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~Patrick's POV~

Ben had them all sitting in a lounge as they caught up. Patrick really wanted to bring up the songs he needed help on, but everyone was having to good a time for him to interrupt. Finally after another 5 minutes Patrick spoke up.

"Hey Ben, I would really like it if you heard some songs we are working on." He was easing into the conversation forgetting he forgot his guitar at the Hotel.

"Of course Patrick; there is a guitar in the storage room backstage." Ben said happily.

The backstage was dark even though it was bright outside. His eyes adjusted and he looked for the storage closet, noticing the girl still on the stage. She was laying down now; her face wasn't toward him. He saw the room and entered; flicking on the measly light. There was only one guitar in the room. It was covered in so many stickers that he could hardly tell what brand it was. It was perfectly tuned, and seemed to be in such good condition. Patrick heard something outside; a voice. He panicked, and turned off the light. If he opened the door and ran for it then maybe whoever was out there wouldn't see him in the door.

Patrick opened the door quick but hit something. He heard a yell and saw the girl hit the floor.
"Oh, crap I am so sorry!" He yelled dropping down to help her. There was a gash in her forehead that was bleeding pretty badly.

"It's okay... I just..." she said getting up. She wobbled a little and braced herself against the wall.

"Let's get you cleaned up." Patrick said, offering his arm. She took it warily and walked with him to bathroom. The shirt she was wearing was gonna be ruined. It was covered in blood. The small room was dimly lit.

He grabbed a wad of paper towels and wet them, before he pressed them against her forehead. "I got it." She said taking the paper towels and turning toward the dirty mirror. She dabbed and wiped until the bleeding had slowed down a little. Patrick stood outside the door and leaned against the wall.






~Claire's POV~

Her shirt was ruined. The rusty metal door had cut her head pretty badly. Blood had gone down her face and neck and was now soaking into her tank top. Her vision was blurred and she couldn't tell if she got off all of the blood. She didn't see any red on her face, other than the initial cut (which was still sort of bleeding. There was a dull throbbing in her head, and she was getting dizzy. Before she could brace herself, Claire fell back wards onto her butt. Two arms helped her up, but she wasn't really able to make out a face. She just leaned heavily on the person and tried to muster the energy to move her hand.

"I...I..." She murmured as she stuck her hand in her packet and pulled out her car keys. "I... need to ... get to a ... doctor..." she breathed and dropped her keys. She had passed out.







~Patrick's POV~

The dead weight in his arms scared him. "Hey! Wake up!" He yelled shaking her gently. What should he do? Instead of doing the rational thing and calling 911; he picked her up and carried her to the front door. The thought crossed his mind to take her to Ben, but she needed help fast.

"Please be unlocked!" He said as he approached the rental car. He adjusted and reached for the door handle. It opened and he silently thanked Pete for being so irresponsible. The girl didn't wake up as he slid her in the backseat. As, he fished the keys from his pocket he grabbed the old map from the front seat. "Where the fuck is the Hospital?!" He yelled, looking intently at the map. There it was; about 5 streets down and a billion turns after that.

After driving for a few minutes he noticed a blue sign with an arrow and capital H on it. That has to be it! He thought to himself as he followed the arrow to another, then another, then another, then to a giant building.

"I need help." He said to the receptionist in the emergency room. She must have been about 50. She took one look at the unconscious girl in his arms and grabbed the phone.

The waiting room was full of worried people and crying children. Patrick sat in a chair close to the entrance, gently tapping on his thigh. This is not where he had imagined himself that morning.

The doctors walked back and forth but none of them stopped. It took him a few moments to remember the girl's name. Ben had announced it during the performance. Claire. Unfortunately, he couldn't remember her last name. When they asked he said he was a friend, but he was on the spot to make up a last name. "Claire... uh... Pryce..." He had said, hoping Ben wouldn't be too angry. OH CRAP! He thought forgetting about the rest of the band waiting in the lounge at the theatre. There was a payphone a few feet from him. He didn't want to have to walk outside and use his cell phone, incase the doctor came and he wasn't there.

He quickly dialed and got Joe's voicemail. He tried to call Ben and Andy, but they weren't answering. Finally he called Pete.

