"Hey man. How's your voice doing?" Jack asked as John approached smiling.
"It's better. It's not near as rough as it was."
"Great! You want to sit in with us? Sebastian blew off practice. Said he had something else to do. I'm really getting sick of that asshole! I'll be glad when you are a hundred percent so I can get rid of that jerk off."
"I'm feeling better. Let me check out this baby." John grabbed the guitar and laid the case on a table to open it.
Ashley walked over to Bret. "Somebody put this on my car outside." She shook the piece of yellow paper at him.
He grabbed it out of her hand and read it. "It's probably just somebody's idea of a joke Ashley."
"Well it's not funny Bret." She replied to him with a little worry showing on her face.
"Okay. I don't think it's anything, but I'll let Kurt know. He's in the back. I'll get him to patrol the front parking lot a little more. Will that make you feel better?"
"Yes thank you. I need to finish some paperwork in my office." She walked to the back.
She finished a form and sat it to the side and heard a little knock at her door. "Come in."
"Hi Ashley Bret showed me the note you found on your car. I just want you to know I take my job seriously and you don't have anything to worry about. I will ramp up patrols on both parking lots and personally escort you to your car at night if that would make you feel better?"
"Aww thank you. John and Bret acted like I was crazy about being a little nervous about this."
"No not at all. There are all kinds of sickos in this world and you are a very beautiful woman. I will make it my personal duty to make sure you are safe and nobody is bothering you."
"Thanks I feel so much better." She smiled glad someone thought she wasn't over reacting.
"Okay I will let you get back to work. Please let me know if you need anything." He smiled and it seem to light up his face and she noticed how beautiful green eyes were as he looked at her and put her mind at ease.
"Thank you." She smiled back and he turned around and exited her office.
John was still holding on to the guitar. "Damn this thing is nice!" John commented just a little bit jealous. "Where'd you get it?"
"My Grandma got it for an early birthday present for me." He smiled.
"You lucky asshole. "Miss Gloria knows I got a birthday coming up in a couple of months. Right?" He chuckled and glanced back down at the shiny new guitar.
John began to play it. Ashley was walking down the hall when she heard a few familiar chords from the love song he wrote for her. She entered the room as John began to sing. She stopped dead in her tracks so excited to hear if the steroids had worked at all to help his voice. It seemed like forever since she had heard him singing.
He tenderly began to let out the words. Trying not to strain his vocal cords at all. They flowed effortlessly from his lips and almost sounded flawless. She moved closer to the stage. John's voice got a little bit deeper as he let himself go and tried to reach for a slightly higher pitch.
Ashley smiled as she teared up watching him. John looked down at her and grinned and held up his finger at her. The one that meant he loved her. After being so afraid he would never be able to sing again, he was more than thrilled to find out he still could.
He looked lovingly at Ashley as he finished the song. She ran up on the stage. "Oh my God! You sounded great!
"Thanks babe."
"Is your throat okay? Is it hurting at all?" She asked concerned.
"I'm fine. No discomfort at all. I promise." He smiled.
"I'm so glad John! I was so worried about you!"
"Don't worry about me baby. I'm okay. Nothing's going to stop me from doing what I love."
"So are you up to fronting the band? Can I get rid of Sebastian's ass for good?" Jack asked hanging on John's answer.
"Yeah I think I'm up for it."
"Good 'cause you're in and Bas is out!" Jack chuckled. Overly excited to unload the tempermental singer as quickly as he could.
"Well I'll let you get back to practicing Mr. Rockstar. I need to go finish up my paperwork."
"Okay I'll come find you when I'm done." He leaned in to kiss her. Quickly grabbing her hand in his. He released it as he turned to walk back to the stage.
Ashley walked into her office and was instantly hit with the most amazing smell. A big fresh bouquet of roses and lilies was sitting on her desk with a card.
She read out loud as she took a deep breath of the wonderful scent. "How sweet of John." She thought as she sat down and finished the last little bit of paperwork.
Bret tapped on her opened door. "Johnny is sounding good. Those shots must have worked."
