"Howie, I think I need to lie down for a while, I'm just drained," Allona sighed, smiling weakly to him.
"Ok Cherry," he said, helping her up and following her to the back of the bus. "I'll go check on AJ inside the hospital, let you rest," he told her before he pulled her into a warm hug, sliding his arms possessively around her waist. "I'll check on you when I get back," he smiled as she climbed up into her bunk.
Howie made his way inside the hospital, his mind swimming with thoughts. He found AJ quickly and took a seat beside him. "How you doing buddy?" he asked.
"Tired...worried..." AJ trailed off. "I'm just waiting for the nurse to come by and tell me I can go see her again," he sighed.
"After that you should get some rest. Allona is laying down now."
"I know...I will," he assured his friend. At that moment the nurse motioned for AJ and he made his way back towards Maya's room.
"We are working on her release paper work now while we wait on the results of the C.A.T. scan. If the results of that are clear, you will be able to take her home in a few hours," the nurse informed him before he entered the room.
"Thank you," he mumbled as he quietly stepped into the room. He walked over to the bedside and looked down at Maya. "Rumple?" he whispered, watching for any movement. After calling her name a couple more times and no response, he figured the medication for pain had made her sleepy. "I'll check back later Rumple," he promised, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
He emerged a few moments later and looked at Howie. "She's asleep," he sighed.
Howie wanted to tell AJ what Allona had told him, but felt it wasn't his place. He'd let Maya tell him...tell them. "Come on. Let's go back into the bus and rest some," Howie said, steering his friend from the waiting room.
AJ let Howie lead him to the bus. When they got there Billy was waiting: they had got a message from the rest of the group, who were sad about Maya, but wondering if the tour should cancel some dates.
AJ sighed. "When is the next show?"
"Tomorrow, in Denver."
AJ rubbed his eyes. If they were going to Denver they would have to leave that evening at the latest. "Give me a minute to think about it."
He didn't want to leave Maya... of that he was sure. Would she be able to come along? Would she be well enough? Allona came and sat next to him, quietly. Finally she reached out and began to kneed his shoulders. "AJ..." she said, brokenly. "Maya is planning on going home."
"What? But we hired her!"
"Yes, but she can't teach. And she won't stay if she can't do her job."
"She'll stay for me." AJ said.
Allona felt her heart contract. "I... don't think so, AJ."
AJ stood and turned to Allona. Then he sat next to her, tears coming to his eyes. "She said that?"
"She's hurt and sad and confused, AJ. She has herself convinced that it was... casual..."
AJ closed his eyes, wrinking his brow in pain. "It... was and wasn't... I really care for her, Allona."
"She can't believe that."
"Why??"
"Because deep down she can't believe that anyone really cares for her... not even me. I have... to decide if I'm going to stay with this job and lose the partnership, or go home with Maya."
AJ looked at her incredulously. "I can't believe Rumple would do that."
"Me neither..." Allona began to cry. "She's operating out of some place of pain I can't reach her at right now."
AJ held Allona and they cried.
Allona finally pulled herself together and pulled away from AJ.
"Cherry, you've got to convince her to stay...." he attempted.
"AJ, I've never been able to convince Maya of anything. She's so damned strong-willed, I just quit trying a long time ago," she apologized.
"So what are you going to do Allona?" he looked at her with a steady gaze.
"I don't know," she admitted. "I know what I want to do...and why I want to do it. But not knowing if the feeling is mutual, it makes the decision a bit harder," she murmured.
"You should know we want you to stay Cherry...that's not even an issue..."
"That's not it..." she responded.
AJ looked at her closely. "If it's not that then.....oh god," he realized as his mind clicked. "It's Howie you're talking about isn't it?" he asked, watching her closely as he waited for her to respond.
Allona looked down at her hands.
"Listen Cherry..." AJ sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "OK, I have been known to be a little wild around women. I mean, the fact that Rumple thinks maybe it was just a one night stand is not too surprising. But D... Cherry, he don't operate that way. He's a one woman man, he's a prince. He really craesz about you, Allona... I know he does. He wouldn't play you..." is that what he had done to Maya? It was hard to sort out his feelings at this point. "Cherry, don't doubt D. He has opened himself up to you. Trust it."
Allona began to cry. He patted her on the shoulder and wandered outside.
Howie was pacing around. "Hey, D." said AJ.
"I'm so mad at Maya I could scream. And I feel so bad about feeling mad, what with her in the hospital and all..."
"Maya will do what Maya will do. Right now there's a gorgeous lady in that bus, weeping her heart out for you. Go to her, D. She wants to know if it's real."
~~~
AJ tried to sort out his feelings as he made his way up to Maya's room. Maya was fun, she was special, she was a good time. But WAS he looking for anything more? He didn't know, and that made him feel lousy. He hated to be superficial, but he couldn't see, say, escorting Maya to the Grammy's.
Maya was laying in the bed looking out the window.
"Hey, Rump, I brought you something." said AJ. Maya looked at him with such indifference in her eye that he felt chilled to the bone.
"Thanks, put it over there." AJ put the box next to the roses.
"So... how do you feel?"
"Lousy."
Several seconds passed. "I understand you're talking about going home." ventured AJ.
"What else can I do? I can't have the Firm pay for me to take up space. Yes, I'm going home."
"What about Allona?"
Maya shrugged, messing with the wrap around her wrist. "She's a big girl, she can decide. I think it would be stupid of her to leave such a good job... not to mention..."
"Howie."
"Yeah."
"She told me if she stays you're going to dissolve Pohoja Ch'onsa."
"Yeah." Maya sighed.
"That's a pretty crappy thing to do."
Maya looked up at him, eyes flashing. "Don't tell me how to run my business or life. There NOTHING here for me now, don't you see that?"
"Nothing?" AJ said, walking to the window.
"Well, is there?" Maya challenged. He said nothing, and Maya sighed. "You've done your genlemanly duty, visiting the cripple. Why don't you just leave, sir."
AJ swollowed hard. "It doesn't seem like you over there." he said softly.
"Well, you wouldn't know, would you? You don't know me at all." she gathered herself together.
"Guess not." he levelled a gaze at her. "We have to go to Denver..."
"I know, have a good show." she said with false cheer. "I have my travel plans all made don't you worry about me."
"Goodbye." AJ said shortly and walked out. Maya began to cry, then beat on
the pillow with her hands until the injured one ached.
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