Chapter 37

The sound of her phone ringing had Brianna running out of the bathroom, stubbing her toe on the leg of the table on her way to answer it. "OW! FUCK!" She snatched up the phone. "Hello?"

"Uh....Brianna?" A woman's voice asked.

"Yes?"

"Hi. It's Linda.....Dorothea's sister. Is this a bad time?"

Oh shit. This can't be good. "Hi. No, it's fine. I just got out of the shower. What's wrong?"

"It looks like it's time to bring in the oxygen whether she likes it or not."

Brianna sat down and sighed. "Damn. Really?"

"Yeah. I had to argue a lot, but I finally got her to agree. It's getting harder for her to breathe. I mentioned a hospital bed again too, but she shot me down on that one. Says she's not ready for that yet."

"Other than her breathing how is she feeling? How's her pain?"

"Pain level is stable, but she's getting weaker. The stairs are almost more than she can handle."

"We should have set up a bedroom for her downstairs. I know she said no, but..."

It was Linda's turn to sigh. "I know, but she's stubborn....and usually gets what she wants."

Not always. "Okay. Who's telling Jon?"

Linda chuckled. "You're off the hook on that one. Dot's calling him. She wanted me to let you know so that you'll be prepared for his mood."

"Thanks. I'll warn the guys. Looks like we're going to need a distraction strategy tonight."

"Good luck."

"Thanks. You too." Brianna shook her head. Two more stubborn people she'd never met and she often wondered how they'd survived each other. "I guess that stubbornness is how their marriage has lasted this long."

"Yeah. They're both too stubborn to quit." Linda agreed. 

"I can't decide whether that's going to come in handy or make things more difficult."

"Let me know when you figure it out." Linda answered dryly. "I'll keep you posted on things at this end."

"Thanks. Talk to you later." Hanging up, Brianna sat for a few moments, contemplating what the day would bring. I wonder when Dot's calling him?

A loud bang, followed by "FUCK" coming from the room next door answered that question. She stood with a sigh and reached for her clothes. It promised to be a long day.

Brianna headed down to the lobby a little earlier than usual, hoping to have the opportunity to talk to the guys before Jon came down. Luck was on her side. Paul was talking to them halfway between the elevators and the door.

"Hey guys."

"Hey Beautiful. Ready for another fun filled day on tour?" David greeted her. A closer look at her face had him frowning. "What's wrong?"

"Linda called me this morning. Dorothea's had to go on oxygen. She's having difficulty breathing."

"Shit." Paul grimaced. "Does Jon know yet?"

She nodded. "Linda said Dot was calling him. I heard swearing thorough the wall, so I'm thinking that's a safe bet."

"So, we'll be dealing with the bear today.....or maybe the mute. Not sure which is worse." Richie said what the rest were thinking. "Other than her breathing, how is Dot feeling?"

"Her pain is controlled, but she's getting weaker."

"Damn." Tico swore softly. "It always happens to the good ones."

No one argued.

When Jon stomped through the lobby, they murmured greetings, but otherwise followed him silently out to the vans. The drive to the venue was equally silent as they were all lost in their own thoughts, their gazes on the Alps visible out the windows, although the Swiss scenery wasn't really registering in their brains.

At the stadium, Jon sat in his dressing room until it was time for sound check. Brianna moved in and out of the room, checking that everything he needed was ready. Neither spoke. When she took him his ginseng just before show time she found him sitting in a chair in front of the table, staring blindly into the mirror. 

Setting down the ginseng, she stood behind him for a moment, set her hand on his shoulder and squeezed. Jon met her gaze in the mirror, managed a half smile, and nodded.

She smiled back and left the room. No words were spoken. What does anyone say in this situation? Each knew how the other felt.

Jon had no clear memory of the show, but the crowd seemed pleased, so he guessed he'd managed to pull off a satisfactory performance. He wasn't sure how or how he was going to get through the rest of the tour. I should have cancelled the tour when she was diagnosed. The financial cost would have been nothing compared to the cost of not being there for her and the kids! He refused to acknowledge the part of him that was relieved not to be surrounded by the effects of her illness every day.

The flight to Scotland was silent for the most part. Jon wasn’t in the mood to talk and the others left him alone.

At the hotel, the guys tried to get Jon to join them for a drink.

"Come on man, come hang out with us. It'll take your mind off of things for a bit." Richie urged.

But Jon shook his head. "Thanks, but I just want to be alone." He looked around at his friends. "I'm okay. Just not feeling very sociable tonight."

No amount of cajoling would change his mind.

They watched him walk into his room and shut the door and exchanged concerned glances.

"I'll keep an ear out for him." Brianna assured them. "If I hear anything unusual, I'll call you."

Nodding, they all headed for their own rooms. It was all they could do if he wouldn't let them help.

Brianna eyed the door that once again connected her room with Jon's, hesitated, but decided to let him be and got ready for bed. She'd have to trust that he'd let her know if he needed her.

She'd just settled into bed with the TV remote when she heard a bang followed by swearing on the other side of the wall. Jumping out of bed, she pulled on her robe and rushed to the connecting door. She listened for a moment, then knocked. "Jon? Everything okay?"

Jon looked up from rubbing his foot that he'd stubbed. His idea of being by himself turned out not to be such as smart move. Avoiding people just gave him nothing to do but think about what was happening in New Jersey. TV was no distraction, and the bottle of wine he'd consumed wasn't enough to numb him and let him sleep. So, he'd gone for bottle number two, misjudged the table....and stubbed his toe.

