Peter heard a faint beeping sound fill his ears in the darkness he saw. Where was he and what happened? It was all a blur. His feeling slowly came back and he felt a soft, warm something around him. A bed? That's what it felt like. There was a dull pain in his right shoulder too…he tried to remember what happened, but he was much too tired. Finally, his eyes fluttered open and he saw that he was indeed in a bed. The room was not very familiar…uhg, there was that God-awful beeping sound! His vision corrected more and he saw that he was indeed in a hospital. But why? He tried to move his right arm and when the pain came, he remembered; he was shot by that psychopath Jane. He shifted to the side, and that was when he saw Cara sitting bedside, her eyes red and twiddling her thumbs nervously.
"Peter!" she called softly when she saw him turn over with his eyes open. She came towards him and hugged him gently, careful not to irritate his injury. Her face felt wet—she had been crying. "Are you alright?"
"A little sore," said Peter. "But I'll live. Is the bullet out?"
"Yeah," said Cara. "Oh God Peter, why the hell did you do that? You could've died!"
"What? You dying is better than me dying?" said Peter. "It just happened, like when you saved Mickey from drowning. Except he ended up in the hospital and not you…but same thing. I didn't want her to get you."
"Well…" said Cara. "I guess I should thank you. Obviously no one's dead and we're all still here."
"I just can't believe it's come to this," said Peter. "Jane, of all people…I mean, I know she's crazy, but still."
"I know," said Cara. "Get some rest. The operation's done, but they're still drugging you up with morphine. We'll be able to go in a few hours."
"Is everyone else outside?" asked Peter, his voice weaker. The morphine was definitely taking effect.
"Yeah, everyone," said Cara. "I'm gonna go outside and tell everyone that you're okay, alright?" She tried to stop her voice from shaking, but it was very hard to do. Why did she have to put all her friends in danger like that?
"Yeah," said Peter, trying to keep himself from falling asleep before Cara left. "Go do that."
"Just let the morphine work," said Cara. "If it's making you sleepy, just sleep, it's not good to fight it." Peter nodded weakly. Right before Peter let the medicine engulf him, Cara went up to him and gave him a kiss on the forehead and walked out of the room. Despite all of the soreness and fatigue, Peter fell asleep smiling.
"He'll be okay," said Cara as she walked into the waiting room where Davy, Mickey, Mike, and Abigail were sitting in suspense.
"It didn't hit anything…bad?" asked Mickey, whose hair was a little frizzier than usual; he must've been raking his fingers through it anxiously.
"No," said Cara. "Just the muscle in his shoulder…didn't go in terribly deep, so you don't have to worry about his bass playing. I hate to say it, but we got lucky…in this case."
"I can't believe he took that bullet for you," said Mike.
"Well I do," said Davy. "Guy's crazy about Cara, he'd rather get all maimed up than see her die."
"Crazy about me or not, I wish he didn't," said Cara. "That was such a stupid thing to do…" She stopped and looked dreamily up at the ceiling. "So stupid…"
"Oh, you know you liked it," said Davy. "So we've got a few hours you said?"
"Yeah," said Cara.
"This whole thing…" said Abigail. "I can't believe it's blown up to this degree."
"Don't worry about it Abigail," said Mike. "You're with The Monkees—we deal with this kind of shit all the time."
Jane felt she was in a state of shock as she drove back to Jeff's house. How could she have shot Peter? She loved him! Was he hurt? Had she killed him? Her mind frantically searched all the possibilities that could have happened. What had she gotten herself into? She couldn't believe that he dove in front of Cara like that…was it possible that he really did love her? Jane tried to regain her composure as she got out in front of Jeff's door and knocked. He answered almost right away. "Did you find the car?" he asked.
"Yeah," said Jane. What would she say to him?
"And?" asked Jeff. "Did you use the gun?"
"Yeah," said Jane. Oh…it was coming…
"Well?" said Jeff. "What happened? Did you get Cara?"
"Peter…jumped in front of her," said Jane. "He took the bullet and got hurt, Cara wasn't harmed."
"Why didn't you get Cara while there was all that commotion?" asked Jeff, about to blow his top. "That would've been perfect."
"I…ran," whispered Jane, not her usual self. "I got scared…I'd never shot anyone before, and—"
"And it just happened to be your loverboy Peter, didn't it?" said Jeff, his voice rising. "I guess I just found your weakness! Same one as Cara's too, how pathetic."
