DOCTORS II

EMERGENCY

She looked up at the beams with the spotlight above her and closed her eyes. And then the music started to play. She took off the glittery golden top hat she was wearing and put it down on the ground. Then she took hold of the pole with one hand and leaned back. She swung around a few times before she bend her leg around the pole, gripping onto it, while holding on with her free leg. She turned her head to the audience and smiled and then continued with her pole dance routine. Then suddenly she let go with her legs and fell to the floor. Allen gave a worried frown when he saw what happened. She then got up and limped backstage. Allen got up too and rushed to Jolene's dresser room. He knocked on the door before entering and saw her sitting in front of the vanity table crying. "What happened?"

"I don't know. I just felt a sharp pain and then I couldn't dance anymore."

"Do you want me to take you to the hospital?"

"No Allen, it's okay."

He knew she wasn't okay and looked at her concerned. "Jolene..."

"I'll be fine." She attempted to stand up, but then gripped onto the vanity when her leg gave in. She then broke down crying.

"Dammit Jolene. Did you come with a cab?"

"I came with my own car."

"Where did you park?"

"In the car park at the back. Here are my keys."

"I'll be right back." Allen rushed out at the back of the building and pressed the remote until a white Volkswagen Beetle Convertible made the distinct bleep bleep left of him. He got into the car and started it before he took it to the front of the building which was closer to the dressing room. He then rushed inside back to Jolene's dressing room. "Will you be able to walk?"

"I think so." She winched "Ouch, it hurts."

"What hurts?"

"This hip of mine."

"Damn."

******

Allen took Jolene home to his place and parked her Bug in the spot where his car usually stood. He then carried her upstairs to his apartment and laid her down on his bed. "I'll be right back." Allen left for the living room and pulled out a twenty dollar note from his wallet and gave it to the baby sitter before he left for the kitchen to get a glass of water and a packet of pain tablets from the cupboard. He then went back to the bedroom where Jolene was and sat down on the bed next to her. "Here you go. It's for the pain."

"Thank you." Jolene swallowed the tablet down with the glass of water Allen gave her.

"If you're not feeling better tomorrow, I'm taking you to the hospital."

"What would I do without you Allen Chase?"

"What would I do without you?" Allen asked in return. "You came into my life at a time when I felt lost, and you gave me a reason to live again. For the first time since I lost my wife, I find meaning in life again."

"And your job?"

"I love what I'm doing now. As much as I love singing and playing the piano, I never imagined it would be something I'd do to make a living."

"Thank you for everything Allen. You don't know how much it means to me."

"I'm doing it all out of love my angel."

"I'm feeling sleepy."

Allen smiled. "It's the pain meds."

She closed her eyes and Allen watched as she fell asleep. He then stood up and kissed her on her cheek before he returned to the living room. He took a throw out of a basket next to the sofa and laid down before he fell asleep too.