Opening her locker, Allie sighed. Another note. This one was attached to a large envelope, just what she needed. The past few days had been difficult enough without more of Kim's shit. Bea had been over at head office for the past couple of days, and Allie had been working at the bar in the evenings, meaning they hadn't seen much of each other. On the one day the redhead had been home, she had been stuck in the studio with the guys until late, and was exhausted when she finally made it home. The only saving grace was that she got to fall asleep in Bea's arms, and wake up to her beautiful smile, when she wasn't stuck at the station that is.

Bea had been quieter than usual as well, but with the extra hours she'd been putting in at head office Allie figured that she was just tired, something she knew all about right now. The record label were riding their arse, wanting them to get as many tracks recorded as possible, and they had their gig the following evening. Whatever the outcome of the gig, she knew that things were about to change with the band, one way or another.

Grabbing the envelope from her locker, she read the note, her heart beating out of her chest as she took in the words.

It's only a matter of time now, although I'm surprised it's taken her so long. Call me when you need someone to keep your bed warm…I'll be waiting x

Ripping the note off the envelope, she threw it into her locker. Wandering over to the bench across the room, Allie took a seat before emptying the contents of the envelope out. Three photos fell out, the first one was of Bea and Will at a restaurant in the city. She knew that it was close to head office so figured they had grabbed a bite to eat after shift. In the next photo they were still in the restaurant, but Bea's hand was resting on top of Jackson's, a bright smile on her face. Flicking to the last one, she felt her blood run cold. Will's hand was raised, his fingers brushing Bea's hair off of her face as she looked down, her cheeks flushed.

Gathering the photos up, she stuffed them back into the envelope before walking back over to her locker and throwing them in. Slamming it shut, she punched the door, cursing loudly as a pain shot through her hand. Kim was messing with her again, that had to be it. There was no way that Bea would do that to her…would she? No. She wouldn't cheat on her, Allie was sure of it. But those photos, something was definitely going on. And the redhead had been acting a little strange the day before. Slamming the laptop shut when Allie had walked into the room, heading out to the garage to take a phone call, something was definitely off. But she trusted Bea, Bea loved her. There had to be some other explanation. It didn't stop her heart from aching at the thought of Will Jackson's hands on her girlfriend though.

Half an hour later she headed back out into the bar, pleased to find it busy. At least her colleagues wouldn't notice that something was wrong, and keeping busy would keep her mind off the photos. She could feel Kim's eyes on her, and it took every ounce of self-control not to put her face through the wall. Luckily they only had a half hour crossover once Allie returned from her break, Kim's shift ending at nine thirty again. Somehow Allie made it to the end of her shift, Boomer only asking a couple of times what was 'up her arse'. After playing it off as just being tired, her friend gave up in the end, mumbling something about her not getting any.

Allie arrived home a little later than usual, having stayed behind to clean up so Boomer could head home. Her friend had been there since lunch, and was worn out by the time they closed the bar, plus she was in no rush to go home to an empty house. Heading straight for her studio, she hid the envelope at the back of one of the cupboards. She knew she would need to speak to Bea about it, but wanted to get her head together before bringing it up, not wanting to say something that he might regret.

Wandering through into the house, Allie grabbed a beer before dropping down on the sofa, Cormack jumping up beside her and using her lap as a pillow a couple of minutes later. She stayed there for just over an hour, her fingers running over the cat's soft fur gently. Her mind was racing, and she couldn't get the photos out of her head. She knew that she needed to give Bea the benefit of the doubt, like her girlfriend had done for her when Kim had tried it on with her in the store room. But that didn't stop her brain making up all kinds of different scenarios. Knowing that this wasn't helping, she picked Cormack up, turned out the light and headed upstairs, hoping her mind would shut down long enough for her to get some sleep.

