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Chapter Ten
Davy nervously paced the living room the next morning, trying to decide what to do. Should he wake Anna and remind her that they had to be at the studio in just a few hours? No. After last night, she obviously wasn't going to come with him.
When he had told her he wanted to take her out, he had meant it. But she interpreted it as a snow job to get her to come with him, which it wasn't at all.
He wasn't falling in love with her. Falling in love was just something he did in front of millions of fans each week on TV. It wasn't something that applied to his day to day life.
But he did like Anna, and had figured that they could at least be friends throughout this whole ordeal. Last night, he really blew that possibility.
That was something he'd worry about later though. Right now, he had to figure out what he would tell the reporters. She didn't show up because she was sick, maybe. Would they believe it? Probably not, but it was the best idea he had.
With that, he grabbed his coat and prepared to leave, when he heard her bedroom door open. She stood there in a beige pant suit, and had her hair pulled back. She looked stunning, to say the least, and he felt his breath catch in his throat.
She grabbed her purse, and walked towards the door, obviously avoiding all eye contact with him. He grabbed her arm just as she came by him, and forced her to look at him.
"You look beautiful." he smiled.
"No more lines, Mr. Jones. I signed an agreement, and I will go." she said, not even offering him a smile as she pulled away and headed out the door.
----
They arrived at the studio an hour later. They had stopped off somewhere for breakfast along the way.
Davy had tried many times to start up a conversation, but she would hardly respond to anything he said.
They went backstage, and the other three Monkees were already there, drinking coffee and going over the script.
"Hey, guys!" Davy greeted.
"Hey, Davy!" they all greeted, and put down their scripts when they noticed the young girl with him.
"Guys, this is Anna." Davy introduced. "Anna, this is..."
"Micky, Mike and Peter." she smiled at each one as she took their hands.
"Ah, you have heard of us." Mike grinned.
"Who hasn't?" she asked. "It's nice to meet you."
"Any wife of Davy's is a friend of mine." Micky joked, drawing a small laugh out of everyone, except Davy and Anna.
"If you'll excuse me, I'm going to fix my make-up before the photographers get here." she politely smiled, then walked away.
"She's a pretty one, Davy. I wouldn't let her get away if I were you." Mike smiled.
"Shut up, Mike." was Davy's irritable answer.
"Things still not going too good on the home front, huh?" Peter asked.
"Last night, we started getting along, but then I did something royally stupid, without meaning to, and now she hardly speaks to me." he said.
"Brother, I've been down that road many a time." Mike grinned.
"Oh yeah. Let the old, married man tell you how it is." Phyliss smiled as she walked up to them, carrying Christian.
"Hey, sweetheart." Mike smiled as he kissed her. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough." she said. "Don't listen to him, Davy. He's just a bag of hot air."
"I never listen to him anyway, Phyliss." Davy smiled as he grabbed one of Christian's small, chubby hands.
"Oh what a cute, little boy." Anna smiled as she walked up to them.
"Thank you." Micky grinned.
"Yes, you too, Micky." Anna said as she patted the top of his head.
"Anna, this is my wife, Phyliss and son, Christian." Mike proudly announced as he put his arm around Phyliss.
"It's nice to meet you, Phyliss." Anna said as she took the other girl's hand.
"You also, Anna." Phyliss smiled. "Finally, one of the other Monkees took a wife. Now I have someone to share stories with."
It was obvious that no one had filled her in on what really happened. Anna continued to smile, despite the discomfort that she was feeling.
"What's your boy's name? Christian? I think that's such a nice name. How old is he?" she asked.
"Two years old." Phyliss answered.
"The terrible two's." Mike rolled his eyes.
"Like I can't see the pride in your face, Mike." Anna laughed as she reached her arms out to the boy. "May I?"
"Sure!" Phyliss smiled as she handed the squirming boy over.
Anna held the boy for a few minutes. He said things to her, that she couldn't really understand. It was either in broken english, or just baby jibberish.
"You'll make a wonderful mother, Anna. Just wait until you and Davy have kids." Phyliss said.
"I think those are the reporters now. Excuse us." Davy said as he took Christian from Anna, and handed him back to Phyliss.
He rushed Anna away from the group, and to another part of the stage.
"I'm sorry about that. I guess Mike never filled her in on what's going on." Davy apologized.
"Where are the reporters? Can't we just get this over with?" she asked.
"They'll be here soon." he said. "Anna, about what happened last night, I wasn't just trying to butter you up, as you say. I really meant everything I said."
"Mr. Jones, I agreed to come here and do the interview for your sake, because I understand that you've been tricked the same as I. For a short time, we are husband and wife. Why complicate things by becoming friends?" she asked.
He started laughing, and she looked at him strangely. Then she caught what she had just said, and even she had to laugh herself.
"I guess that would fall under the top 100 married jokes." she smiled.
Suddenly a flash filled the air, and they both looked to the source...three photographers standing there, cameras ready.
"Well, here goes nothing." Davy sighed.
----
Chapter 11
The interview seemed endless to Anna. She was asked many questions that she couldn't, or wouldn't dare answer honestly, so she ended up joking her way through them to cover herself.
