Chapter 9

Murdoc carried Noodle all the way down to the TV room before dropping her softly on to the sofa. He sat down next to her and smiled. This was a serious matter; he couldn't help but smile when he saw Noodle was OK. Her smile was so infectious. Russel followed them down the stairs and turned left at the bottom.

"I'm gonna go get D. I think he should be a part of this conversation."

Murdoc didn't say anything, he just nodded. Noodle yawned and scratched her head.

"You ant got concussion or owt like that av you love? I don't want you puking all over me and passing out again. I've had enough contact with your bodily fluids the past two months than necessary."

Noodle giggled.

"I'm fine. Well. At least I think I am."

She rubbed her head and stared down at her stomach. It seemed to have gotten larger in the past five minutes.

"I'm getting a headache though."

"I can solve that."

Murdoc and Noodle turned round. Stood in the doorway was 2-D.

He walked slowly over to Noodle and held out his arms. She took hold of them and he pulled her up, been careful to avoid bandaged areas. He guided her over to the other sofa and sat her down. Went into the kitchen and brought back some of his headache tablets. They vanished in seconds. Russel re-appeared, armed with four mugs of frothy hot chocolate and a packet of Jaffas. He sat down in the chair opposite Murdoc and took a sip of one of the hot chocolates.

"So, let's talk."

All three guys turned and looked at Noodle. They were determined to find out what was on her mind. The questioning began.

"Are you on drugs?"

"No."

"Are you having an affair?"

Noodle bent over and started shaking.

"Noodle!?"

"Its alright Muds, she's laughing. Look."

2-D leant over and slowly pulled Noodle back. Her face was bright red and tears were forming in her eyes. She was still shaking.

"Bloody hell girl! You scared me."

"Sorry Murdoc-san. It was just so funny. I'd never leave 2-D, there's no-one who even comes close to compare against him."

She shifted up the sofa and wrapped her arms tight around 2-D's waist. He moved the hair from her face and kissed her softly on the lips.

"Moving on."

The questioning continued.

2-D noticed that Noodle still seemed kind of tense. Whilst she was been interrogated he pulled her up onto his lap. Lifted up her shirt and began rubbing her back. Noodle melted like butter. He continued this most of the questioning. Suddenly her body went limp and she fell forwards. 2-D wrapped his arms round her waist and lowered her slowly to the floor.

"Has she?" Russel sat on the edge of his seat.

2-D put his face to her mouth to see if she was breathing.

"It's alright guys. She's asleep."

The guys all sighed.

"That's a relief."

"So what have we come up with then?" Naturally, 2-D hadn't been listening all the way through and couldn't remember a single thing mentioned.

"We think it's her hormones."

"There's no other explanation for it. She swears she's telling the truth about everything else so we're gonna have to presume that's the answer."

Murdoc was getting quite stressed himself now.

"I'm off to the Winnie. Shout me if anything else happens. OK?"

And with that he stormed out the room.

Russel and 2-D exchanged glances. Since when has Murdoc been so caring? It was kind of freaky. 2-D looked to the floor and realised that Noodle was still there.

"Russ, give us a hand will you."

The two men lifted her up and put her back on the sofa. She groaned slightly and mumbled something in Japanese. She must be dreaming. Russel left the room and went to clean up the kitchen. He figured no-one else would do it so he'd better start now.

2-D perched on the end of the sofa. Noodle looked so innocent when she was asleep. He gently lifted her head and positioned it on his knees. He began singing one of Noodle's favourite songs- Every Planet We Reach Is Dead- and stroking her face with his loving hand.