Chapter Twenty-nine

Jon looked around the room. He knew those men were still out there looking for them. “Look those guys know Rich that you came in this hotel. Which means they know that we are all here. So I think the best bet is that we stay here the night. I called down to the desk and they are sending up a cot. We don’t want anyone to get uncomfortable in the sleeping arrangements.” Jon said when there was a knock at the door. He went to answer it as Cheri looked at them with a confused look on her face.

The men brought in the cot and Jon directed them to the bedroom. Once they put it in there Jon tipped them and shut the door as Richie had dipped into the liquor cabinet.

“I have a question boys. Jonny darling I thought you and I would, you know share the boudoir and The tall drink of water here would sleep on the couch.” She asked Jon curiously.

Jon looked at her like she had lost her mind. “What? You think I just fell off the last what would you say the last turnip truck? I would rather have Ellie beat the hell out of me to my last breath than let you share my bed again. No the cot is for Richie. You are sleeping on the couch. Good night.” And he turned around to go into his room.

“Now just a minute here! If you were a gentleman one of you would take the couch and give me the bed.” She told him as Richie nearly choked on what was in his mouth when he heard what she said.  He knew Jon would never go for anything she said.

Turning to Richie and patting him on his back, “You ok Man?”

Choking out “Fine”

“Good. Now I only let ladies have the bed. Take it or leave it I really don’t care. But if you leave this room you know what will happen and I really don’t think you want that. Plus I know you…you know I won’t let you leave and get killed. So just take the damn couch and shut up. You put everyone in danger but worse my family. My pregnant wife and child. So just…Forget it!!” he was so mad that he stormed into the bedroom and slammed the door.

For the first time Cheri really felt like crap. But she always had to cover her feelings. “Well what crawled up his ass.” She said a little to sadly.

Well Richie did catch that but he answered anyway. “Really? He’s trying to keep his family safe. Wouldn’t you do the same thing?” he asked her hoping to get the kind of info that would help Jon in finding anything to this case.

“Me? Nah I’m not close to my family. In fact I don’t know who they are. I was in the Foster system so I really don’t care. I guess I’ll see you in the morning.” She told Richie staring at the bedroom door.

“Um you’ll still be here in the morning right?” he asked her afraid that she would take off in the middle of the night.

Looking at him, “Yeah I’ll still be here. I told you guys that I would help and I meant it.” She said as she sat down.

“Ok then I’ll see you in the morning.” He said as he went into the bedroom.

Jon was on the bed just staring into space. He was thinking about everything that has happened since the party. Everything came back when he woke up with Cheri in his bed.

“What are you thinking about Kidd?” Richie wanted to know.

Sighing, “Just going over on how everything started and it all started with me waking up with her in my bed.” He said shaking his head.

“Kidd we went over this, it’s not your fault. Doc had this moving way before you ever came out here. I bet he even had this ready before you fired him. I wouldn’t even put it past him.” He told Jon.

“Why do you think that?” he asked him confused.

“Look he didn’t want you two to get married right?” Jon shook his head. “Ok why? Because you are the lead singer and well let’s face it your gorgeous.” Jon was about to say something but Richie stopped him. “Jon don’t. It’s your band. It’s named after you. All the girls usually go after the lead singer and yes the lead guitarist also. Why do you think people think we hooked up. Doc was asking around about that too. He put Alec on it.” He told Jon.

Jon sat there in shock. “He WHAT!” Jon was furious.

“Now calm down. Alec never said anything to him. David told me. In fact David and Tico threatened him that if he did it would have been the last thing he would ever do. But Alec told them he would never snitch. So apparently Doc needed to get something else on you and well everyone knew about Ellie so that wasn’t it. Both your life stories were out and about for your fans which he didn’t like and then you two eloped and that put a damper he thought on record sales. Which it didn’t. So he probably needed a scandal. So he’d make one up. Enter Cheri.” Jon sat there and just got angrier by the minute.

