Broken, I'll fix you. [Vauseman AU]

Bad News

“Alex-”

“Wait-”

“Alex!”

“What?!”

“I really have to go!” Piper laughed as she tried to free herself from the firm grip Alex had on her jacket, trying to keep her in place.

“Why, though?” Alex protested as she let go, visibly curious as to why her younger friend really wanted to go, slightly annoyed too. Lately they’ve been spending all the possible amount of time together.

“My parents are taking me to the doctor, I’ve told you” the shorter girl said timidly as she straightened her pants which was now really dirty after spending half the afternoon sitting in the grass at the park, having ice cream and talking about everything and anything, just enjoying themselves.

“Shit, I forgot, Pipes.” Alex replied as she squinted her eyes suspiciously. “Are you still feeling sick? It’s that intermittent fever, right? she had a knowing but concerned look. Piper didn’t reply, just glanced at her knowingly. “I can’t afford to fail the course” Piper sighed, visibly concerned. “I can’t miss another class, Al.”

“Except the ones you miss just to see me, right?” Alex grinned goofily, leaning back on her elbows, still sitting on the grass.

Piper rolled her eyes, sighing dramatically but a ghost of a smile threatened to show on her features as she reached for her bag, feeling a sudden, strong wave of exhaustion take over her that made her sink to one knee, breath hitching as she closed her eyes and tried to fight it off.

“Hey, Pipes, Are you okay?” Alex asked with too much concern as she leaned over, eyeing Piper gloomily.

“Yeah” the blonde nodded slowly, “Just tired from the day, you know?”

“You’re always tired.” Alex muttered playfully.

“Shut up” Piper smacked her playfully. “See you later for the movie?”

“Absolutely” Alex smiled sweetly, giving the shorter girl a fierce nod.

Piper returned the sweet smile before rising to her feet to head off. Alex watched as her figure grew smaller and smaller in the distance and immediately retrieved her glasses so she could watch Piper’s figure clearly.

When she was no longer in sight, Alex stood up and stretched nonchalantly, picking up her leather jacket and headed home to prepare herself for the upcoming movie date.

She liked to think about it as a date because she was head over heels in love with her best friend, but those were territories she was too afraid to venture because she was sure that her blonde friend didn’t even thought about her in that way.

So she brushed that thought off her mind as she lit a cigarette on her way home, the pang of pain that started to nest in her chest was enough for her to stop her musings and just smoke freely.

However, she relentlessly found herself thinking the same thing: I’m in love with my best friend.

……

Bill and Carol Chapman were sitting in Doctor Healy’s office, facing the large wooden desk, without looking at each other. The doctor was on the other end of the table, trying to analyze their reactions.

Both Chapmans were at a loss of words, trying to understand and process the words they just heard.

“She…” Bill swallowed hard. “She has… cancer?” his faces contorted in a mixture of sorrow and disbelief.

“Leukemia. The Acute Lymphoblastic type.” Doctor Healy continued, “To be more specific…” he took a deep breath and put his hands together, elbows on the table and a serious but kind expression, “It’s when the bone marrow produces a large amount of immature white blood cells. These aren’t strong enough to fight infection so the body starts to make more, but the more cells there are, the more they can find their way into her blood and bone marrow.” He paused and looked at the anguished faces in front of him.