together we will be unbroken

(Ronnie pov)

I’m in Andy’s room, and we’re just talking about random things. “Dude, I wonder who would win in a fist fight, Chuck Norris, or Thor.” Andy says.

“Chuck Norris definitely.” I smile.

“No way! Thor would totally kick his ass!”

“But he’s Chuck Norris! Nobody beats Chuck Norris.” I laugh.

“But Thor’s a fucking god!”

My phone goes off, and the screen lights up with a picture of me, and Tum at the beach. “I wonder what Tum wants… Hey Tum, What’s up?”

“Ronnie…” She sobs.

“Laci what’s wrong?” I feel some panic wash over me. She lets out a blood curdling scream. “Tummy talk to me…” Andy is giving me a concerned look.

“Stomach.” She chokes. I can hear her heavy breathing on the other end. She screams again. Oh shit!

“Tum, where are your shots, are they in your room?” I ask panicked.

“No…” She groans.

“Where are they?” I spring to my feet, and start pacing. Andy’s look intensifies.

“Bus.” She grunts.

“Okay, I’ll be there as soon as possible okay. Just hang in there Tummy.”

“Please. Hurry.” She cries.

I hang up the phone, and turn to Andy. “Go down to the Conference Room. Laci’s in there, don’t touch her anywhere but her face, arm, or shoulders. Do not under any circumstances move her. Just tell her that she’s going to be okay, I’ll explain later, just hurry!” I don’t wait for him to respond, I just sprint out the door.

(Laci pov)

I scream in pain again, and curl up into a ball on the floor. I’m sweating, but I’m freezing, my stomach, and back hurt so bad. I just got off the phone with Ronnie. It’s okay Lace, it will be over soon. The door bursts open, then slams shut. “Shh.. shh, it’s okay.” Andy’s deep voice tells me. I feel his hand rub circles on my shoulders. Another wave of pain washes over me, and i scream again. “You’re going to be okay Lace.” He chokes. I put my forehead to the floor, and clench my hands into fists.

“Make it stop.” I sob.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t. Ronnie will be here in a bit Hun, so just hang in there.” The pain has only intensified, and I feel like I’m going to explode.


(Andy pov.)

I ran down to the Conference Room, and found Laci in a screaming ball on the floor. I immediately run over to her, and try to calm her down. She screams in pain. This is much worse than the last time I found her screaming. The sound breaks my heart. “You’re going to be okay Lace.” I choke. There are tears coming out of my eyes. I don’t know what to do. She’s obviously in pain, and I don’t know how to help her. She shifts, so her face is on the floor, and her hands are balled into fists.

“Make it stop.” She cries.

i swallow, my own sobs, “I’m sorry, but I can’t. Ronnie will be here in a bit HUn, so just hang in there.” She sobs louder, and her whole body is shaking. I grab her hand, and she holds it in a bone crushing grip. “You’re going to be okay.” I say quietly. The door flies open, and ROnnie runs over to us.

“I’m here Tum, I’m here.” He pats her shoulders gently. “I’m going to pick you up okay?” She nods sharply. He walks to the other side of her, and sits her up gently. “Here hold this.” He hands me a bag, and I take it. He wraps an arm, around her shoulders, and lifts her off the ground. She gasps in pain. “Sorry.” He says, and places his arms under her thighs. “Come on.” He nods at me.

I follow him to the elevator, he presses the button impatiently. I put his arm down before he can break it. “It’s okay man, it’ll come.”

He nods stiffly, and kisses Laci’s head. She cries into his shoulder. “I know, I know.” he says gently. His eyes are glassy. I’ve never seen him so emotional. The elevator arrives, and we step in. Laci grunts, I can tell she is trying to stay quiet.

“Do you want me to try to get ahold of Ashley?” I ask. She nods. I pull out my phone, and call Ashley. The line is busy. “Shit.” I mumble. She looks at me with bloodshot, wide eyes. “Don’t worry sweetheart, I’ll keep trying.” I try again, but it’s still busy. The elevator dings, and Ronnie speedwalks to his room.

“Hey Andy, I know this is awkward, but can you get my key out of my back pocket?”

