Good Man

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...



Caroline woke up the following morning to an overcast sky and an odd chill in the air. Perhaps it was the air conditioning or just a random early morning cold snap. Either way, she was shivering under the thin bed sheet that was covering her body.

Laying on her side, she opened her hazel eyes and peered sleepily at her bedside clock which informed her that it was only a little past seven in the morning. Not an unusual time for her to wake up, considering she had two toddlers who sometimes decided to wake up earlier.

Rolling onto the flat of her back, Caroline yawned and stretched both her legs and arms as a yawn came over her. Writhing around on the mattress with the wonderful feeling a good stretch and yawn provided, she turned her head to the right and found Mike's side empty.

Frowning, she sat up and threw her legs over the edge of the bed to stand up and grab for her red, silk robe. Stepping into her fuzzy white slippers, Caroline yawned again and made her way out of the bedroom and peered into her children's bedroom and found they were still sleeping which was a complete rarity.

Smirking from surprise, Caroline continued on her way to the stairs and took the steps slowly, one at a time when she heard the television murmuring from the living room. As soon as she entered the room, however, the voices from the television became clearer and she found herself staring at Darya Folsom, one of the morning news anchors from KRON 4, talking about some traffic accident on the 80 from the night before and then turning to look at Erica Kato, the weather anchor, to see what the day's weather forecast would be.

Overcast all day in the city, due to fog. High of 61 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 55. What else was new San Francisco's summer months? With a roll of her eyes, the brunette glanced to the couch where she found Mike sitting with his long legs stretched out and his eyes closed; his hands folded on his chest.

And for a moment, Caroline felt a wave of panic.

"Mike?" She couldn't see the rise and fall of his chest from breathing. "Honey?"

But then he stirred, and her hope was restored; fears washed away.

"Hmm--wha--?" he muttered; his eyes snapping open and looking to find where the voice had come from. And when he settled his gaze upon his wife's face, Mike smiled. "Hey, baby. What's up?"

"It's freezing in here," she commented. "I woke up and it felt like winter in Buffalo. Did you leave the air conditioning on full blast last night or is it just me?"

"Just you. I feel fine," he replied with a shrug.

"Why are you downstairs so early?"

"I woke up about two hours ago and couldn't sleep. Was flipping channels until the news came on. But I guess I must've dozed off for a few minutes." He then flashed her a wicked grin. "Why? D'ya miss me?"

"Of course I did," Caroline answered, walking up to him and sinking down beside him on the couch. As she curled up into his side, she swung her legs over his lap and forced his arm to wrap around her legs to keep her warm. As she rested her head on his shoulder and watched the other news anchor Mark Danon interacting with Darya Folsom about some news story or another, Caroline slowly wrapped an arm around her husband's chest. "What time should we leave to go into the city today?"

"I'd say about four. It'll be the beginnings of rush hour, but the traffic shouldn't be bad for us considering all of it will be heading out of the city and not in because of the commuters."

Caroline nodded at Mike's response. "So we're driving into the city?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, I thought we could take the ferry across the bay instead of having to worry about finding a parking space."

Mike considered what she'd said and nodded. "Or we could do that."

Caroline smirked. "What should I wear?"

"Why even bother asking me that? You know you always go ahead and wear what you want even after I give you my opinion." When Caroline just held his gaze, he sighed. "Okay...a dress?" he offered lamely. "But nothing fancy. Semiformal. You got plenty of little, black cocktail dresses. Pick one. Knock yourself out."

Rolling her eyes at her husband, she smacked his chest. "Maybe I'll just go naked since you really don't care what I wear."

"I do care. But I don't. I mean, I care that you care enough to make such an effort to get all pretty for little ol' me, but I don't care in the sense that no matter what you wear, you wear it well. Better than well, in fact," he added to score some brownie points.

Holding his gaze while a grin grew upon her lips, Caroline shook her head in amazement. "I sure did luck out getting such a charmer like you, didn't I?"

"Better believe it, woman. God broke the mold when he made me."

Laughing out loud, Caroline relished in how wonderful it was to have a man like Mike. She was so goddamn lucky and she counted her blessings every day for having him in her life, and she knew the feeling was mutual. The blue-eyed bassist woke up every day, not just for his friends and children, but to see Caroline's face another time. And that's all he wanted out life. Seeing her every fucking day.



By 4:40, Mike and Caroline had boarded the ferry in Oakland that would take them into the city across the bay. Once they found two seats, side by side, they more or less cuddled and talked about little things here and there while the boat moved through the water with a lulling speed. When they reached the Ferry Building at 5:10, the couple stepped outside and into the cool air and Caroline shivered.

But it wasn't all because of temperature. There was something that had suddenly washed over her that felt unsettling. Like a feeling of dread.

