you, but we need to talk about your children."

"Okay. What are the options?" I ask.

"In fact, I got news from the nurse and there's only one option. The children start chemotherapy soon and we need to find a compatible donor of bone marrow. Maybe one of you is compatible, maybe not. We have to do a blood test to know it."

"Do we do it now?" Spencer asks.

"If you want to."

"Can we see our kids?" I ask.

"Not now. But soon. Could you please follow me? We're gonna do the blood test."

We get up and we follow the doctor. He shows us a room and we enter.

"Nurses will come soon. Take a seat, please."

We sit on a hospital bed, waiting for nurses.

The nurses finally enter the room. I'm nervous because I don't really like being pricked by a syringe. But I know Spencer will be there, by my side.

But I still can't believe the kids have leukemia. I'm trying not to cry thinking of that. I know that there's a lot of chances of complete remission, but I'm still scared. What if it's my fault if they have it? I hope that at least one of us is compatible with the kids.

The nurses tell us to lay down on the bed. I lay down and I close my eyes not to see what the nurse is doing. After a few minutes, I feel something in my arm. I think it's the syringe. The nurse quickly removes it. I open my eyes.

"How many time will it take to have the results?"

"A few minutes. Just stay here. We will come back."

The nurses leave.

* * * * * * * * * *

Spencer Reid's POV

I sit on the corner of the bed. JJ is still lying on the bed. She looks at me and then she closes her eyes again.

"Why does it only happen to us, Spence?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Three years ago, we broke up and we got tortured. I got shot. Since we had a car accident, I got pregnant. I learned I was pregnant with twins while I was giving birth. There were complications because the kids were two months earlier. They had vital signs monitor during six months. We knew that Hope was severely asthmatic. They aren't developing as the kids of their age. And now, they have leukemia. Why is it only happening to us?"

"I swear to you that it's not only happening to us. Think about Emily: she got pregnant, she was having nightmares and was receiving threats from a serial killer, she got abducted and lost her baby, she learned that she couldn't have kids anymore, she adopted a boy, Oliver was sick and needed a surgery, Emily restarted smoking and drinking, plus she was taking drugs, she got depressed. It took her almost two years to get rid of her depression. It's not only happening to us."

The nurses come back in the room. JJ gets up and sits on the corner of the bed.

"So?" She asks.

"I'm sorry. None of you is compatible with the children. We will put them on the waiting list for a bone marrow transplant."

"How long can it take?" I ask.

"Maximum six years."

"Can we see them?"

"Of course."

We follow the nurses to the Oncology Department. We arrive in front of a little room. There are two beds in the room, but the kids are sleeping in the same bed.

"We weren't able to separate them," one nurse declares.

"Can we enter?"

"Of course."

We enter as the nurses walk away.