82.

He aimed the remote at the tv and flicked the channel. Stupid college apartments and no cable. He'd have to do something about that if he was gonna hang out here much. Glancing at the bathroom door he wondered exactly how long it took one woman to shower away a day at work. Groaning softly his blue gaze flickered back to the tv and flicked the channels again. Dammit, still no football.

The ringing of the phone interrupted his mutterings. As the machine kicked in he heard a familiar voice and stood quickly grabbing up the receiver. "Hello there King."

"What the fuck are you doing there, Kidd? I called your mom's house and your apartment looking for you." Richie pushed at his sweaty bangs. The woman was going to kill him, there was no ifs, ands or buts about it. He reached for the miniature bottle of vodka he'd snagged off the stewardess and poured it over ice.

"Vacation going sour already King? Lost that charm?" Jon chuckled, he sounded a bit stressed for someone who was supposed to be relaxing. "I'll have you know Kate and I hang out, problem with that Bro?"

He knocked back half the glass and laughed. "No, I just thought I could get everyone together when we got home. You know, so I could bring her home and not let her out again until we leave. If I get the visits out of the way all together then I can stay naked with my," he cut himself off. Hell, he'd almost called her his bride. "Elena."

"Oh so she’s your Elena now eh?" Jon's brow arched. King never sounded possessive over a woman before. This was new. "Ok then, who all did you want to get together man?"

"The band, you and Katie is a good start. We're coming in around six your time. Think you can get everyone to Joanie's?"

"Sure thing man, Any particular reason your wanting to hold a welcome home thing? Not something you usually do King." Jon grinned as his mind started whirling. This was a new wrinkle in the oddness that was Richie.

Man, sometimes he hated that Jon knew him so well. "Nah, just miss everyone. But as I said, it'd be nice to get everyone together for a night. I know its short notice, but see if you can roust everyone."

Jon huffed then snorted, "If you say so King. I'll get it going. See ya at Joanie’s. Oh and tell Teensy I said hi."

"Will do," Richie said and hung up.

Jon shook his head and hit the disconnect. Lifting the phone again he started dialing. Within a few minutes he had chatted to Dave and gotten his agreement to be at Joanie’s. Tico and Alec were next, both also agreeing to be there, but then when Jon called and made a request they were always swift to agree, if possible.

As he settled the phone after the calls the thought occurred to him that Rich hadn't seen his parents in a month or better. Hell what nicer surprise for a man who loved his folks than to have them at the party. Picking the phone back up he swiftly dialed their home and spoke to Joan, explaining Richie's request. Garnering her agreement to have her and Adam at Joanie’s he hung up. That left Kate, she was the unknown vote in the deal.

Kate wrapped herself securely in her robe and headed for her bedroom. Jon was spending more and more time at the apartment since Richie and Elena had disappeared into the world of sand and sea. She didn't know if he was just out of sorts or didn't know what to do with himself. But he was good company, though she still felt the need to layer up around him.

Something about the way his eyes were always assessing on her, like he was trying to pick apart her brain. Or undress her, depended on the day.

Jon's eyes roamed over her figure as she stepped from the bathroom, her skin glowing from her shower. He took a deep breath and prayed to keep from biting his own tongue. "Katie. Before you go get comfortable I gotta question for ya."

Tucking the robe tighter around herself she stepped into the living room. "What's up?"

He chuckled as she tucked the robe tighter. "Richie just called. He wants us to meet him and Teensy at Joanie’s tonight. He called it a welcome home type get together. Made it a point to say for you to be there. You game?"

"They're coming home tonight?" She blinked. "And he called here for me? Are you sure? This isn't another one of your famous surprises is it?" Jon had been increasingly sly with his various reasons to get her out of the house with him.

Jon started to laugh, "Check your answering machine baby, it clicked on before I picked up. When I heard it was him I grabbed the phone."

"No, I believe you." I think. She folded the ends of her robe over her leg and sat on the edge of his chair. "What's Joanies?"

"Joanie's is a restaurant owned by a friend at home, Italian cuisine that will make you think you died and went to heaven. We all eat there a lot when we're home." A tiny sparkle began to gleam in his eyes. "And I know you love good food, you wouldn’t want to miss that. Besides you haven't seen Teensy in a couple weeks. Don't you wanna make sure she's all in one piece?"

