allmyheart6

all my heart
by unique
chapter 6

"Mama..." Tyler's soft whimper woke Cassandra up in an instant.
    She stretched and pulled Tyler into her arms. "What is it, sweetheart? What's wrong?" She
    asked softly.
    A glance at the clock told her it was three in the morning. She sighed softly. Tyler
    usually didn't do this unless he had a bad dream or... She frowned as Tyler leaned his head
    against her. He was so warm. As fast as she could, she lifted Tyler into her arms and
    brought him into the washroom down the hall. Turning the lights on, she placed Tyler onto
    the smooth counter and felt his forehead with her hand. He had one heck of a fever... and
    he wasn't looking particularly happy.
    "Honey... do you hurt anywhere?" Cassandra asked gently.
    "Everywhere Mama..." Tyler said with a grimace. "But mostly my tummy... make it go away,
    Mama... please..."
    "Okay, baby... hold on... Mama will be right back..."
    "Where are you going?" Tyler asked suddenly, sounding more than a little scared.
    "I have to get Daddy..." Cassandra replied. "We might need his help."
    Tyler nodded, then let out a small yawn. Cassandra left him and made her way down to
    Kevin's room. She hesitated for a second before actually going in. She didn't want to be a
    bother... but... Tyler's health was at stake here. She straightened slightly and opened the
    door. Going to the bed, she shook Kevin gently, whispering his name.
    "Mmm... What is it?" Kevin blinked sleepily and stared up at Cassandra.
    "Kevin... there's something wrong with Tyler... I think we might have to go to the
    hospital."
    Kevin was awake in an instant. "Where is he?"
    "In the washroom." Cassandra bit her lip. "Kevin... it's bad... I mean, he's had fevers
    before, but not like this one..."
    Kevin looked into her eyes and smiled slightly. "Everything's going to be fine, Cassie... I
    promise."
    Cassandra nodded. "I trust you, Kevin... I always have."
    "Come on then." Kevin got out of bed and followed Cassie to the washroom. He took one look
    at Tyler and knew that he was really sick.
    "Dad..." Tyler said hoarsely as he spotted Kevin. "I don't feel so good."
    "Well, buddy, you don't look so hot either." Kevin said as he came to his son's side. "Hold
    onto my neck, okay? We're going for a little car ride..."
    "My tummy hurts..." Tyler moaned.
    "It'll be okay, baby... I promise." Cassandra said as she followed Kevin out of the washroom
    and down the stairs. "Oh... wait... I have to get my purse... he has his health card and
    stuff in there..."
    Kevin nodded. "Okay... we'll be waiting the car. Hurry..."
    Cassandra nodded and quickly ran back up the stairs. She pulled on some jeans and a
    sweatshirt, grabbed a blanket and her purse, and then flew down the stairs and out onto the
    driveway. Kevin was settling Tyler into the backseat when she arrived. She looked him over
    and saw that he was only wearing jogging pants and his shoes.
    "Kevin... shouldn't you put a shirt on?" Cassandra swallowed hard. He looked amazing...
    even at three o'clock in the morning.
    Kevin looked down at himself and grinned sheepishly. "That would be good idea, huh? Okay...
    I'll be right back. You can wrap the blanket around him."
    Cassandra just nodded because her throat was suddenly very dry. She watched as Kevin
    disappeared back into the house, then shook herself mentally and focused her attention back
    on Tyler. He was looking worse so she climbed into the backseat with him and wrapped the
    blanket around him and hugged him close to her. She silently started praying... then
    blinked. She hadn't prayed in over a year... she had lost all hope... or had she? She
    resumed praying fervently, asking God to please take care of her little boy...
    "Okay..." Kevin came just then, sliding calmly into the driver's seat. "Let's get going."
    The ride to the hospital was a silent one, laced with a tense anxiety that only parents felt
    when one of their children was in pain or very ill. In this case, it was their only
    child... and the only thing holding them together for now. Kevin kept glancing into the
    rearview mirror to see if Cassie and Tyler were okay. Fifteen minutes later, they pulled
    into the emergency room parking lot. Kevin parked the car and came to carry Tyler while
    Cassandra followed worriedly.
    The Nurse doing the reception glanced at Tyler then immediately put them in an examination
    room. Tyler had fallen back asleep, but he kept moaning softly at least every five
    minutes. Kevin saw that Cassandra was about ready to have a breakdown, so he came to her
    and put his arms around her to hold her still. She was instantly still and her slim arms
    circled his waist as she leaned on him. He kissed her forehead gently.
    "He'll be fine, baby..." Kevin promised solemnly. "I won't let anything happen to him."