But there was someone he could talk to about Dorothea without feeling weak, or not talk at all. They'd spent many nights sharing a glass or two of wine, exchanging memories or just sitting quietly by the fire or watching a movie. Limping to the door, he opened it and waved her in. "I'm fine. Stubbed my toe on the table. Come on in and have a drink with me."

Looks like he's had a few already. But he wasn't slurring or stumbling - other than hitting the table - so she figured he wasn't drunk. "These hotel tables are toe eaters." At his blank look, she explained. "I stubbed mine this morning too." Stepping into the room she looked around - trying to recover from her initial reaction to seeing him wearing jeans....and nothing else - but everything seemed to be in order. He was surprisingly neat on the road. "Thanks." She accepted the glass he held out to here and took a seat on the loveseat.

Jon sat beside her and they talked. About the tour, his charitable projects, the kids....just general chit chat. It wasn't until Jon opened the third bottle - Brianna tried to refuse since her head was already starting to spin, but he just ignored her and refilled her glass - that the touchy subject of Dorothea was brought up...by Jon himself.

"She's dying Bri." He stared into his glass and sighed heavily.

"I know." Tears pricked her eyes.

He sipped. "I knew from the first time I saw her when I walked into History class. I just knew. Copying off of her was more about getting her to notice me than passing the class. When she started dating one of my best friends it felt like a kick to my gut, but I was determined to win her over. When he joined the navy, I seized the opportunity and finally got her to go out with me." His lips twisted. "Nice friend huh? But I knew she was the one for me. The one I needed to be with me through the crazy life I was determined to have. And I got her. I convinced her that we could have a good life together."

"And you do. And I'm sure Bobby has forgiven you."

He fleetingly wondered if she new Bobby's name because she was a fan or because Dot had told her, but it didn't really matter. "Mmmmm." He sipped again. "I guess. But it could have been better....should have been better. I should have been home for her and the kids more instead of running around the world every couple years and leaving them alone." His breath caught and his eyes filled. "Now she's going to leave us. I'm losing her Bri. She's my best friend and the love of my life and I'm losing her!"

Brianna reached out to grip his hand, but kept silent - she had no idea what to say.

Something inside Jon snapped. He leaned against her and let the tears flow. "I thought we would be together forever. I thought we'd have plenty of time together when my career was done and the kids were grown. I thought we'd have time!"

She wrapped her arms around him, her own tears streaming down her face.

He held her tight. "What am I going to do Bri? What am I going to do without her?"

Brianna would never be able to say what exactly happened next, who made the first move. All she knew was that suddenly his lips were on hers, and it felt......right. Even though her mind was screaming that it was wrong and they should stop, she couldn't pull away. Then his tongue swept into her mouth......and her wits were swept away.

The next thing she knew, they were on the bed and his hands were roaming her body. The belt of her robe came undone beneath his nimble fingers and the cotton fell away to reveal red silk and lace that enhanced rather than covered her body. Eager palms cupped full breasts and massaged.

She moaned softly, and struggled to drag her wits back into place. She turned her head, breaking the kiss. "Jon, we....shouldn't."

Jon buried his lips in her neck. "Sorry. I know, but.....I.....need...." He shuddered at the fierce desire that was burning in his blood. Her soft smooth skin and supple muscles felt so good under his hands, her scent stirred his senses and her taste......her taste was like a five course meal to a starving man. He felt the hunger and sought the fastest, most satisfying way to sate it.

His confession, as much as his touch silenced the last of her protests. Her heart ached for what he was going through and if she could ease him - with his wife's blessing - even for a little while, she would. Her hands lifted to explore his chest, sifting through the hair covering it and teasing the nailheads of his nipples, scraping them lightly with her fingernails.

It was his turn to groan. Callused fingertips swept the narrow straps of her nightgown off her shoulders, urging it down to form a fiery pool at her waist. Soft lips left a trail of open mouthed kisses from her ear over her collarbone to the already stiff peaks of her plump mounds. He licked and sucked, revelling in the cries he drew from her.

"Jon, please!" Back arching, her fingers curled into his thick pectoral muscles, nails biting.

Without pausing his sweet torture, he stripped the nightgown completely from her body and nudged her thighs apart with his hand. Blunt fingers traced and explored her damps folds, her gasps and moans a guide to what she liked. But it was working on him as well. It had been so long since he'd been able to enjoy this kind of close, physical connection with a woman, he didn't know if he could last much longer.

But it wasn't enough.

Shucking his jeans, he urged her legs wider and moved over her, settling his hips in the cradle she provided. "Sorry, can't wait."

Her nails raked lightly down his back, urging him on. With one thrust, he filled her, burying himself to the hilt. "Yes!"

He moved slowly at first, gradually increasing his tempo until he was pounding into her. The sensations generated by the feel of him inside her were so overwhelming, she climaxed within minutes. "Oh! Oh! YES."

But Jon didn't stop. Hands hooking under her knees, he lifted them and pushed them flat onto the bed, opening her completely to his repeated penetrations. He ground down into her and she screamed as another orgasm ripped through her body.

He still didn't stop. He couldn't. His focus was no longer on the woman beneath him, but solely on his quest for release….and forgetfulness. Sweat covered his body in a fine sheen, but the peak stayed just out of his reach. He thrust harder.

Brianna shuddered and shivered as her body convulsed yet again, too exhausted to scream. A whimper was the best she could manage. "Jesus!" Whether it was a curse or a prayer, she couldn't say.

"Help me." His voice was a raspy whisper in her ear.

She gathered what strength she had left to flex her internal muscles, squeezing him tight.

"Fuck! Yes, yes, yes, yes." He repeated the word like a litany until finally....finally...she pulled him over the edge and he burst, pulsing and spewing deep inside her. He collapsed onto her with a deep, wrenching groan.