"Don't blame him, hon, the road is long and hard and eventually you talk about everything whether you want to or not." Cassidy said. "Unfortunately Micky isnt much of a talker."
"Oh?" Valerie raised an eyebrow. Cassidy dried off her hands. "Oh!" Valerie said suddenly getting it.
"Its not like that." Cassidy said. "Well not often anyway."
"Hey its none of my business." Valerie said now washing her own hands.
"So tell me about Elijah." Cassidy said fanning the air about her. "Its remarkable there isnt more bathroom deaths here."
"Its a long story." Valerie said.
"Either I hear the truth from you, or I will hear it in a booze influenced lie from the man himself." Cassidy informed her.
"We were good, and then not so good." Valerie dried her hands. "He tried to start something on the bus this morning. He ambushed me from the bathroom." She shook her head. "I'm still pissed at him."
"He hasnt had a girlfriend in a while." Cassidy said as they left the bathroom.
"Still no excuse." Valerie muttered while passing the band table. Elijah wasnt there. "He's gone. Maybe he hitched a ride home."
Valerie and Cassidy moved to their booth table. Cassidy climbed over Mikes legs again. Valerie sat down next to him. A thought struck her.
"Is there a pay phone around here?" Valerie asked Mike.
"Why?" He asked.
"I want to see if Chris is ok. I think I know what hospital shes at." She dug into her pocket and grabbed a small fist full of quarters. "I won't be long."
"Well hurry back, we ordered the special for you." Mikcy smiled.
"I'm suddenly very afraid of what I will get when I get back." Valerie said as an aside to Mike. "Roadkill delight."
"Just like mama used to make." Mike smiled. He touched her hand before she left. "I'll save you a hush puppy."
Outside Valerie found the phone next to the bus, why she hadnt seen it before she had no idea. She plunked a couple of quarters into the phone and called information. She rambled off the name of the hospital she had last gone to with Chris, Mercy General hospital, and was instantly connected.
"Hey can I speak to Chris or Andrew Johnson?" Valerie said into the phone.
"You can dial their room number." An irritating heliumy sounding voice on the end of the line said. Must be a head nurse.
"I would if I knew." Valerie said. "Shes delivering a baby."
"Oh right, the one who swears." The nurse said. She punched a few numbers and the next voice she heard was male.
"Hello?" It was Andy.
"Its me, Val." Valerie said. "Hows Chris?"
"Still coming along. Its a false alarm but the doctor is keeping her here just in case. She is very very close." Andy said. "And shes letting us know it too."
"I know. The head nurse said she was the one who swears?" Valerie laughed envisioning her pal with a potty mouth.
"I remember what it was like the first time around. There were grizzled sea veterans three door cringing at what she said. I just hope its not genetic." Andy laughed. "How are you?"
"I'm ok. I guess you know whats going on with Elijah." Valerie said. "I don't know if I can deal with him. I know its been a while since it happened but the wound is still fresh."
"And seeing him is like dumping some salt in it, right?" Andy asked. One of Andys old jobs was as a high school guidance instructor.
"Right." Valerie said.
Andy was gone off the phone for a second. "I gotta go, shes asking for ice chips. I don't think shes hungry, I think shes just looking for something to chuck at me." Andy confessed.
"Just make sure she gets a lot of rest." Valerie said. "I'll owe her baby-sitting time when I get back."
"We'll count on it! Thank you Auntie Valerie." Andy smiled.
"I'll see you as soon as I can." Valerie said her goodbyes and hung up the phone. She turned to go back to the diner but jumped when she saw who was standing behind her. It was Elijah.
"Don't do that." Valerie said.
"I'm sorry." Elijah said. "Look we need to talk."
"About what?" Valerie said. "Did you listen into my phone conversation?"
"A little, you are hard to ignore you know." Elijah said. "I came out for a smoke. Whats your excuse?" When Valerie didnt answer he moved towards her. "I think we have to talk, and its been a long time coming. Is there anywhere we can go?"
Valerie looked at the diner and then at him. "Fine, five minutes, right here though."
"Deal." Elijah said.
"So now what?" Valerie said.
"I know I hurt you a long time ago." Elijah said. "When the whole thing with Mary went down I only thought of myself."
"No s...." Valerie started to say.
"Please." Elijah said. "I'm sorry for any hurt I caused you. But I happen to think that if we are going to co-exist for the next few days, we need to make a truce. We can't change what happened and we can't let it affect us forever."
"You sure as hell didnt." Valerie said. "But I sorta agree with you. After this week we don't have to see each other again." Which would be fine by me, Valerie thought but didnt add that onto what she had said.
"Truce?" Elijah said holding out a hand. Valerie stared at it as though he held an invisible bomb. "Truce?" He said again.
"Truce." Valerie said and shook his hand. He gripped it harder than she expected he would. "Come on, we got food waiting."
Elijah let go and went into the diner with Valerie following close behind. Mike was waiting at the door.
"Mike." Elijah nodded. Mike nodded back. Elijah passed and went to his table. Valerie went up to Mike.
"Chris is fine, no baby yet." Valerie said.
"Thats good. What was that all about?" Mike asked nodding in Elijahs general direction.
"A peace accord. We'll see if it lasts." Valerie said. "If any one of us is going to last this tour it had to be done. Come on, lets eat some so-called food. I havent eaten since home."
Valerie walked passed Mike who looked at Elijah one last time while wondering what it was that Valerie had agreed to.
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