"Get the hell off of my son!" John Sr. Yelled out as he saw John's lifeless body.
Randy let John go and got up. He backed up over by the house. With John Sr. holding the shotgun on him. Carol had called the police and the ambulance when they realized what the commotion was. She came running out of the house, to find her son laying there with no signs of life at all.
Ashley fell down, right at his side.
The police pulled up and John Sr. threw down his gun instantly and they confiscated it until they could sort things out.
An officer checked out John's vitals and he was breathing on his own but it was very shallow breaths.
"Oh my baby!" Carol cried out as John Sr. tried to console her and explain to the officers what had happened.
Randy Covington was arrested and hauled down to the station.
The ambulance pulled up and screeched to a stop in front of Ashley's house.
The paramedics assessed John's vital signs. Ashley cried out looking at John, laying there so helpless. Richie walked over to her and put his arm around her to console her.
John was lifted up into the ambulance.
Only one family member was allowed to ride with the patient . Carol was nominated by John Sr. and he left to go get his car to follow them. Richie walked over to John's car and cranked it and moved it out of his way.
The ambulance started the siren and began rushing John to the closest emergency room at Perth Amboy Medical Center.
Ashley was frantic. "Oh my God is he gonna be okay? Did you see his face? All his color was gone!"
"Come on let's go down and check on him." Richie looked at her with sad eyes and walked over to John's car with the keys. Ashley and Stacey jumped in the car with him.
Pulling up at the emergency entrance, John was whisked away to the back as his Mom was left to fill out paperwork.
John Sr. finally arrived as she was almost finished. "Where is he?" He yelled entering the door.
"They took him to the back, I had to fill out all the insurance stuff!"
"I'm done come on!" She hurried with her husband toward the back.
"Excuse me we are looking for our son, Johnny Bongiovi. He was just brought in!" Carol frantically told the first nurse she saw.
"They are getting him settled. He is being evaluated. Please have a seat and I will come get you."
"Okay."
They sat down as Richie and the girls walked in.
"Over here Richie." John Sr. called out.
Carol looked up at Ashley. "What on earth happened to your face?"
"It's nothing." Ashley was embarrassed to say exactly what happened and looked away.
The nurse came back out. "Your son's vital signs are stable." He is breathing on his own. But he is not conscious yet. They are running some tests. We will let you know more as soon as we can."
"Miss." She looked at Ashley. Have you seen a doctor yet?"
"No I'm fine. I'm just here for John."
"Okay but I reccomend you seeing a doctor, anytime you have any sort of head trauma. It's better to be safe than sorry." She gave her a caring smile.
"No thanks, I'm fine."
The nurse walked away.
"Okay at least he's breathing on his own!" Carol was happy for the good news she heard
"Richie what happened? Why was he fighting with her father?" John Sr. asked trying to piece together what happened.
"He asked Ashley to move in with him. She was over at his place last night and they fell asleep. She went home before daylight this morning and got into it with her Dad and he grabbed her and hit her. Stacey came over and told Johnny, when her Dad went to work. We went over there to get her and her stuff and her Dad came back. He grabbed Ashley and Johnny jumped him and punched him!"
"Yes mam, he sure did." Richie grinned.
"I don't know what you are smiling about Richard! This is not a joke! My son is back there fighting for his life!"
"Yes mam, I'm sorry it was just so cool, that Johnny knew he was going to get his a--." Richie caught himself. "I mean butt kicked and did it anyway!"
"Endangering your life is not smart or cool, for some girl you barely know!" She shook her head as anger built up in her eyes. "Well as it turns out, surprise surprise, this is all because of you!" She turned all her attention to Ashley, who was caught off guard.
She burst into tears. "Oh God I'm so sorry. I wish I could take it back. I wish I never would have moved here so John would be okay!"
"Leave her alone dear. Ashley it's okay, you are injured too. Just please go sit down until we find something out." John Sr. Spoke softly to her and gave her an understanding little grin.
She sat beside Stacey. "It's all my fault! John may die today and it's all my fault!"
"Don't say that honey. He loves you. He wouldn't want you to be so hard on yourself." Stacey hugged her and hoped to calm her down.
After two hours passed John's Dad demanded to know something from the nurse at the desk.
"Okay sir, let me check." She went to the room and talked to the doctor.
She walked back a few minutes later. "Good news your son is awake and flirting with all the nurses, so he must be in good spirits."
"Oh what a relief!" His Dad shouted out.
