Chapter 35

The ringing of the phone was like a siren going off in Brianna's head. One hand flew out to stop the offending noise. The cheery, automated voice at the other end of the line telling her it was time to get up was lucky she couldn't reach through the line and strangle them, and she slammed down the receiver.

Her movement woke up the men with jackhammers in her head. Sitting up brought in the marching band - or at least the drum section. She cracked open an eye and immediately wished she hadn't. The sun streaming through the narrow gap in the drapes felt like a knife straight into her brain. Thankfully, it also revealed the glass of water and aspirin waiting for her on the bedside table. She sent up a silent thank you to whichever of her three helpers left them for her and quickly swallowed them. Groaning, she cradled her throbbing head in her hands for several minutes waiting for the pain killers to start working before whimpering and finally dragging herself into the bathroom.

Standing under the hot, pelting shower, Brianna replayed the events of the night before. The memory was crystal clear despite the sake. While she hadn't done anything hugely disastrous - like mentioning Dorothea's idea - she still wished the floor would open up and swallow her. Her behaviour was embarrassing and totally inappropriate for someone in her position. How many times had it been pounded into her that she could have a couple drinks to be sociable, but she was never to get drunk....ever? That loss of control was neither attractive nor acceptable for a woman or a personal assistant. It would be a miracle if Jon didn't fire her.

When she stepped out of the bathroom, she found a room service cart. She lifted the lid to discover bacon, eggs and toast to go with the juice and coffee she'd already noted. Not sure what her queasy stomach would tolerate, she started with toast and juice. When that stayed down she moved on to the eggs and coffee. She actually felt a little better after eating her fill. 

Even moving much slower than usual she was still ready on time, although she wasn't looking forward to facing her boss. But she couldn't put it off forever. After a last look around to make sure she wasn't forgetting anything, she put on her sunglasses, grabbed her briefcase and suitcase, took a deep breath and headed out. 

Her moment of reckoning was delayed a bit longer as the hallway and elevator were blissfully empty. In the lobby she saw the others walking towards the doors and the vans waiting just beyond. David saw her first and nudged Jon. Both smirked, but neither spoke.

"There she is!" Richie announced....loudly. 

Brianna winced at the volume of his voice and managed a weak smile, but didn't speak.

Richie took a closer look at her pale face. "You okay? You look a little pale."

She just nodded, handed her suitcase to the driver and climbed into the van.

"What's with her? Is she sick?" Richie asked Jon, concern clear in his voice. 

"She discovered sake last night." Tico explained.

"Ahhhh." Richie nodded in understanding. Like the rest of them, he'd been more than a little worse for wear after a night of rice wine. "Wait! You mean I missed the party? Why didn't somebody call me?"

Jon was the last one to board the van.

"Hey Goose, ya big stud! Come on! Plane's waiting! And some of us need more sleep." David yelled out the open door.

"I'm not Goose, I'm Iceman." Jon retorted as he climbed in. "But I won't argue the stud part."

Brianna groaned, huddled deeper into her corner in the backseat and prayed for death.

At the airport, while the guys stood talking and laughing on the tarmac - at her expense she was pretty sure - Brianna ducked around them and boarded the plane. Dropping into her seat, she tucked her briefcase and purse underneath, fastened her seatbelt, pulled down the window shade and closed her eyes. With any kind of luck she could sleep all the way to New Jersey. She would have to apologize to Jon for her behaviour the previous night, but it would have to wait. She needed sleep even more than she needed to try and save her job.

As Jon stepped through the door, Vicki gestured towards Brianna and raised a brow.

He grinned. "Hangover."

"Ah. Water and aspirin coming up."

Richie smirked as he walked by Brianna huddled in her seat, dark sunglasses still shading her eyes. "She's sure got the Rockstar prerogative look down." He chuckled when she gave him the finger. "I think your attitude is rubbing off on her Frank."

"You bring it out in even the best of people Dean." Jon shot back as he set a bottle of water next to her.

Brianna had to swallow heavily during take off, but managed to keep her breakfast down.

"You okay?" Vicki asked sympathetically offering her a pillow and blanket.

"Yeah. Nothing some sleep won't fix. Thanks." Brianna undid her seatbelt and got comfortable.

Luckily, her travelling companions took pity on her and let her sleep.

