Taking Chances - Chapter Four

[rolange]

Author: Rolange
Rating: Adult concepts
Summary: Takes place after Fearless Heart. It's a bit long. I was going to edit it but found I just don't have the time. So, I appreciate any who bear with me, lol.
Warnings: Some violence, some sexual content. Also, I do not own the FX: The Series characters and am making no profit from them. They are the property of Rysher Entertainment et al.

Chapter Four


Rollie and Lucinda took their seats in the stands as Angie came out onto the floor joining her teammates. Rollie found that he was incredibly turned on when he saw Angie in her uniform, with her helmet and pads. He made a mental note for some role-playing later on.

Angie’s team did better than she imagined. They won two games, with Angie scoring two goals and assisting on three, and were now enjoying a brief recess until the next and final match-up. Angie was actually dreading this game. It was the team from Queens and they were brutal but she wasn’t about to mention that to Rollie.

Rollie and Lucinda came over and waved to Angie as she sat on the bench, drinking her water. She smiled and rollerbladed over to them, Angie rolling right into Rollie. He laughed as he caught her.

“So? What do you think?” she asked coyly.

“I think…that I know a way that we can spice things up later,” Rollie winked at Angie.

Angie laughed, “I meant about the game, silly.”

“Oh that,” Rollie rolled his eyes. “Not bad, but you’re no Messier.”

“Harumph!” Angie snorted, as his lips came down on hers. Angie pulled away a short while later and noticed Lucinda standing there too. “Hey Lucinda, next time we play you should come out and join us.”

“Me?” Lucinda’s eyes grew big, “Honey, I haven’t been on those things since you tried teaching me for that commercial, remember? I don’t think I could stand up, much less hit a puck. No, I think the best place for me is here with my hands in Rollie’s pockets to keep warm,” Lucinda smiled.

Angie laughed and looked back at her teammates. “Well, I better get back. Wish me luck?”

“Break a leg,” Rollie winked at her.


Angie’s team was good despite having only one practice under their belt. Their offence was a little weak but their defense was great. They shadowed the other team and as a result they were unable to score a goal in the first period.

Things started to heat up in the second period. Angie passed the puck to her right wing, a small woman who could skate like the wind. The right wing saw an opening in the goal and took a slap shot. They had the first goal of the game. Later, Angie, her right wing, and another teammate all crowded the other team’s net, passing the puck back and forth. Their stick handling and teamwork were great. Angie took a shot and it ricocheted into the net. They were now up 2-Zip. After that, the Queens team started playing rough. The Queen’s team started dogging Angie’s team. They were slammed into the boards and the other team should have gotten penalties for high-sticking but the referees didn’t do anything.

They were now in the third period, leading the Queens team 5-3 and then it happened. Rollie just about jumped over the railing when he saw Angie take a hit from the Amazon woman from Queens. Lucinda held him back. The woman had been picking on a smaller member of Angie’s team throughout the game and Angie had had enough. They got into a shouting match and then the woman used her hockey stick as leverage and pushed Angie backwards. Angie hit the ground hard. She was still on the ground, unmoving.

“Let’s just wait and see,” Lucinda advised. But as the words were out her mouth Rollie had already jumped over the railing and ran towards Angie.

Angie was unconscious. One of her team members was a nurse and she was telling people not to move her. Rollie knelt beside her and called to her.

“Angie, c’mon. Open your eyes,” he looked around at the other teammates who were also crowded around her with worry in his eyes, “c’mon, Angie. You’ve got all the attention now. Open your eyes and enjoy it.”

Lucinda knelt down next to Rollie, her hand on his shoulder. Suddenly, there was moaning coming from Angie.

“Angie? Sweetie, that’s it open your eyes,” Rollie commanded her.

Angie’s eyes opened slowly, she blinked several times trying to bring the faces around her into focus. She smiled crookedly when she saw Rollie and Lucinda. She tried to get up, but everyone around her told her to stay still for a while. Her hand went to her head, still covered by her helmet. Rollie held onto her hand.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

“Ooh, I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck,” Angie blinked several times, “I’m okay. I’m sore…that’s about it.”

“The EMT’s will be here in a few minutes. How you doing, Angie?” asked the nurse teammate.

“I’m okay,” Angie repeated.

“Boy, Ange, and I thought I liked being the center of attention,” Lucinda joked.

“Yeah, sorry Luce. You can have the spotlight back,” Angie joked, “I don’t think I like it so much. Did we win?”

Rollie suppressed a smile, “Yes, sweetie, you won all right.”

“Can I get up now?” Angie struggled to get up.

“Not until the EMT’s check you out,” Rollie ordered. The EMT’s arrived as if on cue and checked Angie out. They said she was fine except for a mild concussion and that she should take it easy for the next day or so. They also said that if she experienced any dizziness or vomiting to get medical attention right away.

Rollie helped Angie up and off with her helmet. They sat down on the bench while Lucinda took off Angie’s rollerblades. Rollie held Angie’s head against his shoulder.

“Bloody hell,” he whispered into her hair.




“How’s Angie?” Lucinda asked as Rollie returned from his living quarters.

“She’s resting, and bloody stubborn. She put up a fight but I told her I would chain her to the bed if she didn’t rest now and then expected to go to work on the video Monday morning.”

“How are you doing?”

“I’m fine, Luce. I’m not the one who hit my head, remember?”

“Yeah, but you were white as a sheet,” she was quiet for a few minutes after handing him a cup of tea. “You really do love her don’t you Rollie?”

Rollie sat on the couch, his cup resting on his knee. He looked up at Lucinda and shook his head. “Oh God, what am I getting myself into?”

Lucinda sat down next to him, “What do you mean?”

Rollie stared off into the distance for a moment. “Before, when Angie would do these things…I didn’t let it bother me. It was her life. But now….” His thoughts trailed off.

