Once In A Dream
By Mary ILP & Joni

                          Prologue

Sarah Moodey had always loved KISS. The music was what had really 
attracted her to them. All her life she had no one to guide her. Her 
father had left the family when Sarah was 10. Her mother  was 
emotionally and mentally unstable and unaware of how to care for her 
children as a single mom. All she could depend on was her music, her 
voice and her deep faith to guide her through life. Up until her 
Uncle brought home a KISS album for her to listen to. Oh how she 
hated him when he really got hung up  on something. She could not 
take her eyes off of the album cover. For days she would try to 
understand these four individuals, she really wasn't paying attention 
to the music at the time. Why do these people dress like this ,she 
would ask her self ?  Why do some of them look  evil? What was the 
purpose of setting fire and destroying the land? Finally  a song 
caught her ear. Hey these guys are actually good! Over and over  she 
would sneek  the album and play it when her uncle was at work. She 
would go to her  school  asking kids of different ages if they had 
ever heard of this group called KISS. Most said no, This group was 
too  cool! By singing along she found a way to get rid of her 
southern accent which a lot of the kids would make fun of. These four 
New Yorkers would not only help her identify who she would become but 
also be the only source of comfort during some very painful years. 
Growing up a girl  from the south living in a northern state  with 
her  Mother's family who constantly reminded her that she was the 
spitting image of her father .She never felt like she ever belonged 
to her Mother's family or in this town.  She was one of the poorest 
in town, you could tell by the clothes that she wore. With no phone 
or  a car and a broken tv she felt very isolated and  different from 
her classmates. She didn't know what was going on in the world.She 
didn't know what was supposed to be cool  and "in" at the time.The 
more snotty her classmates were about her poor clothes and divorced 
mother, the more obnoxious and obsessed she became about her love for 
her band. She even took a job at the age of 11 being paid 5.00 for 
cleaning an elderly woman's home and running errands for her.
Hey, it was money that she could get so she could buy cigarettes and 
merchandise from the KISS Army Headquarters. Then on her twelfth 
birthday, her mother did the extrordinary! Not only did she get her 
ears peirced just like all the other girls in her  class,
but she surprised her with her very own KISS album! Rock and Roll 
Over!! Excited  and  proud of the fact that she got the first copy 
before her uncle did she played it Loud and continuously! 
Throughout the years of growing up and the endless moves into poorer 
and poorer houses and apartments her KISS collection grew by saving 
every penny she could scrape. Not having a decent stereo until she 
was 18,she relied on a toy record player that a good friend of hers 
had given to her. She didn't care though. She had everything she 
could want no matter what kind of place she lived in. She would sing 
herself in her room when she got grounded from her mother and sing 
and dance for hours on end! Posters from the KISS Army and 17 
magazines plastered her bedroom walls and ceiling. Some girls were 
nice enough to give her  some of their posters out of their magazines 
because they were into Andy Gibb ,Parker Stevenson or Shawn Cassidy. 
They didn't want the KISS posters, "ruining their magazines"!
Peter Criss was her first love, he seemed so cute and he was also a 
Catholic just like her! If she ever got to marry him her family 
couldn't bitch about that ! 
Until she found out that Peter was already taken! The magazine even 
showed a picture of his wife  with him.
Heart broken she turned to the one who looked most like her herself- 
Ace! She really wasn't sure what he looked like but the fact that her 
hair was the same style as his and his lips were big and pointed like 
hers made her feel more inclusive.The whole time growing up in an 
Italian ethnic town was torture for her for she was not Italian but 
Indian.The kids would laugh and say some of the meanest things."Fish 
lips" was just one of the names they would call her. She eventually 
found a few good friends as she grew older.This group of friends that 
she had become close to said she could be the Ace in their group . 
That's  alright she thought, great way to practice those back bends 
playing the air guitar she thought.Ahh… Those were the days! Playing 
KISS loud and dancing and pretending they  were each one of the band 
members! That was a bond that tied them together throughout the years.
She loved to sing . The only thing she was ever really good at! All 
she ever  wanted was to move to NY and become a rock star!! But that 
was only meant to be in her dreams and never to become a reality.
Due to the fact that any boyfriend she had later on in her life 
wouldn't let her join any bands. They would make her choose "Me? Or 
the band?" With no self esteem  or any kind of confidence in herself 
she would choose the boyfriends over  the bands.
 When the solo albums came  she acquired Paul's album, it was nothing 
but pure love from there on! Why she hadn't noticed him before was 
mind boggling!! His wonderful hairy chest and beautiful body were 
something to behold! His hair she longed to be touching! His brown 
eyes so big and deep .They seemed to look right through to her very 
soul! Every night she would go to sleep listening to the song that 
had meant the most to her from him-the story of a love long ago and 
lost in "Take Me Away, (Together as One)". That song touched her in a 
way that no other song could. Oh how she would dream of meeting him…

Now the dream of seeing Paul  closer than ever before was finally 
coming true-26 years later….
Another KISS convention only this time the kids weren't with 
her.Yeah! She loved watching them get excited over all the KISS stuff 
for sell and all the people posing for pics with them. But thank God 
her husband finally let her go by herself. She promised each one of 
her boys that she would bring them home a  t-shirt. " Mama! It's not 
the same! Gene, Peter ,Paul  and Ace are gonna be there!" the 
children whined.
 "Honey listen, with the tickets costing as much as they did  and 
they're only selling a limited amount of seating, There's no way we 
would've been able to afford that many tickets. Besides,I'll get an 
autographed picture and t-shirts for ya ,ok? I Promise!". Hearts 
broken they reluctantly agreed.


Of course the hotel was packed full of KISS fans and vendors .Sarah 
walked by the  merchandise tables looking specifically for earrings 
when all of a sudden she heard a familiar  voice."I  knew  you'd be 
here".She turned around  to see the one person she never thought she 
would  see again, especially at a KISS convention!  "Brian? What are 
you doing here?" she demanded. "You hate KISS!" 