"Thank you Jesus!" Carol exclaimed.
Richie and the girls cheered and were Ecstatic.
We can only allow two family members in at a time. But you can go back there now and see him. Ashley was standing there with everyone and Carol glanced back at her. "You can go sit down, you aren't family and you're not going back there!"
Ashley was crushed to hear John was awake and she couldn't go see him. Her eyes filled with tears and she disappeared into the bathroom. Into a stall where her tears fell and she tried to muffle her cries into a big wad of toilet paper.
John was talking to the doctor when they stepped into the room. "Do you recognize these guys?" The doctor looked over at his parents.
"Mom and Pop!" I was wondering were you two were." He flashed them a smile. His voice was really hoarse, but his color was back. Just some bruising around his neck.
"Oh we have been here the whole time waiting for you to wake up." His dad grinned.
"Well I'm up, I feel good and I'm ready to get the heck up out of here."
"Hold on!" Ordered the doctor. "I told you we have more tests to do before we can release you."
"I don't need those test, I'm good."
"Just humor your doctor. Okay?"
"Okay but I'm fine. You do have a lot of fine nurses around this joint. I guess I can hang out here for a little while." John smiled feeling better.
"Okay good. Now John you need to rest your voice. Your vocal cords are severely bruised. That will take time to get better."
"How much time? I have a gig to do on the 4th of July!" John voiced his hoarse concern.
His parents looked at each other bewildered.
"We will just have to see how fast your body heals, okay Johnny" Now let me step out and talk a little with your parents."
"Doc my girlfriend! Don't forget!"
"I remember!" Now rest!"
The doctor walked out into the hall with John's parents. "Follow me to my office so we can talk in private."
Stacey looked over at Richie. "Why does Johnny's Mom have to be such a bitch to Ashley? She feels bad enough as it is."
"I don't know. I guess she's worried about Johnny and taking it out on her."
"I'm going to go check on her, she's been in there a while."
She walked in and heard her crying. "Ash, it's okay honey. Stop crying. You will see Johnny soon. And he will be mad at her for being mean to you. Come back to the waiting room with me okay?"
She opened the stall door and followed her out. And they sat back down with Richie.
Richie noticed she had been crying and put his arm around her. "Everything is going to be okay Ash. I promise."
"I hope so." She tried to dry up the rest of her tears with her soggy crumpled up tissue.
The doctor shut the door behind the Bongiovi's and they all sat down.
Your son's vitals are good, considering what he has been through. He is showing some signs of hypoxia, which happens when there is oxygen loss to the brain. There is a gap in his memory. He thinks it is the first part of June and he has a show to play on on the 4th of July. So about 4 months is missing from his memory. His fine motor skills may be affected also. We have a lot more testing to do. To see just what complications he may have. Now he does have one single request. He wants to see his girlfriend. He is quite adamant about it. Our policy is only family allowed in neurology. But with your permission I would like to bring her back to see him."
"She is here doctor, but I would like to keep her away from him. It was her Father who put him here in the first place."
"As his doctor I would recommend at least letting her come in to say hello. He is mildly agitated, which is normal but I believe she could help calm him down."
"Ok Doctor." John Sr. Replied. "Whatever is best for Johnny."
"John don't let her come back here! This was her fault!"
"He loves her dear. Let's just concentrate on getting him better."
"Okay. Whatever!" Carol hissed and crossed her arms in frustration.
Okay I'll send the nurse to get her in a few minutes.
"Can Richie come back also? He is like a brother to Johnny." Carol asked.
"Sure but only for a few minutes."
"I really don't know anything else right now until we run more tests."
"Okay. I'll go let them know they can come back soon." Carol stood up.
She walked out and went in the waiting area. She took notice of Richie sitting with his arm around Ashley comforting her.
"Richie and Ashley you can come back and see Johnny in a few minutes."
They jumped up all excited.
"Wait!" Ashley looked at Stacey. "I can't let John see me like this!"
"Oh honey, he won't care, he loves you! But I have some makeup and a brush in my purse, if you want to use it."
"Yes please!"
Stacey pulled her makeup out and started her makeover. She added her foundation gently as Ashley jerked from the tenderness of her touch. A little lipstick and brushing of her hair and she was ready to see her handsome boyfriend.
"You look beautiful Ash."
"Thanks. I didn't want to frighten him." She grinned.
The nurse came out and called for them and she nervously followed Richie to the back.
They walked into the room.