"Well of course I want to see Elena. I just am surprised, that's all. I didn't realize Richie was the come see me everyone type," she said with a deep voice in the vein of the all knowing Oz.

Jon's gaze speared Kate dead on. "He's not usually, that's what's so odd about this. He usually just comes home and falls into bed. Somethings a bit off in Richie Land. Hell something’s always off in King's world, but this should be interesting." He grinned slightly a moment before continuing. "Casual Kate, it’s a blue jeans kinda night."

"Good, because I'm too tired to fuss," she said with a jaw cracking yawn. She wandered back toward her room, snagging her bottle of Diet Coke. "How long does it take to get there?"

He called out after her retreating back, "Probably a couple hours, and I know you don’t have to work in the morning , so pack a change and you can have my bed tonight. I’ll sleep on the couch. Its probably gonna be a long party knowing Sambora."

"I'm napping in the car," she called out. She peeked her head around her door frame, holding the neck of her robe closed as it started to slip. "I'll never make it through the night if I don't."

"That's fine by me Katie, I don’t mind driving." Jon smiled her way, "now scoot, get ready, I wanna get there before all the rest do."

"Pushy, pushy," she muttered and closed her door. She dragged down her dressier jeans and a green sweater, quickly twisting her unruly hair into a french braid. She desperately needed a shaping, but couldn't seem to find the time to get to her hairdresser.

Between work and school she was about ready to fall on her face. Just one more year and she'd finish her boards and start her residency. "Just one more year, Kate," she told her reflection. She peered closer and groaned. "It's a concealer and blusher night, that's for sure." Ten minutes later she was stomping into her spiky black boots.

It made her feel a little better to actually wear people clothes and not scrubs for an evening, even if she had to go to Jersey to do it. She spritzed the air with perfume and walked into the mist. She was hooking her necklace as she opened the door. Stupid clasp was tiny and annoying, but the jade went with her outfit. "Jon, can you help me?"

He glanced up and nearly swallowed his tongue. The green sweater set her eyes off just right. Standing back up he walked over to her "Sure thing babe, whatcha need?"

She turned around. "Can you get this necklace? The clasp is so tiny I can't ever get it."

He reached up and took the tiny clasp in hand and managed with the slightest of shaking managed to get the clasp done. Gently settling the chain around her neck he leaned closer to catch a whiff of the intoxicating scent she wore. "Looking good there Katie."

She smoothed her hand over her hips and fussed with the line of her jeans. She didn't realize she'd lost any weight, but the shifts were starting to take a toll on her waistline. At least it was for the better. "Just let me grab a belt. I didn't realize these jeans were so loose."

His eyes traveled over her form as she moved back into her bedroom. Damn she was a fine fine specimen of womanhood. One he wanted. Was gonna take time though, and that he was willing to give. "Hurry up Katie, long trip ahead of us."

She grabbed her belt and tucked it into her purse. No need to be uncomfortable for the ride. "Do I need to bring anything?" she called out.

"Just a change of clothes. Whatever you need to spend the night, told ya, be too late to drive back after his party." Jon spoke a bit loud to be heard. "If your uncomfortable using my bed, we'll get ya a room, but I do NOT mind spending a night on my couch Kate."

"I'm tired enough not to argue," she said and stuffed sweats and a t-shirt for sleeping and the ride back the next day into one of her knapsacks. Making a quick pit stop in the bathroom she grabbed her shampoo and toothbrush. "Okay, let's get on the road."

Jon reached out for her bag and smiled. "Let’s go see what Sambora has up his long ass sleeve."

Kate released the bag, it was just too much trouble to argue with him that she could carry it. She'd learned over the last two weeks that he was far more stubborn than even she could be. "I'm so going to be useless to you on this trip."

He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "You'll be there, you'll be company asleep or not, you will never be useless to me Katie." Wrapping his free arm around her waist he walked her out and waited while she locked the doors before escorting her to his car. "You sleep. I'll even keep the music down."

She forced herself not to shudder at his breath in her ear. "No, I like the music up. I can sleep through anything." She would never get used to his constant positive reinforcement. She couldn't even tease him with her usual self deprecating humor. "Besides, it'll cover the snoring. I'm so tired I'll probably shatter glass," she said and followed him down the steps.

He walked with her and waited til she settled herself in the seat before cranking the car and heading out. "Dream sweet Katie."