Chapter 171

Kate capped the syringe with shaking fingers. Watching the wild pain in his eyes as she slid the needle into his neck was going to haunt her for a long time. He'd sat there, still as death while she'd injected the cortisone. Not a single complaint as every muscle locked on his body.

It truly only took a moment to do it, but it felt like eleven years instead of eleven seconds. The involuntary tears that leaked down the side of his eyes into his hair had been the last thing she'd been able to bear. She wrapped the discarded needle in white medical tape, tucking it into the side of her bag.

The sudden gagging as he drew a deep breath before dashing to the bathroom was the last straw. She collapsed into the secretary chair tucked into a tiny desk in the corner, tears running unchecked. What the hell was wrong with me?

She'd given a million cortisone shots over the years. She couldn't understand why this man made a difference. She'd warned him of the side effects, but she'd been unsure just how quickly they would hit him with the location of the shot.

She'd been studying case files in laryngology, volunteering for a rotation with the ENT's at the hospital. Her fellow interns were fighting to get into surgery and she was spending every free moment learning the ins and outs of the voice box.

She bit her knuckle as Jon heaved in the other room. Finally, unable to stand it, she stood hovering outside of the bathroom. "Are you okay?"

A shuddered breath choked through him as his hand shakily moved to pull his hair back. Good fuck, it felt like fuckin' fire boiling through his neck and up along his scalp, even his hair felt itchy. He managed a nod before whispering, "I'm fine," He choked as another shaft of nausea hit and he prayed he'd hit the toilet and get nothing in his hair. God help him, he felt like he was going to choke on his own damn tongue. He tried to unglue his tongue from the top of his mouth, it felt like it was three sizes bigger, before muttering again, "I'm totally ok." Who am I trying to convince me or her? Fuck it I feel like crap and she damn well knows it.

She grabbed a washcloth and soaked it with icy water. "C'mon, let's get you into bed." She smoothed back his hair. "Do you want to rinse your mouth?" She pressed the white cloth against his forehead, frowning when they were nearly the same color.

He straightened a moment and nearly stumbled, his eyes closing for just a moment. His mouth tasted like the inside of a trashcan for god sakes. He leaned over the sink and splashed water onto his face before palming some into his mouth. Swishing it around a moment he spat then pushed back. "Man it tasted better going down," he croaked, a lopsided grin on his lips. As he opened his eyes he saw the glimmer of tears in her eyes before pulling her in close, "Feel like my body's on fire. Shit babe, next time you wanna heat me up I have better ideas."

She wrapped an arm around his neck, giving a hiccuping laugh as he stumbled against her. "I don't know if the reaction is because there was too much injected or just the way your body processes it." She stepped back, looping an arm around his waist. When he sagged against the bed, she ended up falling with him into the queen bed. "Can't keep your hands off me, huh cowboy?"

He managed a smirk, his hands moving to coast over her back even as he swallowed hard to keep the nausea at bay, "would have to be damn near dead babe."

She looked down at him, his eyes closed as sweat popped out all over his forehead, beading down his chest. "Okay, so we've got a check in the sweats column for side effects." She dragged the well worn t-shirt over his head and went for his jeans. When his eyes peeked down at her fingers she snorted. "Don't get too excited. I'm tucking you in, not starting a party."

He lifted his hips, a half growl half grumble on his lips. He was beginning to wonder if this had been a good idea, he felt like death and hell he only had two days to be with her. "I’d prefer the party Katy."

"The good news is you'll probably feel like partying tomorrow," she patted his butt when he rolled over. Even sick as a dog, the man's ass was prime time. Shaking her head, she tossed his jeans over her shoulder before shrugging out of her own clothes. "I'll have a million questions for you when we wake up, Sugar."

He reached for her and tugged even as he felt the world bottom out. AS she snuggled into him he managed a grunt."I might answer half."

She ran a hand down his back feeling helpless and about as low as fire ants. Cripes, she'd done this to him. Sniffing, she pressed her cheek to his shoulder, soothed by the even breathing as he settled into sleep.

The night was long, his restless sleep and muttering incoherence as he thrashed through the night sweats was difficult to control. She didn't know if it was a reaction to the site injection or the fact that he didn't deal well with the steroids. The only saving grace was his obvious delirium, he didn't seem to be waking up with the sweats, just having awful nightmares that seemed to star her.

Finally he seemed to stop around nine in the morning, about four hours after she'd injected him. His sleep was sound and eerily deep, letting her finally follow suit as sun beams slid higher across the bed. 

