Drake Sisters 06 - Turbulent Sea

bridge. Focus directly under the bridge.'
    He raced across the stage, leapt for the stairs going up the bridge. Even as he ran, his training didn't fail him. He blurred his image to keep cameras from focusing on him. Below him he could see the man on the shoulders of another man taking his hands away from the steel. Both men ducked, hands over their heads.
    Joley. Toward me!
    She didn't question or hesitate. As if they had choreographed a dance together, she turned and raced toward him, still singing, still holding the microphone. The charge went off just after she passed the device. Sparks raced to the ceiling, but no more than the dazzling display of light and sound racing around the bowl. The sound of grinding metal was loud as the beam split, one side, jagged and sharp, popping up, catching Joley's arm as she flashed by. The other side dropped down toward the crowd, held only by threads.
    'In the crowd. Two men. One is wearing a striped shirt, the other has on a leather jacket, a long one. Get them. I'll be there as soon as possible to question them.' He spoke low into the radio, keeping in the shadows as he moved into a better position to help Joley.
    She went still, keeping control of the situation like the pro she was. 'Swing it slowly over the stage, guys, we don't want anyone hurt.' Her voice was absolute calm, and it stopped the crowd beneath her from panicking. She sent them a quick sassy grin. 'These little things happen at all shows. That's going to get a lot of play on the Internet. Oops, watch Joley fall off the platform. Maybe I'll get really lucky and become famous!'
    The audience went wild cheering. As always, she carried them with her personality and her voice. No one seemed to realize that there was still danger.
    He was standing behind her now, his hand on her, as the bridge moved back into position. He felt the shifting under his feet as it wanted to shred and buckle, and he tightened his hands at her waist in case he had to throw her clear. Joley kept talking, seemingly unaware that her arm was dripping blood. He got a good look at the cut as the lights played over them.
    It's bad, Joley. Your arm's ripped open.
    Tell me something I don't know. Can you do anything to get me through this?
    He didn't hesitate. As the platform went level with the stage, he lifted her to firm ground, turning for a moment, his body blocking hers from sight, both hands wrapping around her forearm. She gasped and went pale. Blood dripped steadily. Warmth spread from him to her, and she took a breath and stepped back.
    Thanks. I can work with this.
    He didn't turn around but kept walking, jumping off the stage as the audience erupted into a round of applause.
    Aren't my guys great?' Joley asked, then turned and sent a mock scowl toward her band. 'Hey! I didn't see any of you rushing to be my hero.'
    Denny held up a glass. 'Sorry, love, we were taking a break. Did something happen?' He burst into a drum solo that had the crowd laughing and back on their feet.

    The crew discreetly moved the platform back away from the audience as far as possible once it was lowered to the stage, while Joley took the towel Brian handed her and casually wrapped it around her arm.
    'Joley.' His voice was broken.
    'Thanks, babe,' she said and stood on her toes to brush a kiss against his cheek where she could whisper reassurances. 'I'm fine. We need to keep going here, Brian. Help me, okay?'
    He nodded and backed away from her, but his face was stiff with guilt and fear. Joley straightened her shoulders, ignored the pain in her arm and moved to the front of the stage, peering down at the rows in front of her. Spotting a young girl of about ten who looked frightened, she leaned toward her, flashing her famous smile. 'Were you scared just then?'
    The girl nodded.
    'So was I, but not nearly as scared as the time I decided to crawl out my window to go to a girlfriend's house. I was just about your age and she was having a sleepover. My parents said I couldn't go because I'd done something that day at school to get in trouble.' She'd put a live mouse in the teacher's drawer because the teacher had yelled at her for writing notes, but she for sure wasn't confessing that. 'Well I got stuck half in and half out of that window and I heard my dad coming down the hall. I have to tell you - now that was a truly scary moment.'
    The little girl laughed and visibly relaxed. Joley turned back to the band.
    The father has punished you for your sins.' The