Page 64 of Fractured Constellations
“I’m glad to hear it. Now, we have your results,” Dr. Kim tells me, tapping at his keyboard, then turning the monitor screen so we can see. It’s a slice of me, with colorful areas, especially around my chest. “The PET scan shows uptake in the mediastinal nodes,” Dr. Kim explains while pointing to the hot spots. “This shouldn’t be the case if the current treatment was working optimally.”
Before he can simplify, I translate for the guys, remembering this possibility from last time. “The cancer’s still active in my chest and it looks like your dad’s treatment isn’t the miracle he claims.”
Blade nods, his face showing no surprise, and I almost roll my eyes. Smart fucking bastard didn’t need the explanation.
“What’s the next step?” Chase demands, already reaching for his phone, presumably to start making arrangements.
“I’d suggest stopping the current treatment, then starting the BEAM protocol followed by the bone marrow transplant, of which I believe you three are viable donors?” He looks down at his notes, nodding. “Yes, Blade Banks is the most optimal, but all three of you are a match.”
“Okay, let’s move forward with that,” Chase answers, and Dr. Kim nods once more, but to give him credit, he looks at me.
“Are you happy with that, Luna?”
I suck my lower lip in. I know the guys have reservations about their father’s ‘miracle treatment,’ and frankly, so do I, especially after seeing my results. But the transplant isn’t risk-free, in fact, it’s pretty risk-full. Plus the guys would suffer, and I’m not sure how I’ll feel watching them hurt for me.
“Whatever you’re thinking, Star, stop.” I look away from Dr. Kim to find the gold in Chase’s eyes sparkling. “We will gladly give you anything you need. It’s no sacrifice at all.”
“Did you know that people who get bone marrow transplants have mixed DNA?” Thorn interjects from my other side, and I look over at him, shaking my head. I didn’t know that.
“That’s right, Goldilocks, we’ll forever be a part of you, part of your DNA,” Blade whispers into my ear from behind, and my eyelids flutter as my cheeks heat.Why does that thought please me so fucking much?“We’ll be deeper inside you than anyone else has ever been.”
Oh god, I’m trying to hold in my reaction because the poor doctor does not need to see me being turned on by my possessive stepbrother.
“Not even death will be able to separate us, Star,” Chase informs me, and I turn to look at him again.
“Okay,” I say, holding Chase’s intense gaze for a moment longer before looking back at Dr. Kim. “Let’s do it.”
“Good girl,” Blade murmurs in my ear because he’s a fucking degenerate who wants to see me self-combust in front of my cancer specialist.
“Excellent, I’ll write up the new treatment plan and send it over,” Dr. Kim states, being the ultimate professional and ignoring the slight undercurrent of sexual tension in the room.Good man. “Then we can start transplant prep in two weeks time, which fits the timeframe of when you finished your last round of chemotherapy. Any questions?”
“Will it hurt her?” Thorn asks, the only question that clearly matters to him. My heart melts because he’s not asking about himself and what he’s about to undergo. Instead, he’s just worried about me.
Dr. Kim’s gaze softens as he looks from Thorn to me. “The pre-transplant conditioning is more high-intensity than your ICE Protocol and is used to eliminate all remaining cancer cells and suppress your immune system. It’ll be six days of consecutive treatment immediately before the transplant. You can expect similar side effects to what you’ve already experienced, and there’s a high-risk of potential organ toxicity and infection.” Taking a deep inhale, I give him a nod to continue, my hand gripping Thorn’s tightly. “The most painful part will probably be the repeated bone marrow biopsies. It’s the only way to get a definitive assessment of the cancer in the bone marrow. The pain can be moderate to severe during the procedure as they have to insert a needle into your hip bone, and the site can be sore for several days afterwards.”
I let out a shaky exhale, Blade’s hand tightening on my shoulder, letting me know he’s here and not going anywhere. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
Dr. Kim gives me a smile, like my false can-do attitude is amusing. “That’s the spirit. I’ll send through all the details, and we shall see you again in a couple of weeks.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” I say, getting up but not letting go of Thorn’s hand.
“We appreciate you taking on Luna’s case,” Chase states, holding his hand out to shake Dr. Kim’s again. See, he doesn’t make it look awkward.Bastard.
“I’m glad I can help, truly,” Dr. Kim replies, shaking Blade’s hand as he steps forward, and then Thorn’s, who keeps my other hand wrapped around his. “Take care until then, and you have my contact if you need anything.”
He walks us out to the reception, and then we’re walking out of the doors into the early fall sunshine. The trees sway in the breeze, and I just stand at the top of the steps, eyes closed and letting the sun warm my face, just breathing for a moment.
“You okay, Moonbeam?” Thorn asks me, and I open my eyes as I turn to look at him.
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “It’s a lot, and I hate that you guys are going to hurt because of me.”
He’s shaking his head as he takes a step to stand in front of me, dropping my hand so that he can cup my face in his warm palms. “Don’t think like that, Goldie. We would take all the pain away if we could. This is nothing, fucking nothing, if it means we can help in a small way.”
I open my mouth to protest, but like the asshole he still is, he silences me with his lips on mine. He tastes like the sun that tries to break through the clouds, like he’s willing his positive energy into my body, into my very cells, and my hands reach up to cling to his forearms as I open my mouth and let him slip his tongue inside. I want to believe him, want to believe that I will make it through this time like I have every other time this fucking disease has reared its ugly head.
Slowly, we part, and he presses a final kiss on the tip of my nose. “Let’s get you back home, and if you’re lucky, I’ll give you a foot massage.”
I laugh, opening my eyes to find the others have gotten in the truck, Chase in the driver’s seat, Blade in the back.
