Note:I'm sorry I haven't update in a while. I've been trying to figure out where I want my story to go and how I want to end it. I'm looking at 10 chapters at the moment which means there will only be 2 more installments of my fic. I hope I have been doing the characters justice. Happy reading!
Mark looked at his watch for the hundredth time that hour. "Where is she? It's almost two in the morning!" He ran his hands through his short blond hair. Roger had long since gone to bed.
It was a wonder the floorboards weren't worn away from Mark's constant pacing. If Roger knew Mark was waiting up for Maureen he would flip out. He was worried about Maureen being out in the city alone. It wasn't exactly the safest of places after dark. She could be mugged, or worse, raped.
Mark shuddered at that last thought. She didn't need that experience again. He contemplated going out to look for her, but quickly pushed the idea away. The city was too big for him to scour alone. He knew Roger wouldn't help him and he didn't want to alarm Collins.
"I'll just have to wait it out," he thought. "She probably went to a bar or a club."
He half wished he was more like Maureen in that regard. At least she knew how to forget her troubles for a few hours. She certainly didn't sit around and agonize.
The stars gleamed in the chilly autumn night. Mark stared into their midst in an attempt to clear his mind. When he felt his eyeballs dry out, he closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the cold glass. His warm breath fogged the pane just below his nose.
"Wherever she is I hope she's safe and warm," thought Mark.
Maureen fluffed her pillow for the hundredth time that hour. For some reason she could not get comfortable on Joanne's big leather couch. Her mind was too busy torturing her with the day's events to let her sleep.
She stared at the ceiling and tried to forget. When that didn't work she screwed her eyes shut tight, willing them to stay closed. That hurt too much, so she flung off her blanket and shuffled over to the large window. Her ruby lacquered toenails glistened in the moon glow.
Maureen set her hands on the ledge and gazed out at the city that never sleeps. She wondered if Mark was awake. She couldn't forget the way his blue eyes turned to ice when he heard about Joanne. She had finally pushed him too far. "This is a fine mess you've gotten yourself into, Miss Johnson," she scolded herself.
She was so lost in thought she didn't hear Joanne come up beside her. "You can't sleep?" she asked.
Maureen started at the sound of Joanne's husky voice. "No."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"You've done more than enough, and I am so grateful for that." Maureen turned to her and said, "You know, it's funny. Whenever Mark and I had a fight I would storm out of the loft and head for the nearest bar to drown my problems. It wouldn't always be alcohol. Sometimes another man's bed would be cure enough. This time I didn't. My first thought was to come to you."
Joanne wrapped her arm around Maureen's waist and kissed her forehead. "Come on. You need some sleep. Don't think about any of that tonight."
Maureen allowed herself to be steered back to the couch. Joanne covered her up with the blanket once she got comfortable. She stayed with her and ran her fingers through her dark curls until she fell asleep.