AN: Hey! So this is part two as promised! Credit to UpdateSoonPlease for giving me the idea for Jenna to collapse! Keep the reviews commin' pretty please! Anyway, I hope you enjoy chapter 40!
Chapter 40
"Jenna! Jenna can you hear me?" My vision came back slowly, and a blurry Ari was lightly slapping me on the cheek.
"W-what happened?" I slurred, bringing my hand to my forehead. My eyes cleared and I also saw one of the costumers standing over me.
"You passed out, sweetie" She said kindly, helping me up. Ari knew exactly why I had fainted without even having to ask.
I was tired, over worked, and I hadn't eaten since the day before.
"Do you want me to call someone to pick you up?" The woman asked, setting me down in a chair next to my bag. I then realized I had almost every girl in the cast surrounding me.
"No, no don't do that. My blood sugar is probably just low. I-I'll go grab something from the concession" I choked out. I dashed out of the dressing room, still dizzy, and Ari chased after.
We remained silent for the walk to the small snack bar.
"Uhm, can I have a diet coke please?" I asked, and received. Ari gave me skeptical glare, but I dismissed it and downed the entire bottle.
"Ah, see, all better!" I said in a cheery tone. I did feel a bit better, but it wasn't enough to overrun the exhaustion I was still feeling.
"I have to go on stage, I'll deal with you later" Ari smirked and hurried on stage, leaving me inside my own head.
During intermission, Matthew, Ari, and I were reunited.
"I must say ValJean, you are absolutely amazing" I grinned as he advanced towards me in the cafeteria, AKA the casts meeting place.
"I can say the same to you. Really though, Jenna, you even had me shedding a few tears every time you showed up on stage" Matthew mentioned, making my stomach flip.
"You're much too kind M'sieur" I replied, smirking.
Ari arrived a few moments later.
"I trust you blew it out of the park?" I grinned once again.
"Of course I did! Well, minus the fact that the sleeve to my dress nearly got ripped off" She responded, each of us chuckling.
"We're a mess" Matthew chuckled, receiving a laugh from Ari and me.
"Tell me about it. First Jenna passes out, then my sleeve shreds, now we're waiting on you ValJean" Ari laughed, and did Matthew and I, for a moment at least.
"Wait, when the hell did you pass out?" Matthew asked, both shocked and concerned. Before I could answer, Mrs. Bates gathered up the cast for another speech.
We were soon dismissed, but Matthew didn't have time for conversation before he went on stage.
"Break a leg" I cheered him on as he dashed down the hallway.
I had practically the entire second act to recuperate from my 'black out', and to trap myself inside of my head. Matthew came and went, and so did Ari, only leaving time for small chatter. I watched the clock tick, and felt my body grow weary.
Finally, I was summoned for the Epilogue.
Blackout
I stood in the shadows downstage, just out of the spotlight on a dying ValJean in the convent.
"...Take me now, take me there, Bring me home, bring me home"
The stage lights gradually rose and I appeared next to ValJean, my body language reflecting the peace death had provided me with.
"Monsieur, I bless your name"
"I am ready Fantine" ValJean sighed.
"Monsieur, lay down your burden"
"At the end of my days"
"You raised my child in love"
"She's the best of my life"
"And you will be with God" I sang lightly, encouraging ValJean to let go, that he was safe.
Cosette and Marius entered frantically, and I faded back into the darkness and a spotlight covered the three actors.
"Papa, Papa, I do not understand, are you alright? They said you'd gone away" Cosette kneeled down to his side. I stood there, frozen, admiring their emotion. I could hear sniffles in the crowd.
"On this page, I write my last confession. Read it well when I at last am sleeping. It's the story of those who always loved you, Your mother gave her life for you, Then gave you to my keeping" ValJean sang weakly, I appeared once again.
"Come with me, where chains will never bind you. All your grief, at last, at last behind you. Lord in Heaven, look down on him in mercy" My serene voice calmed ValJean. As I sang, the more I understood why people weren't afraid of death.
"Forgive me all my trespasses and take me to your glory"
"Take my hand, I'll lead you to salvation, take my love, for love is everlasting" I reached my still hand out to ValJean, welcoming him to death.
The voices Marius, Cosette, ValJean, and Eponine joined in smoothly.
"And remember the truth that once was spoken: To love another person is to see the face of God" We sang in unison.
There was a blackout on stage and the ensemble entered through the slightly lit isles as we took our final places.
