Crash and Burn

AUTHOR: Piper Fox
DISCLAIMER: See part one; My first song ficfeaturing Savage Garden's song Crash and Burn.

When you feel all alone
And the world has turned it's back on you
Give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart
I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you
It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold
When darkness is upon your door and you feel like you can't take it anymore

(Sept): Later that night . . .

"Luce, we need to talk," Carter said, as he knocked on the door of her bedroom.

"Come in," she said, as he entered and sat next to her on the bed. "What's this about?"

"Your dreams."

"Look, I've told you I'm not going back to the psychiatrist," she snapped.

"What if I come with you?"

"I'm fine." Lucy had a bemused look on her face.

"I don't think you are," he said quietly.

"No, you're wrong Carter . . . just drop it okay. Sure, I miss my mom, but I'm fine really." She threw her hands up in disgust and fled from the room. Carter sat there in silence. 'What am I going to do?' He didn't want to push her too hard, but what else could he do. It was obvious to him that things weren't just going to blow over. A loud crash sounded from somewhere in the apartment.

Let me be the one you call
If you jump I'll break your fall
Lift you up and fly away with you into the night
If you need to fall apart
I can mend a broken heart
If you need to crash then crash and burn
You're not alone

"Lucy?" he said, getting up. "Are you okay?" There was no answer. Quickly he ran into the kitchen. Lucy was kneeling on the floor surrounded by broken glass, her hands covered in dark blood.

"Luce!" he cried out to her, but she remained still as a statue. Carter himself felt frozen in time. Then, as if she was in slow motion, Lucy lifted her head to reveal eyes glistening with tears.

"I . . . dropped a glass." She sobbed, slowly rising to he feet and staring at her hands, as if only just realising they were cut. "So much blood, why did he do this to me?" she whispered.

Carter stepped towards her. "It's all right, just calm down". She had only cut one hand, but it was a deep wound. He dressed it expertly, and then laid her down on her bed. He stayed beside her until she drifted off to sleep. 'She's in a bad way, you have to do something,' he thought. She woke some two hours later, after another nightmare.

Lucy's heart was pounding in her chest. She was terrified.

"What is it Lucy?"

"I remember it, Carter . . . I remember it all." She started to cry, big tears rolling down her cheeks.

"You can tell me." Carter encouraged her to let it out.

"He came at me with a knife and I pleaded . . . I really pleaded with him to stop, but he kept coming and I couldn't stop him, couldn't get away. He just grabbed me with such force and thrust the knife at me again and again . . . I never thought he would stop and I was so afraid, I thought I was going to die." She stopped realising that Carter was crying as much as she was. They embraced, neither wanting to let the other go. They stayed that way for what seemed like an eternity.

When you feel all alone
And a loyal friend is hard to find
You're caught in a one way street
With the monsters in your head
When hopes and dreams are far away and
You feel like you can't face the day

Lucy stirred in the early hours of the next morning. Unable to sleep, for fear of what would happen if she did, she stayed awake. In the half-light she watched Carter. His lean body was sprawled over her bed in, what Lucy deemed, should have been an uncomfortable position. He slept soundlessly. Lucy reflected on the changing face of their unusual relationship. From doctor and med-student to enemies, to brief lovers, to distant workmates, and now to best friends. After the past few months with Carter, romantic thoughts no longer lingered on in her mind. Even after their kiss earlier, she just didn't feel that way. Now that they were friends it was how they were meant to be together. Just friends and she could now accept that without another thought. 'He's a wonderful man . . . insecure, but compassionate. I can see why I fell for him.' She could see what was happening, though. In spite of their strengthen relationship, she was beginning to push him away with her persistent problems. 'Sure, he feels guilty . . . but he shouldn't. I should. He should have a normal life, but instead, I've became a burden to him.' "Damn it" she swore. 'I have to put this all behind me.'

Because there has always been heartache and pain
And when it's over you'll breathe again
You'll breathe again.