This is much more different than what I am used to posting stories in, lol... Anyway I guess I should introduce myself, I'm Cyndi, I live in So-Cal, I turn 21 tomorrow. There you have it, the big age bomb. I don't care that I'm older than the average, all I know is I like Instant Star and find it easy to write about it. I am a publised author,way back in the day I wrote poetry like a mad woman,two of them were entered in a contest and I came in runner upwith each poem. One of themwaspublised in apoetry book. I wrote a few short stories, each of them were weirdand Stephen King-ish, so I had to dig a little deeper to keep this story normal. Hehe.

Somethingabout me that I'll mention just this once, only because I may not be able to post as often as other ff writers do. My dad is dying and he requires all around full care. I drive him to and from appointments throughout the week each week. So any time I may not be able to get on I'm most likey taking care of things for him.

I had a story on the N called "She Fell In Love" but that was deleted and my account was disabled. SO I decided to bring my stories over here. I had this plot in my head for "From Hello To Goodbye"a while ago and was just going to make it a long one shot but later decided to make it into a short story. I don't want to drag it out, I think the feel and power are more in depth if I keep the content exactly where it needs to be, leaving all the extras out of this one. I'm going right into the story plot on this one, so please don't ask me how and when things happened, I believe anyone who reads this can have fun picturing how they think Jude and Tommy wound up together. All other details that need to be answered will be in the story. I hope you enjoy this!

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Her hand gently slipped into his, their fingers intertwined together, like they did so many times before. Linking the pair together; mind, body and soul, always joined, forever one. His grip tightened in her embrace, cutting off any blood circulation from feeding her hand. Tears brimmed the edges of her eyelids as words were finally spoken into the tensed silence the room created around them.

"I'm afraid the results are far worse than anticipated."

"W-what do you mean?"

"Mrs. Quincy," Pausing Dr. Jacobson looked from Jude over to Tommy, "Mr. Quincy, the results from the lab work are devastating."

Jude felt her heart momentarily stop beating as Dr. Jacobson's words unscrambled themselves in her brain. Shaking her head in disbelief she shot a glance over towards Tommy, his face was masked, anytime he was covering an emotion he visibly put up a shield, one of his attributes she grew to hate.

"Devastating?" Jude asked.

Nodding, "All the symptoms we recorded over the past two weeks, the ones we thought would disappear, apparently were signs of something far worse." Replied the doctor.

"Devastating? Far worse? Can you please just tell us what is going on?" Jude snapped.

"I don't know how to tell you this," Shuffling through paperwork Dr. Jacobson continued, "The tumor in the brain is back, as well are showings of spinal cord tumors, all of the placements are damaging."

"What?" Jude audibly asked on a whisper.

Shock slammed against her as she tried to process the information. Tommy's hand tightened in hers, his first sign of emotion since they had been seated in the doctors office an hour earlier. She slowly turned her head to face her husband, she could not believe this was happening to them; again. Tommy's gaze met hers, silently he tried to comfort her; a comfort she desperately needed.

"What does this mean?" Tommy finally asked.

"The tumors on the spinal cord are indeed growing, meaning we can try to stop them with proper medication---"

"But?" Jude interrupted.

Sighing Dr. Jacobson turned his gaze toward Jude, "Usually we find them in clusters along certain points on the cord, but in this case, they are spread all over."

"What about the brain tumor? Is there anyway to stop it? Like before?"

"Medicine only goes so far."

"Chemo? Radiation," Jude squeezed Tommy's hand as she talked to the doctor, "Anything? What the hell do you mean it only goes so far?"

"Mrs. Quincy, we were able to stop the brain tumor last year, but we were not presented with this in depth situation at that time."

Using her free hand Jude dragged it through her hair, nervousness and fear completely taking over her body. This day, this moment was not happening. She had already done this before, just a year and a half ago, they went through this. Here she was sitting in the very same office, holding on to her husbands hand, hearing the same devastating news. Only this time, it was far more worse than the time before. Not again! Not to me, not to Tommy! Tommy cleared his throat next to her, something he did when he was uncomfortable. She felt his eyes on her as she tried to calm herself down enough to ask the questions she knew needed to be asked.

"We were supposed to be done with this," Jude stated, "The tumor went away, it cleared up, and the medication after the recovery kept it from coming back---now you're telling us that not only has the brain tumor come back but also tumors on the spinal cord? How did this happen? Explain it to me doctor."