“But now it’s different because you don’t just care about her, you love her,” Lucinda finished his sentence for him.

“Yeah,” Rollie agreed, “I was so scared when I saw her on that floor, not moving. I mean I’ve been scared before where she’s been concerned. But now….”

Lucinda reached over and caressed Rollie’s brow, “It’s different isn’t it, when you have so much invested in another person?”

Rollie smiled. It wasn’t as though he hadn’t invested in any other woman before Angie. There was Taya. He had loved her or…at least he believed he did. At least, he loved her in a different way than he loves Angie. He had been able to let Taya go. Rollie didn’t know if he could ever do that with Angie. Recently, there was Dani. But she didn’t really count; she was more of a passing fancy, Rollie didn’t think of himself as someone who had notches on his belt, but if he did, Dani was one of them. He had never really cared for another woman they way he cares about Angie and that was what was scary.

“I felt exactly the same way with Rick,” Lucinda continued, “and when he died I felt like a part of me died along with him.”

Rollie closed his eyes against the tears, “she’s been hurt so much, Luce. I just…I want to protect her from any more pain.”

Lucinda pulled Rollie to her, his head on her shoulder. She wondered what had happened to cause so much pain to her two friends. Whatever it was had hurt them both. Lucinda swallowed as Rollie let the tears come and she felt him cry for the first time in their friendship since Rick’s death.


An hour later Angie found Rollie in the VR chamber. He had fallen asleep in Australia mode. She knelt beside his chair and reached up and pushed a stray strand of hair from his eyes. He jumped at the touch.

“Hey, sorry,” Angie apologized, “You okay?”

Rollie rubbed his red-rimmed eyes, “I’m fine. I’m fine. How’s your head?”

“I am fine,” Angie insisted, “you don’t have to worry so about me so much, Rol.”

“C’mere,”

Angie climbed into Rollie’s lap.

“Where do you want to go?” he asked as he held the controller in his hand.

Angie hesitated at first, remembering the other women Rollie had brought here. But then she remembered his surprise and realized that he had wanted to share something real with her, and that was something he didn’t share with Taya or Dani or Lucinda or even Mira.

Rollie sensed her reluctance and remembered their conversation at the hotel, “Angie, if—”

Angie interrupted, grinning wickedly, “Let’s dive-bomb a volcano.”

Rollie laughed, “Ah, a girl after my own heart.”





Angie returned to the set on Monday after taking it easy all weekend. On her way to patch into the circuitry unit, she passed a room where she heard an argument. She tried to ignore it at first but was curious when she realized that the argument was between Johnny and the band’s manager, Mick Farrell. She heard something about record sales and not enough publicity. She knew Mick was trying to stir up controversy about the band because Lucinda had told her about a gossip item she had read in a tabloid on the plane from LA. The gossip was that Johnny and a certain female FX expert were having an affair on the set of the band’s video. Johnny yelled at him to back off or he would walk from the video altogether and maybe even the whole tour. It was his life, and his music, he yelled as he stormed out of the room. He didn’t even see Angie as she worked on the control panel. Mick exited the room a minute later and as he did so, he shot Angie a dirty look. Johnny left the set and did not return. He didn’t return calls so Daryl told everyone to go home for the day.



Rollie looked up from what he was doing, “You’re back early.”

“Yeah,” Angie sighed, “Johnny and his manager got into a huge fight and everyone was given the day off.” Angie then told Rollie about the fight she overheard.

“Sounds like Mick has a lot riding on the success of the album.”

“Yeah,” Angie agreed, “I have a feeling that Mick was one of the reasons Johnny was under so much pressure before. He said he felt like he was letting people down and obviously that feeling came from somewhere. Do you know that Johnny actually said that Mick thinks his songwriting was better when he was on drugs? I really don’t like this guy.”

“Yeah, well Johnny is a big boy, Angie. He’s responsible for his own decisions.”

“Why don’t you like him? You don’t even know him, Rollie.”

“I think maybe you like him too much.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Angie felt herself getting angry.

“It means that maybe you still have a little bit of that crush of yours going.”

“What?” Angie shook her head in disbelief, “What?”

“C’mon Ange,” Rollie came over to face her, “What do you really know about this guy?”

“I know that he’s a nice guy. He’s sweet, and sensitive, and talented. I know this because I’ve sat down and talked with him. And you? You’re basing your judgment on what, exactly?” she shook her head and walked away, “I never should have told you I had a crush on him.”

“Is that what you think this is about?” Rollie demanded as he followed her, “It’s not that, okay? Look, Ange…you know how I feel about drugs —”

“I know. I feel the same way. But it’s not the same Rollie. He was addicted, not selling. And he’s gotten help. He hasn’t used drugs in over two years. This is not like you, Rollie, to make up your mind about someone without even meeting them.” Angie stood in front of him, her hands on her hips, “I think you are being totally unfair.”

“I’m not the one who’s made up my mind on this guy. You have. You made up your mind a long time ago and anything I say now, is an attack against the guy.”

“Okay, let me ask you this: How is my crush on Johnny any different than the one you had on Dani?”

“What?” Rollie sputtered, “The two don’t even compare. Dani was a friend, you don’t even know this guy.”

“EH! WRONG ANSWER!.” Angie yelled, “The difference is that I haven’t slept with Johnny. You, on the other hand, couldn’t wait to act out your fantasies with your boyhood fancy.”

Angie had hit Rollie between the eyeballs and he was smarting. “Are you saying you want to sleep with Johnny?”

“Ugh!” Angie groaned, throwing her arms in the air and walked away. “You are being so ridiculous!” She couldn’t believe what he had just said.

“And you are being naive.”

Angie stood before Rollie dumbstruck. Her eyes narrowed and she was about to say something but bit her tongue. She didn’t want to say something they both might regret.

“Look, can we just agree to disagree on this?” Rollie asked, feeling he wasn’t getting anywhere with her. It was obvious to him that she had already made up her mind. Johnny was the golden boy.