                             1

" I  knew you'd be here to see those fags! I see you're not here with 
your honey".She cringed as he  looked at her with his stupid  
grin. "Unlike you, my husband trusts me.I can go anywhere I want and 
not be locked up in my own house  like a prisoner! Where's your 
wife?  Does she know  what a real dick she married?"Sarah shouted. 
The convention was getting very crowded and loud. "Oh don't you worry 
about her ! She's at home where she belongs! She'll never leave ,  
I `d hunt her down if she tried ! Sound familiar?"" Brain 
laughed. " "Yeah, you're real funny Brian! Good BYE!" Just as she was 
about to turn around and leave, Brian came up behind her and   put 
his arm around her waist and stuck a knife to her  side  and 
whispered in her  ear,"Do anything stupid and I''ll fucking kill you 
right here ! Now move towards that stage door and don't do anything 
stupid".
With anger and fear growing inside , she slowly made her way as he 
ordered her.She prayed that her legs wouldn't give out and that she 
would have the strength to get away. Memories of her years with him 
came flooding back all at once. All the pain she had suffered from 
him for 5 yrs. All the anger for how he mistreated her  and stalked 
her after she had left him. All of the fear came rushing back so 
quickly that her stomach started to churn.They walked into the back 
staging area when one of the roadies came up to Brian.He quickly 
flashed his ID to them and they let him go thinking he was one of the 
new hires that  they hire from town to town.
"You bitch"he screamed in her  ear. "you thought you could get away 
from me  after all these years,I even know your  name on the web! 
I've never lost track of where you moved to.I even know your kids' 
names and ages! I'm not as dumb as you think I am ,am I?" Sarah 
couldn't think straight she was in such shock of what was happening 
to her in such a little amount of time.This has got to be a bad dream 
she thought. "What do you want! She cried. "Payback!" He yelled in 
her  ear. "Remember  what I always told you before ? You threw the 
gauntlet down first!You thought I was so stupid didn't ya? I knew you 
were gonna be here ! Well ,now I'm gonna make it a little easier for 
ya! Now your husband will know what a real slut he has for a wife!' 
he smiled at her and as he placed a knife  in between his teeth,chew 
and spit  drooling out of  his mouth.
Before she could do anything else he pulled her into a  storage 
closet and began to rip her clothes off. She fought him with all the 
strength she had. She bit and scratched punched and kicked until she 
finally kicked him where no man ever wants to be kicked! Brian Let 
out a loud yell .She reached for the door knob of the closet door but 
he grabbed her by the arm pulled her back laughing  and punched her  
in the face until she lost conciousness.......... 

"Great show guys!" Peter said as he was wiping off the sweat from his 
neck." I really think this is the best way to say goodbye to the 
fans"." Absolutely," Paul said,"We've been screwing around so much 
with this farewell tour that going back to the conventions was the  
best idea we've come up with yet! "
" Maybe this will shut  everyone up from the websites" Gene 
snickered."Hey Gene " Ace says pointing ahead."Looks like somebody 
left us a present". As they walked closer they could see somebody 
wrapped in a Superman beach towel with a big red bow tied around 
it. " If you don't want her Gene,I'll take her" Ace cackeled. " 
That's our  curtain! "Peter yelled." How the fuck did they get that  
past security?" "Girls will do anything to be with me ! Gift wrapped 
too! " Gene smiled licking his lips."How thoughtful !" "What's on the 
card?" Paul  looked at the card and read aloud ," A gift to the 4 who 
are 1. Here is your biggest fan-ENJOY!"
As they start to take the towel off they notice that the girl moaned 
a little."Oh great"! Gene said sarcastically." I don't want some 
fucked up chick! Ace you can have her"!"Wait!" Paul  yelled as Gene 
started to walk away.
"  Get the ambulance , Look!" As they take the towel off they could 
see the girl's face  puffed up and black and blue with blood leaking 
from her mouth and swollen nose. Dressed in nothing but her bra and 
underwear they discover that she has been tied up with some sort of 
cable and roses with thorns imbedded in her body. As they try to roll 
her  over they see to their horror that someone had carved in her 
back the word "Kismet" with the "KIS" part written in the form of the 
band's signature logo."What the fuck is going on here'! Peter 
screamed. Gene hurried away ,for the site of real blood made him 
queasy."Gene! Paul shouted. "Get yourself together and  get the 
ambulance! Do it now!!!" As they roll her back they see a knife  
stuck in her side.""Oh my God! Don't move her any more!" Ace 
yelled ."I'm gonna' go get  blankets so she doesn't go into shock." 
Gene returns a few minutes later with Doc."The parking lot is  jammed 
and the ambulance that was on call already took off because of a riot 
that had started ." Doc says out of breath." We'll have to take her 
ourselves" Paul said."How?'"Peter whines."In the limo!" Paul shouts 
at Peter." We can't just leave her here! Gene, You and Ace stay here 
with Doc and tell the cops what happened  and that we're taking her 
to the hospital. Tell them to meet us there. And bring my clothes!" 
Gene in shock and unable to speak can only nod his head in reply as 
Paul and Peter lift  the girl   gently so as not to disturb the knife 
in her side  and place her into the waiting limo. "Run `em over if 
they don't get out of the way !" Peter yells at the driver. Paul 
looked down at the  girl laying on his lap.He didn't know what to 
think . It was all such a shock.He couldn't believe how he just took 
control and handed out orders.He knew he was acting as fast as he 
could but everything seemed to be  moving in slow motion.
He tried to wake her gently by talking to her." I think she's opening 
her eyes Pete." The girl tried to look up at who was holding her on 
their lap."Jack?" she groaned."Is that who did this to  you?" 'Paul 
asked "No" she whispered hoarsely. .Paul  could barely make out what 
she was trying to say."What's your name honey? Can you tell me your 
name?" She looks so familiar but ,Paul couldn't place her  face .He 
had seen so many people over the years and on the road but he knew 
when he recognized someone. She looked up at him and then her eyes 
rolled  back in her  head. "Oh shit! We gotta' get to that hospital 
NOW!" Peter yelled at the driver."She's bleeding all over the fucking 
place she's gonna di e! Move it!"! he ordered. They finally made 
their way to the ambulance bay. Doc and the police called ahead to 
make sure that no reporters would be able to get in for  fear of a 
scandal. Until they knew what exactly was happening and who this girl 
was they didn't want to take any chances.

