SPEAK// Roger Taylor Fanfic Sequel

3 ~ Under Pressure

(Filler Chapter...)

It was dark outside by now and Brian and I were making pasta for dinner. Brian had called his wife, Chrissie, to tell her he was staying the night here. He wanted to be sure Roger and I were OK. I sat down at the counter and started to read the health sheet Lark had given to me. Meals and drinks he could have for the next two days, concussion precautions, stuff like that. 

"I  think it's ready." Brian said. Neither of us were very good at making food, but he was the best. 

I got up from my chair and started to walk away. "I'll get Roger." I said. I walked up the stairs and down the hall into the guest bed room. Roger had spread across the bed sleeping. A smile stretched across my face as I walked up to his bed side. I sat down and placed a hand on his forehead. Gently, I stroked his hair and whispered in his ear, "It's time for dinner, get up." 

Roger opened his eyes and sat himself up. He groaned a little and looked at me. "What?"

"Dinner's ready," I whispered. 

He looked down. "Right." I smiled a little bit more as Roger pulled me into his arms. He placed a soft kiss on my temple. I rested my head on his shoulder. We sat together for a few seconds before he started whispering to me. "I love you, Kk." He said, "And earlier, none of this was your fault. I was trying to protect you and I'm sorry."

I knew he wasn't gonna let this down so I didn't want to fight back and say he shouldn't be sorry. Instead, I said, "It's OK. I'm sorry too." He raised my head and kissed me one more time before we both got up and walked to the door. 

We entered the kitchen as Brian was placing the plates onto the table. "Brian? What are you still doing here?" Roger asked. 

"He's staying with us for the night, Rog." I replied, pulling out a chair for Roger. I went over to the lights and turned them down so they didn't hurt Roger's eyes more. 

"How are you doing, Roger?" Brian asked. 

Roger looked at me and then back to Brian. "I'm fine," He said, "It's just my head." He looked down at his wrapped up hand, "And my hand... How am I supposed to play now?"

"You won't. Only for a week. You're lucky nothing broke." I said. It was only wrapped so that he didn't hurt it any more. 

"Damn it." He said. I took his hand and rubbed my thumb on the wrapping. 

"So uh," Brian said, clearing his throat and sitting up. "I talked to the police and they said they didn't know how he escaped. No sirens had gone off and there was no sign of him ever breaking out. The only way he could have escaped like that is if he had help. Do you know anyone who could have helped?" 

I looked at Roger, coming to a realization. I knew he only had one good friend. A friend just as crazy as him. "Yeah, I uh, I know one person." I said. 

"OK, so uh, they want you to come down to the station to give a statement and tell them what you know." He said, "And uh, they said he's going to court again. Most likely to get a death sentence." I perked up at this. "But you don't have to be there." 

"Right, uh," I wasn't sure what to say. I wanted him dead, but I also felt really bad about it. I don't know how I felt about any of this. 

"Right. That's great. You'll go down tomorrow and then it will all be over." Roger said, "Let's talk about something else. I'm done with all of this." It was obvious he didn't like the topic of my dad. He knew it was hurting me. 

"I know, I know. Sorry." Brian replied. We all sat there in awkward silence. None of us had any idea what to say. 

Magnolia, who was raised up in a high chair, started to flail her arms. She was chewing on her spoon and cooing. I took the spoon from out of her mouth and used it to pick up her baby food. I waved the spoon around her until she opened her mouth and plopped it in. She smiled widely. 

"Roger told me about Marlene. Did she really give you her phone number?" Brian asked. 

I had nearly forgotten all about Marlene. I really liked her and would love to call her. "Yeah she did. I haven't called her yet, though." I replied. 

Brian nodded his head. "Didn't you both have similar timing with everything...?" It was obvious what he was trying to ask, but he couldn't find the right words for it.

"Yeah, we did. In pretty much everything." I responded. I looked over to Roger. He was poking the pasta and pushing them together to make weird shapes on his plate. "Roger, what are you doing? Stop playing with your food."

He looked up and groaned. "I'm not playing with it, I'm eating it." He said.

"You haven't taken a single bight." I replied.

He looked back down and whispered, "Oh," Then he started to eat, missing his mouth every scoop. It was obvious he had a bad concussion.

(One hour later...)

Roger was sleeping again in his own bed. I cradled Magnolia in my arms as Brian picked up the remaining dishes off the table.

"Thank you for doing that, Bri." I said.

"Of course. You got a baby in your hands." He replied. I looked down at Maggie and admired her little hand bundled up in her mouth.

"I should put Maggie in bed." I said, starting to leave the room.

Before I left, Brian turned and said, "You should go to bed yourself. I can finish here. You need some rest."

"No, no. That's OK. I'll help you--"

"Get some rest, Kk. I'm almost done." He said, washing a plate.

"Right, OK. You can use the guest bed room then." I paused and smiled. "Thank you, Brian. Good night."

He smiled back at me, "Good night." I walked out of the room and up the stairs.

I walked into our bed room, eyeing Roger. He was curled up on one side of the bed. It was weird to me, since he usually was fully spread out leaving little space.

I walked over to the baby bed on the opposite side of the room. I gently set her down, placing a blanket on her. She cooed, reaching for her stuffed bunny. I grabbed it, placing it into her hands.

Softly, I started to sing to her. Hopefully she would fall asleep before waking Roger. The first song that came to mind was Annie's Song. I whispered quietly, "You fill up my senses, like a night in a forest. Like the mountains in spring time, like a walk in the rain."

After singing halfway through the song, she started to sleep. I smiled and turned away. Roger was still sleeping. I slowly got into the bed, trying not to make any more noise.

I flipped to my side starting to think. What if he doesn't get a death penalty? What if he really does come back? I couldn't stop worrying.

All of a sudden, I felt hands snake around my waist. Roger's body pressed against mine. I felt his warmth and smelt his cigarettes and musk. He placed a kiss on my neck and whispered, "That was beautiful."

I smiled, closing my eyes. I loved Roger. No matter what happens I will always love him.