Scars

They had taken their time with each other re-exploring each other’s bodies when he came across something that put his stomach in knots. He didn’t want to show her his reaction to it because he didn’t want to break this magical night that they were having but he was going to ask her in the morning about these rough patches he feels on her back and butt. He sure as hell doesn’t remember that on her the last time that they had made love. They continued on and off all night showing each other how much they missed each other when finally they drifted off to sleep either from exhaustion or ecstasy or both as neither one could really pin point how they were feeling right now.

The telephone rang five hours later which for Jon it was nine a.m. He wanted to get up a little earlier than the others but forgot that he was going to see Ellie the previous night.

“What was that about?” she asked him still half asleep.

“Sorry it woke you. It was my wake up call I wanted to get up before the others because I have a few things I wanted to do. But now screw it. You’re on my list for this afternoon now so since you’re up I’ll just...” He said running his hands over her stomach.

“No no no if you have work to do you better do it. Oh God what time is it?” she sat up straight.

“It’s past nine Babe why?” he told her looking at her concerned.

“I’m supposed to be at work!” she told him all upset.

“So call in. That way you can stay with me the whole day. I’m sure your Mom won’t care seeing she takes care of Jimmy anyway.” Jon told her kissing her shoulder.

Annoyed now, “Jon stop! That’s not the point oh this was a mistake.” She said out load when she meant to keep it to herself.

Sitting there looking at her, “What was a mistake? Us making love? Because I don’t think so. Ellie I love you and I want you to come with me on tour. So have you’ve given it any thought at all?” he asked her a little unnerved now.

“Jon that’s all I do is think about it but there’s more than just you and I now. If it was just me I could give you an answer right now but it’s not just you and me now is it. Until you can promise me that it will be child friendly I can’t. Can you understand that?” she asked him holding her breath.

Jon thought about it for about a second and looked at her loving. “If I can prove to you that I can provide everything that you want you’ll come with me? Then Baby pack your things.” He told her as he leaned in and kissed the hell out of her. She was giggling uncontrollably until he moved his hand to her back and felt the welts again so this time he was going to ask her what happened even thou he might not like the answer. Lying next to her while he had one hand on her back and the other pushing the hair out of her eyes he gathered the courage to ask her, “Ellie don’t get mad at me please but these scars on your back and well butt where did you get them? I don’t remember you having them before.” He asked her with all the love in his heart.

Damn it she thought it’s been so long that she even forgot about them. They don’t hurt anymore. And it was Jon she was never shy around him because he made her feel beautiful about herself. Smiling shyly and trying to move away from him but he wouldn’t let her go she said, “Would you believe I fell down some stairs?” she tried to say jokingly.

Jon wasn’t in a joking mood about this. He has a feeling where she got these marks but he had to hear it from her. “That’s not funny Ellie now where did you get these welts!” he asked her a little more harsh.

Ellie knew Jon had a temper but back when they were kids she really never saw it. So for him to use it on her like Michael used to was a little unnerving. She didn’t want to show him that it affected her because she knew the consequences wouldn’t be good (at least in her head it wouldn’t) so she told him what happened. “Yeah I think you know what happen ok so let’s just drop it.” She told him as she tried to get up for real this time as she struggled thru his grip but still didn’t work.

“Stop it will you. I just want to know if it was that jackass that did this to you. Because I would really hate to hurt the wrong person.” He told her as he gathered her up in his arms.

Looking at him and smirking, “Hurt the wrong person that’s so Italian of you.” She told him giggling.

“Go ahead laugh at me but I mean it. I thought you told me you left him after he hit you the one time.” He asked her.

Sighing, “You’re not going to like this and I thought you read the police report?” she asked him.

“I did said how he was stalking you and then you filed for the restraining order why is there more?” he asked her a little nervous.

“Oh Jon yeah there is. After I filed the restraining order everything was quiet for a couple of weeks to throw me off. Then one night I was doing inventory at work and I got out about a little after two a.m. when I got to my car well I don’t remember much after that. I just remember waking up in his house. That’s when he did the back and ass as he said I was a bad bad girl. I don’t remember a lot my therapist say’s that’s normal after being…well you know.”  She told him as she started to choke up a bit. Jon held her as tight as he could and told her that he wouldn’t let anything like that happen to her again. She was glad he didn’t want a blow by blow of what she did remember because she didn’t want to go over it again and she also didn’t think he could take it seeing how upset he gets. They stayed in bed for about another hour and a half before the knocking started on his door.   