The police were pretty upset with Doc,,Ace and Gene when they arrived 
at the convention. "Don't you know you just interfered with a crime 
scene! You could have tampered with important DNA evidence!"The cop  
lectured. "Oh, real fucking nice1" Ace shot back. "You really got 
your shit together here don't you? A girl gets stabbed ,some lunatic 
is running around back stage, and there's a riot going on and no 
fucking ambulance to get her  to the hospital! Some security you have 
here Curly!"  "Ace!" Gene growls ,"Don't make it worse than it 
already is." " Look," Doc explained,"We are not in any way trying to 
screw anything up for you . The guys found the girl and did what any 
other human being would've done in a situation like this. We could be 
held liable for this and we all need to  work together. We will 
cooperate, Agreed?" They all shook their heads in agreement. "I've 
got to get to the hospital" Gene said."Dressed like that?" the 
officer asked. "No," Ace slurrs. "We thought we'd go naked! Wanna' 
join us?"  The officer  looked up  at Ace and said, "One more smart 
ass remark out of you boy, and you're all mine'! " "Come on guys 
let's go." Doc said as he rushed Gene and Ace to their waiting limo.

                             2

As the limo arrived at the hospital Paul could not shake the feeling 
that he knew this girl somehow. She didn't look like any groupie that 
he or any of the guys had been with. "Peter, does she look familiar 
to you?" Paul asked. "No, Why? Peter replied.
"I don't know. "Paul said, "There's something about her that I just 
can't put my finger  on."As the nurses and Doctors lifted her onto 
the gurney, Paul and Peter tried to help remove the cable and roses 
that had been tied  to her body. "Son of a Bitch!" Peter yelled 
out. "These mother  fuckin' thorns ! "Sir?" The nurse turned to 
Peter. "You're going to have to step back and let us remove these 
with the cutters. You two can have a seat outside in the waiting 
area. Do you  know her name?"Sarah was the name that poped into 
Paul's mind as he looked into the face of the young woman  "Sarah" 
replied Paul. "How  do you know that ?" Peter asked." I didn't hear 
her  say anything the whole time in the limo.!"Peter turned to the 
nurse and said," She didn't have any id on her   and we don't know 
who she is . We just found her back stage like this. I guess she's 
just a Jane Doe. Isn't that what you call someone when you can't 
identify them?." " No!" shouted Paul. "I  can't explain it ,but I 
know! Her name is Sarah!"Paul closed his eyes as he thought about 
her,whare had he seen her before. " Alright,alright call her Sarah if 
that'll make you happy."

" What is with you man?" Peter asks as they fall into the chairs in 
the waiting area.
"I don't know, shock maybe?"Paul said as he dropped his head in his 
hands."It's like I'm  in a dream or  something and I can't wake up, 
ya know?I feel like I know  her but, I can't figure out how or why. 
Do you think she'll be alright?"
"I dunno'" Peter replied. " She was pretty messed up  and she might 
had been raped too for all we know.  Why would somebody do this?"
"You don't think someone  is trying to play something out from the 
comic book ?" Paul asked.
" Probably some  schizophrenic! Gene and his dama  comic books! I 
knew something like this would happen!"
"Hey Pete! You didn't think it was such a bad idea at the time! In 
fact you loved the idea and the money! So ,don't go blaming Gene for 
all this. We can't control what a fan does. We are just 
entertainers."Paul said as he moved his neck from side to side trying 
to loosen up some of the tention.Peter sighed and shrugged his 
shoulders."Yeah, I guess you're right. It's just that after all these 
years,nothing like this has ever happened before , ya know? I feel 
like it's partly our fault in a way, What if she dies or something or 
tries to sue us ! Or better yet what if she thinks one of us did this 
to her? I'm not paying for this!!"Pete said shaking his head.Peter 
alway did tend to talk to much when he was nervous " Will you just 
shut up Pete! It's gonna be alright ! Quit jumping to conclusions.We 
haven't done anything wrong! Besides Doc and Gene will take care of 
everything,ok?"Paul said in a calm voice. "Oh yeah,  Gene always 
takes care of everything!" Peter added sarcastically rolling his eyes 
at Paul.
"Look the cops are here." Paul said getting up out of his seat." Get 
yourself together and calm down. Just tell them everything we know."
"How's she doing?" Gene asks.
"We don't know yet. We were trying to help them untie her so they 
could work on her  and then they kicked us out.""Peter replied. " She 
was bleeding everywhere."
"Ok now let me get this straight. You said that she was tied up? Is 
there anything else that you can add?"asked the officer.
" She was tied up with what looked like cable wiring. Ya know the 
kind that we use  for the stage? She had roses and thorns stuck all 
over her body." Peter said as he was pulling a thorn out of his hand.
"And they carved the word kismet in her back" Paul said.
" What the hell's a kismet?"The officer asked.
"Well," Gene said ." We were involved with a comic book a few years 
back called Psycho Circus,where we  were portayed as these kind of 
super heroes -the 4 who are one. There was a character named Kismet 
in the story lines. It also means fate.The only thing I can think of 
about the roses would be Paul. He sometimes posed in pictures with 
roses,and they would draw a  lot of
 roses around him in the comic book. It's a part of the character 
that they play out for him in the comic book."Gene said pointing 
towards Paul.
"Did any of you remove the knife that was in her side?"the officer 
asked in a tired voice.
"No,We figured that it would be best to leave it alone. We tried to 
move her as best we could with out touching it."Paul said shaking his 
head."So,Neither one of you touched it? "the officer asked"Paul says 
he knows her name "Peter  adds nervously.
"I thought you guys said you didn't know her" The cop said as he 
began to fold his arms.
"I think her name is Sarah." Paul  explains while shooting Peter a 
dirty look.
 " She looks familiar but I don't remember  how  I would know her." 
The police man stares at Paul and then in a low voice says ,"I see. 
Maybe you  knew her in the biblical sense?"the officer says with a 
small nod. "No!That's not what I meant at all! Don't confuse me with 
Gene! I  never slept with this woman! She looks like somebody I knew 
long ago,I'm not sure how but, definitely not in the way you're 
implying!"Paul said in a angry voice
" Alright then ," the officer says as he put his notebook away."I'll 
take your word on it for now.You guys hang around here in case I need 
to ask any more questions. I'm gonna call down the station and see 
if  we can send out a couple more  guys down to the convention to 
talk to the crew and see if we can jar somebody's memory or  remember 
seeing her backstage .If you guys have any plans on leaving you had 
better make some kind of arrangements. Nobody is to leave the city 
until we have completed this investigation. Understand?"
"We are on a tour schedule !"Ace yells back." Don't you understand 
that we're gonna lose a hell of a lot of money? How are we gonna 
explain this to our fans? We don't need this shit now! Can't you just 
continue this without us being here physically and notify us while 
we're out on the road?"
The policeman slowly turns to Ace and looks him straight in the 
eye."Until we get all the facts and evidence. We can't just let you 
go yet. If the girl can speak for herself  and tell us  that you guys 
didn't have anything to do with this then ,yes, you can go .But until 
I hear from her lips that you guys had nothing to do with this, you 
have to stay in this jurisdiction!"
Doc  shakes the officer's hand and walks  him outside. As he walks 
back in he escorts the band to a private waiting room." Don't worry 
guys. I `ll handle all the press. We'll just say something to the 
effect that due to increasing sales  and ticket demand that the 
conventions are temporarily postponed due to rescheduling and we will 
be working on a schedule to appease all fans so that no one will miss 
out on the conventions.If we have to we'll do a few days in a row so 
we don't catch any shit.I know this is pretty tough on all of us but, 
we have to do this in order to keep up appearances  and keep this 
thing going until the very end in NY. We don't need any more bad 
publicity, Agreed?"Doc asks as he scaned the four mens faces.
Everyone nods their heads in agreement.
"Good" . Doc says with half a smile." You boys go on back to the 
hotel  and get some rest. I'm going to make arrangements for some 
added security for all of you and here at the hospital. I'll stick 
around and do all the legalities and insurance papers and what not. 
I'll let you know  how the girl's doing when the doctors talk to 
me."Doc says as he turns to go to the front desk. "No Doc," Paul  
says. "Gene, did you bring my clothes like I asked?"
" Right here." Gene says showing Paul the bag he brought.
Paul looks Doc straight in the eye." I'm staying here until I know 
she's  ok. I want you to make arrangements for her to have a private 
room and tell the doctors  that we're  working on trying to notify 
her family and bring them in ourselves .It' s the least we can do. 
And if I need to then I'll pay for her hospital stay here. I am not 
leaving!"
" Let us know how she's doing ,alright?" Peter says as he hugs Paul 
goodbye.
"I'll call you" Paul says as he grabs his bag and walks to the nurses 
station.