Angie looked at him, anger in her eyes. “Fine.”

“Fine.”

They stared at each other for a moment both of them unwilling to budge. Finally Angie spoke.

“I’m going for a walk. I suddenly feel the need for some fresh air,” Angie stormed out of the loft, grabbing her backpack and slamming the door along the way.

“I think that’s a good idea,” Rollie agreed. They both needed time to cool off, he thought.




Lucinda came by the loft and found Rollie in a terrible mood. He snapped at her when she asked where Angie was. She decided to change the subject and told him of her audition earlier that day. He seemed pleased at the change in subject and Lucinda actually got him to laugh when she told him about a mishap at her audition. Despite the mishap, she had a callback for tomorrow afternoon.

“Why don’t you, me, and Angie go out tonight and have dinner and play some pool?” Lucinda suggested.

Rollie shrugged, “I don’t know if Angie would want to be anywhere near me right now.”

“Why’s that?” Whatever it was, Lucinda couldn’t believe it.

“Luce, just leave it alone all right?”

“Not a chance,” Lucinda replied, “You had a fight, didn’t you?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Lucinda shook her head, “And you say Angie is stubborn….”

“She is.”

“You both are,” Lucinda studied Rollie’s face. “What was your fight about?”

“Just leave it,” Rollie ordered, his jaw set. “I think you better plan on having dinner by yourself tonight Luce. Sorry.”

Lucinda wondered if Rollie had heard the rumors about Angie and that rock star. Angie had asked her not to mention it, but gossip could have gotten back to Rollie anyway. Lucinda went up to her friend and gave him a hug, “Angie loves you Rollie. Just remember that.”

“Good luck on your callback tomorrow.”

That was Lucinda’s cue to leave. She told him she would call him tomorrow and tell him how it went. She blew him a kiss and left.




Rollie was getting worried. Angie had been gone for hours and it was getting dark. He thought maybe she had gone back to her apartment. Had she been that angry with him? he wondered.

“Damn it, I’m sorry Angie. I shouldn’t have let my jealousy color my opinion of Johnny Rhodes.”

He was jealous. He knew that. The rumors didn’t help. He should have discussed the rumors with Angie but he didn’t want her to think that he didn’t trust her.




Angie sat on the park bench watching kids playing in the sandbox, and some older gentlemen playing a game of chess. She wondered where Rollie’s anger was coming from. It was so unlike him not to give someone a chance. What was worse was that he didn’t seem to trust her opinion. She knew now that she had made a huge mistake in admitting her attraction to Johnny Rhodes. But she thought that he would have seen it for what it was, just that: an attraction. She loved Rollie with all of her being. She loved him the moment she first laid eyes on him and she had never grown out of that. She knew now that she never would. God, he can be so infuriating sometimes. A small smile curved her lips. It was a stupid fight, she realized. She was going to go back and…what? Admit she was wrong? No, she thought, she didn’t feel she was wrong. But, she realized, she wasn’t really listening to Rollie’s concerns and that was wrong. Out of all the friends, and acquaintances, and people whose opinions mattered to her…she valued Rollie’s the most. He just wanted her to be careful because of the drugs. She admitted to herself too, the possibility that maybe she had rose-colored glasses on when it came to Johnny Rhodes because he hadn’t turned out to be an arrogant ass. Angie sighed. Time to go home.


On her way back to the loft Angie heard someone call out for help in an alleyway. She saw a body on the ground and ran over to help. As she turned the body over, the young man said, “surprise.”

Angie was grabbed from behind. There were three men, all young. With her feet she lifted herself off the ground and kicked at one of her assailants and knocked him backwards. She yelled for help. One of the young punks warned her to shut up as he brought out a knife from his back pocket. Angie decided this wasn’t worth getting killed over and told them to take her backpack; that her wallet was in there. One of the punks rummaged through her bag. The punk took her wallet out of the bag. The other punk held up the knife and came towards Angie, who was still being held by the third punk. Angie realized they had no intention of letting her go.

Suddenly, one of the punks fell to his knees as he was hit from behind. Angie looked to see an older man, scruffy looking and dressed in rags, coming to her rescue. Angie fought back as well. She elbowed the punk holding her, in the ribs and then hit him hard on the head as he was bent over. But it was three against two and one of them had a knife. In the scuffle, the homeless man was cut on the hand. He yelled in pain.

Angie lunged at one of the punks but as she did so he pushed back at her and she went falling backwards, hitting her head on a cement stoop. Angie couldn’t see much of what happened after that but somehow the homeless man had managed to fight them off. He came over to her and felt behind her head. She was bleeding. He picked up her backpack, which the punks had abandoned, and found her cell phone. He called 911.

Angie looked up at the man as she started lose consciousness. She heard him say, “You’re going to be all right, kid. Hang in there.” The voice, she thought, sounded familiar somehow. Then the blackness claimed her.




Rollie was pulled out of his thoughts by a phone call from Mira. She told him that Angie was in the hospital after an apparent mugging. She was on her way to the hospital now, but didn’t know her condition. Rollie said he would be right there.


Rollie spotted Mira in the hallway in the emergency area. He ran up to her.

“Mira? How’s Angie?” his face held the fear of his imagination run wild.

“She’s still in the examining room. She’s unconscious. From what I understand, she fell and hit her head. That’s all I know.”

“What happened? She was mugged?”

“Yeah or attempted anyway. It looks like she put up a fight. It fits the same M.O. of the other muggings in the area, yours included. But, it looks like they didn’t get away with it. Angie still had her wallet in her bag. And, someone called 911.”

“So there was a witness?”

“No one was there when we got there.”

Rollie rubbed his chin in worry, “Well, thank God someone called 911.”

The doctor came out and Rollie and Mira rushed over to him. He told them that Angie was being moved to a room in ICU.

