A/N Well here's the next chapter. Thanks to everyone who has been faithfully reviewing for me. I'm so glad you guys are liking this, especially because I think I'm getting carpal tunnel syndrome from typing it! Oh well, it's worth it!

Just to let you all know, it may be a little bit before I can update again. We are moving on Monday June 2, 2003 so I have to unhook my computer today. It may be two or three weeks until I get Internet access again. I have a lot already typed, so once I'm back on the net, I can update right away!

Don't forget me while I'm gone!

~Kelby

Chapter 59

"Tell me again what Izzy said Cass." Jason asked as they rounded the corner to the Iguana.

"He said wear jeans because he had tee shirts for all three of us."

"He did say tee shirts right? The word costumes never came up? Right?" Mark asked hesitantly.

"Yes. Tee shirts. God it's Halloween. Where is your sense of adventure? From Mark I'm not surprised that much, but Jason I expected more from you." She poked him in the ribs as she spoke.

Mark groaned as they walked in. "I'm gonna hate this I know it."

"Hey!" Izzy called to them. "Great, you guys are here. Yeah Jason I really appreciate this. I'll run you through the basics of where everything is. Cass has done beers with Roger a few times. She pretty much knows where stuff is and how much. And anything special anybody wants that you don't know how to make either grab me or Dave or tell them we don't have it."

"If you and Dave are both bartending what do you need me for?" Jason asked him.

"I need you to be backup bartender for Dave. "I'll help some too, but I gotta mainly help bounce tonight. Full moon on Halloween, it's gonna get crazy. Mark you mainly gofer tonight. Cool?"

"Sure Izzy." Mark told him.

"Okay I figured you guys could pool tips, plus $50 bucks cash. Deal?"

They all nodded as Krystal walked over with a box, followed by Dave, the other bartender and two of the waitresses. She sighed before she spoke. "Okay, before I open this box, let me just say, none of this was my idea. I do think it is somewhat cute, but not my idea at all."

"Oh God. Izzy what did you do?" Dave groaned.

"Here!" He was too excited to wait any more and opened the box. As Krystal started pulling out bags with everyone's name on them.

"Does Jason get Roger's?" She asked him.

"Um yeah. I ordered them like two days before I found out he wouldn't be here, but it still works with the theme."

They opened their bags and Cass started laughing immediately.

"Oh Iz this is too funny. Roger may almost be sorry he missed this." She said holding up her tee shirt.

"Oh don't tell me." Mark said looking at Jason holding his up as well. "If Jason's got Batman, and Cass has Batgirl," he paused as he opened his bag and pulled out the yellow and red tee shirt, "then I end up as Robin."

"Cool! Green Lantern!" Dave exclaimed, pulling his on.

"Yeah that was more exciting than Aquaman. The girls get to be the Wondertwins an me and Krystal, well it's my bar!" Krystal just sighed again as Izzy grabbed the edge of the white button up shirt he was wearing, ripping it open to reveal the giant S under it.

"He's been doing that for three days now. He made me sew on fake buttons and velcro so he can reclose his shirt and redo it Clark Kent style."

"What about you?" Cass asked her, laughing.

Krystal rolled her eyes as she held up her shirt. "Wonder Woman."

"Yeah and don't forget the bracelets Krystal, I paid extra for those."

"Yes Izzy." She patronizingly told him.

"Okay, let's go to work!" Izzy said excitedly.

They changed into their shirts, finished setting up and let Krystal take pictures as people started filing in.

Izzy leaned against the bar, watching people as they ordered drinks and the band started to play.

"So did Roger's leaving really screw you up Iz?" Cass asked him, filling a pitcher.


"Naw, not really. We weren't playing tonight anyway. I would have needed him more behind the bar. Plus he wouldn't do it anyway. Stubborn fuck."

"That I know, but why wouldn't he play tonight?"

"You know Roger." He shrugged. "We start talking about all the usual corny Halloween type stuff and he tells me 'we're not playing that crap!' Amazing how supposedly this is my band. Then he goes into this whole spiel about music and art and talent and true rock and roll. And how it's bad enough we cover so much crap. Yada, yada, yada. You know, Roger stuff."

She smiled at that. Cass could just picture that whole conversation.

