SETTING: Grace Adler Designs

Karen sat at her desk looking through the Spring edition of Vogue while getting Jack's opinion on what to buy Stan for his birthday. "I dont know, Karen. I like this one." He said, pointing to the suit next to the one she had chose. There was no enthusiasm or excitement in his voice which Karen had lately began to notice. She tried to go on about her business but couldnt help but worry. After a soft sigh she looked at Jack.

"Honey, whats wrong?" she questioned him with a serious look on her face.

"Huh? Nothing, why?" he asked.

"I dont know. You just havent seemed yourself lately. So spill it," she said closing the magazine, tapping Jacks hand playfully. Tell mama whats the matter."

Jack really had no idea what she was talking about. He had been tired lately but he thought maybe he just needed sleep.

"Really, Kare, I'm fine." He said with a smile.

Though she was still worried, she smiled back at Jack and then gathered her things to get ready to go home.

"Okay, all ready. Lets go." She said as she stood up out of her chair. "Honey, are you sure youre okay?" she once again questioned Jack.

"Karen, I'm fine!" he explained.

As the two started to walk out the doors, Karen began saying, "Ah, poodle, we should go to..." she suddenly stopped as panic struck her face. "Jackie? Jackie?? Jack wake up!" she screamed, lightly smacking his face. Jack had fainted in the doorway of Grace Adler Designs right before Karens eyes.

After having Driver rush him to the hospital, Karen got Jack a doctor. Once she knew he was being taken care of she quickly called Will & Grace. They both raced to the hospital where they found Karen in the waiting room, downing four different types of medication.

"Karen, hey. Where's Jack? Whats going on?" Grace asked her nervously.

"Um, there's been a little accident," she said, looking up at Grace with tears in her eyes. "We were leaving the office and he just fainted. He fell to the ground, he was so pale, Grace; so lifeless." She continued, her voice low which was now beginning to shake.

"Awww, Karen, come here." Grace said giving Karen a hug. "Jack's going to be fine."

"Yeah," Will added. "You know Jack he'll be up and going again by tomorrow."

Karen smiled to the best of her ability.

"Listen, why don't you go home and get some rest," Grace told Karen. "We'll stay here; if anything happens we'll call you, okay?"

"Okay," she whispered, standing up starting to step outside the doors. She quickly turned around and looked at Will and Grace. "He's going to be okay, right?" she asked with a look of desperation on her face.

"He's going to be..." Grace said as she was interrupted.

"Mrs. Walker?? the doctor called.

Karen ran back to him, "Yes? I'm Mrs. Walker. Where's my Jackie? Is he okay?" she began questioning.

"Well, we need to talk to you. He wants to see you first," the doctor replied.

Will and Grace motioned Karen to follow the doctor. She entered Jack's room and saw him lying there with a smile on his face as he sat eyes on her.

"Hi, poodle," she said, relieved to see he was okay.

"Mrs. Walker, we need to talk to you and your husband." The doctor explained speaking of Jack.

"Oh, we arent married," she stated. "Why? Whats wrong?"

"Oh, we're sorry. Could we please speak to him alone?" the doctor asked Karen.

"No." Jack told him, "I want her here; she should be here with me."

"Well, okay." The doctor replied. "I don't know how to put this but we found a lump in your throat. Now it could be nothing at all but theres a chance this lump could be malignant. In other words, sir, you may have cancer." The doctor finished.

Karen began to shake but as she saw the expression on Jack's face she quickly sat aside her own feelings and took his hand into hers.

"I'm sorry." The doctor said as he walked towards the door. "I'll leave you two alone for a moment."

Jack glanced up at Karen who was fighting back tears yet trying not to let it show.

"Cancer?" he asked with a heavy sigh. "Cancer?? Karen, I can't have cancer. I'm too young to die. I've only lived half way through my life, I..." Jack continued, beginning to break down in tears.

"Shhh, Karen said, holding Jack in her arms while she sat beside him. "Honey, you're going to be okay, I promise. I'll buy you the best treatment there is. That is, IF you even have well, you know. Honey, its okay sweetie." She finished trying to comfort Jack.

She could now feel her own tears as they fell from her eyes. She quickly wiped them away so she could be strong for her Jackie. He quickly fell asleep in her arms. She lay his head back down on his pillow and quietly exited his room to share the news with Will and Grace.

"Well," she said with tears forming in her eyes. "the doctor said they found a lump in his throat. He said it could be nothing but theres a chance it could be..." she stopped, barely able to speak.

"What is it, Karen?" Grace asked.

"Jack may have cancer," she muttered as she broke down in tears.

Grace held Karen in her arms. "I can't lose him, Grace." She continued saying through her tears.

"Karen, we aren't going to lose him," Will said reassuringly.

As Karen cried into Graces shoulder Will looked at her as he paced back and forth. "Jack has cancer?" he whispered beginning to tear up himself.

