Chapter 8

Murdoc stared in disbelief at the bloody, lifeless figure that lay before him. Why had she done this? Murdoc thought back over the previous two months and couldn't think of anything that would make her do something so extreme. She'd always seemed so happy.

He snapped quickly back to reality, his guitarist was laying face first in a pool of her own blood and he was just sat, staring at her. He needed to act fast, she was losing a lot of blood, and there was the baby too. She would be heartbroken if it was to die. He leapt up and began rummaging through the kitchen cupboards. He pulled out several towels and threw them on the floor. He knelt down beside her and gently rolled her over. Her eyes were open, glaring fiercely into space.

"LARDS! I need help in here!" his voice was harsh and abrupt.

"RUSS! Noodle needs you!"

Russel came bounding down the corridor and stopped at the door. His mouth wide open.

"What the?"

"No time to explain, just get your fat arse over here and help me."

Russel knelt next to Noodle's limp body and listened for further instructions.

Murdoc slid his arms round Noodle's back and slowly pulled her up into the sitting position.

"Hold her still, in need to bandage her wounds."

Russel shuffled forwards and supported Noodle's upper body against his stomach. He brushed the hair out of her eyes and recoiled in shock at what he saw. Her eyes were wide open, blood streaked across her pale face. Murdoc began tearing the towels into strips. He turned over Noodle's right arm and began to apply the makeshift bandages. Russel was silent. He couldn't believe his eyes. He blinked hard and looked at her other arm. There were no gashes, but streaks of crimson blood. Etched into the centre of her hand was an N. Russel looked away. He couldn't stand blood.

"Almost done."

Murdoc secured the bandages on her right arm and turned his attention to her hand. He took a long thin strip of towel and began wrapping it round her hand, above her thumb. He covered the wound and tied all her fingers together at the top.

"Bloody hell Russ." Murdoc sighed and threw the rest of the bandages across the room.

"What the hell does she think she's doing? I heard her scream so I came up from the Winnie to see what was up with her. When I got here she was sat on the stool over there, shaking and holding the butcher knife."

"I don't know what's wrong with her Muds, but she was really tense. I asked her what was wrong and she lashed out at me. Smashed a plate on the floor and stood there fuming. I left her to cool down coz I don't like it when she's in a mood. It's kind of scary."

Murdoc looked at Russel.

"She's scaring both of us."

They sat there for a while. Looking at each other and talking about Noodle. They didn't know what was wrong with her. It was so un-natural. Some time shortly after the pair sat in stony silence, Noodle's hand twitched.

"Did you see that?"

"Yeh."

Russel put his hand in Noodles and jumped when her hand closed tight around it.

"Noods?"

Her eyes were still open and apart from closing her hand she was still lifeless. Murdoc put his hand to her head, she was freezing. He took off his jacket and passed it to Russel. He lifted her upper body and wrapped the jacket round her bony frame. Russel wrapped his arms round her, hugging her close. She was really starting to scare him.

Her body tensed. Russel pulled away from her fast.

"Noods can you hear me?"

A small sob, followed by low groaning came from the figure in his arms.

"I hear you Russel-san."

Her head was hanging down and she wouldn't look up. She let out a ragged sigh and brought up her hand to rub her head. She must have banged it when she fell off the stool. She stopped before her hand reached her head. She shrieked and fell back, landing in Murdoc's arms.

"What have I done to myself?"

She stuttered through tears. Staring at the bloody bandages that were wrapped all the way up her arm and over her hand.

"I've got no idea Noodle but you nearly killed yourself."

Murdoc turned her round so they were face to face. His expression a cross of serious and lost.

"You, Russ and I have got a lot of talking to do."

He looked as though he was about to cry.

"We need to know what's bothering you love, it can't be as bad as this." He stoked her arm in gesture.

"You've got too much to live for and we've got to sort you out now."

Noodle was still crying. She knew he was right, but she couldn't tell him what was really on her mind. It was probably too late now anyway, they could have left the country.

"Come here."

Murdoc pulled Noodle up into his lap and hugged her close. He could smell the dry blood in her hair.

"I love you too much to lose you like that."

Noodle's shirt had risen up over her bump and her stomach was sticking out. She winced; it was starting to feel uncomfortable. Murdoc stroked her stomach.

"Everyone alright in there?"

Noodle giggled.

"We're fine now."

"Come on, let's get out of here."

Murdoc stood up. Stretched himself out and helped Noodle to her feet.

"Want a lift?"

Before she had time to answer he'd already lifted her up off the floor and draped her over his shoulders.

"I know the perfect cure for something like this. TV."

He marched out the kitchen with Noodle on his shoulders and headed for the TV room.