FicWad

After the officer left Gerard and I sat on the sofa in a stunned silence. I reached over and took his hand. For several minutes we simply sat both of us trying to absorb the news.
“I lied you know.” He finally said softly.
I looked over at him waiting for an explanation to that statement.
“I lied about not having any enemies.”
Tightening my grip on his hand I sat not knowing what to say. I wasn’t sure where his mind was going at the moment.
“I have fucking enemies. Whoever is fucking with my mind is an enemy.”
“Don’t forget Troy.” I added in a shaky voice.
He looked over at me. “Yeah, Troy. I thought about him too. I was just too much of a fucking chicken shit to mention him.”
“What?”
He pulled his hand away, “Laura, I should have told the office about Troy but I didn’t. If I had then I would have had to explain about Troy being fired. Then I would have had to explain why he was fired.” He stood and started pacing. “I would have had to tell him that he was an ex-lover who was threatening to tell the world about our relationship.”
“Do you really think Troy had anything to do with this?’
“I don’t know.” He grabbed a pack of cigarettes and lit one.
“Troy called Jenny trying to find out information about us.” I said suddenly remembering what Jenny had told me.
“What?”
“Jenny told me today that Troy had called her. She said it had sounded like he was fishing for information about us.”
“Did she tell him where we are living?” Gerard asked walking back towards the sofa.
“No, she said she didn’t tell him anything.”
He sat back down, “Fuck, what am I going to do? I need to tell the police about him.”
I hugged myself trying to ward off the chill I felt. “What are we going to do.”? I said making sure to emphasize the “we”.
He sighed, “Laura, I have to handle this alone. I don’t want you involved in this shit. Someone tried to kill Jenny thinking it was you.”
“We don’t know that for sure.” I said trying to make myself believe my words.
“Yeah, we fucking do know that for sure. The person that attacked her called her Laura. Jenny was wearing your hoodie. Someone tried to kill you today.” He sat back and closed his eyes a moment. I could tell he was lost in thought.
“I want to go to the hospital and see her in the morning.” I said hoping he’d understand.
“You have a doctors appointment in the morning,” He reminded me.
“That’s not important. Seeing my friend is.”
Gerard sat up and snuffed out his cigarette. “You’re going to the fucking doctor.” He said leaving no room for argument. He stood, “I need to think.” I watched as he walked towards the bedroom. Quickly I got up to follow him. I saw that he was pulling on his clothes.
“What are you doing?” I demanded.
“I have to go out. When I leave make sure you lock the door.”
I grabbed his arm, “Where are you going?”
He shook off my hand, “I need to talk to Ray.”
“Why Ray?”
“Because of the other thing the attacker said. The blade is stained? Come on Laura you know what that has to do with.”
“But I thought you were thinking Troy has something to do with this?”
He shook his head, “I’m not sure what to think. What if somehow Troy found out about Merri?”
“But how?” I asked as he walked out of the bedroom.
“I don’t know how. I don’t even know if Troy has anything to do with this. Shit Laura I don’t know fucking anything.” He said angrily.
“I want to go with you.” I said following him to the door.
He turned to me. “Laura, please. Stay here and lock the door. If you hear anything call security. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
I couldn’t help it, my eyes filled with tears, “I don’t want you to go.”
He pulled me into his arms, “Please just once do what I say and don’t question me.”
I nodded, “Promise you’ll be back soon?” I said through my tears.
“I promise.” He said pulling open the door. When it closed I engaged the lock then returned to the sofa. My body started shaking. Shit I was so scared not for me but for Gerard. My mind went back to the events of the day especially my lunch with Jenny. I hoped with all my heart she was going to be okay. I couldn’t bear the thought that this had happened to her because of our friendship. Suddenly a thought occurred to me. What if whoever had hung the picture on the wall had still been in the building? If only I had driven her back to the restaurant the attack wouldn’t have happened. Shit, I started crying harder which made me angry with myself. I needed to get control of my emotions.
Standing up I decided to brew myself a cup of tea to try to calm my nerves. I was going to wait up for Gerard. It was when I was filling the teakettle an unwelcome thought came to me. When I had awoken from my nap it was four o’clock but Gee had said he got back at three. Okay, maybe he had gotten back and had watched me sleep for an hour before I awoke. I shook my head. It didn’t matter. Why would I even think about that? I finished filling the teakettle and set it on the stove to boil. It turned out I had plenty of time to think. Gerard didn’t get back to the apartment until almost four a.m.
I knew by the look on his face his talk with Ray hadn’t helped.
“Laura, we need to talk.” He said taking a seat by me on the sofa. “I know this is not what you’re going to want to hear but I’ve decided it’s the only thing I can do.”
“This doesn’t sound good.” I said looking at him closely.
“Ray agrees with me. Someone else has to know what happened to Merri. How they found out I don’t know. But the bottom line here is that you’re in danger.”
“Gee” I started to say more but he held up his hand.
“As long as you stay with me you’re in danger. I won’t let my fucking past hurt you. Tomorrow we’re going to see our lawyer and I want you to divorce me.”
Fuck, there was no way I could control me anger, “Not gonna happen.” I said standing up. “I will not divorce you.”
He had expected this, “Then I’ll divorce you.”
“The hell you will.” I said angrily. “I can’t believe you would even suggest this. What the fuck are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that I’m trying to protect you. Laura don’t you understand someone tired to kill you today. They tried to kill you because of me. I won’t let anything happen to you. I fucking love you so much I want you to get out of my fucked up life.”
“Your life was fucked up when I married you and I understood that. I understand you’re trying to protect me but us breaking up isn’t the answer. I can’t live without you.” I said letting go of some of my anger. “I can’t. You’re my life.”
He leaned back and closed his eyes, “And you’re my life. The best fucking thing in my life. I’m just trying to protect you.”
“Then protect me. Watch over me.”
“I can’t be with you every moment. What happens when I’m on stage? What if someone tries to hurt you then?”
I moved over and leaned my head on his chest, “I’ll be okay. If it makes you feel better have one of the security guys stay with me.” I didn’t like the idea of having what was essentially a bodyguard but if it made him feel more secure than I would go along with the idea.
“I’ll talk to Brian in the morning but maybe it would be better if you stayed here when the tour starts again.”
“Not happening.” I answered quickly, “I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
He opened his eyes, “Cause you don’t trust me? Are you afraid I’ll start drinking again?”
Shit, I hadn’t even thought of that. “I just don’t want to let you out of my sight cause I can’t be without you.” I answered honestly.
“I’m so fucking sorry about all of this. It was so selfish of me to bring you into my life.”
“I had no life until I met you.” I said reaching out to touch his face. “No life at all.”
"My life was an empty shell, Laura. Please tell me you'll promise to stay safe." He gently kissed my lips. We walked hand in hand to the bedroom. Once we had crawled back under the covers Gerard pulled my to him and held me tight. At least I had made him realize that nothing would ever break us apart. At least I thought I had made him realize this.

