Reba's breathe hitched in her throat as her eyes latched onto her husband at the bar...and the pretty blonde right next to him. Her voice cracked and she cringed, her eyes darting back to the crowd in front of her. She clenched her hands, her palms sweating as she tried to focus back on the song. Her eyes drifted back to the bar, her voice fading as she watched the blonde place a hand on Charlie's knee, twirling her hair and giggling.

The band all glanced at each other as Reba's voice became barely audible. Narvel shook his head, mouthing 'Keep going' as her voice faltered in and out over the speakers.

Reba's eyes were completely glued

to the two. She stumbled over her words and missed the next few lines when Charlie's hand made it's way to the small of the blonde's back and he leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"BOO!"

Reba's eyes snapped back to the crowd, her voice freezing.

"GET OFF THE STAGE!"

Her heart began racing as people continued to boo, her eyes meeting

Charlie's. She jumped back as someone

in the audience threw a cup of beer, breaking eye contact with her husband as she ran off stage, leaving the band in shock.

Charlie cursed, slamming his bottle down on the bar as he heaved himself up. He pushed his way through the crowd, making his way towards the restrooms. He knocked on the woman's bathroom. "Reba?"

Charlie sighed, getting no response. "Reba?" He called out louder, turning around and opening the door to the storage room. He sighed again, seeing her sitting down on a crate, her head in her hands.

Charlie squared his shoulder, placing his fists on his hips. "Why are you cryin?"

Reba wiped the tears off her face. "I'm

not cryin."

"And I believe that." He scoffed out.

Reba glared up at him. "Just go away."

"What's wrong?"

"Isn't it obvious." She crossed her arms looking away from him.

Charlie let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand over his face. "Would you grow up."

Reba looked up at him shocked, holding back more tears. "Excuse me?"

"Grow. Up." He enunciated. "Not everybody is going to like you. Just deal with it. We've spent to much time and money for you to quit now."

"I didn't say I was quittin!"

"Than stop actin like a two year old." He headed for the door.

"That's not why i'm upset Charlie." She stopped him.

Charlie grit his teeth, turning to face her. "Then what is your God damn problem?"

"I saw you with her?"

"With who?"

"That stupid blonde girl!"

"Oh Jesus Reba, are you serious?"

She glared up at him. "Yes i'm serious. Do you really expect me to be happy about MY husband talkin to some jailbait tramp."

"We were just talkin."

"Well it didn't look like 'just talkin'."

Charlie shook his head. "I don't have to explain myself to you. I will talk to whoever i want, when ever i want." He headed towards the exit again, stopping in the doorway. "I'm gonna go get the car, and i'm leavin in ten minutes whether you're there or not." He left, slamming the door behind him. Reba wrapped her arms around herself as tears began falling down her face, hanging her head.

"Shit." Narvel swore as he knocked over a glass of water. He set down the two amps, pushing the equipment and chords away from the growing water spill. He looked around, sighing when he didn't see anything to clean it up with. "Hey man." He stopped one of the passing bartenders. "Is there any rags or somethin layin around?"

The bartender looked down at the mess, rolling his eyes. "There's a utility closet down the hall, second door on your left. Maybe when your done here you can clean up your mess on stage."

Narvel gritted his teeth, biting his tongue as he walked away. He headed down the dark hallway, opening the door to the storage room. "Oh...hey."

Reba quickly stood up from the crate, wiping at her face with her sleeves. "Hey, Narvel. What's up?" She forced a smile.

"Just lookin for these." Narvel walked across the small storage space, picking up a set of rags. He gave her the same strained smile she'd given him. "You ok?"

Reba slowly nodded, feeling her face get warmer and her lip quiver. Narvel uneasily walked over beside her, and patted her back. "Reba, you're gonna make mistakes on stage, it's bound to happen." He told her, as a few tears ran down her cheeks.

She shook her head, quickly wiping them. "I know."

"If it helps, most of the people out there are just a bunch of stupid drunks, so you had a bad night." He sighed as he watched another tear slip down her face. "Reba, you never cry. You're a strong woman, this isn't you." He said looking at her seriously, as she avoided his eye contact.

She looked up at the ceiling.

"The ole' "i'm going to look at the ceiling so no more tears fall trick eh?" He smirked, shaking his head.

"Narvel, this isn't funny! I don't have room for mistakes. Not when my career is just taking off!" She said, tears freely rolling down her cheeks now.

He nodded, "I know, but it was going to happen sooner or later."

