Against All Odds - Prequel to Affirmation Part 1
Thanks to who commented on my story and please keep commenting on the last part and Affirmation.
This maybe my last post of the year unless I post again today. I won't have much time tomorrow due to the New Years Party we're throwing.
So here's the next part of Against All Odds: In which we're taken back ten years prior to the Prologue, Greg and Josie tell Paul their fears and worries for Tony, and Caroline makes her first appearance in my series.
Title: Against All Odds
Author: Shinigami518
Rating: PG-13, but with some bits of R in it.
Main Character(s) and/or pairings: Tony/Paul (starts as friendship, turns to "?", and ends with solid love), Josie/Richard, Paul/Caroline (kinda rocky, but established), Josie/Greg friendship, Stephen/Tony Friendship, Richard/Paul Friendship, Ryan/Colin at end
Summary: In late 1996, after a taping of HIGNFY, Paul is told by Greg and Josie about Tony's downward spiral into darkness. This is what happened to Tony and Paul before Affirmation with some angst, some fluff, some H/C, some horror, and a happy ending that'll lead to the sequel to Affirmation.
View the last parts here:
prologue
View Affirmation here:
Epilogue, but with all parts linked
Part 1 - And there's nothing left here to remind me, just the memory of your face
October 3rd 1996
Paul got up from his spot behind the desk, making sure he unhooked his mike as the audience continued to applaud. The taping for the first episode of the new season was now finished and all Paul wanted to do was to relax in his dressing room and let his brain calm down.
He glanced up and saw his fellow other team captain Ian Hislop chat pleasantly with his teammate for the episode, Greg Proops. Paul’s teammate, Ken Livingstone, had already left the set; having plans to attend to once taping was finished.
As Paul began to leave, he gave a small wave to the audience, prompting more cheers from his fans. Paul couldn’t help but smile slightly. This was the first episode since his “most of the season break” last season and, even though he didn’t openly admit it, he missed being there.
Ignoring Angus’s “good episode” comment as he walked past, Paul made his way backstage, down the hallway that had now been permanently etched into his brain. He probably could find both his, Ian’s, and Angus’s dressing rooms blindfolded. Paul paused, stopping in the hall, thinking that could be a great joke to pull on Angus in a future taping if possible.
Shrugging, he continued on his way until he found his dressing room. He noticed the door was ajar. Paul pursed his lips; he was sure he had closed it last time he was there. Slowly and cautiously, he entered the room.
“Hello, Paul.”
Paul nearly jumped back in surprise by the voice coming from the other side of the room. He calmed down once he saw who was sitting patiently on the small couch in the other room.
“Hello, Josie,” Paul greeted, straightening up, “What’re you doing here?” He asked.
“I watched the taping. I mean, Greg was one of the guests and I wanted to see how he’d do.” Josie answered after a few seconds of awkward silence. Paul nodded, and then noticing Josie’s hesitation. Something was wrong, and she wasn’t telling him upfront about it.
“Josie, what is it?” Paul asked, furrowing his brow. Josie got up and made her way over to Paul, fidgeting with her hands.
“Have you been watching the show lately?” Josie asked, finally stopping in front of Paul. Paul nodded, knowing what show she was referring to. It had been over three years since he was last on “Whose Line is it Anyway?”, that long since he last saw and worked with some of his fellow comedians like Mike McShane and Greg outside of the Comedy Store.
“Yeah, still do, to see how you, Rich and the guys are doing. And to see how Caroline is doing working with you lot.” Paul answered. Josie smiled a bit, but it looked like it was forced. Paul then gestured for her to sit back down on the small couch in the room. Both of them sat down next to each other, Josie still nervous and Paul growing more and more confused with each second.
“Then you’ve noticed, haven’t you?” Josie asked. Paul stared at her in confusion, unsure of what she meant. “Tony and Mike. They haven’t been on since last season.” Josie went on.
“Yeah, I noticed. What happened?” Paul nodded, a bit bored, but curious about his friends. The next three words that came out of Josie’s mouth almost floored him.
“They were sacked.”
Paul stared at his with a raised eyebrow. “Sacked? Why?” Paul asked, not feeling bored anymore.
“Well, Mike and Dan haven’t really been on good terms lately. As for Tony… well…,” Josie paused, letting out a sigh, “He’s been acting odd lately, especially last season. As if he was someone else.” Josie explained.
“What do you mean?” Paul asked, leaning forward a bit. Josie did so as well, her long, dark brown hair brushing over her shoulders.
“He’s been more dirty and vulgar than usual, and he’s… unhinged, off somewhat. And what’s worst… Greg once saw him in the bathroom a while back during the season 7 taping, leaving a sink and…,” Josie took a deep breath, “Greg found remnants of white powder around the sink area. Greg tested it and knew what it was right away.” Josie explained.
“Don’t tell me it was… cocaine.” Paul breathed, paling somewhat. His mind began to race. ‘Tony? On drugs? First his drinking got worse and now this? What’s going on?’
“Sure as hell wasn’t powdered sugar.” Greg’s voice broke through the silence as he almost materialized in the doorway. Paul shot to his feet as he started feeling a sense of anger coming over him.
“And you told Dan about this, right Greg? That’s why Tony was sacked?” Paul asked, his anger starting to rise. Inwardly, Paul wasn’t sure why he was feeling protective of Tony all of a sudden. Last time he saw the raven haired man was when he brought Caroline to her first tapping of Whose Line last year. Back then he didn’t really have enough time to talk with him to see if anything was really wrong or not with him. Not enough time to ask him how he was doing or anything like that.
