Chapter 31

The paramedic was back already, and Richie realised that they must have left the gurney just outside, until they were sure if they’d need it. It was wheeled into the bedroom, right up to the bedside, then lowered until it was level with the mattress to make it easier to move her across. With practiced moves, the paramedics eased a board between mattress and gurney, then slid Billie’s inert form across onto the wheeled bed.

Still, there wasn’t even a whimper of protest, and Richie balled his fists helplessly. He watched as Billie was strapped to the gurney, the bulk of absorbent dressing apparent under the hotel robe as the paramedics tried to stem - or at least slow - the bleeding. As they raised the gurney to normal height, he cleared his throat.

“Can I come with her?” He asked diffidently, feeling the need to justify himself somehow. “We’re….friends. I’ll get word to her son once you can tell me which hospital we’re going to, but right now I’m all she has.”

“Of course.” The older paramedic said swiftly, a quick glance at Richie - at where he bore bloodstains - telling him that this guy hadn’t been the one who’d attacked their patient. “And we’ll be going to TJU. Best place for……..”

As the paramedic paused, Richie was already pulling out his cellphone.

“Thomas Jefferson?” He queried, and the paramedic nodded. “Thanks. I’ll be right behind you guys - don’t leave without me!”

He let the paramedics walk just ahead of him, delaying his call just long enough to thank the hotel doctor for his swift response and his help.

“I just hope I was able to help her.” The doctor said soberly. He hadn’t been involved in anything this horrific since back when he had to do a brief stint in an emergency room as part of his training. “Let me know how she’s doing, okay?”

“I will. Thanks again.” Richie shook hands quickly and followed the departing paramedics, dialling Jon again as he walked.

In the apartment, Jon was slugging down black coffee in an effort to mitigate the effects of the wine. Not that he had any intention of driving, but he needed to clear his head. When his phone rang, he snapped it open.

“Rich?”

“Yeah, bro. Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. We’re on our way now.”

“Okay. How……” He swallowed. “What happened? How is she?”

“She’s bad, bro. She’s unconscious. As to what happened…….just get your ass up here. I’ll tell you what I know when you get here, Jonny.”

Hearing Richie call him Jonny - he used Jon, Kidd, and any combination of insults, but Jonny was much rarer - told him how serious this was. The only time in years he could remember Richie calling him that was when Jay wound up in hospital. Jon swallowed hard again, his thoughts racing. What if she didn’t make it? What if Jay was left all alone? Should he tell him anyway? Should he offer to………to……

“Jonny!” Richie’s voice snapped through the phone, breaking into his whirling thoughts. “Snap out of it. Get up here.”

“Sorry.” He exhaled sharply. “I’m on my way, Rich. I’ll call Jay from the car.”

“Just be careful what you say, ‘kay? He’ll have enough to deal with - he doesn’t need you hitting him with family history right now.”

Dammit, Richie could read his mind sometimes.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. I’ll be there soon as I can, Rich.”

Closing the phone, Jon headed into the bedroom for shoes and coat. Dot lay asleep in their big bed, and for a moment he debated waking her to tell her what had happened. A millisecond after that thought, he realised how stupid it was, and just grabbed his stuff, tiptoeing from the bedroom. He’d already called for a car, and by the time he got outside it was waiting, and he could only be glad that he held an account with a limo company - sure, he could’ve grabbed a cab to Philly, but at least this way he could raise the divider and make the hard call in private.

“Thomas Jefferson Hospital.” He said tersely to the driver, who frowned fractionally.

“Philly?”

“Yeah. Fast as you can.”

“Not a problem.” The driver assured him.

Once the car was moving, the divider raised between himself and the driver, Jon flipped open his phone again, scrolling through to find Jay’s number. Not that he’d ever called the kid before, but he’d programmed the number into his phone after Billie had called him from the apartment. Finally finding it, Jon made the call, laying his head back on the seat and closing his eyes. This could be one of the hardest calls he’d ever had to make.

“Hello?” A young male voice, with the sound of a female laughing in the background.

“Jay?” Jon asked carefully, but he was pretty sure it was.

“Yeah. Who’s this?”

“Jay, it’s Jon.” He paused. Damn, he wished he could just say ‘it’s dad’. “Jon Bon Jovi.”

“Boss?!” Jay frowned. What the hell? “What’s wrong, boss?”

“I……..” Jon pinched the bridge of his nose as he spoke, trying to lessen the impact of what he had to say. “I had a call from Richie - he bumped into your mom the other day at the hotel, and he went by to see her tonight.”

“Yeah?” Jay was confused now. His mom was seeing Richie Sambora? But she was seeing Nick, wasn’t she? But then she had said she was going to ditch him, after finding out about Coral, so maybe……? Surely not? She wouldn’t have moved from Nick to Richie this fast.

“She’s been hurt, Jay. Richie found her up in her room, and she’d been……she’d been assaulted.”

“Oh, Jesus!” Jay leapt to his feet, Kadie looking up in shock as his face paled. “How is she? Is she okay? Where…….?”

“I don’t know much, Jay. Richie knew I’d have your number in my files, so he asked me to call you. She’s on her way to hospital right now. He’s gone with her, so she wasn’t alone.”

“Which hospital?” Jay looked wildly down at Kadie, who got to her feet, laying her hand on his arm, waiting until he could tell her what was wrong.

“Jefferson University. I’m heading over, too, Jay. Your mom and I….” He bit down the words that rose first. “We got friendly when you were sick, so I’m gonna come see how she is.”

Right now, Jay didn’t even question why - how - his boss and his mom had become so friendly that the boss would make the trip from New York to Philly just to see how she was. He just needed to get up there himself.

“Thanks, boss.” He said, and even through the phone Jon could hear the same steel that came into his own voice when tough things had to be faced. “Bye.”

Before Jon could say another word, Jay had hung up the phone, and his eyes were shocked as he stared at Kadie.

“Mom’s been assaulted.” He said quietly.

“Shit! Where? When?”

As he answered, Jay was looking for his clothes. His jeans were on the back of the couch, his shirt on the floor. He started to dress, Kadie doing the same as she listened.

“I don’t really know. That was the boss - apparently mom met Richie the other day and he went to see her tonight. He found her.”

“What happened?”

They were dressed and heading for the door.

“Boss said she’s been assaulted.” He looked helplessly at Kadie. “What in the fuck does that mean? Mugged? Hit?”

He couldn’t finish the thought, and he really didn’t have to, talking to a nurse. Kadie had her own guess at what had happened to Billie, if the careful word ‘assaulted’ had been used.

“My fault.” Jay whispered.

“What? What makes you say that?” Kadie was shocked, grabbing his arm and pulling him to a halt just inside the door.

“Well…….if I hadn’t got hurt, she’d not have been up here, would she? So whatever’s happened wouldn’t have……..”

“You don’t know that, Jay. You can’t know that. Come on, let’s just get to the hospital.”

“You’re coming with me?” His face brightened.

“Of course I am!” She said, linking her fingers with his. “I’m not letting you go up there alone, baby.”