Fallen Embers

Sabrina awoke the next morning to find Tre wrapped around her. She smiled at the familiar weight of his legs over hers. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth and feeling of having Tre beside her. "Good morning Sleeping Beauty." she said to the man while gently poking his shoulder. Tre was not a morning person to say the least and could be a bear to get moving. The bear, for his part grumbled about sunlight and how it would make him melt as he attempted to burrow back under the covers. The woman laughed and got out of bed leaving him mock cry when he realized she had left his side. He finally propped himself up on an elbow and watched as Sabrina moved across the room and start grabbing clothes to wear.

Once she had disappeared into the bathroom did Tre finally get up. He stretched his limbs and scratched his belly as he thought about what happened last night. He was more than satisfied about sleeping with Sabrina, but he didn't know about what was going to happen next. She had whispered the words that would tear him apart again. 'I love you' were the only words he couldn't take from her. The last time he felt those words, she pulled everything out from underneath him and sent him away for some reason that he still to this day didn't understand. "Just go with the flow Tre my man." he muttered to himself as he gathered his clothes up from the floor.

A half an hour later, everyone was in the vans heading to the sound stage for day 2 of the video shoot. The mood in the vans was one of apprehension. Everyone was wondering how Sabrina was going to react to the scenes she was going to re-create. Tre felt like he was break from the strain of being with Sabrina. She was leaning up against him, dozing during the van ride. The camera recorded what little conversation filtered between the people in the van.

They arrived at the main gate to the studio lot, and Tre nudged Sabrina so she could wake up to grab her ID for the security guard. She stretched and yawned and grabbed her jacket for her wallet. She flipped it open and pulled out her New York State drivers license. Tre noticed that it still read Sabrina Wright. She handed it to the guard who read it and asked the question Tre was wondering.

"Excuse me, I thought you said, your name was Sabrina Sanders. This license reads Sabrina Wright. I'm going to need some correct ID Ma'am." the guard said to the group.

Sabrina sighed, "That IS my name. I got married. That's my married name."

"But Ma'am, you got divorced a few months ago, it was all in the papers, so that isn't your name anymore. I'm going to need correct ID Ma'am."

"Listen, you think California is fucked up with the Governator, well let me tell you, New York is FAR WORSE with George 'Fuck Upstate' Pataki. When I got married, I went almost 3 weeks without picture ID waiting for New York State to send me my new driver's license. When I got divorced, I never bothered to change my name back to my maiden name. And before you ask why, it was because I didn't want to go another 3 weeks waiting for my flippin' new license to come in the mail. So your question is answered and if you'd like, I will start pulling out my social security card, my credit cards, and even my fucking shopper's club cards ALL which have my real name, Sabrina Wright on them."

The guard looked at the woman with her wallet in her hand and ready to start producing more cards and thought better of the idea to ask for more ID. He waved them on into the studio lot and made a note to never bother Sabrina Wright for ID again.

"Jesus Christ, why didn't he give any of you a hard time, Michael Pritchard, and Frank Wright III? Damn, must be you're more of celebrities than I am. Everyone knows Green Day." she said with a wink to the boys.

"Okay, I'm going to talk about the pink elephant sitting on your lap Sabrina, that bullshit you told the guard about your name, is it true?" Tre asked the woman sitting next to him.

"Yes, Tre. It is the truth, you should know, you heard me bitch every other day about the lack of picture ID. Besides the fact, I'm lazy too. I didn't feel like filling out the freaking paperwork in order to change everything. My will, my credit cards, my passport etc. You know, in olden days, a woman did keep her name married name after the divorce. Besides, I enjoy being 'Wright' once and a while." she laughed at the play on words.

"You have a will?" Tre asked wondering about other things he didn't know about the woman he was once married to.

"Ummm yea. I have had a will since I was 21 after that near-fatal horse racing accident I was in. I was told that I died or.." and she said the next word with air quotes, "...'coded' as the doctors call it, 5 times before I came out of the coma I was in. Two of those times were in the helicopter transporting me to the hospital. They brought me back to life each time somehow. After I was told all that, I wanted to make sure that the people I care about most in this world were taken care of. That there would be no fighting or courts involved deciding who got my estate." the woman explained.

"Am I in your will Sabrina?" Billie said with a laugh.

"Actually, you are Billie. You, Toby, Mike, and Tre are getting my songs catalog and publishing company. Divided equally four ways. "

"Wha-what?" Mike said with a disbelieving look on his face. "What are you talking about?"

