A Star for Baby (boyxboy)

Scorpius

Halfway there :')

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"So Baby," Dr. Williams started, folding his hands onto his desk. "It's time to have that uncomfortable logistics talk."

Baby and Oliver sat side by side across from the doctor. They were in his office on the fourth floor of the hospital, with a view out over the city. Just being back inside the walls made Oliver's skin squirm, thinking about the night when Baby had collapsed. But he pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind, telling himself that he'd probably have to get used to being in the hospital in the coming times.

"Okay," Baby said. "I'm ready."

"Every moment you spend in here is going to cost you money," Dr. Williams said bluntly. "You've already racked up quite the bill with your emergency visit, your stay in the ICU, the tests we've had to conduct. Thankfully Medicare has covered most of that, though not all."

"Will Medicare cover chemo?" Oliver asked, squeezing Baby's hand.

The doctor nodded. "In your case, Baby, the cancer is serious enough that coverage is not a question. Part A definitely covers in-hospital treatment, so I suggest electing to do all your treatment here. If you ever end up switching hospitals or doctors, don't assume coverage. But any radiation you decide to do in-hospital will be covered as well."

"Radiation?" Oliver asked.

Baby looked at him, his eyes a little grateful. It was clear he was uncomfortable asking questions and making himself heard.

"Well, in Baby's case we're trying chemo first. But radiation could be an option down the line, especially if the cancer spreads."

"What's the chance of that happening?" Oliver felt his heart hammering in his chest.

"If we start the chemo today, I'd say about a fifty percent chance," the doctor told him.

Oliver balked. "Why so high?"

Dr. Williams raised an eyebrow. "If we didn't start the chemo today, Mr. Eze, the cancer would most certainly spread to the adrenal gland by next week."

Oliver swallowed. Next to him, Baby shivered. Oliver looked over to check in on him, and Baby was staring emptily straight ahead. Oh no. That wasn't a good sign.

Oliver elbowed him softly, concern lacing his voice when he spoke.

"Hey, you okay?"

This seemed to shake Baby out of whatever trance he'd fallen into, and he nodded, clearing his throat.

"Yeah, um, yeah I'm fine," Baby said. "What else?"

"If this ever becomes too much for you, we can take a break, Baby," Dr. Williams said.

Baby shook his head. "I'm fine. What else is there?"

Both the doctor and Oliver were looking at Baby warily, but the doctor continued speaking anyway.

"Alright. The second thing we need to talk about is your next of kin."

Baby squeezed Oliver's hand again, feeling a little clammy. Oliver wished he could hold Baby close and protect him from whatever the doctor was about to say, but he couldn't. He felt a little helpless. Scratch that, extremely helpless.

He couldn't protect Baby from his past, and he couldn't protect Baby from the cancer inside him. All he could do was watch, wait, and hold his hand.

"Why is next of kin relevant?" Oliver asked. "Isn't that only supposed to be relevant until someone, you know... dies?"

"Well not exactly," the doctor said. "Euthanasia is... a debated topic to say the least. But next of kin is important, in Baby's case, to assume medical coverage insurance wise, as well as to just to stay with Baby. Oliver, I know you're an important figure in Baby's life--"