Chapter 21

With the detectives gone, Jon's conversation with Alec, using the board was limited and strained to say the least. Given all the shit and the crap Alec had brought to the band, with Jon bearing a grudge, he could not understand why he wanted to help and be tested. Despite his reservations Alec had the test then left the hospital.

Dorothea was just as shocked as Jon and me. 

"Who would have thought, Alec coming in like that, from what you two have told me unless there is a buck in it he wont do anything for anyone"

"Yeah, and I don't think he's been tested now out of the kindness in his heart, simply cos its black, and he aint got one." 

Jon nodded and pointed to his board. 

He wrote " I'm more gonna believe he's mixed up in this seeing manning than wanting to help save my ass" 

Both Dot and I nodded in agreement. 

"What did he say? He saw manning board a greyhound?"

"Yeah"

" do you believe that Rich?" 

" thinking about it, no." 

"I feel same," Jon tapped out on his board   " me too he's hiding something "

"Yeah I'll buy that alright but what?"
"more like he bought Manning the ticket to get on the greyhound."
the room fell silent as we knew what I had said is what we all had thought, Dot spoke up first...

"Should we tell the cops what we think?" 

" but what would we say? Its all feelings with no real evidence," 

" mmm but it maybe something that they can work with, right?"
"Mmm, I tell ya Alec visit here was not as the saviour he wants us too see, there is more to this, I 'll bet my life on it"
"hey, I believe ya Rich," Jon nodded too.
"So what do we do?"
"Lets give the cops the background on Alec and let them do the rest. It will have to come from you though Rich, you were in the band and saw everything, with the way Jon is right now...."
"yeah, no problem, I want justice for Jon just as much as we all do, but not right now...soon"
Dot gave me the stink eye,
"I know, but look hear me out first before you stink eye me."
"Go on"
"If I go to the cops right now, they are gonna be in here hounding me and mostly Jon, with the way he is right now, he's too weak to handle this stress, lets get Jon better and hell, I will volunteer as the head bounty hunter to get those low life sons of bitches... ok?" 

With Dots stink eye fading she agreed, just as the Dr walked into the room.

"Hey Doc, any news?"
"Hey, how's our patient," Jon gave a weak smile and the thumbs up"
"Good, well I have the results, but before I share the news do you want to call the family and have them here, say half an hour? I can then tell you all together?"
"Yeah"
" I'll go ring ma and pa an the guys." Dot left the room.
"Doc can I ask one thing before the family get here?"
I looked at Jon, he nodded, he knew what I was going to ask.
"Alec, our former bass player..... was he a possible match?"
"No, Richie he wasn't, his test showed large amounts of barbiturates and cocaine in his body, it was a straight rejection. I guess that's what you wanted to hear right?"
"Yeah that obvious huh?"
"A little.." the doc smiled.
"So, I don't wanna know who yet Doc, but is one of us a match? or have we gotta go on the main stream data base for a donor?"
"Its good news guys,there is a match,...."
he paused watching our reaction, which was stunned silence.
"Ok, now I've shut you both up, I'm gonna stand outside at the station until the family arrive ok, he laughed as he opened the door to leave, just as Dot returned.
"Christmas is coming early this year Doc"
Jon wrote on his board, "it's gonna be better than Christmas." we clamped hands as brothers in arms. 
"It will gentlemen, it will.... "
Dot sat down, "all's good they are on their way. what did Doc say?"
"Alec was a straight rejection, he had drugs in his system."
"yeah and?"
"there is someone as a match.."
"We don't know who yet though right?"
"mmm he will tell us when we are all together..."

We all sat waiting, mostly talking about Alec, still something was bugging me deep down and the more I tried to think on it the more frustrated I got. one things for sure, we were all relieved that he was not a match as a donor, I think if it had been him, Jon would have decided to die rather than accept a kidney from Alec.

while we were talking a noise of chattering and raised excited voices, was heard coming down the hallway, then the voices were in the room.
"They have a match huh?" "Who is it?"
"Whoa calm down guy's, I'll go get Doc and let him tell us."
"Dave and Tico came out with me and went in search of chairs while I went to let Doc know we were all here and ready for him."
"Ok Richie, get everyone settled Ill be there in five minutes."
back inside the room, it was crazy, and really just like Christmas, everyone in great spirit's for a change, waiting to hear the good news.

After what seemed like forever, Doc finally came into the room. silence descended as we all sat looking at him and waiting to know which of us was the donor.

"So, the results are all back, thank you everyone for consenting to be tested, out of all of you we have been lucky and we have a 98% match... the person that is going to be the donor is......" Tico drummed on the radiator....... "Richie"