#kc_necropolis

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CC puts down the phone

She flops down in a chair, staring at the wall of their house

"Well.... " She says with a swallow "it's confirmed"

William is right there with her, two scotches poured but his hands free. He reaches to take her hand, watching her.

She swallows

Then squeezes, Hard. "The doctor says tthe biopsy came up posittive. I have cancer"

The color drains from his face, but he swallows and says calmly. "We fight." He offers her a drink.

She takes it "Well.. I'm sure not bending over for it"

And takes a swallow

"I'll reserve that privilege for myself, thank you." a game attempt at the usual banter.

"How are you, Dearest?"

A smile at his attempt, but it's forced "I'm afraid I'm 3 breaths close to a hysterical fit"

"Drink your drink." he says "Do you want me to stay? Or give you space? How can I help?"

She drinks "Stay, please." A squeeze of his hand with her free one "I'm scared"

He sets his drink down and, despite her being seated, figures out how to embrace her, holding her tenderly. "You have reason to be. We'll fight this. We'll win."

She slides into his lap putting her own drrink down, wrraps arms about him and...crries on his shoulderr

Tears flow silently down his own cheeks, unnoticed. He strokes her back and murmurs to her, nonsense sounds to soothe.

"I just... I had it all, have it all. I don't want it to end now"

"It won't!" my, he can be FIERCE for such a little package.

"It. Will. Not. End. Not now. Not till we're ready. Not till YOU'RE ready."

A sob and nod "Yes, dear"

He kisses her, settling her onto his lap and crooning soft nothings, rocking slightly, comforting.

She kisses back, but mostly she wants tto be held "Tell me lies. Tell me how we can ndo anythin"

"Lies? Not a lie here, Dearest. We -can- do anything. We will. These cells have no chance against you and I. There are measures we can take, that we -have- taken. And, for all that I have had issue before, there are doctors. We will have the best. Early detection is key, and we are well ahead there. Our time here, together, will not end now." Firmly.

"And we'll come back stronger? Better?" A plea for him to say that

"Yes! Of course! When you have conquered this, what could possibly hold you back from the next whim you decide you must have, or do?"

A kiss to her temple or her hair, whatever's in reach.

"Nothinng could hold us back"

"Nothing will hold us back." He agrees with a slight correction.

She cries a bit more, but... drenched as his shoulder gets, it helps her

Shoulder be damned; it can get wet, and like it.

After a 20 minute rally and sob session, she wipes her eyes "Enough of that I.. oh your shirt"

"Take it off.. and not for the usual reason" She's oginngn to wash it

"Piffle. It's been baptised with the tears of an angel, and I shall never wash it again." gently, drying her eyes with his sleeve-cuff.

"It's salt stained" Huff

"Touched by a goddess." he corrects tenderly.

"You silly knob"

"For you? Guilty." a sweet kiss on her cheek "Would you like another drink?"

"Yes, please"

He pours her another serious tot.

"Enjoy, Dearest." bringing it back.

"i'm going to get smashed" She warns and drrinks

"An understandable reaction, I think. One night." he rations "Tomorrow we begin taking care of you in earnest."

A pause "Taking...care?"

"Yes, Dearest Callidora. I'd like to join you at your gym, if you'll have me. And I imagine there will be doctor's appointments? We'll need to be ready for those. Other steps."

"Oh fo a moment I thought you were cutting me off booze"

A telling silence, and he sips his drink.

She ggives him a LOOK, and tops off her drink

He brought the bottle over and it's right there for her.