Bea arrived home a little later than usual, having stopped by the hospital after shift to check on Mel. She was Kaz's second in command and had fallen through an unstable floor while attending a fire in the early hours. Bea had kitted up, but wanted to let Proctor handle things. Despite their being no love lost between them, the blonde was good at her job, and Bea was a fair boss. If it had been teal watch on duty she would have let Franky run with it, so saw no reason to do any different with Kaz. She had been assessing the situation, and had called them out as the smoke had started to turn black. Almost everyone was out when she heard the distress signal, one of the crew's PASS alarms having activated. Looking up, she heard Kaz calling out to Mel over the radio as she ran back into the building. Masking up, Bea headed in after her, catching up with Proctor quickly. Following the sound of the alarm, they saw the hole in the floor. Peering over the edge, Bea spotted Mel laid on her back, debris from the floor surrounding her.

"I see her" she called out to Kaz before radioing to the crew to bring a rope.

A minute or two later Soz came running through with the rope as Kaz climbed down into the basement. After clearing the debris, Proctor secured the rope around Mel before calling up to Bea. Laying down, Bea stabilised herself before pulling Mel to safety. She was conscious but had taken a knock to the head so needed to get checked over.

The fire in the basement was spreading fast, and Kaz was still down there. After securing herself to the line, Bea leaned forward, her upper body hanging down over the ledge. Reaching out she took Proctor's hand, lifting her off of the floor slightly. The fire was closing in, and Bea knew they didn't have long. Reaching down as far as she could, she managed to grab Kaz's other hand, pulling her up further. Calling out for some help, she held on tight, knowing that the clock was ticking

The muscles in her arms were burning, but the flames were now directly below Proctor. No matter how much it hurt she wouldn't give up. They were her crew, her responsibility, and no matter what her feelings towards the older blonde were, she would get her out of there in one piece. Feeling one of the crew grab onto her legs to support the weight, she gritted her teeth, ignoring the pain in her arms, and pulled hard. Grabbing the back of Bea's over trousers, Kaz managed to claw her way up her colleagues back before being dragged to safety by Soz. Collapsing on the floor beside the redhead, she took a few deep breaths before turning to her colleague, who was drenched in sweat.

Hearing voices over the radio, they both jumped up and headed back out of the building while the rest of red watch tackled the fire. Removing her BA gear, Bea grabbed a couple of bottles of water from the truck, handing one over to Kaz. Taking a swig from the bottle, she poured the rest of it over her head, trying to cool down. Looking up when she felt a hand on her shoulder, she locked eyes with Proctor.

"Thanks Smith, think that's the closest I've come to being toast. I owe you one…and I think I might need a new pair of boots" she said, patting the redhead on the shoulder before lifting her foot up, the soles of her boots a little worse for wear.

"We've already got one on the way to hospital, didn't want another one. Plus the paperwork would be an absolute bitch" Bea joked, happy to see the blonde smiling back at her. "Drop a request in for the boots when we get back to the station and I'll sign it off before I leave" she added as Proctor nodded her head before turning and heading back to check on her crew.

When they finally got back to the station yellow watch were in the mess room waiting for them. After grabbing a quick shower she headed back to her office briefly so she could get Proctor's request for new equipment sent through to head office. They always kept a spare set of gear at the station, but it made sense to get things replaced as soon as possible. Plus she had told the blonde she would do it and didn't want to go back on her word. Hopefully after today's events things would get a little easier between them. She doubted that they would ever be the best of friends, but any improvement in their relationship would be a bonus.

Her detour to the hospital had made her even later, but she wanted to make sure that Mel was ok. She had been heading towards the accident and emergency department when her colleague came walking towards her, a couple of members of red watch by her side. She had cut her head, and had been told to rest for a couple of days, but luckily it was nothing serious.

Arriving home just after ten Bea headed straight for her girlfriend's studio, figuring that she would be in there. The band had their big gig that night, and she knew that Allie would want to get in as much practice as possible, despite her reservations about the record label. As expected, the blonde was leaning against the arm of the sofa, guitar in hand as she scribbled in her notebook.

Allie hadn't slept well, her dreams full of Bea and Will Jackson. She knew she was being irrational, and it would be something completely innocent, but that didn't stop her mind from going into overdrive, and her insecurities from kicking in. She had never felt like she was good enough for the redhead, and she couldn't help but wonder if Bea had finally started to figure it out as well. After tossing and turning for what felt like hours, she got up and headed for the bathroom, hoping that a nice hot shower would make her feel a little better.