Turning to Mike, she welcomed the arm that wrapped around her waist as they approached the nearest rear entrance to the place that looked out at the bay and stepped into the warmth the inside offered; shielding everyone from the outer climate.

"You know we have an hour and a half until our dinner reservation," Caroline commented.

"I know," Mike replied with a nod. "But that's why we're gonna grab coffee at Peet's and some sorbet at Ciao Bella beforehand."

Caroline gave him a look. "Coffee and dessert before the meal. Interesting."

"Well, you know me," he smirked. "I live on the edge."

Immediately to their right was an entrance to the restaurant they'd be dining at, The Slanted Door, but since they had time to kill, they kept on walking and made a left turn and then walked diagonally across the way to Ciao Bella Gelato to stand in line behind an uppity redhead who was taller than Mike, with legs that went on forever and looked as if she must be a model.

"Whatcha gonna get?" Mike asked his wife.

"A cup of strawberry sorbet." She then added in a hushed voice, gesturing to the tall, thin redhead, "And I think she should have about four pints of Chocolate."

Mike smiled and when it was their turn to order, Caroline got her strawberry sorbet, and Mike ordered himself a cup of green apple. Taking their tiny red spoons with them once they paid, they began to walk side by side through the marketplace, glancing into to random stores and merchant locations while eating their frozen treats.

"Ooh, Stonehouse," Caroline cooed as they neared the end of the marketplace. "We should get some of their olive oil. It's amazing. And I don't even like olive oil."

Looking at his wristwatch, Mike pointed out that it was about 5:45 which caused Caroline to sigh. They still had so much time to waste.

"Wanna head back the way we came and go to Peet's?"

"Honestly, no," she answered. "But let's go in Book Passage. I wanna see if they have that new Jane Green book."

Mike nodded. "Okay."

Having finished their pre-dinner desserts and making their way to the book store kitty corner to Peet's Coffee & Tea, Mike and Caroline began to look around at the different hardcover and paperback books until finally Mike touched his hand to Caroline's arm and let her know it was 6:20.

Leaving the book store, they made two rights and inside a minute, they were entering The Slanted Door to claim their reservation; thus being led to a table beside the windows looking out at the overcast bay.

After being seated and shown their menus, the duo glanced over the choices and made their decisions. Mike ordered the oven roasted Alaskan halibut with spicy ginger fish sauce while Caroline ordered the wild Florida gulf shrimp with ginger and shishito peppers. Complete with two glasses wine, the married couple began to enjoy their meal together and talk about everything and anything while occasionally glancing out at the view of the gradually darkening waterfront across the bay that was Oakland.

When the food on their plates began to eventually disappear, Caroline set down her fork and smiled at Mike who glanced briefly at her wine glass which she'd barely touched.

"What's up?" he questioned.

"I have to tell you something."

"What?"

Biting her lip and smiling, Caroline took a deep breath and just decided to come right out with it.

"I'm pregnant."

The small smile that was appearing on his lips began to spread into a big ass grin as he reached across the table to take a hold of her hand. "My God, are you serious?"

Caroline nodded.

"How long have you known?"

"Only about two days."

"Shit, I can't believe it," he sighed in contentment which was a good sign for Caroline; knowing he was ecstatic about the idea of more children. "We really are on our way to that slew of kids, aren't we?"

Caroline grinned contentedly and then nodded again but, as before, she was hit with another wave of dread; and this had nothing to do with the prospects of this new pregnancy. It had everything to do, however, with a sense of foreboding doom. Her heartbeat began to quicken and she could feel her face getting warm as if she were about to hyperventilate.

"Are you okay, Care?"

Parting her lips, she was unsure of how to respond. So, she shrugged. "I dunno. All the sudden I just don't feel well."

"Is it the food? Morning sickness already?"

"No," she shook her head. "I can't explain it, but I just have a bad feeling about something."

"Like what? Like a car is gonna crash into the building and knock over some vendors?"

"Something like that."

Caroline was starting to visibly shake and not even she understood it. Growing concerned, Mike held her hands across the table and smile soothingly. "How about we get going, okay?"

"No," she blurted, then bit her lip. "We shouldn't leave yet."

"Care, you're clearly not all right at the moment. Some fresh air will do you good while we wait for the ferry to come to take us home."

Turning their heads as if on cue, they looked out at the bay and found several people standing outside the windows, peeking in at them; the females giggling like school girls and the males nudging each other upon gesturing to Mike and Caroline.

"Either we have something ridiculous in our teeth or we have fans forming a mob outside," Mike commented. Glancing down at his watch, he peered back up at Caroline with worried eyes. "Look, the next ferry is gonna be here in forty minutes to take us home. We might as well pay the bill and go outside and wait."

"But...the people."

"There's always gonna be people. If they get out of hand, we can always get security from the restaurant to come out and lay the smack down."