Grace continued to hold Karen, as she too felt tears of fear stream down her face.

Around 15 minutes had now passed since they had found out the devastating news. The doctor walked over to Jacks room then noticed Karen standing with Will and Grace.

"Mrs. Walker? If I may continue now" he said, motioning her to come inside Jack's room with her.

"Okay." She whispered, wiping another tear from her face so that Jack couldn't see that she had been crying. She touched up her make-up and followed in behind the doctor. Jack lie there still asleep. Karen asked if the doctor could please just tell her so that they wouldn't have to wake him. Though he was hesitant at first, he went ahead and done as she asked.

"There are going to have to be a few tests done. And yes, the test results do take a few days to come back so I will warn you, you'll have to wait. I know thats the hardest thing for everyone, waiting for those results to get back. Yet I assure you, Mrs. Walker, your friend should be okay. The risk of cancer is very small but I can't promise anything." The doctor explained.

"Thank you," she said in a low, soft-spoken voice.

"If you need anymore information, you know where to contact me." He said as he silently stepped outside the door.

Karen sat down in the chair by the window, watching everyone below as they went on with their normal day lives. She realized that she was once one of those people, she and Jack both, but now they were in a hospital, waiting for news that could change the rest of both of their lives. As her worried mind continued to scatter with thoughts, tears once again filled her eyes. She didn't realize that Jack had waken up and had been watching her since she had been by the window.

"Awww, Kare, whats the matter?" he asked her in his own cute little way.

Startled, she jumped up and tried to clear her eyes of any tears. "Oh, nothing honey." She answered, trying to smile.

"You were crying and if I may recall, Karen Walker does not cry so something has to be wrong. Oh gosh, is it me? Did the doctor tell you something?" Jack asked beginning to worry.

"No, sweetie. You're fine. The doctor said he has to run some tests and that the results will take a few days to come back but otherwise, you're going to be okay". She replied reassuringly.

"So, whats wrong then?" he asked, still lost as to what it could be.

"Its nothing, Jackie. I just had something in my eye." She claimed, trying to convince him.

"No, no. These weren't "I have something in my eye" tears, these were "I have something on my mind thats bothering me" tears. Come sit here by Jackie and tell him whats on the little ladies mind." He said holding his arms out waiting for Karen to walk over to him.

Karen walked over to Jack's bed and sat on the edge of it beside him. He quickly wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. "Jackie, I love you." She said as she lie her head on his shoulder and put her arms around him as well.

"I love you, too, Karen." He replied.

The two sat in silence, holding on to one another as tight as they could. Neither wanting to let go; neither wanting this moment to ever end. Both minds were drifting away to thoughts of the future; both more scared than a kindergartener on their first day of school. "Don't leave me, Karen." Jack whispered softly into her ear.

"Poodle, I'll always be right here. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere," she replied, kissing him on the cheek.

As Jack put his head back on his pillow, Karen rested hers on his chest. No words were spoken between the two, but their minds were saying enough.

An hour and a half had now passed. The nurse came in, followed by the doctor, to tell Karen visiting hours were over. Once the doctor saw the two he changed his mind. "Let them stay that way. They need one another." He told the nurse. She didn't argue, and the two stepped outside the room and quietly shut the door.

Will and Grace were still in the waiting room. Both had fallen asleep in the chairs. The doctor slightly tapped Will's shoulder to wake him up.

"What? Is it Jack?" he asked, startled.

"No, sir, you just fell asleep. Visiting hours are over but you may come back tomorrow." The doctor assured him. "You may want to wake your wife, too."

"Ha, shes not my wife." Will explained. "That's just my best friend. Grace! Grace, wake up!"

She jumped up, "I didn't do it, I swear! It was Jon the whole time!" and then she stopped to realize where she was. "Oh, um, sorry."

"Its time to go home, Grace." Will quickly told her.

"But we havent even gotten to see Jack. Where's Karen?" Grace asked.

"Could we just go in to say goodnight to him, please?" Will questioned.

"Sure, but make it quick." The doctor replied.

Hand in hand, he and Grace walked through the doors where they found the two in the same position as before. "Well, there's Karen. Awww, how sweet." Grace whispered to Will.

"I always knew that woman had human feelings in there somewhere." Will added, jokingly. "Should we wake them?" he asked. 

"No, let them stay that way. They look sweet, innocent, peaceful, and definitely not so stressed. Let 'em stay that way while they can." Grace answered him.

"Yeah, maybe you're right." Will agreed. "Goodnight Jack, goodnight Karen. "He whispered.

"Goodnight you guys." Grace said softly, kissing both on the forehead before leaving. "Will, do you think he's going to be okay?" Grace asked as they walked out of the hospital.

"I dont know. I wish I could say yes but I really don't know." Will replied, knowing they were both just as worried as Jack himself.