After getting dressed she went downstairs, grabbing her guitar and a coffee before heading into her studio. She had been in there a couple of hours when she heard the door open, knowing that it was Bea before she even entered the room. She could always feel her presence, and would never tire of the warm, tingly feeling she got whenever the older woman was near. Stopping what she was doing, she turned to face her girlfriend, noticing how tired Bea looked. Placing her guitar down, she crossed the room, taking the redhead into her arms. "Rough night?" she asked, stepping back slightly when she felt Bea pulling away from her

"Something like that. Managed to get myself bashed up as well" the older woman replied, lifting her shirt to reveal a large bruise covering half of her left side.

Running her fingers along the edge of the bruise gently, she took her girlfriend's hand, leading her into the house and up to their room, all thoughts of Will Jackson and the photos forgotten. Bea was hurt, and right now, all Allie wanted to do was take care of her.

Bea had been in bed for most of the afternoon, Allie staying with her until she fell asleep. The redhead had filled her in on what had happened, and while she wasn't exactly fond of Proctor, she was glad that she and the rest of the crew made it out of the building in one piece. She wasn't sure what Kaz would have done had the roles been reversed, but she would like to think that the older blonde would have put aside their differences, as Bea had done, and helped her. Maybe it was a good thing, and the tension between the two of them wouldn't be as bad after this. Allie knew how much her girlfriend hated being on shift with red watch, and anything that could make it easier for the redhead was good with her.

Heading back to her studio once her Bea was settled, she went over one of the tracks they would be playing that evening a few times. She had been struggling with one of the verses, and for the sake of the guys, didn't want to fuck it up. All she needed to do was get through the gig, and then she would talk to them about how she was feeling. Once she was happy with the song, she packed her equipment up in preparation for the gig, before heading back into the house to make a start on dinner.

Bea came down half an hour later. Crossing the room she wrapped her arms around her girlfriend's waist, pulling her close. She had missed Allie, and had wanted to spend the day with her, but after the nightmare that was her last shift, knew she needed to get some sleep. She knew Allie was nervous about the gig tonight, even though she wouldn't admit it, and wanted to be there for her, whatever she decided to do about the band. Bea couldn't help but worry that she was holding the blonde back, despite Allie's reassurances, and she only hoped that if they were offered a record deal, that her girlfriend would do what was best for her, not them. She would be by Allie's side no matter where she was, and while she hated the thought of being so far away from the younger woman, knew that they would make things work.

Pushing all thoughts of the photos out of her mind for the time being, Allie leaned back into her girlfriend, taking comfort in her strong embrace. Being in Bea's arms was the best thing in the world. After eating dinner, they washed up before heading upstairs to get ready for the gig. Turning the shower on, Allie pulled her girlfriend in with her, careful not to hurt her any more than she already was. It had started out innocent enough, but after a few minutes she felt Bea's hand moving down her body before slipping between her legs. Biting down on her bottom lip when she felt the redhead's fingers enter her, she let out a low moan, her arms wrapping around her girlfriend's neck to support her.

"Fuck Allie, you feel so good baby" Bea said, her lips ghosting over the blonde's ear as her fingers worked the tension from her girlfriend's body

"Bea…oh god" the blonde moaned loudly as her girlfriend's mouth found her breast, her tongue flicking over her nipple, sending a jolt of electricity to her already swollen clit.

"Please baby...I need you" Allie begged, rolling her hips towards the older woman in a bid to increase the pressure.

Twenty minutes later they made it out of the bathroom, having finally managed to actually shower. They were a little behind schedule, not that either of them cared, and Allie was feeling a lot more relaxed than she had earlier.

They arrived at the venue just after six thirty, giving them almost two hours before they were due on the stage. After unloading the car, they hung around in the dressing room waiting for the guys to arrive. Ethan had been a bit late finishing work, but Ash had called her to let her know they were on their way, and should be there soon. Sitting down on the sofa, Allie pulled Bea into her lap, smiling as she felt the older woman cuddle into her. "Thank you for being here tonight"

"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else" Bea replied, turning in her girlfriend's arms before capturing her lips in a slow kiss

Things quickly turned heated, Allie's hand slipping under the redhead's shirt and into her bra, cupping her breast. The blonde's other hand was reaching around her back to undo the clasp when the door burst open and the guys walked in. Springing apart, Bea quickly rearranged her shirt before turning to face them, knowing that the colour in her cheeks would give away her embarrassment.