“You’re not saying anything. Are you ok?” Richie wanted to know.

“No. I’m going to kill him.” Jon very calmly said.

“Jon it’s going to be ok we’re going to get him I promise.” Richie told him.

“You bet we are because if anything happens to Ellie or Jimmy I’m going to kill him with my bare hands.” He told Richie. What scared Richie the most was that Jon wasn’t blinking.  

“Hey why don’t we try and get some sleep and hopefully things will look better tomorrow.” He crossed his fingers.

Jon looked at him like he had two heads. “How the hell are things going to look better Rich?”

“Well maybe we can come up with something that doesn’t suck. How’s that.” That was all he had. He wished he had more to give his best friend but he didn’t. Not tonight. Maybe something great would come to him in the morning. He hoped so because he wasn’t about to lose his best buddy.                                                     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ellie was reading when there was a buzzing at the gates. She knew the new security guards would check them out before sending them up. Getting up she went to the front door and opened the door and nearly dies when she saw her in-laws drive up. Crap!

“Carol, Dad what brings you here?” she wanted to know. She really didn’t have the time or the patience for her Mother-In-law right now. “I thought you were in Florida?” she asked them and wished they were still there.

Walking in the foyer, “Oh no we got bored real quickly so we decided to come home. I missed my boys.” She told Ellie. “So Tony and Matt well we got them settled at the house and said they were going to find some of their friends. So we thought we would come over here and see my son and Grandson.” Looking around, “So where are they?” Carol asked.

“Well Jim is out with his friends and your son is still in California. Would either of you like something to drink? (Under her breath) I wish I could.” She said as she started for the kitchen. Following her, Ellie went into the frig to grab herself a diet coke. “Anything you want go ahead.” She said as went and sat at the kitchen table.

“Well I see manners went since we left.” Carol said as she looked in to the frig to grab herself something and a beer for her husband.

“Stop it Carol we didn’t even call and tell Ellie we were coming over. I know you don’t like it when people don’t call.” John remained her.

“Please John I don’t mind family not calling.” She blurted out.

Ellie couldn’t resist. “That’s not what you said the onetime Jimmy and I popped in on you when we were coming back from one of his doctor’s appointments. You were very adamant about that.” She told her Mother-In-Law. Well Carol’s eyes went wide as John tried not to chuckle too loudly.

“Well I see that you’re in a mood.” Carol told her straight out.

“Well yes I am. I’ll probably be in a mood for some time to come too.  You can blame your son for that.” She told them as she took a sip of her soda.

Well Carol wasn’t too happy to hear that. “Your blaming Jon for your mood? What does Jon have to do with that? He isn’t even here to put you in a bad mood. Or are you blaming him for his work? Putting food in your Mouth!” as she was getting on a roll John Sr. cut in.

“CAROL! What have I told about shooting your mouth off? Now stop!” he demanded of his wife. “Or we will not be coming over here ever again.” Well Ellie liked that idea.

“It’s ok Dad. She’s going to feel stupid in a moment. And I just hope I’m never like that with Jimmy. I’ve told Jon if I ever get that overprotective of him like she is of him shoot me.” Ellie just shook her head.

“Well! Just because I love my child.” She started.

“Dear we are not going to get into that alright. A therapist would have a field day with you. And to be honest I can’t believe Jon is so normal. I just Thank God for that and that Ellie loves him and tolerates you.” John grabbed Carol and made her sit down.

“Well Carol if you could just calm down for a moment I’ll explain what I meant by my comment. Yes Jon is responsible for me being irritable and my mood changes. But he is so happy right now and is doing everything in his power to finish up what he is doing so he can come home because he wants to be here for this one because he wasn’t here for the first one. Get it?” she asked them.

“Get what? What am I supposed to get? That you are trying to keep me from my son and Grandson?” she blurted out.

“You keep this up I just might.” Ellie said getting angry.