"Do you hear the people sing? Lost in the valley of the night. It is the music of the people who are climbing to the light" They sang in a ghostly tone.
Slowly, they made their way up the isles and onto the dark stage.
"For the wretched of the earth there is a flame that never dies, Even the darkest night will end
and the sun will rise. They will live again in freedom in the garden of the Lord. They will walk behind the plough-share, they will put away the sword. The chain will be broken and all men will have their reward!"
Light up
There I stood at the edge of the stage just above the pit with Eponine, Gavroche, Monsieur Thénardier, Madame Thénardier, Marius, Enjorlas, Cosette, ValJean, and Javert.
We all joined in, singing:
"Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me? Somewhere beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see? Do you hear the people sing? Say, do you hear the distant drums? It is the future that they bring when tomorrow comes!"
The ten of us leads split into five and five and stretched onto the thrust of the stage, taking our strides in character as the ensemble recited choreography.
"Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me? Somewhere beyond the barricade
is there a world you long to see? Do you hear the people sing? Say, do you hear the distant drums? It is the future that they bring when tomorrow comes!"
A majority of the audience had tears in their eyes, including many of the cast members. We all took a deep breath, and let out our last words.
"Tomorrow, comes!" all 54 of us held onto the final note for dear life, but eventually cut off. We stood in our ending poses as the crowd roared with applause, soon turning into a standing ovation.
Black out
We sprinted off stage and ran behind the curtain for bows. The moment Matthew, Ari, and I could make out each other's faces, we collided and clung to one another in a massive hug.
"We did it!" Ari whispered, all of us nodding.
We watched as the ensemble bowed, then the dancers, then the sailors, progressing to the principle roles.
The Bishop glided out humbly, taking his bow then retreating downstage. The Thenardier's walked on from stage left and right, stealing items off of the ensemble, bowing then taking their place next to the bishop. Enjorlas and Gavroche marched on, bowing and then residing next to the Thenardier's. Eponine then dragged herself from stage left, curtseying then taking her place next to Gavroche.
Then, it was my turn.
I drifted from stage right with a blissful smile, carrying myself with as much grace as possible. I heard each member of the team the team shouting and hooting, and then some voices I didn't recognize. I took my bow, and slid next to Eponine.
Cosette ran from stage right to meet Marius, who ran from stage left, center stage and bowed, then Marius swept her off of her feet and carried her next to me.
Jean ValJean entered from stage right, and Javert entered from stage left, the two of them meeting center stage with swords and having a short duel. The crowd went wild as they bowed, as expected.
The entire cast then came together and took a final bow, receiving an incredibly extensive and thunderous applause. We soon backed up and the curtain closed, marking the end of opening night.
"One show down, two to go!" I shouted with my arms linked to both Matthew and Ari's.
The cast swiftly got changed, and flooded out into the lobby to find our families. It took a lot of pushing and shoving, but I spotted the entire team due to Garcia's sparkly blue headband.
"Guys!" I shouted to get their attention, and when I did, they ambushed me.
"Oh my gosh my Munchkin! You were incredible! No- you were better than incredible! You were- I can't even find the words!" Garcia gushed, crushing me into a hug.
"You were outstanding, you even had the men in a puddle of tears" JJ complimented, embracing me as well.
"Hey I had something in my eye!" Derek defended. "But really Mini- Reid, how did a voice like that come out of such a tiny little person?" He added, showing his pearly whites.
"You had me blubbering like a baby, and I have some pretty tough skin" Emily cut in, rubbing her nose with a tissue.
"You were amazing, Jenna. You really did Fantine justice" Rossi kissed me atop the head, as he always did.
"Jenna, you blew me away. Congratulations, you have wonderful gift" Hotch pulled me into a quick embrace then let go.
Spencer had remained silent, to my dismay.
"Thank you all so much for coming, really, it means a lot. We should get going Spenc, I'm beat and I have another show tomorrow" I announced, desperate for some form of rest. We all parted ways in the parking lot, leaving me alone with Spencer.
Just before we entered the car, Spencer pulled me into a tight hold. I was startled at first, but soon relaxed.
"I'm really proud of you, Jenna. You honestly were astonishing" He said into my massive bundle of hair.
"Thanks Spenc, it means a lot" I replied, feeling a bit teary eyed. We remained in that position for a solid forty five seconds, then I pulled away because it got uncomfortable.
My head hit the pillow that night with a collection of conflicting emotions. Some of which I wasn't even sure how to distinguish.