"Can't blame him I guess. He's so into it. It's really just a hobby for me and he knows it. That's the only reason I let him act like that. So you talked to him?"

"Every night." She beamed. "He's loving it. He said he's writing a lot too. Getting a lot done. He seems to really like your cousin too."

"Yeah I talked to Trey. He said he really liked what he heard on that CD of us. Especially Roger's songs. I knew he'd love working with Trey. I'm glad he went. It'll be good for him."

Cass just looked at him for a second. Almost studying him. She didn't know what it was about Izzy and Roger. It wasn't like they were close friends like he and Mark. They were just good friends. As least as far as Roger realized. She just felt like there was almost something more with Izzy.

Izzy had put up with a lot from Roger over the years. And through it all, Izzy never let Roger down. The job. Basically letting him run the band. Working around his doctor's appointment. Always kinda keeping him floating. And now this, with Trey.

She watched Izzy as she spoke about Roger. He had a look of almost pride on his face. There had to be something more she didn't know or understand about Izzy and Roger. Maybe someday she'd find out or understand. Either way she was glad Roger had had Izzy all these years.

Cass smiled at him. "Izzy thank you."

"For what?"

"Everything you've done for him. The tour. The band. The job. Everything. Thank you. For him and for me thank you. Really."

***********

Roger opened his hotel room door and motioned Trey into the room while still talking on his cell phone. "Baby I know, but you got to eat something." He pointed at the chair for Trey to sit down. "I know Baby, but it's only gonna get worse if you don't eat something." He picked up a soda, offering it to Trey.

"What if I have Mark go get you some soup from that place you like? Would you eat that? I'll have him get you some coffee ice cream too." He listened to her for a second. "Okay Baby I'll have him do that. But you gotta promise me you'll eat it. Please?"

Trey watched the grin spread across Roger's face. He knew he had to be talking to his girlfriend. He picked up the sheet music Roger had been working on off the bed near his guitar. He started to read through it while waiting for Roger to finish.

"Okay, I'll call him and have him get you some. Get some sleep and I'll talk to you later, okay?" She must have said something that annoyed him, because Trey watched his eyebrows knit together. "I don't care what kind of computer problems that ass is having. He'll get over it. You work too much. I don't like you working for him anyway."

After a second he calmed down. "I know. I'm sorry. I miss you too Baby. Call me later when you wake up. I'll call Mark and have him get you some soup. I love you Baby. Bye." He hung up the phone and sat down on the bed across from Trey. "Sorry." He told him.

"Don't worry about it. Your girlfriend?"

"Yeah." Roger beamed.

"She sick?"

"Um, yeah. Sort of." Roger got back up as he heard someone knocking on his door again.

"Rog you seen Trey?" Scott the drummer asked as Roger opened the door the rest of the way, revealing Trey in the chair. He let Scott and Brad the bassist in.

"She going to be okay?" Trey asked Roger.

"Who going to be okay?" Scott asked, walking in.

"Roger's girlfriend is sick. What's her name? Kate?"

"Cass." Roger corrected him. "Yeah, she'll be fine in awhile."

"Like in nine months?" Brad joked, picking up the yellow Pregnancy for Dummies book from the dresser and holding it up for Trey and Scott to see.

"Um, yeah." Roger took the book from him, tossing it on the bed. He could feel his face getting hot. "Actually more like six and a half months at this point." He grinned.

"Wow, that's really cool! Why didn't you tell us?" Trey asked.

Roger just shrugged a response, picking his guitar back up as he sat back down on the bed.

"Cool." Brad said, looking at his watch. "Look, seeing as we are off tonight we were going to go for food. Walk over to the mall across the street. You want to come with?"

"Yeah, I could do that. I just gotta make a call first."

"Trey?" Brad asked and Trey nodded. "Cool. We'll meet you guys in the lobby in like ten minutes." With that Scott and Brad left.

"So I came down to talk to you about some of the stuff I heard on the CD you and Izzy made. You've got some good stuff."

"Me and Izzy?" Roger laughed.

"No." Trey laughed, shaking his head. "Izzy's a total hack. I meant your stuff. Izzy sucks and he knows it. He just likes to have fun. But you're good Roger. Real good."

"Thanks."