“Carol please be quiet. Ellie are you sure?” John asked her.

“Yes. Jon knows and so does my parents and Jimmy. I was going to wait til you both came home but you just surprised me and well this happened. But yeah I’m almost five months.” She told them smiling from ear to ear.

“Wait? Are you telling us your pregnant? Oh my God Well why didn’t you just say so?” Carol asked excited.

“Because you never ever give me a chance. You criticize me first then ask questions later even thou I’m the one giving birth.” She said giving her a slight smile.

John got up and said, “Well Sweetheart we’re going to let you rest then. Tell Jon we are so happy about the baby and to give us a call when he can.” As he walked over to her and gave her a kiss on her forehead.

The rest of the night was quite as was Jimmy and Ellie was wondering what was on his mind. “Hey Sweetie your Grandparents were over today. They wanted to see you and your Father.” She told him as she was crocheting a baby blanket.

“Well then I’m glad I wasn’t here. I can’t stand it the way Nonni grabs at me and kisses me. It’s embarrassing. I’m fourteen Mom. I’m too old to be treated that way now.” He told her agitated.

Ellie wanted to laugh. They, her siblings and her, always kissed hello and goodbye to their relatives when they came over and they hated it also but they did it. In fact they still do just not to people they want too since they are adults now.

“Ok I’ll talk to your Dad about it but in the meantime just suck it up otherwise she will come down hard on me about it. Do we have a deal?” she asked him.

Thinking for a minute, “Fine but only til Dad gets back.” He told his Mom.

It was getting late and now Ellie was getting worried that she hasn’t heard from her husband. All she knew was that he had better be getting the info he needed and not playing around with that bimbo. No she was getting all upset over nothing and that it was just her hormones again. With the bodyguards at the house, it would be a little too much just to have an affair. She just wanted him home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                By morning  Richie woke up and stretched. He thought the cot was going to be uncomfortable but the air cushion that they gave him to go with it helped a get deal. “Hey Jon this wasn’t bad at all you know.” he said as he turn towards him when he realized he was talking to thin air. A thought went thru his head when the bathroom door opened and Jon walked out in a towel that was wrapped around his waist as he was drying his hair.

“King did you say something?” he asked as he went thru his suitcase to pick thru it to see what he was going to wear today.

“I just said that this wasn’t bad to sleep in that’s all. How’d you sleep?” he wanted to know.

“Tossed and turned all night. Just once I would like to sleep thru the damn night. I can’t wait til this is over and I have my Baby lying next to me again. I miss her so much and Jim too. I just hope he misses his old man too. Ellie said he’s acting out for some reason.” He explained to Rich.

“Really? Maybe it’s because your not home? He could be testing the waters so to speak. See how much he can push Ellie while your gone. Or you did say he didn’t like the fact that he’s going to be a big brother at this stage in his life. Or the fact the he knows what you did to his Mom. That can be really traumatic for kids. I mean he’s been with her for so long and has a strong bond and you come and go. Now he’s old enough to know what you two actually do together. You did give him the sex talk right?” Richie asked him.

“Yeah I did. Ellie wanted me too. She said it saved her from doing it. It was bad enough that I did it. Can you image her giving him the talk.” Jon chuckled.

“But if you didn’t come back into their lives would one of her brothers or her Dad have done it?” Richie asked him.

“Well let’s see. Seeing that they never got the talk I doubt it very much that Jimmy would have learned it from any of them.” He shook his head smiling.

“Well all I know is that you have better given it to him straight and not the way you learned it because this will be your last kid with Ellie.” Richie told him as he laughed his head off.

“Fuck you King. Do you want to use the shower?” he asked him.

“I don’t have any clean clothes here.” Rich told him.

“I’ll give you a clean T-shirt and take what you need. Once I’m dressed I’m going to check on Miss Personality out there.” He said as he pulled out his hair dyer to finish the job. Once Jon finished dressing he heard the shower turn off. So to give Richie some privacy he went into the other room.  Walking in he saw Cheri eating and drinking her coffee.

