Matt's POV
Brian filled me in on what was going on, but I wasn't sure if he was just being paranoid. I agreed that some things seemed suspicious.

When we got to their house, the guy's car was still there. It was a sharp convertible Jaguar. The top was down and as we walked by I saw a purse in the car.
“Is that Penny’s?” I asked.

“Yes!” He said, grabbing it. “I guess they must have been in a hurry.”

As we went up to their bedroom. I tried to calm him down.
“Remember, he is a Doctor and he is taking care of her. Don't jump to conclusions.”

The bedroom door was closed and you could tell Brian wasn't happy. He started to knock and then said.
“Wait, this is my fucking bedroom." He walked in, the Doctor was sitting on the edge of the bed next to Penny. Penny was asleep, he was holding her hand.
"What the hell are you doing?" Brian said loudly. Doctor Gabriel stood up and spun around toward Brian.
"Shhh" He said. "She just got to sleep." If looks could kill, Brian would've been a goner.
Brian motioned for him to go out of the room.


In the hall he said "I would like to know why I keep coming home and you are in my house, in my bedroom with my wife?"

"I'm her Doctor and she needed someone to take care of her. Shouldn't your first question be how yourwifeis?" He said emphasizing 'wife'.

I could tell that stunned Brian and the guy had hit the target. Brian was speechless. I decided to try to smooth it over.
"Hello Dr. Gabriel, I'm Matt Sanders a close friend of Penny and Brian's." I extended my hand and he shook it.

"Nice to meet you Matt, please call me Adam. I'm familiar with who you are."

"Brian was at the studio at the crack of dawn, he's a little tired and cranky. How is Penny?" I asked.

"Well, she's had a very rough day also. After passing out at the restaurant, she appeared to have some sort of migraine headache. I wanted her to go to the hospital, but she refused." He looked at Brian. "She didn't want to go to the hospital or call you because she was too worried about delayingyournew album. Gwyn had to head to the airport, so I brought her home."

"Then what happened?" Brian asked through clenched teeth.

"When we got here, I carried her to the bathroom and made it just in time before she started vomiting. She still refused to go to the hospital and interrupt you. I called the pharmacy and had medication delivered and I gave her a shot. She had just finally fallen asleep when you barged in yelling."

"Barged in? This is my…” Brian started to react to the Doctor's last remark, then stopped. “Does she need go to the hospital?" His fists were clenched.

"Her vitals are good and she is finally resting, so I don't think it is necessary at this point. But if she is still sick when she wakes up or it recurs again in the next few days, she needs to. I know how stubborn she is, but we have to make her go."

"Don't worry,Iwill make her go." Brian emphasized the 'I'.

“Are you sure you can take time away from music to make sure she does what she needs to?” Adam asked.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Brian asked.

“I mean that your wife needs you, she needs you to pay attention to her and show her she is still the woman she used to be. She's feeling insecure and twice in the last week she has been sick and she either couldn't get hold of you or she refused to call you because she didn't want to disturb you.”

Brian was now fuming. “What are you? Some kind of fucking marriage counselor now? She knows I love her as much as I always have. I tell her to call me when she's sick.”

“Maybe she needs more than just words.” This dude was starting to enter some very dangerous territory.

“My relationship with Penny is none of your fucking business. You don't know her or what she needs. You are to only worry about her medical condition. Understand?”

“I think you need tounderstandthat her emotional health is as important right now as her physical health.” They were inching closer and closer to being in each other's face.

I knew I had to try to keep this from escalating even more.
“The two of you fighting would not be good for Penny. I think you both can agree that you don't want to upset her. Everyone needs to just step back and cool off.”

"Thank you Dr. Gabriel for going above and beyond the call of duty. I'm home now so you don't have to waste your valuable time. I'm sure you have other patients that need your attention. Is there anything I need to sign for your billing purposes?" Brian’s failed attempt at backing off.

Dr. Gabriel stood there stunned, he had just been dismissed, but soon recovered. He dug right back in.

"No Mr. Haner, this one's on the house. I'm glad that I was able to be here and help her. It would have been terrible if she had been alone. She seems to putyour bandbefore her own health.”