Davy, on the other hand, seemed a natural at this. If he didn't know an answer, he'd just make one up, and the reporters seemed eager to take it as gospel truth.
After a few more pictures, where both of them plastered a smile to their faces, the reporters finally left, and they were on their own again.
"My God, I'm glad that's over." she shook her head.
"You handled yourself well." he smiled. "Thank you."
She gave him a small smile, then headed back to where the others were.
"Is the interrogation finally over?" Peter asked.
"For the most part." Davy sighed as he grabbed a cup of coffee.
"Did you and Phyliss have to go through this?" Anna asked Mike.
"No. Luckily we were married before I was ever a Monkee." Mike smiled. "Speaking of which, she wondered if you would meet her in the cafe. She would have asked herself, but Christian was fussing for something to eat, so I told her I'd give you the message."
"Thank you, Mike. I'll go meet her now. How do I get there?" she asked.
She followed their directions of which doors to go through, and what lot she'd end up on. After asking directions from a few other people who were wandering around, she finally found it.
"Anna, I'm over here." Phyliss waved to her from a small booth where she and Christian sat.
"Took me about fifteen minutes just to find this place." Anna laughed.
"Anna, I'm so sorry. After you and Davy left, Mike explained everything to me. That was an awful thing that happened." she said, her eyes pleading for understanding and forgiveness.
"That's alright, Phyliss. It was an awful thing...it still IS a very awful thing...but it's been done, and there's nothing we can do about it." Anna sadly replied.
"Can't they do something to Tom?" Phyliss asked.
"Davy tried. But it seems the studio considers this a minor detail, and they won't even back us up." she said.
"That sounds like that bunch of uppity, no good..." Phyliss sighed as she shook her head. "How are you and Davy getting along?"
"Besides the arguements that keep coming up now and again, I guess we're doing ok." Anna truthfully answered.
"Look, if you ever need anybody to talk to, you can always come to me." Phyliss smiled as she reached her hand across the table and touched Anna's.
"Thanks, Phyliss. You may regret that offer for the next several months." Anna smiled.
----
Anna and Phyliss ended up spending most of the day together. It seemed that both of them were lacking friendships. Anna because of her job; Phyliss because of having to raise a son and look after a home as well.
But by mid-afternoon, Anna had excused herself so she could go home and start dinner.
Now it was almost nine o'clock. Dinner had been ready for the past three hours, and it was all she could do to keep it warm without burning it.
Two more hours passed, and she had given up, and put dinner away for the night. But she didn't go to bed. She had to admit, she was worried. She watched a little TV, read out of a magazine, anything to get her mind off of where Davy could be.
Finally after midnight, she was awaken from her sleep on the couch, by hearing the key in the door. He came walking in, surprised to see the lights on, and even more surprised to see her sitting there.
"What are you still doing up?" he asked, as he tossed his jacket on the back of the chair.
"Well, for the first three hours, I was trying to keep dinner warm. Then I just gave up on the dinner, and decided to worry. Where have you been?" she asked.
"Look, we may be married, but I don't have to tell you of my whereabouts anymore than I would expect you to tell me, ok?" he said as calmly as possible.
"Mr. Jones, I don't care if you stay out all night long, or where you go for that matter. But you could have at least called to let me know you wouldn't be home for dinner." she said.
"I don't have to check in with you." he said, his voice raising.
"It's called common curtousy. You knew I would have dinner waiting for you, and you didn't even bother to call and let me know you wouldn't be in." she said, her voice raising as well.
"I told you that you didn't have to worry about taking care of me. I can take care of myself just fine. I'm going to bed." he snapped, then grumbled all the way to his bedroom before finally slamming the door.
He had been understanding and cooperative with her for the most part. Why the sudden change tonight?
She went over to the chair where he had thrown his jacket, and was going to hang it up in the closet where it had belonged, but when she picked it up, a package fell out of the pocket. She bent down to pick it up, and opened it. Inside was an assortment of different colored pills. Drugs!
"Oh no. Please, God. Not that." she gasped.
She stormed over to his door, and slammed her fist against it.
He threw the door open, and glared at her. But when he saw what she was holding, his eyes went wide.
"You forgot your courage!" she said as she threw the package at him, then walked away.
"Anna, wait! I can explain, if you'll listen for once. Look, you can't just keep walking away, now that you know." he said, as he followed her.
She stopped in her tracks, and he almost ran into her. She whirled around to face him, her eyes nearly shooting sparks, she was so angry.
"What do you want? Sympathy? 'Oh, poor Davy Jones just couldn't handle the pressure, and resorted to drugs. Poor Davy Jones caved into peer pressure. Poor Davy Jones.'"
He brought his hand up, and prepared to smack her, but stopped himself. The look on his face showed that he was shocked from his own actions.
"Go ahead and hit me, if it'll make you feel any better about yourself." she said. "If you want to quit, I'll help you. But don't expect any sympathy."
"I don't want your sympathy, and I don't want your help. All I want is for you to leave me alone." he said with a controlled anger that made her shiver more than if he would have just come out and yelled at her.
He went back to his room, slamming the door so hard, that the pictures on the wall rattled and threatened to fall.