"Hi, Can you ladies direct me somewhere where I could get cleaned up 
and change my clothes?"
The nurses look at him in disbelievement,his Star child make up still 
smeared across his face. "Uhh,uh, yes sir. Just go down that hall
and through those doors and  turn left.You'll see a door to your 
right that says shower room. Just make sure you lock the door so 
nobody walks in on you."
" Thanks a lot" Paul says."Could somebody here notify me on that 
girl's condition? I brought her in and we are trying to locate her 
family . I'll take care of any payments for her care here. Is that 
alright?"
"Wow" The other nurse said as she woke up out of her daze. "you are 
such a nice guy. I wouldn't expect you to be so caring. I don't mean 
that in a bad way it's just that you're a rock star and  so famous."
Paul looked at the nurse annoyingly and then smiled and said." We are 
human ya know. Besides, if you knew anything about me you'd know that 
we'd do anything for our fans." He gave her a quick wink and 
proceeded down the hall.
"He meant that sarcastically " the head nurse said as she tried to 
snap  her coworker out of her trance.

                             3


Paul found the shower room and  let the hot water stream down on his 
body. Trying to wash away the makeup,blood and stress that had 
happened to him in just a few hours, he felt completely exhausted. 
Still his mind was working over time trying to  figure out who this 
girl was. "Why do I feel so protective over her?" he said to himself 
out loud.
  After his shower,he stopped to ask  the nurses if they knew any 
more about the girl he had brought in.
"Um let's see" the pretty blonde nurse said flipping through some 
papers. "They've got her in the O R now and she's listed as 
critical . It says here on her chart that the knife had entered where 
her liver  is located. They did do  a rape kit and it showed negative 
for any type of sexual  assault. However she has been badly beaten 
and they're not sure about any other internal injuries. Here take 
this beeper ,when she comes out we'll beep you and you can come here 
and follow her up to her room and talk with the doctor."
"Thanks" Paul said attaching the beeper to his pants. He laid down on 
the small  couch in the private waiting room tired, watching,  but 
not really paying attention to what was on the tv.He tried to fight 
sleep but sleep over took him......As he slept he began to dream...
In his dream Paul could see her face but couldn't hear what she was 
saying.Her long brunette hair hanging loosely from her shoulders and 
falling down onto her white dress he knew her name but why can't he 
hear her voice? Trying to reach out to touch her over and over til 
finally a hand came down upon his shoulder shaking him awake Paul 
awoke with a jolt. "Bad dream?"The nurse asked as she smiled down at 
him. "Yeah something like that"Paul replies wiping his eyes. "Here, I 
thought you could use a cup of coffee.We've been trying to beep you 
but you were really out of it" the nurse said smiling down at 
him. "Is she ok ?" Paul asks as he sits up and takes the coffee fron 
her hand. " Follow me and I'll take you to her room. You can speak to 
the doctor there." "What time is it?"Paul asks the nurse as they walk 
onto the elevator.
"  Almost 3:00 am" the nurse said. They walked into the  ICU ward and 
stop in front of a room where a police man is standing. "This is the 
man who brought her in " the nurse explains.The cop looks at him "You 
got ID?"
"Yes I do" Paul says reaching for his wallet. "Alright" the cop 
answered giving his wallet back. "The doctor is already in there."
Paul walks in and sees the girl lying in bed with tubes and IV's 
attached to her . The doctor wearily looks up and puts out his hand." 
Hi, You must be Paul Stanley. I'm Dr. Chavis I'm a big fan. I was one 
of the surgeons who worked on " he looks down at her chart ,"Sarah ?
is it?"the doctor askes with a raised eyebrow " Yes, I believe that 
to be her name." Paul said shaking the dr's hand."Doc ,our manager is 
trying to find out her full name and family. In the meanwhile I'll be 
accepting responsibility for any costs."The doctor looks at Paul and 
says "from what I  gather ,you and another band member brought her 
in. Is that correct?"the doctor asked as he fliped through through 
the chart making notes.  " Yes," Paul replied ."we couldn't get an 
ambulance in so we just  brought her in ourselves. We did do the 
right thing ,right?"
"Well she lost a hell of a lot of blood and not knowing how long it 
would've been for you to get another  ambulance there in time… my 
guess is you probably did do the right thing. I really can't go into 
what the extent of her injuries are with you until we talk to her 
family. You do understand?"
 "Of course,"Paul replies. " can you tell me if she's gonna be 
alright? And can I stay with her  until she wakes up?"
"I see no problem with that." The dr  explains." We have to keep an 
eye on her throughout the night. She is in a coma which is not 
uncommon for someone who has suffered these types of injuries.They'll 
be nurses and other dr's checking in on her through out the night 
though. You might not have a decent night's sleep. Are you sure about 
this? I could arrange  a room for you."