"Yeah he sounds great." She agreed with total relief showing on her face.
"Oh cool did he send you the flowers?"
"Yeah I'm sure. He didn't sign the card but, I know it was him."
"Good you deserve to be spoiled baby and I'm glad Bongiovi realizes it."
Ashley seemed a little uncomfortable. "Bret." She started to say something but stopped.
"What is it?" He asked.
"You shouldn't call me baby. John really wouldn't like it."
"Oh well screw him! I can't get you back and I except that, but you will always be one of the most special people in my life. And no one and nobody is ever going to change that!"
She smiled. "Okay." After a brief pause. "I feel that way about you too."
"So back to the reason I came in here was to let you know Harold's popping in for a few minutes. If you got a minute he wants to talk to you."
"Sure. I'm done." She sat back and crossed her legs. Placing her hand on her temple feeling a mild headache coming on."
"You okay? Not another headache?"
"Yeah but it's mild. I will be fine."
"When are you going to the doctor?"
"Monday, it's the first appointment I could get."
"Good. I've got some aspirin on my desk." He told her walking to the door. "I can go get it."
"No I'm good. It's not that bad, really."
She heard a light knock on the door. "Hello Ashley can I come in?" Harold smiled as he walked in slowly.
"Yeah sure, come on in." She pointed to a chair. "Have a seat. Can I get you anything?"
"No I only have a few minutes. I wanted to run something by you"
"Okay shoot. I'm all ears." She replied returning the smile he had given her.
"I have took on a partner and bought The Fiesta in Biloxi. I am looking for someone to go there and get things started for me. I know it's your hometown and I figure you are probably a little homesick. I just need you to go there and check on the operation. Check out the staff. How it's being run and report back to me. I'll pay you double if you can help me out."
"Oh Harold I don't think so! How long would I have to be gone?"
"A month at the most. Maybe two if something comes up."
"Oh Harold John would never want me to be gone for that long. I don't think I can go back to Biloxi right now. I'm sorry."
"But you know these people Ashley. You know the operation, I really want to get your input. Surely Johnny can live without you for a month or two."
"No Harold. I can't live without her for a day, much less a month or two!" John corrected him from the doorway.
"Johnny! I'm sorry I wanted to talk to you about this myself." Harold walked over to him.
"Well there is absolutely nothing to talk about 'cause Ashley ain't going anywhere." John tried to keep his cool with Harold. He loved him like a father but he was determined not to let her go.
"John!" Ashley called out. I was telling Harold I didn't think it was a good idea, but I don't appreciate your tone and the way your speaking about me like I'm not even here!" She quickly scolded him. Letting her temper get the best of her.
"I'm sorry Ash but you ain't going back home! Not with Jake back there on the loose! Not by yourself!"
"I am a grown woman John! if I decided to do this for Harold it would be my choice!"
"I will let you two talk this out." Harold walked out and went down to Bret's office.
"That was so embarrassing! How could you do that to me in front of Harold? I was telling him no, but you are really pissing me off with this macho attitude of yours!"
"That's because you just don't understand how much I love you and want to be with you! Or you wouldn't question why I told him you couldn't go!"
"Let's just drop it! I'm not going! But it's because I refused to, not because you told me I couldn't!"
"Okay I don't care as long as you're not leaving." He smiled feeling like he had won this argument.
"Well let's change the subject. Thank you for the beautiful flowers I love them." She smiled and gave him a sweet little peck on the lips.
John cut his eyes over to the flowers on her desk and picked up the card and read it. Knowing good and well he hadn't sent them. "Always thinking of you beautiful." He read silently and wondered, "who the fuck sent these?"
They both looked up when they heard a knock at the door.
"I'm not interrupting am I?" Richie asked opening the door.
"No it's fine Richie come on in." Ashley stood up. "What are you up to?"
"Just looking for your boyfriend here. We've got to head over to the farmhouse to finish getting ready for tonight."
"Oh okay, well I'll see you later then." She looked over at John.
