Chapter One

Chapter One

Jon sat in the booth of the dimly lit bar, hoping to stay out of sight, glancing for the fifteenth time at his watch in ten minutes he sighed, he loved Richie like a brother but his casualness to timekeeping often niggled at Jon, and tonight was no exception.

He ran his finger around the rim of the glass that held his Jack Daniels and contemplated life for just a second. He had many things to be grateful for in life, the success of the band, his brothers, his children, and of course how long his marriage did last under the extreme pressure of everything that happened.

He applauded Dot for sticking it out with him as long as she did, he knew he’d been an asshole and his job, his dreams and his stubborn ambition drew them apart in the end. He loved his children more than anything in the world and it pained him that he wasn’t seeing them on a day to day basis like before.

Granted, they had an open custody agreement, they were both still on great terms for the children. They just didn’t love each other the way a husband and wife did anymore.
In amidst of his life contemplation he didn’t notice a tall dark figure saunter into the bar, tilting his black cowboy hat at bartender on his way to the booth, flashing the bar waitress one of those killer smiles and ordering his usual before approaching the booth. Jon looked up at the familiar warm smirk of his friend, his brown eyes dancing.

“Kidd….” He said as Jon stood up and embraced him like brothers do before they sat down.

“Jesus Sambora, I swear you are just late these days to piss me off” Jon smirked as they sat back down, as the waitress put down a coaster and a cold bottle of beer in front of Richie.

“What’s the hurry, not like we’re going anywhere” Richie joked taking a long sip of his beer.

“How’d ya be keeping anyway Kidd, you look like shit” Richie commented noticing Jon’s sparkle and gleam substantially missing from his eyes.

“Gee thanks, always can count on you to make me feel good” Jon commented with a wry smile.

“How are the kids, and Dot?” Richie asked hoping that wasn’t a sore subject for him, it had been three months since he’d moved out. The band especially had noticed Jon’s withdrawal, but being one to deal with his problems on his own, Richie knew he would come to him when he was ready. And now seemed like that time.

“Yeah good, the kids are... well great. They have made this thing so easy, I am really proud of them…. And Dot, she’s been good I guess” Jon trailed away deep in thought.

“You’re kids are fantastic Jon, real keepers, tell them their Uncle Rich misses them” Richie said warmly.

“I will” he replied distantly, then all of a sudden snapping back to life

“Anyway, I was thinking Rich, its time” Jon said taking a long draw from his glass and placing it back empty on the table.

“Well praise the lord, he’s finally come around” Richie said breaking out in a smile.

“You know Tico and David have been itching to get back into the studio for ages” Richie added.

“I know, I know, and I did too, its just” he stopped as he noticed something at the bar. A woman sitting cross legged on a bar stool talking to the bar tender, she was no more than mid thirties, long dark hair that rested just below her shoulders, and a smile that lit the entire room, but it wasn’t that, that had caught Jon’s eye.

“What in hellfire …………..” Jon asked as he watched what he could only assume her date had dropped something into her drink while she was chatting to the bar tender. Richie followed his gaze and smiled to himself when he saw the woman, she had Jon’s type written all over her.

“Like something you see?” Richie asked Jon raising his eyebrow.

“No, god, no Rich, that guy she is with, I am sure he just dropped something in her drink, but I can’t be sure as I just caught the end of it” he explained still fixated on the scene in front of him.

“Well you can’t just go busting over there” Richie warned as Jon’s actions often came without warning in the past.

“I know, I know, Sorry, I just hope that asshole isn’t doing what I think he is” he said as he watched the woman turn back and take a sip of her drink now chatting to the guy she was with.

“Anyway, Kidd… recording… so we are going to go Nashville? Like discussed?” Richie asked. Jon stared longer and then pulled himself back to his friend’s attention.

“Right, yeah, for sure Rich we should have a meeting about this, I’ll call the guys and we can meet up for a plan” Jon confirmed his business like tone now returning.

“God it will be good to get back in there, after the past year” Richie said with relief leaning back putting his hands behind his head.

Jon smiled warmly at his friend; he’d had a rough year no doubt about it, with love woes and his father who also was a personal friend to Jon and the band, losing his battle with Cancer.

“Yes Rich, it will be, for all of us” Jon confirmed. The next record meant so much to them all as in a way it was time to put their own personal tragedies and losses and wins, down on manuscript and move on, it was their healing process and they all knew it. It was time.

