Part 144
It was well after noon when they took their first break. Sarah had worked steadily with Aaron's band since they'd arrived at the venue, and as far as Sarah was concerned, everything was perfect. Not so for Howie.
"Angel, let's do that third number again. From up in the second level it’s just not coming across."
"Then that's a problem for the sound people, ISN'T it?" Sarah's patience, what little she had, was wearing thin.
"Not really, Sarah. There's only so much they can do with the sound you're producing. Try it from the refrain. Here we go!" He cued the band and Sarah launched into the number yet again.
As she sang to the empty arena, she watched as Becca came to sit by Howie. She worked the number from top to bottom watching as Howie and Becca conversed easily, laughing all the while. At one point, Becca leaned forward so that Howie could rub her shoulders and Sarah began to see red. Where the hell was Nick while his wife was being coddled by HER husband? Finally the set was finished and she called it quits. She managed to thank the band for the overtime they were putting in and walked toward the main floor where Howie and Becca were.
"Sarah!"
The exuberant voice shouted from the wings, and Sarah turned in time to see Aaron leap across the stage.
"Aaron, how are you?" She hugged him around the waist, and had to look up, WAY up to meet his eyes. "I swear, you've grown at least a foot since I saw you last. Stop it, okay?" she laughed. "It's bad enough that your brother towers over me."
"Thank you SO much for flying in and bailing me out. I wasn't sure what we were gonna do, but Nick promised to help me and he never breaks a promise."
Sarah's heart melted and she managed to get over some of her earlier anger. He was just too cute for words, and she WAS glad to help him out. If only-
"Aaron! Hey little brother!" Becca walked up beside her, squeezing Aaron's cheeks in her fingers.
"Man, you KNOW I can't stand that Bec," he whined.
"God, just like his big brother," Sarah laughed.
"Scary, isn't it?" Becca laughed, but before she could say anything else the room began to spin. She swayed forward, unfortunately nowhere near where either Sarah or Aaron were standing. As the room darkened, the sounds around her became distorted and sounded very far away. The only thing close enough to catch herself on was a mike stand, and as she grasped it she tumbled to the floor.
"NICK!" Aaron yelled for his brother as he knelt beside Becca.
"Damn. Here, Aaron, put this under her head." Sarah handed him a jacket that had been left onstage and they did their best to make her comfortable.
Howie came running, followed closely by Nick, just as Becca began to come around.
"Sarah, what happened?" Howie asked, cradling Becca's head in his lap.
"Bec, what's wrong?" Nick dropped to the floor.
"Nick, she was fine," Aaron said. "All of a sudden she just keeled over."
"I don’t like this," Howie said. "Nick, we need to get her to a doctor."
"No!" Becca was struggling to sit up. "Please, no doctors. Nicky, I'm fine, please?" Her voice held an edge of panic. "Really, I'm fine." She began to cry quietly as Howie brushed her hair back from her face, which was cold and damp.
"Okay, Becca, no doctors," Howie reassure her. "But something's not right, sweetheart. You need to find out what's going on. Nick?"
"Here, let me take her. I can put her in the dressing room and she can rest." Nick lifted her in his arms as Howie watched anxiously.
"D-" Sarah said faintly, but received no reply. "D, I don't feel well …" Sarah pressed her fingers to her temples and frowned.
The sea of stagehands parted as Nick carried Becca backstage, Aaron and Howie close behind.
"D, I'm going to be sick…" Sarah called out pitifully.
"Angel, the bathrooms are off stage right," Howie answered impatiently as he followed Nick to his dressing room.
"Nick, I'm fine," Becca protested weakly as he lay her down.
"Becca, passing out is NOT 'fine'," he argued.
"I just got a little dizzy," she complained.
Howie handed her a cup of water. "Has this happened before?"
"No, never," she said, her eyes downcast. "Really, I'm fine now."
"Howie, stay here for a minute?" Nick asked.
"Sure, I'm not going anywhere." Howie sat by Becca, watching her carefully.
"I'm sorry to be so much trouble," she sniffled.
"Don't be silly, we're just concerned."
"Becca?" Aaron poked his head in the door.
"Hey," she smiled weakly. "Come on in, I'm okay."
"Wow, you sure gave us a scare. I’m glad Sarah was there-"
"Where IS Sarah?"
Howie groaned. "She wasn't feeling well either, I better go check on her." He looked like he was torn between staying for Becca and going to be with Sarah.
"Nick'll be right back," Aaron said. "He was on the phone out in the hall."
"Well, all right. Becca, don't get up until Nick gets back in here."
"Trust me, I'm not going anywhere for a while." She leaned back, closing her eyes as Aaron kept watch.
On the way to find Sarah, Howie passed Nick, who was on his cell phone, and gave him a 'thumbs up' to let him know that Becca was okay.
Nick shut off his phone and went back in to face his wife. She wasn't going to like what he had to say.