"Sorry Novak, didn't mean to interrupt" Dylan said, dropping down on the sofa opposite the two women

"Yeah, put a sock on the door handle or something next time" Ash added, laughing as the blonde flipped him the finger

"Piss off. We weren't doing anything anyway" Allie said, although not very convincingly

"Then why do you both look so guilty?" Ash replied. He loved winding Allie up, she was like a sister to him, and they bickered like siblings sometimes.

After setting their equipment up and doing a quick sound check the guys headed to the bar to grab a drink, Allie wandering back through to their dressing room to find her girlfriend, hoping to get a few minutes alone with the redhead before the gig started. Approaching the room, she could hear Bea talking to someone. Pushing the door open, she was surprised when her girlfriend quickly ended her call, nervously stuffing her phone back into her pocket.

"Everything ok babe?"

"Yeah, just…work stuff" Bea replied, hoping that her lie sounded more convincing to Allie than it did in her head. She hated keeping things from the blonde, but hadn't expected the call tonight, having told them that she would be busy.

"Right…You can talk to me you know, about anything"

"I know, but everything's fine, really"

"Ok" Allie replied, not entirely convinced, but deciding to leave it for now.

The guys came back in five minutes later, handing both Bea and Allie a beer before crashing down on the sofa. They chatted for another half an hour before heading over to the stage. Allie had cleared it with Isla for Bea to watch from the side of the stage, not wanting her girlfriend to be stuck in the middle of the crowd alone. Plus if someone tried to hit on her, the blonde was pretty sure that she'd be off the stage in a flash and claiming what was hers, whether the record label was there or not. Allie Novak does not share.

They were three quarters of the way through their set when it came to the song she was most worried about. While she hadn't exactly written about her own personal experience, it was still quite close to the bone, and at the end of the day, addiction was addiction, no matter what the poison. She had been playing around with a few lines she was having trouble with after wrapping up at the studio the previous week, and hadn't realised that Isla was there. After hearing it, she had been adamant that they should include it in their set, and despite her reservations, Allie didn't really feel like she had a choice.

Looking over to her girlfriend at the side of the stage, they locked eyes, Allie drawing strength from the older woman. Bea had a way of calming her down in an instant, no matter what the situation, and she was hopelessly in love with her. Something was definitely going on with the redhead though, and Allie couldn't help but worry, especially after seeing those photos. Trying to push the negative thoughts to the back of her mind, she smiled at Bea, her heart skipping a beat when the older woman smiled back, her eyes full of love.

Taking one last look at her girlfriend, she turned to face the crowd again, nodding to Ash that she was ready. Hearing the music start, she stepped up to the mic, grabbing hold of the stand before starting to sing.

Party girls don't get hurt
Can't feel anything, when will I learn
I push it down, push it down

I'm the one "for a good time call"
Phone's blowin' up, ringin' my doorbell
I feel the love, feel the love

1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 drink
1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 drink
1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 drink

Throw em back, till I lose count

I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist
Like it doesn't exist
I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier

And I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Help me, I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight, on for tonight

Allie's performances were always fantastic, anyone who had seen her play would agree. But with the professional set up they had for this gig, she sounded incredible, they all did. The blonde had said that she was nervous about one of the songs in their set in particular, and after the first few lines, Bea knew it would be this one. Her girlfriend's voice was so powerful, and completely flawless, and she couldn't keep the smile off her face as she gazed at her from the side of the stage. Allie was her present, her future, her everything, and she couldn't wait to hold her in her arms again. Blowing the younger woman a kiss as she turned her way briefly, she listened to the words that, at one point, had been Allie's way of life.