"Narvel there could have been big business men out there for all I know, this could have been a huge opportunity for me." She said trying to prove him wrong. He nodded confidently. "Reba, anyone in that room knows you have talent. And yes you choked but non of those people could have done what you just did. This is just the beginning of something great." He said looking at her straight in the eye.

"You really think I have what it takes?" Reba asked nervously. He nodded, "I know you do. You just have to want it bad enough." She looked at him and nodded. "And I know you want it." She nodded as a smile slid across her face.

"Now there's the Reba I like to see." He said smiling back at her. She laughed, "Thanks." She said turning for the door handle. "Reba?" He said stoping her. She turned to face him. "I've never seen someone pour their entire heart out into something the way you do. You will be a big star one of these days. And I'll be there cheering ya on" He said. Reba smiled, and nodded. "Thanks for believin in me Narvel, I really do appreciate it." She reached for the door knob before letting her hand drop and turning back around. "Hey, do you wanna go grab a drink?"

Narvel shrugged. "Sure, why not. I just gotta clean up this mess I made and load up the rest of the equipment." They made their way out of the storage room, and down the hall.

"I can help ya."

Narvel snorted. "You? Help?"

Reba narrowed her eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, no Reba i didn't mean it in a bad way, just, one amp alone probably weighs more than you, i got it."

She frowned, placing her hands on her hips. "I could get that out to the van."

Narvel sighed, gripping the back of his neck. "Go for it." He stepped out of her way, holding back a laugh as she stared at the amps timidly.

Reba took a deep breath, leaning down to clutch the bottom edges of the amp. She tried to lift it, scrunching her face up when it wouldn't move. Narvel held back a laugh as she started getting frustrated, tugging and pulling on the amp. "Reba stop, you're gonna hurt yourself."

She huffed frustrated, pushing her hair out of her face. "I can do it, just give me a minute."

"Look, if you really wanna help clean up the water over there." He handed her the rags.

Reba sighed, glaring at him as she turned towards the spill. She watched ad he picked the amp up with ease, rolling here eyes. She kneeled down, cleaning up the small puddle of water.

Narvel returned moments later, sticking his hands in his front pockets. "Everythin's loaded up, you good?"

"Yeah." Reba stood up, tossing the wet rag onto a nearby table. She hesitated as Narvel walked towards the door, grabbing his sleeve. She quickly let go when he turned to look at her. "Do you mind if we go somewhere else? I really don't feel like havin a drink around a bunch of people who booed me off stage."

"Yeah, of course. I'm pretty sure there's a bar just across the street."

"Ok, great." The two headed out of the bar, Narvel opening the door for her as they stepped outside.

"So how's Lisa?" Reba asked as they walked down to the crosswalk.

"She's doin ok, now that all the kids are in school it's a lot easier on the home front."

"I'll bet. How are they?"

"They're doin good, Brandon wants to learn guitar."

"Well how bout that." She grinned.

"Yeah. How's Charlie?"

Reba's smile faltered. She forced a grin when he looked over at her. "Charlie is Charlie."

Narvel nodded his head, both of them falling silent as they approached the bar. He lead them inside, both of them sitting

down on the padded stools.

"What can I get ya?" The bartender asked, throwing a towel over his shoulder.

"I'll have a beer."

"And you little lady?"

"A beer's fine, thank you."

"So," Narvel started as the bartender handed them their drinks. "What really happened up on stage?"

Reba choked on her beer, coughing. "I'm sorry?"

"Oh come on. We both know you didn't get stage fright, or forget the words, or get nervous. What happened?"

Reba shrugged, taking a swig at her drink.

Narvel shook his head, shrugging himself. "Alright, don't tell me."

She sighed, setting down her drink. "Charlie."

"What?"

"I saw Charlie with some girl and just kind of...I dunno." She shrugged again. "It was stupid of me."

Narvel shrugged, picking up his beer, leaning his elbows on the bar. "Doesn't sound stupid to me. He's your husband, i could see why you'd be upset."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah." He nodded.

Reba let a small smile grace her features. "Thanks." He looked over at her and the smile quickly fell. "I'm sorry, i shouldn't be tellin you all this."

"You gotta have someone to talk to."

Reba sighed, looking down at her drink.

Cheer up." He nudged her. "How about we play a round of pool."

"Nah , that's alright."

"Oh come on, scared i'll beat ya?"

Reba raised an eyebrow as he picked up his beer, pressing it to his lips with a smile. "You're on Blackstock."

...

Reba dug through her purse in search for her hotel key, as she approached the room her and Charlie were renting out for the couple of days they stayed in Nashville.

"Hey baby." She said as the door opened, seeing Charlie sitting on the bed watching television. He flicked off the tv.