“Yeah sure.” I try to get it out the least gay way possible, and I unlock to door. Ronnie goes to the bathroom, and places Laci on the sink.

“Can I have that bag?” He asks. I hand it to him. He takes it, and pulls out a shot.

“Ronnie…” I say. He ignores me, and takes off Laci’s pants. “Ronnie?”He continues ignoring me, takes the cap off of the needle, and injects it into Laci’s thigh.

“Now all we do is wait.” He sighs.

“Ronnie what the hell is going on?” I ask.

“Well you see, Laci had to have some organ transplants, and every few months her t- cells will start attacking them. It’s very painful, and she needs to have a shot when it happens, so it can stop.” He explains.

“Oh my God.” Is all I can say. Her head rolls against the wall, and she clenches her jaw.

“Shh, it’s okay, it’ll be over soon…” Ronnie says gently.

“Here, I’ll try Ash again.” I dial his number, and this time, he actually picks up.

“Hey man what’s up?”

“Get down to Ronnie’s room now.” I say urgently.

“Um okay, why?”

“It’s about Laci, she’s fine, and we’ll explain when yu get here.”

“Wait what?” He asks.

“Just hurry.” I tell him, and hang up.

Ronnie puts a wash cloth on her forehead, “Are you cold?” She nods. He gets up, and walks out.

“Andy?” She asks weakly.

“Yes?”

“Will you hold my hand?”

“Of course.” I walk over, and hold her tiny, cold hand in mine. She is shivering, and sweating at the same time. Does she have a fever?

Ronnie comes back in with a pile of clothes in his arms. “Here.” He pulls her back off the wall, and wraps her in one of his sweatshirts, and then he put her in a pair of sweats. “Better?” She nods. There’s a sharp knock at the door.

“I got it.” I walk to the door, and almost get run over by Ashley.

“What’s wrong? Where is she?” He panics.

“She’s right in there, and please don’t freak out, it will probably freak her out.” I tell him. He nods, and follows me into the bathroom.

“Rose.” He says.

She opens her eyes, “Hey Cowboy.” She smiles. It’s not a strong one. I think she’s trying to make it seem like nothing is wrong.

“Are you okay?” He asks softly. She shakes her head slowly.

“Here, let me check your temperature.” Ronnie pulls a thermometer out of the bag. Laci jerks her head back, and clenches her jaw. “COme one Lace we do this everytime.” Her eyes jerk from the thermometer to Ronnie. “I’m not your grandmother TUm, I’m not going to shove it down your throat.” She relaxes a bit, and opens up her mouth. “Thank you.” He places it under her tongue, and she closes her mouth around it. She looks at Ashley, and tells him to go over to her by using her pointer finger. When he gets to her side, she wraps her arms around him, and places her head on his ribs. He smiles a little, and returns the hug. Ronnie pulls the thermometer out of her mouth, and sighs. “106.7. How are you feeling?”

“My back hurts.” She mumbles.

“I can’t give you your other shot yet…” He tells her.

“Shot?” Ashley asks.

“I had to give her a shot so her t-cells wouldn’t destroy her organs.” ROnnie explains. “She normally gets a pretty bad fever, and I have to give her another set of shots until her temperature goes back down under 98.”

“I’m tired.” SHe yawns.

“Sorry Tummy, but you can’t sleep yet.” ROnnie says gently. She sighs, and bows her head. Ashley sits down next to her, and pulls her onto his lap. She snuggles into the place under his chin, and he kisses the top of her head.

“Ronnie… It’s okay now.” She says weakly.

“REally?” He asks skeptically.

“Yes.” She tried to put more attitude in it, but she’s too weak to do so.

“Okay then, Ash I have to give her another shot okay?” He nods. “Can you do me a favor, and take her pants off for me?”

“Ronnie, I am not going to let you drug my girl, and do unspeakable things to her.” He jokes. She laughs a little and rolls her eyes.

“I can do it.” She mumbles, and slides her pants off. When she’s finished, she falls back onto Ashley, clearly too weak to hold herself up. Poor thing.

“Ready?” Ronnie asks. She nods, and he sticks another needle into her thigh. “There, now all we have to do is wait…”

“How you holding up Rose?”