"Hey man!" John exclaimed with a smile as his rough voice greeted Richie walking in followed by Ashley smiling.
"Well hello beautiful." John locked eyes with her and couldn't quit staring.
"Dang Richie why are you bringing hot girls in here when I look like crap?"
Richie just stood there for a few seconds thinking he must have heard him wrong. "Huh what?"
"The hot girl behind you man! Excuse him, he's very rude. Hi I'm John Bongiovi."
Ashley was so confused. She thought John was playing some sort of horrible joke on her.
"You don't know me?" She mumbled. Noticing the strange way he was looking at her, like he had never seen her before.
"Oh believe me, I would remember a hot babe like you." He grinned.
With pain in her eyes and a little bit shakey voice, she spoke softly. "I'm Ashley."
"So how did Richie luck out with you?" John grinned.
"We are just friends." Ashley announced, still not sure what was going on.
"Well I don't usually look this bad." He smiled noticing how pretty she was. And that he could see a hint of bruises under her makeup. He wondered what had happened to her.
He looked back over at the door. "Where's Dot? I thought you said my girlfriend was here?" He looked at the doctor and he was getting really agitated and fidgety.
"I'm sorry maybe I misunderstood." The doctor replied.
"Do you want me to get Dot to come up here?" Carol asked almost shocked.
"Come on Ma, you know good and well I want Dot up here. She's been my girlfriend for almost a year."
"Okay son we will try to make that happen. Everyone let's step out while the nurse takes his blood pressure." The doctor ordered.
Everyone gathered around the doctor concerned for John.
"What's going on? The girl in the room has been his girlfriend for the last few months. He can't remember his own girlfriend?" Carol questioned.
"I told you he has lost four whole months. his mind is back in June, so anything after that he doesn't remember. We have to do further tests. Sometimes motor skills can be affected also, like walking or the total use of the hands."
"He's a guitar player!" Carol exclaimed. "What about his voice it sounds horrible?"
I'd like to run a scope down his throat just to check for any internal damage and do some more xrays. We just really don't know. These things sometimes heal all on there own in their own time. But with memory loss, there is no cure. We have to let him remember on his own. It would be a mistake to try to force memories that are just not there for him right now.
"He put his hand on Ashley's shoulder. I am very sorry young lady. I wish it was better news for you."
"Could this memory loss be permanent?" His Father asked very concerned.
"We have no way of knowing. We see it in drowning victims, who are resuscitated. Sometimes the lost memories come back in a few days. Sometimes a few months or even years. Sometimes never. But they cannot be forced. Now we will explain it to him and get him to understand that four months of his memory is missing. But he doesn't need any big surprises right now. The mind is very delicate and one thing alot of memory loss patients develop is depression. They tend to be at a higher risk of drug and alcohol use. So at his young age I would really caution to look out for this. And I must warn you. Anger and agression are sometimes a linked to the hypoxia. We really don't know how long his brain was deprived of oxygen. Each case is different. Only time will tell."
The nurse came out. "His blood pressure is a little high. He seems really agitated and he wants me to remind you to get his girlfriend, Dorothea to come see him."
"Okay thanks."
"Is there anyway to get this girl to come for a visit. It could be the very thing that adjusts his memory. Did they end on bad terms?"
"Yes they did, but I will call her. I believe she would come, if she knows the circumstances." Carol replied.
Carol left to go call Dot and Ashley was devastated. She walked down the hall to the waiting area to where Stacey was. She looked at Stacey with such horror on her face, she prepared herself to hear he passed away."
"Oh my God Ashley are you okay? Is John okay?"
She sat down beside her. He has memory loss from lack of oxygen to his brain. He doesn't even remember me! He has lost four whole months! They are calling Dot up here because he thinks she is still his girlfriend!"
"Why? Why not just tell him who his girlfriend is?" She asked questioning the doctor's decision.
"His mind can't process it right now! I don't know. But he wants to see her. He didn't remember me, he thinks he still loves her!"
"Oh God Ashley! I'm so sorry." Stacey pulled her in her arms and hugged her.
Carol came out into the lobby and looked up Donald Hurley's phone number in the phone book and started dialing. Her Mother Dorothy answered. "Hello."
"Hi Dorothy this is Carol Bongiovi, is Dorothea around."
"Yes she is, hold on just a minute please."
"Hello."
"Dorothea this is Mrs. Bongiovi, Johnny is in the hospital and he asked us to call you. He would really like for you to come see him."
"What's wrong with him? Where's his girlfriend?"
