Chapter Seven

They had gotten home and of course Jon had gone straight to the guess bedroom, not Ellie’s but his. He was only staying with Ellie sometimes but when he wanted his alone time he went down the hall to his own room while they were fixing up their bedroom. Ellie went to the kitchen to see how dinner was coming when she found Richie in there with their cook. As she entered she went straight to the frig and grabbed a water then slammed it shut as Richie just grimaced at what she did. He could tell by her actions that the doctor’s appointment didn’t go well. She went to sit at the table as she fiddled with her water bottle to open it. Richie reached over and took it and opened it for her.

Without looking at him she told him, “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. So what did ass hat do this time and don’t tell me nothing because both of your entrances weren’t quiet.” He told her as he took a slug of his beer.

 “Oh everything was fine I thought until we got in the car on the way home. He wasn’t talking which I didn’t think was unusual and he was staring out the window and again it wasn’t unusual.” She told him as her nerves were getting more and more fraught. Still not looking at him because she was afraid she would start crying again she just blurted it out. “But when he opened the damn car door as I was driving about fifty miles an hour so he could jump out now that was unusual the Bastard!” she told him as she just put her drink down and the sobbing started as she couldn’t help it now as she heard herself say it.

Richie on the other hand just sat there in shock when he heard her say the words and thought he was hearing things. Actually he was praying he heard her wrong until he saw her lay her head down sobbing uncontrollably. Now he was mad. No now he was angry. Very very angry. Scooting closer to her and putting his hand on her back he asked her, “Ellie are you sure that’s what he was trying to do? You know jump out of the car?” he asked still in shock.

Picking her head up and looking at him finally she said to him, “Yes Richie that is what he intended to do because we nearly ran off the road with me trying to grab the Son-of-a-Bitch before he jumped so I could stop the car before he fell into the road and get hit by the passing vehicles that would have ran him over. Oh and me beating him to death in the car but hey he was quick to grab my arms as I was punching him so no he didn’t want to die that way now did he?” she said sarcastically.

“Ok let’s not get you mad. Whoa sorry. Look I’m going right now upstairs and if I don’t kill him you’ll have another shot at him ok?” he told her as he got up and as Ellie was thinking should she let him go or should she follow him. She decided to give him a few minutes then follow and let Richie scare the crap out of him for a change.

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Jon was trying to figure out how he was going to explain to Ellie why he did what he did. But how could he explain something when he wasn’t sure why he did it in the first place. He decided he was going to change into his sweats and as he got his sweatpants on and was just about to put on his t-shirt Richie came barreling into his room like a bull set on fire. Jon just stood there and was stunned by his intrusion.

“Richie what the hell!” was all Jon was able to get out when Richie walked over to him and belted him right in the mouth and flatting him like a pancake.

“Don’t get up you jackass. Why the HELL did you do that to Ellie and scare her to death like that!” Richie yelled at him wanting to know.

Jon knew that Ellie must have told Richie what happened. Looking up at his former best friend he asked him this. “So did Ellie squeal to you on what happened? She had to go to her big White Knight to save her?” he asked Richie snarky.

“Oh you really do want me to kick your scrawny ass don’t you?” Richie shot back.

“Just let me get up Sambora and I’ll show you who will kick ass!” Jon shouted back.

“Oh please even your wife can kick your ass right now she is so mad at you Kidd.” Richie laughed.

“Are you kidding me? Are you drunk? (finally getting up) come on I’ll show you a thing or two.” Jon told him when they both heard a voice at the door.

“Really Jon? Right now I can tear you apart with my bear hands you Son-of-a-Bitch! What you did was unacceptable. So if you want it Come On Right Here Baby!” she told him as her eyes were flaring and her face was flushed. Neither man has ever seen her like this before and really didn’t ever want to see her like this again.

Looking over to Jon, Richie said to him, “If I was you I’d run because the mood she’s in I think she could take the two of us Man.  You better start apologizing and now.” He told him as he backed off a little.

“I saw you get up so I take it Richie hit you?” she asked him unsympathetically.

Jon nodded yes as he swallowed hard.

“Wish I saw it. Wish I was the one who did it.” She told him as each man just stood there looking at each other. One trying not to laugh and the other a little in shock that his wife wanted to hurt him.

“Richie did he tell you why he did it?” she asked him angrily.

“Um no he didn’t because we didn’t get that far yet.” He told her truthfully.

Jon finally yelled out, “Well I told her in the car that I was sorry like a million times.” He said as he was nervously hopping from one foot to the other.

