Two Different Roads

Wanted Dead Or Alive

The next date of the tour in Cincinnati turned out to be memorable for all the wrong reasons. The Monkees were on their way out of the hotel to cross a plaza which led to the concert venue when they decided to relieve the monotony and unrelenting boredom with an act of mischieviousnous. Mike, as the often designated leader of the mayhem, closed the elevator doors before their security detail could join them and spontaneously got out on the second floor of the hotel rather than the first.

Within seconds they were spotted by a group of fans down the hallway and faster than you can say 'oh shit' the chase was literally on. By the time the quartet managed to exit the hotel and run haphazardly into the public sqare, the mob had swelled to perhaps a hundred or more.
Fortunately Mike spotted a police car parked on the street and the group dove into it just before all the teenagers converged. Faces pressed to the glass, the car rocking, ear-piercing screams as he tried to explain to the two very unamused public servants who the long-haired hippies were who'd jumped into their vehicle and why they were being chased by a crowd of crazed young girls. After unsuccessfully attempting to disperse the mob by turning on the siren, they were finally convinced to drive away , but still having no idea who the Monkees were and not caring, they took them to the police station.
Unfortunately it was Ellen who was dispatched with the security team to explain the situation to the authorities and retrieve the guys. Her gender always gave her a distinct disadvantage, but she usually made up for it with the no nonsense, tough as nails demeanor that even managed to intimidate her husband somewhat that she could easily adopt whenever necessary. This one was a little slow on the uptake though.
"Yes, you DO have a group of celebrities here, and they need to get to the concert they are performing for YOUR citizens," she reiterated for perhaps the third time.
"And YOU are?"
(So he was still choosing to be a hard ass.) "Their boss is my boss and i was told to come here, so obviously he thinks i can handle it. That's all you need to know."
"I'm not sure I think much of HIM, sending a pretty little thing like you to do his work for him."
"You don't seriously think you're being charming do you? I wasn't hired for my looks." "Oh, we've got a feisty one here. I like that, and I'm sure your boss does too if ya know what I mean." Michael had had enough at this point. He stepped forward suddenly as if he intended to wipe the man's leacherous smirk off his face with his fist. "You just walk that back Mister before i do something i won't regret. Whatever else that LADY is, she also happens to be my WIFE, so you might want to treat her with a little more respect."
"Is that a threat Beanpole?" "Oh he means it. She's his old lady, and she's OUR friend so we'd back him up. And if you get any of your cop buddies involved we'd blab to the press faster than you can say police brutality," Peter contributed. "Guys, I can deal with this. He was just about to tell us we can go...weren't you."
"Sure thing...whatever. Get out of here."
II

"All right, whose brilliant idea was it to ditch your protection and go wandering off on your own like a gang of school boys playing hookey?"
The other three immediately pointed to Mike as the instigator of the shenanigans.
"Why am I not surprised? Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? If those kids had caught you you wouldn't even have been human beings anymore. You'd have become souvenirs. It wouldn't have been just your clothes that they ripped off. They'd have taken home anything they were able to grab hold of, and I for one am somewhat invested in making sure all your parts stay intact!"
"Some more than others," Davy couldn't help observing with a giggle. "You're right, Ellen. We're sorry," Peter mumbled. They all echoed his apology as they collapsed into a waiting car.
She was sandwiched between the blonde bassist and her husband as they rode off for the concert at last.
"You know you're pretty hot when you're pissed," he whispered.
"Don't start. You're on thin ice with me right now Nesmith. We'll discuss this in great detail later," she hissed back.
"I don't know about everybody else, but after that experience I need to chill out," Peter suddenly announced and lit up a joint he'd pulled from his pocket.
"Tork you had that while you were in the custody of the police!?"