The Gemini

54 - Anderson

June 8, 1991

"I can't shake the feeling that this is all my fault."

Property damages. Lives taken. Three of them and two left in critical condition.

"Baby, there's nothing you could've done to stop it. I'm just glad you weren't there."

Gossip reports said that a fire had been set inside of Jody's apartment. Factual investigation proved that the flames were caused not by arson, but a bomb. Someone broke in, doused the place in lighter fluid and left the ticking explosive sitting by the stove, on which the gas had been turned on.

At four in the morning most of the residents were asleep. No one saw a thing leading up to the crime, but the aftermath just about rocked the whole town. Its shockwave rippling across the continent, causing tears to Jody's eyes.

Here in bed she lay, a mix-up of emotions; each of them overshadowed by a sense of guilt. Saddened she was over the things she lost. The material possessions didn't matter, but the sentimental items such as family pictures and mementos from her mother were among the things that she would never get back. And guilt told her that she had no right to feel bad, reminding her that there were people who lost much more than she.

Laying next to Jody, fingers soothing through her hair, Roger tried to comfort her as much as he could. All the while he was discontented by his own suspicions and the nerve-racking reality that his angel could've been one of the lives lost. Had it not been his birthday, she would've still been there in that apartment sleeping away in her room, unaware of a thing before it would've been too late.

The thought caused a sick feeling in his stomach. He held on to her.

"I don't give damn what MTV says or what kind of argument they want to make, you're not going back to New York. I want you safe and the only place you'll be that, is here with me."

Jody wasn't going to put up a fight. She actually didn't want to. Someone obviously wanted her dead and she'd be stupid not to be afraid. She didn't want to leave Roger's side. In fact, she didn't even want to leave the bedroom.

"They'll have to find a way to relocated taping or something. If they're not willing to renegotiate, then you're leaving. Your safety is more important." he said. "We'll find you something better."

Subdued, "Okay." Jody replied weakly.

Roger didn't like the sound. Her back was to him but he knew she was crying. "Hey." he called softly.

Sniffling, "None of them asked for this. To go to sleep not knowing that it was going to be their last time." A sudden watery sob hitched her words. "Innocent people gone because of some psycho looking for me."

Loss. Jody knew it much too well. It tore her apart as a child and left her with scars. Now to know that somewhere someone else had to experience that same loss because of her, tore her again. A new crater full of grief.

"They didn't ask for that." she cried. "And then the shit storm that's just waiting on the other side. All the questions and the investigations and the media."

She went on with more sobs bouncing her words as she thought about the aftermath.

"And then they'll find a way to drag you into it. I can see it now, Prince's doomed fiancée. That's the last thing you need on top of the album, and the Olympics, and Paisley, and...."

"So what? I don't care about that." Roger interrupted her ramble, "They drag my name into mud over something new everyday. You think I pay any attention to it? I keep doing what I do."