When you need a shoulder to cry on

By mclennonluv

Paring: The Beatles

Rating: Hurt/comfort

Summary: The Beatles in an hotel room waiting for a fan meeting. Paul starts feeling sick and the situation turns out all wrong.

February 1964, in a hotel room during an world tour

Chapter one

Ringo was sitting comfortably in a big armchair enjoying an article in the newspaper written about them. It was a nice room this time. Two large bedrooms connecting to this big sitting room and the room had a nice lightning. Not so dark as some other hotel rooms they've been in.

They were waiting for Brian to come and get them to go downstairs to meet some lucky fans who won a meeting with the Beatles.

Although... actually it was just him waiting there and... ah...there was another Beatle... Paul was lying on a sofa on his back with his eyes closed. Ringo slowly put down his newspaper and glanced over to Paul.

The normally most excited one of the four of them, with his never ending happy smile and giggling about the jokes of the other three, didn't look so excited to him at the moment.

Paul shifted a little and let out a little moan and Ringo noticed that he was rubbing his stomach very softly with one of his hands.

"Hey Paulie... you alright mate?..." Ringo asked.

No answer..."Hmmm".. Ringo thought. This wasn't good. Paul always answered them. No matter how tired the lad was...unless... Ringo knew how upset Paul could get if he had a stomach ache and especially when he felt nausea. He also knew how much he really hated to throw up. So Ringo got up from his comfortable position and slowly walked over to Paul to see what was wrong with him.

Getting closer to him, he noticed the very pale face and little drops of sweat on his forehead. "Oh dear..." Ringo thought again. "Not good at all".

He looked around the room. Where the hell were the other two? Especially John. He was always the only one to give Paul the comfort he needed when he felt sick. Nope... no Lennon in sight.

Ringo knelt down next to Paul and very gently put his hand on Paul's forehead while he softly asked again "Hey Paulie...what's the matter? You alright...?".

This time Paul slowly opened his eyes and looked at Ringo with watery eyes and softly answered "Hey Rings..." he sighted "...I don't know...no...don't feel so good actually...".

"What's wrong then? "Ringo asked "Your stomach hurts?"

"...Yeah...don't know why...I felt good when I woke up this morning...started after breakfast I think..." Paul sighted again and closed his eyes while he put his other hand on his stomach too and asked more like a whisper " ...Where's...John...?"

"I'll go looking for him. You just lay down okay? Be right back.." Ringo assured the sick one sweetly as he softly stroked his hand through Paul's sweaty, slightly wet hair... Paul nodded keeping his eyes closed.

Meanwhile in the next room John and George were having a big argument. John just found out something he didn't like. No, not at all.

"What do you mean, you want to share rooms with Paul?! I always share rooms with him!" John shouted at George.

"I think it's my turn now! You've shared rooms with him almost the whole tour and now I want to!" George shouted back.

"But...WHY?! For fuck sake?!" John shouted again.

"Because...well..."

"Well...WHAT?!"

George sighed.. Why did John always have to shout so loud while he tried to explain something John didn't like.

"Because John...I like Paul too...very much...maybe even more than you do"

John's eyes grew wide. His mouth opened slightly. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Excuse me?! What did you just say?"

"I said...I like Paul too. Maybe even more than you do..." George said again drily.

"Oh no you don't!" John really felt like he was going to lose his mind. "I love him! You don't!"

"Oh yes I do" George said. "And I'm sick of always being the one watching you get all cuddly with Paul and me standing on the side line. I want my share of him right now. As soon as possible. I can't stand watching his cute face and perfect body and listening to his sweet giggles without being able to hug him when I want to anymore. Or hold him when he's all cuddly or when he's ill and tired and so damn cute. So yes John, I DO!" George shouted while he felt his eyes watering.

Why did he have to put up a fight with John? He thought John always was a little scary when someone pushed his buttons. And hell yeah. He pushed the biggest one anyone could find on John, named Paul McCartney.

John started pacing around the room clearly not knowing how to handle this situation. Why?! Oh Why did George have to fall for the charms of his lovely Paulie, His Macca?!