Chapter 170

170

Kate pushed Jon out of the beater Ford truck they'd hijacked from one of the roadies. They didn't need it; they were still sleeping off the backstage party that night. The four of them filed into the dive of a diner, aptly named Mel's. Linoleum, probably the original, lined the spacious room from end to end. 

Battered red vinyl booths lined the windows with another row down the center. A few tables were scattered around, but it was definitely a cram your butt in a booth kind of place. 

She linked her fingers with Jon as the waitress waved. "Sit where you want, don't be shy."

Richie laid a hand on Elena's back, shuffling her after Jon. "Looks like we get our pick, ladies." At Jon's finger waving in the air, he laughed and dropped into the widest booth. Elena scooted in, draping herself over his arm. 

Jon and Kate slid in across from them and an Asian woman that was probably eighty, but looked fifty passed out a handful of napkins and four miniature waters. "I'm Daisy, I'll be your waitress tonight." She pulled a pencil out of a mist of dark feathering hair about three inches off her head. "Can I start you with drinks?"


Jon glanced up at the diminutive woman, smiled and nodded, "Fresh coffee, lots of it and pancakes for her. LOTS of pancakes. I'll just have a steak, medium, and a couple of eggs over easy." 

He glanced over to the married couple, "You two?"

Richie rubbed a hand over his growling belly. "Waffles for me, extra butter and syrup with bacon and sausage." He smiled at the crinkling eyes of Daisy. "Oh yeah and OJ." He patted his pocket. "I've got the vodka."

Elena's brow arched slightly as he talked, her gaze turning to Kate a moment as she heard him talking about vodka for breakfast. She couldn't decide if he was joking or serious and that worried her slightly. After all he’d had quite a bit at the after show party, and then a little more ‘refreshment’ during their homecoming at the hotel. 

Glancing to the waitress she nodded, "Same as him, just the OJ though." Her hand slipped into his jacket pocket, and sure enough felt the bottle there. Wrapping her fingers around it she slid it from the pocket and to her other side. He so didn’t need more at this time of night, especially to relax. She was here, she’d help relax him.

"So how many more dates before tour ends Jon?" She tried to keep her voice calm, and her attention on the conversation as she waited on Richie to figure out his bottle was missing.

Jon snorted, his gaze moving towards the window. "Way too many to count Teensy. Way too many to count."

Richie slid his arm around her waist and snagged the bottle in her pocket as the waitress came back with their drinks. "These are precious from the flight, babe." He glugged the full airline mini bottle into the jelly glass sized OJ and stirred with his finger. Taking a liberal sip he sighed. "Nectar of the Gods." He brushed his lips over her forehead. "Well, next to yours of course."

Her brow arched at his teasing. Even half lit on whatever alcohol he was taking in, he was the perfect flirt and tease, his words settling into her belly like a fire. She closed her eyes, forced back the desire and watched as he poured the bottle into his OJ and sighed. It wasn't worth the argument, but the fact he needed it enough to steal it back bothered her. Turning her attention back to Kate and Jon she managed a half smile. "So what time do you have to head back Katy?"

"I convinced Jon to steal away with me and take the Harley into NY. He'll drop me off and you meet you guys for the show on the 8th." She pushed his hair out of his eyes. That would give her some time to do the procedure and watch him. She wasn't sure how the Cortisone would react with him.

She smiled at her friend and nodded. "I see you figured out a way to keep him a few more days. You go girl." She lifted her hand in a high five, knowing it was Kate’s way of helping him get away from the partying and a way into helping his throat issues. "Always knew you were the sneakiest one."

Kate smacked her hand and elbowed Jon. "He likes the hiding part anyway." 

Jon's brows waggled, "Any excuse to get away from the zoo for a couple days, and to get to spend it with my beautiful gal? Fuck yeah."

Kate grabbed his hair and dragged him in for a noisy kiss. "That's for the beautiful remark." She hooked her leg over his. "It'll be nice to get him out on the open road again. The motorcycle's good for both of us." 

She smiled as the waitress came back again with their food. Drowning her pancakes in butter and syrup she dug in. She'd depleted all her energy with the bedroom Olympics and Jon was going for gold for God's sake. She needed her energy. And since she only had two days to watch him, she'd need to do the procedure when they got back to the room, so she needed a steady hand. 

Richie downed his OJ and flagged her down for another one. "Well, I can do with the two full days off, that's for sure. Elena and I are going to find a swanky hotel and use a name no one will ever figure out who we are."

He ran his hand up along Kate's leg and smiled. He could still feel her at his back on the bike. "Yeah man, within driving distance of a house you own and you're gonna go hole up in a hotel? Typical." He glanced over at Elena a moment and wondered what had her so silent before turning his attention back to Kate who was shoveling in the pancakes. "Woah baby, you don’t have to eat them whole, no ones gonna steal those pancakes from ya."

