The Drifters

"I'm happy to be back, how are you feeling?" Lessa asked carefully as she sat back down by his side and took his hand.

"I've been better," Sabine admitted with a small shrug as he slowly shifted to try to sit up. His arm shook slightly with the effort. "How was the race?"

"Could have been worse, I did managed to win. But, Storm is a little worse for wear," Lessa admitted carefully.

"What do you mean?" Sabine frowned as he looked at her with concerned eyes. "What happened?"

"They sabotaged the breaks and her radiator, I managed to fix the radiator but the breaks failed again as I finished. Of and they gave us a messed up map," Lessa explained carefully.

"What?" Sabine's eyes widened as he tried to force himself upright. "How did that happen? You should have been protected. And how did you fix the map?"

"So with the map thing my radio was hacked by a girl who started giving me directions, she not only got me back in course but in the lead. I don't know what her name is or how she hacked in but she helpef," Lessa said carefully. She was trying to avoid the first part of the question.

"Were you able to track her?" Sabine questioned her carefully. "Storm records all audio on her radios. You should have been able to search for a matching voice, right?"

"I haven't had a chance to, things have been going kinda crazy since the race, I haven't had a chance. Not to mention I wanted to check on you," Lessa said carefully.

"I see," Sabine frowned as he sunk back into the bed. He didn't want to admit that trying to be upright was taking almost all the energy he had. "So what happened to your protection then?"

"He got a little distracted, apparently he managed to find and follow a Purge member. He wanted to learn more and tried to send you a message not knowing you were here," Lessa tried to explain.

"So he neglected to do his job?" Sabine frowned, it was obvious that he was not happy. "Did he at least find anything out?"

"I think so, he really didn't seem to want to tell me much but I'm sure he talked to father I'm sure he had his reasons," Lessa said w=quickly as she tried to protect Serith.

"He'd better hope so," Sabine spoke shortly with a deep frown. "Thank you for visiting. I'm glad you are safe. "

"Mind telling me what's really going on now?" Lessa asked carefully as she eyed him.

Sabine hesitated, a very uncharacteristic flash of fear traveling through his eyes before he spoke. "When I was in the hospital the doctors found a tumor
I have stage 3 pancreatic cancer. It's too far progressed for chemo. They told me that I have 6 months to live. "

"Is there really nothing they can do?" Lessa asked carefully though she had clearly deflated at the news.

"Nothing, " Sabine admitted as his gaze sunk to the floor. "I can buy myself a little more time with chemo but there is no cure. I'm sorry Lessa."

"That's a lie, they were lying to you. There has to be a cure," Lessa demanded. "All the time people with stage 4 cancer get surgery or a new organ, there has to be something that can be done."

"Maybe there is, maybe there isn't. I don't know, " Sabine admitted. "But as I understand it this type of cancer is tricky, and honestly I'm not keeping my hopes up. "

"I see," Lessa deflated again. 'I'm sorry. I just can't lose you, I don't know what I would do without you."

"I understand. " Sabine shifted just enough so he could wrap a soft arm around her as he spoke. "I'm sorry Lessa, I really am."

Lessa shifted and buried her head into his shoulder silent tears making his hospital gown wet, she had nothing left to say. Within just a half hour she fell asleep against him.

Sabine held her close in silence while she slept. He hated that he was the reason she had cried. He knew that he needed to find another way, he couldn't stand to make her cry again should he leave.

A few hours later Lessa stirred with a muttered apology, she had never meant to fall asleep on him and was sure he was uncomfortable.