“Oh and that was supposed to cover you jumping out and killing yourself and leaving me and Jimmy alone for the rest of our lives. Good one Jon.” She said as she still stood there with her arms crossed.

“Well Baby I am sorry I told you I really don’t know why I did it. With all the things the Doc said to me it all just got to me I guess. Take this pill and take that pill and go seek help with a shrink. I don’t want to see a shrink. And I knew when I told you this, all of you were going to get on me for it. So yeah it got the better of me. So I’m sorry ok?” he told them as he picked up his t-shirt and finally put it on.

Richie was about to say something but Ellie cut in. “You think that you can’t come to me and tell me that? After all these weeks and you still can’t talk to me. Well Jon thanks a lot for nothing because I’m trying really hard here to put in one hundred and ten percent of this marriage and you’re not. God I hate to say this but maybe your Mom was right. Maybe we aren’t right for each other.” She told him as she was welling up.

He stood there listening to her and couldn’t believe she was saying these words. “What the hell does that mean? You want to leave me? When I need you the most?”  he asked her shocked.

“Need me? You don’t need me Jon you hardly see me or Jimmy for that matter. You hide up here and only come out when you feel like it or if I make you. No maybe we should be apart for a while and see how it goes. It will be different this time because we’ll know what we are missing. We can put a time limit on it if you want. A month or two then reassess things and see what we want then.” She explained to him.

“So you want me to leave?” he asked her.

“No you can stay I’ll leave and take Jimmy with me. We haven’t seen my family in a long time. Actually since you have gotten home that’s been a few months now and more just before you got home so four to five months. They would love to see him and me I hope.” She told him.

“I won’t be able to see him or what about his school?” he wanted to know. Anything to keep her here.

“I can make arrangements for the school and you can use the phone he knows how to use one and we won’t be gone to long. It won’t be like he’ll be eighteen when we come back. I mean you go on tour so you can wait til we get back from visiting so stop being so melodramatic about this.” she said as he was getting more annoyed now.

“Can we just talk about this later I mean we don’t have to make a decision about it now right?” he asked her annoyed still.

“No we don’t but we will Jon and soon. Within the week got it. Ok I’ll let Richie continue his beating of you. Jimmy should be coming home soon. Oh by the way I am calling the doctor and telling him about this whether you like it or not.” she said as she left the room.

Jon went to go after her but Richie reached the door first and shut it. “Oh no you don’t.” he told him.

“But she’s calling MY doctor and it’s my responsibility to tell him not hers.” He told Richie pissed.

“What did we just establish here Jon. She is pissed and will kill you if you get in her way. So let her make the call then when you talk to him you can tell your side and he’s going to side with Ellie anyway so it won’t matter.” Richie told him chuckling as Jon gave him the stink eye and the Jersey salute.

“You know where you can put that right?” Richie laughed at him.

“Well instead of making cracks you think you could help me figure out how I can get myself out of this mess?’ Jon asked him as he sat at the end of his bed.

Making a serious face just to annoy him Richie suggested, “I can think of one thing you can do.”

“Yeah what’s that?” Jon asked carefully.

“Tell her Man, just tell her why you tried to jump out and explain it as carefully as you can plain and simple. That’s all she wants Jon. An honest answer to her question and if you honestly try she’ll forgive you.” Richie told him honestly.

“But Richie I did. I told her and she didn’t believe me. I really don’t know why. It was on impulse. I know it was stupid but I wasn’t thinking.” He again told Richie remorsefully.

“Look I told you before she loves you. Just go into her room waving a white flag and look all cute and I’m sure she’ll listen to you. Just tell her what you told me ok?’ Richie said to him as he got up and patted him on his back. “You got it covered.”

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Ellie tried calling the doctor’s office but they were closed by the time she made her call. She didn’t realize what the time was. She also realized that her son wasn’t home either. In-laws you really didn’t have to love them. She picked up the phone when she heard the monitor go off so as turned to see who was coming up the drive. Luckily for them it was her in-laws. Now the question was did she tell them what their son did today. A big fat whopping NO. Just as they were entering the house Jon and Richie came down the back stairs and Jon realized at that particular moment that Ellie could tell his folks what he had done this afternoon. He grabbed Richie by the arm and had this fearful look as Richie had caught on when his parents, Ellie and Jimmy walked into the kitchen.

“Hi Daddy, Hi Uncle Richie. Nonni and Pop Pop took me to McDonald’s.” he told them as Ellie gave them a death stare for she had dinner on the stove.