"I mean who else do I have to pass down my estate too? I already have my share of the farm and money wise figured out, but my songs are an entirely different creature. Who better to have control of my music then those who influenced it, helped create it, and nurtured it. I trust that the four of you will not sell me out to hock hotdogs or bug spray or something after I die." she said with a smile.

"Aw come one Sabrina, you don't have to worry about a will at your age." Mike said trying to lighten the mood in the van.

"Come on Mike, get real. I died before I was 21. But by some grace of karma, god, kismet or something, I was revived. No one knows for sure what will happen to them at any time. Besides that, if you haven't noticed, I'm 45 now. I'm an old woman, so I need to have a will." she joked.

The group went silent as the van pulled up to the sound studio. The door opened and they piled out to go inside for day two of shooting of the video 'Only Women Bleed'. Once again, the cameras caught everything, and everyone forgot they were there.

They walked into the studio and just like yesterday, they found themselves munching on goodies and relaxing on the couches. Unlike yesterday though when Sabrina walked in, she wasn't alone. A huge man walked beside and was talking with her. He towered over the smaller woman by almost a foot. He was built like a shit brick house and his face with it's facial hair, brought fear into mere mortals. The Game, Triple H was in the house.

The pair moved toward the set to speak to Sam. The larger man all but dwarfed the smaller director. Hunter smiled and shook Sam's hand, who in turn pretended not to be scared of the wrestler. After speaking for a few minutes with Sam, Sabrina and Hunter started walking toward the couches after a quick stop to the craft services table. They reached the couches where Sabrina made introductions.

"Hey guys, this is my good friend Hunter." She pointed people out as she went through names. "This is Billie Joe and his wife Adie, they run the record label I'm signed too, Adeline Records. Billie also is the singer/guitar player for Green Day. You remember my manager, Toby. That talk drink of water next to him is Mike who is the bassist for Green Day. The guy on the end Tre Cool, who is the drummer for Green Day."

Hunter shook all of their hands and when he came to Tre, he stopped for a moment, "Is this the one who you were married to?" the big man asked. Tre for his part looked like he was ready to bolt at a moments notice.

Sabrina laughed, "Yes, but remember what I told you Hunter, it was MY fault about the marriage going to hell, NOT Tre's."

Hunter mumbled something and stuck his hand out to the petrified drummer who tried to put a game face on while sticking out his own hand. Hunter grabbed the smaller man's hand and none too gently shook it. That earned him a smack on the arm from Sabrina. The wrestler looked over to Sabrina, saw a warning look on her face and shrugged his shoulders back at her.

Before Sabrina could open her mouth, Sam called them over to start the day's filming. Before Sabrina walked away, she quickly unclasped her necklace that held the two wedding bands and placed them in Tre's hand. "Keep these safe please, I don't want them to get broken while I get tossed around." Tre nodded as she watched the woman walk away. This was the first time since he removed his ring, the day the divorce papers were served, that he had touched it again. He tucked the necklace into his pants pocket for safe keeping until Sabrina went to claim it again.

Sabrina and Hunter walked onto a set that was a mock up kitchen. There was an island that had a stove and other items on it and another wall that held a sink and fridge and cabinets. There was a round table with chairs toward the other side of the island and a 'door' to the 'outside' was on the same wall as the sink. It looked kinda like her kitchen at home did during the time period in which the song was based on.

Sabrina shivered at the knowledge of what was going to happen. Hunter looked at her when he felt her movement and placed an arm over her shoulder. She smiled at the show of support and turned to focus on what Sam was saying.

"Okay, now there is no script here, we are gonna wing it. Each shot will be a little more violent that the last shoot. I won't tell you what to do, just maybe guide you a little." He said while looking at Hunter. "I know you're a professional so I trust you will do a good job. Okay, there will be no music playback so when ever you two are ready."

Sabrina and Hunter knocked knuckles and did a few warm up exercises. Sabrina took a moment to do some tumbling while Hunter did some quick push ups. Soon they were ready to begin shooting. Sabrina took her place by the sink and Hunter took his outside the 'door'. When Sam yelled action, Hunter opened the door with a bang and went over to Sabrina, catching her with a backhanded slap. "You fucking bitch, where have you been, I called you earlier and you didn't answer."

Sabrina looked dumbfounded at the man who just hit her. Her mind whirled as she struggled with an answer for the angry man. "I went to the store to get you things to make your favorite desert." she replied.

