Chapter 3

We had it planned, as me, ma and pop came out of ICU with Jon, Tico, Dave and Alex went in.

Back out in the waiting area, my mind was like a machine replaying over all the times Jon had taken a shot, gone out and performed and then came off stage and collapsed. It was scary but it had become part of the routine for us, But it was still running through my mind was there anyway I could have stopped this. Jon was as stubborn as the fucking Manager we had that pushed him daily. Doc's work ethic and preaches had sunk in way to deep for my liking with Jon. Each time Dr George Manning had given Jon a steroid shot I should have stopped it and said to Doc, "No, we ain’t performing, Jon needs to rest his voice." Jon had seen a few specialists during the tour after we all asked him too. let me be clear here, when I say we, I mean Tico, Dave, me and Alex.

One throat analysis told Jon his chords were swollen and he needed to rest them for 4 weeks to allow the swelling and soreness to subside, mentioning that if he chose to ignore his body it could have serious reprecaution's. No shit!!! look at where we are now, thing is immediately after seeing the specialist Jon headed off to see Doc McGhee, and that's when he brought in Dr George Manning. Fuck, why didn't I fight harder.

Excusing myself from Ma B, I walked over to the payphone and called Dot again. letting the phone ring I kinda half didn't want her to answer and half did. This was gonna be a shit conversation and Dot did not mince her words, no sir I was not gonna enjoy having to explain this one bit. The phone rang and rang, no reply. returning the phone to the cradle I collected my dime and went back to sit with Ma B and Pop. They were both sat together, trying to console each other.

"Richie, why did this happen to my son? what went so wrong for my son to end up fighting for his life?" her eye's pleaded with me for answers, answers I did not want to or have to give, this was Docs fault. Where the fuck was the Dr that had caused this fucking mess?. Who the fuck knew. bending down and taking Ma's hand I could not answer her directly, but simply held her hand and apologized again for the heartache she, no we could all be facing.

With tears in her eye's, she gently touched my face, "Richie, thank you, you are a good boy. thank you for being there for my Jonny, you are a good friend." tears still welled in her eyes, but somehow she managed to stop them spilling and rolling on to her cheeks. I smiled at Ma, and held her hand that little bit tighter.

Out of nowhere alarms started ringing and nurses and doctors ran from every direction and headed into Jon's room.

Dave, Tico and Alex all came out. They looked as white as sheets. letting go of Ma's hand I went over to the guys and asked them what had happened. Tico spoke, "Man, we dunno, we are sat talking to Jon, next thing his eye's shoot open and he starts ripping the lines outta his body, then he collapses again, out cold. man that was fucking scary."

Looking back at Ma and pa, they simply held each other closer and tighter there eye's as wide as saucers. We all watched the pandemonium taking place around Jon's bedside. Complete and utter craziness. I guess watching the nurses and Doctors trying to save Jon, no one saw or heard Doc McGhee, until he tapped me on my shoulder.

I spun round and he was the last person I expected to see stood there beside me. "How is he Richie?"

"he's having a party can't you see that? he's fucking fighting for his life you low life piece of shit?, how the fuck do you think he is?"

Ma raised from her seat next to pa and stood next to me. "Richie, who is this?"

"Ma, this is our no good fuck manager Doc McGhee."

"Is he the one that's responsible for my son being in hospital?" she spoke to me, but kept her eye's on Doc, eying him up.

"Yeah, he is ma"

"thank you Son." moving forward standing in front of me, Mrs B spoke to Doc. "Mr McGhee, let me start by thanking you so much for bringing my family together in the most horrendous way imaginable. Given what I am witnessing and what I have seen and heard, I am disgusted that you are known as a human being. how can you subject my son to have gone through what he has to make you money. you have no empathy, compassion understanding or morality in any one of your bones. Well Mr Doc McGhee, let me tell you what we” pointing to her husband,” do in situations like this. we all unite and fight, but.... and I mean but.... if anything should happen to my son, I will personally hunt you down and kill your muther fucking sorry ass, and I won't lose a nights sleep over it. you are the lowest of the low and my boy deserved better than some ass wipe like you..." raising from his seat, and standing next to ma, Pop got hold of Mrs B and hugged her and tried to console her, and asked a question directly at Doc.

"Why are you here?" before Doc could answer Pa, did it for him. "Don't tell me its because you care for my son?, nah your here because you need to make sure your golden boy survives to make you more money right?" at last Doc spoke,

"Mr Bongiovi, I am sorry for your son being in hospital. I hired the best Dr in the state of Vegas for your son. I am not a Dr and I don't profess to be. Jon, your Son, insisted on performing not me..." rage flared inside of me, Dave and Tico... I managed to get to him first.

"You lying son of a bitch, you fucking got your Dr to shoot Jon up every night so he would go out on stage and perform for you. how can you fucking lie. I told you Doc, you are fucking fired, we don't need you."

"I'm sorry Richie, but you are under contract to me, well actually Jon is under contract with me, you're just his hired hands, so, until Jon tells me I'm fired, I am still manager of this band, like it or not. " He stood there with a smug grin on his face.

Within in a instant the next thing we know Doc is lying flat on the floor with his nose blooded. I turned to see who, and saw that Pa had landed him one straight on the nose, bent over he spoke, "Well, Richie may not be a Bongiovi, but I fucking am, I am head of the Bongiovi family and now you have a issue cause this is personal between you and me. You are fired and what's more, I am gonna sue you for all your worth, I will make sure that no one else suffers at your hands, now getting your fucking ass off this floor and get the fuck outta my sight before I fucking kill you." Doc, for first time in his life looked scared and without another word he dragged his bones off the floor and outta the hospital.