The scent of food several hours later woke her and her stomach told her it was fully recovered - or would be if she fed it. Yawning, she stretched.

David noticed her movement. "Yo Sleeping Beauty! You alive?"

"Yes, but I don't see Prince Charming anywhere." Brianna retorted. Sighing, she stood up to face them. She eyed them all for a moment, took a deep breath and bit the bullet. "Guys...." She made eye contact with Tico, David and Jon. "Thank you for your...assistance...last night. I really appreciate it." She turned to Jon. "I apologize for my behaviour. I know it was totally unprofessional and unacceptable. I promise it will never happen again."

The men's stunned gazes followed her back to her seat.

"Fuck that!" Richie snorted."When we hit Europe we're partying!"

"And what you do on your own time is your business." David added.

But Brianna shook her head. "I'm a representative of this organization. My behaviour in public reflects on all of you, particularly Jon." She looked at him. "I'm sorry."

Jon frowned, sensing echoes of her ex. "Bri....there was nothing that you did that reflected badly on me or any of us. You were hilarious!" He held up a hand against her protests. "Hear me out. If you were drunk and disorderly during working hours and it affected your performance, then I'd have a problem. But if you want to cut loose every once in a while on your own time, go ahead. The only thing I would ask is that you make sure someone is with you - particularly in foreign countries - just for your own safety."

Brianna didn't look convinced.

Jon rose to stand in front of her. "I'm serious. This isn't some uptight Fortune 500 company. This is a rock band. We all have a few too many every now and then - you've seen it. As long as no one gets hurt and nothing gets damaged it's all good. In fact, it’s pretty much required. So stop apologizing and don't worry about having a little fun." He tilted up her face with a finger under her chin their eyes met. "Okay?"

"Okay." She didn't really agree - it went against everything she'd been taught, but it would get him to drop the subject.

When they landed at Teterboro, David climbed into the waiting car and was about to drive off when he noticed Jon and Brianna talking near another car. He saw Brianna shake her head, Jon talk some more, then Brianna sighed, nodded and climbed into the car, followed by Jon. He frowned. Wonder what the fuck that was all about? Things between Brianna and the Bongiovi family were definitely not what they seemed at first glance.

Back at the house, Brianna followed Jon inside, Copper running back and forth between them. "Yes Copper, we're happy to see you too."

"Speak for yourself. Down ya big mutt!"

"Bianna!" Jake ran into the foyer, past his father and into Brianna's arms.

"Hi buddy! Oooh, I missed you!" She squeezed him.

"What am I chopped liver?" Jon grumped.

“You no liber, you Daddy, silly." Jake corrected him and gave him a hug.

"Oh. Okay, thanks for telling me." Jon exchanged an amused glance with Brianna. "Where is everybody?"

"Mommy in watching TB wif Womeo, Stephie and Jesse at kool, Aunt Winda in kitchen making wunch, an I'n here!"

Jon and Jake started towards the living room and Brianna, thinking to give them some privacy with Dorothea, turned towards the kitchen.

She found Linda cleaning vegetables, a plate of crackers and a pile of fruit on the counter beside her. "Hi. Can I help?"

Linda turned her head to look at her. "Hi. If you want to start on the fruit, that would be great. Dot said she wasn't really hungry, so I was making something light. If you and Jon want something more, I can make sandwiches."

Brianna opened a drawer and took out a paring knife. "This looks great to me. It probably will be enough for Jon too. Vicki feeds us pretty well on the plane."

The two women worked in silence for a few minutes while Brianna worked up the nerve to ask the question. "How's she doing?"

"About the same. A little weaker." Linda hesitated. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"What exactly is your....relationship....with my sister and her husband?"

"I'm Jon's personal assistant, and Dorothea's...friend. I do whatever I can to help." She studied the other woman for a moment, then answered the concern she guessed had prompted the question. "There is nothing....romantic...going on between Jon and I if that's what you're worried about. I don't screw around with married men, and even if I did, Jon would be off limits. I respect Dorothea too much."

Linda studied Brianna's eyes for several breaths, then, satisfied, nodded.

Linda left after lunch, assuring Jon she'd be back when they left for Europe.

When Brianna returned downstairs from putting Jake down for his nap, Dorothea looked back and forth between her husband and her friend. "You didn't follow my suggestion."