"Okay when are you coming over?" John asked hoping to hurry her along.
"I've got to go to Stacey's to get ready. Then I'll be on my way."
"Okay." John replied and turned to Richie. ""I'm done let's go." They started walking to the door together.
"Hey Johnny hold up!" Mike called out let me get your check it's ready.
"Okay I'll just wait out front."
They walked outside and sat down. "Is something wrong?" Richie asked noticing the scowl on John's face.
"Somebody sent Ash flowers and she thinks it was me, but it wasn't. A weird fucking note too. It said always thinking of you beautiful." I mean what the fuck? And we found a note on her car that freaked her out saying someone had been watching her and she should be with him. I didn't tell her the flowers weren't from me. I didn't want to spook her anymore than she already is."
"You need to tell Bret or that new security guy."
"Yeah I will. I just don't like it you know. "
"Yeah I know." Richie agreed and looked up. Hey man who is that dude over there by Ash's car?"
"Hey man what are you doing over there?" John hollered rather loudly and got up and ran over to the guy.
"I'm sorry is this your car? I've always been a big fan of Trans Ams. I was just looking at it. It's just like the one that was in Smokey and the Bandit."
"Yeah I know! It's my girlfriend's car and some asshole has been messing with it!" John got louder not sure whether to believe this guy or not.
"I'm sorry man. I really was just looking at it." The guy replied and started walking up the road with John standing there staring at him.
"Come on man he's cool." Richie started walking to his car and John started following him and stopped off at his car to get some clothes and a cowboy hat. Then he walked over to Richie's camaro.
Mike walked out. "Here's your check man."
"Thanks." John folded it and stuck it in his wallet.
Getting in Richie's car. "I feel bad. I told Ash it was probably just someone messing with her. But now I think it might really be something to worry about. They better not let me catch them!"
"I don't blame you man. If somebody was messing with Stace I would want to kick their ass too."
"So how are things on the Stacey front? Did you get any yet?" John chuckled.
"Give me a break man! We just got together." Richie grinned.
"That ain't ever stopped you before. You must be slipping man! I guess you'll be taking a lot of cold showers!" John roared with laughter.
"Look when it happens it happens. I could get it if I really wanted it!"
"Sure I think you know she will shoot you down!" John continued to laugh rubbing it in.
"Nah I know she's been with a couple other guys. It won't be that difficult. I am just waiting for the right time. She's kinda something special and I don't want to blow it. That's not just what I'm after. If it was I would have already put that notch on my bedpost."
"Do you really put notches on your bedpost?" John turned to him seriously wanting to know.
"I used to, now I just keep it in my head."
"Yeah I used to too, but I kinda lost track of the count."
"Damn Johnny! Look like you would be proud of that number man! I mean you are the luckiest dude with the ladies I know!" Richie chuckled.
"Yeah well. A lot of them didn't mean shit to me. And none of it matters to me at all, since I met Ashley."
"Really?" Richie sounded suprised. "Maybe she's the one."
"Maybe. Sometimes I could see myself settling down with her. But then I come to my senses and realize I wouldn't be a good husband. I throw my shit everywhere. I'm moody as hell. And if I ever get my record deal I will be out on the road all the time. No girl's going to stay with me then."
"You think Ash would bail on you?"
"Yeah! That would be a lonely life for her. And she's too damn hot, somebody would swoop in and take her from me. I know it."
"You're not thinking of giving up your dream for her are you man?" Richie looked over at him concerned.
John shook his head. "No I definitely love her but I can't give up my dream for anybody!" He answered matter of factly."
"Good man I thought I lost you for a second. You know we have one main focus to get the fuck out of this town "
"I remember and when I get rich and famous they better name some of this shit after me! You know buildings and libraries and shit. Hell put my face on the dollar bill, something!" He chuckled.
"Yeah me too. I want a life size statue of myself in every park!" Richie laughed.
"Oh that's good me too! But I want mine outside all the strip clubs! Just to let everbody know John Bongiovi was here!"
Richie laughed. "Well we already know you've been to every strip club in town!"