"So yeah, I want to talk to you about some stuff. Maybe later tonight?"

"Sure. No problem." Roger pulled his boots on as they spoke.

"Okay. I'll see you down stairs in a few. Hope your girlfriend feels better."


"Thanks." Roger picked his cell phone back up and dialed Mark as Trey closed the door behind him.

"Hello?"

"Hey it's me."


"Roger! What's going on? Where are you? Is everything okay?"

He could hear the excitement in Mark's voice and he knew it was mixed with worry because he was calling at this time of day. "Yeah I'm fine. What's going on with Cass? Why aren't you feeding her?" He asked in a stern voice to tease Mark.

"What? Of course I'm, oh." He realized Roger was picking on him. "I guess you talked to her?"

"Yeah, about ten minutes ago. She asleep yet?"

"I guess. I was just in my room a few minutes ago and she was. She's got a nasty migraine again. Making her throw up a lot. She was laying in my bed watching TV."

"Yeah I know, I talked to her. She promised me she'd eat if you got her some soup from that place she likes. And ice cream. Coffee flavor of course."

"Of course."

"So what's going on, is she not eating at all?"

"Well," Mark sighed into the phone. "It's the same sort of thing again. She feels like crap, throws up, then doesn't feel like food or can't keep it down. So then she gets a migraine which makes her throw up more. Which makes her not want to eat. Which of course makes the migraine worse. And so on and so on. You know, vicious cycle."

"Yeah I know. Did you call her doctor?"

"She's as stubborn and mule headed as you, what do you think?"

"I'll take that as a no. Anything else?"

"Yeah her nose won't stop running and it's making her crazy. The book said that's normal, but it's probably not helping her stomach any, draining down her throat like that."

"Anything else?"

"Well, she just feels crappy and has cramps sort of. I mean her stomach's upset and all, but she has got too. The book said that was normal too though. Something about her uterus stretching or something."

"Yeah I read something about that too but she's okay?"

"Yeah. She said it's more dull and annoying than anything. I got to tell you Rog, I learned way more than I ever really wanted to know and I haven't gotten past month five in the book yet."

He just started to laugh. "Just wait, it gets better! Remember how Ginny was joking about wait till we find out what a mucus plug is? Well I found out."

"What is it?" Mark asked hesitantly.

"Trust me, you don't want to know."

"I'll take your word on it." Mark laughed back.

"So what's wrong with her computer?"

"I don't know. Something's wrong. Her father called and they argued some. So far, since yesterday I've heard her argue with people in English, French, and Italian. She's been working a lot. Like all night because of the time difference. I'm sure that's not helping her any."

"What'd her dad want?" He asked with concern.


"Work stuff. It was purely an icy cold work call. Only reason I knew who it even was on the phone was because I answered it. She could have been talking to some moron in customer support instead of her father from the sound of it."

"Oh."

"He, ah, he still doesn't know, does he?"

"No. And she's got no intention of telling him anytime soon either. What did he say when he called?"

"Just who it was and he wanted to talk to Cass. They still only have the apartment phone number. She never gave them her cell phone."


"Yeah I know. Her cell isn't even registered in her name, it's under yours. That way they can't find it as easily."

"Oh. Well other than that she's okay. She talked to the contractor. He's getting all the permits and they should be starting across the hall by the end of this week."

"That's good. When will they be done?"

"He said livable by Christmas with some finishing touches needed like paint and carpet and stuff."

"Great. Anything else?"

"Nope. She's been sleeping in my room with me though. She says she's cold and lonely."

"Oh that must be thrilling Joellen to death. She still mad at you for the night I left?"

"Naw, she's pretty much over that. Of course currently she has no idea your girlfriend has been sleeping with me in my bed. Probably better off if we keep that quiet, but I figure if you don't get upset, why should she?"

"That's twisted logic Mark." He laughed. "And Joellen doesn't quite understand the twisted relationship you and Cass and me have anyway."

"Yeah I know, no big deal. Anyway, I wish there was something I could do to make Cass feel better."


"Well, getting her to eat will help her a lot."

"Maureen and Jen are trying to talk her into getting acupuncture."

"Ewww! If she does, you're taking her. I don't want to see that. But if you rub the back of her head sometimes that helps."

"Okay. Anything else work?"

