THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD || Paul McCartney [Completed]

17. Come On Get Higher

Come on get higher

Loosen my lips

Faith and desire

And the swing of your hips

Just pull me down hard

And drown me in love. 

--

Natalie took a long nap on Paul's couch. She thought about sleeping in his bed but felt that would be a bit too personal. She didn't want to make a habit out of it, at least not yet. Now she was playing with Martha and felt a lot lighter, and had a lot more clarity than she did before her nap. She decided to omit the information regarding the gentlemen in the car. She wouldn't unnecessarily worry Paul unless she felt it was a real problem. Those men were probably waiting for someone and were watching her walk by like they would with anyone else.

She was still worried about the situation with her brother, but what else was she going to do about that? She just had to let it go for now. What's done is done, and she can't miraculously change the past. Her brother dug himself in this hole, and he would have to figure out a way to climb out. She heard the door open, and her heart began to race as familiar steps entered the living room.

"Hello, luv," he said when he saw her sitting on the floor with Martha bouncing around her, with a ball in her mouth.

She turned to look at him and smiled, "Hello, how was the studio?"

"It went well today—" He tilted his head, "wait, what are you doing here?" He shook his head, realizing how that sounded, "not that I'm complaining, but shouldn't you be working right about now?" He glanced down at his watch and then back at her, wondering if he was wrong or missing something.

"No, I left early. In the morning actually," she shrugged her shoulders, reaching out to pat Martha's head. Paul could tell something was bothering her. He moved to sit next to her and reached out to pet Martha as well. He leaned in, resting his chin on Natalie's shoulder.

"What's botherin' you luv? Tell me please?"

Natalie sighed and turned, forcing him to lift his head up and meet her gaze. She turned so she was facing him with her legs crossed and reached out to draw small circles on his knees. She liked touching him, even if it was small touches that just reminded her that he was hers.

"When I got into work this morning, Danny looked like he got the bloody pulp beaten out of him and it turns out he really did get the bloody pulp beaten out of him. He looks terrible."

Paul frowned, "What happened?"

"Well, he and my idiotic brother decided to go down to the—" She paused, staring at him for a moment before beginning. Could she trust Paul with such information?

"Go down to what?" He pressed on, waiting for her to continue her story.

"If I tell you what happened, can you promise me you won't tell a soul?" She gave him a stern look, her eyes burning into his.

This sparked Paul's curiosity even more, and he lifted a brow with interest, "Of course, you know I wouldn't—so where did they go?"

"To an underground fighting circuit." She said in a whisper, as if someone would be listening.

Paul's eyes widened, "The ones where people gamble on fights?"

"Yes, those." Natalie confirmed, "My brother gambled on a fighter who lost, Danny offered to fight to win the money back but he lost the fight, causing my brother to plummet into even more debt. He said he borrowed the money from someone, and wouldn't tell me who. I'm just worried he's going to get himself into trouble."