"Yep and lost a piece of my heart in every damn one of them places too. Good times!" He laughed. Pulling up at the farmhouse about twenty minutes later, they noticed a few cars already there.
"Good a few people showed up. I asked David and Alec. But you know how it is. David said sure, but probably won't show til the last minute and Alec just blew me off, talking about he has so much stuff to do! You know he ain't doing shit and he'll show up once it's all done!" Richie exclaimed.
"Yeah I know. But forget it. Come on let's go see what kind of booze they got." John jumped out heading for the front door of the farm house. To his surprise Alec pulled the door open when he knocked.
"Damn you're here! I figured you were trying to get out of helping us. Richie laughed walking through the door finding Alec standing there with David.
"No of course not! I wanted to help out. Hey Johnny. I've been meaning to talk to you."
"Well hold up! I need some booze first!" John walked over to some big tubs of beer that had been iced down in the kitchen.
He grabbed a Bud and opened it. He started drinking and looked at Alec. "Where's Darren? We need to get this shit done before I've got too much of a buzz to care!"
"Upstairs, but I need to talk to you Johnny." Alec glanced up with a very serious look on his face.
"Hold that thought!" Richie grabbed John by the arm. "We'll be right back!" He looked over at Alec as he pulled John up the stairs.
They ran right into Darren in the hallway. "We're here. What do you need us to do?"
"Okay I've got some wicked strobe lights and I just need you guys to hook them up around the room. I just finished the other two rooms and we put some out in the barn."
"Okay we're on it!"
"Oh and I think I have moved all the breakables to the last room on the left but if you come across anything just put it down there. My Grandma is in the nursing home now, but she loved this old house and she would have a shit fit at the thought of someone breaking her glass stuff!" He grinned.
"No problem we will move it if we find anything." Richie assured him.
They finished setting up the room. Turned on the lights and marveled at the light show they had just created.
Then they headed back downstairs to help out some more and most importantly drink some more booze.
"We're done with the lights." John smiled getting another cool brew out of the tub.
"Alec went to get some signs out of the shed you could help him with that."
"Okay." John tapped Richie on his shoulder. "Come on." They walked outside slowly drinking their beers not really wanting to do much more when Alec came running out of the shed.
"Damn it! I just saw something in there!" Alec screamed like a scared little girl as he ran over to them.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Richie asked. "What did you see?"
"I had a lantern on in there because the light is busted. I knocked it over and picked it up quick and in a flash of light it looked like a man standing there with an ax!"
"Bullshit!" John laughed. "You're fucking with us!"
"Hell no I ain't! It was a big ass guy in there carrying an ax!"
"Come on." John motioned to Richie. They all three got to the door and cautiously opened it looking around.
"I don't see shit!" John exclaimed as he heard a big thud hit the ground and turned to see where it came from. He looked all around as much as he could with what little light the lantern was putting out. "Fuck this!" John shouted as he slammed to big shed door and they all started running back to the house.
"I'm telling you guys there was somebody in there!" Alec exclaimed getting pissed that nobody believed him.
Darren walked out the door. "What's up?" He asked looking at all of there faces.
"There was some big ass dude in your shed man, with an ax!" Alec yelled hoping he might believe him.
"So you've really seen him? Everybody knows the story. The legend that's been told around every campfire in Monmouth county. That's the ghost of my Great Great Grandfather Ezekiel. He just snapped in the middle of the night and took that very ax and murdered fourteen members of his family. Only my Great Grandfather Randall escaped. He ran out in the woods and hid for a week before anybody found him."
"Damn I have heard stories but I didn't know any of the shit was real!" Alec exclaimed. "What the fuck man?"
"I'm sure it's okay. I've been in that shed a hundred times and I ain't never seen shit!" Darren assured them."
"Well I ain't going back in there!" Alec yelled. "Hell no not me!"
Darren chuckled. "What about you Johnny?"
"No I'm good." He laughed.
"Yeah me too!" Richie agreed chuckling.
