We'll Find A Way

*15*

Complications and Treatment Options

I wake up the next morning as the sun filters through the curtains covering the floor to ceiling windows in my hospital room. Reaching to grab my phone, I find myself pretty stiff and sore but manage to grab it anyways, finding a text from Ethan.

E: Morning sunshine. Text me when you wake up so I know when to come over.

I quickly text him back to let him know that I'm awake and he responds almost immediately saying that he's on his way. As soon as I set my phone down Dr. Jakobs opens the door and looks in, only coming in when he sees that I'm awake.

"Good morning (Y/N), did you sleep well?" He sits down in the rolling chair next to my bed.

"Once I finally fell asleep yeah." I find my mouth dry as I speak. "Can I get some water actually?" He nods and quickly steps out of the room and tells a nurse to bring some water before sitting back down. 

"Need anything else?" I shake my head no. "Very well. Now before we discuss treatment, I need to talk to you about your health insurance. The company you gave me claims that you used to be on a plan but your parents recently dropped you from it and you failed to get a new plan. As much as I would like to help you, there's little more I can do without some sort of payment plan in place."

My heart begins to pound in my chest. Of course my parents would drop me from their health insurance. I should've thought of that before. I can't pay for this on my own, I barely have a dollar to my name and there's no way I can get a job in this condition. It takes me a while but I finally realize I have to leave. There's no way I can afford treatment so my only choice is to leave and try to pay what I already owe.

I look back up at the doctor. "I'm sorry, but there is no way I can pay for treatments. I will leave as soon as you'll allow and find some way to pay you back for everything you've already done for me." Just then the nurse walks in and hands me a glass of water which I gladly take.

"Very well. I'll unhook you from the IV and heart monitor and you'll be free to go." Dr. Jakobs sets to work and quickly finishes. "The belongings and clothes that your friend brought are in the bag over there," he motions to a big black duffel bag against the wall on the far side of the room. "I wish you the best of luck." And with that I am left to my own devices.

I slowly get up and start rummaging through the bag until I find a full outfit and change into it. Once I'm ready I grab what's left of my stuff and make my way to the front desk where I sign out and wait for Ethan to get here. 

It isn't long before Ethan shows up and finds me sitting in the waiting room. His surprise is obvious as he comes over to me. "What are you doing out here? You should be resting in your room. Where's your doctor?" He sits next to me looking at me as if I might die any second.

"I'm leaving Ethan. I can't afford treatment and I can't stay here without paying so I have to leave." I make myself look into his eyes even through the tears that cloud my vision. 

Ethan sits in silence for a few minutes before getting up. "No (Y/N). You need this treatment and I'm going to make sure you get it. I'll be right back." He rushes to the front desk and starts talking with one of the receptionists. It takes almost half an hour before he comes back over to me and offers me a hand. "Let's get you back to your room."

I look up at him, confused. "Ethan, I can't pay for it. I need to leave."

"I'm paying for it. Now come on." He takes my hand and pulls me up from the chair before guiding me to the front desk.

The receptionist that Ethan was talking to greets us. "Please follow me. Your room is now on the third floor where most of our long-term patients reside. You'll find it much more comfortable and you'll be able to decorate as you want while you're here." She guides us into an elevator then down a wide hallway lined with rooms on one side. "Here we are, room 314." She opens the door to a large room with a shelving unit, nightstand, bed, and multiple chairs already in it. The bathroom is right through that door, you don't have to share with anyone else. Please make yourself comfortable and hit the red button on the side of the bed if you need anything."

She leaves Ethan and I alone in the room and I look around. It's much bigger than the other room was and seems a lot nicer too, still with floor to ceiling windows but with a better view of the city around us. I turn to Ethan and look up at him. "I can't accept this Ethan. Treatment costs a fortune and it's your money."

"(Y/N) please. I want you to get better and if this is the only way, so be it, I can pay for it. Now let's get you settled in." He takes my hand and brings me over to the bed before pulling back the blankets, allowing me to lie down. "How's your chest feeling?" he asks as he gently pulls the blankets back over me.

"It's hurt since I woke up but I'm sure that's normal." I smile up at the blue boy, beginning to realize just how nice it feels to lie back down.

"I'll go find a nurse." Before I can say anything, Ethan is gone and I'm left alone in the large room. Luckily it isn't long before Ethan comes back in, but the person with him isn't a nurse.

"Dr. Jakobs?" I look up at the doctor who had let me leave only an hour ago.

"Ms. (L/N). I'm glad you were able to figure something out. I'm confident that with the right treatments, you'll be cancer free in no time." He smiles broadly and sits down in one of the chairs, motioning for Ethan to do the same.

"Do you have the right treatment's? How long will it take?" Ethan starts pouring out questions but the doctor quickly quiets him.

"I would like to start out with chemotherapy and radiation to hopefully reduce to tumors. If these things are successful, we can operate and remove the tumors much more easily and it will be a less invasive surgery. Now because the cancer has spread to your heart, which is a very rare occurrence, I would like to move away from the traditional chemotherapy methods used to treat lung cancer and focus more on the blood stream as that is most likely how it is spreading. The plus side to this is that you will be a lot more mobile that you would otherwise and can continue with many aspects of your daily life while of chemo." The doctor goes on and on about the options and leaves Ethan and I to talk it over before we decide to go with what he believes will work the best. He agrees and we set up days to start each process of the treatment before he leaves Ethan and I alone yet again.

We sit in silence for a while, digesting all of the information before Ethan speaks up. "You're going to get through this. I promise." He takes my hand in his to try to comfort me slightly, "and I'll be here for you through it all. Mark, Tyler, Amy, and Kathryn too."

I smile slightly and shift in bed to get more comfortable. "Thank you blue boy." He nods and I let out a deep sigh. "My whole life is falling apart in front of me. At least I got to meet my idol."

"You act like this is the end. And you never said I was your idol." He laughs slightly and I nod.

"You, Mark, and Jack. You three are the best things to ever happen to me. Well... were. Until I met you." Ethan hugs me gently and we sit, talking about how we first met and remembering the good old days.