~Chapter Seven~

April 17, 2016

Katie sighed as she held Justin's hand. They had just boarded their return flight to head home. They had spent the past five days in warm and sunny St. Augustine, Florida. Mary Beth had helped Katie pick an old bed and breakfast to stay in, right in the heart of downtown in the oldest city in the US.

Justin and Katie had a wonderful time. They toured the old Spanish fort, the old school house, and Flaggler's college. They had climbed the steps of the old lighthouse and splashed in the ocean. They had visited museums and had lots of fun shopping. They ate at five star restaurants and danced the night away. More than that, they spent their nights wrapped in each other's arms as they confessed and proved their love over and over again. The time away was something the couple had both needed.

"Is it too late to get off the plane?" Katie asked snuggling closer up to Justin lying her head on his shoulder. Justin chuckled and kissed her on the forehead.

"Come on now Katie, I know you're missing the boys. Admit it."

"Okay, I admit it. But I've loved this time with you. I wish I could freeze this moment. When we get back it's time for the spring calf round up. We are going to be so busy. I'm not ready for it."

Justin nodded. He wasn't ready to return home either. This past week had been amazing and for once Justin was able to pretend he was healthy and not dying. It was what he and Katie needed.

"Why don't you shut your eyes and nap, Katie-Did. I'll wake you up when we get ready to land."  Justin snuggled Katie under his arm kissing her on her forehead watching her yawn.  Katie snuggled and nodded, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.

Justin stayed awake, watching her closely. He watched the way her lips parted as she lightly snores. He watched her as a little drool dribbled onto her chin. He watched her as she wiggled until she settled into his neck, sighing as she inhaled his scent. He wiped his eyes, and noticed the tears. He didn't want to loose this, he wasn't ready for this moment to end. He never wanted to live without her and he knew his time was coming to an end, and soon.

Justin gently woke Katie up as the plane landed. He held her closely as they headed to baggage claims and gathered their luggage. Katie was watching Justin closely, he was looking slightly pale.

"Justin," Katie watched him frowning. "Are you okay?"

"Hmmm, yeah," Justin replied moving his shoulders as he felt tingles running down his arm. "I think my arms asleep."  The couple began walking to the entrance of the airport where Ted was waiting to pick them up. They were about half way there when Justin suddenly dropped the suitcase the was carrying and grabbed Katie's arm.

"Katie," he mumbled as he fell slightly. "I can't breathe."

"Justin," Katie screamed watching his eyes roll back in his head as he collapsed. "No!!" Katie grabbed Justin as he fell. "Someone help!" She yelled frantically.  A security guard was close and came running as he was talking into his radio.

"Don't panic ma'am, help is on the way," he assured Katie as she saw more security guards running over. In less than ten minutes she was surrounded by paramedics and airport employees.

"Hello ma'am," an EMT said pulling an oxygen mask over Justin's face. "My name is Phil, we are here to help. Is there anything we need to know about your husband?"

"Justin," Katie said still holding his hand as she watched the men check his vitals. "He has stage four cancer. It's in his spinal column and lungs. Oh God," Katie was shaking as she stared at her husband tears running down her face. "I'm not ready for this."

Phil nodded and began to gently pull Katie away from her husband.

"We need to take him to the hospital," Phil told her drawing her focus to him. "Is there anyone we can call to help you right now?"

"Umm yes, I need to call Ted.  He should be here, shouldn't he?" Katie looked at Phil wanting answers and strength. He saw the raw fear in her eyes.

"Okay, let's call Ted. He can meet us at the hospital we need to get Justin loaded and ready to go."

Katie just nodded. Her hands were shaking as she fumbled with her purse trying to find her phone to call Ted. Luckily he was in the parking lot watching the ambulance being loaded not realizing it was Justin being taken care of. He readily agreed to call Mary Beth and meet Katie at the hospital.

Katie climbed into the back of the ambulance her face looking ashen. She was shaking as she watched the EMT's check Justin for a pulse and stabilize his oxygen level. She held Justin's hand watching his eyes flutter as he fought to regain consciousness. Katie watched as Phil gave him a shot.

"This will help relax him so we can monitor his oxygen levels. The more he fights the less oxygen his body is absorbing right now," Phil explained a he looked at Katie. "Keep talking to him though, he can hear you."

Katie nodded and started a running monologue about everything that they had done together the last week. Finally after what seemed like an hour but it was only a fifteen minute trip, the ambulance pulled into the emergency room bay. Phil held Katie back as they unloaded Justin and then he led her to a waiting area. He explained that both Dr. Toman and Dr. Santori knew Justin was coming in and would see her shortly.

Turning Katie saw Ted run in. Katie explained everything that she knew to her husband's best friend before she started shaking uncontrollably. She collapsed into his arms sobbing. After the longest wait of her life, Katie was called to Justin's side by a nurse. She stepped into the small cubicle and saw that Justin was awake and talking to a frowning Dr. Santori and an upset looking Dr. Toman.

"How bad is it?" Katie asked running to Justin's side and grabbing his hand.

"It's not good, Katie," Dr. Santori began. "We don't know the extent of the cancers spreading until we do the CAT scan, but based on our preliminary tests it appears to be fully imbedded in his lungs." Shaking his head, the doctor sighed. He hated this part of the job. "At the very least, and this is the best case scenario, he will be leaving here on oxygen permanently."

