Just for Tonight

20.

" I've barely been able to talk to her in three months, Migé", Ville complained, taking a sip straight from the bottle.

" Her nurse wants to spare her any stress until she gets better", Migé shrugged.

"It's driving me crazy, bro", Ville sighed. "I don't know... Maybe she's forgotten me? Or doesn't love me any more? Or maybe... She wants to break up?"

"No way, Ville. She loves you. Someone is just keeping her from getting in touch with you. Take it from me: she'll get better and she'll be with us soon", Linde stated.

"Well, here's to Chloe", Migé laughed, clinking his bottle against Ville's.

"Migé, Ville, that's enough. You've had enough to drink for tonight ", Burton said. " Time to go to bed.. Tomorrow we have a flight to catch and... Back to Helsinki ! Helldone, here we are !"

" Need to puke", Ville said and he went to the bathroom. Just like every night since she wasn't there.

Linde shocked his head.
---

" Nurse Maria, can I have my phone today ? Five minutes... Please", Chloe begged her with puppie eyes.

Nurse Maria sighed. "You can't... Your doctor doesn't allow you to... You know... To see things from the press which can stress you out ..."

"Oh boy ! I know the headlines by heart without reading them : Ville Valo and his girlfriend - the end of the romance-... Something like that. Or maybe a picture of him with a random girl.. Without any clear explanation... The usual shit", she groaned. "I only want to see if he called me or texted me and maybe... I want to text him.. Please Maria !"

Just as she was pleading, her phone, hidden in the nurse's pocket, rang.

"Ville!", Chloe exclaimed as Maria picked up the phone and looked at the screen.

"Migé", she replied and gave it to Chloe.

When Migé called, Maria was less reluctant to give her her mobile phone. Migé brought joy and good humour to Chloe's aseptic daily routine. With Ville, it was different. Maria often saw her crying and trying to comfort her lover, who often didn't seem to be sober.

"Migé Amour !!" Chloe exclaimed without hidding her happiness.

" Chloweeee darling !! ", he answered in the same tone.

" What's up ! I'm missing you like crazy", she laughed.

" And you are so missed too", Migé smiled.

" How... How is he ?", Chloe softly asked.

" You know... He is a mess", he whispered. " Chloe, we have just landed in Helsinki. It's Helldone..."

" Helsinki? Helldone ? Now ? Oh Migé !! You all are so close to me... And so far", she cried and laughed at the same time.

" Do you think you'll be able to come to the last Helldone's gig on saturday ?" he asked, hope in his voice.

" You know I'm a prisoner here in the care home," she replied, looking sternly at Nurse Maria, who looked away.

" How do you feel ?" Migé enquired.

" Better. Really better Migé. I need to see you... To see him. I promised, I promised myself I'd be there for Helldone. It is that date that gave me a goal and the strength to get back on track", she admitted.

" Maybe you can ask for... permission or sign a discharge?" Migé replied.

" Nurse Maria, can I be discharged from hospital ?", she asked her nurse.

" Well, if that's what you really want, I can check with your doctor", Nurse Maria sighed again.

" Migé, did you hear that ? I'll try to be there. You'll be on stage at midnight, right? "

" Yes that's it. Listen Chlo... I'm not going to say anything to Ville. I don't want to give him false hope. But if you do come, I'll be waiting for you at 11.30pm outside the stage door. It will be a nice surprise and I can assure you that he needs you. Badly. " Migé decided. They hung up.
---

" I don't agree with you leaving our care home. And especially to go back to the crazy routine of a tour", the doctor said sternly. "You're just getting your strength back, Chloe. You were so weak when you joined us three months ago."

"I never said I was going back on tour," she tried to defend herself. "In fact... I don't know, I... But I can't help it, I have to see him..."

"If you go out, it's against medical advice, but I can't stop you. It's still too early...", the doctor tried again.

"So, am I free?" she asked with a smile.

"Let me take some more blood... Just to be sure... You can sign the release tomorrow and you'll be on time for the concert. Happy New Year, Chloe..." he sighed, resigned.

----
As agreed, Chloe met Migé outside the stage door. They hugged and watched each other.

"You're so pale" said Migé as he hugged her.

"I'm fine," she replied. "How is he tonight ?"

"I tried to limit the damage, I did what I could..." Migé confessed.

"How do you think he'll react?" she worried. "Doesn't he suspect anything?"

"No, he doesn' t have a single clue. How he will react... It's Ville... We'll see. But I can tell you that the other guys are sooo happy that you're here tonight ! "

"It's so good to be free!" she laughed.

"Ready to surprise him?" he asked.

"Yes, I can't wait! " she exclaimed.

"I've found a place backstage where he won't see you" he giggled. " Chloe, just one more thing : Don't ever let go. He needs you. If you see him tonight, you must... It will mean you never let go of his hand again. Including in the US. Do you get it ?" he softly asked.

" Oh... Migé..." she sighed. "I didn't see things like that... I admit I didn't think... Going on tour again.....". She hesitated. "Tell me, is the situation that serious?"

"He drinks... Again. Not like before, but we're getting there", Migé replied cautiously.

She thought for a moment.

"I'm with him, I'm with you all," she decided.