    Cassie just nodded her head, too much emotion filling her and clogging her throat. Just a
    few days ago, Tyler had been happily swimming around in AJ's pool. Now he was lying in a
    hospital bed... Cassie was so scared, but for once, ever since Tyler had been born, she
    wasn't alone. She felt Kevin's embrace tighten around her and she felt her fear leave her.
    Everything would be okay... as long as Kevin was there.
    ~ *********** ~
    "It looks like appendicitis,” The doctor said grimly. "We're going to have to operate...
    otherwise Tyler's appendix will burst and he could die."
    Cassie let out a small whimper and Kevin squeezed her hand. He looked at the doctor and
    gave a small nod. The doctor told the nurse to call up to the surgery and tell them to prep
    for an appendectomy. The nurse hurriedly left the exam room and the doctor looked at
    Cassandra and Kevin.
    "It's a common operation... and we have some of the best doctor's working here." He said
    gently. "Your son will be just fine."
    Kevin looked at Cassandra, who had gone a little pale. "Did you hear that, honey? Tyler's
    going to be fine... you'll see."
    Cassandra's eyes met Kevin's and she nodded slowly. Kevin put his arm around her and pulled
    her to his side. He looked up and thanked the doctor. The doctor nodded and left the exam
    room as well. Kevin continued to hold onto Cassie as they watched the doctors move Tyler
    onto a stretcher and wheel him away. The nurse that had admitted Tyler escorted them to the
    Surgery Unit then left them in the waiting room.   Cassie still hadn't said anything, and
    that worried Kevin.
    "Cassie?" Kevin looked into her eyes and saw that they were slightly dull. "Cassie...
    honey... talk to me, sweetheart. You're starting to scare me."
    Cassandra blinked and her eyes focused on Kevin. "Kevin... I... our baby needs surgery..."
    Her face crumpled slightly and the tears started to slide down her cheeks. "They're going to
    cut him up..."
    Kevin pulled her into his arms, "They have to, Cassie... it's the only way to save him.
    Besides... didn't you hear the doctor? It's a common surgery... I promise you that
    everything will be just fine."
    "Are you sure?" Cassie looked up at him with tear-glazed eyes.
    Kevin nodded, knowing that he meant it. "I'm sure, Cassie. Now... just rest, okay? Sleep
    if you can... I'll wake you when Tyler comes out."
    Cassandra shook her head. "No... I can't sleep, Kevin. Not while Tyler's in there..." She
    shuddered slightly.
    Kevin stroked her back soothingly. "Okay..." He said softly. "Okay. You don't have to
    sleep... we can wait together... okay?"
    Cassie nodded. "Okay." She leaned onto him, her head resting on his shoulder.
    Kevin shifted slightly so he could hold more comfortably, and together they waited for
    Tyler. In that time, Kevin remembered all of the times that he had shared with Cassandra.
    The way she would smile... the way she would touch his hand or his face... the way she
    looked fast asleep in his arms. He missed those days, but he now had a chance to take those
    days back and live them all over again -- for the rest of his life. Cassie had come back to
    him... and they had a beautiful son...
    Kevin realized with a sudden jolt that he wanted Cassie to be his forever... always had and
    always would. Now wasn't really the time to discuss that though. Cassie already had a lot
    on her mind. Kevin sighed softly and kissed the top of Cassie's head. Just being able to
    hold her again was enough for now. When Tyler was feeling better, he'd propose to Cassie,
    the way he had always wanted to. He would tell her that he loved her... and he loved
    Tyler... and that he wanted to be a family. Kevin smiled slightly at the thought and closed
    his eyes to picture all three of them living happily ever after. He wondered what Cassie
    would say...
    Cassandra looked up and saw that Kevin's eyes were closed. Studying him this close made
    Cassandra realize that he was breathtakingly handsome. She was crazy to have left him the
    way she had... but she had had no other choice. She looked down and saw his hands resting
    around her waist lightly. She covered them with her own and smiled slightly. His hands
    were so big... and warm... and strong. Just like Kevin... She wished that she had made a
    different choice all those years ago, but it was too late for wishing. She had to live with
    the choices she had made... and so did Tyler.
    Cassandra let out a soft breath. Tyler... sweet, innocent little boy. She loved him more
    than life itself... and it turned out that she would actually be giving her life for him.
    She wouldn't have had it any other way though. She just didn't know how to tell him... or
    Kevin. Looking up at Kevin's handsome features again, she felt a hot tear slide down her
    cheek. She would miss them... both of them. But at least she knew they had each other.
    That was what she had wanted, and that was why she had come back to Kevin. She just didn't
    know how to tell him that she had only six months left to live... Cassandra had been
    diagnosed with HIV last year... and it hadn't gotten better.