"I really think we should just stay in here. I'll be fine."

Mike stared at his wife as if studying her intently, but after a once over, he shrugged. "Okay. If you're sure you're all right, we'll stay in here until the ferry comes." Patting her hand gently, he smiled. "We can order dessert if you want."

"Maybe."

Not feeling completely assured by her wary mood, Mike couldn't help but offer her an assuring smile nonetheless. Because, if there was anything he hated more in this world it was seeing Caroline upset or uncomfortable.

Sitting there for a few more moments, with the brunette frontwoman of The Sinners avoiding any eye contact with the people standing outside the window, both Mike and Caroline were unaware of the onlookers that had slipped into the restaurant to get some autographs from the pair.

After all, to the average Joe's of the world, it wasn't every day that a rock and roll's latest power couple was spotted out dining in San Francisco, since the two had kept themselves out of the public eye since Chloe was born.

"Mr. Pritchard," came the waiter's call to Mike above the out of nowhere burst of chatting excited voices. "We're sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Pritchard, they got by us."

Mike looked up first to see about seven or eight people scurrying over to them. Most seemed to be in their late teens and early twenties. Sitting up straighter, he cleared his throat to get Caroline's attention who looked over at the oncomers and sighed.

All at once, they seemed to start chatting with the couple, holding out random objects for them to autograph with the pens they were handing Mike and Caroline. Sighing heavily, Mike nodded to the waiter and waved his credit card, placing it on the table.

"Take this, ring up our bill," he spoke. "I'll be back for my card in a few minutes." Giving his wife a look, Mike nodded to the side entrance to the restaurant. "Let's step outside and take care of these folk, then we can come back in here and wait, okay?"

Caroline was unsure. Why couldn't they just have security drag the fans away? For once in our lives, couldn't they just turn them all away?

As Mike stood up, Caroline took hold of the hand he gave her and they wove between the tables of the other people trying to enjoy their meal; the two of them throwing them looks of apology as they exited the restaurant, temporarily, with the group of fans following them right on schedule.

Once outside the restaurant, but still in the Ferry Building, Mike turned to the group and held his hands up. "Okay, you interrupted our meal, which isn't cool, but judging by the...homemade Green Day shirts and the magazines with my wife's face on them that you all have in your hands, we're not gonna turn away our fans. Just, next time, wait until we've paid our check," Mike informed with a smile, his arm brushing up against Caroline's.

Giving him a sidelong glance, she couldn't help but admire how down to earth he was. Despite the weird feeling in the pit of her stomach, she was overwhelmed by the sensation of love for the man beside her.

Swallowing back the foreboding lump in her throat, Caroline offered two female fans a smile as she reached out and took the magazines in their hands and the pen they held; signing an autograph for each of them, then passing the magazine to Mike for him to do the same.

Hey, they were both there; might as well give the fans both signatures.

Distracted with giving the two girls back their now signed magazines, Caroline was caught off guard by the man in his mid thirties, standing amidst the slowly growing crowd that was mixed with fans and simple onlookers.

And there was that wave of doom again, laced with a sense of recollection. He just stood there, staring at Mike, holding a copy of Dookie in his hands, and Caroline had never felt more uncomfortable in all her life.

He had medium brown hair, slicked back, with his left hand holding the CD and his right tucked discreetly in his jacket pocket as he inched his way closer to Mike for an autograph. And when he reached his destination, standing before the bassist from Green Day, he flashed an inconspicuous smile to the other man that got Caroline's nerves rattling.

Why do I know him? she thought to herself. Why do I know him, why do I---oh God...it's...

"You," Caroline blurted, ignoring the teenage boy holding a copy of The Sinners' second album for her to sign. The man in question looked up at her before he handed Mike his CD. "You hit my car...a few years ago..."

The man just held her gaze as he slowly passed the CD to Mike, while holding Caroline's eye in a way that made her feel unclean. "Yeah, I know," he replied; his voice making her feel just as unclean as his eyes were doing. "And you never exchanged information. You told me to leave you the fuck alone. That might not be word for word, but you get my gist."

Caroline stood there with her mouth agape, staring at the man who had sideswiped her car during that fender bender a few years prior when Caroline was having that bad day at the studio with Rob.

The next things that happened seemed to occur in slow motion and Caroline felt as if she was stuck in quicksand; unable to move.

Fender Bender Guy turned to Mike, flashed a sickeningly sweet grin at the musician who was confused at the conversation being had with his wife and took his CD back that Mike had finished signing.

"You know," the guy said, tilting his head to the left ever so slightly. "You're my Lennon."

Mike was caught off guard by the comment and began to smile as his reply was cut short by two very loud and echoing popping noises.

Everyone just stood there for a moment, unaware of where the sounds had come from until Mike's eyes blinked a few times and widened. A small sharp breath escaping his lips, he stumbled backward and that's when time began to speed back up.

