Take my hand and I'll walk with you forever

"Hey this is Holly…."

"Holly! Baby! I need to talk to…." Howie jumped in quickly.

"…I'm not home right now, but leave a message at the beep ok?"

Howie sighed. Answering machine.

"Beeeeeeep!"

"Holly…..Holly if you're there, please pick up…" Howie paused for a second.

"Alright, baby, just call me back soon ok? I’m worried about you……I love you….take care of yourself alright? I'll try again soon…" Howie sighed before hanging up.

*Click*

Holly stared sadly at the answering machine as Howie's voice echoed through her. She knew she should have picked up…but she really needed just a little bit of room to think some things over.

Brian put his hand on the doorknob, but stopped.

He removed his hand and simply stood outside the hospital room gathering his wits, courage and his teetering emotions that rocked and swelled like an ocean.

Brian hadn't seen or talked to Becca since she had waken from the surgery…and was content to keep it that way for the moment. But Becca had asked to see him, and in all honesty, Brian was more than a little curious to see what she had to say.

"Be strong Brian….you haven't done anything wrong…" Brian reassured himself before taking another deep breath and pushing the door open.

Becca stared aimlessly at the hospital ceiling. Her chest hurt slightly even when she was breathing and she felt totally vulnerable and naked in the backless hospital gown she was still wearing. The room she was now in was fairly small and then smell of disinfectant and dried flowers was overpowering.

"How could he even dream that I would do something like that to him and the guys….calm down , It'll be ok….don't cry, you've done nothing wrong…." Becca reminded herself.

The doorknob slowly turned and a very tired, unshaven looking Brian walked in avoiding Rebecca's gaze.
"Hi…." Becca said weakly, attempted to sit up with much difficulty, she squeezed her eyes shut as she painfully hoisted herself up.
"God be careful…" Brian became instantly worried and rushed to her side, his arms gently lifting her into a sitting position.
"Thanks…. " She breathed, catching his eye momentarily before he shifted his gaze and sat down on a chair beside her bed.

She looked at him, his eyes bloodshot and his hair messily falling about his head, then her eyes fell upon his hand, no longer in a sling but tightly bandaged.

She gingerly placed her hand on his, waiting for him to yell and scream and push her away but he didn't.
He just sat there quietly watching her.
"Please say something…." She looked up at him.
"What do you want me to say…" He said softly.
"Anything…please just don't sit there…" She begged gently.
He looked up and she saw tears forming in his eyes.
"Brian…I didn't…" Becca started.
"You didn't what?! Leak that tape, you didn't almost kill our careers….you didn't want to hurt me? What!? Because its too late you already have…" He said emotionally.
"Brian look at me! I could never do that to you!" She said firmly.
He looked away, but she took his shoulders in her hands.
"Look at me Brian…" She said a little louder.
He slowly looked up at her, looking deep into her eyes…deep brown oceans that held only love.
"I love you Brian…" A tear slipped down her cheek.
"Don't cry please….please…" His tone softened as he wiped her cheek. He looked at her for a moment longer.
"I believe you…" He said finally.
"You do…" Becca voice cracked, a few more tears slipping down her face.
"Just don't scare me like that ever again…." He sighed, pulling her closer to him. She smiled slightly, closing her eyes as she felt the familiar warmth of his arms enclose her.

A few minutes passed, just them holding each other like nothing had changed.
"You need to tell everything where you went that day…." Brian said reluctantly.
Rebecca broke away from him.
"You don't really believe me do you…."
"Becca I do! I just need to know to ease my mind…"
"You won't ever trust me will you…." Her voice cracked again.
"Becca, I love you…" He went to hold her again but she pulled away.

"You can't love someone you don't trust Brian….."

The air around them was now thick again.
"If you didn't do it…someone had to have….your name was on the check, I just need to know!" Brian suddenly wished he hadn't said anything.
"Get out…." Becca narrowed her eyes hurt.
"Becca please….I didn't mean…"
"…and take this….I won't need it anymore…." Becca said quieter, slowly taking off the silver ring Brian had first given her when he asked her to be his girl.
"Becca…" Brian gasped.
"Take it….." Becca said placing it on the table and turning around to face the other way.

Brian carefully picked up the ring and closed his fist around it, standing up to leave. He stopped, pausing for a moment and then turned back to Becca.

"Give me your hand…" He said.
"Brian…don't, please…." She sobbed quietly.
"Just give me your hand…" He said a little more firmly.
She slowly held out her hand, which was noticeably shaking. He took it gently and placed it on his chest.
He took a deep breath.

"Do you know what this is? This is my heart….and it's broke….can you feel it…" Brian said, his voice shaking and eyes glassy.
Rebecca looked down.
"Just leave…"
"Can you feel it?! Dammit Becca can you!?" He started to break down.

"Uhh…Brian…" Nick suddenly walked in.
"We've got a concert tonight….we've got to go now…" He said quietly knowing that he had just interrupted something pretty big.

Brian dropped Becca's hand slowly and left the room without saying anything more.

"Hang in there ok?" Nick said, kissing her forehead before he too left the room.
Becca could help but cry, burying her head deep into the pillows.