What's Up Doc?

In the bedroom Jon asked Richie, “Ok you heard her she messed up right?”

“Yeah but who is he?” Richie asked.

“I don’t know but how the hell do I get it out of her?” Jon wanted to know as he paced the floor.

“Well we can’t exactly slap the hell out of her. Can we?” he asked.

“WHAT? No we can’t. … No, no look we’re just going to have to have her think we know who he is and see if she hangs herself you with me?” Jon asked him.

“When am I not?” Richie told him shaking his head. Nodding they headed back out to the living room where Mindy was getting really antsy.

“Well if it isn’t Heckle and Jeckle. Look I don’t know anything so you might as just let me go and I’ll do you all a favor and won’t say anything to anyone ok?” she threaten them.

“Look if anyone is going to say anything to anyone it’s us got it!” Jon told her pissed. “Now you might as well just come clean with us and verify the info you have that matched ours and if it does we won’t call the police.” He told her straight.

“Look I told you I don’t know squat so you might as let me go.” She kept on telling them.

“Then who is he Sweetheart!” Richie asked her.

“Look I made a mistake you guys have me so confused I misspoke that’s all. Slip of the tongue.” She told them getting a little nervous now but wouldn’t show them yet.

“Uh huh not buying it Sweetheart. You tell us who he is and we can send you anywhere you want out of his reach. Even tomorrow morning if you want. Just give us a name.” Jon told her.

She looked at all four of them and knew they had money and also knew they could get her out and somewhere away from him before he knew she squealed on him. “You could do that?” she asked them.

Jon looked at the other guys and knew now that he had whoever. “Yup just a matter of a phone call.” He told her.

“Well you need to promise me one thing first.” She told him.

“Yeah what’s that?” Jon asked cautiously.

“That if I tell you who it is, you won’t go after him til I’m long gone got it? At least a day or so til I’m safe. Or the deal’s off.” She told them looking at all three.

Jon looked at all four of them one by one and they all shooked their heads yes. “Ok you’ve got a deal. Who is he Mindy?” Jon asked her hopefully for the last time as his nerves were on edge.

“It’s you’re fat ass manager Doc McGhee. He told us girls that if we wore the perfume and came on to you while you were drunk, you know the ones with the red hair we had pretty good chance of you picking us up. Which he was right because you were horny as hell and thinking we were your girlfriend.” Mindy explained to him.

Jon stood there pissed as hell that Doc used that info to use against him. The guys could see that Jon was going to blow. Tico walked up to him, “Jon are you alright? You need to stay calm we need you right now if we’re going to get Doc for this.” Tico explained to him.

Jon looked at Tico and told him, “Yeah I know Tico and I will but I’ll do it mostly for Ellie. Dave can you help Mindy here with her arrangements with Richie B. for me so she can get the hell out of here. The faster she’s gone the faster I can get my hands around Doc’s fat neck.” Jon told him angerily.

“Yeah sure no problem Jon. I’ll take her down to his room and get started on that now.” He told Jon.

“Wait what about my things in my apartment?” Mindy asked.

“You’ll get a short period to pack as they’ll drop you off on your way to the airport. Hey you wanted this so just pack what you can take. I’ll give you some spending money but that’s all you’re going to get out of me got it! I never want to hear from you again and if I do you’ll regret it for the rest of your life Mindy. I don’t think you want me to drag your uh hum what you do for a living through the courts now do you?” Jon threatened.

“Don't worry you won’t see me again.” She told him and walked off with David.

Once they left Richie turned to Jon and asked, “So what now? How the hell are we going to nail Doc?”

“That’s a good question and I have no idea. But we have a day or two to figure that out until Mindy’s safe. But in the meantime I need to talk to Tom and see if this is what we need to get Doc the hell off as our manager. This just might be it.” Jon said hoping.

“Are you going to explain everything to Ellie or are you going to hold this info from her?” Tico asked him.

“Oh shit. We promised each other no more lies.” He said.

“Well Jon it isn’t lies if you don’t say anything to her right?” Richie suggested.

“Well that’s true. As long as I don’t mention this part to her I’m not lying I like that.” he said smiling.

“Jon you know that’s not right and what if she finds out then how are you going to talk yourself out of it?” Tico want to know.

“Tico I’ll just have to worry about that when the time comes. If she asks then I’ll worry about telling her but I’ll just leave out some parts. I can’t tell her about being unfaithful that we kill her. I just found her again I can’t lose again. That’s the one thing that she won’t tolerate. I…I…” Jon started to stumble when Richie cut in.

“Jon we get it ok just calm down. You won’t lose her. She’s not Dotty where you didn’t care what you did or what she did. We see how different you are with her. How different you are with your son. You just do what you have to do and not be such a prick with us.” Richie told him as Jon punched him in the arm. “Owe!” Richie yelped.

Jon chuckled as he walked over to the couch and sat down.