“Ms. Ramirez has a skull fracture. It’s not serious but it is something we want to keep an eye on. We’re monitoring her vital signs. She’s awake now, which is a good sign. I want to run some tests to check her memory and her motor skills but she seems alert and aware and those are very good signs.”

“Angie had a slight concussion on the weekend, a result of a sport injury…could that be a factor?”

“I’m glad you mentioned it, we need to take that into account. But it shouldn’t be too much of a factor in her treatment. We will probably run an MRI in the morning. In the meantime, the nurses are going to monitor her vitals. But the fact that she is awake and alert is a good sign.”

“Can I see her?”

“Yes, of course. Just give it a few minutes while the orderlies get her settled in her room and after I run some tests. Her room is 314 I believe.”



Rollie waited outside Angie’s room with Mira as the doctor tested Angie’s motor and memory skills. After twenty minutes the doctor came out and told them that both were a bit sluggish. He indicated that it was nothing to be alarmed about and he would run the tests again in the morning. He said he would talk to Rollie in the morning. Mira told Rollie she would leave and let Angie get some rest but she would need to get a statement from her tomorrow. She asked Rollie to let her know that she was there for her, and him, she added.


Rollie entered the room slowly. He saw Angie in the hospital bed. Her head was bandaged and the nurse was checking her vitals. She looked so small in that bed. As the nurse left she told Rollie that her blood pressure was bit high but was within the acceptable range. She said that she would be back to check on it in an hour.

Rollie pulled up a chair and sat beside Angie. His hand rested over hers and she squeezed his hand. He looked up to see she was awake, though she looked groggy.

“Hey you,” Rollie smiled.

Angie licked her lips, which were dry. “I’m so sorry —”

“Shhh. There’s nothing to be sorry for. None of that matters right now,” he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, “I love you Angie. I can never seem to say it enough.”

Angie smiled weakly, “I never tire of hearing it. I love you Rollie,” she reached up, though weakly, and brushed a stray strand of hair from his eyes and he caught her hand. “You should go home and get some rest. You look terrible.”

Rollie shook his head, “I’m not leaving. And if they kick me out I’ll just stay in the waiting room.”

Angie’s eyes fluttered as she tried to stay awake. “I’m so tired. I’m not going to be very good company….”

“You sleep and get it while you can. They’re going to be in here every few hours checking up on you so you’re not going to be getting much rest anyway. Sleep, Angel, sleep.”



The next day Mira and Francis came by to question Angie on her attack. They had to wait while the Doctor conducted more memory and motor skills tests. Then he had her sent down for an MRI. He told Rollie that it was just a precaution and that Angie reflexes were good, though her memory was still a bit foggy, at least with regards to her attack.


Angie was returned to her room and Rollie, Mira, and Francis came in. Angie smiled at Rollie, “The doctor says I can probably come home tomorrow if my MRI is okay.”

“Good. I was hoping he would keep you here an extra day.”

“And I thought you missed me.” Angie pouted.

“I do miss you,” Rollie leaned in for a kiss, “But I want you well.”

“Angie?” Mira interrupted, “we need to ask you a few questions about what happened. What do you remember?”

Angie looked at Rollie as if she wanted to say something to him but couldn’t. Rollie squeezed her hand in reassurance.

Angie told them of how she was lured into the alleyway and ambushed. Rollie was going to chastise her for putting up a fight for her wallet, but she told him that she didn’t once she realized what they wanted. But, she said, it was obvious that they were going to kill her anyway.

Mira said that probably was true and that four other people had been killed in similar incidents. The only two people that seemed to get away were Rollie and Angie. She asked Angie who the person was who called 911 and if this was the same person that came to her rescue.

“I don’t know Mira. I don’t know if it was the same person because I blacked out.”

Mira asked Angie if she could give a description of the guy but all Angie could say was that he was older and looked to be a vagrant.

“It’s strange that the only two survivors of these attacks were helped by what appears to be a good Samaritan…who doesn’t stay around to be help the police,” Mira mused out loud.

“Maybe the guy has a record,” Francis replied, “or maybe he’s publicity shy. I mean, it happens.”

“Yeah, but don’t you think it’s strange that both Rollie and Angie were saved by this guy?”

“What makes you think that this guy is the same guy that saved Rollie?” Angie asked.

“You don’t think it is?” Mira asked.

“I don’t know,” Angie insisted, though she was growing uncomfortable under the questioning. Rollie could see this and looked at Angie with questioning eyes.

“I think that’s enough,” Rollie insisted finally, “Angie’s answered your questions. Anything else is speculation at this point and she needs to get some rest.”

Mira and Francis agreed and they both gave Angie a hug before leaving. Angie looked up at Rollie, her eyes full of fear and uncertainty.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

“Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?” Rollie looked deep into her eyes, where she couldn’t hide.

Angie bit her lip, “I remember something else Rollie. But I wanted to tell you first and I didn’t know if I should tell Mira and especially Francis, just yet.”

Rollie sat on the edge of the bed and held her hand, “What? What is it Ange? Whatever it is you can tell me.”

“I know,” Angie looked so little just then and she looked away ashamed, “But I didn’t believe you and I should have. I’m so sorry. I should never have doubted you,” she said as she sad and looked away.

“What?” Rollie was getting anxious now, “What is it?”

Angie turned back to face Rollie, “It was the same guy Rollie, the guy who saved me saved you too. And…I saw what you saw, or rather I heard —”

“What are you talking about?”

“The homeless man…the guy you said had Leo’s eyes? Well, I didn’t make the connection. I mean I didn’t recognize him, at least, not until he spoke —”

“What are you saying?” he had a feeling he knew where this was going but he had to be sure.

“Rollie, I was losing consciousness so it’s not clear but I swear the guy told me that I would be all right, and then he called me ‘kid’. Rollie, Leo always called me kid. It was his voice Rollie…I swear,” she looked him square in the eyes so he could see how desperately she wanted him to believe her.