"Don't you say that," growled Jane. "I'm starting to see why Cara ran away! You're cruel, heartless, just terrible!"
"You think I care what you think of me!" Jeff boomed. "Well, let me tell you, all I care about is your sorry ass getting Cara here and I don't care what kind of shape either of you end up in when that happens!"
"Peter loves her you know!" Jane found herself blurting out. "And let me tell you, she loved him too and he'd be a hell of a lot better for her than you!"
"Oh, but I thought the whole reason of you helping me was to get back at Cara for taking Peter from you!" said Jeff. "Why this change of heart all of the sudden, please tell me?"
"You have to really love someone to take a bullet for them," said Jane. "I may like Peter a lot, but I'd never take a bullet for him. Why would I separate two people who feel that way about each other? You don't love Cara at all, and we both know that. And I care enough about Peter to not screw him over and take the woman he loves away from him."
"You're so pathetic," hissed Jeff. "Now Jane, you're gonna tell me that address of the house that bitch is hiding away and then you're gonna get the hell outta here, got it?"
"I'm not telling you," said Jane through gritted teeth. "Not on my life."
"Say that again," said Jeff. He lunged forward and in the blink of an eye he had his huge hand wrapped around Jane's neck. She gasped for breath and clawed at his hand with her small fingers, but to no avail. "Now…tell me where she is."
Jane tried to keep quiet, but if she didn't say anything, Jeff would surely kill her. Her vision went in and out of focus and her breaths got short and shallow. She needed to talk…she'd die if she didn't. Reluctantly, she gave the street names where Cara was staying at. Jeff looked into her eyes to catch her possible bluff, but when he saw truth, however reluctant it was, he let go of her neck and sent her flying into the wall.
"Good," said Jeff. "You've been a help Jane, thank you."
"Go to hell," Jane sputtered, gasping for breath, angry tears pouring out of her eyes.
"I plan to," said Jeff. He nudged Jane out of the door. "I'm going to need to get a few things before I take care of business…you know, you're still welcome to come along if you wish, but judging from your current state of mind…I'd say you don't want to come."
"Damn right," spat Jane.
"Too bad," said Jeff. "You'd be missing out on all the action…of well. Goodbye Jane." He closed the door, leaving Jane out crumpled on his doorstep, still trying to catch her breath. Her neck was sore and possibly bruised. Why had she wanted to help this guy? He was horrible. Poor Cara! Oh no…Jeff knew where she was staying now! She had to warn everybody! Forgetting about her neck, she shot up and rocketed to her car. She was putting all animosity aside for this one; she couldn't let Cara or any of her friends get caught by that monster.
Cara helped Peter through the door to the apartment. Although he could walk fine, she still felt horrible about what happened and felt like she had to give him something back. "Okay, we're almost here…" she said.
"Cara," laughed Peter. "I can walk, you really don't have to do this."
"Okay," said Cara, letting Peter's arm go. "It's just…can I do anything for you? I feel like it was me who hurt you."
"Please," said Peter. "It was Jane, not you."
"Calm down lovebirds," said Mike. "Kiss and make up."
"Mike!" said Cara and Peter in unison.
"My point exactly," said Mike, pointing a finger. Peter and Cara blushed and walked in separate directions.
"Well, glad all that drama's done for now," said Davy. "Now for what's next…" Almost on cue, there was loud banging on the door with shouts of "Open up!"
"Well, there's what's next Davy," said Mickey.
"Lemme see what it is," said Davy, walking over to the door. He tried to look through the peephole. "I can't see anything!"
"That's cause you're too short for the peephole Davy," said Mike. "Let me do it." He walked over, shoved Davy out of the way and looked out himself. "Oh, you've gotta be kidding me…"
"What is it?" asked Abigail.
"See for yourself," said Mike, opening up the door. There stood Jane.
"Bitch!" screamed Cara, springing up and running at Jane.
"No, Cara, it's not what you think!" cried Jane as Cara tried to throttle her.
"Not what I think? Not what I think?" screeched Cara. "You tried to kill me, and almost killed Peter! What else could you possibly want?"
"I came to warn you about Jeff!" said Jane. "Look, you've probably realized this already, but you're in danger."
