A/N: This chapter mentions briefly about abuse, so if that subject bothers you, please don't read.
The next day at noon, Micky met her and they grabbed a taxi that took them to the Lincoln Park Zoo. They spent the afternoon, talking, looking at the various animals, and holding hands.
When the afternoon was over, they went to dinner at the hotel restaurant.
“Debra, there’s something I need to tell you. I am in love with you.” He reached his hand out towards hers, taking and holding it.
“I’m in love with you too.”
“The thing is, I leave tomorrow morning to head back to California.”
“You do?”
“Yes. We have one more show and then we are done with our tour.”
“So you are going to leave me?”
“I have to get back with the band. We are cutting a new album and we are planning a summer tour next year.”
“Why did I even bother letting my defenses down? I was in love before, which turned out rotten. Now I’m in love again and it’s over just when it starts.”
“We can try a long distance relationship.”
“When would you visit me? I don’t have the money to visit you.”
“I am not sure. Maybe when we come back next summer.”
“Next summer? That’s a long time Micky.”
“Hey, I don’t know. We can call on the phone at night, we can write each other. Did you say you were in love before and it turned out bad?”
“Yes. That’s all I’m going to say about that. This is turning out bad as well. I could handle the phone calls and the letters but I would miss you terribly.”
“I would miss you too. If you want to talk about it, I’m here.”
“No. I think I am going to leave after I eat. It was a wonderful time, but I think it has to end.”
“Why? I wanted you to hang out with me tonight after the show. We could walk somewhere and talk.”
“No, it would break my heart. You must be used to the love em and leave em since you are on the road!”
“It’s not like that Debra. I admitted that I love you, and you accuse me of that? That’s not fair.”
“That’s not fair!!! Give me a break, Micky! You are walking out of my life, that’s what isn’t fair! I will eat my meal and be out of your life.”
“Please reconsider Debra.”
“No.”
They got their meals and Debra left after she finished. “I will pay for my portion, thank you.”
“No, let me take care of it. Why do you have to go?”
“It’s for the best, and no, I will not let you pay for me any longer.”
She paid for her meal and ran back to her room. She closed the door and cried on her bed.
Micky got up, paid for his meal and went to her room. He knocked on the door.
“Go away!”
“Debra, please let me in. I want to talk to you.”
“We’ve done enough talking! Leave me alone.”
“No, I will not leave you alone! I will stand here until you let me in.”
“You can stand there for all I care!”
“Look I will miss my show if I have to. Let me in.”
“Why are you doing this to me?”
Debra walked over to the door and cracked it open. “Talk.”
“Maybe there is something we can do to work things out. I don’t want you to be out of my life.”
“What can we possibly do?”
“I can take you with me.”
“I just met you! I have a job here, a life here.”
“You could get a job out there and crash at our place until you find a place of your own.”
“Do you even have room?”
“Well, there’s the couch. Look, I can’t offer you much, but it’s something.”
“I don’t know Micky. I have lived in Chicago all my life.”
“Do you have ties here?”
“No. My parents both are deceased, and my sister lives in Moline with her family.”
“Well, you can start new in Malibu. There are many places you can work and like I said, you can stay with us until you get the money to get an apartment.”
“I’ll have to think about this.”
“Okay, let me know by tomorrow morning.”
“I will.”
“Will you still hang out with us tonight after the show?”
“Sure. What time?”
“We get back around midnight, so how about then?”
“Okay, I’ll meet you there.”
“How about I come and get you?”
“Sure.”
“May I kiss you again?”
“Yes.”
He leaned in and gave her a passionate kiss.
“Mmmm, that was nice.” She sighed and leaned back against her doorframe.
“It sure was. I’ll see you tonight then.”
“Okay.”
Micky left and Debra closed the door behind her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At midnight, Micky came and picked her up.
“Hi.” He leaned in and kissed her passionately, taking her hand.
“You are a good kisser.”
“So are you.”
They took the elevator to the fifth floor and walked to Mike’s room. They listened to music, and before they played cards, Micky danced with Debra to “Happy Together” by the Turtles. He sang the song to her, and then they kissed a few times.
They then played 500 and after three games, they called it a night. Micky walked Debra back to her room and they said goodnight.
“I love you Debra.” He gave her a big hug and a kiss.
“I love you too.”
“Don’t forget to give me my answer in the morning, okay?”
“Okay.”
Micky left and Debra stayed up debating what she should do.
Morning came and Debra went up to Micky’s room at around nine. She knocked on the door.
“Come on in.”
She walked into his room and she was prepared to give him his answer.
“What have you decided?”
“I have decided that I will come with you. I have to let them know that I’m not going to be working here and I have to pack my bags. What time are you leaving?”
“We are leaving around noon to head back. You go get your things and let them know. Do you need my help?”
“You know what? Yes, I’ll need some help.”
“Okay I will go with you then.”
He shut his door and went with her down to her room. He hadn’t been in there before; it was a quaint room with a blue couch, a coffee table, a kitchenette, a queen sized bed, a closet and a bathroom.
“I’ll be back, I’m going to let management know. What is your address so they can send my check?”
“1334 Beachwood Dr, Malibu, California 90263.”
“Thanks hon!”
She went and told management and they took her new address so they could send her the check. Luckily they had just hired a new maid so they didn’t have to look for one. She came back and started to pack her things. He packed her nick knacks and other items that she wanted to bring.
She had two suitcases packed and ready to go and they walked out to the Monkeemobile and she put her stuff in the trunk. It was going to be crowded with all the instruments, but they would make sure that there was room for everyone.