***********************************************************************

A week had gone by and it was killing the guys because they knew what Doc had done and it was still happening, but Jon now knew how to handle it a lot better. He was able to tell the girls that came over to him that he wasn’t interested as there was a new one about every other night smelling of Wind Song. What helped was he wasn’t drinking so his senses weren’t compromised and could resist and get a clearer view of the girls that he was sending in. He and Richie did the rounds and would end back up in Jon’s hotel room and have a few drinks there before they would get some sleep. Thursday came and it was Jon’s time to see the doctor so the car was waiting for him downstairs.

“Come on Kidd the car is waiting for us and we’re going to be late get a move on will ya!” Richie yelled from the door.

“I fucking coming! I don’t see why I have to go now we’re going to nail Doc right?” Jon asked Richie as they walked out to the elevator.

“Yeah but we have to show him that we’re doing everything normal as to not give ourselves away. Get in will ya.” Richie told him. Jon just looked at him and turned to stall. “Jon get in the FUCKING ELEVATOR!” he demanded.

“FINE!” Jon told him as he stepped in and held his breath.

“God you and your freaking phobias. Get over it will you Kidd.” Richie told him as he was so not in the mood for this.

Thru gritted teeth Jon was able to bark out, “Fuck You!”

“Yeah same to you.” Richie said chuckling.

The car ride over was quiet and Jon was really nervous. He didn’t like doctors and especially ones he didn’t know. He didn’t pick this guy out Doc did which sent signals up for him. Problem was he was having problems with his throat. He didn’t want to tell the guys just how bad it was. They knew he was having some problems with his throat but not how bad.

They were sitting in the waiting room when the door to the outside opened and Doc walked in. The guys just looked at him and cringed. “Good you’re here I was afraid you wouldn’t show up. What’s Sambora doing here?” Doc asked.

Jon just looked up at him and answered him like he was just a one of those annoying reporters. “Because I asked him too.”  And went back doing what he was doing which was making notes on the song the guys were working on last night. Richie pointed over to the change and moved his hand over to something he was doing on the note pad and Jon just nodded. This was driving Doc crazy.

“Fine so has Shaw come out to tell you when he’s going to see you?” Doc want to know.

“His secretary said he’s running a bit behind so he should be out in about half an hour so why don’t you just sit down and keep your fat mouth shut.” Jon told him.   

“Watch it Bongiovi I can still make this tour of yours hell you got that?” he threatened him.

“You want to fucking threaten me McGhee?” Jon asked him as he got up to walk over to him but Richie grabbed him before he did something stupid especially where Doc has about two hundred pounds more on him.

“Jon not here ok?” Richie said thru gritted teeth.

Looking at McGhee Jon said, “Look Doc you’re just lucky were in a doctor’s office, actually this is the perfect place…” he then turned to Richie but Richie shooked his head no. “Fine Rich, again you’re lucky because my partner here says I shouldn’t so back off right now. I’m only here because of that damn contract of yours you got that.” Jon was saying as Dr. Shaw’s nurse came out.

“Mr. Bongiovi?” she asked.

Turning around to face her. “Yes I’m Mr. Bongiovi.” He told her.

“Dr. Shaw will see you now. Please come with me.” She told him. The three of them started to walk towards the door when the nurse stopped them. “I’m sorry Mr. Bongiovi but the doctor only needs to see you. He’s going to examine you. Are they related to you?” she asked him.

“Ah well Richie is like a brother to me and I would like him to come in with me if that’s all right?” Jon asked her.

“Well if it’s all right with you I don’t see why Dr. Shaw would have a problem with it. Why don’t you both come in and we’ll see what he says.” She told them.

“What about me?” Doc asked.

“You stay out here I don’t want you anywhere near me.” Jon told him flatly.

They walked inside to one of the rooms and Richie sat in one of the chairs as Jon sat in the other. The nurse gave Jon some paperwork to fill out and he started with that as Richie looked around. It was another good fifteen minutes before Dr. Shaw finally knocked on the door and entered.

“Mr. Bongiovi?” he asked him.

“Please call me Jon, Mr. is my father. Dr. Shaw this is my friend and brother Richie Sambora.” Jon told him as the nurse was in the corner on the room. She was a woman in her fifties so Jon and Richie were of no consequence to her. 

“That’s fine Jon and what about…” but Jon interceded before the doctor could finish his sentence.

“I’m sorry Dr. Shaw but Mr. McGhee can wait out here and anything about my health I will tell him is that clear?” Jon said with conviction.

“Well that’s fine Jon he can stay out here but he has the right to know what’s going on with you as it says right here in this paper he gave my office a few days ago. It states that you and the group and such are his and his rights and he has the rights to know everything regarding (flipping thru the pages) oh right it states right here the health and wealth fare to you and your band. You have read this over correct?” he asked Jon.

“Unfortunately yes but all the facts elude me at this minute only because I’m under all this stress.” Jon said thru gritted teeth.

“That’s very understandable. Stress can do a lot of things and that’s why we need to do this checkup so shall we go in?” he asked them as he showed them the way.

Richie wasn’t able to stay for most of Jon’s physical exam so he waited in the doctor’s office where Nurse Suzy put him. Jon had filled out all the necessary paperwork first before they got to the physical. Once that was over most to Jon’s delight as he just loved to be picked and probed at and had needles stucked in him as he sat around in a jonnie. Then came to checking Jon’s vocal cords so Nurse Suzy went to get Richie. He sat there as Dr. Shaw examined his throat and just kept um humming thru the examine. Jon kept glancing over at Richie as he just kept smiling and Jon giving him the stink eye threw the whole thing.

