Sam's Town

I sat at my desk literally wrapped up inside of my own little world. I had no clue what was going on in the hustle and bustle of the office and I didn’t care to know. I was swamped with work… no matter how much I shoved on to Alec I was still swamped with more and more work. My headphones were in and attached to my office phone listening to The Killers, a band I was starting to love more and more as I heard them on the radio. My hands hadn't left my Macbook in about three hours unless it was them grabbing for one of the many cups of coffee that Alec had been so sweet about bringing to me. National Geographic had a deadline to meet on their next issue and it just so happened that two other editors had recently vanished from the company. One was fired and the other was practically on his death bed he was so ill. Stress was an understatement when it came to me right now.

I scrolled through the article once more, making sure that I had covered all spelling and grammatical errors… adding in embellishment when needed… changing anything that needed to be changed. The article seemed to be in the clear to me, but who was I to really know. I had gone over about seven articles in the past three hours, and I had gone over about ten prior to my lunch break. I was most likely delusional. One more and I would probably forget who I was and where I lived. I saved the article and stuck it into my folder for the day’s work, ready to drag the folder into my boss’ DropBox when the end of the day came around.

I leaned back in my leather desk chair and closed my eyes, sighing. Usually this chair was comfortable but today it just made my back stiff and my ass hurt. I brought my hands up to massage my temples and winded up just running them down my face, no care that I had a pound of make-up on. All I wanted was to go home and crawl into my bed, in Mike’s arms, and sleep for the entire weekend. It wasn’t even what I wanted at this point… it was what I needed. I opened my eyes and grabbed for my phone to check the time, 5 pm. I had one hour left here in this hellhole of a job I chose for myself. Sometimes I could really punch myself for deciding to go down the journalism path and jumping into the workforce right out of college. This was my dream in college and it paid well, but now it was just becoming a nightmare. I really hated being an adult sometimes.

Another coffee was set down on my desk by Alec’s manly, but manicured hands. I pulled my earbuds from my ears and swiveled in my chair to look at him. I gave him a soft smile, “Thanks, Alec… I know you’re pretty busy as well… It means a lot that you keep bringing me coffee.”

“It’s honestly the least I can do. It’s not like I have that much to do right now except answer e-mails for you and such, but I can barely do that because it all has to do with this shit,” he sighed. “I think Mike needs to take your ass to the spa this weekend. You need it after these past few days.”

“I honestly just want to sleep all weekend,” I frowned, realizing that the only thing I really looked forward to was sleep… any other time I would be looking forward to hanging out with everyone or going to the bar or something, but no… all I cared about was sleep. “Times like these make me want to quit.”

Alec frowned at my words, “I was thinking about talking to the team and seeing if I can be moved up to editor as well… I wouldn’t be able to be your assistant, but I could at least take a little bit of your work as well as Jake and Amy’s, and Curtis’ when he gets back.”

I smiled, “I actually think that would be a lot better… We’d still get to work together and I can always find another assistant. I can write you a letter of recommend… Can we work on this on Monday?” I laughed at the end of my sentence, “I don’t want any work to do over the weekend.”

“No pressure, Rae,” he smiled. “But thank you, I would really appreciate it if you did so.”

“Monday,” I assured him and then looked at the clock. “I honestly think I’m just going to clock out. My brain is fried to the maximum.”

“Amy left an hour ago because she had a migrane. Go home, Rae…” He squeezed my shoulder and pressed a kiss to my forehead, “I’m going to head out soon myself.”

“Have a great weekend, Alec,” I smiled as he left my cubicle.


I looked at my laptop and sighed, only ten minutes had passed… I had fifty minutes left here if I really wanted to get a good eight hours in. Fuck it. I grabbed the folder and drug it into my boss’ DropBox, then checked to make sure that it did make it in there. I drafted a quick e-mail to him about the articles I read over and that I will be in Monday morning at seven to do more, then turned off my Mac and closed the screen. There was no way in hell it would be back on until Monday. I packed all of my things up and then made my way out of the office building, ready to just get the fuck home.

I grabbed my phone from my purse as I started up my car and pulled out, dialing the number I now knew by heart and holding the phone up to my ear.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Mike’s voice was soft from the other side of the line.

I smiled at the sound of his voice, “Hey, baby. I just wanted to let you know I’m on my way home.”