"Lying BITCH. It doesn't take that long to get to the store and back. Who are you fucking?"

"I'm not lying Barry, I'm not fucking anyone either. I have the receipt from the store to show you I was there." She pulled out a crumbled receipt from inside her jeans pocket and held it out to the angry man.

He grabbed it roughly out of her hand and read what was written on it. "I'm sorry baby, I didn't mean it. You were at the store. I'm sorry honey, it won't happen again." he cooed to the woman and walked up next to her to kiss her on the lips. He pulled away, smiled and said, "I love you Bree." as he walked out of the 'kitchen'

"CUT" Sam yelled out. Sabrina just stood there for a minutes before bringing a hand up to her still burning cheek. She closed her eyes and tried not to think about how closely that scene resembled her life back then. Right down to the smooth talking half assed apology.

"Can someone bring me an ice pack, before my face starts to bruise," she said to a medic who was on scene for this day of filming. The medic brought over an ice pack and Sabrina gently placed it on her cheek. "Damn Hunter, warn me next time you do that, I hate slaps, that the only thing we can't fake."

Hunter walked back in to survey the damage he had caused. "It's not that bad."

"Umm, I'll be the judge of that. I haven't been in a ring for years Hunter, I am slightly out of practice."

"Wuss" he laughed at the woman.

"You know Hunter, you play that part of an abusive man quite well. I think I got so caught up in it I actually called you Barry."

"Yes, I noticed that. I never knew what he did to you until Steph told me about it when I told her about this video shoot. Man I can't believe Vince just ripped up your contract and let you go without a fight. That is so out of character for him."

"Well if you could have seen me that day. Broken arm, bruised and broken ribs, 2 black eyes one of which was completely swollen shut. I was a wreck. All I knew was that I had to leave or he was going to kill me next time, and I vowed there wouldn't EVER be a next time."

"Damn, what happened that day?"

"Well I wasn't working that day, but Barry was. I was cooking dinner and he just showed up to my home, and without anything being said, he preceded to pound the shit out of me. I don't even remember half of it. He just beat me seven ways from yesterday and finally stopped, but to add insult to injury he must have had sex me, because my clothes were ripped to shreds. I actually woke up hours later cause when this started it was light out still and when it was done, it was well into the night there."

"What happened?" asked Sam who had come up beside them to listen to the story.

"Well I woke up and somehow dragged myself to a shower and got somewhat cleaned off. I got some clean clothes on and drove to the hospital. I said that I got caught by a horse in a stall and got roughed up. In 1983 it was believable, since domestic violence was not well know yet. They patched me up and I left and drove to the airport and flew up to Stamford and walked into the offices and demanded to see Vince. I must have looked like a sight, I could barely see, and I had a cast and I was limping, the whole fucking nine yards. Vince actually saw me and brought me into his office where I told him everything. He was the only one who knew for the longest time what really happened to me."

"Wow" said Hunter.

"Yea, he ripped up my contract and wished me godspeed. He said the door was always open when I wanted to return." the blonde snorted at the memory. "And I did come back many years later and haven't left. Even though I don't do any in-ring things and haven't for over 6 years, I really enjoy doing the music for the company. That has been a fun thing for the last 13 years or so. I wouldn't have that if Vince was an asshole that day, I would have waited until my contract was up and never returned."

Sam and Hunter both stood there as Sabrina told her story, and beyond them were the cameras recoding everything that happened.

"Okay ready for the next scene boys and girls?" the director yelled. He wanted to get this shoot in the can because he had a rush order on it to edit. He already knew that he was going to have two videos for this song. A full scale version with acting much like Jesus of Suburbia was and then just a shorter music video version.

Sabrina and Hunter moved back into different positions, this time both at the table. Again at the call of action, Hunter preceded to wail on Sabrina. This time a little more physical then the last scene. This process continued for another 5 or so scenes until Sam finally called for the final shoot of the day.

When Sabrina was ready to start, she asked Sam to speak to the crew for a moment. He nodded and went and got a bullhorn which he handed over to her. She cleared her throat and addressed the crew. "Excuse me, may I have a minute of your time please?" When the noise died down she continued, "I want to thank everyone for a great job your doing here. As we get ready to do this last scene I need to say a few things first. Please I will only be able to do this scene once, so make sure you got film in your damn cameras." a few bits of laughter was heard upon hearing that remark.