Roger laughed into the phone. "Yeah there is one more thing that helps some, but if I find out you did that, you're in big trouble buddy!"

"Huh? Oh! Right got ya, yeah no worries there. I'll get her soup and ice cream and leave it at that."

"Good idea Mark." He laughed. "Just promise to make her eat. And if she gets worse you'll call the doctor."

"No problem."

"And call me if anything else happens I can be there in a few hours."

"You got it."

"Okay I got to go. They're waiting for me."


"Okay. Bye Roger."

"Mark?"

"Uh huh?"

"Thanks."

"No problem." Mark hung up the phone.

*********

Quietly Mark opened his bedroom door and went in. He started to get undressed for bed.

"I'm awake, you can turn on the light if you wan t Mark."


"Sorry. Did I wake you?" He flipped on the TV for light.

"No I woke up a little while ago."

"Do you feel better Sweetie?"

"Somewhat. I guess eating helped some."

"I told you it would. But don't listen to me or anything." He teased her. "Of course Roger can tell you the exact same thing and it's like God himself has spoken."

"Oh don't be so dramatic!" She laughed rolling close and cuddling up next to him, kissing his forehead.

Mark threw an arm over her to keep her warm. "Roger's right. This whole thing is twisted."

"What's twisted?" She asked, rolling over and facing away from him.

He started to rub the back of her head. "This whole strange relationship you, me and Roger have."

She understood exactly what he meant. "Marky are you okay with all of this? Me and him and all?"

"Yes. For the zillionth time. Yes. I'm really happy you guys are happy together. You deserve it. Both of you."

"Okay, as long as you're sure. Your know I love you Mark. He does too."

"I know." He sighed. The thought that had crossed over his brain so many times over the years floated to the top again. He couldn't stop his mouth from asking it. "Cass, can I ask you a question?"

"Anything Sweetie."

Mark hesitated, and when he did speak, his voice was slow and soft. "Cass, why didn't you ever come back?"

She knew he might ask her that someday. She had always known that. But that didn't mean she would ever have been able to come up with an easy answer.

"Cass?" He asked her again softly when she still hadn't said anything.

"I, I don't know Mark." She said looking away. After a second in a barely audible voice she spoke again. "That's not true. I know why."


"Well, why?"

"I was scared. And hooked. And I knew you'd make me give it all up if I came out here. But Paulie…" she trailed off for a second an Mark listened. "And then after, I wanted to, I really did Mark, but I was scared. And stupid and, and I don't know Mark."

"Scared of what Cass?"

"If I had stayed the first time Mark, what would that have done to you and Roger?"

"I don't know." He shrugged.

"Or me and you? I mean we were great then, but would that have been enough? If I had stayed, and Roger moved in. And April moved in. You know me, do you really think I wouldn't have ended up with them? And what would that have done to you? Watching Roger alone almost killed you."

"So that's why you stayed away? For all those years? To protect me? I don't buy it Cass?"

"Well in hindsight that seems like why. But I don't know. What was I going to do? Wipe my nose and hop on a plane? Come ruin your life too?"

"Cass you never could have done that. I just wish you would have stayed, or at least come back. And not just for me. God I would have loved to have you back here. But for you. So you wouldn't have had to go through all you had to go through. You know I would have given up all that we had, or could have had to keep you from having to go through all of that."

"I know Mark." A tear slid down her cheek, running off the tip of her nose. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay sweetie. I just wish I could have changed it all for you."

"But you can't and you couldn't have. And if it would change anything we have now, I wouldn't have wanted it changed."

"But…"

"No, no butts. What we have is great. I wouldn't want to give it up for anything." She paused for a second. "You know I've always loved you right Mark?"

"Yeah I know."

"I love Roger too."

"Yeah, I know you do and I'm glad for that. You guys really need each other right now."

"I'm glad you're here with me Mark. I miss him."

"Yeah me too. I still can't believe he's gone on a tour."

She laid there silently for a second. "Someday he won't come home will he Mark?"

"No, he won't." He said barely above a whisper. He stopped rubbing her head and just held her close.

"I'm really glad you're here Mark."

"Me too sweetie. Me too." He picked up the remote and clicked off the TV. They just lay there like that till they both fell asleep.