Michael Part II

Don't Give Up

Later that night Mikey and Thomas were helping Michael cook dinner.

"So, when's Mika get out of rehab?" Thomas asked as he leaned against the counter.

"Um..I think today?" Michael said as he continued to chop veggies.

"Today?!"Mikey said.

"Why aren't you in London then?" Thomas asked.

Michael shrugged.

"I thought you were excited for him to be home?" Thomas asked.

"Where's Fitz, Mikey?" Michael asked avoiding Thomas's question.

Thomas rolled his eyes and started to eat the veggies that Michael was chopping. Michael slapped his hand and glared at him.

"He should be home soon. Back to Mika.." Mikey said.

Michael dropped the knife in the sink and sighed. Mikey and Thomas both crossed their arms and waited for him to speak. Then Michael's phone rang.

"Thank The Lord," Michael said as he took off to the porch to answer the phone and avoid his sons.

"Hello?" Michael answered without looking at the caller ID.

"Love?! Where are you?" Mika whined.

Mika. Michael hesitated to answer.

"Hello?" Mika asked.

"Hey.."

"Wow. Someone's happy to talk to me.." Mika said sarcastically.

Michael sighed, "I missed you.."

"I missed you so much Michael. So, why aren't you here? I thought you'd be here when I got home."

"I just needed a few more days Mika."

"Okay? Is everything okay?" Mika asked worriedly.

Michael didn't answer.

"Michael.."

"Mika, I had a checkup last week," Michael answered.

"And.."

"And..it hasn't changed Mika. I was supposed to fly back the other day, but I was too upset," Michael said trying not to cry.

"Michael, it's okay. You're feeling alright though? You don't think you're getting worse, right?"

Michael started to silently cry to himself.

"Love?"

Michael couldn't talk, so he hung up on Mika. He dropped his phone and sat on the floor and cried. Mikey and Thomas overheard him, so they came rushing out.

"Dad, what's wrong??" Thomas asked as he knelt near Michael.

Michael just buried his head into Thomas's chest and continued to cry. Fitz walked over to them and sat on the floor with them.

"Mika didn't break up with you did he?" Mikey asked.

Michael shook his head no as his phone started to ring again. He saw that it was Mika and ignored it. Thomas saw and picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Is Michael okay Thomas?"Mika asked.

"How'd you know it was me?" Thomas asked as he cracked a smile.

"I know your voice, duh. Now your father?"Mika answered.

"He's upset. What did you say to him?"

"Nothing. I asked why he wasn't here and how he was doing and he hung up. Please put him on."

"Dad, talk to Mika and us. Please.." Thomas asked Michael who had stopped crying. Thomas put Mika on speakerphone.

"I'm getting worse," Michael said trying not to break down again.

"Michael..you should've told me," Fitz said.

"I know. I was just hoping that it wasn't true. Hoping that I'd be fucking over this. I'm tired. Tired of going through chemo after chemo and expecting it to just disappear. I can't do it anymore," Michael said as he broke down again.

Mika stayed silent for a minute. He was trying not to cry himself.

"Michael, I'm going to get on the next flight. Okay?" Mika said.

"Mika you should move on. I'll be dead by this time next year any-"

"Stop! Michael don't say that!"Mika yelled.

"Dad please don't," Thomas said.

Michael lowered his head.

"Michael, you're going to beat this. We'll try a different chemo. Just please don't give up. We love up and need you," Fitz said as Mikey took off back into the house to break down himself.

"Mika we'll come to you," Thomas said.

"Yea, were going to come out and explore other options. Alright?" Fitz said.

"Alright. I love you Michael," Mika said.

"I love you," Michael replied and hung up.

"Michael, what's going on? Why didn't you let me know you're worse?" Fitz asked.

"Because I didn't Fitz," Michael snapped.

"What's wrong?" Fitz asked again.

"I'm dizzy all the time and tired. I've been falling a lot and losing my balance. My memory sucks and I just feel like quitting."

"Quitting what dad?"

"Life."

"Dad," Thomas started, but stopped and walked away.

"Michael stop that. You shouldn't talk like that ever. Especially in front of your sons. Now you've got them both upset," Fitz said before going to check on Mikey and Thomas.

Michael cried some more before skipping dinner and heading to bed.