“I’ll run you a bath and have a glass of wine waiting for you. Once you’re here I’ll start cooking dinner,” he responded. He had been so sweet when I had told him that I had a lot on my plate this week. I was really lucky to have someone who was willing to take care of me when I was unable to do so.

“You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I don’t know what I’d do without you,” I sighed. “I can’t wait to just come home and have you hold me.”

“I’ll hold you all night, Rae Bear. Now pay attention to the road and I’ll see you soon.”

“I love you,” I sighed as I merged onto PCH.

“I love you too,” Mike spoke then hung up the phone.

I looked down at my phone for a minute then threw it into the passengers seat once again. As soon as I looked back at the road my vision was completely taken from me. Pain was inflicted on my entire body and the loud sound of metal scratching against a rough surface was all I could hear until my ears began to ring. The pain that was going through my entire body became excruciating. Everything was still black. My ears were ringing like crazy. I couldn’t feel much, but I could feel a warm substance going down my face. My mouth was dry as I opened it up to scream, unsure if any sound was coming from me or not. I smelled smoke. I was going to die. I felt like I was going to die. All I wanted was Mike. I couldn’t tell you how fast or slow time was going. How long I was like this until I saw lights. It couldn’t be heaven because I knew damn well I wasn’t welcome there.


The sound of beeping echoed through my skull, beating on it as it pounded with an unbearable headache. My body felt sore without even moving it. I felt aches everywhere. There was piercing pain in the left side of my ribcage as well as my right shoulder and knee. If I was feeling pain I couldn’t be dead. I just couldn’t. More and more feeling came back, slowly but surely. I could feel myself breathe, my chest rising up and down. I could feel the blankets lying on top of my body and my pillow underneath of my head. I could feel the IV that stuck into my arm and the wire that rested upon it. But the feeling that came last was the feeling I was longing for, someone’s hand in mine.

I opened my eyes slowly, the bright hospital room lights ready to burn my corneas. The light was horrific, but I adored being able to see. I looked around at the sterile, white environment. This wasn’t a dream. I wasn’t dead. This was very real. I looked at the hand that was holding mine, scattered with tattoos of various things. I looked over the owner of this hand, noting to myself how they had fallen asleep in an uncomfortable chair in a pair of jeans and a flannel.

More feeling was coming back, but this time it wasn’t just the feeling of my body, it was internal feelings. I swallowed the dry lump in my throat as I felt tears prick from my eyes. I opened my mouth, still worried that no sound would come out.

“Mike,” I said in a mere whisper, my throat dry and scratchy. I tried to squeeze his hand with mine but I felt too weak to make an impact, that didn’t matter, though.

His head flew up like he had bat ears. He stared at me with large, wide eyes. His mouth slightly opened in awe. It closed and he blinked, then opened once again, “Rae. Jesus Christ, Rae.” A smile played on his lips and I returned a small one back. “I… You…” He seemed speechless as he just stared at me. “You’ve been out for five and a half weeks… I… I thought I lost you.”

I squeezed his hand as hard as I could, finally feeling as if he could feel the pressure. It was killing me to do so, but I didn’t care. “I’m right here, baby… and I really need some water.”

He chuckled at my last words and grabbed the water bottle that sat by one of the legs of his chair. He unscrewed the cap and stood up, moving closer towards me and holding the bottle to my lips. He tilted the bottle so I could get some water in my throat and drink without having to move too much. As I drank I looked at him… he hadn’t shaved in god knows how long. His hair was a scraggly, long mess. The bags under his eyes were dark and horrible. His skin was pale. He looked like he was homeless… He must’ve been here with me this entire time.

“Ah, Ms. Matthews, nice to see you have finally joined us,” a tall doctor stood by the foot of my bed. “I’m Dr. Dresdon. I have been watching over you for the past few weeks along with your nice boyfriend over here.”

“Well, Dr. Dresdon… Can I have some pain killers? And can you get this catheter out of me? It’s really pissing me off. Oh and call me Rae.” I groaned, my voice finally coming out more evenly now that my throat was moist again.

The doctor smiled and I watched Mike snicker and shake his head out of the corner of my eye. “Well, Rae, there are a few things I would like to speak with you about and then we will get all of these things taken care of. Mike did warn me you’re a bit of a pistol so I will try to make this as short and sweet as I can right now.”

“Shoot,” I shot him a smile.

