The next morning her digits were still white. Myumi took her medicine and placed a call in to her doctor. She faced the return of his call with dread. She had lived with the disease long enough to know the beginning of a flare. But, in the meantime, there were costumes to press.
She rushed out into the bright day, putting on the shades AJ had given her. The medications did make her very light sensitive. She got to the venue and began her work, carefully pressing each shirt, taking extra care with AJ's... AJ.
"Hey, Moonflower."
Myumi jumped when she heard his voice. "Oh! Hi!" A bottle of pills had rattled to the floor when she jumped. She reached for them but AJ got there first.
"Fosamax?" She put her hand out to grab the bottle but AJ captured it before she could get the bottle. he looked down at the eerily pale fingers clasped in his own. "It's not a friend." AJ said Quietly, looking into her eyes. "You have Lupus."
Grabbing the bottle she broke and ran away before he could see her cry.
+++
Howie looked at Rachel, wishing she would talk to him. He decided not to push it any further tonight and would ask about it again the tomorrow. "Come on," he urged, taking her hand and leading her back to the bunks, sitting her down. "I'll be right back," he assured her, grabbing a pair of boxers and changing in the bathroom before re-emerging a moment later.
He slid under the sheet and pulled Rachel close, wrapping his arms warmly around her. She was sobbing quietly, trying to hold it back. God he wished he knew what was wrong, what had her so upset. All he could do was kiss her sweetly on the forehead and whisper reassurances to her until she fell asleep in his arms.
The buses pulled into the next city just before lunch the following day. Howie stirred, feeling Rachel still tucked into his arms, sleeping heavily. Carefully he moved his arms and slid from the bed, tucking her in. He decided he would let her sleep as long as she could. She'd mumbled and stirred most of the night. He really was worried about her. Glancing at the schedule he saw that they had a television interview during lunch, then a radio appearance that afternoon. He sighed. It would be late afternoon before he had a chance to sit her down and try to talk to her. Quietly he and AJ got ready for their interview and Howie left a note for her before they took off.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Rachel awoke, quite groggy, shortly after lunch, memories of the previous evening and Steve flooding back. She had to leave, and while Howie was gone. She knew she'd never be able to stand in front of him and explain and still be able to walk away. Getting dressed, she packed her things together. She'd go to the airport and fly back to North Carolina that afternoon. As much as she hated it and as much as it scared her, she knew she had to finish things off with Steve, or she'd never have a moment's peace. Taking out a piece of paper, she starred at it blankly before attempting to write:
Howie - I know you will be shocked when you get back and see me gone. Trust me, this is for the best. I have left the files for the book back on your bunk. Feel free to have someone else help you finish. I have to do this, otherwise I'd be putting you and everyone else in danger. Please don't take this as a sign that I didn't have feelings for you. I feel more for you than I have for anyone, which is why I must go.
Love, Red
A tear slid down her cheek as she re-read her note. She laid it on Howie's pillow, then grabbed her bags and left the bus, catching the cab she'd called before anyone saw her.
Howie walked into the bus, carrying a pot of blooming daffodils he had bought for Rachel. "Red? I'm home, sweetie!" he put the pot down on the table and hummed a little. "Rach?"
A piece of paper flutter to the floor, catching his eye he picked it up and read it with growing horror. "No!" he raced back through the bus, calling for Rachel. Empty. What had happened? Whatever her phone message was, it had upset her enough for her to run.
Flipping open his file cabinet Howie took out the business paperwork on Rachel. As an emergency contact it listed her sister, Marie. With trembling hands he dialed the number.
"Hello?" came a sleepy southern voice.
"Is this Marie Walker?"
"Yes, how can I help you?"
"This is Howie Dorough, I have employed your sister."
"Oh! Wow, it's an honor to talk to you, Mr. Dorough, I'm a big fan..."
"Yes, good I'm sorry to interrupt but I'm worried about Rachel. She just up and disappeared on me, leaving a cryptic note that really doesn't say anything. She got a message on her answering machine that upset her terribly. Has she contacted you?" There was silence on the other end of the line. "Marie?"
There was a sigh at the other end. "She loves that job, Mr. Dorough. if she ran it can only be one reason. Steve found her."
"Steve?"
Marie explained the situation to the increasingly agitated Howie, about Steve, Rachel's ex boyfriend who had been horribly abusive and
possessive. "She'd worry about him hurting you." Marie finally said, "I know my sister. And If I know her like i do she'll do the worst
possible thing she could do: she'll come back here to confront Steve. You can't reason with a monster like him. But there is a part of Rach
that thinks she can. God, Howie, she's going to put herself in the line of fire again."
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