Caroline heard the screams and sensed the commotion around her, but all she attuned her ears to and all she focused her eyes on were Mike's nervously staggered breaths and the sight of him falling backward to slump to the ground; and all at once Caroline had found her footing again.

In an instant she was behind Mike and breaking his fall as he collapsed down against her; his back to her chest as the two of them sank to the floor together. With her arms wrapped around his chest and under his armpits, she let out a cry of fear as she looked down to see two bleeding wounds seeping from the center of his chest and lower abdomen.

And when she looked up for the briefest of seconds to peer at Fender Bender Guy, all she saw was his figure withdrawing amidst the crowd, holding a smoking gun that was still pointed at Mike.

As a group of men began to tackle the guy to the ground, all Caroline could do was panic and hold her husband as he began to shudder and gasp; writhing in pain while he laid slumped in her lap.

"Ca-a-aroline..." he stuttered, looking up at her with watery eyes and a shocked expression. "H-he...he shot me. He shot me t-t-twice." As Mike inhaled a small breath, he winced and then coughed; a bit of blood spitting from his mouth and dribbling down his chin.

His own fear began to wash over him as Caroline began to cry. "Oh God, Mike. Shh, it's okay, you're gonna be okay."

"It stings," he informed. "Real bad." Biting down on his lip, he tried to grip her arms which wrapped around him as tightly as he could; his body shaking from pain and fear. Slowly, his tears began to fall from his eyes and sobs became locked up in his throat. "Caroline..."

"It's okay. I'm here, baby," she assured, and then looked up in anger. "Will someone call a fucking ambulance!"

"They're on the way," came a random reply.

Looking back down at her beloved husband, Caroline moved one hand to brush the hair off Mike's forehead as she kissed his flushed skin. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here, honey."

"It hurts, Care," he said, choking on his words. "Oh God, no...I don't wanna die like this."

Frightened that he would say a thing like that, she grabbed his face and made him look at her. "You're not gonna die. Understand me?" she demanded. "Help is coming and you're gonna get to the hospital where they're gonna take the best care of you and you're gonna be just fine. Okay? You're gonna be fine."

Tears and snot bubbles, as unattractive as the latter was, were appearing on both Mike and Caroline's faces as they looked at each other.

"I love you," he muttered between labored breaths. Then he added, "Care...do me something."

"Anything. Just promise you'll take it easy."

Mike bypassed her comment, and held her gaze with his eyes which seemed to looked glassy as sobs began to rack through his body. It was clear he was trying to be strong for not only Caroline, but for himself. However, he was failing miserably at that. He looked like nothing more than a frightened little boy who was being ripped from the arms of his mommy.

"You tell Mikey and Chloe...and Estelle. Don't forget Estelle...tell them that their daddy loves them."

"No," Caroline shook her head. "You tell them yourself when you get better."

"Just do it for me, please. Tell them I love them...and...and tell them I'll be beside them all the time..." he trailed off as his tears subsided and a hollow grief washed over his face; causing him to look down at his blood-soaked dress shirt. "My shirt's ruined."

Caroline tried to laugh but it came out like a gurgled sob, and most likely was just a sob.

"Tell the guys I love them, too," he added with a breathy voice that was giving out on him. His words were beginning sound almost incoherent. Holding her gaze, they watched each other's eyes while Caroline began to cry with deep, hard sobs as she shook her head.

"No, Mike...don't. Don't give up on me...don't leave me. Please, please, please just stay here with me."

A vision of peace displayed itself on the 40-year-old man's face as he reached up a shaky, slightly bloodied hand to Caroline's face and touched the soft skin of her cheek.

He blinked once. Then twice.

"I love you. Don't you ever for---" his words were cut off by a sharp choking sound in his throat which caused him to blink once more, his body to tremor.

And then nothing.

His body was still.

Unmoving.

The light that always flickered in his blue eyes had faded and they were completely glazed over as he stared up at Caroline; unseeing.

Looking him up and down, the brunette woman felt the sheer panic and fear run through her body like a marathon runner.

She felt her scream of anguish tearing at her insides before it ever escaped her lungs.

A moment of hesitation, followed by another, and another...until, all at once, she screamed.

It was shrill, piercing and enough to break the hearts of the most uncaring people on the other side of the world. She just kept screaming and crying out over and over as she hugged his body tight in her arms and rocked back and forth.

Screaming.

Screaming...and screaming...and screaming...and screaming...and...



Oh hold me now I feel contagious
Am I the only place that you've left to go?
She cries her life is like
Some movie in black and white
Dead actors faking lines, over and over and over again she cries

Don't fall away and leave me to myself
Don't fall away and leave love bleeding in my hands, in my hands again
And leave love bleeding in my hands, in my hands
Love lies bleeding