Chapter 48

The rest of the night went slow, and although Richie spoke to me, I sensed the atmosphere building between us. Dave and Teek were oblivious and just chatted away.

I needed to talk to rich, I know I had done it all wrong, but at the initial moment, it just seemed right. Why shouldn't everyone know Rich was the reason I was alive? either way, the internal argument and turmoil I felt could not take away what I had done was wrong. Man if Rich had done that to me, I would have screamed from the roof tops and sulked like a dumbass. I had to respect the man, and somehow put it right.

At the end of the night, as we left with each celebrity waiting on the car table to be told when their chauffer had arrived. the distance between Rich and me was now blatantly obvious, this time Teek and Dave picked up on the vibes too.
Dave was the first to ask as we sat back in the car for the ride home, the award wedged between Rich and me.
"So what's eating Rich?, you aint spoke to Jon since the stage? what's your beef man?"
for the second time that night, Rich gave the stink eye. " Leave it ok Dave.... Just leave it..."
"ok..."
Dave shook his head and looked out of the window, as Teek took up the conversation. "Rich, seriously man, we were having a great time, but..... I dunno its like you want away from us all...what we done Eh?"
"Teek, leave it man, you aint done nothing... ok...."
Rich turned his head away and I could see his jaw clench, his hands hanging between his thighs and clenched in a fist. this time I had to speak.
"rich, I'm sorry, really, I'm sorry... I should not have announced it at the awards... but..."
"no, forget it Jon, ok, I told you I never wanted to be acknowledged as the donor that saved your life, I told you that man.... now I look like I'm saint fucking Richie....wtf"
"I know I'm a dumbass..."
"No Jon, Your a fucking assole..."
"Ok, assole.. but you gonna just ignore me then?, I said I'm sorry..."
"Yeah that's right, as long as you say your sorry then everything is fine right?, well Jon this time it aint..... so can you just shut the fuck up and leave me alone please... really" holding his hand in the air inches from my face he shook his head, "I just don't wanna talk to you or anyone right now ok..?"
I gave in and just sighed and all of us sat in silence as we headed back to the rehab centre.

As the driver pulled the car to a halt, I asked Teek if her could help me back to my room, he was about to answer when rich butted in, "Look I said I would pick you up and bring you back, just cause one of us is an assole, don't me I gotta be too." Rich got outta the car and met driver round back by the trunk. Teek looked at me and winked, "Don't stress it Jon, he'll be fine ok, when the ladies come hovering offering their attention he'll be right you'll see..."
I smiled at Teek, "I hope so bud.." then we both lent forward and hugged, same with Dave, then with the award in my hands I edged to the open door, got out and into the chair Richie was stood behind.

Before he took me inside I thanked the driver, then without another word Richie pushed me back into rehab.
I was aching and my back and sides and legs were hurting real bad, but I kept quiet, but as we reached my room, and Richie helped me out and assisted me getting undressed on more than one occasion I flinched. When he saw it, his mood changed and the caring Richie I knew was looking at me concern etched on his face.
"You ok?"
fighting back the tears, I nodded. as he eased my legs into bed, he saw me grimace again, "Jon, what the fuck?"
"with a weak voice I answered..." Really, I'm ok, just over done it I guess..." damp beads of sweat had begun to break out on my forehead, Rich saw and took off outta the room to get a nurse.
through the door in minutes was my Doctor with Rich, a serious concerned look on her face.

"Jon, Rich tells me you walked tonight?"
meekly I nodded.
"I see, so all my talks completely ignored then?"
"Look honestly Doc, I just wanted to do it for the guy's... I...."
"Right, and when you die because of doing it for the guys, will that be your memorial and how you want to be remembered?"
I shook my head...
"Right, so you have just put your body back in time Jon, and I hope I can repair the damage you have done.... " she turned and left the room but returned with an injection, and without anymore talk she injected into my arm..... and it all went black.......