"Hello" said the other voice happily.
"Pete, It's Pat."
"Patrick, where the hell are you? Everyone else is looking for you. I think you are off getting lucky with that one girl... what a horn dog Pat!"
"I'm at the Hospital, Pete." Patrick wasn't in a joking mood.
"Why?"
"That one girl you though I was ... 'with' ... I well... I hit her with a door."
"You like it rough?" Pete was laughing.
"It's not fucking funny, Pete!"
"Sorry."
"Let everyone know where I am, and ask Ben to get a hold of her parent or something. I don't know what the hell I am doing..." Patrick saw the doctor approach him. "Dude, I've got to go. Get Ben down here please."

"Hi, I am Dr. Petersen. I understand you are Claire's friend." The doctor said and Patrick gave a half nod. "Is there any of her family here?"

Patrick shook his head. "I'm 'like' family to her, can you speak to me?" He crossed his arms.

The doctor began to shake his head... Patrick knew he would get in trouble.

"We're married." He began. "Her parents don't know we just eloped a few days ago."

The doctor looked at him warily and cocked his head. "I don't know young man." There was amusement in his eyes.

Patrick was panicking.

"Okay, basically she is suffering from a concussion. She will need a tetanus shot, and stitches." The doctor finally said.

"Can I see her?" Patrick asked quietly. The doctor motioned for him to follow. Exam room 15 was printed on a small plaque above the door. There were three beds; only one was occupied. She was curled up with a bandage on her head.

The doctor left and Patrick walked over toward the bed. She was awake.

"Hey." He whispered sitting down in the chair next to her bed.







~Claire's POV~

Claire woke up in a hospital. Freaking wonderful! She thought angrily. Flashes came back to her of what had happened. The door, the blood, the pain, and the boy. Who was it? Every single image she had of him was blurred and fuzzy. The doctor came in and gave her a shot that made her arm feel heavy. She didn't really have the energy to turn around and tell him it hurt. Two nurses came in and started stitching up her forehead; that hurt the worst. As she started drifting of to sleep; the door opened and someone walked in slowly. He sat down in front of her and said something. She didn't quite register it.

"Hmmm... what was that?" She asked in a small voice as she shifted in her bed. Her vision was still fuzzy, but from medication, not trauma.

"I just... I said... I... I'm sorry." He was nervous. "I shouldn't have opened the door so hard"

Claire registered the last part perfectly. "It's okay, don't worry..." Then she fell asleep.







~Patrick's POV~

She didn't blame him for hurting her, or was she just so medicated that she didn't know what she was saying? Patrick continued to sit there in guilt until he felt his phone vibrate. Pete was calling. They were waiting in the lobby, at the reception desk, and Ben was arguing with the receptionist.

"Claire Murphy? That is her name! Yes, I do have the correct Claire!" Ben yelled turning around seeing Patrick. "Patrick, where is she?"

"She's sleeping, but I can take you to her." Patrick said, turning back around. No doctors questioned him as he walked back down the hall.

"What happened to her, Patrick?" Ben asked stopping them. He seemed to notice the small amount of blood soaked into Patrick's shirt.

"I went to the storage room to get the guitar, and when I opened the door she was standing right there. I hit her and she fell. She was cleaning herself up when she collapsed." He wasn't looking anyone in the eyes. "Are her parents coming?"

"Well... let's go see her." Ben said avoiding the question. There was a look in Ben's eyes... sadness.

The band stayed outside as Ben sat with Claire.

"Patrick, we have to go, the festival is starting in an hour." Joe said his voice low. Patrick looked inside the hospital room. He didn't know what to do.

"Go without me. I will be there as soon as I can, I swear." He said turning to Joe and Andy, handing over the car keys.

"What if you don't make it?" Pete asked.

"I'll make it, but I might not be there until right before. Don't worry guys, just go." Patrick shooed them away and entered the room. Ben was smiling at Claire.

"Is everything alright?" he asked approaching slower.

"Everything is fine, Patrick." Ben was smiling even wider. "Have you two been introduced yet?"

"I think I was unconscious most of the time." Claire said sitting up slightly. Patrick gave a half smile. Words couldn't explain how happy he was at that moment, she was okay!

"I'm Patrick, the reason you're here." Patrick took a stab at humor as he extended his hand. She shook it lightly.

"I'm Claire." She said softly a small smile forming at her lips.

"I am so sorry for what happened. I should have been more careful, or I shouldn't have opened the door so hard..." He was rambling and he knew he sounded pathetic. At least she was okay. That was all that mattered.