Chapter 135

Richie watched Elena dress once more. They'd spent a leisurely afternoon in the hotel, even managed to watch a movie the whole way through without getting completely naked. Okay, so there'd been a blow job during the boring part, but he'd been good. And she'd started it, as usual. "Where are you and Katy hanging for the show, love?"



She glanced up as she pulled a slender bit of nothing from her dress bag, something lacy, scrappy looking and purple. "I’d think front row is out of the question?" Her dark eyes sparkled at the question; she really liked what she saw from front row and was just as sure he'd say no.



She laid the purple lace on the bed then laid out a set of jeans and a sweat shirt beside it, her grin growing as she watched him.



"Well you are a bit distracting," he said and flipped the sheet back. His eyebrow rose at the lacy bit of fluff that she had to flip around twice to figure out which way went which, before frowning at the sweatshirt. He lifted the sweatshirt off the bed. "Won't you be hot in this, darlin'?"



She leaned into his chest as her smile grew. "Oh I dunno, depends, it gets kinda chilly on side stage you know." She winked as she straightened the purple lace out on the bed. "Lace for front row or sweat shirt for side stage... hmmm which should I wear Pony?"



He lifted the little purple skirt with the wide buckle and placed it in front of her bikini clad bottom. Her tanned legs made his mouth water. Then lifting the purple bit of nothing he stretched his hand inside of it. "Oh hell," he said as he could see his fingers plainly. "How the hell am I supposed to concentrate if you wear this?"



She pressed a kiss into his chest and almost laughed. "I guess its jeans and a sweatshirt tonight then."



"Hell no, I'd rather be distracted," he said with a laugh. "I don't mind you up front, just try not to lose your passes, huh?"



"Gonna pin it to my damn shirt this time I swear." She let the towel she was wearing slip to the floor as she glanced back at Richie, her hand reaching for the purple lace, her hand momentarily stalling as she remembered the last time she wore lace in that color. Shaking her head she pushed the thought away. "And what are you wearing tonight?"



The lace stretched and fit itself to her body, leaving him momentarily speechless. God, he loved it when she bought things for him, especially in purple. He watched her fuss, his brow furrowed. She never messed with her clothes that much. Her hand widened over the scooped collar as her body flushed and the pulse point at her neck went haywire. "Lains, you all right?" He stepped closer, watching her face pale.



She closed her eyes a moment and searched for the words. "Its, um, ..." She turned and put a smile on her face. "Not something we should worry over before a concert." She turned back to the mirror as she worried the lacy blouse even more.



"What's that got to do with anything?" He curled his fingers over her smaller ones. "Baby, please. What's up?"



She sighed as she turned back to face him, her arms winding about his waist. "Just, well I bought 
this just for you, had to look extra nice for the last night of this leg of the tour and ....well I didn't think when I did is all. It will be ok, I'll be ok. Honest ."



Confused, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, letting the silk of her hair brush over his forearms. "I love the outfit babe, you look sexy as hell. In fact, I might have to beat off a few roadies and a--" and the pieces fell together. "Aww, hell, Lains. You know you're safe right? No matter what you wear your safe with this crew."



She snuggled into the gentle hug and smiled. "I know, and I haven’t thought of that night in the longest time, it just popped in to say hi I guess." Looking up into his deep brown eyes she smiled, "I'm always safe with you, I know that."



"Good, that's what I want to hear," he said and kissed the tip of her nose. A part of him wanted to rant that the memories would forever be a part of them, but another part of him was silently cheering that she was finally getting over it, that these little moments were pretty far and few between. His hand slid down to cup her firm little ass. "Well, not too safe," he reminded her teasingly.



She couldn't resist the move of his hand and did a small bump and grind against him, her hand moving up to run down his spine slowly. "Well now I do agree with that, I like your brand of dangerous."



His hand came up and back down in a loud slap, his eyebrows waggling to kill the sting and the serious nature of the moment. "I'll show you dangerous," he lifted her up to swing her legs around his waist. The pounding of the door forced a growl from his throat. "You're kidding me."



"Open up! You can have sex later and for the next two weeks off!" Kate called out from the other side of the door.



"Dammit," Richie muttered and put her back down. "Her timing sucks."



She started to laugh as he walked towards the door clad only in his washed too many times, worn in all the right places shorts. She shook her head and reached for her skirt, Kate had seen everything she had more than once in their lives. "You might as well let her in."



Kate smiled at Richie. "Hey super stud, how are ya?" She sailed into the room continuing, "hope I didn't interrupt anything." Dropping into the chair on the far side of the bed her gaze moved to Elena. "Cute top," she said ignoring Richie's short shorts. Naked didn't mean much to her, she'd seen just about everything in the ER.



She shook her head at Kate, her eyes rolling as she pulled on the mini skirt. "You didn't interrupt much," She cut a glance Richie's way and laughed, "Well if you had of been two minutes later you might have. Where’s MopTop?"