Sun is up, I'm a mess
Gotta get out now, gotta run from this
Here comes the shame, here comes the shame

1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 drink
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 drink
1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 drink

Throw 'em back till I lose count

I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier
I'm gonna live like tomorrow doesn't exist
Like it doesn't exist
I'm gonna fly like a bird through the night, feel my tears as they dry
I'm gonna swing from the chandelier, from the chandelier

But I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down, won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Help me, I'm holding on for dear life, won't look down, won't open my eyes
Keep my glass full until morning light, 'cause I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight

On for tonight
'Cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Oh, I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight
On for tonight

'Cause I'm just holding on for tonight
'Cause I'm just holding on for tonight
Oh, I'm just holding on for tonight
On for tonight
On for tonight

As the song wrapped up, her eyes scanned the room, spotting Isla by the side of the stage. She was clearly happy with how things were going, and for the guys, that was great. Allie just wasn't sure what it all meant for her.

The gig had gone better than expected, and the crowd had been very responsive towards them. Isla had come to the dressing room after they came off stage, letting them know that the label were really impressed with them. She asked them to call into the studio the following day to discuss what the next step would be. The guys were buzzing, and couldn't wait to hear what they had to say. They had worked their arses off over the past few years, playing on crappy bar after another. But it wasn't until they played at fuel that things started to take a turn for the better, and they knew that they had Allie to thank for that. Plus the blonde was an incredibly talented song writer, and brought out the best in Ash as well. The majority of their new material had been written by Allie and Ash, but four or five of the best ones had come from Allie alone. She had a way of drawing the audience in, taking them on a journey, and when she sang, she was captivating.

They had suggested going out to celebrate, But Bea was working the following morning, and Allie didn't want to go without her. The redhead had told her that she didn't mind, wanting Allie to go and enjoy herself, but could sense that her girlfriend would rather just go straight home, not that she didn't enjoy spending time with the guys. Bea had felt guilty earlier on in their relationship, wondering if the age gap between them was stopping Allie from doing things that she really wanted to do. She had quickly learned that while the blonde enjoyed a night out, she much preferred to be at home, cuddled up on the sofa. Knowing Allie was worried about the meeting with the record label the following day, and would more than likely be tossing and turning all night, she suggested that they all head back to the house for a drink. That way she could bail when she got tired, and Allie would still have a bit of company.

Bea stayed up for one drink, before excusing herself and heading to bed. It couldn't have been more than half an hour later when she felt Allie slip in beside her, the younger woman wrapping her arm around her and resting her head on her chest.

"I thought you'd be up for a while, everything ok" Bea asked, running her fingers through the younger woman's hair

"I missed you, and apparently I wasn't very good at hiding it. Ash spent the last fifteen minutes taking the piss before rounding the other two up and heading off to some dive of a club somewhere"

"Poor baby. You could have gone with them if you wanted"

"I didn't. I'd much rather be in bed with you, even if you do snore and hog the covers"

"Hey, I don't snore" Bea said, rolling them over so she was straddling the blonde before tickling her, smiling when her girlfriend giggled

"Bea…stop…please" the blonde said, pleading with the older woman

Stilling her movements, Bea gazed down at the woman below her. She was perfect, in every way, and she couldn't take her eyes off her.

"You're staring" Allie said, smiling when she saw the redhead avert her eyes in embarrassment. She loved how easily she could make the older woman blush. Even now, when they had touched and tasted every inch of each other's bodies, a few words, or a suggestive look, and Bea's cheeks would turn the colour of her hair. Allie found it adorable, and incredibly sexy, but then everything about the redhead drove her wild.

"Sorry" Bea replied, her gaze shifting from her girlfriend before she felt herself being flipped over, Allie laying down half on top of her, her arm thrown across her chest as she snuggled into her.

"Don't be. I love the way you look at me"

"I love looking at you. And I love you, so much"

"You do?"

"I do. You and Debbie are my world, and I don't know what I'd do without you, either of you"

"Good. And I like the way that sounds by the way...and I'm talking about the 'I do' bit in case you were wondering" Allie said, testing the water again. She didn't want to push her girlfriend, but with everything going on at the minute, couldn't help but feel a little bit insecure.