Jon and Richie spent the next hour discussing the plans for the studio sessions that they were about to embark on and their ideas flowing already, like artists with full pallets they discussed ideas and possible song lyrics with excitement.

Jon felt already more relaxed than he had in a long time, being back in his niche. Richie felt it too, seeing the familiar blue sparkle return to his eyes as he talked violins, guitar riffs and percussion with ease. Jon had forgotten about the woman and the maybe asshole at the bar until he noticed her stand up, she was clearly wobbly and unstable. The guy she was with was only too happy to try and brace her.

“Shit” Jon muttered, confirming his suspicions she had been drugged. She was none the wiser giggling and saying she didn’t usually drink this much.

Richie looked around and no sooner than he did Jon had risen from the booth and was walking over there.

“Jon!” Richie hissed but it was too late, and what was the point, he never listened to him anyway once he’d made his mind up, Richie followed Jon up to the bar.
Jon strides over to where the guy who was whispering in the girl’s ear, she looked relaxed but on edge, she wouldn’t know what was happening to her. Jon had seen it all before, he never had resorted to drugging woman, but then again he all honestly never had to.

“Um excuse me, sir” he said making his presence known. The guy turned and saw who it was that was interrupting his possible sex conquest.

“Hey! You’re Jon Bon Jovi” he said rather loudly, attracted some unwanted attention from on lookers.

“That I am, and you are?” Jon asked calmly.

“Sam, Sam Driver” he said holding out his hand for Jon to shake it. But Jon didn’t.

“Sam, I think you should leave this young lady alone” Jon said quietly not to attract any more attention than already was on them.

Sam laughed “Oh I see…. You want her too, she’s a pretty one isn’t she” Sam winked. Jon shook his head looking at the ground, when he noticed Richie joined his side.

“Richie fucking Sambora!” Sam exclaimed “Oh this just keeps getting better, what you both want her now?” Sam asked propping her up, she was beginning to fade and Jon could see it.

“Listen buddy, we know what you are doing, we don’t want any trouble, why don’t you just leave the lady here and leave and we’ll call it even” Richie said backing Jon’s sentiment.

Sam laughed “Oh please, you have no idea what you are talking about, this is my girlfriend Jesse, she’s just a little drunk” Sam said kissing Jesse on the cheek “Aren’t ya doll” he said as she lay her head on Sam’s shoulder.

The young bar waitress who was standing behind Sam out of his view, shook her head at Jon, to signal he was lying, she knew they had just met as Jesse had been talking to her waiting for him to arrive; it had been a blind date.
Jon smiled a thankful smile and continued his request.

“Listen Sam, I think you oughta leave, I can’t let you take her, or I will be ringing the police” Jon warned. Sam looked at Jon and then at Richie, he could take them, they were just forty something rock stars, didn’t mean they were any threat to him physically. He put Jesse down to on a near by chair and went to look like he was leaving, but instead he went to throw a right hook at Jon, Jon saw it coming and blocked it and kicked Sam right in the groin, with his leather cowboy boots he was wearing with his jeans. Sam screamed in pain and doubled over.

Security by now had been called and arrived on the scene and grabbed one side of Sam each who was still wallowing in pain.

“Shit Jon” Richie muttered, Jon leaned forward up to Sam’s ear.

“If you ever see her again, I will make personally sure that you’ll never be able to inflict this world with your offspring… am I clear” he snarled in his ear.

“Fuck you Bon Jovi” Sam muttered as he was carried away.
Jon looked around, the attention was on him but he flashed an icy stare to those around him so they continued their conversations as if nothing happened.

“Shit, Jon, where did you learn to kick like that” Richie asked.

“Just a few things the wife taught me “he grinned, sweeping his hair back with his fingers as he knelt down to the girl who was still barely conscious.

“Hey darlin, I am going to make sure you get home ok” he whispered to her lacing a hand on hers.
She just nodded at him but Jon wasn’t sure she actually knew where she was or what was going on.

“Richie – get her purse” he instructed Richie as he picked her up in his arms and continued out the door of the bar.

“Roger that” he grabbed the purse off the bar, flashing a smile to the bar waitress.

“Its ok, I’m used to it. He’s the knight in shining armour, I’m just the horse: he chuckled winking at her, her obvious blush pleased Richie, still had it, 46 years and counting.

“We’ll make sure she gets home safely darling” he said as he went to follow Jon out.