"It's a long story, but he was choked unconscious in a fight and has lost some of his memory, due to lack of oxygen. The last four months, to be exact. He thinks it is June and you are still his girlfriend. The doctor thinks its a good idea to humor him. I know we haven't gotten along well in the past Dorothea. But if you could find it in your heart to come see him, the doctor thinks it could help him."
"He doesn't remember anything? Not even Ashley?"
"Nope he saw her today and introduced himself to her."
"Wow! Yeah, I can come see him. Give me a few minutes and I'll be there."
"Okay thank you so much dear."
She hung up. "She's on her way." She announced over to her husband sitting across the room.
Ashley looked at Stacey. "I don't know what to do? I wanted to go to him. To hold him and I couldn't. He doesn't even know who I am."
"I'm sure it's just temporary. He loves you too much to forget about you."
Richie was standing by the coke machine. He was watching Ashley and she was all jittery and nervous. He pulled his cigarettes out. "Hey Ash." He held them up and shook them at her. He remembered her bumming a few from him at the Fast Lane.
She jumped up. "Yes thank you Richie. Will you come outside with me?"
"Yeah sure." He replied, realizing how great it was to spend time with her, even under these circumstances.
They walked outside to the courtyard and sat down on one of the big cement benches.
Richie held out his smokes and she grabbed one and the Giants Lighter out of his hand.
"That's John's."
"What is?"
"That lighter."
"How do you know?"
He carved his initials on the bottom. He said he was tired of y'all stealing all his shit!" She laughed.
He looked and J B was scratched on to the bottom.
"Damn I didn't even realize I took it. You want it?"
"Nah just keep it." She took a long drag of the cigarette and blew it out.
Stacey walked out and sat down with them.
"I'm worried y'all. What if he never remembers me? I just don't understand how this could happen! I love him so much and I just want him to get better."
Richie took a drag of his cigarette and blew out the smoke. "Look don't worry. He has a team of doctors and nurses here to do that." He wanted to make her feel better. He wanted to hold her but he didn't want to be too pushy or scare her away.
"Yeah Ash, Johnny loves you. I've never seen him head over heels in love like he was with you. What about you Richie? You've known him longer."
"Yeah he's crazy about you." He replied. "And so am I." He thought and instantly felt bad with his best friend laid up in a hospital bed.
"Oh shit here comes the bitch!" Stacey announced looking at Dorothea waltzing up with a big grin on her face.
"What are you still doing here Ashley?You're not needed here any longer. I will take good care of my Johnny."
"He will get his memory back you know and he will remember how you cheated on him and how much he loves Ashley!" Stacey yelled at her. Hating Dot's smug attitude.
"Carol told me he needed me, he woke up and realized he's desperately in love with me!"
"We were sitting right there, she said no such thing!" Stacey yelled.
"Whatever! I've got to go, my injured boyfriend is waiting for me!" Dot turned around and walked away leaving Ashley feeling helpless and about to cry again.
"Come on Ash, this is it! I bet when he sees her everything comes back to him! Come on!" Stacey exclaimed pulling Ashley up by her arm. Ashley threw her cigarette down and stomped on it, putting it out with her shoe and followed her. Richie tagged along behind them.
They went back in the hospital and opened the neurology door it looked like no one was at the desk. They got past the nurses station, luckily no one was there at the moment. Dot was in the hall talking to Carol. Then she opened the door and they went in the room and left the door open.
Ashley could see everything perfectly through the window with the curtains halfway open. John lit up like a Christmas tree when Dot entered the room. He smiled and motioned for her to come closer. He pulled her in his arms and really laid a very passionate kiss on her. As Ashley stood there, watching every second of it. Feeling like her heart was being ripped right out of her chest.
"God Dot I feel like I haven't seen you in months. I love you so much. I can't wait to get out of here and show you just how much." He smiled at Dot and pulled her in and just held on to her.
"I love you so much too Johnny. I'm so sorry for everything."
"For what? You didn't do anything." He looked up at her with the most beautiful ocean blue eyes. She had really missed him. She was so thankful for this second chance.
"You are back where you belong." She heard in her head as she realized just how much she really had missed him. "I hope you never remember and you can be all mine again." She thought as she stood next to the bed holding his hand. She let it go for a few seconds to sit her purse down, on a table and pull a chair up to the bed. As she sat down, she noticed Ashley through the window and smiled at her with a triumphant grin.
She had her man back and this time she planned to keep him.
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