"Yeah…it's growing on me too baby" Bea replied, running her fingers up and down the blonde's back

"Good to know" Allie mumbled as she snuggled in closer to her girlfriend, her head resting on her chest so she could listen to her heartbeat, sleep quickly claiming them both.

Bea could have cried when her alarm went off. Hitting the snooze button, she cuddled back into the sleeping blonde, wanting to stay wrapped up in her warm embrace for as long as possible. For a split second she considered calling in sick and spending the day in bed with her girlfriend. But that wasn't who she was, and Allie had to go over to the studio in a few hours anyway. Kissing her girlfriend on the cheek, she crawled out of bed, silencing the alarm as it started calling out to her again. After grabbing a quick shower, she got dressed before jumping on her bike and heading for the station. Teal watch were on shift today and if she was lucky, Franky would be on breakfast duty.

Allie woke up just after ten, forgetting for a minute that her girlfriend would be at work. She hadn't slept that well, the meeting with the record label playing on her mind most of the night. And to make matters worse, Will Jackson kept appearing in her dreams. She wasn't exactly sure in what context as it had all been a bit vague, but it certainly wasn't helping her mood. It wasn't that she didn't trust Bea, her girlfriend had never given her any reason not to, but she couldn't help but feel like something bad was about to happen. After giving herself a little pep talk she jumped out of bed and headed for the bathroom, hoping a shower would make her feel a little more human.

She was meeting the guys at one, and was just about to leave the house when she received a message from Bea. Opening it up, she couldn't help but smile as she read it.

Hope everything goes the way you want it to, and I'll be thinking of you. Who am I kidding…I'm always thinking of you. Call me if you need me, any time. And I love you beautiful girl B xxxx

After sending her a quick reply, letting her know she would call her after the meeting, and that she loved her too, Allie jumped in the car and headed over to the studio to meet the guys.

The meeting had gone well, from the guy's perspective anyway. They had been offered a record deal, and been given a few days to look over the offer. Isla had informed them that if they accepted, the label wanted their first single to be 'Chandelier', the song that had Allie tied up in knots at the gig the previous night. Putting her game face on, she played along, pretending to be as happy as they were. Dylan had wanted to make a decision there and then, but Ash had suggested that they all take a couple of days to read everything through, wanting to make sure he knew exactly what they were signing up for. Ethan had suggested grabbing a few drinks to celebrate, but Allie's shift at the bar was due to start in just over an hour, and she needed to call back home before heading to work. She was glad that she didn't have to make an excuse, knowing that the guys would see straight through it, and had never been more thankful to be working.

Arriving home, she tried to call her girlfriend, wanting to let her know what had happened. After several rings, her phone had gone to voicemail, and Allie thought that she would probably be on a shout. She was pleased for the older woman, knowing how much she hated being left behind at the station, especially when teal watch were rostered on. Not that Bea would wish a fire or accident on anyone. Allie was pretty sure that it was more about the adrenaline rush than anything. After leaving her a quick message, she left the house and headed to the bar to start her shift, hoping that she would get a chance to speak to the redhead soon.

Allie had been on shift for a couple of hours when Kim left, the blonde happy to see the back of her. She had felt her watching her every move, and it made the blonde feel uneasy. She was a little out of sorts after the meeting at the studio, and hadn't managed to speak to her girlfriend yet, which wasn't helping. Half an hour later, and it was starting to get busy. Feeling a headache coming on, she nipped through into the staff room to grab some painkillers. Opening her locker, she released the breath she hadn't even realised she was holding. There was no note, or envelope, and Allie could feel her headache starting to ease. After taking a couple of pills, she decided to check her phone while she was there, seeing that she had a missed call from Bea. Returning the call, she got her girlfriend's voicemail again. It was clearly going to be one of those nights where they kept kissing one another, and Allie hoped that they would at least get to speak once her shift was over. Closing her locker, she headed back into the bar to continue her shift, not even noticing that her car keys were missing.

/

Apologies for ending the chapter there, it was getting a bit long and I needed to cut it somewhere. Thanks again for all the kudos and feedback :)

The lyrics are taken from 'Chandelier' by Sia.