She see-sawed her small Caduceus along the fine chain at her chin. "Doc snagged him for some stupid interview. Who cares that it's going to take at least a quarter of the show off his voice, but what do I know? I'm just a doctor who gives out arbitrary advice."



Elena continued to fiddle with her clothing, her gaze meeting Kate’s via the mirror. "Jackass only cares about one thing, he pushes him too hard Kate. We've all tried to tell him that, he refuses to see it. Doc's his friend; Doc wouldn't do anything to hurt him." She shook her head; Doc and Alec were mixed into one oily mess that made her stomach twirl. "He doesn’t even hear Richie half the time."



She turned, her hands still smoothing wrinkles and started to grin. "You're gonna make Jon forget the words to his own lyrics tonight honey."



"Like? I found it in that little shop across from the hospital." She smoothed her hand over the half lycra, half dress pant material and eyed Elena's cute skirt. Hmm...maybe she should have gone with legs tonight too. "Yeah, well, the only thing Doc's looking for is dollar signs I'm sorry to say."



Elena nodded as she sat down to slip on her heals. "Yeah he don't get the dollar signs will be there if they are healthy too. Hell Richie's not immune to it either, but HE refuses to even get a physical." She stood up and moved over to Kate. "You tell him how important it is, you tell me often enough."



Kate frowned. "You guys should be getting bi-annuals with the stress level you go through on tour." She eyed Richie's tired face, even with the smiles his eyes were darker than the last time she'd seen him. "The party-scene and the travel is going to wear after awhile, you have to make sure you're working out and drinking fluids--" when his mouth opened she held up a hand. "Vodka, beer and Jack do NOT count, buster."



Richie sighed. "I've got a mother, thanks."



Elena’s slender hands tinkered to adjust her belt as she muttered, "Got a wife too, doesn't listen to either of them."



Richie clenched his teeth. It wasn't worth it to get riled. He grabbed his street clothes and slammed the bathroom door.



"Hell, I keep stepping in it this afternoon," Kate huffed out.



Elena winced at the door slam and knew beyond a doubt that their former conversation had him more riled than Kate's words...maybe. "Don't take it personal Katydid. He just... well... He likes to feel like he’s the one on top of things. He sees the same shit we do. Hell, he has to pick up the slack when Jon's voice goes and Doc never even says thank you. Just pushes harder or adds a new date."



"I'm starting to see that. I'm glad they've got a few weeks off. Jon needs it especially. His vocal chords are just about shredded." Kate dropped her charm back against the other three chains she wore. "I'm worried about Jon; his voice isn't the only thing that's starting to show signs of exhaustion."



Elena's brow arched, "well after two days with you of course something else is exhausted..." She turned to watch the bathroom door, hands never stilling against her clothes. He never took that long in the bathroom, never, well unless she was in there with him. "But you didn't mean that did ya?"



"No. I'm a doctor, Lains. I see all the things you guys are ignoring or too close to pay attention to. All of them are dehydrated and on the edge of exhaustion. The adrenaline of the shows is keeping them going, but the crash is coming. I can see it on Jon especially. Richie's lost at least fifteen pounds from the beginning of the tour. Jon probably a good ten pounds that he couldn't afford to lose." Kate sighed. "The drug use is rampant in a few of your roadies and even in the bassist. I can't remember his name, I'm sorry."



Elena's smile was forced as she nodded. "Alec, his name is Alec."



"Oh, man, that's right...that weasely guy, right? Well, he's jonesing at least eighty percent of the time." Kate leaned back in the chair. "I'm worried about Jon. I think I'm going to make up a family emergency and escape with Jon to my gram's place in the Hamptons. She died three years ago, but St. Mary's doesn't know that."



Elena managed a smile and nodded. "It would do him a world of good Katydid. "



"Sweets, you're wound tighter than a spring, what's up?"



Richie opened the door, buttoning his jeans and a faded t-shirt stretched over his wide shoulders. He'd heard most of the conversation through the paper-thin walls. He'd known that they were all on edge, but he wasn't aware that Alec was dipping into the recreation stash that much. He'd need to go to Jon about that. He caught Elena's worried look and smiled easily. Kate was right on the wound tight thing. It was time to get her mind off of the past. "You ladies ready for the evening's festivities?"




Elena's gaze flickered to Richie and watched Mr. Smooth it all over fall into place. He was good at it, always able to pull anyone back from the edge, she just wondered when he was gonna let someone pull him from that same ledge. As she watched him with new eyes she saw what Kate saw and wanted to cringe. It had happened so gradual that she'd never noticed, but Kate was right. Doesn’t help that he has my crap to put up with too.



Putting a smile on her lips she tilted her head, "Are you on the menu?"



"I'm the sweetest part, darlin'. You save me for dessert." He leaned down and caught her lips in a soft kiss. "Now, if I don't get to the venue soon, there will be a shit-ton of girls screaming and not letting me in. Then where would we be? Jon sucks on the solos."



She glanced just once at the mirror, then slipped an arm around Richie, her eyes meeting Kate’s as she stood. "Right, and where would we be then?"



"Short fuckin' shows," Richie said with a grin