"No thank you.I want to stay here.I"ll try not to get in anybody's 
way." Paul said looking down at her. " Do you think she can hear me 
if I talk to her ?"
" We always suggest that to family members whose loved ones are in a 
coma". The doctor  replies putting her chart on the end of her bed. 
As the dotor walks out of the room Paul pulls a chair up beside the 
bed  and looks down at the sleeping girl. Seeing the Blood dried on 
her  swollen discolored  face he starts to cry softly. " I wish you 
were able to talk to me". Paul says softly. " Who are you and why am 
I so drawn to you?" Paul asked brushing her hair from her face.  "Who 
would do this to you and why?" He then notices a tear  trickling down 
from the corner of her eye.
 " Can you hear me?" he asks wiping the tear away with his finger. " 
If you can hear me just squeeze my hand, ok?  I'm Paul." He says 
taking her hand into his own. "Did you hear me? Please try to squeeze 
my hand ok honey?" Slightly her fingers try to move around his. " Oh 
that's good honey. You can hear me!" Her lips start to move but he 
touches them with his finger and whispers " Don't try to talk yet. 
You need to get  your rest and we're trying to locate your 
family ,ok? Squeeze my hand if you understand."
Slowly her fingers try to wrap around his once more. "Good. I'm not 
leaving you so you try to get your rest ok?"
He reaches over and gently kisses her swollen lips. " You're safe 
now .Good night Sarah"Paul said as he sank into the chair never 
letting go of her hand.

                             4

  Jack Moodey circled the parking lot as the cops directed 
traffic.Whare the hell is she.....he wondered as he white knuckled 
the steering wheel.It was going on midnight and the parking lot to 
the civic center was still crowded and craweling with cops.She had 
said she would be waiting out side for him when he picked her 
up.....it was just like Sarah to forget everything when it came to 
her KISS crap! The more he drove through the mess of cops and people 
the more angey he became.Jack stoped as an officer held up his hands 
and blew his whistle.Jack rolled down his window and 
called "Hey..."the officer turned and walked towards Jack's 
car."Yeah?"the officer asked shining a flash light into the car.Jack 
squinted against the brigtht light as he looked into the officer 
face."My old ladies in there....I need to get up to the doors to meet 
her."Jack said."Look buddy no body goes any further....We have had a 
few problems and this place is being blocked off for now."the officer 
said.Jack clenched his jars as he looked at the officer."Look...I 
have to pick up my wife....It will only take second."Jack said as his 
anger began to surface."No way....my orders are no one goes past this 
point......If she comes out she will be directed to the parking 
lot....She'll see you here and you and she can go home happy."the 
officer said with sarcasim.It had been a long night and the officer 
was a little tired of these KISS fans giving him abuse.Jack pounded 
his fist on the steering wheel as he turned the car around to find a 
parking spot.What the hell had happen Jack wondered breifly....this 
was a mistake letting her come here by herself.....God her and this 
KISS stuff what the hell was wrong with these people.....This was 
beyond being a fan with most of herand her kiss friends as he called 
them.....It was almost as if they were a family seprate from him and 
the kids for her.Jack looked at his watch as he put the car in 
park.It was 12:30.....Jack strained to see in the dark as he watched 
the people coming from the civic center......None of them were 
Sarah."Whare the hell is that woman."Jack muttered under his 
breath.Maybe it would be easier to see her coming when some of the 
cars were out of the lot...he thought to himself.Jack setteled back 
in his seat to wait......Soon the parking lot was almost completly 
emptey.The police cars were still in place parked in front of the 
civic center....yet there was still no sign of Sarah anywhare.Jack 
rubbed his eyes as he looked at his watch two am....and he had to get 
up and go into work in the morning...Son of a bitch!he thought as he 
swung open the car door.Jack walked towards the civic center as he 
clenched his fist.Jack was stoped short by one of the officer...."Sir 
this is a crime scene...thats as far as you can go."the officer said 
as he held up his night stick.Jack rolled his eyes."Look I'm trying 
to find my wife.....She has to be in there somewhare."Jack said 
waving his hands towards the building.The young rookie cop knew his 
orders...'No one goes in....' was what he was told."Sorry buddy 
nobody goes inside the buliding...."the officer said.Jack shook his 
head."Whare the hell is my wife?"he said in anger."I can tell you 
this the only ones left in the buliding right now are cops...maybe 
your wife got a ride home with a friend."the officer said trying to 
be helpful.Jack shook his head....as turned to go back to his 
car.Maybe the officer was right,Sarah may have run into one of her 
friends from one of the stupid kiss websites she was always 
on......Jack was tired and angry as he headed home.Sarah had to be 
home by now he thought as he pulled into traffic.

