Rollercoaster (The Circle Series - Part 3)

Chapter 20

The two women left the ladies room arm in arm and found the small group waiting outside Jon's room. Sammy was sitting with Richie looking at something on his phone and Ari and Ethan were sharing a seat in the corner of the small waiting room.

"Everything okay?" Richie asked the two, standing and studying them closely.

"Girl talk. Rich," Julie said with a smile and nod in the direction of the room, "Jon's waiting for you and Bec." Julie dumped the bag at the door then wandered over to her children as the other couple slipped into the hospital room.

"Hey Jonny," Richie said as he approached the bed.

Oh shit! Rich?! Fuck brother, is that you? Rich you gotta help me wake up, man! I'm going insane. Please man you gotta help me!!

"Man, you gave me a scare," Richie shook his head as he sat on the side of Jon's bed and picked up his hand, "I never want to go through that again, you hear me? I don't know whether to be pissed at you or not."

"Jon, you owe me some new glassware, honey," Bec said as she stood beside her husband and rubbed a soothing hand lovingly down his back, "Tall, dark and handsome here decided that if he couldn't have a drink, then no one in the house should be able to either. Didn't you, darlin'?"

Always the diva, Rich? Dude, you can be pissed at me as much as you want, but just help me wake the fuck up.

"Jules...Julie's hanging in there by her fingernails, Jonny," Richie said as he chafed the back of Jon's hand, "She needs you, man, and your kids need you too. We all do. So when they reverse the coma, you better wake the fuck up, you hear me?"

What do you think I've been begging for? I just need to pull my wife into my arms and feel...her. Just her. Fuck why can't you all hear me??

"The kids, and I mean all the kids, have been staying with David and Leesha," Richie continued as he swiped at his nose with the back of his hand, "Lema...he's looking out for them all." Becca handed Richie a tissue box and he paused to wipe the stray tears and blow his nose. "Even with all the bullshit that's out there from the drone this morning, he's doing a good job of keeping everyone in check. Probably better than what I could have."

All of them? Dot let Jake and Romeo stay too? Shit I wasn't expecting that! Rich, he's the one that enabled Ari and Ethan to...you know. But if he's really keep both families together, that's a debt of gratitude I'll never be able to repay.

"I know you and him haven't seen eye to eye a lot recently," Richie sighed, "but he's doing the best he knows how. We all need to forgive each other for whatever past indiscretions we've held onto. You and me and Lema...we're the only ones left of the band of brothers. I'd...I'd be lost without you both." Richie kissed the back of Jon's hand and placed the palm of his other over Jon's heart as if to reassure himself that it was still beating. "I love you, Jonny."

You're right, Rich. You haven't always been right, but you are now. We're brothers and I love both of you fuckers.

"Jon, honey, I'm going to take this guy home. The girls and Ethan too," Becca said, and kissed Jon's cheek, "I hope to see those pretty eyes open next time, you hear me? David and Leesha are bringing the rest of the family up soon, so rest up. We'll send Julie back in. Ask her to show you her underwear. She's wearing some of Leesha's." Becca winked at Richie, "That should wake him up."

It'll wake something up...is that possible? Ugh fuck my head is pounding. What's a guy gotta do to get painkillers around here? Feels like my skull is splitting in two. Oh god the pain!! Fuck my nerves are on fire! Help! Fuck someone help me!!