Was he the only one, or were the other three on drugs also? If Mike was, did Phyliss know?
What an awful mess to get into. Of course, she wouldn't admit it to him, but she did feel sorry for him. He was hooked on something that, even if he wanted to quit, it would be a tough battle.
----
Days had passed, turning into weeks. Anna and Davy had hardly spoken to each other since she had found out about the drugs. They would have brief conversations during breakfast, and also during the few nights that he did show up for dinner.
She and Phyliss had spent alot of time together over the course of those two weeks. They had become good friends, and would take shopping trips together, go out to eat, or just sit around and talk.
She never once told Phyliss about the drugs, fearing that Mike may be on them also. If he was, then it was his place to tell Phyliss, not hers.
One evening, an evening where Davy had decided to come home for dinner, they recieved a phone call. Phyliss had been in an accident. Her car went over a cliff, and she was in serious condition.
Anna nearly collapsed when Davy had told her, but she pulled herself together, and they went to the hospital.
Micky, Peter and Christian were in the waiting room, and they imagined that Mike was in the hospital room with Phyliss.
"How is she?" Anna asked.
"Not looking too good." Peter said. "They think she may make it, but she's in pretty serious shape."
"How's Mike doing?" Davy asked.
"You won't believe it. He's seeing the doctor now. He wants Phyliss released from the hospital so he can take her home." Micky shook his head in disbelief.
"WHAT!?" came from both Davy and Anna.
"That's right. I want to take her home." Mike said as he walked in. "And I am."
"Mike, you can't do that. She's hurt. She needs the proffessionals to take care of her." Davy argued.
"I only know of one Proffessional who can take care of her, and I'm going to leave it in His hands." Mike said.
"You and your Christian Scientist beliefs. She's your wife, man!" Davy pleaded.
"Mike, I understand how you feel, and it's right that you leave her in God's hands. But God placed doctors on the earth for a reason." Anna calmly replied.
"No, Anna. I've made my decision. I'm taking her home now." Mike said, then walked back out into the hallway so he wouldn't have to listen to anymore.
"If that's isn't the stupidest, most pig headed,..." Davy started, and Anna put a hand on his arm to calm him.
"Don't hate him. He's not doing it to hurt, but only because he thinks it's best." she said.
"I don't hate him! I'm just sick of his hard headed ways of doing things." he angrily replied.
"He'll need us to help him. Do you mind if I watch Christian for them? I don't think he needs to be taking care of a two year old and a sick wife at the same time." she said.
"No, I don't care." he shook his head.
She went out to where Mike was pacing, and made the offer, which he gratefully accepted.
It was now three days later, and Anna was at the Nesmith home. Knowing that the guys had to go to work, Anna offered to stay with Phyliss during the day as well, until Mike could get back and take care of her.
For the first few days, Phyliss was burning with a fever, and Anna had come close to calling a doctor, despite what Mike would say.
She put crushed ice in plastic bags, and placed them around the girl's face. Yet the girl would still deleriously call out for Mike, Christian, and people Anna never heard of. How Mike was able to handle it when he got home, she didn't know.
---
"Davy, do you think Anna would be offended if I offered her money for taking care of Phyliss and Christian for me?" Mike asked.
"Yes, she would. You know she and Phyliss are like sisters." he answered.
Davy poured another cup of coffee and handed it to Mike. "Is she getting any better?"
"I guess...a little. Hasn't Anna been telling you?" he asked.
"Anna and I don't speak much." Davy quietly answered.
"Things getting that bad?" Mike asked.
"I guess it's about what I should expect after what's happened and all." Davy shrugged as he took another sip of coffee. He nervously fingered his cup, then look at Mike. "She found out about the drugs."
"Well, like I've been saying all along, you need to get off them things. I think Peter's gone beyond help, but there's still a chance for you and Micky." Mike said.
"Did you ever tell Phyliss about the time you were on them?" Davy asked.
"No. I figure why bring it up? I'm not on them anymore, and it would only cause problems." he sighed. "What did Anna say when she found out?"
"Alot of things that I don't care to remember, mainly cause it was all true." he answered. "She offered to help me."
"She did?" Mike asked, and Davy nodded. "You got some wife there, Davy. I said it before in joking that she's a keeper, but now I really mean it. If I were you, I wouldn't let her go. She's a real jewel."
"I'm beginning to realize that myself." Davy agreed.
----
Chapter 13
It was over a week later, when Phyliss started responding to everyone. She was awake and alert, and the fever had finally broken, much to everyone's relief.
Anna continued to take care of her until the girl was able to get back on her feet, which took another week.
"Well, it looks as if you won't be needing me anymore. Anyone who can do that has got to be 100%." Anna laughed as she watched Phyliss swing her son around circles.
"98% anyway." Phyliss laughed. "Thanks again for taking care of Christian and myself...and Mike. We owe you big time."
"No you don't. It gave me something do rather than sit at that apartment all day." she smiled.
"Now I know very well that you don't just sit." Phyliss said.
"Well, yeah, I clean it every now and then. Other than that..." she ended it with a shrug. "Speaking of which, I guess I should be going now. The place has been neglected the past few weeks, and I can only imagine what it looks like now."