“Oh Ellie we’re sorry if we knew you had dinner ready we wouldn’t have taken him out. I really didn’t think you were going to cook since you had to take Jon to the doctors. I mean the last time didn’t you order pizza or something?” Carol was trying to criticize her cooking or parenting skills.

Jon jumped in, “Mar I wanted pizza so we ordered pizza. Plus I was trying to help Ellie because we got out later than excepted. And next time you feel like taking him to dinner call us because we may have plans for him instead of you just taking him without our permission.” Jon told her irritated.

“Well I didn’t know I needed permission to take my grandson out for dinner.” Carol told them calmly and questionably.

Ellie was about to speak but Jon shook his head at her too. “Mom you do when it’s a school night and he has homework you know that. You know Ellie has him on a routine. It’s different when he sleeps over your house for the weekend or the summer when we need you to babysit so don’t start ok? If you want to see him you stick by our rules got it?” Jon told her sternly.

“John Sr. spoke up, “See Carol I told you we should have check in with them first. I’m sorry guys we’ll call next time I promise.”

“Well all I can say if we raised you that way you wouldn’t be where you are today now would you.” She shot back at him.

“What the hell does that supposed to mean Mom? Oh let me think. Do you want me to name the things that you let me get away with starting at thirteen Mom? Especially that you knew about because it got you into the High Society Clubs you wanted to get into that you pimped me out.” Jon started to say but before Ellie could say anything Richie jumped in.

 “Ok why don’t we go do your homework Little Man how does that sound? Why don’t we go into the den and we can start working on it?” Richie took Jimmy as Jimmy had some questions on what his Dad was talking about but Richie had plenty on experience on changing the subject. Thank Goodness.

“Ok you two stop this right now! It’s bad enough that Jimmy was asking questions I really don’t want him to know what his Grandmother put his Father up to. Which by the way was gross. I think you should go to a shrink Carol.” Ellie finally said to her.

“Well I never!” Carol busted out.

“Yeah right. Your unhealthy attachment to your son is not right. And you are not going to do it again with MY SON! Got that. Good. Now with all this said because I can say all I want on this subject it will never sink into your sick head. I have been waiting so long to say this and I can say how much I love your son but it won’t make a difference now will it no woman will ever be good enough for him but you. And God help me your to freaking old and dried up to have his children!” Ellie just slammed her hand against her mouth and looked around the room at the shocked faces. Especially Jon’s. She then just ran out of the room and up the stairs to her room and slammed the door.

She couldn’t believe what she just said to her mother-in-law. She has been thinking about it all these years but never said it out loud and the one time she does she says it in front of the three of them. Now after the day she has had this just put her over the edge. She just grabbed a pillow and started to cry uncontrollably.

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Jon had had about enough of this and got rid of his parents with the help of his Dad. Carol threw a fit at what had happened and John Sr. and Jon were trying to smooth things over but Carol wasn’t having any of it so Jon told them to go. He couldn’t deal with his mother and what had gone on this afternoon also. He took a deep breath as he finally shut the door. He really didn’t know whether to laugh or scream when Ellie blurted that little tidbit out but the look on his mother’s face was priceless. He knew Ellie didn’t mean to say that out loud but the day they all were having he was surprised more didn’t come out. And he really couldn’t blame her. She was just so pissed at him then with his parents and what his Mom was saying he really couldn’t blame Ellie for finally having a meltdown of some sorts.

He finally got the courage to go up the stairs to find her and when he got to the top and started to walk down the hall he could hear some muffled sounds coming from her room. ‘Shit she’s crying.’ He knew he had to go in there but what to say to her was the problem because these days all he was doing was messing things up. Taking a breath he knocked on the door and opened it slightly and stuck his head in, then remembered what Richie told him, so he pulled his handkerchief out and started to wave it.

Ellie heard the knock and lifted her head as she wiped her eyes and saw what she thought was a white flag being waved at the door. Then Jon’s head popping in. “Hey can I come in? Only if it’s safe?” he chuckled.

Smiling weakly she told him, “Sure come on in it’s safe.” And she sat up a little more in the bed.

Jon walked in as he put the handkerchief back in his pocket. He slowly walked over to her side of the bed and asked her, “Mind if I sit down?”

“No go ahead. Are your parents still here or did they go?” she wanted to know.

“No I got rid of them. After what you said to Mom and ran out there was no need for them to stick around and well I didn’t need to laugh in her face especially after her rant when you left. So I screamed at her and told them to go. Dad was trying to calm her down and lecture her at the same time but I don’t think that helped any.” He was telling her when she just looked at him in horror.