"No no no no!" John mumbled. "No George! Why George?!" He shouted again when he stopped pacing around. "And...how long...?" John asked him.

George looked at John and noticed that he looked terrible. He had never seen the big undefeatable John Lennon looking so scared and upset. "Damn..." George thought. "Maybe this wasn't a good timing to start about this" Thinking about having to face hysterical enthusiastic fans in a few moments.

"Sorry John.." George said "I just can't keep it to myself any longer. I adore Paul for years now. Ever since I got to know him better on school. Back then I was about to tell Paul, but then you came along and I couldn't get so close to him anymore...I do love him very much...and every time I see you with him, it makes me want him more and more. Instead of feeling like I'm losing him more and more..."

All the while George was talking, John just listened and stared at George. A small tear slowly rolled down from John's eye and he didn't bother to wipe it away. He just let it roll down his cheek and finally it dropped in the collar of his shirt. They were all dressed up in new smashing looking suits which Brian picked out for them to wear to the meeting. The tear felt cold on his skin. Just like his inner feeling.

How could he be able to handle this situation? He didn't want to lose his Macca. Not now...not ever.

He needed him madly and loved the latter with all his little heart could give. He had lost so many loved ones in his life. His mum, Stu...damn...not Paul...please... Another tear found his way down John's cheek.

George looked at John. He didn't know it would hit John this hard. He never seen him like this. Not with his guard down like this. He knew that he only dared to do this when he was alone with Paul. Paul had told him. They sometimes got a moment to talk together like the old days. But it was always for a very short moment. Only when John went to the loo or something like that. John never let his Paulie alone for too long. Speaking about Paul...where was he anyway? Normally he would have heard him giggle or laugh about something. He was always such a nice lad to be around. Always cheerful and sweet. And normally Paul would come looking for the others if they stayed away too long. Paul liked them to be together and know everybody was all right. Especially when there was a show or interview coming up. Paul knew John and George weren't a big fan of these things besides Ringo and himself. Paul and Ringo liked the show part and the attention.

His thoughts got interrupted by the door suddenly opening. It wasn't Paul (thankfully seeing the situation he and John were in right now), but Ringo stuck his head around the door and said " Hey guys...so sorry to interrupt you two" Ringo looked from George to John and back to George again. Noticing he interrupted the argument he heard walking towards the room. "And yes..."he said looking at the shocked faces of both his band mates "I heard enough to know what you two were arguing about...sorry about that too..."

"Fuck..." John sighted while he quickly wiped his cheek dry. He didn't like to show his vulnerable site. Not to Ringo and certainly not to that damn George "What a mess..." He mumbled.

"Hey Rings!" George said happily. He was glad to see Ringo. He was always such a stable rock in the group. You could always count on him. "What's wrong?" He asked when he saw the worried look on Ringo's face.

"Uhm...it's Paul..." Ringo said carefully. " Not feeling so good I'm afraid...".

"WHAT?!" John and George shouted at the same time. "What's wrong with him?" they asked.

"Tummy ache..." Ringo stated.

"Oh no...poor Paulie..." George said.

"AND YOU LEFT HIM ALL ALONE?!"John shouted at Ringo. Poor Ringo hang his head down a little and mumbled " Sorry John, but he asked for you...so I promised him to go and get you..."

"Oh..." John said while he felt a proud smile creep up his lips "he asked for ME?" John smirked at George.

"Yes..." Ringo sighed "..now please go to him...he really feels bad I think..."

He felt sad for George after what he just heard John and him fighting about. He always had a suspicion about it, but never realised George's feelings for Paul were this deep. Poor George's eyes looked troubled, but just when Ringo was about to talk to George about it, he suddenly saw John and George strangely stare at each other.

And then he heard John say " Oh no you don't!" and the two of them started running. They hit each other in the doorway and after a little struggle John got out first and started running again.

But George didn't give up so easily this time and ran right after John.

Ringo looked at the situation happening in front of his eyes and with a deep sigh he followed the other two. Hoping they would be a little careful with sick Paul.