Chapter 35

After redressing and making sure they both looked presentable, Mick and Beth went back into their apartment, smiling like they never had before. Beth looked around and couldn`t find them until she reached the couch. Susan was sleeping with little 2 year old Nina leaning against her, sleeping as well. Beth nudged her mother and she woke, startled and looked up at her daughter.

"I thought you`d never come back." Susan said, strained.

"No I told you we would be back in an hour or two." Beth whispered back. Mick took Nina from Susan and put her in bed.

"How was it sweetie?" Susan asked, patting the couch cushion next to her.

"Amazing." Beth said, beaming.

"You look it too." Susan told her. They`re relationship was finally getting better.

((((****))))

Beth woke the next morning and showered and dressed as usual and left for work. She had another practice with just Mark and Mick wanted to go with her and watch her. Beth was complaining of a headache as they drove and Mick told her she should maybe stay home and take off, but Beth was a hard worker and she wouldn`t take time off. She also felt a little dizzy and had some vertigo, but if she told Mick he wouldn`t let her get out of the car.

Mick opened the door for her when they arrived and noticed her unusual paleness and warmth to her touch, warmer than usual. "Beth you don`t look so good."

"I`m fine. It`s just nerves." She told him and went off to start practicing. A few other girls were there also, sitting off stage, watching Beth`s every movement. Mick sat amongst the girls and watched also.

Jim was overlooking Mark and Beth and Beth was doing amazingly well. She definitely was following his orders and was improving, but he was enjoying her pale color. He watched Beth collapse to the floor and stood. "Beth?" He shouted.

Mick ran out to her and shook her, "Beth? Beth sweetheart open your eyes." Beth slowly drifted from unconsciousness and opened her eyes and looked up at her lover and smiled.

"What are you doing here? I was dancing." She said, in a hushed voice.

"You fainted." Mick told her, "Can someone bring her a water bottle?" Mark sprinted off stage and back with a water bottle and handed it to Mick. Mick nodded and unscrewed the cap and gave some to Beth. She took a few sips before attempting to get out of his grip and instead fell towards the floor again, not hitting the floor because Mick had caught her.

"I`m taking you home. No buts. I win this time." Mick told her and carried her out of the theater. Beth covered her face in embarrassment and her cheeks were slightly pink.

"This is so embarrassing." Beth said as Mick put her into the passenger seat of his car.

"Not as embarrassing it could have been if you were unconscious a little longer." Mick replied, more stern than he normally was.

"I`m sorry. I know I should have stayed home, but the show is next week and I wanted to make sure I was at every rehearsal." Beth told him.

"I know honey I just wish you put your health before anything else." Mick told her and reached over with one hand on the wheel, and took her hand in his. Her skin was warm to the touch and it worried him.

Beth`s head was pounding and all she wanted was to lay in bed and be in Mick`s arms, "Just take me home please. I feel horrible." Beth squeezed his hand and moved his hand to rest on her burning forehead. She sighed in relief at the coolness of his touch, his hand was doing wonders. Mick chuckled softly and drove back to her apartment. Mick carried her up and laid her on the couch. He was just about to go into the kitchen, but she grabbed his hand.

"Don`t leave me." She said, whispering. Mick sighed and sat next to her and put her head in his lap. Beth smiled up at him and fell asleep in the presence of her lover, her Mick.

Beth woke up in Mick`s arms in her bed. She sat up slightly to see her alarm clock read 2:30. She had slept through the afternoon and most of the day. Beth looked over to see Mick fast asleep and cuddled in next to him and fell back asleep.

Mick woke first and watched Beth sleep for a while and when she woke up a few minutes later, her beautiful blue eyes looked up at him and smiled.

"How long have you been watching me sleep?" She asked.

"Not long." He smiled back at her.

"Why didn`t you wake me?"

"You looked so peaceful. I didn`t want to disturb you." He said, soothingly.

"I was thinking..." She said, trailing off.

"What? What were you thinking?" He asked.

"Maybe we can stay in and watch a movie today. Just the two of us." Beth said, smiling up at him.

"I think that`s a great idea." He said. Beth leaned in and kissed him, "What movie do you want to watch?"

"Whatever you want." Mick told her. Beth squealed in delight and grabbed a movie in the living room. Mick followed and sat on the couch watching her every move. Beth put the movie in and cuddled into Mick on the couch watching the movie start. The screen read Dear John and Mick looked at Beth. She had picked a romantic movie for them, how cute Mick thought.

He put an arm around her and held her tighter. Beth`s eyes started to tear and Mick wiped the tears away from her eyes and kissed her forehead, trying to calm her.

"It`s just so sad." Beth sobbed into his arm.

"Let me get you some tissues." Mick said, starting to get up. Beth pulled him back and looked right at him.

"You can be my tissue." She said, kissing him.