“Jon that’s not funny! I didn’t mean to say that to her it just came out. I had had it with her and all of her crap. But I never meant to say that!” she told him with tears still running down her face.

“Baby I know ok it’s ok with me. Today has been a real hard day on both of us. I’m just glad you didn’t blurt out how I tried to jump out of the damn car.” He told her regretfully.

“Well I didn’t have time!” she said sarcastically as she grabbed her pillow and laid back down and put it back over her face.

Jon sat there smiling at her then he gently pulled the pillow off of her. “Hey beautiful I’m not blaming you for what happened a little while ago. My Mom started it so calm down ok? They should have called us about Jimmy. We had dinner waiting here for him. I’ll talk to her more about her boundaries I promise ok.” he told her as he started to rub her thighs.

“But Jon the things I said to her, about you! Oh my God I’m so embarrassed. Those were thoughts that I had in my head they were never supposed to come out for you or them to hear.” Again she tried to grab her pillow but Jon wouldn’t let her. “Hey that’s mine.” She whined.

“Don’t care look you’re the one that wants to talk so here I am wanting to talk. Look I forgive you for what happened with my Mom so please forgive yourself because Baby those things did happen and she is overbearing when it comes to me. And I need to put boundaries where certain things lie in my life and with her and I, and I will promise you that. And with the car thing I going to tell you I really don’t know what provoked me into opening that door. I was looking out the window and to be honest the next thing I knew I opened the damn thing. I’m sorry and that’s all I can say over and over because I just don’t know. I didn’t mean anything by it honest. I don’t want to leave you or Jimmy I love you both so very much and I can’t live without either of you so please don’t leave.” He told her now caressing her arm and face.

“Jon I don’t want to leave either so if you promise to talk to the doctor about what happened we’ll stay ok?” she told him.

“Yeah alright I will. Did you try calling him yet?” He wanted to know.

“Well yeah I did but they had left for the day so your safe.” She smiled up at him.

“Could you do me favor?’ he asked her.

“I’ll try?” she told him.

“Let me mange my care Babe. I’ll try very hard to stay on track and get better but I need to think I’m doing this myself and not have you, now don’t be upset with me but treating me like Jimmy ok? I need to feel like I’m a man not a child.” He explained to her.

“I’ll try if you promise to talk to me especially when I ask you questions.” she wanted to know.

“I promise.” He said as he leaned down and started to kiss her. It was very gentle at first and then they parted looking at each other not knowing if he should continue. All they knew that they both were getting hot and bothered by each other and emotions were now riding high. Jon wanted to show her how much he loved her and missed her while Ellie felt the same but did she still trust him in keeping his promises.

“Wow I don’t remember making out with you being so difficult.” He told her.

“I know right?” she said back to him as she felt like this was the first time that they did.

“Are you blushing?” he asked her amused.

“No of course not I’m still upset from earlier that’s all.” She told him now trying to sit up.

“Oh no you don’t. I think you’re feeling the same way I am. So I have an idea.” He said to her.

“Oh this should be good. What is it?” she marveled.

“Kiss me like you really mean it and if you don’t feel anything I’ll walk out of here. But…if you do well I think you know where this is going.” He told her smugly.

Smiling up at him, “Lock the door big shot because I know where this is going.”

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 Richie had finished up with Jimmy and told him to take his shower and get ready for bed. Then he would check in with him to say goodnight and see where his Mom and Dad are. They couldn’t find them anywhere downstairs when they were finished and grabbed a snack before they went upstairs. He went to Jon’s room first and there was no site of him there or that he was there since this afternoon. Thinking, he didn’t see any bloodshed in the Foyer then at least nobody got killed. So they would have to be around here somewhere. So before he would check in the garage to see in any of the cars were missing he would see what Ellie had to say. So he went to her room and knocked. And again nobody answered. He went to knock again and that’s when he heard something ungodly coming from the room. It didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out what was going on in there. Smiling happily he quietly left and headed down to his room and just prayed that they would stay connected. He loved them both for being an only child he loved his brothers in this band very very much. But he did form a closeness with Jon that he couldn’t explain to the others. Maybe it was because he was Jon’s right hand man. Maybe it was because they were writing partners. Or maybe because they did share something more than they were willing to tell anyone else that happened to them early on in the band. But all he knew is they both respected each other and loved each other and now Ellie was ok with this. He also was very close to Ellie from the first time they met, maybe this is why Ellie was fine with the whole situation.