Rachel walked into the door of her apartment building and made her way to the second floor where her place was located. She saw the busted light bulb, the messed up mailbox....damn, he'd been here already. Probably before he left her the message. He still hadn't changed. He was a victim of his temper and anger, and the thought made her shiver. God how she wished she was tucked safely back on the tour bus....back with Howie. But that couldn't be, she realized with a sigh.
She entered her tiny apartment and called the building handyman, asking if they could put another reinforced lock on her door that day. Looking at the door already, she could tell that Steve had done a number on it, and next time it might not hold up. Next she dialed the police department and reported what she found. They sent an officer out and he surveyed the damage. Yes, she knew they had no proof it was him, but she insisted that the damage be on record, just in case. There was no doubt in her mind it was him. Once the officer had left, she allowed herself to sit on the couch and cry - loud, body-wracking sobs. It just wasn't fair
+++++++++++++
AJ's heart lodged in his throat. Oh, God. Lupus. Poor Myumi. He didn't know what to do.
Myuimi ran blindly, crying, back to the bus. She checked her telephone. Her doctor had called back, and asked to get checked at a hospital immediately. She sat and sobbed. After what seemed like hours she felt a warm hand on her shoulder.
"Moonflower?" AJ said tentatively. With a cry Myumi threw herself into his arms, and he let her cry. "I was right, wasn't I."
"Y-yes." she sobbed. "I have been in remission for months, and Just lately I have been having symptoms again... I-I'm s-sorry. My doc wants me to go get it checked."
AJ smoothed a hand over her glossy black hair. "I'll take you." he said quietly.
+++
AJ was leading Myumi to a cab when Howie cam ripping up, wild eyed. "Hey, man what's going on?" said AJ. Howie told them, briefly. AJ gave him the cab and a sheef of bills from his wallet. "Go get her, D, and bash that guy in the face for me. I have to stay here with Myumi."
Myumi squeezed his hand, and looked up adoringly at him. AJ had explained that he didn't give a good God-damn that she had the disease, that she was his lady and he would take care of her.
Howie gave Myumi and AJ big hugs and jumped into the cab, telling the driver to get to the airport at all speed.
Myumi eased into AJ's arms as they watched the cab disappear. "I hope you didn't mind my not telling Howie... he had enough on his mind....'
"Of course." said Myumi. "I just hope to God Rachel is OK." They got the next cab for the hospital. ***
+++
Howie drummed his hands impatiently at the counter of the tiny airport's reservation desk.
"First flight to Raleigh is tomorrow night Mr. Dorough," explained a somewhat star-struck attendant.
"Not good enough! Dammit!"
"Well, I wish we could accommodate you, Mr. Dorough, but this ain't exactly O'Hare."
"This is a matter of extreme importance! Woman's life may be in danger!"
"Well, sir, you might try to charter a flight. The desk is right over there." she pointed to a shabby desk with a sign above it that read "Private charters $200". Grabbing the surprised attendant's face Howie gave her a grateful kiss and ran to the desk.
"Oh, my." breathed the attendant.
Howie pounded on the little bell on the charter desk until finally someone came to help him. "Thank god," he mumbled. "I need a flight to Raleigh and I need it NOW!" he insisted. "Can you help??" he begged, the frantic look on his face showing.
The man looked at the younger one in front of him. "This some kind of emergency or something?" he asked.
"Yes! My girlfriend could be in really serious danger from her ex and I HAVE to get to her," he explained quickly. "Now, can you help or not??" he asked again.
"Sure thing young man," he said, giving Howie some paper work to fill out. "You take care of this and I'll go file the flight plan. We should be able to take off in half an hour," he explained.
Howie busied himself with the paper work and looked up when he saw the man coming back. He didn't like the look on the man's face. "What? What's the matter?" Howie asked, worried.
"There's a big storm system coming through," he sighed. "They aren't going to let any smaller flights take place until it blows through. I'd say you better get comfortable for the night. We won't be going any where until morning," he explained.
"Dammit! There's nothing we can do?" he asked, exasperated.
"Nope. I'm sorry. I've got us scheduled to take off first thing tomorrow though. We should get you to Raleigh just before lunch time.
Howie sighed and found a chair and settled in. He wasn't going anywhere, in case conditions changed and they could get out earlier. He had no idea what time it was when he dozed off in the chair. Next thing he knew, there was a tap on his shoulder.
"Ready to go young man?" the pilot asked him He watched as the young man leapt from the chair.
"Yes!" he answered excitedly. They boarded the tiny plane, and Howie prayed that they got there before this Steve character had a chance to
find out she was back.
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