“What the hell? Did you call for room service?” Jon asked her upset?

Turning to face him, “Well of course I did. I figured you were going to do it anyway so I just beat you to it. Don’t worry there is plenty of coffee for the three of us. It just got here about twenty minutes ago. I also ordered some food I hope you like everything. Scrambled eggs and toast with hash browns and also fruit and pastry. Oh and orange juice plenty of orange juice.” She told him so proud of herself.

Steaming, “I didn’t tell you to call room service.” He said a little too harshly.

Looking at him as he broke her good mood, “Well I was hungry and didn’t want to wake you.” She told him this time in a different tone. “I thought I was being nice. I’ll rethink it next time.” She told him sharply.

Just then Richie came out of the bedroom. He could feel the tension. Looking around he saw that room service was already called. “Hey this is great. Food. What Kidd did you call for this last night?” he asked Jon.

Jon didn’t turn his head but kept his eyes on Cheri. “No. Cheri called for it while we were in getting dressed. You can thank her Rich.” And that was all Jon said as he sat down and made himself a plate.

“Well Thanks Darling because I’m famished.” He said as he started digging in. Cheri just looked at Jon and wondered why he said what he did. She thought to herself ‘And they say that women are fickled.’

When Cheri was finished she looked at herself and realized she was still dressed in that outfit she was wearing from last night. Both the guys noticed too so trying to be a good guy Jon spoke up and only because they couldn’t be seen with her dressed like that. “Look why don’t you go take a shower and wash that goop off your face. Rich will go downstairs and get you something decent to wear. Would jeans and a nice top be ok to wear?” he wanted to know.

“Yeah that would be fine. If you wouldn’t mind a pair of boots they would be a lot better if we had to run than heels.” She ask him.

“Yeah no problem. Give Rich your sizes and he’ll be right back with everything.” He told her. She went into the bathroom after she wrote down her sizes and Jon gave him one of his credit cards.

“Why me?” he wanted to know.

“Because the hotel knows me and I don’t need to go over about Cheri not being my wife as Ellie had already reamed them out about that. Besides I have to call her and see how things are and how she feels. I don’t want her to think that I forgot about her or that I might be hooking up with…her. Besides I need to hear her voice ok? So no smartass comments.” He told him as he shook his head.

Richie hightailed it down to the boutique to see what he could find. Jon sat down and called home. It didn’t take long for her to pick up.

“Hello?” Jon could hear in her voice that she was tired and that she may not be feeling good.

“Hey Babe how are you? You sound a little off.” He told her and hoping that she wouldn’t jump down his throat.

“Jonny? Oh Sweetie I’m so glad you called. I thought…well never mind what I thought I’m just glad you called. I miss you so much.” She told him relieved that he finally did call her.

Jon didn’t know whether to answer her about him not calling sooner as he heard in her voice that she was suspicious of him and that he may have been goofing around on her but that all she wanted right now was to talk to him and not think about it or have him confirm anything. If he was smart he would just ignore what she just said and not get into a fight because she hadn’t accused you of anything yet and if she does it’s her hormones that will be guiding her.

“I miss you too Baby. I can’t wait to get home and see your belly. I’m hoping it shouldn’t be much longer once we get these guys who are following us traced back to Doc.” He told her sipping on his coffee.

“Well Jon please be careful. We want you in one piece ok?” she told him worried.

“I will Richie has my back.” He chuckled.

“Well that’s good but what about…” but before she could finish that sentence her worst nightmare and Jon’s just happened.

Coming out of the bedroom and not knowing that Jon was on the phone, “Hey Blue Eyes is Tall Dark and Handsome back with my clothes or am I going to be standing here naked all day?” she said very loudly when she didn’t see him at the table with the food so she turned around and saw him sitting on the chair near the window with a horrified look on his face with screaming coming from the phone.