Hide Your Heart

Last Concert- What Next?

"Goodnight Minneapolis!!! We love you!!" 

As the curtain fell for the last time, the four headed backstage to change and become themselves again.

Gene, Eric and Paul talked about what they were going to do on the six week break. 

"Tom?" asked Eric, "What about you?"

"Huh?"

Eric repeated his question. 

"I, um, don't know." He looked uncomfortable as he tried to hide a fresh bruise on his arm by quickly pulling on a long sleeve shirt. 

"Let me see the bruise." said Gene. 

"W-w-what bruise? I d-d-don't have one."

The other three looked at him knowing the truth. "Okay, then, let me see your arm." said Eric.

"Leave me alone!" Tommy cried, hurrying out. He hit the door, re-opening a cut on his knee. Blood seeped through his jeans.

He just limped off, leaving the other three to stare at each other.

Over the next six weeks, no one could get in contact with Tommy. 

 From Paul's house, he constantly talked to Gene and Eric trying to see if they had heard anything.

"He'll show up for the first rehearsal. No matter what happens, he'll be there." said Eric. "I hope." he added under his breath.

................................................................................................................................................................

At the first rehearsal, Tommy showed up looking sick and thinner, but he was there. He sat down on the floor and weakly held his guitar. Being  sick with the flu for two weeks after he and Jaime had split,  there had been no one to help him. 

"Good god! You look like death warmed over." came Gene's voice. 

"Flu." 

Gene carried him to the couch and laid him on it. "No rehearsal for you."

Tommy just nodded weakly as he passed out.

The other two came in, only to be shushed by Gene as he pointed.

"I can take him home." said Paul. "Who wants to carry him to my car?"

Gene took him, followed by Eric and Paul. "Eric, you follow so you can bring me back." "We will bring Tommy's car to Paul's."

Finally, Tommy was in Paul's guest room and his car was in the driveway. Gene went back with Eric to get his SUV. Tommy had several bags in his car so Paul put two and two together and figured  out Tommy had been living in his car.

"Damn, all he had to do was call one of us."

Several days later, a very confused Tommy woke up. "Has rehearsal started?" 

Paul had to explain what had happened.