Lifeline
Chapter Eight: A Change Of Luck
"I swear, if that bleedin' phone rings one more time I'm disconnectin'
it."
Jetta groaned, glaring at the offending object and throwing a cushion
in
it's direction. "It's been nothin' but moanin' and complainin' from
Eric
and Riot since Pizzazz refused to cooperate with 'em an' I'm sick of
it!"
"You ain't the only one." Roxy grimaced. "What I wanna know though is
why
she refused him. She's doolally over Riot - think she's finally got her
brain
back?"
"Dunno." Jetta shrugged. "Hope so. I just wish it didn't mean we got
the
'assle over it. Like we can change 'er mind! The concert is in less
than
2 hours now an we ain't playin'. End of story."
"It's a nothing show anyway." Roxy snorted. "I'm sick of playin' backup
or
support for those dumb Stingers, anyhow. We're the Misfits, we don't
play
support for anyone! They're nobodies, they ought to be warmin' up for
us!"
"Tell me about it." Jetta groaned. "It's 'umiliatin' as 'ell, if I'm
honest
about it, and Pizzazz won't be argued with...you know, if 'Arvey does
die,
I'm toyin' with the idea of persuadin' 'er to set up 'er own music
company
again and pullin' out of this Stingers Sound mess. I've 'ad enough of
it...I
don't wanna work for Riot an' Eric any more."
"Me neither." Roxy admitted. "If I had someplace else to go I'd've quit
by
now."
"You an' me both, love." Jetta sighed. She frowned. "I've 'ad enough of
this,
too. It's surreal, bein' stuck in an 'ouse with you...we're startin' to
'ave
meaningful conversations."
"Only cos there's noone better to talk to." Roxy snapped in. "Don't
think
I've gone sweet on you. When Pizzazz and Stormer get back, it's back to
normal,
you got it? This is only while they're away."
"Suits me fine." Jetta returned. She reached for the paper, flicking
through
the pages with little interest. "Well, since we ain't got concert plans
tonight,
an' the damn phone won't quit ringin', I think I'm goin' out. Wanna
come?"
"So long as I don't have to hang out with you when we get there." Roxy
nodded.
"That was what I was thinkin'." Jetta agreed. "Jus' a taxi costs less
if
we go 'alves."
"I'll get my jacket." Roxy got to her feet. "Call 'em, huh?"
"Yeah, I was goin' to." Jetta rolled her eyes. "Jus' don't take
forever! I
ain't waitin' once it's 'ere!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Roxy pulled a face at her foe. "Cool out
already. I'll be there."
Across the other side of the country, oblivious to Roxy and Jetta's
attempts
to live together without coming to blows, Pizzazz was back at the
hospital.
A phonecall early that morning had suggested an improvement in Harvey's
condition,
and they were hopeful that he could be encouraged back to
consciousness.
The singer was much more her usual, snappy self thanks to her good
night's
sleep, but she had not refused Stormer's offer of breakfast, and though
she
was hardly trying to be friendly, she was less hostile to the younger
girl
than she had been before.
Stormer, for her part, had wisely left all mention of the previous
day's
revelations alone. It had happened, and it was over, and however much
improved
her relations with the singer were, it would not help to bring them up
again.
She had left the singer to her own devices at the hospital, realising
that
Pizzazz needed to deal with this in her own way, and Pizzazz had been
inwardly
grateful for her companion's perception. As she sat down beside the
bed,
another uncharacteristic wave of apprehension washed over her. What if
they
were wrong? What if he wasn't going to make it, after all?
Her mind flitted back to the conversation she had had with her bandmate
the
day before, and she frowned. Well, maybe for once Stormer had a point,
though
she'd be damned before she'd admit it out loud. Maybe it wasn't too
late...and
maybe it was down to her to make an effort, if things were ever going
to
be settled.
Carefully, and a little awkwardly she took a hold of her father's hand
in
hers, gripping it gently.
"Daddy?" She murmured. "It's Phyllis...wake up, Daddy. We need to
talk."
There was no response, and Pizzazz bit her lip.
"Please, Daddy." She begged, her tone not that of the spoiled
brat
begging for more, but that of an anxious, desperate child. "I don't
want
to be alone! I don't care about the stupid magazine or anything
else...I just
don't want you to die! You've spent my whole life jetting off to other
places...don't
you know that I need a father too?"
There was a moment's stillness, and then Pizzazz felt her father's
fingers
move slightly. Hope replacing fear in her green eyes, she was on her
feet,
reaching for his other hand.
"Daddy, come on!" She urged. "You can do this...you're a Gabor! We
don't
give up, remember? You gotta fight back!"
Harvey's eyes flickered slightly, then opened, focusing slowly on his
daughter's
face. The joy he saw there prompted a faint smile, and he gripped
tighter
on the girl's hand.
"Phyllis." He murmured.
"No, you ain't talkin'." Pizzazz shook her head. "You're gonna listen
to
me, Daddy. Okay? Cos I haven't had the best few days in the world since
you
took sick and it made me think about something. We never talk, do we? I
mean,
you always got your business, and I've got my music...and I know you
hate
that. I use you for money, you get me outta your hair...well, I don't
want
that, Daddy! You're the only family I got and...well, I want my
father.
Not a bank account...who cares about money? I want...I want you to be
proud
of me."
Harvey gazed at his daughter for a moment, tears in his eyes. Then,
with
an amount of difficulty he spoke, his voice soft and hoarse.
"I am proud of you." He whispered. "But most of all...for being
here
now."
Pizzazz smiled slightly.
"I...guess I was worried." She admitted self-consciously. "I'm mad as
hell
at you for getting me worked up, you know."
Harvey smiled.
"It's nice...to know...you care." He replied softly.
"Don't be dumb." Pizzazz scolded him. "I'm your daughter! What do you
think
I am, anyway, some monster? Don't answer that...I don't wanna know."
she
added as an afterthought, reaching over to press the buzzer to summon a
doctor.
"Now, you better get well, Daddy, an' soon, too. I don't like hanging
out
in hospitals, they give me creeps. I'm staying in DC, so I'll be around
a
day or two if you...want to see me."
"Of course." Harvey nodded slowly and haltingly. Pizzazz smiled.
"Right. Then I'll be back to see you tomorrow." She said, slightly
embarassed
with the whole situation. "Bye, Daddy. Don't relapse in the meantime,
okay?"
"I'll... do my...best." Harvey assured her. Satisfied, Pizzazz sent him
a
grin, leaving the hospital room as the doctors entered to examine their
patient.
Strange as she felt, she also felt that a weight had been lifted from
her
shoulders.
Her father was awake, surely now he would live?
And surely now things would be settled between them?
Chapter One: The Magazine
Chapter Two: A Phone Call
Chapter Three: Washington DC
Chapter Four: Harvey Gabor
Chapter Five: Answering To Eric
Chapter Six: Breaking Down
Chapter Seven: Riot
Chapter Eight: A Change Of Luck
Chapter Nine: Harvey's Proposal
Chapter Ten: A Cunning Plan
Chapter Eleven: As It Should Be
(The Misfits and Holograms and other animated Jem
characters are copyrighted to Hasbro Inc. All characters who do not
appear in Jem episodes
are my own creation. This story is copyrighted to E.A Woolley (2001)