“My band?”Brian was now in his face. I had to put an end to it, before things got way out of control. I could see the veins in Brian's neck starting to bulge.

I stepped between them nudging Brian back. "We’re all family and Penny is a very loved part of that family. We’ll all pull together to make sure she's not alone while she's going through this. Adam, why don't I walk you to the door? I'm sure Brian wants to go in and check on Penny."

"Wait a minute Matt. I need to let Dr. Gabriel know something." I didn't know what Brian was going to say, but I was afraid all hell was about to break loose.

"What is thatSynyster Gates?" Dr. Gabriel was very defensive and clearly trying to antagonize Brian.

"Penny and I will be going to Ohio very soon and she will be staying there while I am on tour. So your services will not be needed once we leave."

"Have you discussed this with Penny?" Adam's face was now red. "Because I am surprised she didn't say anything to me about it.”

"What my wife and I discuss is none of your business. I am telling you, that's all that is necessary. I'm going to go check on Penny now. Matt will see you out." Brian went into the bedroom and shut the door.


Dr. Gabriel and I both just stood there for a moment in awkward silence.

"I can see myself out." He started to leave I grabbed his shoulder and stopped him.

“Before you leaveAdam, Ithink you should understand something, I stopped Brian tonight for Penny's sake, instead of joining him to beat the fucking shit out of you. If you step over the line again, you will not only have Brian and I to deal with. The whole band will be your problem. As I said we are a family. Is that clear?”

“You may consider yourself a family, but Penny can make her own choices. I am pretty sure she will not like Brian making this choice for her. She is not a possession and she is not a child.” He said as he started to walk away. “By the way, your tattooed band ofmetal headsdon't scare me.”

I couldn’t hold myself back, I followed him down the stairs. “What the fuck did you just say?” This time I grabbed his shoulder spun him around and slammed him up against the wall. I could tell he was afraid, but he tried not to show it.

“I said yourfamilydoesn't scare me.” He smiled smugly. “Go ahead, I'm sure Penny will be delighted when you get arrested for assaulting me in her house. Especially after I took care of her all afternoon and she's upstairs asleep.”

I backed off, I was already pretty sure Penny was not going to be cool with what Brian did and I didn't want to add fuel to the fire. It was clear he was prepared to take it all and turn it to his advantage. Although, I could still see fear in his eyes.
“You're right Doctor, I have too much love and respect for Penny and Brian to give you what you deserve right now.”

He didn't speak another word and left quickly, I knew I had scared the shit out of him.


Brian's POV
Penny was knocked out, it was obvious she had a horrible time of it just from the dark circles under her eyes and how pale she was. I felt so terrible when Adam pointed out that I started questioning him before asking about her. The things he said got to me. I needed to get control of this situation or I would be pushing her into his arms.

There was a knock on the bedroom door, Matt peaked in. “We need to talk.”

“Ok, I'll be right there.” I kissed Penny and left quietly.

“What happened when Dr. Dumb Fuck left?”

“I told him I only held you back instead of helping you beat his ass for Penny's sake. He said Penny could make her own choices and she's not a possession or a child.”

“That son of a bitch!” I said.

“He said he wasn't afraid of our tattooed band of metal heads. It was then that I slammed him up against the wall and was about rip the shit out of him. He told me to go ahead and see how Penny liked that. I backed off, but I'm pretty sure I scared the crap out of him.”

“What the hell should I do about this guy? He's right, Penny would not be happy. He's trying to undermine me by making me seem like a bad husband who's not what she needs.”

“Brian, she would never fall for that. I know he's an ass and we see right through his bullshit, but she doesn't.”

“I know, she trusts him, we both need her to be better and he's the best. We can't risk her life, because I'm mad. I just don't know if I can keep from hurting this guy."

Val came over and offered to have Penny spend the next day with her. I made her promise that I was called first if anything happened. The three of us talked about what I did and what Matt said to the jerk, they both urged me to tell Penny as soon as possible. They left and I went upstairs and wrapped my arms around her gently. She stirred enough to come closer and put her head on my shoulder. It was just our natural way of sleeping. That jerk doesn't understand the connection we have. I was exhausted like Matt said, I was soon asleep.

Notes