The Baker

Chapter 21

Some depressing stuff in this chapter...sorry. Have to keep it interesting!

-Author

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Ben was getting set up for an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, when Karon came into the green room and shaking her head at him. Ben sighed threw his head in his hands. He hasn't heard from Cassie in three days. He keeps asking Karon to get a hold of her when he can't, but they've both been unsuccessful. Not even Jess was answering her phone. His mind keeps wandering to what she might be doing, how she might be feeling, if she's falling into a depression again. He knew Wendy wasn't just an employee to her; Wendy was someone for Cassie to be proud of, to help, and to make sure she strived in life. She's put everything into Wendy, and then got completely shut down for it. Anyone in their right mind would be upset about it. But this is Cassie. She's going to take it a lot harder than just anyone else.

"Karon, I'm sorry, but can you please try again?" Ben begged. "And try Jess again, too." Karon just nodded and walked out into the hall. She understood his concern once he had explained it to her. 

"Mr. Cumberbatch, they're ready for you, sir," a man with a headset told him. Ben nodded and followed the man out to the stage, behind the door that slides up when he's announced. It wasn't too long after, when his phone started ringing. At the same time, he could hear Jimmy starting back up the show. Ben glimpsed down at his phone and saw a voicemail was left.

"Ladies and gentlemen, here he is...Benedict Cumberbatch!" 

Ben almost didn't walk out, as he was too focused on the name he just saw on the I.D. 

Cassie 

***

"Cassandra, I swear to all that is mighty, I will call Benedict!" Jess threatened as she stood outside Cassie's bedroom door. She hasn't been to work has locked herself in her room for the past three days. Jess had given her one off, then Cassie called the second to say she was sick, and when Jess came the thrid (today), she had found that Cassie literally blocked her door with her wardrobe and desk. She knows because whenever she pushes the door, she can hear the scraping of it on the wood. Also, Cassie left her phone in the kitchen and she's had endless calls and texts from Ben. "Cass," Jess whined. "Ben is really worried about you! It says here that he's called you over fourty times and has texted you over sixty! And he's filled up your goddamn voicemail!" No response. "Fine," Jess huffed. "I'll read them to you then, shall I?" She started from the first text that Ben had sent. 'Sweetheart, are you alright? Please call me, I'm worried. Love you.' 'Baby, please just let me know you're okay.' 'I know firing Wendy wasn't easy, but honey, it wasn't your fault. She chose that path and you had to do something about it. Who knows this might make her a better person? Please call me. I love you.' She read every single text outloud, then plugged her phone into the speakers of her living room and played every single voicemail he left. Still nothing. Jess was starting to get incredibly nervous. She knocked on Cassie's door and said softly, "Cassie...please say or doing something to let me know you're okay." In the past, Cassie wouldn't hesitate to let her know that she was fine, that sometimes she just needed to be left alone to have a good cry...but it was silent.

***

Ben had been powering through the show; answering every question, talking about his latest role, and even played a couple silly games with Jimmy. During commercial, he checked his phone and saw that Cassie had left four more voicemails. Shit, he thought. But he couldn't get to them, as they came back from commercial a few moments later. He was in a daze. He had all these questions running through his head that he couldn't even focus on the questions that he was being asked. He just answered with a simple "yes" or "no", hoping the interview would go on quicker. But then came the last question.

"Benedict, is it true that you are currently off the market?" The whole crowd gasped and clapped. Ben, still in a daze, didn't know how to answer because he didn't actually hear the question. He felt his phone vibrate again and it distracted him. Once the crowd started cheering loudly, he leaned over to Jimmy and asked, "What was the question?" Of course, the audience thought he was just messing around, trying to put off the question. Jimmy didn't repeat the question, but instead told the audience, "I guess we know the answer to that question!" Ben quickly turned his eyes to Jimmy's prompter and read the final question. Oh fuck, I'm fucked! 

As soon as Ben was off the stage, he saw Karon was practically screaming into her phone, trying to put out fires from Twitter, Facebook, the Daily Mail, Entertainment Weekly, Yahoo! News, and every other news source out there. He wasn't worried about that once he remembered the voicemails on his phone. He quickly slid his phone on and was about to listen to them, but Karon came over and dragged him out of the studio and outside, where thousands of fans were screaming for him. As he walked towards the awaiting car, he held his phone up to one ear and blocked out the noise as best he could with his free hand against his other ear. 

"Ben! It's Jess! Look, there's something wrong with Cassie! She hasn't been in work for a few days, so I came over today to check on her and she's locked herself in her room! She's not answering me, Ben! I'm so scared! Please call me as soon as you can!" 

Ben's heart was beating quickly as he went to the next one. Jess was absolutely histarical. He stopped dead in his tracks as he listened.

"BEN, SHE'S NOT BREATHING! SHE'S NOT FUCKING BREATHING! I CALLED AN AMBULANCE BUT THEY'RE TAKING TO LONG! OH, GOD, IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN! PLEASE CALL ME BACK, BEN! PLEASE!" 

Karon saw that he had tears running down his face and he looked as pale as a ghost. Before she could ask what was happening, he rushed over to her and screamed histarically over the fans, "GET ME THE NEXT FLIGHT TO LONDON!" With the way he was looking at her and the way he was acting, she immediately got on the phone and booked the earliest flight. He practically ran to the awaiting car and listened to the next voicemail.

"She...she's going to be fine, but...I don't know how to tell you this. She...this wasn't about Wendy. Ben...her dad was just diagnosed with Cancer. I don't know if she told you, but they are best friends. I guess she found out a few days ago in and he doesn't know how long he has to go. Anyways, she dealt with it like she always has dealt with news like this. I'm thinking of sending her back to the rehab for a few days, but I need your opinion on this, too. She's on 72 hour watch right now. Please, call me back."

Ben was halfway to the airport by now. Karon had gotten him a flight that leaves in half an hour. He put his phone down in his lap and stared out the window with tears freely rolling down his face. His girl. She was in pain and he's not there to comfort her. Her dad has been diagnosed with cancer and he's not there to support her. She tried to kill herself and he wasn't there to stop her. Now she's in the hospital and under 72 hour watch. 

Without wiping away his tears, he called back Jess. "Jess, I'm so sorry I didn't answer earlier, but regarding your idea...yes. I think we should try sending her in for few days."