“You were hit by a drunk driver who passed at the scene. I believe arrangements have gone on between their family and yours to pay for damages to both you as well as your vehicle, but you will have to check with your attorney on that… The accident caused four cracked ribs, a fractured patella… your kneecap… and also a scapular fracture… your shoulder blade. I am sure you can feel all of these quite harshly right now. You will have to undergo physical therapy on your shoulder and knee. Your shoulder, if not moved much, should be healed within the next two months. Your ribs in the same amount of time. Your knee should be healed within three months but may still cause you pain.”

I couldn’t even explain the sour look on my face. That stupid fuck that hit me’s family better be paying for me to pay rent because there is no way in hell I will be able to work all busted up. “What about my head?”

“You cracked your skull, no big deal there. No swelling of the brain or anything of that sort. You were out for five and a half weeks. I would really like for you to stay in the hospital for at least the next three days so that we can watch you closely now that you are awake.” Dr. Dresden smiled, “Your laptop, cellphone and purse were all able to be saved from the scene before your vehicle caught fire. Those objects were given to your boyfriend. I will have a nurse come in with pain killers as well as to remove the catheter from you. Another will come in with something to eat for you. If you would like to call your family you may do so. There are three hours left of visiting time. I will see you in a few hours, take care.”


Once the doctor was out of sight and the first nurse came in to remove my catheter and give me a glass of water and painkillers, I looked over at Mike, who was still staring at me like he was amazed that I was alive. “Babe,” I said softly, waving my hand in front of his face.

“Yes?” He asked.

“Number one, give me a kiss. Number two, call my mom please.”

“Already texted her and she is on her way,” he smiled.

I puckered my lips as he stood up and approached me. He set his lips down on mine gently as if he was scared he was going to hurt me. I was thankful for this. I probably wouldn’t be able to handle a forceful kiss… not yet at least. When he pulled away from me he brought his hand up to my face and softly ran his knuckles down the side of it, his eyes looking at me, full with admiration.

“Have you been here this whole time?” I asked while getting lost in his big, brown orbs of eyes.

He nodded, “I’ve gone home twice a week to shower. When I went home your mom stayed here with you. I’ve spent every night by your side. They even offered me a bed to sleep on. Said they would bring it in here… but I chose the chair every night just so I could hold your hand. I was so scared you weren’t going to wake up, Rae. You have no idea how much has been going through my mind ever since I got a phone call saying you were hit. I felt like my heart was ripped out of my chest. I was the first person they called. If that fucker that hit you hadn’t died I would probably be in jail right now for killing him. I thought I lost you, baby. I don’t even want to speak about what I was contemplating while you laid there barely breathing for the past five and a half weeks.”

“What do you mean?” I asked softly.

He breathed in sharply, “If you didn’t wake up, Pierce the Veil would have to find a new drummer. I… I wouldn’t be able to live without you. The last thing I would have ever heard from you was that you loved me…”

I chewed on my bottom lip, trying to hold in my tears as I watched tears fall from Mike’s eyes as he spoke. I knew he loved me from the day he told me, but I never knew that I really meant this much to him. He literally was the best thing that ever happened to me. Just hearing all of this come out of his mouth, watching him cry as he poured his heart out and explained himself made one thing clear to me… this man was my everything. There was no one in the world that could possibly love me more than him. He was willing to sacrifice everything just to be with me. I wanted to be with him for the rest of my life. He stayed by my side for a month and a half, worried I wasn’t going to make it.

“I love you, Mike,” I choked out through my tears. “I love you with every piece of me.”

“I swear to god, Rae, one day I’m going to make you my wife. I cannot be without you.”

“Please lay with me,” I scooted over to give him room. He kicked his Vans off his feet and laid down next to me, leaving space between us like he was scared to touch me. “Please hold me.”

“I… I don’t want to hurt you…” He said softly.

“You could never hurt me, Mikey,” I whispered and kissed his lips softly, smiling onto them as he wrapped his arms around me loosely.

He pulled his lips away and pressed his forehead to mine, “I’m not going to leave your side these next few months. I want you in my sight twenty-four-seven. I don’t care if you have to take a shit. You’re leaving the door open so if I walk by I will know you’re fine.”

“Gross.”

Notes

I updated I updated I updated!!!!
I hope everyone had a great holiday season!
It's always great to spend time with friends & family.

So, this chapter was kind of sad and unexpected.
Well, I expected it... ya'll didn't expect it lol.

This chapter is what is about to tie the story up.
I don't know how many chapters will be left.
I'm aiming to end the story at 50 to 55.
Sad to see it begin to wrap up.

xoxoxox