"Mrs. Quincy, you know as well as I do that some things in life are unexplainable, the tumors are just as much a shock to me and my staff as they are to you and your husband."

"How painful is this going to be?" Tommy quietly asked from his seat.

"Levels depend on exactly where the tumors are located, some circumstances pain is felt in many areas of the body, due to the spinal pressure affecting the nerves."

Tommy nodded silently before asking, "What happens with the new tumors? What are the damaging results you mentioned before?"

"There's a cluster of tumors along the cervical column that are growing fast in size, I see those as the most severe at the time----but there are scattered spots along the thoracic and lumbar regions. Each of the columns send nerves to different parts of the body. As of now the cervical tumors causes pain in the neck and arms. Pain levels in that region depend on how fast they grow and if any other tumors develop from, near or around the already formed groups."

"And medication can lessen the pain?" Tommy questioned.

Nodding Dr. Jacobson rolled his chair over to his computer before pulling out a large manila envelope. "I have the X ray's here for you two to look through if you are interested."

"Right now I am more interested in finding something to fix this doctor." Jude angrily spat out.

"Jude." Tommy warned.

"Leave it be Tommy," Turning her attention back to the doctor Jude spoke, "Will the tumors go away? Can they be cured? Can anything be done?"

"I'm afraid the only option we have as of now is to medicate the pain, other than that, there is nothing we can do."

"No!"

Pulling her hand free from Tommy's, Jude cupped her face as a sob escaped her lips. How could Tommy be so calm? How could the doctor look her in the eyes and not flinch once while telling her there was nothing they could do?

Another cry broke loose as she felt Tommy's soft welcoming embrace as his arms enclosed her in a tight hug.

"I am very sorry Mrs. Quincy, I know this news must be upsetting, my staff and I are truly beside ourselves--- this is part of the job I hate." Dr. Jacobson spoke into the room, hoping that one of the Quincy's heard his condolences.

"How much time?" Tommy asked without looking at the doctor, instead he kept his arms tightly wound around Jude as her shoulders trembled beneath him.

"Estimated time to be one year."

Tommy tensed as the truth finally settled into him. One year. One year and everything he had ever known would be over. Not one single thing could prepare him for this news. Jude flinched and shuddered before she pushed Tommy away, only to fix the doctor with a glare.

"No! This is unacceptable," Standing up she pressed her palms into the dark wood of the doctors desk, leaning slightly over to peer her tear filled eyes into his. "You told us we were home free! And now look, everything is back and far worse this time. How dare you sit there and tell us one year, fix this!"

"Mrs. Quincy, you were home free, but these things happen all the time, I had no idea this would be happening. I'm sorry but at this point all anyone can do is provide the best of care we possibly can."

"How kind of you," Shaking her head in disgust Jude slammed her fist roughly on to the desk, causing the doctor to jump in surprise. "So what, you tell us this and then expect for me to shake your hand and thank you for all your help?"

"Jude," Tommy tried to reach for her hand but Jude pulled away. "Come on sweetheart."

"No Tommy!" Swatting at a fresh fallen tear Jude gulped in a deep breath. "Why?"

"I wish there was more I could do for you Mrs. Quincy."

"Please," More tears fell from her lids as Jude turned a pleading glance to Dr. Jacobson. "There has to be something, anything."

Slowly shaking his head Dr. Jacobson sadly whispered, "I'm sorry."

"One year, and then I have to say goodbye to my husband? One year and then he's gone?"

Not waiting for a response Jude turned around, pushed the chair she had previously been occupying roughly out of her way before running out of the office.

Outside the closed door she stopped to gather her strength, how she had managed to keep her legs from shaking was unknown to her at this point. Her arms felt heavy and limp as she lifted them to muffle the sobs escaping her lips.

People walked by her, nurses, other doctors, even patients, all of them giving the sad woman a glance of concern before returning to their destinations. Jude felt them as they breezed past her, she knew they were staring, but at this time she could care less. Not everyday a person received such heart wrenching news.

Her cries echoed off of the hall walls as she used them for support, pressing her fingers against the wallpapered surface as she sought refuge, anywhere that could take her away from this place, from this news, from her breaking heart.

"C-can you p-point me to the n-nearest r-restroom?" Jude asked between sobs.

Each nurse sitting at the nurses station paused to take in Jude's appearance. Many of them were Dr. Jacobson's, each one knowing exactly who she was and what was the cause of her cries. Sympathy and pain filled each on of their eyes before an elderly receptionist spoke up.

"Down the hall, first door on the left."