“Are you sure?” Rollie asked though he could tell that what Angie was telling him she at least believed to be true, “You think Leo’s alive?”

Angie pushed her head back against the pillow and sighed, “I don’t know. It seems too fantastic to be true. But I swear Rollie, when he called me kid, it sent shivers up my spine.”

Rollie was quiet for a few moments. He went to the window and looked out. It was one thing when he thought he saw Leo’s eyes staring back at him but it was quite another to have Angie believe in the possibility as well. Could it be? Could Leo McCarthy really be alive?

Rollie returned to Angie’s bed, his hand covered hers. “I’m glad you told me and I’m glad you didn’t tell Francis and Mira. This would only upset them at this point.”

“What are we going to do?”

“We?” Rollie teased and received dirty look from Angie in return. He smiled at her, “I don’t know but somehow, someway, we need to find out if it is Leo. And if it is him, that opens up a whole lot of other questions that need answers,” Angie sat up and he pulled her to him in a deep hug, “whatever happens, it’s going to have to wait until you’re all better. That much I do know.”




Angie called Daryl and told him what happened and that she wouldn’t be in to work on the video for at least another two days. Daryl wasn’t happy but he understood. In fact, he said, it was par for the course. After a wonderful first week the shoot had now run into difficulties with the band, with the manager, with their FX person, and with the demolition company who were pushing them to finish the shoot on time so they could level the building. It was all beginning to be one big headache for Daryl. Angie felt sorry for him but there was nothing she could do. She wouldn’t be released until tomorrow and the doctor had already told her that she would need at least another day of rest before going back to work. Angie also knew that Rollie would kill her if she even tried to return to work before she was allowed.




Rollie returned to the hospital the following morning to pick up Angie. They waited in her room for the doctor to come with the release papers. Angie was quiet and sat up in bed playing with her hands in her lap. Rollie reached over and gently stilled her hands after several attempts at conversation were made and ignored.

“What’s wrong?”

Angie looked up at him, her eyes wide, “we haven’t talked about our fight. I think we should. I don’t want to ignore it or pretend it didn’t happen.”

Rollie really didn’t want to get into this now, “Can’t it wait until we get home?” he asked.

“I’m sorry. I know you have concerns about the drugs and I should have paid more attention to your concerns,” Angie trudged on, “but I also think that you were wrong in coming to a snap-judgment about somebody without even meeting him first. And I’m sorry about telling you about my crush on him because I think that it’s colored your view of him.”

It was several minutes before Rollie spoke. “I’m sorry too. You’re right, I was jealous and I let that color my view. You always spoke in such glowing terms of this guy. I guess I prayed that he would be an idiot and when he didn’t turn out to be I got worse. I am concerned about the drugs but it’s no more or less a problem in the music business than it is in the movie business. And….” He paused, “I heard the rumors, which did not help my otherwise sunny disposition,” he added with just a hint of self-mockery.

Angie sighed, “I’m sorry. You have to know that there was never anything to the rumors, right? I would never…I could never be with anyone else but you.”

“I didn’t know it then,” Rollie hung his head in shame, “but I do know it now. What can I say? I was being a jealous alpha male “ he smiled and received one in return.

“It takes a big alpha male to admit that,” Angie teased.

Angie’s hands went around his neck and pulled him to her in a deep kiss, her tongue pushing its way into his mouth. It had been too long for them to be separated like this. Rollie’s tongue and hers dueled in a showdown of undeclared winners. Angie pulled Rollie down onto her on the bed.

“Angie,” Rollie pulled away slowly, “hospital,” he said breathlessly, reminding her of where they were.

“Right. I want to go home now,” Angie said disappointedly.

Rollie laughed but then his face turned serious. “There is another matter we need to discuss since you brought it up.”

Angie eyed him suspiciously, “What’s that?” she asked cautiously.

“Dani. You’ve made several comments about her and I want you to know that there is no reason to be jealous. Dani was a….”

Angie watched his face intently taking in every word. Rollie’s eyes caught hers on him and he met her gaze, staring into her deep blue eyes so that all either of them saw was each other.

“She was a fling,” he continued, “Nothing serious and never meant to be either.”

“She was your crush,” Angie said softly all the while staring deep into his eyes. She felt hypnotized by his eyes.

“Yes, she was,” Rollie admitted, “but you need to know that what I felt for her was nothing compared to what I feel for you. It’s light years difference,” he took one of Angie’s hands in his, “I will admit that the sex was great. Now wait a minute—” he intoned as Angie sighed and tried to pull her hand away, “With you, with us, it’s like…I don’t know, like we’re creating our own universe or something. That’s corny, isn’t it? I guess I really don’t know how to put it into words. But what I am trying to say is that; Angie you are my whole world, and when we get together it’s so much more than great sex. It’s like, for the first time in my life I know something that is for sure. We are meant to be together. Do you understand? Or am I complete dunderhead?” he smiled at her, his head slightly bowed.

Angie didn’t say anything right away. She just smiled when he called himself a dunderhead. She looked deep into Rollie’s brown eyes, where she felt love, warmth, and acceptance envelope her. But still, her insecurities when it came to Rollie were still there. She had hid her feelings for so long and had endured countless beautiful women throwing themselves at Rollie. She remembered all too well his occasional catch of said women.

“I admit that I am jealous of Dani. I mean, who wouldn’t be?” she bit her lip, “she’s gorgeous and has a killer bod. And you really seemed taken with her. I was afraid that I would lose you to her. And you know what? I know I’m okay looking, but Dani? How am I supposed to compete with that?”

“You’re not listening,” Rollie smiled as he knocked on her forehead lightly. His forehead came to hers, his face inches from hers, “there is no competition. Dani is out of the running. She was never even at the starting gate. You are it for me, don’t you understand that Angela? I can’t change the past. I was an idiot for not recognizing my feelings before it was almost too late. But all of it has led me here to where I am today, with you and waiting to get you back home to the loft so that I can make love to you.”

