Penny's POV
Gwyn and I went to lunch before she had to leave. They brought us water and we were looking at the menu to order.
“Penny, I hope you don’t mind I invited Adam to join us.” She said
“Um, sure that’s fine. I’m surprised though, I thought you weren't that interested.”
“I had a good time, I wouldn’t mind getting to know him better. I think we were both just worried about you that night.”
“I’m sorry.” I said.
“You don’t have to be sorry, it impressed me that he cares so much about his patients.” Gwyn said. “So tell me how you and Brian are doing?”
“We're good. The illness has been rough, but I think we are closer than ever.”
“So how's you sex life?” Gwyn asked.
“Jeez Gwyn!!”
“Oh come on, we've talked about it before.”
“Well, we don't really have one right now.” I realized.
“Did Adam say you couldn't?”
“No, he didn't say anything about it.”
“I guess it makes sense that you two would decide to hold off.” Gwyn said.
“We really didn't make a decision, we just haven't. I've not felt good so much and I assume he doesn't want to push me when I am not feeling well.”
“Well, you have lost quite a bit of weight. Maybe it's not your illness that is holding you both back. Maybe you're self-conscious and maybe he…”
“You think he's not attracted to me anymore? I am sure that is not it. We take showers together all the time. We took one the other night.” I wasn't insecure or worried until this conversation.
“Since when do the two of you take an innocent shower?” Gwyn asked.
“Ever since he was in the coma and I started losing weight.” Suddenly I felt like crying.
She started digging through her purse. “Crap! I left my phone in your car and I am waiting for a call from my editor.”
“I’ll go get it for you.” I said, getting up and leaving quickly.

I went to my car and thought about what she said. Is Brian not attracted to me anymore? Would he want to even take showers with me and see me naked if he wasn't? Maybe he wants to, then he sees me naked and it turns him off. That can't be it, I decided. He's just been holding back for my sake. As far as me being self-conscious, I may be thin but not skin and bones. I decided to let it go and go on with the afternoon. I brought her phone back in. She was still alone and I really didn't want to continue the previous conversation.

“No Adam yet?” I asked.
“I accidentally told him 11:30 instead of 11:00, It’s 11:30 now, he should be here any minute. Let’s go ahead and order.”
We had just gotten our food when Adam arrived. “Hello Ladies, I'm sorry I'm late.”
“Hi Adam.” I said as he sat down at the table. My mind was still preoccupied with the earlier talk with Gwyn.
“I'm glad you could make it Adam. I wanted a chance to say goodbye and thank you for a lovely evening the other night. It was really nice getting to know you." Gwyn said.
"It was my pleasure; Penny obviously has friends just as lovely as she is." He said.
I must have blushed, my face suddenly felt warm. "Adam, you flatter me. You have seen me at some of my worst."
“Even at your worst, you are a very lovely.” He said.
“Wow, you're a bad liar. But thank you.” Suddenly I felt very hot and my head started pounding, I realized I wasn't just blushing. I grabbed my water and took another drink, my hand was shaking so bad I had to use both hands to hold it.
“Penny are you okay?” Gwyn said. I felt very weird, my vision started to blur.
“Penny, look at me. Penny?” Adam said. I finally managed to stand up and speak.
"I think I need to go to the ladies' room." I stood up and the next thing I knew I was on the floor of the restaurant and Adam was kneeling next to me. "Penny? Penny can you hear me?”
It took me a few moments to even understand what he was saying. "My head is killing me."
"We need to get you to the hospital." Adam said. I tried to sit up, my head hurt even worse. The look on my face must have made it evident.
“Penny, don't try to get up. Gwyn, call 911.”
"NO! Do I have to go to the hospital? Didn't you say migraine like headaches could be a side effect of the treatment? Please Adam, I just want to go home."
"I think you should go to the hospital." Adam said. “This really doesn't look like a migraine.”
"Please, can we just wait a little bit? It will probably just pass. I'm sure it's because I haven't had much to eat the last few days. I don't want to delay the album and I will if Brian rushes to the hospital. I'm sure if I just drink some water or something, I'll be fine.” Adam helped me sit up and Gwyn grabbed my water from the table. I drank it all, my mouth was really dry.
"Penny, I know you care about the band, but you need to put your health first. You have to do it even if others don't." Adam said. “A glass of water isn't going to fix this.”
"Please Adam." I begged, trying to muster the best sad puppy eyes I could with a pounding headache.
"Okay, but we need to watch this closely. Gwyn, will you be able to keep an eye on Penny until Brian gets home?"
"I can't, the driver is picking up my luggage from the house and will be here any minute to take me to the airport. I should call Brian."
"No!" I said "The album is already behind schedule because of me."
"Someone needs to be with you in case you pass out again or this gets worse." He looked at Gwyn. "I'll get Penny home and watch out for her until he gets home. I don't have any other appointments today. I was supposed to play golf, but I can cancel."
"Thank you Adam." Gwyn said. "Adam, I can help you get her out to your car."
Adam actually carried me to his car and then Gwyn left. It was a terrible drive home and I barely made it without throwing up.

