Chapter 9

(Shane POV)

I needed to cool off. So I left. Left her, left the room, left the Heartbreak hotel. It was late, so none of the others saw me. They were either sleeping or passed out. Luckily, her mother was a heavy sleeper, and her dad was out. Leaving the Heartbreak I ran. I had to get away. I felt so guilty. 'Oh great Gods of Rock, what have I done?'

I'd reached the border by dawn, I was exhausted. I'd had one hour of sleep in the past twenty-four at least. Out of sight, I collasped in an alleyway.

When I woke, the temperature had definatly dropped, also there was snow. Everywhere.

Standing I brushed myself off and stuffed my hands into my pockets. I began to walk. It was dark again, I must've slept all day. As I walked by an alley I heard something like a pen-knife snap closed. I investigated the sound, what I saw scared the hell out of me.

On the floor, was Mercury, her skin was pale and she was cold as death. Acting on instict, I picked her up and carried her to an old abbandond shack I knew of. Looking at my shirt as I lay her down I saw blood! Checking her for wounds I saw her wrist. "Oh Merc, what have I done?" Tearing my shirt I bandaged her wound. Wrapping her in my Jacket I craddled her for warmth, praying to the gods of rock that she survived the night.

(Normal POV)

Scarramouche was worried. This afternoon her daughter had left the Heartbreak looking for Shane. It had been 3pm when she left, it was now a quater to ten. Also it was snowing. Heavily. Galileo had gone looking with Macca, Pop and Bowie. Meat Charlotte and Madonna were trying to calm her down. They looked up as the door opened and closed as the boys trudged back inside. Scarra stood.

"Anything?"

"Sorry" Galileo whispered enveloping her in a hug and kissing her forehead in reasurance. "She'll be OK for tonight, i'll go back out at first light. We'll find her babe, Ipromise, she'll be back before tomorrow night."

"OK." She whispered burring her face in his shoulder.

Shane stirred, his eyelids fluttering open, slowly adjusting to the low light. Then he remembered where he was. Hastily he checked Mercury, she was still breathing, all be it shallowly. The bandage was still on and the bleeding had stopped. Carefully he picked her up again, and began to carry her home. Their home. The Heartbreak Hotel.

Dawn was a while away and the temperature was easily below zero. As they reached the outlands she began to stir.

"Shane?" She croaked.

"Shh, it's me baby, you're safe Merc. We're almost home." He told her softly, "go back to sleep, it'll be quicker."

"OK" she replied, though it was barely a whisper.

By the time he reached the entrance, he was tired and couldn't feel his feet. As soon as he got inside the building he collasped to his knees laying her down gently. Unable to go any further, he collasped next to her as the darkness engulfed him.

When Shane came around he heared voices. The room was dimley lit and had four other people in there. He recagnised all of them. Charlotte, Scarra and Bowie was in the background. The girls were checking his temperature and doing the medical side of things.

"Where's Mercury?" He asked almost shooting out of the room.

"Calm down mate. She's asleep next door. She was in a pretty bad shape when she arrived." Charlotte told him. "What you did saved her life kid."

"Shane, I wanna thankyou. For saving her. She's my little girl I was so worried."

"I had to save her. It was my fault, I left, she came after me."

"It was nobody's fault, couples fight, things happen."

After the girls left, Bowie came over to sit by the matress. "Thanks dude."

"For what?"

"Mercury's like a sister to me. You kept her safe. Thanks. I owe you one."

"It's OK man. Is she OK?"

"Well, like Char said, she was in pretty bad shape, but she's been sorted my my mom right now, listen, d'you have any idea where the marks onher wrist came from?"

"Yeah," he sighed, "when I found her, she was nearly dead, she cut herself. And it's all my fault."

"Not entirely. She was just under too much pressure at once, happens to us all." Bowie told him rolling up his winter sleves. " This is what happened when I got captured once. I was in such bad shape I just wanted to end it all. They starved me, beat me up, they really didn't like me. I just wanted it all to go away. Just after I did it I heared voices, so I tried to hide it. Then the cell opened and Macca saw me covered in fresh blood. I confessed I did it. No point in lying to him I guess."

"I'm sorry I brought it up man."

"Nah, it's K. I better go tell my mom that they're self inflicted. See ya later."

"OK, hey Bow?"

"Yeah?"

"When can I get up?"

"Char said you'd be fine, so whenever I guess."

"Thanks."

Bowie helped him up and he knocked on the closed door of the next room.

"Come in." Called Meat's voice.

Shane went inside, "how is she?" He asked softly.

"Gettin' better Hen."

"Did you check her wrists yet?"

"Ye', they're steralized and bandaged up. You saved her."

"No, I didn't Meat, if it weren't for me she wouldn't have done it. It's all my fault."

"Don't say that Hen."

Mercury's eyes slowly opened, "hey." She croaked.

"Hey hen, feelin' better?"

"Mm, my throat hurts a lot though."

"Tha's cos you're dehydrated. Here, drink up." Mercury proped herself up on one elbow and downed the full glass.

"Thanks" she said more clearly.

"It's OK."

"Mm, Meat, could I speak to Shane alone for a minute?"

"Sure. I need t' tell ya mam an' dad you're 'K." Meat left and Shane broke the silence.

"Merc I'm Sorr-"

"No I'm Sorr-"

"It was my fault." They said together.

They sat in silence as she knelt facing him. They were so close she could feel the warmth radiating off of him. "It was my fault, I'm sorry." He whispered against her lips.

"Let's say it was our fault. No more arguing, I love you Shane. I don't wanna lose you."

"You won't. Because I love you too." She slammed her lips to his, tangling her fingers in his thick dark locks and his arms circled her waist. Slowly, thier lips parted. "Am I forgiven?" She whispered.

"Only if I am too."

"You are." She smiled at him and kissed him again.

"You should be resting." He told her stroking her hair.

"OK."

"I'll be in later, I wouldn't leave you alone over night."

"See you." She yawned laying down.

"Yeah." He said kissing her forehead and leaving the room.

In the bar Shane sat with her parents having a pint. Shane didn't know what to say. They sat in awkard silence. Soon Mercury joined them with a large hoodie to combat the cold. She snuggled up to Shane. "You should be resting." He told her.

"I got lonely and couldn't sleep." She murmered, snuggling closer into his side and her wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

Galileo and Scarramouche left them alone, only to return and find them asleep. Smiling her mother put a blanket over the pair. Gaz and Scarra were really upset about missing their daughter's life, but now they were together and happy. And that was all that mattered.