Shooting up shocked Ellie asked, “What the hell is that!”

“Dead band mates!” Jon said pissed as he got out of bed and put on some pants. “Just stay covered up and I’ll take care of these assholes.” He said as he went to the door. As he unlocked the door he quickly opened it and stepped out into the hall where Richie and Dave were.

“So I take it she’s still here?” Dave asked him smiling all goofy.

“Yeah she’s still here so you guys beat it.” Jon told them eagerly.

“Well I hate to ruin your little love fest but I need a change of clothes.” Richie told him as he was shifting from foot to foot.

“Well can’t you borrow something from Dave? You guys are about the same build.” He told them as he kept looking behind him as if someone was standing there.

“Is she behind the door or something because you keep looking behind yourself?” Rich asked him curious.

“No look I just want to get back to her before she has to leave.  Hey you guys wouldn’t care if she and Jimmy joined us on tour would you?” Jon asked them hopefully.

Looking at each other and shrugging their shoulders Dave said, “Well it wouldn’t bother me but I can’t answer for Alec or Tico what about you Rich?”

“Well Dave’s right it wouldn’t bother me either but Tico and Alec well we can’t answer for them but I don’t see that Tico would care. Alec I think he could go either way. But why would you want to have them come with us? You know as well as we do it’s not fitting for them to come with us especially a kid Jon.” Richie told him.  

“Because I haven’t been with them for so long I don’t want to waste anymore time that’s why.” He told them.

“Hey I was just asking you don’t have to get all defensive on me save that one for Doc when you tell him this. He’s the one that’s going to freak out.” Richie told him.

“Oh yeah he’s going to freak out Jon plus you didn’t even run this by him.” Dave said to him.

“I’ll handle him. Look just come and get me an hour and a half before we have to take off ok? I ‘ll have to take Ellie home.” Jon asked him. Richie decided to see what he could scoop out of Dave’s closets and just wait til Jon left to take Ellie back home so he could change. Jon went back inside and found Ellie sound asleep. Yeah he could get used to this without a doubt. He just stood there and stared at her for a few minutes smiling and thinking of the years he missed out on with her and Jimmy. And all it would have taken was a phone call that his Mom wouldn’t tell him that he had gotten. Taking off his jeans and getting back into bed he snuggled back up into Ellie and put his arms around her. God he thought she smelled so good. So he pulled back her hair and was putting his nose and lips to the back of the neck when he could hear her start to giggle.

“Jon please you know that tickles me.” She told him quietly.

“Well I had to wake you up somehow didn’t I?” he asked her.

“Yeah well I guess it is time to get up. When are you leaving today?” she asked kind of sadly.

“About five today. Ellie do you have your check book and your saving account with you?” he wanted to know.

“Well I have my check book but not my savings why?” she asked him curiously.

“Ok don’t get mad at me but I want to put money in them so you’ll have something to live on.” He told her happily.  

“Well I appreciate that Jon but we can manage.” She told him nonchalantly.

“But I want to, I want to make sure that you have enough to pay off any bills that you have and to get whatever you to come on tour with me. Then whatever you need you can just pick it up as we go along. But I am going to have to know as soon because I’ll have to make sure we make the arrangements like you and I we’ll be having our own hotel room and on the bus our own closed off cabin. Oh and at the venues we’ll have to have a place to keep Jimmy so I’m going to need a dressing room and maybe we can get Spanky to help out on the babysitting duties, you remember her she was at the store that day when we…” Jon was cut off by Ellie who started laughing.

“Oh God Jon will you stop you’re going a mile a minute. We need to take this slow I’m sorry. Jon you may regret having us on tour with you and that would break my heart.  And I’m still having a problem with uprooting Jimmy.” She was telling him as he cut in.