Angie smiled shyly.

“And another thing….” he kissed her softly on the mouth and then on the forehead, “you are so beautiful. You are amazingly gorgeous, on the inside and out. You have a killer bod, you are amazingly athletic, which has come in handy in so many imaginative ways….” He smiled lasciviously, “And the only reason I didn’t do something about it earlier was because of my promise to Manny and my guilt about having those feelings when I thought I shouldn’t.”


Angie’s eyes misted over. She had wanted to hear these words from Rollie for so long and now she was, and she still couldn’t believe it. Rollie Tyler loved her. She pulled Rollie to her in deep hug, “I love you Rollie.”

Rollie smiled over the top of her head, “I love you too, Angie,” and as he looked up at the ceiling, but really beyond that. He said a silent thank you to Manny for bringing her into his life.






All the way back to the loft Rollie kept looking over at Angie as she sat looking out the passenger window. Occasionally he would catch her looking at him and both would smile. Rollie was glad that Luce was staying at Angie’s apartment because her returning there was not even discussed. Rollie found himself more and more accustomed to having Angie around every day, waking up with her in his arms, their shared showers in the mornings, their late nights at work or at play. He wanted her with him all the time. After her attack Rollie had gone home to get some rest at Angie’s insistence. He found himself sitting on his bed fingering her silk pajamas and bringing it up to his face so he could take in her smell. He even found himself petting her cat. Will wonders never cease?

“Earth to Rol,”

Rollie looked over at Angie to find her reaching over and turning off the ignition. Somehow he had managed, through what Angie called Zen navigation, to get them home safely, even though his mind had been somewhere else.

“You okay?” Angie asked finally, receiving a strange look from Rollie.

“I’m fine,” Rollie replied, shaking his head as if he had just woken up, “Uh…Ange, I have to go out for a little while. Are you going to be all right here?”

Angie frowned, “Of course I’ll be all right. I’m not an invalid you know,” she smiled slyly to let him know she was kidding, “Where are you going anyhow?”

“Hmm? Uh….” Rollie was distracted or evasive, Angie couldn’t tell which. “I just have some things that need taking care of. I’ll be back soon. And remember, take it easy.”

“Yes, sir!” Angie saluted Rollie.



Rollie left and Angie wasn’t home ten minutes before Lucinda showed up. She apologized for not seeing her at the hospital but explained that she had two callbacks for the movie by Tom Bradford, plus another movie her agent had heard about. She still hadn’t heard anything yet so she asked if she could continue to stay at Angie’s apartment.

“Sooo? Are you going to tell me how all this happened?” Luce enquired. Angie had thought that she had shown incredible restraint. She had been impressed until now.

“All what happened?” Angie feigned ignorance. Truth was she was wary about talking about the specifics of how Rollie came to know how she felt about him.

“You know,” Lucinda’s eyes narrowed, “Spill, girlfriend. How did you and the amazing Rollie Tyler finally admit your feelings for one another?”

“It’s a long story,” Angie sighed.

“Yeah, so I’ve heard. So just skip to the good parts.”

“The good parts?” Angie thought about that. She didn’t necessarily have to talk about her rape, and Victor Loubar, and Rollie’s kidnapping. No, she didn’t have to talk about that at all. Angie sat down on the couch and pulled a pillow into her lap. “Well….”

“Oh come on! Telling people about your romance shouldn’t be like pulling teeth,” Lucinda teased, “when did you finally know that you loved Rollie?”

Angie thought about it, “It wasn’t one big light bulb moment. I just always knew that I loved him. I think I fell in love with him the first time I saw him. I was eleven he was seventeen,” she smiled shyly. “I didn’t always think that it was possible to be with him the way we are now though.”

“I sort of figured that. I remember how jealous you would get when he flirted with other women, including me. It must have been hard.”

“Not really. I mean, I kinda accepted it,” Angie admitted.

“So what changed?”

Angie sighed and tensed up. She didn’t know how she could tell Lucinda what she wanted to hear without telling her about Loubar. She remembered Mangela’s words to her, that she and Rollie would grow stronger with each other’s love and what Loubar did wouldn’t have the power to cause her as much pain as it once did.

Lucinda saw her friend tense up and could see that she was thinking of something troubling. “Are you okay?”

Angie was startled out of her thoughts by Lucinda’s hand on hers, “Hmm? Oh, sorry. I’m fine now. I uh…it’s just hard, you know? But I want to put it behind me,” Angie stood up, rubbing her neck.

“What is it?”

Angie looked at Lucinda and then quickly looked away, “Rollie has made some powerful enemies because of the work he’s done for the police. One man, in particular, hates Rollie and has vowed revenge against him. He is an evil, evil, man and I hate him,” Angie’s voice was cold as she choked back tears, “he’s tried to kill Rollie and he’s tried to set him up for murder but Rollie has been too smart. But he doesn’t stop. His mission in life now is to destroy Rollie.”

“Who is he?” Lucinda could see that Angie was shaken to her very core just talking about this guy.

“His name is Victor Loubar. He’s an arms dealer and a master of disguise. He has this mask that can make him be anyone. He’s very good at what he does. Like I said, Rollie has foiled his plans several times. And he’s impersonated Rollie. The first time was to set him up as a terrorist selling a smart bomb to other terrorists. The second time he tricked Rollie and an FBI agent into helping him enter the country where he was trying to steal a biological weapon. The third time….” Angie’s voice trailed off as she remembered him as Rollie the night of the wrap party.

Lucinda stood up and came over to where Angie was, “You don’t have to do this. I understand.”