Adam's POV
I was glad that I was there for Penny. It was very rough; I could tell not just physically. She kept putting herself down. During the frantic drive to her house she was making herself feel worse.

“Oh God, I’m hideous and disgusting. I don't want to get sick in your car. Just drop me off at the side of the road. You don't have to take care of me.”
“Penny, please try to relax. I want to help you and I'm a Doctor, I've seen a lot worse than throwing up.”
"I'm sure your patients don't usually get sick all over your car!"

Once I had her in the house, she was getting more and more sick, I really wanted her to go to the hospital, but she still refused.
“I'm not going to the hospital. If you call an ambulance, I will refuse to let them touch me.” She was resolute.
“Are you sure you don't want me to call Brian?”
“No! He's sees me look bad enough, no wonder he doesn't…never mind.”
“Doesn't what?”
“Nothing. I'm not going to the hospital and I do not want you to call Brian.”
“You are one of the stubbornest people I have ever met. Can I at least get you some medication to try to stop the vomiting?” I asked.
“It feels like it's finally slowing down, but if you think I should.”

I had medication delivered and gave her a shot. I was nervous being there in her house, I wasn't sure how her husband was going to react. But, somebody has to help her. He's obviously too busy to do so and she refuses to call him.
“Is this supposed to make me sleepy?” She asked.
“Yes, just close your eyes and get some rest.” I said.
“Adam, can you sit with me a second? I have a question. I need a man's opinion.”
“Okay.” I said, wondering what she was going to ask. I sat on the edge of the bed.
“Tell me truthfully, am I unattractive from losing weight and being sick?” A tear fell down her cheek. “If I wasn't married and you just met me, what would you think?”
I grabbed a tissue and blotted the tear away. I held her hand and said. “I would say to myself “Who is that beautiful woman with purple tinted hair? I want to meet her.”
“Beautiful is not necessarily sexy.” She said.
“When I say it, it does.” I wanted to just tell her she was sexy, but it didn't feel right telling another man's wife that.
“I don't know if Brian still feels that way.” Another tear fell and I wiped it away.
“I'm sure he still does. Don't worry about that right now, just close your eyes and rest.” She smiled faintly and then shut her eyes, not letting go of my hand.
Right before falling asleep she said. “Thank you for saying that.” I looked at her and wished I could help her not be sad. I pushed a stray strand of hair off of her face that had escaped the hap hazard ponytail she had put up earlier. There were things I could cure, but this wasn't one of them. Only one person could do that, but I doubt he even realized it. I was really starting to not like Brian or Synyster or whatever name you want to call him. Honestly, I've never been very impressed with him. I kept holding her hand while she finally was able to rest, I didn't want to let go.

Brian's POV
I tried to call Penny just before noon and she didn't answer. She was probably finishing up her brunch with Gwyn and didn't hear it. It was good to know that when I got home, we would have our house to ourselves again. It looked like we would be wrapping the day up early, I couldn't wait to get home and surprise her. My phone rang, it was Gwyn. I groaned right before I answered it.
"Hi Gwyn.”
"Hi Brian. Penny's going to kill me for this, but I knew you were upset the other day when you thought that she didn't call."
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"We were at the restaurant having lunch and Penny collapsed."
"Collapsed? Is she okay?"
"Adam wanted to call an Ambulance, but Penny said no." She said.
"Adam? You called him?"
"No, he was with us."
I was starting to get upset, but I needed to focus on Penny. "Where is Penny now?"
"Adam took her home. I helped when he carried her out to his car. Somebody needs to go get her car too.”
"He carried her out to his car and took her home?” I knew I needed to hold back my anger. "When did this happen?"
“About two hours ago.” Gwyn said.
“Two hours ago! Why didn't you call me sooner?”
"I wanted to, but she insisted that I not. She said she didn't want to you to come running home. The more I thought about it, the more I realized you needed to know. I've got to go or I'll miss my flight. I'll talk to you soon." Then she hung up.

I looked at the guys. "Penny collapsed at a restaurant, I have to go."
Matt said "Hey man, can I talk to you really quick?"
"Quick. Walk out with me." As we were heading out I tried to preempt what I was sure he wanted to talk to me about. "I'm sorry Matt, I know this is holding us up. I just have to get home."
"That’s okay, we understand. But I get the feeling that there is something more going on than just Penny passing out."
"It's the fucking Doctor, he's starting to really get on my nerves."
"Is that who Penny was on the phone with yesterday?” He said.
"Yes, and now he took her home from the restaurant. I think he's got a thing for her. Why don't you come with me? I'd like to see what you think."
"Sure, I'd like to meet this guy."
"Cool, I'll tell you all that has happened on the way."

Notes