Welcome To Rockwell

Mike flipped Andy off as he continued to make kissy faces, causing the others to burst into laughter
"Give it a rest guys" Mike moaned throwing himself down on the hotel bed with a frown
"Well you asked for it, seriously the poor girl misses one phone call and you fall apart, I mean your seeing her tomorrow for gods sake."
"Somethings not right, I can feel it" Mike murmered sitting down and staring at his mobile phone
"Don't be so dramatic Mike." Lacu laughed
"You really do have it bad don't you" Andy said
"Yeah I guess I do" Mike beamed, thinking of the beautiful woman, she should be heading to the airport in the next few hours, a few hours after that and they would be together, they had arranged it so they had a few days off in his home town, the plan had been to show her round and introduce her to people, but in all honesty he doubted they see the outside of his bedroom much.
Lacu's phone went off and he slid out of the room with a smile
"Guess that's Elia again, he's almost as bad as you" Andy smirked lighting up a cigerette and slouching down on the sofa
Lacu came back into the room, he was deathly white and looked shaken.
"Whats wrong?" Andy asked jumping to his feet and rushing to his friends side.Lacu looked at Mike and sighed
"We have to get you to Rockwell Mike, as soon as possible"
"What happened to her?" Mike asked feeling his world begin to spin
"I don't know exactly, Elia went round this morning to see if she needed help packing and found her, she's in a coma, they think she'll wake up soon, but she was badly beaten and..." Lacu scratched his head and looked at the floor
"And what?" Mike whispered not wanting to know the answer
"She was raped"
Mike felt sick, "Why would anyone do that? Who would do that?"
"Elia thinks it was Dave, but the police can't find him" Lacu explained
"I'll fucking kill him" Mike snarled jumping up off the bed and began pacing around the room swearing
Lacu reached out for Mike "Come I'll drive you to the airport"
"And I'll phone around and cancel the gigs" Andy said
"But the fans..."
"Willl completely understand that you need to be with your girlfriend to help her through this" Andy countered heading for the bedside table and pulling out Mike's passport and wallet, Lacu took the hint and began stuffing Mike's bare essentials into a small battered bag.
"I'll come with you, you'll need someone to support you" Lacu said throwing the bag at Mike and heading to his side of the room and gathering his own possesions.
Mike watched his friends flying round the room gathering bits and bobs together and he felt tears pour down his face, "thankyou" he whispered through sobs, Andy pulled his old friend into a hug
"I'll come over as soon as I have sorted everything at this end"
Mike allowed himself to be guided out of the hotel and into Lacu's rental car, he looked at the scenery with a sneer, it was a beautiful sunny day and he felt as it he was being mocked. He looked down at his hands and wondered why the only feeling he could muster was anger, shouldn't he be feeling bad for Ria, concerned for her, yet all he could think of was choking the life out of Dave. When had he turned into such a caveman? He felt Lacu's hand on his shoulder and he realised that they were at the airport.

*
Ria heard someone talking and forced herself to open her eyes, bright white light assualted her mind and she screwed her eyes closed again with a whimper.
"Come on now honey open your eyes again please" a slight mousey blonde nurse cajolled quietly
Ria did as she was told, once she had adjusted to the light she looked at the woman who was smiling warmly at her
"Well it's about time, here have some ice chips, they'll soothe your throat"
Ria gratefully opened her mouth and savoured the sensation of the cold liquid rehydrating her bone dry tongue.
"There thats better, my names Meagan, Miss Aset...Aarseth...Aaseh, urm how do you pronounce your name?" the nurse asked
"Call me Ria it's easier"
Ria looked at the slim woman she had an almost boyish figure and her hair was scraped back in a very messy plait, she had a friendly face and relaxing smile and Ria liked her, but that probably had something to do with the fact that the young woman was wearing black trousers under her nurses dress she had a heartagram ring, and sticking out of her pocket was a pen with a gothed up barbie head impaled on the end, and setting off the style perfectly a pair of New Rocks, it was a unique look and it made Ria smile or at least try to.
"Shit" Ria cursed as pain shot through her face.
"Steady, you lost a tooth and your jaw is badly bruised"
Ria's eyes welled up as it finally clicked in her head as to why she was here, she looked down at her arms and scowled at the black bruises covering them.
"What else did he do?" she whispered
Meagan sat down, the smile disappearing from her face
"What do you remember?"
"I know he raped me" Ria whispered
Meagan nodded
"You have two broken ribs, and severe bruising to the torso and neck, you also took a good bang to the head."
"And." Ria prompted
"There's a deep bite mark on your left inner thigh, and one on your neck, you were torn internally"
Ria nodded unsure how to react, she opened her mouth to say something but was stopped by loud yelling from outside, Meagan slid out of the room and into the hall, Ria smirked as she heard the young nurse giving the whoever it was a lecture on correct hospital behaviour. When she had finished she stuck her head around the door
"Theres a Mr Monroe out here and he would very much like to see you"
"I don't... I don't know"
"He looks exhausted Ria, I don't think he's going to leave until he's seen you"
"Send him in then"
Ria looked out of the window as Mike entered, she dared not look at him
*
Mike looked at her lying in the hospital bed and could have screamed, her jaw was bruised and swollen, her neck was covered in bruises that matched the ones on her arms, she had a black eye, and she was refusing to look at him.
"Sweetheart?"
"Hello Mike" Ria said still refusing to look at him
Mike sighed and sat next to her on the bed, he reached out and gently turned her face to look at him, he saw her eyes well up and the anger in him ignited, she looked guilty and ashamed, she had been beaten, raped and left for dead and she was ashamed.
"I love you"
"I love you too Mike" Ria sobbed tears pouring down her face
Mike did the only thing he could, he pulled her into his arms and held her until she couldn't cry anymore. he loosened his arms and she sank back into the pillow
"Please don't leave me Mike" Ria murmered closing her eyes
Mike sat and watched her as she slept, he'd never leave her again if he had a say in the matter.