All of a sudden the door swung open and out ran a guy swinging an ax and everybody ran all directions except for Darren who started laughing so hard he doubled over holding his belly as he laughed uncontrollably.
John looked back and stopped dead in his tracks as the guy sat the ax down and started laughing with Darren.
"You assholes! I almost had a fucking heart attack!" John yelled trying to catch his breath.
"Damn it Darren! What the fuck man?" Alec laid on the ground feeling like his heart was beating out of his chest.
"So it's all fake? The story about your family is just some kind of joke?" Richie asked confused at what was going on
"No the story is one hundred percent real. My Great Great Grandfather did kill everyone in his family except for my Great Granfather. I just set this up to scare the hell out of you guys! And it worked!" He chuckled.
"Damn you're an asshole!" Richie yelled out still trying to catch his breath.
"This is my cousin Aaron. He's from Philly. He's going to see how many people he can freak out tonight." Darren laughed.
"Sorry guys, hope there's no hard feelings."
Aaron walked over to them. "But it was pretty funny." He started laughing and they all joined in.
"Damn I thought I was a goner!" Alec laughed glad it was just a joke.
"Hey we should really freak the girls out tonight! You know they'll be scared shitless!" Richie laughed.
I don't know Ash was already freaked out a little by that note on her car."
"Even better! She will run to you to protect her. I'm a genius. We'll get them so scared! Then they will be putty in our hands!" Richie laughed.
"Maybe." John answered. I need to go get my other clothes out of the car. The girls should be here in a little while."
John walked over to the car and grabbed his clothes and cowboy hat. He went inside to the bathroom and changed and hauled his other clothes back to the car. He walked back inside and sat on the couch. Richie walked over to him. "Well hey Tex! Love the hat!" He chuckled.
"Oh shut up! Really how do I look?
"A little like Billy the kid."
"That's a good one that might be who I say I am tonight."
"Grab me one of those beers man."
Richie grabbed two bottles out of the ice and handed John one.
Alec walked in the house with two scantily clad girls.
"Man! Who are those hot chicks with Alec?" Richie asked bumping John on the shoulder to get his attention.
"Damn! I have no idea!" John replied turning all the way around checking them out.
Richie Johnny come here I want you guys to meet some people.
Richie and John walked over. "This is Tiffany and this fine thing here is Tori. She's really starting to grow on me a little bit." He smiled at her and she giggled.
"Hey." John smiled.
"Hi girls. What's up?" Richie grinned.
"Wow Johnny. I have been watching you sing at the Fast Lane. I try not to miss a show. You are really good." Tori gushed. "I haven't seen you in a while though."
"Thanks. I've been on the mend, but I'm feeling a lot better."
"Good well you certainly look one hundred percent." She looked him up and down and grinned.
John just kind of smiled surprised that Alec seemed to like her and she was flirting with him right in front of him.
Alec went outside and the girls followed him.
"Damn what was that?" Richie asked John laughing. "She's got the hots for you man!"
"No way! I'd take a bullet to the head first!"
Ashley touched up her makeup and changed into some really sexy clothes. "So what do you think?" She asked Stacey.
"Damn it girl you are going to drive all the guys wild. Who are you supposed to be?"
I don't know, I just found this top at a shop and really liked it. But look at it! Where could I ever wear this? I look like a hooker from the corner! John said dress sexy. Do you think this will be enough?"
"Well you are sexy as hell. The black gloves look so elegant."
"Thanks I love them! But still who can I say I am?"
"Well I'm going to be Kris from Charlie's Angels. I bought a two pack of toy guns. Why don't you be Jill? Here you can use the other gun. We can be Charlie's angels undercover! The guys jaws will drop to the floor!" Stacey laughed.
"Okay sure." Ashley grinned. Let's hurry up. I can't wait to see their faces when we walk in there in these get ups!"
They quickly finished getting ready and walked out to Stacey's jeep. After a thirty minute ride they pulled up to the farm Richie had given her the directions to.
The jumped out of the jeep and walked up to the door.
