Wild hearts run free (Joe Elliott fanfic)

Ch9 Fame and the road to darkness

*******All warnings apply

When I came to Joe had his head down on the bed next to my leg. I could hear him sobbing. "Joseph." I could barely speak so it came out a bit horsed and raspy.

He lifted his head and scooted his chair up to my face. "Ah, Beth. I'm so sorry. I had no idea she came here. She got you so upset and it's all me fault. You shouldn't have listened to her. She's nothing to me I swear it."

"How long 'ave Oi been out?"

"About a month."

"The baby?"

"It's a girl. But there's some problems with her. She was premature and her lungs aren't getting enough air. They may 'ave to get her to the states. Thing is you 'ave to sign the papers for her to be transported there."

"Oi want a go with her."

"You can't honey. I'm sorry. I'm the one to blame for this. It's not yer fault. Oh god." He got upset and stormed out.

Rick came wondering in. He looked like hell but he had a smile on his face. He sat on the bed and I said still raspy and trying not to cry, "Rick tell me what's going on?"

He took my hand and held it in his. "The baby was born an alcoholic. At first, she wasn't doing to good but she's like her mum. Joe's upset with himself about the whole thing. Their wanting to
take her from the both of you. Stormy's got her claws so deep into Joe it's not funny. She struck a bargain with him. That if he was willing to break it off with you, she could arrange it to where he could have full custody of her, provided dat she survives, and you sign the papers. Babe, he doesn't want this, but he doesn't want to lose her either. Will you sign?"

"No way. Oi'm not giving her to dat woman. No. She can 'ave Joe Oi don't care but she's not getting her bloody hands on me daughter. Oi don't care how much money she thinks she has. Oi will not bow down to her. If Joe wants to fine dat's him, but he's not dragging me or her with him. So you tell him Oi said shove it where the sun doesn't shine."

"Darlin yer health isn't doing so great either. You can't fight this right now, at least not on yer own. Listen I'm doing some work right now with a lawyer and some hospital staff on seeing if I can adopt her."

"Joe won't allow it."

"Joe doesn't have a say so in it. She already tricked him into signing his rights up to her. Right now he's so upset he can't see the truth. Think about it. If I adopt her, you win and he wins.
Trust me on this luv. I 'ave the royal flush here. Just do me a favor for now rest and I'll do the rest ok. Remember no matter what you hear or see it's all a show." He kissed me on the forehead and I drifted to sleep.

Sometimes it puzzles me why he did that or how we ever made it through all the crap that was going to happen. Rick Allen signed the birth papers and made it legal. Even though Joe wasn't thrilled about it he had no choice as Rick said. Joe later understood Rick's reasons. In the end everything worked out.

When I got better and started getting back on my feet again, Rick came to help me out because he said the rest of the band was tied up in the studio. They weren't getting out until they were done. He practiced every day and by night he'd stop by the hospital to check on me and even brought the baby to me finally.

I couldn't see her until she was out of the woods so to speak. It was now two months later April 1985 and Rick had a nurse bring her to me. He came in the room smiling. "Elizabeth, I'd like you to meet yer daughter Isabella Star Elliott-Allen. She has both last names in case Joe still wants to be a part of her life." I found out Joe named her.

"Oh god. She's beautiful. Richard you shouldn't of."

"I know but I did. I just couldn't stand by and watch yer heart get broken. Now understand dat he maybe told some lies but trust me when he realized the truth he'll come to you. Just remember what I said. Right now, at the present time he's upset with himself. So he's kind of thrown himself into rehab with Steve. Which is why he's not here. He doesn't know I adopted her yet. When he finds out, well it's not going to be pretty. In time you, me and him will all sit down and discuss this. For now, enjoy yer daughter. She's lovely as you."

I picked her up and held her. "How can Oi thank you or repay you?"

"Don't even think of it. Thanking me would require you getting better and coming to see me play sometime next year hopefully."

"So yer still playing then?"

"You bet yer arse I am. I made a promise to someone dat no matter what I'd get right back up there and do it again. So I've been practicing every day and trying to go though some therapy to learn how to go through an ordinary day with one arm. It's hard but you keep me going. I think you inspired me. You've been knocked down so many times and even though it's hard for you to get up and walk you do. You don't give up and if you ever try to give up or feel you want to better look at me. Never give up luv. Joe may have given up and given in, but love is blind and sometimes money talks."

I always remember that conversation with him. Even though it got hard and somewhat dirty I fought like the leopard I was. Rick helped me get a better place for me and said it was a gift. I ended up giving him money back for it because I could of gotten it with the money I now had. He almost didn't take it but when I told him a little secret that I was keeping from everyone he understood and took it.

The band literally cut themselves off to finish the overdue album. There was no contact from anyone. I never kept Isabel from Joe or his parents. I told his mum he could see her whenever he wanted. Stormy somehow got him alone and told him dat Isabel did not make it and dat Rick and I was dating and acting as if nothing happened.

Rick couldn't believe his ears when Joe came up to him and decked him for nothing. I sent Joe a picture of her and me from her first birthday. He flipped out when Rick showed it to him. He completely told her to bugger off. She managed to redig her claws further into him by other ways. We were taken out to one of the many concerts there in Ireland.

They were for the monsters of rock tour and to see if Rick could play again live. A friend came to pick me and Isabel up. We were taken out to the gig with all expenses paid. When we got there
Isabel was slightly starting to walk a bit. Or at lease trying to take her first steps.

Rick slipped a pair of headphones on her and me. Then he kissed me which surprised me. I thought I would of died from that kiss. He looked at me and gave me thumbs up. He went out to the stage. Joe didn't come near us. He just walked right passed us as if we weren't even there. That was when she said her first words. "Da, da."

Joe turned around quickly and came over to us. "Can I hold her after the show?"

I looked at Rick and he smiled at me and shock his head. "Ahe. Get out there and kick arse and you can do whatever you want with her."

He half smiled at me but when he went to try to hug me Sav grabbed him from behind and pulled him out to the stage. I smiled at Rick. This would be the first time, actually second time, he was to play alone. The first time the other drummer didn't show up until the end of the show. This time the stage was two small for two drum kits so he was going to do it alone.

He was excited and nervous. I could sense it. Miriam shouted next to me. "Rock it baby." He smiled at us. I looked at Miriam and said,

"How's it going?"

"Great. His sprits have been good lately. It will do him good now that your here." She shouted lifting my headphones up off me. I watched Rick get up there and situate himself. He looked over at us and pointed the stick to us. It was the first time I see them play live.

It was a kick ass show and Rick totally pulled it off and kicked ass. Then Joe all of sudden stopped singing and watched Rick as he got into a hell of a drum solo. He just pounded away not even realizing Joe held up his hand and everyone stopped playing. They all stood there watching him. He looked up and noticed he was the only one playing and he stopped.