"Also, I have no idea what will happen in this scene, but no matter what I say or do, don't stop filming. Keep going, wait until it's all over and Sam yells cut, before you stop filming. Also Hunter is going to break me open, as he and I are processionals and know what we are doing, so do not stop the scene in order to help my bleeding. Also, when the scene is through, don't come rushing up at me please. I will be dealing with feelings and thoughts that took place many years ago, and it might take me a moment to regain control of myself. Thank you all for your understanding."

The crowd murmured about what the woman said but trusted her words. Everyone got in position as Sam checked and doubled checked camera angles. Everything had to be perfect for this shot cause there was only one chance at it. Finally after much huffing and puffing, he felt everyone was ready to go. "ACTION on your marks" he yelled to the two standing on the set.

Hunter was positioned outside the door and Sabrina was pretending to cook at the range top. "You ready Bree?" he shouted from behind the set.

Sabrina took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment before answering. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

About 30 seconds later, Hunter literally burst through the door. The door lost that battle and the top hinge broke under the force of his entrance. He went straight for Sabrina and with no words, slugged her in the face. She went down like a sack of potatoes and the man reached down and pulled her to her feet. He rocked her head back with another punch and threw her over the kitchen island. The woman landed in a heap on the floor and with Hunter's well aimed punch he had successfully broke open her forehead and blood started to flow. He walked around the island to pick her back up.

Sabrina was lost in her own world of thought by this time. She roused a little and started to try to get away, her voice raising in pitch as she screamed, her head pounding and her fingernails scrabbling at any surface she could get a hold off to try to remove herself from the man's tight grasp.

Hunter let her scream and scuffle a bit until her slapped her hard again in her face. The blonde shut up in fear and stopped trying to fight what was happening. He arm whipped her into the side wall of the 'kitchen' and she sunk to her knees, trying to catch her breath. He ignored her pleas and picked her up in a body slam and slammed her onto the floor. He kicked at her and a few actually made contact with her rib cage. He picked her up again, this time by her hair and ran her head into the fridge, leaving a dent.

Sabrina was out of it completely, she forget that she was on a stage and was trying to make it out of this fight alive. She pleaded with the man who was after her, but she wasn't making any sense, since her head had been mangled a few times. He started to drag her across the floor and she tried to grab onto the counter to stop her movement, but he was too strong.

Hunter picked her up in a slam one more time and threw her on top of the island and preceded to 'mock rape' her. It was the final step before the scene ended. He held her down and made movements to simulate thrusting. He had his hand over her mouth and muffling her screams. With a final movement he 'completed' his task and literally swept her off the counter where she fell to a heap on the floor. With one last look at her, he walked out the door thus ending the scene.

Sam yelled "CUT" and waited for some movement from Sabrina. The medics moved to the side of the set waiting for the signal to go help the woman. A few tense minutes went by with no sound from Sabrina as she lay crumpled on the floor. Finally she stirred and tried to sit up. She opened her eyes and looked around for a familiar face, "Tre...." she whispered.

Sam motioned Tre down from his couch and over to the woman who was calling his name. Tre came over to the woman and gently spoke her name. She didn't respond, so he tried again, a little louder. She jerked her head at the sound of his voice and blinded tried to find him. He sat down next to her and brought her into his arms and she quietly cried over what had happened. After her cry she felt better and was actually able to speak and make sense of her surroundings.

She tired to get up, but couldn't do it. "Help me" she asked Tre and together they were able to get her standing. She looked around for Hunter and saw him waiting off to the side. She gave him the thumbs up and he smiled knowing that she was going to be okay. The woman turned her attention to herself and grimaced as she felt her head and her rib cage. The medics waited her to give a signal for them to help her, but she ignored them.

She had Tre guide her to the table where she sat down. She had a sharp intake of breath from the pain in her ribs. The medic walked over and looked at the woman. "We need to take you to the hospital." one of them said.

Sabrina laughed at them, "Why to have a doctor tell me what I already know?" She felt her head, "You have a laceration of the forehead that needs stitches." She felt down her rib cage pressing in and running her fingers over each rib. "You have either severely bruised or broken ribs." she laughed. "Yea, I need to go to the hospital. Let's do this the easy way shall we, you take either your medical glue or a few butterflies and close up my gash, and then you take some bandages and bound up my ribs. That way, we'll cut out the middle man, and I can go home and relax."

The medics looked at the woman as if she was insane. "I am not going to a hospital so either you do as I asked, or I'll leave and go to a drugstore to buy the stuff myself and do it at the hotel. Pick one cause either way it doesn't matter to me." The medics shrugged and choose the lesser of the two evils and tended to her wounds. Within 20 minutes, she was all bandaged up and ready to leave the sound stage.

