under pressure

"Dude, why is it bothering you, now?" Roger winced. They'd just made it through their first damn show without any hitches or scrapes. And were now back on the bus ready to crash...and Derrick had a problem with bunking with Roger.

"You know why." Derrick was like some sort of wild boy. Had sudden fame gone to his head? What was the deal, thought Roger. "You're gay." Derrick got in Roger's face then.

"And that's a problem? Now!" Roger didn't back down. Finally he fell back at the booth in the bus and glared back at Derrick.

"If it wasn't for you, Doyle wouldn't be gay." Derrick squinted as if he hated Roger completely.

"Of course, blame it all on me." Roger fumed. "I have news for you, Doyle is gay. Always has been. So get over it!"

"Guys? What? What are you doing?" Amanda came up the steps then when the yelling started.

"Your brother won't bunk with me." Roger informed her.

"Derrick? What is going on with you?" She looked so tired and was in no mood for a screaming match. Elliot was still taking care of things at the hall.

Derrick gave her the silent treatment and flung himself on the lower bed he called dibs on.

"Jesus." She reached for a juice then and got one for Roger.

"You should go talk to him." Roger told her. She looked at him with a do I have to look but she went back to check on Derrick.

"Look you knew about Roger and Doyle. I thought you were OK with it." Roger heard Amanda say to Derrick.

There was a silence.

"Buster, you better be glad you got people who care about you and want to help you!" Amanda swelled up like she might take to beating him or at least sit on her brother. But she didn't. "Stop being a baby about things you have no control over. You said Roger was better than your original drummer."

"I wanted Kyle. OK." His croaked.

"Well-" She sighed then. "We did great tonight. Quit making more problems than there are. We're gonna get along on this trip one way or another. Got it." She ordered then.

For a moment Roger wanted to sleep right here in the booth. But damn, he wasn't going to give in.

He heard Amanda go to the back. Roger got up to go to the bunk, wondering if this was more about Kyle than Doyle that Derrick really had the problem with. He thought about calling Kyle up and telling him about Derrick's little tangent and how Derrick still wanted Kyle to be with his sister, but it was time to let it go. There was Elliot coming up the steps now. Tired and barely keeping his eyes opened. Roger gave Elliot a quick smile as he edged by him to get to the room Elliot and Amanda were staying in. Hopefully Derrick got the picture.  Amanda was most definitely with Elliot now.