Angie looked at her with pain and unshed tears in her eyes, “No, you don’t. But it’s okay,” Angie sighed. “Loubar impersonated Rollie for three days last year. He was on the set with me; he was at the wrap party for Red Storm. He was here with me. I…I thought he was Rollie, the mask was that good. And….” Angie wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly cold. “He…seduced me. I um…I loved Rollie. I thought that he —”

“Oh Angie!” Lucinda cried and put her arms around her friend, “my God! I’m so sorry,” she held her friend as they both cried.

After a few minutes, Angie pulled away and handed Lucinda a tissue.

“I’m sorry for making you bring all this up. It must be very painful,” Lucinda apologized, “you don’t have to continue Angie.”

“No, it’s okay,” Angie insisted, “I told you, I need to put it behind me. Talking about it helps. It’s not as painful as it used to be.”

Angie told her of Rollie’s subsequent reappearance and the plot to frame him for the murder of the Chinese trade minister. She explained how she shot Rollie and that Loubar got away. She told Lucinda of how guilty she felt and how she thought that her and Rollie’s relationship had suffered. She told of meeting Paul Richter and his marriage proposal. Then they were both smiling when Angie told her of their adventures aboard the Pasiphea and how Rollie used the opportunity to corner her and admit his feelings for her and got her to admit her feelings for him.

“Oh my gosh, Angie! Do you realize how romantic that is?”

Angie shook her head, “Romantic? Luce, we were being held against our will. We could have been killed, we almost were. Romantic?” she sniggered.

“Oh come on Angie! Rollie had you in a place where you couldn’t avoid him and then he used that time to admit his feelings. How is that not romantic?”

A slow, sly, smile came to Angie’s face, “I guess you’re right. I just never thought of it that way,” Angie’s hands went to her face to cover a smile and the redness that was now coloring her cheeks. Nothing like that had ever happened to her before. “It was sort of romantic, wasn’t it?”

Lucinda threw herself onto the couch, “Oh my gosh, Angie! That was sooo romantic. What I wouldn’t give for a man to do that for me!” she looked over at Angie who still stood with her hands on her cheeks, “If you don’t want Rollie, can I have him?”

“Not a chance,” Angie proclaimed. She sat down on the floor in front of the couch on the floor.

Lucinda was draped across the couch fanning herself with her hands. She asked Angie about Paul Richter and Angie told her about his murder and her kidnapping by Loubar.

“Oh, God! That man is a monster,” Lucinda declared, “I don’t understand how he manages to get away all the time. Somebody should drop a very large building on him!”

“I wish that could be arranged,” Angie said quietly. She sighed. She didn’t want to think about Victor Loubar anymore. Angie changed the subject to finding out what Lucinda was doing out in LA and how her love life was progressing.

“Love life? Ha! Why do you think I asked about Rollie?” Lucinda replied dryly.

Just then they heard the door open and Rollie came up the stairs into the loft. He smiled when he saw Lucinda. He bent down and leaned in to kiss Angie, which took her by surprise because she hadn’t expected such an open display of affection in front of Lucinda.

“Hey,” Angie smiled shyly, “did you get all your errands done?”

“Pretty much,” he replied, and changed the subject quickly. “Luce, are you staying for dinner?” Rollie asked looking over at Lucinda, who was looking at him with a strange look in her eye. It made him slightly uncomfortable and he wondered what she and Angie had been talking about in his absence.

“I’d like that,” Lucinda smiled.

Rollie continued to eye Lucinda warily, “Great. How about we order pizza then?”

“I’ll do it,’ Angie volunteered as Rollie helped her up from the floor.

Throughout dinner Rollie felt Lucinda’s gaze upon him and it made him uncomfortable. Angie didn’t seem to notice, or if she did it didn’t seem to bother her. Lucinda regaled them with her tales of struggling to get by in LA. She told them the best pay she has received so far was for an infomercial where her hands were the stars. In fact, she turned Rollie’s TV to the home shopping channel and pointed out her hands in an infomercial. Every time body-less hands were shown, she would shout, “those are my hands!”

After a while Angie bid them both a good night as she said she was tired and she had work to do tomorrow since she was expected on the video set. Rollie wasn’t happy about her going in tomorrow but he knew he couldn’t keep her away. Lucinda kept Rollie company for awhile downstairs as he cleaned up their dinner plates.

Rollie finished washing the plates as Lucinda dried them. Rollie pulled out a couple of beers and handed one to Lucinda. He sat down on the couch stretching out his long legs. Lucinda plopped down beside him. She reached over and ran her fingers through his hair.

“Angie told me about what happened. I am so sorry Rollie.”

Rollie took a deep swig from his beer and looked at her briefly. He could tell in her eyes what she was referring to. He swallowed, “I’m surprised. She doesn’t like to talk about it much.”

“Well, she’s trying to put it in the past. And you’re helping her to do that. I’m so happy for you two you know that? Although, I did ask her….” Lucinda moved closer and her hand went to Rollie’s chest, “if I could have you when she’s done with you,” she smiled in a teasing way.

Rollie smiled and licked his lips. He knew Lucinda was joking, “Oh, and what did she say?”

“Party poop. She said not a chance.” Lucinda slapped his chest and sighed, “Seriously though Rollie, I am very happy for you and Angie. I’m glad you two found each other. Rick would be too. You know, he told me how you sabotaged his reputation to Angie before she met him. That wasn’t very nice.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Rollie feigned innocence.

“Uh huh,” Luce smiled, “Although, I guess I should thank you in a way, since Rick and I got together….” Her voice trailed off in sadness.

Rollie reached over and grabbed her hand, “Rick was the lucky one.”

“I miss him,” she said with tears in her eyes.

“I know you do. So do I,” Rollie leaned his head against hers, “he would want you to go on, Luce.”

“I know,” she replied quietly, “it’s just not that easy to do, now is it?” she wiped a tear from her eye and sighed and then she forced a smile onto her face, “so what’s next for you and Angie?”

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean. Dum dum da dum.”