                             5

  Gene sat sipping his coffee in the hotals restaurant.He slowly 
replayed last nights events in his mind as he sat there.Who would do 
such a thing he wondered....Was there some way that anyone of them 
could of prevented it from happening.Gene was snaped from his 
thoughts when he heard Doc walk up and pull the chair out across from 
him."Morning Gene...."Doc said the strain showing in his voice as he 
motioned for the waitress."Hey Doc....any word?"Gene asked as he took 
a sip of his coffee.Doc rubbed his tired eyes as the waitress poured 
him a cup of coffee."I just talked to the hospital....she is in a 
coma."Doc said as he leaned back in the chair and looked at the 
coffee cup.Gene nodded "Well how much longer do you think we will be 
stuck here....I mean not to sound cold but we are on tour."Gene said 
as he looked Doc in the eye."I don't know...one of the officer from 
last night is supposed to be stoping by here this morning to talk 
some more about the case.....It looks like were going to be here till 
thay figure out it wasent one of us."Doc said shaking his head.Gene 
pressed his lips together as he looked around the restaurant.Some of 
the road crew were trickling in for breakfast.Some of them gave Gene 
and Doc a small wave as they came inside."We have a good crew...none 
of these guys would do anything like that..."Gene said as he picked 
up his coffee cup.Doc noddded "We know that but the cops don't...and 
besides someone in the band could of done it."Doc said in a low 
voice.Anger flashed in Gene's eye as he put his coffee cup back down 
causing it clink on the table."Hold it right there....We may be a 
rock band and we may get a little wild sometimes but none of us would 
ever hurt anyone."Gene said leting his anger take over his voice.Doc 
placed his hand on Gene's shoulder."I know...just calm down.Let the 
cops do there job and then we will be out of here before we know 
it...ok."Doc said trying to calm the demon.Gene nodded as he took a 
deep breath."I understand that the cops have a job to do but so do 
we."Gene said shaking his head as he let his anger slip away,after 
all none of this was anyone fault.Doc and Gene were interupted when 
detective Gray walked up to the table.
Doc quickly stood  up to shake the detective's hand while trying to 
swallow his bagel."Have you eaten yet ? Would you like a cup of 
coffee?"Doc asked as he sat back down. Gene motions for the waitress 
to bring another place setting while the detective sits down. " Just 
coffee please" he tells the waitress. 
"Well, we talked to one of your stagehands and he said that whenever 
you tour, that they sometimes hire locals to help set things up if 
you don't have enough people on your tour  crew. Does that sound 
about right Mr. McGhee?"Detective Gray asked as he poured cream into 
his coffee."Please,call me Doc", Doc replies setting down his 
coffee."Yeah, sometimes we need extra men to help set up .We all 
travel by bus and  tracter trailer  and you know how it can be 
traveling on the road. Say you've only got part of your crew here and 
the others are tied up in traffic on I -95. We can't sit around and 
wait all day for them to get here so, that being the case they're 
allowed to hire who they need to start setting things up in that 
particular city that we're playing in. It's done all the time by a 
lot of bands and even plays and musicals  touring the country." Doc 
said as he looked at the man.Doc could see it had been a long night 
for the decteive as he fliped open his small note book.
"Would you happen  to have a employee list of the people that you 
hire from this tour?" The detective asked.
" Well to be honest with you," Doc said leaning back in his chair. " 
We pay them under the table. It's just a one time deal in each city 
and we don't have the time to go into taking taxes,social securty 
numbers and all that. "
" You mean that you don't even know their names?" The detective asked 
dispointed that another lead had been shot down in the case. "No we 
sure don't . I trust my guys to handle all that".Doc replied.
"We're on a tight schedule and we can't afford to waste  time.If they 
want to work and do what their told they get paid cash under the 
table and get to see a free show."Doc said with a small laugh. "So, 
how can  you tell who's on the crew?"the detective asked as he wrote 
something in his note book.
"In each city we have different colored passes for each show." 
So they can't be copied?"Doc said as he took another bite of his 
bagle.The Detective nods as he finishes his coffee and moves to leave 
the table.
"I'll be in touch....Is your other band mate still at the hospital 
with the woman?"the Detective asked as he looked at Doc and Gene.Doc 
nods ."Yes...Paul stayed with her all night."Doc replied."I 
see....He's a bit protective isent he?"the Detective said as he 
pushed his chair in.Gene who had be silent most of the conversation 
seemed to perk up as if the detective might be attacking his friend 
for caring about the woman."Paul's a nice guy....He would do that for 
anybody."Gene said shaking his head.The Detecive nodded as he walked 
away."Have a nice day....Don't leave town."Were the last words he 
said as he walked from the table.

                             6

Sarah knows where she's at but can't place the name. She sees him 
talking to her but, doesn't understand what he's saying. " He's 
talking to me !"she says to herself. " Why can't I understand what 
he's saying?" Over and over it plays itself out until she slips into 
complete darkness.
At that same moment Paul wakes up .  "Oh God!Not again" he said out 
load.
"I'm sorry,I didn't mean to wake you. I had to reset her monitor. The 
alarms were going off, and ,well ,maybe you'd be more comfortable if 
you went home and got some sleep?" the young nures stammered as she 
fusses with the iv tube.
Ignoring her advice he looked at her."What do you mean the alarms 
went off!"Paul asked as he became wide awake
"She's ok sir. Her blood pressure had risen and dropped 
sharply,that's why the alarm went off but she's stable now."the nurse 
said in a reasuring voice.  "Are you sure?" Paul asked as he stroked 
her hair back. "Yes, I'm positive Why don't you go down to the 
cafeteria and get yourself something to eat."the nurse said as she 
turned to leave the room.
"Thanks, I think I will" Paul stretches and yawns as he stands up. "I 
won't be gone long."

What the hell was I dreaming? he thinks to himself as he is walkes 
down the hall. I know it was that same dream! Why can't I remember 
it! I'm going crazy!Paul just can't shake the feeling that he knows 
this woman.Paul plops down in a seat in the cafeteria with a steaming 
cup of coffee and small bowel of fruit.Paul shakes his head trying to 
become more awake as he takes a sip of the coffee.He sighs as he 
takes out his cell phone.