"Where the hell have you been?" He asked angrily, his eyes fixed on the eggshell colored wall across from him.

"Right where you left me." She said casually, kicking off her boots.

"Don't you play dumb with me." He said glaring at her.

She raised her eyebrow taken back by his comment. "Charlie, you left me at-"

"How dare you cheat on me." He blurted out angrily, cutting her off

Reba stared at him wide eyed. "I'm cheatin on you? I'm cheatin on you!" She said appalled. "Charlie I just lost it tonight because of you. And I'm cheatin on you?" She shouted angrily.

"What the hell did I do to you?" He asked her. "I'm sorry I drove your ass down here so you could waste my time on your dream." He said throwing it back at her.

She stared at him speechless. "I'm sorry, I didn't know that my dream was such a burden on you." She said upset, turning to go to the kitchen space.

"I'm not done with you." He yelled as she walked away.

"Well I'm done with you." She said looking back.

"Why don't you go and boohoo to Narvel some more about how shitty a husband I am." He said emotionless.

"What does he have to do with anythin!"

"He's the one droppin you off at TWO in the mornin."

"Charlie why are you so mad!?" She asked as tears filled her eyes.

"Because he crossed the line!" He shouted. "You both did. You expect me to just sit in this damn hotel room while another man brings you home?!" He shouted, standing up.

"Charlie what did you expect me to do? Take a bus?" She yelled back.

"If our marriage mattered to you, maybe you would have." He said staring her dead in the eye.

She shook her head in disbelief as all sorts of emotions took over her. Her eyes welled up with tears, her breath was caught in her throat. She went to speak, but paused. She tried to catch her breath, and swallow back the lump but she couldn't.

"I'm done with you." She finally mustered out walking into the kitchen entryway.

"I said I'm not done with you!" He yelled, grabbing her wrist to stop her.

"Let me go!" She yelled tugging from his bone crushing grip. He held tighter and watched her struggle to break free. "Charlie I swear if you don't let go of me-" she said between clenched teeth. "Dammit Charlie, stop it!" She screamed hitting him hard in the chest with her free hand.

Anger filled his eyes, and Reba backed away, stumbling into the kitchen trying to distance herself from him. "I'm sorry Charlie." She cried, "I love you!" She screamed crying as he stalked forward. "Charlie please don't." She said as he stomped into the kitchen behind her. "Dammit Reba, how could you!?" He yelled at her as she stood against the wall. "Dammit!" He cursed flipping over the wooden kitchen table, scattering all of its contents onto the floor.

She gasped, tears streaming down her face."Charlie, baby..I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you! We will go home right now, just you and me. We will go leave right now and be home by tomorrow, forget I ever mentioned singin. Please just calm down! Honey you're scaring me!" She pleaded with him as he stared at her emotionlessly. He didn't move, nor did he speak. He just opened and clenched his fist, and bit his lip.

"How dare you, make me look like a fool." He said in a cold voice.

"How dare you." He said walking towards her.

"Charlie-" she began.

"I said how dare you!" His voice booming as he took a swing at her face.

Reba flinched as his tough leather hand came wailing a crossed her mouth. More tears instantly welled up in her eyes, the pain stinging throughout her entire lower face. She stumbled back a few steps and grabbed her mouth with her hands.

"Damn you Charlie, damn you!" She screamed as blood dripped from her mouth and into her hand.

"Reba-" he reached for, shocked at his own actions.

She shoved passed him and ran into the bathroom slamming, and locking the door behind her. "Reba!" He banged on the door, tugging at the knob furiously. "Damn it Reba open the door!"

"Go away Charlie!" She screamed back at him, sinking down on the edge of the tub, grabbing a rag to stop her bleeding.

"Reba open the God damn door NOW!" He continued to bang on it, his voice raising louder and louder with each word.

"Leave me alone Charlie!" She yelled back.

"OPEN THE DOOR, NOW!" He screamed, banging his fist harder, kicking the door.

More tears fell down Reba's face as she slid to the floor, curling up in the small space between the bathtub and sink. "GO AWAY!"

Charlie raised his fist again, swearing when someone knocked on the door. He hesitated, deciding to ignore it when they knocked again. "Damn it." He left the kitchen, stomping to the front door and yanking it open. "What?"

The young man in uniform looked up at Charlie timidly. "Sir is there a problem here?"

Charlie glared down at him. "The only problem here is you comin to my room at three in the mornin."

"Forgive me sir, but we did get a couple noise complaints. We just wanted to make sure everything was ok."

Charlie bit his tongue, refraining himself from slapping him.

"Is it?"