“Ellie we’ve been apart too long and now we know why. I don’t want to be apart from you another minute more and I thought you felt the same way. What’s really going on?” Jon wanted to know.

“Jon there’s nothing going on believe me. I’ve made a good life here for the two of us, a stable life that Jimmy can count on. Even when all that crap was going on it didn’t affect him. That’s because my family made sure of it. So excuse me if this is causing me to take some time and really think about this decision.” She told him as she looked deep into his blue eyes that drove her crazy.

Not letting go of her he kissed the top of her head. “Ellie I get that really I do. But I’m here now and it’s my turn, my turn to protect the two of you. Ok I’m still giving you the timeline then of the two weeks ok and then I want an answer but if it’s no we’ll have to work something out for my time of seeing him.” He said to her.

“Wait if I say no we’re not going with you are you going to sue me for custody?” she asked him shocked.

“No I’m not going to sue you for custody ok I would never do that to you. I just want to work something out so were not crashing into each other that’s all. Is that what you’re afraid I’m going to do is sue you?” Jon asked her concerned.

Ellie didn’t want to answer the question. “Jon all you have to do is ask for a DNA test and it’s that simple. Actually it’s kind of funny isn’t it? A rock star trying to prove he’s the father of a child.” She said chuckling.

“Hey but usually their not in love with the mother or the child are they? I told you before Ellie we’ll get thru this if you give me a chance. Come on let’s get dress and I’ll get you home I still have a manager to talk to.” He told her.

Jon dropped her off at home after they had lunch together and he even spent some time with Jimmy before he left. The guys and Doc were waiting for him as Richie had packed up his things for him. Doc was having a nervous breakdown and wanted to know more about this girl that had walked into Jon’s life. Dave told him she didn’t just walk into his life but reappeared into his life, Doc didn’t care how you put it; it was upsetting his routine and distracting his lead singer which in his book wasn’t good. Jon got back to the hotel a little later than he had expected. When he opened the door to his room Doc was waiting for him.

“Well it’s about time you got back here loverboy.” McGhee loudly said.

Rolling his eyes, “What the fuck do you want Doc.” Jon asked sarcastically.

“Where the hell have you’ve been? The guys have been giving me all these lame excuses so finally I just kicked them out of here. So bigshot do you want to tell me where the hell you’ve been for the past few hours?” he asked him really excitedly.

“It’s none of your business where the hell I’ve been and where’s my stuff?” Jon asked as he looked around the room.

“Sambora packed it for you. It’s down in the van where the guys are and where you should be. So now that you got your pussy let’s go where gonna be late. You know just because you’re the lead singer and the cute one…” But that’s all Doc was able to get out as Jon grabbed him and started on him.

“DOC SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!! Don't you ever say anything like that again do you understand me. You don’t know anything about that girl so if you say anything about her again I’ll knock you into tomorrow got that! And I’m the one that signs your God damn pay checks so don’t you forget that either you moron. Oh and by the way she’s also the mother of my son so Bite Me!” Jon yelled as he went to join his brothers.

Doc stood there in shock for a moment and then, “Jon!!!”

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 Two weeks had gone by and the guys were playing in Florida, Doc was trying to get more info out of Jon about what he had said to him in the hotel back in Worcester but Jon just kept telling him to fuck off. Finally Doc did corner him and demanded what the hell was going on and Jon just blurted everything out to him and if he didn’t like it then to fucking bad. And that he told her that he was bringing her on tour with them that’s when Doc had a shit hemorrhage.

“Jon there is no fucking way you can bring this broad on tour with us and a kid! First of all it’s not your tour you idiot! Plus you’re the one that’s bringing out the girls you do know that right? They find out that you’re a Dad that’s going to blow the whole deal.” Doc told him straight. “You know I hate to tell you this but you’re attractive to both men and woman.” Doc chuckled.

“You know you’re a Son of a Bitch!” Jon spat back at him angrily.

“Hey as long as you go out there and shake your ass on stage I don’t give a damn what you do in your personal life but I don’t want it to come back and bite us in the ass you got that! They’re not coming on tour plain and simple! The record company won’t pay for them and you don’t have the money either trust me you don’t.” Doc explained to him.

