Chapter 173

Mid July- 1987

Richie looked out into the empty expanse of seats. In a few short hours they'd fill the house. It was another sold out show. He was pretty sure they were in Quebec, but he couldn't say he'd been totally sober when Doc had handed out the room keys at 8am.

He and Elena had spent the better part of their one night off partying with Lumpy and his flavor of the Summer. They'd talked about the new design Lump had been working on until Elena had distracted him with a well placed hand and a bottle of Tequila.

Body shots off his hot little wife were far more entertaining than frets and wah wah bars that was for fucking sure. Of course it wasn't just a few shots. The four of them had polished off the Cuervo and if he didn't miss his guess--he'd fuckin' eaten the worm.

He snorted, and if he wasn't completely fuzzy on the details, Elena had swallowed a worm as well. His gaze drifted across the lower stage where Elena sat talking with one of the roadies. Her silky hair was tied up in a high ponytail without a lick of makeup. She looked impossibly young. Far too good for him, really. Never a complaint of boredom, never an eye roll when he got caught up in band politics and interviews, just the ever patient woman.

He turned away, to help Lumpy with the setup. His pedals took up a good twenty minutes of frustration. New technology and a show had to go hand in hand, but he preferred to use just a new guitar and the ultimate control, but his guitar tech was ever up on the new shit out there.

And in turn, he was forced to try it for a time, before going back to what he loved. Even if he had to prove to him that his way was better. Thank fuck, Jon usually let him go and do what he wanted on that side of the stage.

Turning back, he caught Elena at the control boards with an intent look on her face as Scott, their engineer, explained things. She'd been hanging out with Scott more and more these days.

"She sure does like Scott, huh?"

He glanced back at Alec with a snort. "Hey, she keeps busy. Not bitching like April does."

"True dat, true dat." Al lounged on the amps that curved out from the side stage. "Scott's a bit of a dog though. I'd be careful, man."

Richie's eyebrow arched. "Scott knows I'd feed him his balls after I trashed them all over his board if he touched Lains."

"Well with a sweet--" he cut off and cleared his throat. "What? Don't give me a look like that Rich. You know your wife's hot."

"Don't talk about her like that you fuck. Show some respect." He looked down at the Gibson he was tuning. Alec was getting a bit too liberal with his thoughts on his wife these days. Hell, any woman. His internal censor was as tweaked as he was.

Al's hands fluttered. "La-di-da, man. Don't get so anal." He dragged the side of his hand under his nose with a sniff. "Just sayin' she's hot. Not a federal offense."

Richie looked up. Sure enough, Al's eyes were bloodshot and the pupils were little better than a pinprick. Shit. Looks like I'll need to cover for him again tonight. Al hadn't played a sober show yet this month and there was only one day left. He lifted the strap up and over his head. "Just don't say anything, all right."

"C'mon, Rich!"

Richie headed down the steps to the front row and back up the middle. Elena looked up from the board, her ponytail sliding forward, curling around her jaw. He frowned at the tank that showed a little more of her lacy bra than he was comfortable with.

She glanced up as a chord throbbed through the room, her gaze finding Richie as he stood mid-stage. Throwing a wink his way she turned to Scott and smiled, nodding as he explained the next row of knobs buttons and gizmos that made her guy sound so great live.

The last few weeks had been more interesting thanks to Scott's offer to help her understand the technical side of things and boy had she enjoyed it. Truth be told she was pretty good with the sound, not good enough to take over for Scott, but at least she was learning the ins and outs. It sure as hell beat sitting side stage or side anywhere just watching, it even made her feel more a part of the group. Being semi known as just Mrs. Sambora was neat, but she had a brain and there were days, especially with the partying they were doing, that she felt like her brain was beginning to petrify. Learning the boards was helping with that.

As Scott threw a joke her way, she tilted her head back and laughed. He was a true horn dog, the biggest flirt since Richie, but it didn't bother her. Didn't faze her either. Why should it? She had the best guy around.

Glancing up she watched as Richie drew closer. Shit he looked a little odd, had that dangerous dark look in his eyes. Shaking her head she said a quick so long to Scott and moved away from the board.

As she met Richie just in front of the boards she smiled, her hand tip toeing up along his arm. "Hey baby, Miss me that much?"

"Always," he said and settled his mouth on hers. The quick squeak had him wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her up on her tiptoes. He opened one eye to see Scott busying himself with his headset and talking to Tico behind his kit. Letting her settle back on his feet, he stepped back.

She blinked a moment, even now overwhelmed with the possessiveness of the kiss. "Ok big guy what was that for? Jealous of Scotty there?" She glanced back at Scott and snorted, "Not exactly in your league you know."

He linked his hand with hers and headed back to the stage. "Like I'd be jealous?"

She arched a brow as she trotted to keep up with him, "Well something's got those britches in a bunch, otherwise you wouldn't be pulling my arm off here." she huffed out a breath to blow her bangs out of her eyes. Was he upset? Good lord Why? He'd suggested she find stuff to do for heaven sakes. "Richie!"

"What?" he looked down at her. "I'm done with soundcheck and I don't really want to hang around with cranky ass today, all right? Can we just go in the back?"

She shook her head and tried to stop only to be pulled the next few inches, her voice soft, "only cranky in here is you right now." Her smile turned on as she pulled at his hand, "Mop Top on the other hand, he’s a grizzly bear, no cranky to him, he’s all out bonafide scary these days."

"Yeah well, the way he fucked last night's show isn't making him any better. Christ, we need a break." He dragged a hand over his scruffy cheek and chin. "Jon needs another cortisone shot and we can't get near Kate until August for fuck's sake."

She tugged at his arm. "Pony, baby, stop... just a minute. STOP!"

"What?" He snarled and stopped, gentling his tone with a deep breath, he licked his lips. "I told you, I want to get backstage before Jon gets on stage, darlin'."

She leaned forward, going onto tiptoe to whisper against his lips, "but I have an idea."

He leaned his forehead to hers. "What?"

Her grin grew as her arms slinked around his waist. "We are going to go into a new business. Wanna play kidnap?"

He laughed. "Only if that includes me and you and an island with no telephones."

Her hands slipped lower to cup his ass as a bright smile filtered onto her lips. "Well that’s after the kidnapping. See we kidnap Mr Cranky and take him for a visit to Doctor Love, then you and me?? We go home for a few days. It's so close to home baby, we could have time there, and leave Cranky with the doctor. Maybe you won’t kill him knowing that's coming?"

"As long as that's me dumping him on the doorstep," he pictured Jon in a heap at Kate's door with a grin, "and you driving the getaway van."

She started towards the back, as she started to laugh, "Oh I'll be driving something alright."

"Now that's more like it." The more he thought about it, the more he warmed up to the idea. Jon needed a day with Kate, and if a treatment was in there, then hell, whatever works. Dipping his wick would probably cure most of shitty mood anyway. "That deserves a drink, baby. Great idea!"

She stopped just as she reached the communal dressing room door and grinned, "Brains and beauty huh? whoda thunk?" She pulled in closer and grinned, "Drink of what darlin'? protein shake for me or something less enticing?"

He dragged her inside the dressing room. "Now that's what I love about you, Elena. You're always willing to take one for the team." At her laugh, he shut the door and dragged her onto the couch.