In his hotel room the phone rings. Gene answers the phone. "Hello?"
"Gene" Paul said on the other  end.
" Hey, what's the latest?"Gene asked.
"I don't know yet.They say she's stable for now but, she hasn't  woke 
up yet. Can you get my lap top and bring it to the hospital? I need 
to catch up on a few things."Paul said as he jabes the fruit with a 
plastic fork.
"Yeah sure,no problem. Damn!"Gene said with a small snicker.
"What's the matter Gene?"Paul asked.
"Oh,I forgot to get a polaroid of this waitress that just left."Gene 
said smiling to himself.
"You're slippin' in your old age man!" Paul chuckles. "You need to 
stop that shit and marry Shannon once and for all!"
"Never!" Gene yells in the phone.
"Never say never Gene!" Paul said as he hung up the phone.Paul sat 
back trying to choke down his small breakfast thinking about the 
woman who was laying upstairs in a coma.I can't help this feeling 
that I know her.He thought to himself."Mr.Stanley?"a voice asked as 
Paul looked up to see Detective Gray standing there holding out his 
badge.Paul quickly stands up and exstened his hand."Good 
morning....have a seat.Are there any leads?"Paul asked as the man sat 
down in the chair across from him."No...nothing yet..Would you mind 
answering a few more quistions for me?"the detective asked as he eyes 
Paul."Not at all....I want to find out what happened as much as you 
do."Paul said as he took another sip of his coffee."You and your band 
mate brought her in,right?"the detective asked looking at his note 
book."Yes...."Paul said as he pushed the fruit away."Did she say 
anything at all....I mean I know she was in bad shape but did she say 
anything to you before she past out."the detective asked.Paul sat 
there trying to think,things had happened so fast....."Yeah...she 
said Jack."Paul said as the memory came back to him.The detective 
nodded as he wrote something down in his note book."Is that something 
you can work with?"Paul asked hopeing it might lead to finding the 
man who had done this to her.The detective nods as he looked into 
Paul's tired eyes."Maybe....but don't get your hopes up....I think 
were just going to have to wait for her to wake up."the detective 
said as he moved to get up."You should go back to the hotal and get 
some rest....there really nothing you can do here.Let the cops handle 
things."the detective said as he gave Paul a nod.Paul nodded "I'll 
just stay here till she wakes up....ya know she hasent really got 
anyone around her...."Paul said not wanting to say to much.The 
detective nodded as he walked away from the table.

                             7

Jack sat in the living room with his head in his hands."Whare the 
hell could she be?"he asked as he looked up at Sarah's friend 
Carol.Carol shook her head as she stood  looking out the window."I 
don't know Jack.....I think we should call the cops thoe.I mean Sarah 
would never just take off like this."Carol said.Jack lets out a deep 
sigh."Its so werid....I mean she would have called."Jack said more to 
himself then anyone else.Carol nodded she dident want to say to 
much....This was strange.Carol could see Sarah leaving Jack but she 
would have taken the boys with her......Carol thought as she walked 
to the kitchen.The boys would be up soon...what would they tell 
them,Carol wondered as she poured herself another cup of coffee.It 
had been a long sleepless night for Jack and Carol."Aunt 
Carol!"Branden shouted when he saw her standing in the kitchen.Carol 
closed her eyes as she turned around to see Branden standing 
there.Sarah's oldest son stood there in a pair of shorts and no 
shirt.He was growing every day,next year he would be in 5th 
grade.Carol could remember when he was a baby."Whare's mom?"Branden 
asked as he walked over to the fridge and pulled out the carton of 
orange juice.Carol wasent sure what to say as she looked at the 
boy.Jack came into the kitchen carrying his coffee cup."Morning 
son..."Jack said as he walked to the kicthen sink."Hey Dad....Whares 
mom?"Branden asked looking for an answer to his quistion from 
someone."It was late after the expo....she spent the night in a 
hotal...she will be home later."Jack said hopeing that his son 
couldent hear the worry in his voice.Branden nodded as he sat down at 
the table."When are you going to work?"Branden asked as if he just 
realized that his father was home on a week day.Jack looked at Carol 
as he said "Now son...I'm running a little late today."Jack's anger 
from the night before was now turning into a paniced worry."I'll stay 
with the boys."Carol said as she watched Jack grab his car keys.Carol 
could see the worry in Jack's eyes as he gave her a nod.

Jack pulled out of the drive way and headed for the police 
station.Something had to of happened to her.She would never do 
anything like this....Whare the hell could she be....Jack wondered as 
he drove into the morning traffic.

                             8

Gene steped off the elavator holding  Paul's lap top under his 
arm.Gene always had hated hospitals and would do anything to stay 
away from them.He made his way down the hallway to the womans room on 
the ICU ward.A guard was still seated outside her door.Gene walked 
towards the guard as he reached into his back pocket for id.The guard 
stood up and looked at the id still in the wallet."Go on in 
Mr.Simmons."the guard said motioning towards the door.Gene walked 
inside to find Paul sitting next to the bed holding the womans 
hand.Paul smiled slightly as he let go of the womans hand and got 
up."How's she doing?"Gene asked as he handed the lap top to him.Paul 
nodded "No change....They said it could be a week or a year before 
she wakes up."Paul said as he sat the lap top on the floor by his 
chair.Gene nodded looking at the pale woman laying in the bed."Is she 
going to be alright?"Gene asked with a little nervous twitch in his 
voice."The doctors seem to think that she will live....if thats what 
you mean."Paul said as he sat back down in his chair next to the 
bed."The cops talked to me and Doc this morning....You know they 
still havent found her family."Gene said shaking his head.How could 
someone do this he wondered."I know....thats why I feel like I should 
stay with her at least till they find her family."Paul said.Gene 
nodded "Well I guess I should get going......I'll come by tonight and 
bring you a change of clothes."Gene said as he walked out the 
door."Thanks"Paul called as he turned his attention back to the woman 
in the bed.

