Roger sweated profusely, looking around at his surroundings. His band mate, Brian was across the room, and the sight of him was making Roger extremely nervous.

No, not like that, you sicko!

Roger trusted in John's word of advice, John being another band mate. Unfortunately, the one and only Freddie Mercury cackling at Roger's situation was not making Roger any more confident.

Roger took one last breath and glanced at John, who gave him an approving look. Roger walked slowly to Brian, who was facing away, and tapped his shoulder anxiously. Brian turned around, looking at Roger expectantly.

"Brian," Roger sighed, feeling his hands begin to jitter, "I have to tell you something."

Wait a second... You don't understand what's happening here, do you?

Well, I guess we'll have to rewind then won't we?

Okay.

It was February 1984, and Queen was just finishing up working on their latest album, The Works. There were few things on the band's agenda, but the most major one being a recording for Hammer To Fall.

Brian May, their one and only lead guitarist, had penned the rocking ballad, and had included an intriguing guitar solo. Brian was still making a few touch ups to the song. Freddie was occupying himself by warming up his powerful voice, John was busy tuning his bass, and Roger was waiting in the back of the sound booth for the others to be ready.

"Alright," Brian said. "I'm all good for the music." Roger walked into the recording area to meet with the rest of the band. Brian continued proudly, "Freddie, here are some lyrics for you."

Freddie took the lyrics from Brian's hands. "Thanks," the singer said subtly.

"This is only a rehearsal, remember," Brian stated, slinging his Red Special's guitar strap over his shoulder.

The Red Special is Brian's guitar, if you didn't know.

A very special guitar he built with his father as a teen, you understand.

So special that Brian would nearly kill whoever had the means to harm it.

Anyway, Brian continued to speak.

"Since this is only a rehearsal," he said, "we don't have to get everything perfect."

"We'll actually record it a week from now," Freddie added.

"Works for me," John chuckled.

The four retreated to their areas. Roger sat behind his drum kit, picking his drumsticks up off the floor. Freddie walked to the microphone as Brian and John were already in position.

"It starts like this," Brian said, playing the first riff with his guitar.

And the band was up and away, strumming and singing and tapping with the soon-to-be hit. Of course, there were the usual fights between Freddie, Brian, and Roger (with John avoiding them completely), but Queen did get a fair amount of work done.

The song's rehearsing finished after a few run throughs. Queen wished their goodbyes afterwards, as they packed up their belongings. Freddie was the first to head out, then John, and then Brian. Roger was the last to leave because he had to actually put away his drum kit, since another band would be using the studio afterwards.

Roger grumbled to himself as he rolled his bass drum into the storage room. Then, he saw it. Brian's genuine Red Special hanging from a guitar hook. Roger was intrigued highly, but fought back the temptation to touch Brian's treasured instrument. He shook his head and finished carrying the last of his cymbals into the small room.

Roger stared at the Red Special once more, the dim lighting from the above lightbulb making the Red Special almost glimmer. Roger reached out to touch the guitar, but immediately tugged away his arms. He didn't want Brian to get upset.

But... Wasn't Brian being rather rude to Roger during the rehearsal session?

It's not like Roger would break the guitar.

The Red Special is built well, isn't it?

How could Roger ever break it?

Roger's temptation got the best of him, and he scooped the guitar from its holder. He clutched the instrument close, chuckling as to why Brian would ever be so protective of it. Roger didn't bother putting the guitar strap over his shoulder, as he found the Red Special surprisingly light. Roger could already play guitar, and he could've become a guitarist, but he was more of the drummer type. Roger held the guitar tight and strummed one chord, a few chords, but the guitar sank lower and lower in his clutch. Suddenly, Roger no longer had a grasp on the instrument, and it fell from his arms and landed with a crack on the ground. Roger closed his eyes tight, afraid of what he'd see.

To his relief, the guitar was absolutely fine. It had landed with the back on the ground, with no impurities to be seen. Roger decided he'd leave the guitar alone after the incident, so he delicately picked it up. Instantly, the middle of the guitar's neck snapped right in half. Roger gasped, his eyes widening.