“Ok Suzy if you can show Jon and Richie to my office so we can talk. Oh and please bring that Mr. McGhee in also. I’ll be there in just a few.” Dr. Shaw told her. Jon and Richie just looked at each other and followed her to his office then waited til Doc got there.

“Ok Rich what the hell was that all about? I mean he didn’t say anything but oh and humming? I mean what the hell! How the hell could he tell anything by just examining me like that?” Jon wanted to know.

“I don’t know. Was your ass not pink enough?” Richie said to him trying not to laugh.

“You’re an ass.” Jon told him stone face.

“Ok, ok I’m sorry I’m nervous too he seemed to get quiet after he examined your throat. We just need to wait and see what he says when Doc gets in here ok?” Richie told him nervously.

They both were jumping in their seats when the door open and both the doctor and Doc walked in. Doc sat down next to Richie and waited for the doctor to sit.

Shuffling some papers before he spoke and annoying Jon even more Dr. Shaw looked at him and then started. “Ok Jon will get the results of your tests back in a few days. I put a rush on them. But when I did look at your throat I did take a culture so that also will be back with the rest of the results also. But I do want to talk to you about how you’re going to take care of your throat.” He asked him.

“What do you mean take care of it? I do my scales and clear my throat before I go on stage if that is what you mean.” He told the doc.

“Partially but do you say drink tea before you go on and after?” he asked him.

“Well I drink it when I feel my throat is sore and I drink it with honey.” He told him a little worried now.

“Do you gargle with anything?”

“Like what?” Jon asked getting scared now.

“With warm water or warm water with salt or Hydrogen Peroxide?” he asked as he sat there really not showing any emotion at all.

“No just with Listerine.” Jon said getting annoyed also. “Could you please tell me what the fuck you found because all this is just pissing me off now?” Jon told him as Richie put a hand to his back to try and calm him down.

“These questions are very vital for me to try and help you in understanding why you have these cysts on your vocal cords and the back of your throat.” He told them. Jon’s eyes went wide as did Richie’s.

Doc spoke up first. “Dr. Shaw is this going to stop Jon from singing anytime soon? I mean he has a couple more months of touring and has an album to cut? What can we do to help him because he has a great future with his band. They’re going to be the number one band they’re albums are climbing the charts.” Dr. Shaw could see the concern coming from Doc and just shooked his head in disbelief. Jon and Richie had to hold their temperaments because there was a witness.

“Despite your concern for your client Doc he is going to need rest on his vocals cords when he’s not on stage. And if he does as he’s told we might be able to treat these cysts without operating on them or using unconventional methods he if chooses. I have an associate I can recommend that can go on tour with you and be your personal doctor so he can treat you and your throat but you’ll have to do everything he suggests. He’ll go by my plan that I recommend. Do you think you can do that Jon?” Dr. Shaw asked him.

“Well we’ll have to look it over and if I agree to it I don’t see why not.” Jon told him.

“It won’t be that bad. It will consist of what I just told you. Gargling with warm water and salt and if we have to boost it to the Hydrogen Peroxide we will. Lots of tea and honey that will help coat your vocal cords. And I want you to get a vocal coach he or she will show you how to work your voice correctly. That’s a must Jon. Doc you and him must do this A.S.A.P. got it. Dr. Andrew Colton will be in touch with you in a day or two. He’s in his forties and has been doing this for about fifteen years now so he is very qualified in this subject. If you want to keep your voice Jon do not give him any crap or you will be a thing of the past. He’ll keep me updated and I’ll see you back in about four months. We’ll see how the cysts are doing and if they are the same we’ll just continue doing the same things. If they are doing worse I’ll ask you what you want to do and I’ll offer you alternative suggestions.” He told them.  

Jon looked at Richie then Dr. Shaw. “Can I ask you what those alternative suggestions are?”

“Why don’t we wait and see where we are then ok? Why wait and see if it’s bad news when we get good news right?” He told him. “Now just start tonight with what I told you and keep doing what you are. Oh and I hear you have a bad temper? Try not to yell ok? That will help also. Richie you and the rest of the band will have to help on that.” He told him.

“Yeah right have you ever heard of the term When hell freezes over?” Richie chuckled.

“Isn’t that the truth?” Doc said.

And yes Jon gave them both the stink eye. “Well I see you all have your hands full so if you don’t have any further questions you can find yourselves out.” Dr. Shaw told them.

They went into the reception area where there was still no one around and Jon told Doc they would see him later. Doc got the message and told them that he would discuss this with him later. Then Jon told Richie to get the guys together tonight so they could go over everything that they had discussed here and make a plan and figure out what they would need to do when they were on stage when he would need them. Richie told him not to worry, things would be ok and that they would get thru this…together. Jon smiled and thanked him. Now how was he going to tell Ellie? Richie just looked at him and told him just to tell her and that it was easy to tell the woman you loved.