"No shit!" said Cara. "You try to chase us down in a car and you shot Peter in the freaking shoulder!"
"Jeff is on his way to this apartment right now and if you don't listen to me and leave now, he's gonna catch you!" said Jane. "You're gonna have to trust me."
"How can we trust you? Asked Cara.
"You just have to, okay?" said Jane.
"Hold on Cara," said Peter, climbing out from behind the couch he dove behind when he saw Jane. "Jane, what's that on your neck?"
Jane touched her neck, and the others looked. There was a ring of fresh, purple bruises around it, like a collar.
"Did he…choke you?" asked Cara softly.
"Yeah," said Jane. "I saw the horrible person in him when I told him I didn't catch you today, and he forced your location out of me. He's probably on his way, please, listen to me and get yourselves out of here."
"How do we know you're not trying to save yourself?" asked Cara.
"I'm not," said Jane. "I'm begging you, get yourselves to a hotel far away from here, the other side of town, something."
"Cara, I think we can trust her," said Mike.
"You're right," said Cara. "We really have no choice anyway."
"Cara, everyone, I'm so sorry about all of this," sobbed Jane. "It was so stupid of me…"
"You're okay Jane," said Peter.
"But I fucking shot you!" said Jane. "If you didn't like me before you surely don't like me now."
"Jane, just because I didn't return your feelings didn't mean I didn't like you at all," said Peter. "I just didn't like how you acted to Cara. And you're being honest with everyone right now; I think you earned a little of everyone's respect, right guys?"
"Yeah," everyone muttered, surprised by Peter's mature statement.
Okay," sniffed Jane. "Get your stuff and get out of here now."
"Roger that," said Mickey. "How are we gonna have room?"
"You can use my car," said Jane. "Abigail, do you have your car?"
"No, it's back at my house…where Jeff may or may not be," said Abigail.
"Okay," said Jane.
"And we have a secret compartment in our car, so don't you fret," said Mike.
"Okay," said Jane. "I'll help." With that, and the help of seven people and two cars, The Monkees, Cara, and Abigail were packed and ready to hit the road and drove out into the night, wherever they were headed to.
"Can any of us afford a hotel room for an extended amount of time, by the way?" asked Mike.
"I can!" said Abigail. "My models' salary, gotcha covered."
"May be out only hope," said Davy. "You're with us then, love?"
"Of course," huffed Abigail. "I'm not staying with that barbaric brother of mine, no way no how."
"That's understandable," said Mike, looking in the rearview mirror to make sure Jane was still behind them with the rest of their stuff. Sure enough, she was tagging behind them just as she was earlier that day, except not speeding and no gun. "Ya know, I really think she's legit guys."
"As much as it leaves a bad taste in my mouth, you may be right," said Cara. "I know what Jeff does to people…"
"All of us are slowly and surely learning," said Abigail. "I think getting away will stall him some."
"You think he'll get her in the end?" asked Mickey.
Abigail shrugged. "I don't know. He's certainly almost done it quite a few times."
Peter gripped Cara's hand next to him. Cara gripped back; she was just as scared as anyone else. She had run away to the guys to hide, and now the place she had gone to hide was being forced into hiding itself. She was so tired of hiding. She hoped that Jeff would get what he deserved, whether it meant facing him one day or not.
Jeff drove down to the address Jane had given him. That sniveling, weak, pathetic girl. How would he have ever thought that she'd be an asset to his search? She seemed smart and crafty at first, but, once again, love weakened the psyche of the strong. Oh well, he got what he needed from her and that was that. He smiled contentedly as he made his way into the apartment complex.
When he got to the apartment that Jane had told him, there was no car parked out front. They may have still been in the hospital, visiting that loser who Jane shot instead of the main prize. Or they just had one car…maybe one of them could be out and the others were still inside…no matter…he checked the door; it was locked. It didn't stop him from beating it down with brute force—that was the easy part.
The door was open and the lights were all off. He walked inside. This was it…he was gonna get that bitch if it killed him. He stormed the whole house, every room, tore apart every piece of furniture, overturned tables, and found nothing. He searched through drawers and cabinets and saw they were all empty…nothing…there was only one thing…
Jane had warned them…the ran off…
Oh, he was going to find them now…his sister, the boys, Cara…and Jane…he had a special place in hell for her alright. He picked up a spare drumstick and split it in two. This was getting to be a stupid game.