Ch. 8 Hand in Hand

Murdoc went over to 2D and Paula to see what the hell had just happened. He saw them kiss and then saw 2D pass out. "Did she poison him?" Murdoc thought. Paula put her arms around 2D's back, pulled him and let his limp form rest on her panicked one.

"What the hell did you do to him?" Murdoc screamed at Paula. He peeled her off 2D and laid him down flat on his back. He put two fingers on the side of 2D's neck and two on his wrist, checking for a pulse. "Good, he 'as a pulse." Murdoc said with a sigh of relief. "Now, what did you do to him?" Paula looked up. Murdoc noticed that her hair was a little longer than her shoulders, much shorter than when he had last seen her, when he tricked her. She was very pale and thin, anorexic thin. Her frail frame was shaking and she was crying even more than when she opened her eyes in the bathroom.

"Are you implying that I did this to him?" she asked in a voice equally as quivering as her delicate body.

"Yes, I am love." Murdoc growled. When hearing no reply, he got up and grabbed her hand. "Come with me." She had no strength to resist his grip. He led her to a small room behind the place where Russel's drums were set up. He let go of her hand an closed the door. "Dressing room…" he muttered. The room was pitch black until he flicked a switch. The walls lit up with a dim, almost invisible, light. He pushed Paula to the back of the wall and put one hand on her shoulder and the other around her thin neck. "Now tell me, what exactly happened?" Paula was paralyzed with fear. She opened her mouth and a dry raspy sound came out.

"I- I didn't do anything" she choked. Her arms were clawing at his hand on her neck.

"Don't worry, I ain't gonna choke you, now stop." Murdoc said, reassuring the girl's safety. "If you didn't do anything, then what happened? Why did you two kiss? Why did he pass out?"

"He asked to kiss me, and I let him. I don't know why he fainted, but I think maybe he was so dehydrated from crying. That was only a hunch." Murdoc let the hnd on her neck drop to her other shoulder. "Why do you even care Murdoc?"

"Why do I care? He is my singer, I don't think that anyone else could pull off his voice. Except maybe Damon……but he doesn't have the, uh, '2D look'. But that's besides the point. I already lost one band member today, I really don't want to lose another." Murdoc looked down. There was more to why he cared. He cared because, honestly, 2D was his only friend. Russel could care less, and Noodle avoided him because of his appearance and reputation. Russel had even dissed him at an interview and 2D had tried to make him feel better, being a friend. (The interview was the Apex Tapes. Here that part is:

Q: Can you explain a bit how the inner band personality dynamics work because some people have got the impression that you hate each other?

Russel: We all love each other, except Murdoc who hates us all, and himself equally.

Murdoc: Yea, yea. Exactly, that would be true, and uh, what's yer point, what's your point?

2D: Well, I love ya Murdoc!

Murdoc: Look, I won't say it again! I saved your life, you owe me your soul man!

2D: Okay!

Murdoc: Oh, nice one!

And back to my pathetic excuse for a story…) Murdoc raised his head. "Don't you dare tell anyone what I'm about to tell you, or I'll have a nice little voodoo doll with your name on it, get it?" Paula nodded her head. "2D has been like a brother to me, and I've been a cruel mean older brother to him. I'm really sorry for how I treat him, but I 'ave to live up to my rep, see what I'm saying? That's why I care. Not because he's my fledging lead singer, but because he's my brother. Now keep quite or you will feel the pain that is voodoo." Murdoc took his hands off of her shoulder with one quick action. He turned off the lights and opened the door. "After you," He said, gesturing for her to go back out.

Paula ran back to 2D with a glass of water and piece of cloth that would be used to clean his hand. She took his hand and wiped the dry blood off. When she wiped it, the stinging had apparently revived 2D. She lifted him up so he was sitting up, and poured some of the cool clean liquid down his dry throat. He swallowed and moaned for more. Paula obliged and tipped the glass forward into his mouth. 2D slowly raised his weak hand up and wrapped his trembling fingers around the glass. He took it and poured the whole glass in, some of its contents dribbling down the side of his cheek. He finished it off with a deep breath and said, "Hey Paula, when'd you get here?"

After a few minutes of 2D waking up and Paula stroking his hair, the crowd began to ask for more music, as if they hadn't had enough already, what with the episode of 2D and Paula's! 2D stood up, wobbling, and reached down to help the frail girl, Paula. She, too, stood up wobbling.

"Hey, love, wanna do guitar for a song, you know, for old time's sake?" 2D asked.

"Really?" She squealed. 2D nodded. Paula hugged him and ran over to a corner. For some odd reason, she had brought her guitar with her to the party. "What song?" she asked, putting the shoulder strap, for her guitar, on.

"Let me have a think…" 2D said, while massaging his cloth covered wrist and hand. "How 'bout, So Lost?" he proposed.

"But we never finished that one" Paula argued.

"That's the point."

"We need a piano!"

"You know I always have a portable keyboard handy in me pocket." 2D said with that toothless grin he was famous for. He reached into his right pocket and pulled out a blue portable keyboard. "I also have a set song. Just press one button, and we have a recording playing!" he pressed that button and a beautiful intro.

"I'm not sure I remember it." Paula said. She had begun strumming what she could remember her chords to be.

2D: I open my empty eyes, trying to find your face

Paula: Uh…I see your blurry eyes, looking all over the place.

2D: Don't need someone to say…

Both: You can make it on your own, I need you to find my way

Without you could not find the way, I've been so lost in here and, I need somewhere to stay, can I call your heart home?

"2D, I don't know the rest!" Paula whispered.

"Neither do I!" 2D smiled. He stopped the portable keyboard and smiled. Paula giggled and put the guitar down. He replaced the blue device in his pocket and walked over to Paula. "Come here." He said, grabbing her hand. They walked over to the window and looked out.

"Not to seem stupid, but what are we looking at?" Paula asked, looking completely lost. 2D pointed to a cliff a few miles out. Paula looked and remembered what had happened when he was singing.

"Nodamnway" 2D said, dropping Paula's hand. Cupping his hands around the window, he looked out.

A/N: CLIFF HANGER! Yay! I cut my middle finger today, not fun. It was an accident, I'm not some sort of masochist maniac here! Really! Guess what happened? Well if you guess right, I'll give you a cookie : ) I wrote the song, but couldn't come up with the rest, so they just conveniently "forgot". lol THANKYOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS! If any ofyou like Harry Potter, readA Forbidden Love, suspenseful too,I also could use a spotof inspiration, go to my profile, read that too, it will have you laughing, and you can read Strawberry's.Well, my sushi is getting warm, oh you all get free chopsticks if you review! BYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEE…..(jumps out of feel good inc to get inspired, but only finds a Winnebago, Murdoc's…ewww...but then, Noodle Flys bye on the island and i jump on, then we eat sushi, then we..-mouth is covered bybestfriend Strwberry Flames-Strawberry Flames: sorry, had to muffle her before you all were stuck here for eternity, now go! go and review!)give me more and I will update sooner: )