"Need any help?" Phyliss asked.
"No, you got your hands full." Anna grinned, pointing at the two year old boy.
"You're right." Phyliss smiled. "Have a good day. Thanks again."
Anna arrived back at the apartment, figuring she had enough time to get dinner ready...if Davy decided to actually come home tonight. Which, she will admit, that since she had been taking care of Phyliss, he had been good about coming home and helping her around the house.
But now she was surprised to see that he was actually home before her.
"What's the special occassion?" she asked.
"Dinner." he smiled.
"I thought you didn't know how to cook." she said.
"That's why I'm taking you out, if you want to go, that is." he said.
"I don't know, Mr. Jones. I've been gone for most of these past two weeks now, and I..." she tried making up an excuse, but he stopped her.
"Anna, please let me do this for you."
His plea was so warm, and heart felt, she felt she had to give in.
"I guess it would be a nice change." she smiled. "Let me go get ready."
She put on a midnight blue, evening dress, and piled her raven hair on top of her head in an elegant fashion.
She walked out into the living room, and recieved an approving smile from Davy, who was looking rather handsome himself in his black suit.
"You look very beautiful this evening." he smiled at her.
"Thank you, Mr. Jones." she smiled back.
"I just wanted to thank you for all you've done for me since coming here." he said as he took her hands in his.
"The only thing I've really done is clean this place up a bit." she said.
"You've done far more for me than that." he said. "Come on. I've made the reservations, and we'll be late."
----
They arrived at a very fancy restaurant, one Anna never thought she'd see the inside of. Davy gave the man the name, and they were led off to a private table in the corner.
"Come here alot?" she asked.
"From time to time." he answered.
"I never thought I'd actually see the inside of a place like this." she said.
"I'm glad you like it." he smiled.
When the meals that they had ordered finally arrived, Davy started up the conversation, hoping that it would lead to what he wanted to say.
"Mike's very grateful to you for taking care of Phyliss and Christian for him. He wanted to pay you for it." Davy said.
"There's no need for that. Phyliss and I are too good of friends for me to accept pay." she said.
"That's what I told him, but don't put it past him if you receive some kind of a gift within the next week or so." Davy smiled.
"He and Phyliss are good people." Anna said.
"Yes, they are." Davy absently agreed while searching for words. "Anna, I...I was wondering something."
"Yes?" she asked.
"Is it possible that we could...start over? I really want to get to know you." he said.
"As friends? Yes that is possible." she said.
"I'd like to at least be friends, but I was also wondering if we could be more than just friends?" he asked.
"It would be possible, if I allowed it. But I can't." she quietly replied.
"Why not?" he asked, looking crushed.
For a moment, it pleasured her to see that. Now he was feeling a small amount of the hurt she had felt their wedding night.
"The drugs, Mr. Jones. You don't seem too willing to part with them, and I will not accept them." she answered.
He was quiet for a long time, pushing the food on his plate around, rather than eating.
"If I did quit, would you consider it then?" he asked.
She looked up in surprise. He would actually be willing to give up the drugs for her?
"Yes, Mr. Jones. I would." she said.
She could tell he was truly thinking about it. After a few more long, and quiet minutes, he spoke up.
"Alright. I'll do it, if you'll help me." he said.
"I told you I would." she smiled proudly at him. "But I must warn you, I don't know a thing about it."
He gave a small, nervous smile.
"I know enough."
----
Chapter 14
Within a week, Davy had managed to take a two week vacation. He didn't give them the real reason why he needed the vacation, except that he was stressed and needed the rest. Everyone guessed it was the marriage, and let him go.
The first day of his vacation is when they started.
"Where are they?" she asked.
"They?"
"The pills. We need to get rid of them so you won't be tempted to go back." she said.
He went to his room, and came out a few minutes later with the package that she had found weeks ago.
"Is this all of them? You're not hiding any on me, are you?" she asked.
"No. They're all there." he answered.
"Ok. I'm going to throw these out, and take the garbage to the dumpster. You're sure this is what you want to do?" she asked.
"Are you trying to talk me out of it?" he asked.
"I don't know very much about this, but I do know that it's going to be very hard and painful. I just want you to be sure, that's all." she said.
"I'm sure." he nodded.
"Ok!" she smiled. "Go ahead and watch some TV or something. It'll get your mind off of it for a little while anyway."
She came back from the dumpster a few minutes later, and found him sitting on the couch, wringing his hands.
"It's only been a few minutes." she said.
"It's not that. It's..." he hesitated.
"What?" she asked.
"I'm scared." he said, turning wide eyes towards her.
The quiet confession tore at her heart. She went to the couch, and sat next to him, taking his hands in hers.
"It'll be hard, but you'll make it through, ok? I promise I'll be with you the entire time." she comforted.
"Sure." he gave her a small smile.
By the next evening, however, he started suffering some of the withdrawal symptoms.
She sat on the edge of his bed, and grabbed one of his shaking hands.
"How are you doing?" she asked.
"Better than I thought." he smiled, but she could tell by the slight squeezes he gave her hand that he was hurting.
"You'll be ok. It only hurts for a little while." she said.