Paul picked up the lap top and opened it.He balenced it on his lap as 
he sat there in the chair.He needed to let Pam know what was going on 
in case Evan needed him.He quickly e-mailed her telling her that they 
had been delayed on the tour.He then answered a few of his other e-
mails.He shook his head as he looked back at the woman who lay in the 
bed.Her dark hair spilling over the white pillow case."Who the hell 
are you?"Paul asked softly.Her eye lids fluttered as he spoke to 
her.He knew she could hear him.Something about her....he knew her.He 
remembered her but from whare.Paul sighed as he turned back to the 
computer.He hit the icon whare he had been working on some songs he 
had saved.Paul scrolled down the list of songs....."Dama...I've wrote 
alot..."he said as he stoped on something that caught his eye.A small 
photo of a painting he had scaned and placed next to the lyric of the 
song 'Take me Away.'Paul's heart began to pound as he looked at the 
art work he had done in the 70's."Oh My God...."he said softly as he 
sat the lap top down next to his chair.He stood up and looked at the 
woman in the bed.It was the same woman he had painted.Paul shook his 
head as he looked at the woman.He knew she had to be in early 
thirties....There was no way this could be the same woman in the 
painting.Paul was stunned as he sat there trying to think......The 
girl in my dreams.....He knew her from his dreams.

                             9
   Jack sat at the small desk trying to exsplain to the officer behind 
the desk that his wife wouldent just take 
off."Look....Mr.Moodey,women leave there husbends and families 
alot....Go home we can't fill out a missing person's report until the 
person has been missing for 48 hours."the officer said as he rubbed 
his neck.This was a story the officer had heard before unhappy wife 
takes off leaving husbend and kids and hubby wants to make out a 
missing person's report.Jack shook his head."Thats not like my 
wife...She would have told someone."Jack said he was becoming more 
and more angey as he sat there.Would she leave him....What the 
officer was saying was  touching every nerve in his brain.Maybe she 
did take off.After all she had seemed so unhappy lately."Have you 
checked the hospitals....maybe she was in accident or something.Thats 
the first thing the police will do if you havent heard from your wife 
by tomorrow."the officer said trying to be helpful.Jack pressed his 
lips together."Thank you....I'll do that."Jack said feeling defeated 
as he stood up from his seat.Maybe Sarah had been in some sort of an 
accident.Jack found himself just not wanting to think anymore as he 
made his way to his car.Jack sat in the car before he started the 
engine.He looked around the car as he thought of all the time he 
spent at work and doing all the things he liked to do.Sarah was 
always at home waiting for him....The only thing that Sarah really 
did was take care of him and there children.The only things that 
Sarah really had of her own were her friends on the web sites that 
were into KISS like she was.....Maybe Sarah had left him,what the 
police officer had said made sense.....Unhappy wife.....just up and 
leaves one day.Jack cranked the key and placed the car in gear.Jack 
knew he may have to face the fact that his wife had just left,without 
a word to anyone.

Carol sat the book down when she heard Jack's car pull into the drive 
way."Jordan go and play with Branden."Carol said as she gentley 
pushed Jordan,Sarah's 6 year old son, off the 
sofa."Alright...."Jordan said as he grabed the book that Carol had 
been reading to him.Jack walked through the door just as Jordan was 
heading up the steps.Carol pulled her glasses off and looked at Jack 
with quistions in her eyes.Jack shook his head as he looked at 
her.Carol closed her eyes and nodded."Jack.....Did you fill out a 
missing persons report?"Carol asked as Jack sat down in the 
recliner."They won't fill out a missing persons report till the 
person is missing for 48 hours."Jack said as he rubbed his eyes.Carol 
nodded."What should we do?"Carol asked in a low voice."The police 
said to start calling the hospitals....maybe she was in an 
accident."Jack said.Carol nodded "Sarah had her purse with her 
thoe.....I mean they would of called here by now if she were in an 
accident."Carol said thinking out load.Jack looked at her and shook 
his head."WE should give it a try....."Jack said as he got up to get 
the phone book.Carol nodded as she looked out the window.Carol 
couldent seem to shake the feeling that maybe Sarah left Jack,and 
that she wouldent be coming back......Yet Sarah would have never left 
the boys.That was the part whare Carol had to think that maybe 
something had happened to Sarah.

                             10

   Paul was half asleep as he sat in the chair.His body was trying to 
fight sleep as he sat there watching her.There had been no change all 
day.Paul could tell that the sun had gone down as nurses hurried past 
the door.Shift change he thought to himself as he heard two nurses 
talking in the hallway."No real change....yeah he's still sitting 
with her,been here all day...."he heard one of the nurses say as she 
spoke to another nurse.Paul sighed as his eyes closed and his head 
rested on the back of the chair."Sarah....Sarah...."he could hear her 
name as he drifted off to sleep.He was calling to her.She was walking 
towards him as he called her name."Sarah is that your name?"he asked 
as she came to stand next to him.She smiled at him as she 
nodded."Sarah.....Yes,my name is Sarah."she said softly as she 
reached for his hand.She wasent real thoe he could almost touch her 
yet he couldent ,he could hear her speaking to him,but he couldent 
touch her.She began to fade almost as quickly as she had come to 
him.Paul felt a hand on his shoulder shaking him lightly."Are you 
ok?"the nurse asked as she looked down at him smiling warmly.Paul 
nodded as he sat up in the chair."Yeah....I was just 
dreaming...."Paul said as he rubbed his eyes.The nurse pressed her 
lips together."I'm sorry I woke you but you seemed to be having a 
nightmare."she said as she checked the iv tube connected to the woman 
arm.Paul shook his head if only she knew what kind of dream I was 
having she would think I was insane,Paul thought as he looked around 
the room."Is there any change?"Paul asked as the nurse picked up the 
chart and wrote something down."No....her blood pressure seems to be 
staying about the same.Thats a good sign."the nurse said giving him a 
slight smile."Well thats good..."Paul said as he reached for her hand 
once more.Her finger curled lightly around his hand as he looked at 
her face.The nurse turned and walked from the room."Your 
alright....I'm still here."Paul said softly as he looked at her.Her 
hand squeezed his slightly."Good you can hear me....that so 
good....Now open your eyes...can you open your eyes for me?"he asked 
softly.She seemed to be trying as her eyelids fluttered."Your 
trying....I know your trying."Paul said as he stroked her hair 
lightly.She was going to be alright......Paul just knew that she was 
going to be alright.She had to be....She was the woman that he had 
dreamed of once long ago.