*"But I do it for the kids, life threw the towel in on
Every time you fall it's only making your chin strong
And I'll be in your corner like Mick, baby, 'til the end
Or when you hear a song from that big lady
Until the referee rings the bell
Until both your eyes start to swell
Until the crowd goes home
What we gonna do ya'll?"*
Westley stood in front of the hospital the next weekend, reluctant to go into the cancer wing. Part of him wanted to go to visit his dad, and the other half didn't want to go into the hospital. He had bad memories of hospitals, and it always caused him to have bad dreams after a visit, just like the last time when he came to the hospital with his dad. He needed to be strong for his dad though, so he unwillingly started the trek to his dad's room. Of course it was all the way down the hall. As he was walking past the waiting room, he noticed a huge man sitting in a chair that looked way to small for him chatting with a child. Westley chuckled inside a bit, feeling sorry for the man. Westley was intrigued by the man, his skin a light mocha color, and he had shoulder length dreads. He shook his head and kept walking. His brain was probably self-consciously thinking if he stopped to talk to the man, he wouldn't have to go further into the hospital, and he wouldn't have to visit his dad...
He continued down the hall, and finally found his dad's room. His mom was sitting in the chair next to the hospital bed, knitting. Westley couldn't remember the last time she'd knitted, she seemed to do it only when she was stressed. She nodded to Westley and then stood up.
"Westley, good, I'm going to run and get a drink, maybe powder my nose. I didn't want to leave your father alone."
"Ah, Westley, how have you been?" His dad asked.
"Ok I guess. Went to visit a friend I met on my internship this weekend."
"Hmm, the one from Wisconsin?"
"Yeah... So dad, how do you feel?"
"Oddly enough, okay. They confirmed its pancreatic cancer, but I guess it's not early but not late stage, so they're hopeful. I get to start chemo tomorrow."
Westley nodded.
"Son, you've always been a quiet guy, but I feel like there's a lot left unsaid between us. I'd like you to know, I may not always be here for you, but if you need to talk, I'm here."
"I know dad. I know. I... well, once I've figured stuff out we may talk about it, but right now I don't think I have anything I need to talk about."
"Okay." His dad yawned, and laid back.
"I'll let you get back to napping. I should go study anyway, I have a test later this week." Westley quietly left, unsure if his dad was still awake or not.
As he was leaving the hospital, he wasn't paying attention to where he was walking, and he ran into the behemoth of the man he saw in the waiting room.
"Hey little dude, you okay?" He said with a deep voice.
Westley was almost hypnotized by the man's beautiful hazel eyes. They twinkled with his smile. He shook his head.
"Fine. Sorry about running into you."
"No problem, you look deep in thought... Everything okay?"
"Eh, my dad's in here."
"Aw, man, that sucks. Hey, is he a football fan?"
"Um, yeah he is, he likes the Packers for some reason, even though we're in Ohio." Westley laughed a bit.
"Excellent. Which room is he in?"
"Um... 211 down the hall."
"Cool, see you later..." The man paused
"Westley."
"Westley," He seemed to roll it intimately across his tongue. "I'm Christian." He stuck out his hand. Westley shook it briefly, and then they parted ways. He couldn't shake the idea that Christian looked familiar but Westley couldn't place him.
Christian watched as the small man walked down the hallway, leaving the oncology wing. He was really cute, Christian thought, and hopefully he'd run into him again. Since football was still in the off season, Christian liked to visit patients who were fans of the team, hopefully to brighten their days in between treatments. He was a big supporter of the 'Make a Wish' Foundation, and enjoyed visiting kids, but Westley's father would probably appreciate a visit as well. He made his way down the hallway and knocked on the door to 211. A middle age man was sleeping in the bed, and a woman sat near him, knitting. The woman stopped knitting and looked up.
"Oh, hello..." The woman seemed slightly nervous.
"Hey, I'm Christian Nolls. I play for the Packers. I was in the hospital visiting patients, and ran into Westley. He said his dad was a football fan."
"Oh. I'm Marie. Well, let me wake him up... George... there's someone here to meet you."
The man stirred, sleepily opening his eyes.
"What... Nolls? Seriously? The outside linebacker?"
"Yup... I ran into your son in the hallway, he said you were a Packers fan, even though you live in Ohio..."
"Originally from Wisconsin." Westley's dad explained.
"That explains it. I grew up near here. I live in Wisconsin now, to be close to the team, but come back to stay with the parents, visit the hospitals."