"I guess now would be a good time to hear the story of your life." he said.
"It's a short story." she smiled.
"That's ok. I don't think mine would make best sellers list anyway." he said.
"Well, I was born on March 18th, 1946, in Danville, Kentucky. I am of Irish decent..."
"Irish!" he groaned.
"AND English." she laughed.
"Then there's hope for you yet." he smiled.
"I was raised on a farm, and I moved here to...to start a new life. Are you alright?" she asked as his hand squeezed hers tightly.
"Yeah, I'm fine." he gasped. "Go on."
She was growing more concerned now. Was she doing the right thing? She knew he needed to quit, but perhaps in the hands of a proffesional, he'd be better off. No! She told him that she would help him. She couldn't give up now.
She carressed his hand and arm as she continued to talk.
"I moved out here a little over a year ago, and took a job at that diner. I'm trying to get enough money raised to go to school this fall." she said.
"What are you going for?" he asked.
"Clerical studies." she answered.
"You mean like a secretary? That's cool. Mike's mom was a secretary." he said, and she could tell he was reaching for subjects to keep his mind off the drugs.
"Really?" she asked.
"Yeah. She invented this stuff called 'liquid paper.'" he said.
"Tell me about it." she encouraged.
"If you make a mistake in your typing, you just take this liquid..." he stopped suddenly and cried out.
She nearly screamed as his hand clenched hers so tightly, she thought her fingers were going to break.
The wave of pain must have passed, because the pressure on her hand dropped and his face seemed more relaxed.
"Davy, you're going to be ok. This won't last long." she said quickly, trying to think of anything that would keep him from giving up.
He cracked his eyes slightly, and smiled at her.
"You called me 'Davy.'"
"Is that all you're worried about?" she nearly laughed. "OK, then yes, I called you 'Davy.' Happy now?"
"Very happy!" he smiled.
----
Chapter 15
The next few days were rough. He only became worse as the cravings grew stronger, almost unbearable.
She walked into his room, and saw him laying on his side, clutching a pillow tightly with his head buried underneath it.
She sat on the edge of his bed, and touched him, causing him to jump, and look at her.
"Feel any better?" she asked.
"Make them stop!" he whispered.
"Make who stop?" she asked.
"The laughing. They won't stop." he said in a small, shaky voice.
"Davy, there's nobody here but me." she calmly replied.
"Stop it!" he shouted, putting his hands over his ears.
"Davy, it's ok. It's not real!" she shouted, trying to pull his hands away from his ears.
She received a severe backhand across the face in return for her comfort.
She grabbed the side of her face, and looked at him. She saw the rage in his eyes, and she ran out of the room, terrified.
How long would this last? What else would he do to her before it was finally over?
It was hours before she could find the courage to go back to his room. She was afraid of him, or more, afraid of what the drugs had done to him, but she couldn't just leave him.
She got a glass of water and slowly opened the door to his room, peeking in.
"Davy?" she whispered, not wanting to startle him like last time.
No response.
She looked around the room, but there was no sign of him. The bathroom light was on, so she slowly walked towards it, and called his name again.
"Davy!"
She peeked around the corner of the bathroom, and stifled the scream that was rising in her throat.
Davy was lying on the floor with a pill bottle in hand, and pills spilled out all around him.
She dropped the glass, and ran blindly out of the room, to the phone to call for help. But before she could dial a number, the buzzer at the door sounded.
"Who is it?" she called, praying it was someone who could help her.
"Mike!" came the reply.
Her prayers were answered.
She ran over to the door and threw it open.
"Is everything alright?" he asked.
"He tried to kill himself." she cried.
"What? Where is he?" Mike asked.
"I have to call the doctor." she continued to cry, and he grabbed her arms and shook her.
"Wait. Where is he?" he asked again.
She pointed towards Davy's room, unable to talk anymore, then followed him as he went in.
She heard the string of curses leave Mike's mouth when he entered the bathroom.
Mike grabbed the pill bottle out of Davy's hand and read it, relief in his eyes.
"Aspirin. He'll be alright." Mike sighed.
Relief washed over her as she buried her face in her hands and wept even harder.
Mike supported Davy in one arm, as he patted the side of Davy's face with his free hand.
"Wake up. Come on, wake up!" he shouted.
Davy only moaned in response, but didn't open his eyes.
Mike pushed his head over the toilet, and started sticking his finger down Davy's throat. Anna nearly gagged as she watched Davy vomit everything he had swallowed.
"Go get him something to drink." Mike ordered.
She nodded, and started to leave, then remembered the broken glass on the bathroom floor.
"Mike, be careful." she warned him, pointing at the glass on the floor.
He nodded, and she left the room to retrieve another glass.
She must be doing something wrong if Davy would even attempt suicide. She couldn't do this anymore. It was too dangerous. She had to get a proffesional. Maybe Mike knew of someone.
She brought the glass of water into Davy's room, and saw that Mike had already got him back to bed.
She gave Mike the glass, and Mike helped Davy drink it.
"Mike, I'm at a loss. Obviously whatever I'm doing is wrong. We need a proffesional." Anna whispered.
