Disclaimer: I don't own Ten-Inch Hero.

Author's Note: Sorry this one's pretty short. I've been struggling with writer's block over the past few months. I hope to finish this fic up over the next week or two and then work on an SPN one shot. LadyWallace and I are also going to attempt a Ten-Inch Hero fic together, so keep your eyes peeled. Thanks for reading!

By Her Side

Chapter 2

Tish tried closing her eyes only to have them pop right back open. The silence of the night had descended upon the small apartment she shared with Priestly. During the day, she could attempt to distract herself from thoughts of the biopsy and the results that awaited her. At night, there was nothing but silence and time to think. She hadn't sleep well over the past week and now it was the night before the biopsy. The constant "what if's" that pinged around her mind were going to drive her crazy.

She shifted in the bed and felt Priestly's arm tighten around her. He drew her back against him and pressed his lips to the bare skin of her shoulder.

"Can't sleep?" he murmured against the dusting of freckles that covered her skin.

"No," she sighed. "My mind won't stop." Her eyes felt dry and scratchy and her body was coiled tightly with nerves.

Priestly peppered her skin with more tender kisses before turning her onto her back and propping himself on an elbow. "You're thinking about tomorrow," he said as his fingers moved to trace the line of her jaw.

Tears filled Tish's eyes. "I'm so scared, Priestly," she admitted softly. "The results of the biopsy tomorrow could change my life forever."

"They could," Priestly admitted, "but we will deal with that when the time comes. For now, let's just focus on making it through the procedure tomorrow. We will take it one day at a time. I'll get some take-out and we can watch some of your favorite movies once we get home tomorrow. It will be an afternoon just for us." Priestly kissed the tip of her nose before settling down in the bed and drawing her close once more. Tish shifted until she was comfortably on her stomach with her hand tucked beneath her pillow.

"Eyes closed," Priestly ordered, grinning when his girlfriend scrunched her eyes shut. He began to rub her back in rhythmic circles; it took quite a while, but he finally felt her body relax in sleep.

Tish woke before the sun the next morning. Priestly's arm was draped loosely across her waist and his breath tickled the back of her neck. Despite the uncertainty of things right now, she knew she was so lucky to have this man in her life. Quietly and carefully, she turned so that she could look into his face. Priestly sighed in his sleep and shifted a bit, but didn't wake up.

Tish studied the long lashes that brushed his skin and the dusting of freckles sprinkled across his nose and cheeks. Her thoughts skittered to what could possibly be ahead of her. Chemotherapy, nausea, and hair loss all terrified her. She tried to imagine what she would look like with no hair and the picture she came up with was unsettling to say the least. Would she have the strength to work? How would she support herself? The most terrifying question of all, however, was if it was fair to expect Priestly to stay with her.

"Mornin'," Priestly murmured quietly in a voice raspy with sleep that startled her from her thoughts. "Did you get any sleep?" he asked his girlfriend quietly.

"Yes, I slept," she replied, her teeth worrying her lower lip nervously.

"One day at a time, Tish," Priestly prompted gently as he punctuated his words with a kiss to her nose.

"It's just….," she began hesitantly as she stared into Priestly's solemn green eyes, "well, if I am sick, I don't expect you to stay, you know. I-"

Priestly cut her off before she could continue. "I'm not going anywhere no matter what the results of the biopsy are," he told her, his voice firm. "Don't even let that thought cross your mind, Tish. I am right where I want to be and I will still love you with hair or without, cancer or no cancer."

Tish sniffled, thinking of the string of useless men she had been with before Priestly. Every last one of them would have dumped her at the first sign of trouble. Shifting forward, she captured her boyfriend's lips in a tender kiss. "I love you, Priestly," she whispered quietly as she pulled away and glanced at the clock.

"Love you, too," he returned as he stole another quick kiss.

With a heavy sigh, Tish pushed back the sheets. "I need to shower before we leave since I don't know if I'll be able to after the procedure." Nerves gnawed at her stomach and she felt a bit nauseous. She wished life had a fast forward button so she could speed through the days and know the results of her biopsy. Then she'd be able to plan and wrap her mind around what would be coming up next in her life.

After a quick shower, she dressed and exited the bathroom. Priestly caught her in a hug as he passed by her on his way to the shower. He pressed a kiss to her forehead before releasing her without a word and stripping out of his boxers.

