c4

"So, are you going to tell me what's going on?" Rose asked shyly, looking around Brian's room. "Are we going to the cafeteria or. . ." She stopped short when the scent of pizza hit her. She took in a deep breath. "Is that pizza?" She asked, her tone almost a whisper.

"It is." Brian said back.

Rose's brown eyes widened, and she spotted the Domino's box on the table. "Brian! How'd you manage that?" She asked, walking towards the pizza. "I haven't had this in over a year! We're not allowed to order out here, you know." She reminded him.

Brian laughed. "Well, I won't tell if you won't tell." He said. Then, motioning to the box, "help yourself."

Rose grinned, and pulled open the box. She grabbed a slice, and lifted it to her mouth with such care and awe that Brian almost laughed. She took a bite, and a look of pure rapture crossed her face. "Oh!" She whispered, hurriedly taking another bite. "How'd you get this, anyway?"

Brian took his own peice, and started chewing. "I had a friend bring it. He, uh, did the nurse a favor, and she bent the rules a little."

A look of understanding crossed Rose's face. "Right. The one signing autographs." She said, finishing off her first slice of pizza, and starting on another one.

Brian's face paled a little. "Uh. . .well. . .yeah, he's. . .uh. . ."

Rose shook her head. "Don't worry about. I know about your whole boy band thing." She noticed how surprised Brian looked, and laughed the laugh that he loved so much again. "I'm living in a hospital, not under a rock."

"I didn't think you knew." Brian told her. "You didn't act like it when I met you."

Rose swallowed her mouthfull, and explained, "when I first met you, I didn't know, actaully. I mean, I'd heard your songs, but I never paid much attention. But then I saw that newcast this afternoon. And then I recognized you." She smiled. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."

Brian smiled greatfully, and grabbed another pizza slice.

The pair didn't talk much until they'd finished about half of the large pizza. But once they'd both had their fill, Brian sat down on the bed, and motioned for Rose to sit down beside him. She did, but maintained a carefull distance between them. "Can I ask you a question?" Brian asked carefully.

"I think you just did." Rose responded.

"Oh. Right. Well then, can I ask you two? Or three, I guess, since that was another question." Rose nodded, but she didn't seem like she really wanted to answer any of his questions. Brian noticed her hesitation, but he pressed on, anyway. "Why are you here?"

Rose's dark eyes widened, and she stood up. "You invited me." She said softly. Then a thought hit her. Maybe he'd wanted her to leave the second dinner was over. Or even take the pizza back to her room, and eat it there. "I'm sorry. I assumed you wanted me to stay. I'll go now. Sorry." She felt her eyes filling with tears of embarrasment as she hurried towards the door. But it figured. Why would he want to spend time with her anyway? He was probably just being polite.

But then she heard the sound that she least expected to hear. Brian was laughing. That was it. So it was a joke. Tears spilled down her face, and she rushed out of his room. But Brian's hand connected with her arm, and pulled her back inside. "Rose, no." He said softly. "I didn't mean that."

She didn't look at him. She didn't want him to see that she was crying. She wouldn't give him that satisfaction.

"I didn't mean why are you in my room. I meant, why are you in the hospital?" He told her. She kept her face away from him, but Brian could tell that she was crying. He reached out a hand, and pulled her face towards him. She looked up, embarrased. It seemed like she expected Brian to laugh at her. Instead, he reached out the hand that wasn't holding onto her arm, and wiped away her tears.

Rose sniffled. "I'm sorry, Brian. I didn't know. . ."

He pulled her in to his arms. Rose's body stiffened for a minute, but this time she didn't pull away. He heard her sobbing into his chest. Brian reached one hand up to her head, and ran it over her hair. "It's okay, Rose. I'm sorry." He wasn't sure what he was apologizing for, but he knew that there must be something he did wrong since he got here. Probably a million different things. He didn't know how to act when he was with her. She was different than any one else. He wasn't really sure how to behave around her.

Rose lifted her face so she was looking right into his eyes. "I have cancer." She said softly. Her eyes were filled with pain and tears. "Lukemia." She swallowed. "That's why I look like this."

"Rose, you don't have to-" Brian started, but she shook her head.

"I'm going through chemotherepy. I don't have any blood cells left. All my hair fell out." She touched the beautiful mane on top of her head. "It's a wig." She said. She took another breath, and burried her face in his chest again. "I don't want to die, Brian." Rose whispered. "I just don't want to die."

Brian held here. He didn't know what else to do. What to say. He just held her.