He was now utterly, absolutely, completely, indubitably screwed.

So very screwed.

Roger gulped and found an empty guitar case. He placed the broken Red Special carefully in the case and shut it quickly, buckling it immediately. Roger left the studio quietly and fearfully, afraid that there was a security camera watching him commit such an awful deed.

Roger put the guitar in the back of his car before slipping into the front seat and driving back to his flat in a worried rush.

Roger hastily carried the guitar inside his flat, slamming the door and then rushing to the phone. He dialed Freddie's number almost instantly, holding the phone to his flushed face. Anyone would be good to go to for information at the moment.

There was click. "Hello?"

Roger slammed the phone down.

He couldn't trust Freddie.

Roger thought. His girlfriend? No... She wouldn't understand... His father? Nope. Definitely not. John?

It had to be John to turn to for advice.

Roger punched in John's number, twisting his fingers in the cords as he awaited the ringing to come to an end.

"Hello?"

"John, is that you?" Roger said anxiously and hurriedly.

"Erm, yes?" John answered unsurely. "Roger? What is it?"

"John, I... I..." Roger stammered noticeably, his forehead beginning to sweat with worry.

"You what?"

"I broke the Red Special."

"You what?!"

Roger spilled everything to John, who listened to him intently, though John wasn't sure of what to say for advice. Roger was obviously very scared. Brian could get mad enough to leave the band, for crying out loud! John thought about it for a minute or two, before coming up with a conclusion for Roger.

"Tell him," John said finally. "He'd probably respect your honesty."

"Probably?" Roger said. "I don't need probably. I need for sure."

"Well, all I have is probably," John stated with a shrug. "We're having that party on the weekend, remember? Tell him then."

"Ugh," Roger grumbled. "Shoot me."

"Right," John said sarcastically. "I'll see you then. Bye, Roger."

"See ya," Roger said miserably before hanging up the phone.

The party came, and one way or another, a very nosy Freddie found out about Roger's Red Special situation. Freddie laughed it off, and giggled every time Roger passed him. Roger had spent the time after breaking the Brian's guitar building up the courage – and dignity – to tell him so.

And that's where we are now.

Roger approached Brian, and tapped him on the shoulder. Brian turned, awaiting Roger's speaking.

"Brian, I have to tell you something."

John and Freddie watched intently, knowing Roger was about to get punched – or worse.

"Yes?" Brian said. "What is it, Rog?"

"I... I..." Roger stammered, his palms getting sweaty and his voice breaking, much to Brian's realization. "I... I... I broke your Red Special!" Roger said quickly and loudly, everyone in the party silencing.

Brian's eyes widened, and he was obviously furious. "You what?!"

"I'm sorry!" Roger cried. "I was-"

Brian ran off swiftly, bringing back with him a guitar case. He opened it up immediately, inside of it was the Red Special. Roger was terribly confused.

"My sweet," Brian said worriedly, lifting the instrument from its case. It wasn't broken at all, to Roger's surprise.

"Huh?" Roger questioned. He turned to John, he gave him a shrug.

"It... It's not broken," Brian said reassuringly, noticing the drummer was about to faint.

"But I dropped it in the studio," Roger stated, "it cracked in the neck. I saw it!"

"Well, then," Brian chuckled, placing the guitar back into its case and buckling the latches. "I've had other Red Special-like guitars made, y'know."

"Y-you have?" Roger stuttered, his nervous heart rate returning to normal.

"Ah yes," Brian said. "The cherry red guitars look very similar to the original Red Special."

Roger sighed, wiping his brow.

"But wait a second." Brian suddenly looked concerned, and undid the latches on the case. He lifted up the guitar and studied it carefully. "Where are my initials? They're not on the bottom here."

Roger gulped.

Cliffhanger! However, you guys can figure out the ending for yourselves.

Picture courtesy of moi!! ^^