Borrowed Time: Saving John Lennon - A Beatles Fanfic

Chapter 16 - RUN FOR YOUR LIFE

May 15, 1968

During the impromptu trip to Central Park yesterday the group had ultimately ended up attracting a crowd. The growing commotion had caused them all to cut their sight seeing short and escape back to the apartment.

That evening, instead of returning to her hotel, Holly spent another night at the apartment with John. A few of the girls hanging out around the building had shouted some less than pleasant things to her as she walked in with the pair of Beatles, and Holly didn't want a repeat of that on her way out. Plus, John had ultimately asked Holly to stay and "talk about the future" late into the evening and she just couldn't tell him no.

Holly awoke to the sound of voices and dishes clattering in the kitchen, although this time she was in a bed and not on the couch. Still quite groggy, she lay there attempting to recall the events of the night before.

She had decided to partake in the consumption alcohol and marijuana, instead of declining like she had the previous evening. When in Rome, she had justified it to herself.

Still trying to remember how she ended up in a bed, and more importantly whose bed it was, Holly finally sat up. The room spun in circles for several seconds. She blinked and tried to refocus on her surroundings. She was fully dressed and completely alone. It didn't seem like any questionable decisions had been made, but she chastised herself for having so much fun that she couldn't remember exactly what she did. Holly wanted to see who else was up and decided to venture out of the bedroom.

"Ah, Sleeping Beauty awakes," Paul chuckled from one of the couches. He had a teacup in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

"Good morning," Holly winced. "Was I the only one still asleep?"

Paul gave a small chuckle, "Nah, luv. John's still out." He motioned to the other couch which was tucked around the corner from Holly's view.

Holly took a few steps from the bedroom door and then saw John asleep, one leg having slipped off the couch and onto the floor. His glasses were still on and his mouth was partially open.

"Is he always such a graceful sleeper?" Holly joked.

"Aah, he's a right beauty when he sleeps, eh?" Paul replied with a smile and a wink. "What about you, then? You were quite the show last night."

"Was I?" Holly asked. "I'm afraid I honestly don't remember how the night ended." She put a hand to her forehead, rubbing her temple to alleviate the pounding in her head. "A bit too much fun, I suppose."

Alex joined them from the kitchen with two cups of tea and sat on the couch with Paul. "Oh you were plenty of fun... up until you weren't."

Holly gave him a puzzled look, and walked closer to accept the tea Alex was offering her.

"Oh, you were a blast until you decided you were tired and needed to go to sleep. You passed right out on the couch there," Alex motioned to the couch John was still sleeping on. "Then you proceeded to wake up a few times, shouting something about having to work in the morning. Some big CIA mission you were being sent on and could we all please shut the hell up?" Paul and Alex were both laughing by the end of the description.

"Oh, God," Holly replied, horrified that she was babbling about the mission she was currently on. "I'm so sorry. I must have been having some weird dream."

"Yeah, well John finally got tired of hearing you. He sent you to his bedroom so you could get your beauty rest." Alex pointed towards John, "He ended up out here. I figured he'd squeeze in with you, but he passed out before he could." With that last sentence, Alex threw a small couch pillow at John, startling him awake.