They went back up to the fifth floor and Micky gathered his duffle bag. He only had about three outfits and amenities since they did laundry on the road. They all met in the hall and Micky told Mike that Debra was coming with them and that she would crash on their couch until she had enough money to move to an apartment.
“Shotgun, can I speak to you a moment?”
“Sure.”
They went down the hall, and Mike talked to him.
“You can’t bring her along.”
“Why? I asked her to and she accepted. We can have her stay on the couch; it’s no big deal. She is going to find a job, and she can help us with expenses.”
“She will cramp our style.”
“No she won’t. Besides she’s already quit her job, packed her stuff and put it in the Monkeemobile.”
“You annoy me Dolenz, you really do. Fine, but she better be out as soon as she gets enough money.”
“Okay, you can count on it, Nesmith. Thanks so much!”
They all took their things and packed up the Monkeemobile. By noon they were on the road back to Malibu. It was a two-day journey and they would crash somewhere for the night.
They all took turns driving except for Debra, who didn’t know how to drive. They stayed overnight in Denver and arrived home the next day.
When they arrived home, they found a note from Babbitt wanting his rent money and that he hadn’t received it since they left in June. Mike grumbled and figured the post office lost their checks, so he would have to take some of the money they made from the tour and pay him.
“Wow, this is a lovely pad you have.” Debra looked all around at her new surroundings.
“Thanks, we try our hardest to keep it up.”
“It sure looks like it. Where can I set my bags?”
“Just over there by the couch. Here let me do that for you.” Micky took her bags and set them down.
“I’ll go ahead and start looking for jobs, where can I get a newspaper?”
“I’ll take you down the street to the newsstand. Would you like to walk?”
“Sure.”
They walked hand-in-hand to the corner newsstand and she bought a paper. When they got back to the pad she looked through the want ads and found a couple hotel jobs that needed housekeepers. She called them up and she got an interview with the Malibu Shores Motel. She was to go in tomorrow at ten, and Micky would take her there.
Later that night, Mike went up to Micky in the kitchen.
“Hey man, we shouldn’t let Debra sleep on the couch. Why don’t I give up my bed and she can have it until she moves out?”
“You’d do that?”
“Sure. But no hanky panky, got it?”
“I didn’t even think about it Mike. Hey Debra, how would you like to sleep in Mike’s bed until you get a place of your own?”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude.”
“It’s not intruding Debra. I can crash on the couch; it’s not a problem. Micky, take Debra’s bags upstairs.”
“I’ll go with you Micky.”
Debra followed Micky up the spiral staircase to the bedroom. He put her suitcases by the first bed.
“Micky, I want to talk to you.”
“Sure, about what?”
“Please make sure you don’t come on to me okay?”
“Sure, I wouldn’t think of it.”
“Thanks, it really would mean a lot to me. I think it’s time I told you about my past.”
They sat down on her new bed and she proceeded to speak.
“I had a boyfriend named Brad. I was in love with him but he abused me verbally, sexually and physically. I have scars from when he used to burn me with his cigarettes. He used to call me names all the time, and told me I was a slut and no good.”
“I am so sorry to hear that, that’s awful! How long did you put up with it?”
“For a year, it was a year too long. For the longest time, I thought it was my fault, but I then realized it wasn’t mine; it was his. So I got up the courage to leave him and I got the job at the hotel. He tried to look for me but he never found me, and I’m glad.”
“How long ago was this? How did you know he was looking for you?”
“Two years ago. Friends of mine told me.”
“Well you’re with me now and I wouldn’t hurt you.”
“I’m glad that you wouldn’t. So now you know why you can’t touch me, not now.”
“Yes, I do. I won’t lay a hand on you, I promise.”
The next day was the interview and Micky drove her to the motel. She came out a half hour later and she got the job. She was to start in the morning. It was a full time job, and she would work from 8 to 4 Wednesday through Sunday with Monday and Tuesday’s off. The pay was minimum wage, which was $1.00 an hour.
They got back and Micky and the others had to go to the studio to start work on their fourth album, “Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn and Jones.” He asked Debra to go with them and she decided to stay home.
“But we won’t be back until really late.” Micky frowned.
“It’s okay, I have to be at work at 8 AM so I need my sleep. I’ll find stuff to do, you guys go ahead.”
They went to the studio and Debra walked along the beach, straightened the beach house, watched some TV and read. She went to bed at ten, and Micky didn’t get home until three AM.
When he got to the room, he turned on the light as quickly as possible, and watched her sleep.
‘She’s so beautiful.’ He sighed to himself. He turned out the light and felt his way to his bed.
The next morning at six, she awoke and made herself breakfast. She took a bus to work and did her shift. She got home at 4:30 and Micky was waiting for her.
“Hi honey, how was work?” He kissed her and gave her a hug.
“It was fine. It’s a nice motel, and the people seem friendly enough.”
“I’m glad that you like your job. The others have gone and I’ve made you dinner, I hope you like it.”
It was Mexican Spaghetti with garlic bread.
“Mmmm, this is good Micky! You are a good cook.”
“Thanks, I try. It’s better than you having to eat what Peter makes.” He laughed.
“He a bad cook?”
“Well, let’s just say he comes up with some strange concoctions.”
“Then why don’t you take over with the meals?”
“Because you don’t kick Pete out of the kitchen. It’s his domain.”
“Ah I see. Well, I may just let him get out of the kitchen and let me cook sometime.”
“Are you a good cook?”
“Yes I am.”
“Great! Good luck with trying to get Pete out of the kitchen.”
“Oh I’m sure I can.”
They ate their dinner, and then they took a walk along the beach.
Chapter 1
Chapter 3
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