Greg shook his head no. “Didn’t have enough proof he was using, but it did explain some of Tony’s actions and why he’d been so off during the tapings. Dan sacked him for acting unprofessional, that’s all.” Greg replied, a bit wary of Paul’s sudden anger, as he walked up to him and Josie.
“Has anyone tried talking to him about this?” Paul asked, sitting back down, trying to calm down. Inside, he was growing more and more concerned about Tony’s mental and physical condition.
“Both Josie and I tried, but he blew us both off. Ryan refuses to talk to him, Richard got blown off, too, Colin’s too scared, Mike’s got his own problems to deal with, Steve hasn’t known him as long as we have, and everyone else has their own things to do.” Greg replied, counting off the people they knew.
“We even asked Stephen Fry for help, but Tony wouldn’t talk with him. Same with Hugh and Emma.” Josie put in, referring to Tony’s friends from Cambridge
Paul clasped his hands together and leaned forward, putting his hands close to his mouth as he frowned, his lips brushing up against his thumbs. “It’s really that bad, is it?” Paul whispered, not liking what he had been hearing.
“It is. He’s destroying himself, Paul. Blowing everyone off, except his parents, throwing his things in the Thames; he was even involved in a motor accident - non-serious, thank the Lord - but he’s in danger, I can feel it.” Josie nodded, remembering what she had read in the paper a while ago about him.
“Paul, you’re the only one we can think of that can get through to him. You got to help us.” Greg almost practically pleaded, kneeling in front of Paul.
“What can I do?” Paul asked, getting up off the couch, “I’m not good at that sort of thing.” Paul moved pass Greg and made his way to the door.
“You’re his friend, Paul! And out last hope…” Josie cried out. Paul stopped and turned back to Josie and Greg, both now standing with pleading looks in their eyes.
“If he won’t listen to Richard or even Stephen, Hugh, or Emma, guys who’ve known him longer than the three of us, why would he listen to me?” Paul asked, turning away, reaching to grab a small bag he had a few things in for the show.
The next four words that came out of Greg’s mouth made him drop the bag and stop dead cold in his tracks.
“Because he loves you.”
Paul froze where he stood, hardly breathing. Slowly, and shaking a bit, he turned back to look at Greg and Josie, his blue eyes wide in shock.
“Wh- what did you say?” Paul asked weakly, stunned by what Greg said.
“He loves you, Paul. He does, really. We’ve no clue how deep of a love it is, but he does love you.” Josie replied, standing next to Greg. Paul looked away, still wearing a stunned look on his face as he let the words sink in.
‘Tony… loves me? But that’s… how… why?’ Paul thought, trying to rationalize the new info he just received. He closed his eyes and sighed.
“Even so… you’re still asking the wrong guy. I doubt I could ever get through to him, Jos’.” Paul stated, calling Josie by the nickname she often went by backstage. He never looked back when he reclaimed his bag and made his way to the exit.
“Sorry guys, but you’ll need to find another bloke to save Tony because I could never be able to do that.” Paul added as he left the room, not bothering to shut the door behind him.
“Paul-!” Josie called out, trying to follow her friend.
“Let him go, Josie,” Greg told her, grabbing her arm, “he needs some time to think about this. After all, this is a lot to take in.” Greg soothed, putting both hands on Josie’s shoulders, making her face the glasses wearing American.
“I just hope he does something soon, Greg. I’m worried about Tony. He’s been like a brother to me, to all of us. I don’t want to lose him.” Josie replied softly, leaning into Greg, her head resting against his chest.
“Me neither…” Greg whispered, putting his arms around Josie, looking at the now closed door where Paul once stood.
Later…
“Caroline?”
“What?”
“Why didn’t you tell me about Tony and Mike getting sacked?” Paul asked from his resting spot on their bed. Caroline paused in the middle of fixing up her hair for bed.
“I didn’t think you’d be interested and besides, you hardly ever asked about them.” Caroline replied, staring into her vanity mirror. She turned to look at him. “Who told you about it?” she asked curiously.
“Greg did, and Josie, who came to taping today, too. They’re pretty worried about Tony.” Paul answered, sitting up and arching his back, stretching.
“I know. They think he’s destroying himself, but I don’t think so.” Caroline stood up, making her way over to the bed. Paul frowned, growing tense.
“What makes you think so!? You only worked with him for one episode; I’ve worked with him for five seasons!” Paul retorted harshly. Caroline stopped at the foot of the bed, hands on her hips.
“But you left and hardly kept in contact with him or most of those outside the Comedy Store regulars. Why are you concerned so badly about this?” Caroline reminded him, brashly
“My choice! A stupid one, I admit. And Josie’s really worried about him as is Greg.” Paul corrected, heatedly. Caroline sighed, sitting on the bed with a soft plop.
“Why don’t we talk about this tomorrow, ok? It’s been a long day for both of us, so let’s get some well deserved sleep.” Caroline compromised; gently touching Paul’s clenched hands with her own. Paul looked down at his wife’s warm and gentle hands, lying on top of his pale, knuckled, and tightly clenched ones, and let out a loud sigh.
“Alright. Sorry ‘bout that. Don’t know what’s been getting into me lately.” Paul apologised, giving Caroline a small kiss on her cheek before she got up.
“A good night’s sleep oughta do you good.” Caroline nodded, stretching as she walked to the other side of the bed.
Neither knew that what Caroline said would come back to haunt both of them that very next morning…
The next time I post the next part of this, it'll be 2009!