Chaper 35

It had taken Richie fourteen days to recover from his blood poisoning, my body was getting better and the day release trips to rehab were going well, I could at least now hold my own body weight. walking, well one step at a time as they say.
Dr Markus gave me the ok to go down to see rich as he was leaving hospital again today, his op site had now practically healed over so should not cause him any problems, but like with everything he had to take it easy. In my hands was the pad Rich had bought for me, now half full with songs I had wrote, Rich had agreed to go and stay again with my mom and dad, but told them they had to let him do his own thing and not fuss over him so much. Ma struggled to follow the rules but pop made her agree, how? he simply pointed out he was a grown man and did not need smothering.

so here we are present time, and I am about to enter my best buds room and say good bye to him, a week from today I was being moved to the intensive rehab clinic 40 minutes away from home, and I really was not looking forward to it, but understood if I wanted out of the place it was the only way, so biting my tongue I agreed to do whatever Dr Markus asked of me, and Richie too. We had big plans for Bon Jovi, without the guys in the band would be like extracting all the air from my lungs, or well I might as well be dead.

Lainey pushed me through the door and across to Richie who was sat in his day chair, his back to me, looking out across at the lawns and gardens in the hospital grounds, he was waiting on a cab to call and collect him. He insisted he would make his own way to my ma and pa's house, or it was no deal.
"hey you, ready to go?"
he turned his head to look at me and smiled before he spoke,
"Hell yeah, man your looking well," he got up from his chair and came over and gave me a big hug.
"Man you seriously need to get a hair cut, you resemble a sheep dog,"
I looked at the ends of my long mane, it was not looking good, and honestly it was the last thing that I had thought of until Richie mentioned it, now he had I would ask my pop to cut it next time he was in visiting.
"Yeah, I guess it does look bad, I'll get it sorted, maybe go short what ya say to that sambora?"
"Yeah, like you'll give up your mane?, believe it when I see it man"
"ok, bets on, how much?"
"you serious?"
"Sure, how much"
"$100 bucks"
"your on, so what time ya leaving......" I held my head down trying to hold back the tears, "I'm gonna miss ya man"
" soon as the cab arrives, driver knows he has to call to reception to get me."
" you crying?"
I wiped my face and tried to laugh it off, but Rich knew me too well, he lifted my chin,
"Don't be sad bro, I'll be back to visit, I've got some songs to write too, you are half a pad ahead of me, just keep the faith, ok?"
through my falling tears I managed a smile, but no one knew how lonely it was day in day out, for the last seven day's Rich had brought meaning back into my life and existence, it reminded me of our younger days meeting in the basement of his mom's home, and us jamming and fooling around together, now what I was used to was being taken away again.

Lainey knocked on his door, "Richie, cab is here for you."
he looked at her and smiled, "Thanks' tell him I'll be there in a minute,"
Lainey agreed and went to tell the driver to wait.
"So, this is me,"
"Yep, and next time you visit, your gonna see a new me too."
"I better I've got $100 bucks riding on it.... " he laughed a deep belly laugh, something I had not heard in forever, the problems of the last tour were a million years ago. We had re bonded as friends, but now more as brothers. I guess what happened had to happen for us to reach this point in time. I know it's corny but, I was happy to be where we were.
"So, give me a day then your next coming, give me the chance to at least win something?"
"No way Bongiovi, why should I make it easy for you?, you said next time I see you... and i'm holding you to it..."
"Hey no fair, you know I need my pop to do it?"
"Yeah, and he's no doubt coming in with your ma sometime today?"
"I guess, hey, you going to my folks place right?"
"Oh no, I'm not helping ya win"
"but you don't know what I am gonna ask yet?"
"Yeah I do, you want me to ask your pop to bring his comb and scissors?, well forget it Giovi not happening...man you are so sneaky..."
the banter we shared was good, and I loved it. reluctantly I ended it so as to let him get moving.
"ok, well take care of you ok?, and get writing, you have a lot of catching up to do."
He reached down again and for the last time gave me a hug. pulling back he asked,
"You good then?"
"I'm good, now go"
he collected his bag from the bed, and smiled at me as he left the room, I pushed myself over to the door and watched him get his discharge papers from the desk for the second time, the cab driver took his bag and he waved as he walked across to the elevator. I sat watching until the elevator doors closed. then talking to myself I said. " take care bro, and hurry back to see me"

I sat thinking to myself lost in thought when Lainey arrived to take me back to my room.
"You ok?"
"yeah I'm fine, thanks,"
"So, you thought about what you want for your lunch?"
"Food?, no why?"
"Cause, you wanna get outta here now don't ya, especially as Rich is gone."
"Well yeah course I do."
"Well start showing an interest in food, and start working harder Jon, then you will be home and back to living a normal life in no time, and for the record I aint telling ya what to do, just giving ya some friendly advice. You and Richie amaze me, you know that?"
"Thank for the tip, and in what way do we amaze you?"
"Your friendship, in all my years I have never seen to men as close as you two, it really is like you are blood brothers.... it's incredible..."
I smiled to myself, Lainey was right, the relationship we shared was incredible and I thanked god for being given the second chance to keep building on it.