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Character: Derek

Scene: Derek is siting on his porch at night, reading a sci-fi novel. The heroin reminds him strongly of his girlfriend Tianna. Suddenly, Tianna appears, bruised and battered after a long battle with the Atrox.

Song: "Crash and Burn" by Savage Garden. Written by Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones (whatta hottie!).

~Turning to face the battle, the warrior's eyes shone with agony. All her village was destroyed, her family all dead. She and a few of her stronger soldiers were left to fight the loosing battle. The single slash across her dirty face left a trail of blood sliding down her cheek, mixing with mud and a single tear. Singing a war cry that would match the bravest man, she ran into the oncoming force, showing more courage in her last breath than the whole enemy's combined. And then, all was silent.~

Derek looked up from his novel and stared up at the dark sky. A single forlorn star shone through the brightness of the surrounding suburb and illuminated waning crescent moon.

"She had to be so strong." He analyzed the character in his mind. "She couldn't just ask for help from the Emperor's son, her pride was just too strong to go back to her old lover. And why couldn't she talk to him about her family's death? She was still in love with him, you could tell. I just don't get her damn pride." He scratched his head and then grinned as a new thought caught him. "She is a lot like Tianna. She can't just ever come to me with her problems. She always has to act so strong because of her history. I wish she could just talk to me."

When you feel all alone

And the world has turned its back on you

He laid his book down on the pavement and adjusted his position on the bench swing. "I know she goes through a lot, really, I get that." He bargained to himself out loud. "But whatever she goes through, I am more than willing to sit her and hold her when times are tough and tell her things are going to be okay. But she is just so hard to get hold of sometimes." He sighed and leaned back on the swing, causing it to sway in a lopsided manner.

Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart

I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you

"Please, Tianna," he spoke softly to no one, "please choose to come to me when times are bad. I want to take away all your pain. Even if it's just for a little while."

It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold

When darkness is upon your door and you feel like you can't take anymore

"Derek," his mom called from the kitchen, "Your cell is ringing." She popped out the screen door and tossed it to him. She gave him a wink and a smile, then returned into the house.

"Hello?" Derek answered.

"Derek." Tianna called faintly. She sounded weak.

"What's wrong Tianna. Are you okay?" He stood up from the swing quickly, causing it to slam against the wall.

"No, I'm not. Can I come over. I can't go home. Not like this." She asked, starting to cry a little.

"Absolutely." He said at once. "Do you need me to come and get you?"

"No, I'll be there soon." She hung up.

Derek sat back on the edge of the swing. Waiting silently for Tianna.

Let me be the one you call

If you jump I will break your fall…

She appeared shortly after the phone call, bruised and barely conscious. Derek rushed to her and she fell into his arms. He gently helped her over to the porch swing and sat her down there. He left quickly into the house, assuring Tianna of quickly returning. He cleaned her wounds and bandaged them and then together they sat with Tianna in his arms.

Lift you up and fly away with you into the night

If you need to fall apart

I can mend a broken heart.

"What happened?" He asked softly.

"Some Followers caught me off guard. I barely--it was a bad fight." She was silent for a long while. "Thank you for taking care of me. I don't know what I would have…"

"Shh." He cut her off. "Don't worry about it. Just sit her with me and watch the stars come out with the dimming suburb lights."

If you need to crash then crash and burn

You're not alone

"It was so scary, I haven't felt that alone for a long time. I just kept thinking "this was it. I am going to die". It's horrible to even think about it." Tianna started to shake.

"You're never alone, I am always with you. Know that." Derek held her closer and tighter.

When you feel all alone

And a loyal friend is hard to find…

"Thank you." She said, leaning back to look into his eyes. She gave him a light kiss then turned back around. "I was walking back from Vanessa's house. Catty, Vanessa and I were all picking out outfits for Planet Bang tomorrow. I was walking down the side street between our neighborhoods and I just felt this presence. And I knew I was going to have to prepare for a fight."

You're caught in a one way street

With the monsters in your head

"I didn't think I was going to make it there for a while." She gave a half laugh to lighten the mood. "But I did."

"Yes you did." Derek replied in a proud tone. "You must have fought bravely."

She snorted. "Bravely? The only thing that kept me going was…" She stopped herself.

"What?" He prompted her.

"I wanted to live," she started off slowly, "because I wanted to dance with you tomorrow at Planet Bang. I wanted to dance with you one last time." She turned and faced him again. "You kept me alive."

When hopes and dreams are far away and

You feel like you can't face the day…

Derek leaned forward and his lips lightly brushed Tianna's. "Did I really?" He said with a sly grin.

"Yes," she said softly, "but don't let it get to your head." He cut her off with another kiss.

Let me be the one you call

If you jump I will break your fall

Lift you up and fly with you into the night

"You don't know how much I wanted you to say that." He said, staring into her eyes. "I want you to come to me whenever something bad happens."

"I don't want to burden you." She said, sitting up.

"You will never be a burden, you are always a blessing." Derek replied, wiping a dirt smug from Tianna's cheek.

If you need to fall apart

I can mend a broken heart

If you need to crash then crash and burn

You're not alone

"There are just so many bad things in my life, that I want my time with you to be wholly happy. No baddies allowed." She said, pouting her lip out. Looking cute as hell to Derek.

"I want the good and the bad, Tianna." He said, smiling sheepishly. "I want to take away all your pain." His smile faded into shyness. He wanted to tell her that he loved her.

Because there has always been heartache and pain

And when it's over you'll breathe again

You'll breathe again

"I can handle my pain." She said, her stubbornness finally shining through.

"I know that." Derek said, clasping her hand in his. "I just want to be a part of your world. Every part of your world brings me closer to you."

When you feel all alone

And the world has turned its back on you

"Don't' worry about the bad stuff, Derek." Tianna said. "I want to protect you from it, not expose you to it."

Give me a moment please

To tame your wild wild heart

"But you came to me tonight." He said, looking intensely into her eyes.

"I couldn't go home right away. Not like this." She held out her hands indicating her wounds.

His hurt face must have shown, for she continued in a softer tone. "And I needed to be with you. You always make me feel better."

He smiled and held out his hands to her. She sat down and let him wrap them around her. She leaned back into him, feeling safe and secure. "Thank you for this." She said. "This is just what I needed."

Let me be the one you call

If you jump I will break your fall

Lift you up and fly away with you into the night

If you need to fall apart

I can mend a broken heart

If you need to crash then crash and burn

You're not alone.

"Anytime." He replied. Together they sat, staring into the dark vast of space, until they both fell asleep in each other's arms.