Katie clutched Justin's hand tighter as he brought it to his lips in a gentle kiss.

"And the worst case scenario, Doc?" Justin asked in a hushed tone.

Dr. Santori glanced between the couple delivering the news he knew they didn't want to hear. "We call in hospice."

Katie gasped, tears flooding her eyes. She looked down at Justin. "No," she sobbed. "It's too soon. We still have to take the boys to Disney. And it's the spring round up. And then the boys Sunday school play. Don't forget Gussy's first birthday. Justin can't need hospice care yet, it's too soon."

"Mrs. Haynes," Dr. Santori began, "We don't know what is going on. We still need to run some more tests. We will be keeping him overnight at the very least. Now, is there anyone you can call? Is there someone who can come help you?"

Katie shook her head. Her mind was too jumbled to think clearly. Justin squeezed her hand, drawing her attention to him.

"Go talk to Ted honey and call Sam. They should take me back soon. We will have answers soon," Justin wheezed out before a coughing fit overtook him. Katie nodded scared to leave his side.

"Justin's right, Katie," Dr. Toman said. "Go make your calls, the nurse is here to take him back. We will have answers in about an hour."

Katie nodded and thanked both the doctors before she walked back to the waiting area. Upon seeing Ted, she broke down in hysterics. Ted comforted her as best he could. He watched her as she called Sam and explained what was happening. She asked him to start to find some day-working cowboys to help since she and Justin weren't going to be available for the calf roundup. While she was on the phone with Sam, Ted called Mary Beth. He listened as his wife began to cry. Justin was their friend and this was hitting all of them harder than expected. After finishing up their phone calls, Katie and Ted sat down to wait.

Less than an hour later a solemn looking nurse came to take them to the oncology floor of the hospital where Justin was being admitted. Katie almost cried again as she walked in the room and saw her husband, her big strong husband, lying in a bed hooked up to oxygen, an IV, a drip, and a heart monitor sound asleep.

"Dr. Santori will be in shortly to discuss the results," the nurse said kindly. Katie thanked her and grabbed Justin's hand. Ted took the chair on the other side of Justin's bed a lone tear running down his face. In less than thirty minutes, Dr. Santori and Dr. Toman came in.

"Katie, Ted," Dr. Santori greeted them both as he walked over and lightly shook Justin awake. "Justin, son, I need you to hear this too." Justin slowly blinked and looked at the dreary faces surrounding him. Seeing the serious expressions on both of the doctors faces, Ted quietly slipped from the room squeezing Katie's hand as he left.

"Okay Doc," Justin mumbled after the door shut behind Ted. "How bad is it?"

Dr. Santori shook his head. He glanced towards Dr. Toman who nodded. Both men were looking very serious and very upset.

"Justin, Katie," Dr Santori began. "I really wish we had better news. The cancer is fully imbedded in your lungs and there is some spotting around your heart."

"What does that mean, Doc?" Justin asked as he held Katie's hand. He looked at his Katie and saw that tears were falling down her cheeks as she quietly sobbed. With a shaky hand, he brushed her cheek and offered her a sad smile.

"It means," Dr. Toman calmly began glancing at the couple and his colleague, "that the cancer is worse than we anticipated."

Justin just nodded. "How long?" Justin finally whispered not looking at anyone but Katie.

"No more than a month." Dr Santori answered. Katie gasped and began to cry in earnest. Even Justin had tears gather in his eyes.

"No," Katie mumbled looking at Justin. "It's too soon, we have so much to do yet. Gussy' first birthday and,"

"Shhhh, my sweet Katie-Did," Justin cut her off. "We knew this was coming. Now honey don't cry. We will figure this out." Justin's pleaded with Katie to be strong. He saw his own fear filled eyes reflected in her tear filled ones. She nodded, wiped her tears, and bent to give Justin a sweet kiss on the lips.

"Okay," Katie whispered to Justin, kissing his forehead before straightening up and turning towards the doctors. "What are our options?"

Dr. Santori offered her a sad smile. "We will be keeping him here for at least two days to monitor his oxygen, heart, and pain levels. Then you have the choice of bringing him home with hospice care or keeping him here."

"Home," Katie said in a tone that brokered no argument.

"Katie," Justin began. "I don't know if that's the best place."

"No," Katie cut Justin off firmly. "I want to take care of you. The boys need to be with you. I need to be with you. You're coming home."  Justin just nodded watching his wife.

"Right," Dr. Santori said. "I will put in a call to Elizabeth Towns with Good Shepherd Hospice. They're the best.  Now, I know this is a lot to take in so I'll leave you two alone. Justin, the nurses will be in with a sleeping pill in a little bit." The doctor smiled at the couple. "And Katie, I'd advise you to go home tonight. See your boys. Call your family. There's a lot to prepare for in a few days."

"Okay, thanks Dr. Santori," Katie replied sitting down in the chair next to Justin. "We really do appreciate everything you've done for us."

"I just wish I could do more," the doctor stated as he offered a sad smile and left the couple alone. A short time later, Ted came in with the nurse and Katie explained everything. She agreed to stay the night with Ted and Mary Beth in town so she would be close to the hospital.

After Justin was asleep, Katie and Ted left the hospital and once again Katie broke down in tears. There was one person she knew she needed to call and she was dreading that conversation. Finally, in the sanctuary of Ted's car, Katie dialed the now familiar number.

"Colten, they're bringing in hospice. It's time for you to come back."