"He'll be alright. Let's go." Mike said as he led Anna out of the bedroom.
"Sit down a minute." Mike said, and she did so. "Davy gave the manager of this place my number in case there was ever an emergency. The manager called earlier and said that something strange was going on up here, and thought maybe I should come by and take a look."
"I'm glad he called you. When I saw Davy laying there...I panicked. That's why I can't do this anymore. I'm not capable." she said.
"You're doing just fine. You're just..." he stopped, and put his hand under her chin, and turned her face slightly to look at the bruise on her cheek. "Did he do that to you?"
"Yes." she nodded, then quickly added. "He didn't know what he was doing though."
"I know." Mike sighed. "I've been through it before myself."
"With Phyliss?" she asked.
"Phyliss doesn't know, and I want to keep it that way." he said. "I took a couple weeks vacation, just like Davy did, and I went out of town to my cousins. He helped me kick the habit, but I was a mess. Even threatened to kill him a couple of times."
"But you were able to quit, right?" she asked.
"Took a couple of weeks of suffering, but I managed." he said. "You're doing the right thing by Davy."
"But the pills..." she said, searching for an explanation.
"He wasn't trying to kill himself." Mike explained. "He's desperate. So desperate, he'll take just about anything to make the pain go away. Now we need to go through his room and bathroom, and take out all medicines and sharp objects."
"You think he may still try to kill himself then?" she asked.
"No. I'm more worried that if he becomes desperate enough, he'll use them on you."
----
Chapter 16
Anna and Mike went through Davy's medicine cabinet, under the sink, and through his drawers, gathering all medicines and sharp objects, and throwing them into a box.
Anna stopped when she had opened one drawer, and found a Bible in it. She had no idea that he had one. How often it was used, she didn't know.
She quietly sat down on the edge of the bed, so as not to wake him, and thumbed through it. The pages still looked crisp and new, obviously never been used. She opened it to the first page.
It was from his dad. Given to him back in '65 on his birthday. Almost two years ago, and the pages looked brand new.
"Hey, we gotta get this done before he wakes up, and finds us digging through his room." Mike whispered.
She nodded, and put the Bible back in his drawer.
After they were finished, she took the box from Mike and placed it in her room. Mike had persuaded her to go take a nap while he looked after Davy and she didn't argue. She hadn't gotten much sleep since this whole thing started.
Four hours later she awoke. Looking at the time, she saw it was two in the morning. She wasn't nearly ready to get up, but knew Mike needed to be getting back home. She forced herself into a sitting position, and threw her legs out from under the covers.
She made herself look a little more presentable by washing her face, and brushing her hair, then went out to the living room. Mike wasn't there, but she saw the door to Davy's room open, and knew he must be in there.
When she entered Davy's room, what she saw shocked and infuriated her.
"What do you think you're doing?" she almost shouted, but for Davy's sake, kept her voice low.
Mike looked up from where he was tying a knot around Davy's ankle. He had bound Davy's arms and legs to the bed, so that he could hardly move.
Mike walked out, ushering her along with him, and shut the door behind him.
"Now look, you remember when I said I had threatened to kill my cousin a few times? I didn't just threat, I tried." he said.
"But, Mike..." she started, but he stopped her.
"That's for your own protection, Anna!" he said, sternly. "Whatever you do, don't untie him. No matter what he tells you."
Anna bit her lip, and nodded. She hated to tie him up as if he were a wild man. But until he got over this, that's exactly what he was.
----
"OK, I'm going now." Mike announced. "You sure you don't want me to stick around and help?"
"I should be alright now, Mike. Thank you though." she smiled.
"Sure." he nodded. "Now I left my number, and Micky and Peter's numbers on the fridge. If you need someone, give one of us a call. Make sure you call me first."
"I will." she said.
"And I'll be calling here every couple of hours as well. If you don't answer, I'm coming over." he said.
"OK, Mike. Thank you so much for helping me. This'll be easier now that I have someone to call." she said.
"You're doing a good job, Anna." he smiled, then gave a small wave as he went through the door.
She was so glad Mike had come over. At least now she knew what to expect and what to do. Hopefully she wouldn't panic again like she did last time.
----
It was mid-afternoon when Davy finally woke up.
Anna was sitting on the edge of his bed, running a cold cloth along his face, when he opened his eyes and gave her a slight smile.
"Anna." he whispered.
"I'm right here." she smiled at him. She was glad to see he was calm unlike the last time they had talked.
The smile dissapeared, and his look quickly changed to confusion, then fear.
"I can't move." he said.
"It's ok. We had to tie you down." she said.
"Why?" he asked.
"So you wouldn't hurt yourself." she said, then mentally added, "Or me."
"Who's 'we'?" he asked.
"Mike. He came over when the manager called him. Don't you remember what happened?" she asked. He shook his head, so she continued. "You swallowed nearly a whole bottle of aspirin. Luckily Mike came along and caused you to throw it all up."
"Can't you..." he started, but another wave of pain hit and he cringed and strained against the ropes.
"You'll be alright." she comforted, as she continued wiping his face with the cloth. "It'll pass."
It did pass, and he soon relaxed again. She looked at his hands, which were now red from his pulling on the ropes.