“I’m just taking it one day at a time Luce,” he took another swig from his beer, “one day at a time.”

Lucinda smiled, “yeah, okay. Well, if you need any advice or anything I want you to know I am here for you. Angie knows that too. You are my best friends and you both deserve happiness. I love you Rollie,” she gave him a big hug.

“I love you too Luce. You’re a good friend,” his hand caressed her arm. It was good to have her back.



Rollie drove Lucinda back to Angie’s apartment. When he returned he went quietly upstairs to the bathroom and then to his bedroom hoping not to wake Angie. As he sat on the bed and took off his shirt he felt Angie move in the bed.

“Hey,” she said sleepily, “did you have a good visit with Luce?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.

Rollie stood by the bed and took off his pants. “Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping?” he answered with his own question.

“I can’t sleep. I’ve been lying here trying,” she explained. “I guess I’m too used to the nurses coming in every two hours waking me up or something,” she joked.

Rollie climbed into bed and curled up beside her. Angie moved so that she was facing him and they were inches from each other’s faces.

“You didn’t answer me. Did you have a nice visit?”

Rollie smiled, “Yes I did,” his hand stroked Angie’s hair, “she’s a good friend. I’m glad she’s back.” Rollie turned to lie on his back and Angie curled up next to him.

“This is better,” Angie sighed, “I guess I missed my pillow.”

Rollie chuckled, “It’s funny isn’t it?”

Angie looked up at him, “what’s funny?”

“This. I mean, I’ve slept alone…well I’m not going to say for how long, but I’d grown accustomed to it. And then the unexpected happens and I finally see what’s been right in front of me for so long. And when you’re not here…I miss you so bad. I ache for you to be in my arms. I can’t sleep. So, I just count the minutes until I see you again. I never thought it could be like this.”

Angie held one of Rollie’s hands in her two hands, her small hands enfolding his. Rollie loved the way she touched him when they were like this. She brought his hand up to her mouth and kissed it.

“I know what you mean,” Angie spoke quietly, her voice almost a whisper. “I ache for you too. When I’m here with you it’s like, I don’t know…like I’m coming home, to someplace I’ve always belonged. A place that’s special for me…oh yeah, and for you too, of course,” she joked, “only it’s a place not bound by earthly laws or anything like that. It’s like when we’re together the heaven’s open up for us, if only for a little while,” she smiled crookedly, “that’s kind of corny, huh?”

“Not at all,” Rollie laughed and then he was quiet for a minute or so, “Angie, have you thought about where we’re headed?”

“The truth? Not really,” she answered as she looked up at him, “I’m still sore from pinching myself all over the place to prove to myself that this is real. I’ve wanted this for so long. It’s like a dream come true, only I’m afraid I’ll wake up and find out it really was a dream. Why?”

Rollie swallowed, “Would you consider giving up your apartment and moving in here?” He thought maybe he was moving too fast.

Angie stared at him with huge eyes. “You really want that?”

“Do you?”

“I don’t know. It seems sometimes like we’re moving kind of fast.”

“Well, I only know two speeds Angela: fast and faster.”

“Yeah, you’ve gotta curb that tendency there buddy boy,” Angie laughed, “Sometimes fast…is too fast.”

Rollie’s brow furrowed, “I don’t think we’re talking about the same thing anymore.”

“Tell you what,” Angie laughed and reached up and kissed Rollie, “I will seriously consider it and we’ll see what happens.”

“I guess that’ll do,” he replied disappointedly, “as long as you do your considering here instead of your apartment.”

“Sheesh, you drive a hard bargain. Deal.”

They curled up against each other and soon sleep claimed them. Sleep coming more peacefully to them than it had the night before.





The next day Angie returned to the video set at the Gasworks building. What she saw didn’t make her happy at all. The shoot had been delayed even longer than she had thought and now they were bumping up against the deadline of the demolition. Daryl looked completely stressed out and was very happy to see Angie there. He went up to her and gave her a deep hug.

“I’m so happy to see a friendly face,” he exclaimed.

“How behind are you?”

“Way behind. We have to work all day and all night to finish. Then, when we’re done, we have to clear our gear out of here. The building’s supposed to be demolished tomorrow. The demolition company is breathing down my back; they want to move in their explosives tonight to save them some time. And the band is warring with their manager. I have to play peacemaker and babysitter in addition to directing. It’s just been one big headache.”

“Well, let me call Rollie to tell him I’m going to be here all night and then you can tell me what you need me to do.”



Rollie was not happy about Angie having to work all night after just getting out of the hospital. She had to hold the telephone receiver away from her ear while he…elucidated her on his feelings.

“Rollie, I promise I will take it easy —”

“Take it easy? Angie, you’re going to be up all night. How is that taking it easy?”

“Well, what else could I do? I’ve already been away too long. I’ve done my share of delaying things. And the building is supposed to be demolished tomorrow. Rollie, please don’t give me a hard time on this.”

Rollie held the receiver against his chest as he counted to ten. He repeated the mantra: she’s a big girl, over and over to himself. Then he forced a smile onto his face, even though Angie couldn’t see him through the receiver, and spoke.

“Okay. Fine,” he said finally, “But don’t overdue it, Angela. It’s not going to do anyone any good if you pass out.”

“Thank you.”

“If I can help in any way let me know. What time do you think you’ll be finished tomorrow?”

“It’s hard to say. I just got here and I called you right away. I’m hoping we’ll be done by 7:00 or 8:00,” she paused briefly, “Rollie, thank you.”

Rollie grumbled something and then they both said their ‘I love you’s’ and hung up. Angie thought about their conversation and remembered how hard it was to say, I love you, to Paul as well as the casual way he threw it out there. It was different with her and Rollie. It wasn’t casual and it wasn’t cut off like, love ya. It was: I love you. And those three words meant a whole lot of difference to Angie, more than she ever thought it would.