Please read authors note at the end of this chapter!
"What? Why?" Randy asked urgently.
"She's got kidney failure - her kidney isn't filtering effectively enough. She's on dialysis at the minute and the only hope for her to live is for a transplant." Roxy said, her voice visibly cracked.
"Kidney?" Randy asked in confusion.
"She was only born with one..."
"I'm sorry." was all Randy could think of to say. What could he possibly say to make everything right?
"I need to get over to England as soon as possible."
"I understand. Do you want me to come with you?" Randy questioned, hugging Roxy tightly.
"I really don't know if Vince will let us both have time off."
"Why don't you start packing your stuff and I'll give Vince a call. If we get a flight tonight, we can get one on Sunday to get back over to the states for Raw. It's worth a try..."
"Try, please, I need to get over there..." Roxy said, disappearing upstairs.
Randy dialled Vince's mobile number. He knew that Ice meant a lot to Roxy and that she needed to be with her friend at this terrible time. Eventually, he managed to get Vince.
"Hello?"
"Hi Vince, it's Randy."
"Ah, Master Orton, what is it?" Vince said almost in a Fatherly way.
"I know it is really short notice, and I'm sorry, but please can you excuse me and Roxanna from the week end house shows?"
"Why?"
"Roxy's best friend back in England is desperately ill with kidney failure. It looks like she may be dying. It would mean so much for her if she could get to see her..."
"Say no more, I understand. Yes you both can have the weekend off. Just wondering, will you both be back in America in time for Raw on Monday?"
"I definitely will be. Roxy should be. We plan on getting a flight so we arrive in the UK in the morning and then getting back over here early Monday."
"Ok, well, I hope everything will go alright for you."
"Thanks, bye Vince." Randy said, putting the receiver down. Deep down, Vince wasn't such a mean guy. He was good hearted and did genuinely care about his staff.
Meanwhile, Roxy was in the bedroom flinging anything into her bag that she so desired, without much thought going into it. She hoped that Randy would be able to go with her as a source of comfort but wasn't counting on it.
"Good news - Vince is both letting us go." Randy spoke, entering the room.
"Really? That's excellent!" Roxy exclaimed.
"Do you want me to give the airport and your Mother a ring just to let her know what's happening?"
"Sure, I can get your stuff ready. Book plane tickets back on Sunday as well." Roxy demanded lightly.
"Ok and don't worry, everything will be fine." Randy said, kissing Roxy on the top of her head.
Randy had found Charlotte's number and dialled it quickly.
"Charlotte - just to let you know, Roxy and I are travelling over to England, hopefully tonight. I'll give you a call a bit later to let you know the times. Bye." Randy spoke into the answer phone.
Five hours later, 4.53pm, Randy and Roxy were at the airport, getting ready to board the plane to England. Randy could tell that Roxy was deeply effected by what was going on - she'd hardly spoke the whole time she was in the car with him. Under the circumstances, he knew that he would feel exactly the same way in her position. She needed reassurance yet Randy had no idea in how to offer it to her.
Placing his hand on top of hers during take off, she felt cold. She was looking out of the window, he clenched hand pressed firmly against her lips. She looked at him as he smiled delicately at her. She daren't return the favour - it was no time at all for smiling. Her best friend needed her and she didn't know how to be of any assistance.
"Mum said we can stay at her house in my old room while we are over there." Roxy told.
"That's one thing." Randy reassured.
"God, why did this have to happen?" Roxy yelled as quietly as she could. Randy was glad that she was finally showing some sort of emotion.
"If we knew why this kind of stuff happened, everyone that was once alive but have now deceased would still be alive." Randy answered as logically as he could.
"It's just not fair - her and the band were recording their first album and everything. Now this has to happen..." she wailed, tiny tears tumbled down her reddened cheek from her tired eyes. "I love her."
"I know, I know but you don't know it might work out. We are here to be challenged and pushed to our limits, it's something that is inevitable. We just need to help her through the ordeal."
"It just doesn't seem fair. I know she's no angel, I realise that but it just seems so unjust the way all of this is playing out. She's like the sister I never had. You know, she didn't want me to move back to America, she hated the idea. Her Dad was in a band, not a very well know one. He did get quite a bit of airplay in some of the Southern States of America. She resented America for it. For taking her Daddy away for such long periods of time. Yet, that's how she realised that she wanted to be in a band, so she could desert those who she loved most. Well, that's how she put it."
Randy just sat and listened to all of Roxy's stories of Lily. She had some very fond memories of the metal chick back in England. He was genuinely interested in a lot of the tales that were still fresh within Roxanna's mind.
"Do Lily's parents know that we are going?" Randy asked once Roxy had stopped talking.
"I texted them on the way to the airport - I got their number from Mum earlier."
"Ok." Randy said. It was now 10pm and he felt shattered. "Sorry baby but I really need to sleep. So do you. Try and do so for a little while." Randy yawned.
"I will do - I just wanna go to the bathroom first." Roxy replied, getting up from her seat. Her backside was already nicely numb.
Roxy closed the door to the toilet and leant up against the door for a while. She breathed heavily as she gazed at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were puffy and had lost their usual blue sparkle to them. Traces of mascara smeared them, making her look almost lifeless.
"Please Lord - just make sure my friends alright." she urged, looking up at the cream ceiling for inspiration before heading back to her seat.
Hi guys, I hope you 'enjoyed' that chapter, pretty hard to I know! I realise that this is quite a touchy subject but it doesn't really get to gory or nasty. I will try to be as accurate as I can with all of the medical stuff but please stick with it. I'm sorry if this has hurt or offended anyone, it is not intentional at all. Thank you.
