I discovered that I'd already typed this one up, so I thought I'd post it. Please read and review thanks xx


II - Escort

Alex opened her eyes, then quickly shut them, wincing from the bright light above her.

"Oh God, I'm dead," she muttered groggily.

She lifted one hand to her head and made to roll over. Because her eyes were still closed, she didn't realize she would have fallen to the floor if it hadn't been for the mysterious hand that grabbed on to her.

"Woah, careful. Don't wanna go knocking yourself back out now," a body-less voice warned, helping her to lie back down again. "Just lie here for a while until I finish making sure you're okay," she ordered.

Alex sighed and opened one eye, squinting in the direction the voice had moved to. She couldn't see properly because for some reason, her vision was blurry so she closed her eyes again and spoke to her nurse.

"I'm fine, just gimmie some coffee and I'll be right as rain," she rasped. God, how was she meant to sing with a voice that felt and sounded like it was being grated like cheese?

She heard the mystery woman chuckle then walk over to her. Soft hands wrapped themselves around her arm and extracted it form in front of her face.

"Arrgh," she complained, opening and closing her eyes in an attempt to adjust to the light. As Alex finally focused without squinting, she thought she had died. The woman standing over her looked like an angel, with flowing blonde hair and glowing brown eyes. Alex's eyes traveled down the other woman's body, taking in the low cut top and the tight hip-hugging leather pants. This woman was serious… woah.

'And I haven't even introduced myself!' she mentally reminded.

She held her hand out to the woman, almost speechless due to her beauty. Almost, but not quite.

"Hi, I'm Alex. I'm twenty-two, in college and single. And you are?" she asked, feeling the soft hand grip her own.

"Straight," she said simply, smiling and walking over to some type of computer.

Alex grinned. Being straight wasn't really that much of a problem; she had that effect on people.

"So were my last two girlfriends," she replied, sitting up and swinging her legs over the side of the reclining chair.

The angelic woman only turned and raised an eyebrow.

"Fine, whatever," Alex muttered. "Never was much for blondes anyway." She rested her chin in her hands and looked at the floor, obviously going in a huff. She felt the blonde woman's eyes on her and knew she was smiling slightly.

"I'm Shalimar," she said, causing Alex to look up and stop huffing. The two locked eyes and Alex saw amusement in Shalimar's eyes, as well as something else. Something not quite discernable.

"Ah, our visitor's up," a male voice said from the door. He noticed the two women staring at each other. "Am I interrupting something?" he asked.

Alex blinked and averted her eyes from Shalimar to look at their intruder. He was older than both women with short curly brown hair and a seemingly gentle smile.

"Actually, yeah you are. I'm fine Doc, really," she smiled brightly, turning back to Shalimar, who was almost laughing. "What?"

"Adam's not a doctor," she explained, grinning widely. Alex was confused.

"You mean this isn't a hospital? Where's the rest of my band!" she half-shouted, standing from the chair.

Adam walked over to another computer and she turned to face Shalimar, who placed a semi-reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"They're fine, all of them. Your guitarist, uh, Moose, said for you to call when you get out," the blonde woman told her. She led Alex to sit back down and stood beside her. Alex noticed that Shalimar's hand was still resting on her shoulder and she smiled to herself.

"Actually, I'd prefer you not to leave here just yet." Adam faced the two women. "These men could still be after you, so it would be better if you would lay low for a while," he explained.

Alex understood that; she didn't really want to run into those guys again, but she couldn't stay here. She was a rocker; laying low was not her style.

She saw Adam's stern expression and knew that no matter what she tried, she was not going home any time soon.

"Well that's fine, just as long as I get to call Moose. I gotta check in with the crew," she said, standing up and searching her pockets for her cell. "Where the –" she began, before noticing Adam holding her compact phone.

"You can't call from here. Shal, take her to the safehouse on Titchfield and 3rd. Don't let her out of your sight," he ordered, handing Alex her cell phone.

'God, I'm twenty-two and still not allowed out without an escort,' she thought resentfully, following Shalimar out.