Wanting You - Mandy Gonzalez X Chris Jackson - COMPLETED

4 - Home?

"I'm home," I heard the finale notes of the show and jumped to my feet. I cheered loudly and clapped. I couldn't believe I was getting to be apart of that. I knew I was in for a ride, but also had a feeling in my gut that this was going to be a smash hit.

The cast bowed and I caught Chris's eye. He smiled at me, I smiled back. It was clear from his performance that it wasn't up to standard for him, but I wasn't surprised. The last time he had done the show was with his wife, almost two months ago, who had since passed away. It was no surprise that the wasn't feeling it.

As everyone kind of danced off stage I saw Chris run. I jumped up from my seat, left the auditorium and ran backstage to find Chris. I saw him just before he ran into their dressing room. "Chris." I called out. He turned around and ran towards me. I opened my arms for him and he ran into then crying. "It's okay Chris, I understand." I rubbed his back, comforting him. I saw Lin walking towards us, I knew Chris would probably rather be alone, or with me to comfort him.

"Chris, bro? You alright? Can I talk to you about your performance tonight?"

Chris just cried into my shoulder. "It's okay Chris. Calm down, it'll be fine." His sobs quietened as I spoke to Lin, while still hugging him. "Lin, I think Chris just needs some alone time. I noticed his performance wasn't what I would normally expect, but he's been trough a lot and this was his first time performing without Veronica. I understand that it would be impossibly hard for him, I hope you and everyone else understands that too."

Lin nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow Chris." He rubbed Chris's shoulder gently. "Mandy, you two seem close already, can you keep an eye on him for me. Thank you."

"Of course Lin. Is there somewhere here we can go, so we aren't in the middle of the corridor?"

"Yeah, down the corridor and on your left. It's the third dressing room. We left it empty as it made more sense to have a Male and Female and a spare room incase something happened. There's a couch in there for you to sit on."

"Awesome. Thanks." I let go of Chris but kept one arm around him as I lead him to the spare changing room. I turned on the light and sat us both down on the couch. I took his hands in mine. "Is this okay with you? You don't mind me holding your hands like this?"

"Not at all, it's comforting." He squeezed my hands letting me know it was okay.

"Chris, your performance tonight, although it wasn't up to what would normally be expected of you, it was still incredible. Most people would probably think that Benny is meant to be more upset and cry in the second act, he could be about to lose Nina if her father disapproves after all. So your performance was fine. And by the time we make it to Broadway, you will have most likely recovered a bit more from your loss. I'm here to support you and I'll stay with you as long as you need."

"Thank you Mandy. I just don't know if I can do this anymore. I don't think I can play Benny without her." He began to cry in my shoulder again." I wrapped an arm around him and rubbed his bicep up and down.

"Shhhhh, It's okay Chris. I've got you, respira." He took a few deep breaths in and out. "That's it. Chris, you need to do this. This character was written around you, Lin told me that during my audition. You've been with this show for over 5 years, you can't fall at the last hurdle. You can't end this journey now. Veronica would want you to do it. She's up there watching you, and supporting you. Do it for me, do it for Lin, do it for the cast, do it for Doug. But most importantly do it for Veronica. Do it for her. She wants you to go to Broadway with this show. If nothing else Chris, please, do it for her, for her legacy."

I looked at him with pleading eyes. The show needed him. I felt like I needed him. He'd been so kind to me, and in just a few hours I felt we had grown so close. He had asked me to look after his three year old kid and wanted to offer me a room to stay in.

"Okay, I'll do it, I'll do it for V and for you. I want to do it for you as well Mandy. I was the one who suggested you tried out for the show. I can't then not do it as soon as you come."

"Thank you Chris." I wrap both arms around him in a hug.

"No thank you Mandy." I feel his arms go around my waist. He stands up, pulling me with him, so we are standing in each other's arms. "How about I get changed and ready to leave, we head to your hotel, grab all your things then head home. Well back to mine, but it's now home for us both."

Home, we'd only really known each other for and his house was going to be my home, or at least until I have the money to get myself a little apartment somewhere.