Disclaimer: I do not own Cabaret, honest-to-Bob I don't. I don't know who does, but it sure as heck isn't me. I just love Kander & Ebb and Bob Fosse and everybody. So whee. Enjoy.

*~*~*~*Once again, for Bianca Marina, Jackie O, and the Fosse Posse…I love you guys more than monkey cheese…LM*~*~*~*

AND NOW…my story…

Sally sat on her bed, drinking gin and trying to figure out what the hell she was going to do. She knew she had to sort out her own feelings before she could see Jonathan again…that was, if she could see him again.
Since Brian had been gone, Sally had not felt much of anything for anyone. The men she met the Club, whom she had always found dashing and debonair, did nothing for her after he left. It was as if she had spent all of her emotions on one relationship, and now that relationship was over and she had no emotional capacity left. She realized that she had probably somehow trained herself to be that way. She knew what it was like to be in love and have it be wonderful, but she also knew what it was like to get hurt when everything ended. If she could no longer feel those extremes, extreme happiness and extreme sadness, then she figured she would be better off in the long run. The initial depression she felt when Brian left had gradually faded into just feeling numb instead. But Jonathan…Jonathan was the first person who had made her feel something again.
He was everything Brian was and even more. But he knew him-he was his best friend, and she couldn't just fall madly in love with him and expect Brian to never find out. Her experiences with Brian and Max had taught her that men could not always be fooled, no matter how hard she tried. And she did try hard. But that day at the train station, the day he left, he told her that all he wanted was for her to be happy. He must have meant it…that was also the reason he had given for ending everything in the first place; he did not think he could ever make her happy enough. So if she was going to be happy with Jonathan…then he couldn't get mad, because that was what he wanted. Well, Sally thought, that's what I'm going to keep telling myself.
It occurred to her that she had not asked Jonathan how long he was going to be in Berlin. He could be leaving tomorrow and she would never know. She wondered where he was staying…had he told her? Well, if he had, she'd forgotten by now, or had not been paying attention when he said it. Whatever she had to say to him would have to wait.
Sally suddenly became aware of how tired she was. She knew she probably wouldn't be able to fall asleep for a while, but it couldn't hurt to try.
******
Sally awoke to a gentle knocking at her bedroom door. It took a minute to register with her; after all, it was eight o'clock in the morning and not usually a time for visitors. She pulled on her robe and went to answer it, figuring it was Fraulein Schneider wanting something or other. She was still tying the front of her robe when she opened the door, and was startled to look up and see Jonathan. Her surprise must have been visible, because he chuckled a little and took her hand and kissed it.
"I take it you weren't expecting me," he said, grinning.
She smiled, still a little bewildered. "I guess I should have known. Come on in, darling."
Sally felt a little embarrassed as Jonathan looked around her room; she knew he was used to much more than just a tiny room with a bed and a window.
"I brought you something," he said. "Here, close your eyes."
She did, and she heard him leave the room and come back in. A few minutes later, he was draping something around her shoulders, and then guiding her to another part of the room.
"All right. You can open your eyes now."
He had moved her in front of the mirror, and when she opened her eyes, she saw herself standing there in a floor-length black mink coat. She gasped audibly, touching the fur as if making sure it was really real.
"Oh my God," Sally whispered, "Jonathan…God, you shouldn't have…I mean, I can't…"
He shook his head. "Don't say you won't accept it, I bought it for you and it's yours. Do you like it?"
"Oh, it's beautiful! But I…I don't know what to say."
He took her hands. "Say you'll come to London with me."
She looked at him for a second. He couldn't have said what she thought he said. "What?"
"Come to London with me!" He was really serious, he wasn't kidding and she hadn't heard him wrong.
"But Jonathan…I…I can't just up and leave."
"Sally, you can't look me in the eyes and honestly tell me that you want to stay here in Berlin for the rest of your life."
Well, he had her there. "But I haven't got any money!"
"You won't have to worry about money."
"You…you want me to live with you?"
"Well, yes…I guess so."
"What about Brian?" She knew he would be crushed if he found out. And he would have to find out, because he was Jonathan's best friend.

"What about him? He left you. He made that choice months ago."

"But what if he thinks I'm coming to London to be with him?"

"I'll…I'll call tonight and discuss it with him."

Sally sat down on the bed, still stunned. She looked up at Jonathan and said softly, "But…I just met you. We barely know each other."

"We'll get to know each other." He knelt down in front of her and took her hands. "Sally…you're better than this. You know that. You know how talented you are. I know people back in London, I can get you some auditions."

"You mean in movies?"

"Movies, theater, radio, whatever you want."

"You would do that for me?"

He nodded. "I'd like to."

"It's just…I've never had anyone be this nice to me before. Well, without wanting anything in return."

"I want to take care of you. That's all. So what do you say?" He was still kneeling in front of her, holding her hands in his. He can't be serious, she kept thinking, this has to be a dream or a joke or something. She looked into his eyes, his beautiful blue eyes, and heard herself saying yes, she would go to London with him. He smiled. "I knew I could convince you. You won't regret it, Sally, I promise." He kissed her hand. "Can you be ready to leave at midnight?"

"Tonight? Well yes, I guess so. I don't really have anything to do except pack and…and quit my job at the Club." The Club. She hadn't even thought about that yet.

"Can you do that this afternoon?"

"Yes, I suppose."

"Do you want me to go with you? Or stay here and help you pack?"

"No, I'll be fine…Jonathan…are you sure about this?"

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life. You sure you'll be all right by yourself?"

She nodded absently. He kissed her cheek and left, saying he would be back to pick her up at eleven-thirty that night so they could make the midnight train.

Sally had not moved from her spot on the bed, and she watched him leave and then she just sat there for another few minutes, trying to absorb everything that had just happened. Within a period of thirty minutes, she had obtained a new fur coat and managed to get out of Berlin without even initially planning on it.