"You obviously have never been an intern," Kate said with a dripping forkful of golden delicious. "You think jail's bad?" She shook her head. "Nothing compared to the on call board and a sneaky resident." 

Richie laughed and smiled up at Daisy. "Thanks, sweetheart." He dumped another bottle into the glass and sat back to sip this time. The heat of the Smirnoff was giving him a nice glow from the inside. He threw an arm along the back of the booth. "I had no idea St. Mary's was so cutthroat."

Elena leaned forward as he fixed yet another drink at the table. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, counting to ten before speaking. It was their only time together as a group, she wouldn't start an argument. Hell she hadn't seen him in months, he was tired, he needed something to keep going. She ran through a litany of excuses for him and not a one made the fact he was drinking so much better. It finally hit her, she couldn't change how he handled the stress, she might was well join him, at least then she wouldn't notice it so much. Sliding her hand across the table she snagged his juice and lifted it to take a swallow her eyes nearly crossing at the strength. "Yum."

Richie grinned down at her. "That's not for little girls."

She took another long pull of the drink, "I don't see any little girls around here Richie." She glanced over at Kate and grinned, "Do you Katy?"

Kate glanced down at the watered down OJ with a frown. Well if vodka counted as water. "I see a woman in a tiny body that better cool it with the Screwdriver." She jumped a little as Jon pinched her. Glancing at him, her frown deepened as he shook his head. What the hell was that supposed to mean?

Elena took another swallow and felt the bomb inside the OJ starting to swirl a bit through her veins. She could party just as hard as her husband, seems he'd forgotten that tiny bit of info. 

Jon glanced at Kate and read the confusion and dash of anger in her eyes and smiled. He’d explain to her later, out of hearing range of his friend. Sometimes ya needed things and fussing with Sambora about it only made him more stubborn.

Richie pushed his plate away. "Well I'm glad we got to hang out with you for a little while, Kate. The next few months are going to suck sideways." He dragged Elena onto his lap and snagged the glass, finishing the last of the OJ. When she wiggled, he bit back a groan. He was fed, but far from tired. "The drive home would be too much time wasted when I can be naked and happy. I'm thinking the Waldorf for a few nights of pampering." 

Jon snorted, "You would man. Ever think to ask the wife there?"

Elena glanced up at Jon and smiled. "It's only a couple days, less time traveling the better right?"

Richie hugged his wife closer. "That's okay, right? Since we have to go to Uniondale, might as well get the traveling out of the way and stay naked as long as possible." At her flushed face and sparkling eyes, he dropped a kiss on her pouty lips. Vodka was shooting through her little veins. "Room service naked," he grinned.

Kate pushed Jon out of the booth. "All this naked talk is making my pancakes come back up. C'mon let's go pay, so I can get you back to the hotel." The sooner she got the procedure over, the better.

Jon slipped from the booth as he laughed, "Yeah it is kinda sickening." He winked over at Elena and caught the sparkle in her eyes and for the life of him couldn’t decide if she was in a good mood or bad. He prayed it was a good one or else Richie wouldn’t be as naked as he planned. "I'll see you two in a few days." 

Wrapping his arm around Kate he made his way to the cash register and paid up before pulling Kate outside. "Finally alone again." He stopped a moment and started grumbling. "Fuck." Turning around he opened the diner door and yelled, "Well fuck it asshole come on or I'm leaving ya's to walk."

Richie slid out of the booth. "Damn, we still have to go with them?" He laughed, dragging her along behind him. "C'mon. We can ditch the no-fun's and raid the mini-bar."

She shook her head and tried to keep up with his long legged stride, "Or we can just ditch the no funs and have non mini bar fun." She waggled her brows slightly and grinned.

He shrugged. "If you're here, I don't need the mini-bar." He backed out the door, clutching both her hands. "I'm not worried." He leaned down to her height. "You worried?" he made a funny face dropping his voice a few octaves.

Her eyes rolled as he went into goofy mode. "Do I need to be?" She kept her tone light and teasing. No need to push things. She was here now, she'd help him relax without the damned drinking if she could. 

"Nahh," he laughed. "It's all good. I can deal with anything as long as you're here."

She laughed as they all jammed back into the front of the truck, her ass landing in his lap as he tugged her in closer. "was there any ever doubt about that? I'm the best medicine there is for what ails ya."

Jon glanced over at Elena and grunted, "Depends on who you talking bout Teensy." He winked at Kate, "Sometimes medicine comes in Red though."