Any other time, Tish would have stopped to enjoy the view, but today her mind was elsewhere. She wandered aimlessly around the apartment she shared with Priestly, touching this and rearranging that. She was puttering in the refrigerator when Priestly appeared in the doorway, his Mohawk a stunning shade of green.

"Are you ready? I'll stop and get coffee on the way." He stepped forward and gently tugged Tish from the refrigerator. She leaned against his chest and his arms wrapped tightly around her. "You're going to get through this. We are going to get through this," he murmured against her dark hair.

"I'm so scared, Priestly," she nearly sobbed before sucking in a deep breath.

"Me, too," he admitted, "but the doctors are going to take care of you and so am I."

Tish pushed away from his chest. "Let's go then," she told him, squaring her shoulders. She could do this; she had to. There was no other choice.

Priestly took her hand and threaded their fingers together before leading her out of the apartment and locking the door behind them.

The drive to the outpatient surgery center was mostly silent. Priestly stopped at a convenience store for coffee and he sipped it carefully. The smell made Tish's stomach churn, but she didn't say anything. As they turned into the parking lot of the center, Tish sucked in a deep breath. This was it. She felt Priestly's hand close tightly around hers where it rested in her lap. She gave him a small, trembling smile when he glanced her way.

It didn't take long to get checked into the outpatient surgery center. Priestly sat by Tish's side the entire time, his fingers running over her back in soothing circles. When they called her name to go into the back and get prepared for her procedure, she stood and looked back longingly at her boyfriend. "Can he come with me?" she asked the nurse, her voice shakier than she liked.

"Not right now, Hon," the kind African-American nurse replied. "Once I get you settled, I will come get him for you."

Tish looked nervously back at Priestly. He stood and pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Go with the nurse, and I'll see you in a few minutes," he promised.

Tish nodded and squeezed his hand before following the nurse through the door.

"My name is Nicole," the nurse smiled. "You just let me know if you need anything, and we will take good care of you."

"I'm a little nervous," Tish admitted, clenching her fists when her hands wouldn't stop shaking.

"That's understandable," Nicole replied as she handed Tish a hospital gown. "Take everything off and change into this. Leave the opening in the front," she told her.

"Thank you," Tish murmured, her teeth chattering with her anxiety as the nurse pulled the curtain around her small cubicle. She changed quickly, her shaking hands making it a bit difficult.

Nicole returned a few minutes later. "Now, let me go get your man." She patted Tish's arm gently. "Maybe he will help you calm down a bit."

Tish let out the breath she had been holding and nodded. She really needed Priestly.

Only a few minutes passed before he was peeking around her curtain, a nervous smile in place. He swallowed hard at the sight of his girlfriend in a hospital gown. Sitting on the side of Tish's bed, he brushed her hair back from her face. "How are you doing?" he asked, his fingers gently ghosting down her jawline.

Tish shook her head. "I don't know – nervous, scared, ready to get this over with." She shifted uncomfortably in the hospital bed. "I wish they'd just come get me already."

Priestly slipped his arm over her shoulders. "I know," he murmured as he pressed his lips into her hair. "I picked up some soup at your favorite place for supper tonight if you feel up to eating," he promised his girlfriend. "And we can watch whatever movie you want," he scrunched up his nose in distaste, "even a romance."

Tish huffed a small laugh as the doctor pulled back the curtain and observed the pale, nervous young woman and the man with the green Mohawk settled in the bed before him.

"Well, Ms. Madison, this won't take too long. We are going to take you into the back and numb the area with a general anesthetic so we can get that sample we need." He looked at Priestly. "The nurse will come get you in the waiting room when she's all finished."

Tish fumbled for Priestly's hand and grasped it, squeezing tightly. Her eyes sought his for reassurance.

Priestly leaned forward and pressed a tender kiss to his girlfriend's lips. "I love you, and remember, we're going to get through this together one step at a time."

"One step at a time," Tish echoed against his lips.

Priestly stood and gave Tish's hand a final squeeze. "I'll see you soon, Beautiful."

Tish nodded, her lower lip trapped between her teeth. She watched Priestly's retreating back until he disappeared down the hallway toward the waiting room.

"Okay, Dr. Collins. I'm ready," she breathed, her fingers clenching and unclenching in the stiff, white bedsheets.

The doctor patted the trembling woman's shoulder. "We will take good care of you," he promised.

Tish nodded and rested her head against the pillows as Nicole and another nurse arrived and began to move her bed back into one of the procedure rooms. She closed her eyes tightly and willed all of this to be some horrible nightmare.

To Be Continued…