“Okay…” She mumbles.

“Tum, no sleeping.” Ronnie says firmly,but kindly.

“Yes mom.” She opens her eyes, and smiles weakly at Ronnie.

“Hey that’s you,not me.” He replies.

“When do I act motherly?” She asks.

“All the time! You always make sure that we’re there on time, and you are always looking out for our well being.”

“It’s my job!” She defends.

“It’s not a bad thing.” Ronnie says reassuringly. “It’s just true.” After about an hour, Ronnie checks her temperature again, and gives her another shot. “We’re at 102.” He smiles.

“I’m tired.” She mumbles.

“Hey.” Ashley jerks his shoulder, and her head springs up. “No sleeping.”

“What time is it?” She asks.

“One oh one.” I reply.

“Ugh! This sucks.” She scoffs.

“I know Tum, I know.” Ronnie replies. She’s pretty calm, and patient, even when she’s in pain. It’s amazing.

Another hour goes by, and Ronnie gives her another shot. Laci is about ready to fall asleep. We’ve been asking her questions for the last hour and a half to keep her awake, and I can tell that the fever, and the hour are starting to get to her. “Stay awake darlin” Ashley coos.

“I don’t wanna…” She mumbles.

“Your temperature is still to high Tum, just a little while longer.” Ronnie tells her.

“Do you want us to turn on some music?” I ask.

“No, that’s a horrible idea! I fall asleep to music.” She tells me.

“Okay then.” I smile.

Her head, and eyelids start to droop again. “Tum.” Ronnie says warningly.

Her head snaps up again. “Huh what?!”

“No sleeping.”

“I know…” She grumbles. She is definitely not a morning person.

“100.3, you’re almost there Tum.” Ronnie informs her.

“Ash that is not helping.”
“Sorry.” He smiles. Ronnie places the thermometer back in her mouth, and sits back down on the toilet. Laci starts humming a tune I’ve never heard before. I’ve never heard her hum before, it’s nice. Ashley is smiling down at Laci. The look in his eye is one full of love. I never thought I’d see the day when Ashley Purdy looked at a girl like that. Her head starts to fall again, but she snaps it up. Ashley puts another cold washcloth on her forehead, and leaves his hand there. He kisses her temple, and a look of contentment washes over Laci’s face. It makes me happy. She stops humming, and Ashley looks down at her. “Hey I was listening to that.”

“Sorry.” She mumbles. “What do you want me to do next?”

“Well let’s see…” Ashley ponders with a smile on his face. “What about an older one?”

“You mean oldies, or nineties ballads?” She asks.

“Whatever you want.” She thinks about it a bit, and starts singing.

“ She put him out like the burnin' end of a midnight cigarette
She broke his heart he spent his whole life tryin' to forget
We watched him drink his pain away a little at a time
But he never could get drunk enough to get her off his mind
Until the night


He put that bottle to his head and pulled the trigger
And finally drank away her memory
Life is short but this time it was bigger
Than the strength he had to get up off his knees
We found him with his face down in the pillow
With a note that said I'll love her till I die
And when we buried him beneath the willow
The angels sang a whiskey lullaby



The rumors flew but nobody knew how much she blamed herself
For years and years she tried to hide the whiskey on her breath
She finally drank her pain away a little at a time
But she never could get drunk enough to get him off her mind
Until the night


She put that bottle to her head and pulled the trigger
And finally drank away his memory
Life is short but this time it was bigger
Than the strength she had to get up off her knees
We found her with her face down in the pillow
Clinging to his picture for dear life
We laid her next to him beneath the willow
While the angels sang a whiskey lullaby”


It’s silent for a minute. I’m in awe from her beautiful voice. Ashley breaks the silence, “That was beautiful Rose.”

“97.4” Ronnie tells her.

“Can I sleep now?” She asks.

“You can sleep now.”

She nods, and rests her head on Ashley’s shoulder. “To the bedroom rapstallion!”

Notes

Hey guys, so tomorrow is tje start of hell week for musical, so I probably won't get to update that much. I will do my bes, but there are no promises. Thanks for reading.