The next morning I was already awake and drinking my first cup of coffee when he stumbled into the kitchen looking sleepy and oh so sexy. "Morning." I poured him a cup of brew and sat it down on the table.
"Morning." He answered reaching for the cup.
"I called Alicia and told her about Jenny." I said.
He nodded, "What else did you tell her?"
"Nothing. I just told her that Jenny was attacked." I wanted to downplay the fact that the attacker had called her my name.
"I'm going to call Brian and tell him what happened. I want him to make sure we have extra security on the tour."
I sat down at the table, "Can we go by the hospital and see Jenny?"
"You have a doctors appointment." He reminded me narrowing his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, I know." I said giving him his frown right back.” But if we leave now we'll have plenty of time to see Jenny."
He took another sip of coffee, "Fine, lets get going. You aren't gonna miss your appointment."
I laughed, "Yes, Mom." I teased.
He glared at me and I laughed. "What?"
"I'm sorry but you look so damn cute. You're hairs sticking up and you're looking all frownie face."
"Frownie Face?" He asked frowning even more.
"Yep, frownie face. Mr. I'm In Charge Way." I leaned over and kissed him quickly.
"I am in charge." He said seriously. "You keep trying to get out of this doctors appointment."
I rolled my eyes, "Cause it's stupid. I'm fine and I hate going to the doctor."
"Too bad, woman. I've got enough on my mind without having to worry about you being sick." He absent-mindedly tried to smooth down his hair.
Couldn't help it I giggled and reached over to ruffle his hair back to it’s original disheveled state.

"Wait here until I see if she's up to having visitors okay?" I spoke in a quiet tone. Something about hospitals always gave me the willies. I felt a shiver travel down my spine as we stood outside Jenny's room.
Gerard nodded.
I knocked then poked my head around the door. "Jenny?"
"Hey Laura." Her voice sounded weak. "Come in."
I walked over to the bed. I could see she had numerous bandages on her arms. My eyes teared. "Shit, I'm so sorry this happened."
She smiled, "Hey it's not your fault. If I'd just waited for the elevators..."
"I should have driven you back to the restaurant." I said but she cut me off.
"It was my idea to walk back. Don't blame yourself."
I looked back towards the hall, "Gee is with me." I was wondering if she'd mind if he came in.
"I want to talk to you alone a minute." She whispered.
"Okay." I sat down in the chair by the bed.
"Laura, I really think that the woman who attacked me was after you. She called me, Laura."
"I know. The police told us."
Jenny looked so upset. "But why would anyone want to hurt you? It doesn't make sense."
"Are you sure it was a woman?" I asked. This question had been troubling me.
"The voice was female." She answered. "I just wish I could remember more but it all happened so fast." She involuntarily shivered. "I was so fucking scared when I realized I'd been stabbed."
I reached out and took her hand.
"Her voice was so eerie. It was like she was taunting me. What does the blade is stained, mean?"
How could I answer this question? It dawned on me at that moment that Gerard's past wasn't just haunting us anymore, it had reached out for another victim. I shook my head not trusting my voice.
Several minutes later I returned to Gerard who was still waiting in the hall. “She fell asleep.”
He nodded, “How’s she doing?”
“She’s pretty shook up but the doctor told her she should be able to go home tomorrow. Luckily most of the wounds weren’t deep.”
“I called Brian.” He said as we started walking towards the elevators. “Told him what happened. He’s gonna talk to Reprise and make sure Jenny’s job is held for her.”
“She told me she’s hoping she can still make the tour.”
He frowned, “Should she?”
“We don’t leave for a week. I guess she’ll decide then. I really think she wants to go on the tour because she’s worried about me. She said she wants to make sure I’m okay.” Once the elevator doors closed I added, “She’s really a good friend. I’m so sorry this happened.”
“Not as sorry as I am.” Gerard said leaning against the wall. “Cause this is all my fucking fault.”
I didn’t want him to feel this way, “You don’t know that.”
“Yeah” he said softly, “I do.”