"Can't you untie me now?" he asked.
"I can't, Davy." she said, the tears starting to fill her eyes again. "It's for your own good. Please trust me."
"Anna, I'm not going to try anything. I couldn't even get out of bed if I wanted to." he said.
"But Mike said..."
"Is he here now?" he asked.
"No." she shook her head.
"Anna, please. It hurts." he pleaded.
She didn't know what to do. Mike said he would be dangerous until he was over this. But he seemed alright now, almost back to his normal self...mentally anyway. She was sure it would be alright. After all, wasn't he in enough pain?
With that thought in mind, she reached down to his wrist, and started untying the rope.
----
Chapter 17
She finally finished undoing all the ropes that held him. He seemed visibly relieved as she took one of his hands, and started rubbing it to get the blood flow moving again.
"Is that better?" she asked.
"Much." he whispered. "Anna, I need you to do something for me."
"What's that?" she asked.
"Call Peter. Get him over here." he answered.
"Why?"
"I can't do this anymore. I need the drugs. Please! It hurts too much." he said.
"Davy, you can't give up now. The worst of it is almost over." she said.
"No!" he weakly shouted. "Please!"
"I won't do it, Davy. I can't." she said.
He reached over, and with both hands, grasped her arm and started to twist it. She cried out, and tried to pull away, but his grip was too firm.
"Anna, please. I don't want to hurt you." he said.
"Davy, my arm." she gasped.
"I need the drugs. Get them." he ordered.
"I can't." she desperately yelled.
"Do it!" he shouted, pulling even harder on her arm.
"Look at what you've become!" she cried.
That must have done it, cause the pressure on her arm was released as his head dropped back onto the pillow.
"Why do you even care?" he asked, and she could hear the lack of self worth in his voice.
She rubbed her sore arm, and looked at him. Why did she care? Why was she willing to go through all this just for him? She knew the answer, and she knew he needed to know as well.
"Because..." she gave a slight smile. "I love you."
"Love me!" he gave a small laugh as if he didn't believe it. "How could you love me? I'm not worth it!"
"That's not true." she whispered, as she lightly touched his arm to make sure he wouldn't hit her. When he didn't make a move, she rested her hand on his arm, and continued to speak softly. "This isn't you. This is what these drugs have done to you. But it won't last. Soon you'll be back to your old self, the man I fell in love with from the beginning."
"The beginning?" he asked.
"Yeah. I was too stubborn and angry to admit it to myself, much less to you. But I have loved you all this time." she smiled. "But I cannot accept these drugs, no matter how much I love you. And if you still want me, the drugs will have to go. You have a choice."
He laid his head back, and shut his eyes. He was quiet for so long, Anna had thought he had fallen back to sleep.
"Alright." he whispered, startling Anna so, that she jumped.
He looked at her and offered a weak smile.
"Now I have a reason to push on."
----
Chapter 18
The next few days were a struggle. He was still very sick, and she stayed with him the entire time, but not once did he touch or threaten her.
Mike kept his word as well, and continued calling every couple of hours to make sure she was alright. Needless to say he wasn't very happy with her when she told him she untied Davy. He even said he was coming back over to tie him up again, but Anna assured him it wasn't necessary.
Nine days passed after they had started, and Davy started showing signs of recovering. He was awake, and more alert. There was a little pain, but it was more bearable now.
"Feel like eating?" she asked as she sat on the edge of his bed.
"I think so." he smiled.
"Good! I'll go get you some soup." she said, and started to get up, but he stopped her.
"Wait!" he said, as he propped himself up. "Did you really mean it when you said you loved me, or was that only to help me get better?"
"I'm surprised you even remember that." she smiled.
"I remember everything." he said, then took her hand in his, while pushing her sleeve back with his other hand. Her arm still had the bruises on it from when he threatened to break it.
"Everything!" he whispered, and she saw the shame and sadness in his eyes.
"Davy, it's alright. You weren't well." she said.
She put her hand under his chin, and lifted his face until their eyes met.
"I forgive you." she smiled. "You gave up those drugs for my sake, and you're so much better now. I'm proud of you, and I love you very much."
He reached his hand out and took hers.
"If we weren't already married, I'd propose." he smiled.
"Well if we weren't already married, I'd say 'yes.'"
----
The next day, Anna was awakened by the buzzer from the door. She rolled over in bed, and saw Davy sleeping soundly next to her.
She reached over and kissed him, then quickly threw on her robe, the buzzer at the door letting her know someone was impatiently waiting.
"Who is it?" she called.
"Mike! Are you alright?" he urgently asked.
"Oh, I'm fine, Mike! The whole world is fine today." she said in an overly cheery voice as she unlocked the door and let him in.
"I...oh, I uh..didn't mean to wake you." Mike apologized when seeing her in her robe. "I tried calling twice, but got no answer."
"Oh really? I must have been sleeping...or...something." she grinned.
"Are you alright?" he asked again, giving her a strange look.
"Just fine!" she replied.
"Well...uh...how's Davy?" he asked.
"Oh he's fine also. Would you like to talk to him?" she asked.
"No, if he's sleeping, I'd better just..."