"Hello you too are looking mighty hot tonight!" Darren was almost drooling as he pulled the door open to get the first glimpse of the girls. "Come in!"
"Is Johnny here?" Ashley asked looking all around.
"He's out back. Come on follow me." He walked them through the house quickly. When Ashley walked outside she was surprised to see John standing with two girls.
"Hey Johnny somebody is here looking for you." Darren called out to him and he looked up and saw Ashley in the doorway.
"Hey you made it." John walked over to her. "Damn baby you look so hot! Wow! Where did you get that outfit?"
"I found it in a little shop in New York. Do you like it?"
"I love it but who are you supposed to be?" He asked racking his brain.
"Here Ash." Stacey handed her her gun out of her purse."
"Guess Johnny." Stacey giggled as they held their guns and struck a pose."
"I give up. I don't have a clue." He chuckled.
"Charlie's angels. I'm Kris and Ash is Jill." Stacey replied.
"Oh okay I see it now."
"Who are you supposed to be?" Stacey asked.
"Just a cowboy, but Richie said I look like Billy the kid."
"Oh okay yeah you do." Stacey replied.
"Richie who are you supposed to be?"
"I'm just a guitar player."
"Ash I need to go to the bathroom. Go with me okay."
"Okay I'll be right back." They walked up into the house.
Tori walked over to John. "Is that your girlfriend?"
"Yeah that's her."
"She's cute but she doesn't look like the right fit for you. I don't think she can give you everything you need. She looked at him and smiled hoping he knew what she meant.
"Huh?" He laughed. "She's way more than cute, she's totally hot! And I'm taken so end of conversation.
"But is she good in bed?"
"Damn you cut right to the point huh? I don't have any complaints." John replied and started to walk away.
"What's your hurry Johnny?" She grabbed him by the arm. John looked down at her hand and called over to Alec talking to a couple of guys by the beer table.
"Alec you need to call your chick off man!"
Alec walked over to them. "What's going on?"
"I ain't interested and she doesn't want to take no for an answer."
"Tori What's up with you? Is this why you wanted to come here? Why the fuck you asked me who was going to be here? Do you got a thing for Johnny?" He yelled really getting pissed off.
Ashley and Stacey walked out to the sounds of the yelling and stood beside the door watching.
Alec turned to John. "One chick is just never enough for you is it?"
"What? I didn't say shit to her! She was coming on to me!" John shouted back at him hating to be accused of something he wasn't even trying to do.
"Are you getting a little tired of the virgin Johnny? Is she not everything you thought she would be!" He swayed just a little as he yelled out all his alcohol infused words at John.
"You're drunk Alec! I ain't even after your chick man! I have my own and she's better!"
"Yeah you have two of them! Ashley and Dorothea! Dorothea who is going to make you a daddy soon! Huh Johnny?" He started laughing.
"What's so damn funny?" John asked wondering what was really up with this dude.
"Your so dumb Johnny boy! You don't even know what's going on! I mean everyday she's lying to you and like a damn fool you eat that shit up!"
John looked at Ashley and looked back at Alec. "Really she's lying to me huh? If you know so damn much why don't you tell me what Ashley's lying about?"
"I'm not talking about Ashley you dumbass! It's Dot!"
"What about her?" John asked all confused.
Alec started laughing. I guess it's high time you knew the fucking truth! You haven't noticed she seems a little bigger than a couple of months pregnant?"
"No! Why? What the fuck are you talking about?" John was really getting upset.
Dorothea is lying about when she got pregnant. That belly of hers is at least a whole month bigger than she says!"
John stood there doing the math in his head. "But I wasn't even with her then!"
"Bingo! You're finally catching on! Dot's been trying to trap you man!" Alec blurted out. Feeling a little satisfaction at finally bursting Dorothea's bubble with John.
John was a little dazed but mostly relieved. "But how'd you know about it Alec?"
"Because that ain't no little baby Bongiovi that bitch is carrying, it's a little baby Such!" Alec exclaimed proudly.
"It's your baby? You and Dot slept together?" John asked totally shocked.