Kate smirked and shifted the truck into first smoothly as Jon rode the clutch. "I don't even need my prescription pad for that one, sugar." 

Chapter 169

Note: Sorry it's been so long, but thanks to a blown modem and other life issues I've been off the net over a month. I'm back now so back to the life and loves of our favorite SWW guys and gals :)


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She slowly sat up, pulling the sheet up to wrap around her as she walked towards the door only to yank it open. Glancing at Kate, a moment she turned to walk towards the bathroom. "Well get your asses in here before the entire hotel starts a sit down on this floor." She moved into the bathroom slamming the door behind her. Man she loved Kate, but in moments like this she wanted to kill her.


Kate snorted and walked inside. "Hiya Richie." 


Richie just glowered and got out of bed, his naked ass for the world to see. Kate blinked, laughing. Naked didn't mean anything to her, but the swing of a shadow had her swallowing a comment. No wonder Elena didn't want to get out of bed.


"Don't pout, Lains--you get to keep him, I still have to go home tomorrow night."


One slender arm stuck back out through the door, "Richie, could ya hand me my jeans and a shirt?" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before replying to Kate's comment with a sickeningly sweet voice,  "All the more reason you two should have been camped out in HIS room."


"You know I gotta have pancakes," Kate said rubbing her hand over her empty belly. "I've literally been had every way to Sunday. I need sustenance, woman." She looked over her shoulder at Jon. "As tasty as he is, woman can not live on protein alone."


Richie snorted, hiking his jeans up before digging into Elena's bag. "Heard of room service?"


"Heard of cardboard, frozen pancakes?" Kate sing-songed back.


Elena felt Richie’s hand brush hers, and tightened her hand over the offered clothing and pulled them in the door. "Cardboard is nutritious! Lots of fiber!" She closed the door and quickly showered the sweat of the night and morning away before finally noticing what Richie had handed her. Rolling her eyes at the mini skirt and brief top she dressed and stepped out of the bathroom. 


Richie grinned at the tiny denim skirt. "Much better than jeans." 


Kate looked down at her own jeans and sweater and shrugged. "My legs won't be cold on the cold diner seats," she said to Jon.


Elena grinned, "I'll just sit on his lap. Much warmer than jeans."


Jon shook his head, his eyes moving between the three of them. "You are so not right Elena."


"More like a boiler plate," Kate smirked.


Richie's eyebrow just rose. "Excuse me?" 


"Seriously, you have an imbalance--I've never known a man that gives off so much heat. I can feel it from here. Even with your clothes on, stud."


Elena slid over to wrap her arms around him. "Better than a itchy rug to cuddle up with."


Kate laughed. "You'd think so, but that's a no." She grinned up at Jon as he slid his arm around her waist. "Everything about him works for me."


He pulled her tighter, his lips brushing over her hair a moment. "Well I'm glad about that." He glanced up at Richie and Elena a moment. "So you're going to eat with us. That’s all she wrote."


He watched Kate a moment as she tried to tease Elena out of the mood being interrupted had brought on and smiled. She was like a damn breath of sunshine, and when Elena actually laughed he revised his opinion. She was a fucking miracle worker. Even Richie didn't work that fast when Elena managed to actually get moody. 


Richie slung an arm around Elena's shoulders. "Well now that I'm actually vertical, real food sounds really good." He pressed a kiss to Elena's brow. "We should hang out a little. We don't get much time with the doc as it is."


She glanced at Kate and saw the appraising look in her eyes, recognizing it for what it was. She was seeing the ravages of touring, and the trek to the diner was just a step in repairing some of it. "Right, best girl in the world to spend time with, well next to me of course." 


Wrapping her arm around Richie her brow arched as she glanced Jon's way. "Well? Lead on Captain."


He snorted and turned. Taking Kate's hand, he laced his fingers through hers and started walking. "There's a diner not far from here. We'll go out the back and walk through the alley, Fans shouldn't catch us. Will be nice to get some air."


Richie jammed his feet into his boots. "Yeah, I know the one. You want grease," he said to Kate, "you'll get it there."


Kate tugged Jon ahead, walking faster. "Stop talking about it and feed me dammit. I'm starving." She skipped backwards, dragging Jon to the stairs. She was wired for sound. Sex energized her, especially when she had such good sex on the all around. 


Richie turned around, hiking Elena on his back again. "Looks like it's time for pony to return if she's going to run."


She tightened her grip, uncaring if the mini skirt rode up a bit. Being on Richie's back was fun. Laying her head on his back she pressed a quick kiss to the top of his spine,. "Giddyup Pony. Kate could win the Derby if food was at the finish line."