"No, really, I'm telling you, he's alright now." she said, then nodded towards Davy's room. "Come on."
He followed her in, and waited while she awakened him.
"Wake up, honey." she smiled as she shook him.
Davy rolled to his back and looked at her with a huge grin.
"Hey, sweety." he said.
She reached down and kissed him, and Mike suddenly felt very uncomfortable as he shifted from one foot to the other.
"I'll go get you boys some coffee." Anna smiled as she left the room.
"Davy, you two didn't sleep together, did you?" Mike asked.
Davy sat up, and offered Mike a strange look.
"Of course. She's my wife. Don't tell me you and Phyliss don't." he said.
"That's different, man! Phyliss and I married cause we love each other." Mike yelled.
"So? I love Anna." Davy said.
"I can't believe you just took advantage of her like that, especially after what all she's done for you. Do you have any idea what you put her through? Then you just go and...you what?" Mike asked.
"I love her." Davy answered as if it were a well known fact.
"You can't love her! Man, what do you know about love? The only person you've ever loved was yourself." Mike exclaimed.
"I would argue that, if I could find a good argument." Davy looked away sadly, then turned earnest eyes back to Mike. "I've found out alot about myself since she's been here. Alot that I didn't like. But she loves me, despite all that. I've never understood...never known a love like that, man! Not until Anna came along. And it's much more of a wild trip than those drugs could ever take me on."
Mike only shook his head as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"I can't believe this. This is not the same Davy I was talking to two weeks ago." he said.
"You're right, Mike. I'm not." Davy quietly replied.
----
Chapter 19
It was their six month deadline, but both Anna and Davy knew their decision. Neither one wanted a divorce.
Ever since he had kicked the habit, he had become a different person. This didn't go unoticed by the other three Monkees either.
As for Tom, things didn't go so well for him. On their six month anniversary, Davy and Anna showed up at the studio. Tom was pacing the floor, whiling waiting for them.
"Well if it isn't our old buddy, Tom." Davy smiled as he walked up to the man. "Where have you been keeping yourself? Haven't seen you since my wedding night."
"Now Davy, Anna, listen to me! I know you're both upset about what happened, but it's the deadline now. So let's put it behind us, and get on with this, ok?" he calmly replied.
"Whatever could he be talking about?" Davy asked.
"All we wanted to do was thank our matchmaker." Anna smiled.
"Yeah, very funny, kids. Now I've made an appointment with the judge, and he'll take your case tomorrow morning. I already sent the story to the reporters, and they're eating it up." Tom grinned.
"But we're not getting the divorce, Tom." Davy announced.
"What do you mean? You have to. It's in the contract." Tom demanded.
"The contract says IF one of us wants a divorce, which we don't." Davy corrected.
"You can't do that! That story has already been sent out. It's being printed as we speak." Tom argued.
"Well, I believe I told you not to go telling people things that weren't true. Didn't I tell him that?" Davy asked the other three Monkees who were watching the exchange.
"Maybe not as calmly as you are now, but yeah, you told him." Peter smiled.
"If I were you, Tom, I'd get on that phone, and tell them to stop the presses." Mike advised.
Tom cursed the entire way to the phone.
The Monkees, Anna and Phyliss smiled at each other, knowing they had him.
"Holms, please!...yeah, Greg?...Tom!...You know that story I gave you about Jones getting the divorce? Well it's not gonna happen, so just toss the story out...What?...Well call them back...What do you mean you can't?"
A few more words and unpleasantries were exchanged before Tom slammed the phone back down on it's cradle.
"Somebody's in trouble." Micky said in a sing-song voice.
"What's wrong, Tom?" Peter asked.
"You know what's wrong. You!" he pointed to Davy and Anna. "You won't get away with this."
"What are you going to do? Take us to court? You have nothing to stand on. And if you even think about waving that contract around, that ugly little story about how Anna was tricked into signing it will come out also. I believe that falls under fraud and misrepresentation." Davy said.
"I'll just get the Execs to back me up." Tom smugly replied.
"Go ahead. Call them." Davy challenged.
He picked up the phone, and they listened as he explained the problem. He started out with a triumphant look on his face, but by the end of the conversation, the look had changed to a sheepish one.
As he hung up, the group smiled at each other.
"That's the 'I'm Fired' face if I ever saw one." Micky grinned.
"Now what happened?" Davy asked.
"They fired me." Tom replied, looking stricken.
"Whatever for?" Mike asked with mock compassion.
"Embarrassing the company by sending out false information." he quietly replied.
"All together now!" Micky lead everyone in a long "Awe!"
"Well I guess that that's taken care of then." Phyliss smiled, then turned to Anna. "What do you say we go shopping?"
"Good idea!" Anna agreed, then leaned over to kiss Davy. "I'll have your dinner ready when you get home."
"Ok!" he smiled. "Good bye, sweetheart."
"Ol' Tom sure got what was coming to him." Peter grinned.
"Yeah, and I get a wonderful wife out of it all." Davy added.
"Well you know the old saying, 'Oh what a tangled web we weave...'"
Micky groaned and buried his head in his arms.
"Mike, please! Not again!"
THE END
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