Jon wasn’t happy but he knew he was right. He wouldn’t be able to keep them on the road with him for too long if he had to pay himself. He was so sick of being an opening act. He wanted to be the headliner so bad. But they had just finished their second album and it was just working its way up the charts. Jon had gone to see about sound check as the guys were talking and waiting for him. Richie saw that he wasn’t smiling and thought here we go again. He’s been bitchy since we left his girlfriend and kid and he so needs to get out of this attitude now.

“Hey Kidd what’s up your ass today?” Richie asked him as he waited for Jon to chew his head off.

“Just had it out with Doc again over Ellie. So tired of his shit. He wants me to keep it quiet that I have her and Jimmy you know?” Jon told them upset.

“Well Jon I get his point you know. I mean it would be kind of hard to have her and the kid with us you traveling from city to city wouldn’t it?” Dave asked him carefully as the others looked on.

Jon just looked at the rest of them then asked, “Do the rest of you feel this way too?” They all kind of nodded as Jon just wanted to scream. He pinched the bridge of his nose and yelled, “THIS IS MY BAND, MY BAND!”

Richie then spoke up, “No Jon this is our band, and you know that. Look Dave and Tico each have girlfriends that they would love to have with them on tour too. But they don’t because they are making the sacrifices for their love of the music as you are.  So if you bring yours on then you have to let them bring theirs right? Only fair.” He hoped Jon wouldn’t get to mad at him.

Jon wanted to scream only because he knew Richie was right. Tico then spoke up, “Hey why don’t we come back later and try this again ok and Richie why don’t you and Jon go somewhere and talk this out. We’ll meet back here say around four.” The guys took off as Jon and Richie stood there staring at each other.

“Oh God Richie when did everything go to crap.” Jon asked his best friend.

“When we discovered girls. So Doc talked to you huh? Look Jon once we get established then we can do whatever we want. But until then we have to adhere to the rules to the suits.” Rich told him.

“But I’ve been bugging the crap out of her to give me an answer. Plus I told her to give her employer her notice. She’s supposed to give me her answer this week.” Jon told him.

“Well then I’d get on the phone with her and tell her not to do it or she’ll really be pissed off at you won’t she. Because she has to raise your son on something and if she doesn’t have her job well she won’t be a happy camper will she.” He asked him.

“No I guess not. Unless…” Jon said with a smile.

“Oh that’s not a good sign is it?” Richie noted.

“Well wait a minute, what if she does quit her job and then when she can she and Jimmy can come out and visit every now and then right? If she had her job she just couldn’t leave at the drop of the hat but if she isn’t working she can come out any time she wants too with or without Jimmy right?” Jon stated.

“Yeah I guess but Jon she has to pay her bills and her insurance and stuff right? How is she going to do that?” Richie asked him.

“Oh for crying out loud I’ll pay all that. I owe her child support anyway don’t I? I’ll just pay what she needs that’s all.” Jon told him happily.

“Is this coming from the same guy that when his ex-Dotty was spending too much of his money had a fit and put her on an allowance and that same person told him to shove it where the sun don’t shine. You’re willing to give your money away freely again to a chick you really don’t know or haven’t seen in years. Either you know something I don’t or you’re the dumbest man in the world.” Richie expressed his opinion to him.

“Look Rich I know that you’re concerned for me but I have offered her this money a couple of times before and she wouldn’t take it. I know what I’m doing really I do.” Jon told him.

“Wait you tried giving her this before but she wouldn’t take it?” Richie asked him. Jon shooked his head no and waited for his next question. “Jon most people would jump at the chance for this and she said no? Well maybe you have lucked out. But you just can’t ask her to sit at home either and to wait and do nothing either while you’re out making a living and she’s not. She’s been doing this now for the past what five years now she’s used to being on her own. Look do me a favor and make sure you’re doing this for the benefit of your family and not because your being selfish and lonely ok. Now come why don’t we go get a drink and relax a bit and maybe a bite to eat before we have to get back here how does that sound?” Richie asked him.

Jon smiled and thought that was a good idea. He would call Ellie later and talk to her about everything and see what she would say. He felt a lot better and now could concentrate on the concert tonight.