During the whole video shoot the cameras caught everything and added to the amazing footage already of Sabrina and her friends. She had forgotten the camera even existed.

It was a quiet trip back to the hotel. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts of what transpired on set earlier. Sabrina once again was dozing against Tre as they sped toward Hollywood. Within minutes, they were dropped back off at the hotel and Tre decided to just carry Sabrina in rather than wake her again. Through the lobby and to the elevators went the group. Tre held Sabrina tight as he walked with her in his arms.

When they arrived at her room, Toby grabbed her key and opened the door for Tre. "See you tomorrow" the manger said to the drummer, "take good care of her." Tre nodded as he shut the door and placed Sabrina on the bed. He didn't bother undressing her but climbed in beside her and spooned her back until he himself fell asleep.

At some point in time later, Tre was awakened by the lack of warmth to his tummy. He opened his eyes to find Sabrina was gone. He sat up with alarm until he saw the light coming from the bathroom. Within minutes, the light clicked off and the woman padded back into the bedroom. She stopped and attempted to undress herself, but she hissed in pain at her ribs protesting the movement. "Let me help you." she heard a voice said next to her. She turned around to find Tre standing there with his arms opened to her. She stepped into them and was enveloped in his grasp. He gently kissed her lips and softly murmured her name. From that moment on, the two star crossed lovers enjoyed a night of slow and sensual sex that only two people who are in love with each other can have.

When Sabrina awoke the next morning she stretched gently and felt the bed next to her. To her surprise, it was empty. She sat up and looked around the room. All traces that pointed to Tre being there were gone. She sat there for a minute stunned. The only way she knew he has been there at all was the fact she was naked, and the smell of his cologne was on the pillow next to her. She got up and preceded to get dressed when a knock on her door jolted her back into reality. She went to the peek hole and saw the camera crew out there. "You'll have to wait a minute, I'm getting around for the day." she said angrily. Just what she needed was to deal with cameras when as she wanted to do was to be alone.

She finished getting around and took her time doing it, just to piss off the crew outside her door. Roughly 45 minutes later she emerged from her room to come face to face with the cameras. "Hey can you turn them off for a while, I need some space." she asked nicely.

"Sorry no can do, we are here for everything." the woman in charge said rather snottily, angry that Sabrina had kept them waiting for so long.

"Oh well then I hope you're recording this... FUCK YOU!! FUCK YOU, YOU FUCKING ASSHOLES! LEAVE ME ALONE!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs to the startled crew. She didn't notice doors opening along the hallway as her friends came out of their rooms at her commotion. "I SAID, LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE, I NEED TO BE ALONE!!"

Sabrina spun around when she felt eyes on her and came face to face with Tre, who looked like he was just waking up himself, which further fueled her anger. "And you Tre, FUCK YOU TOO ASSHOLE. You forgot to leave the money on the dresser before you left after we were done fucking last night."

Tre flinched as though she had physically hit him. He just stared at her as she continued her rant. "Well once again, a fact has been proven about me. A man wants a lady on his arm and a whore in the bedroom. Once again it was proven I guess I'm not good enough of a lady, but make a much better whore." she spat at him, her words like daggers thrown at his chest. "FUCK YOU FRANK, thanks for making me feel like a fucking whore. I hope it was good for you asshole!"

Tre just looked at her and then turned around and walked back into his room, leaving a stunned audience in the hallway. Sabrina turned to face the cameras and tried to walk past them, but they barred her way. "TOBY!" she shouted. "GET THESE FUCKING CAMERAS OUT OF MY FACE, NOW!"

Toby finally came forward and spoke to the woman in charge as Sabrina walked down the hallway. "Where are you going Sabrina?" he shouted to her retreating back.

"Home to the farm. Let me know when the shit for MTV is, and when I need to be down in the city. I don't need this shit, I fucking HATE the west coast!" she shouted back as she walked into the elevator. The door shut and Sabrina began her journey home.

Tre walked back into his room after Sabrina had thrown those words at him, and this time he deserved them since after they were done making love, he left her room to go back to his own. Once again she had spoken those words that tore him up inside. The 3 simple words he was scared to utter back to her. He didn't want to be hurt again by her and was unsure what to do. A hand crept up to the necklace he wore around his neck and his fingers found the rings and grasped them as he closed his eyes and cried.