Can't Stop (Frusciante fan fic)

Part 30-Please Don't Turn Away a Friend

John's POV

The second I hear Sophie tell me Greg and her dad have vanished, I know there's only one thing I can do. When I was alone, at the brink of death from heroin, no friends, no one, Flea pulled me out of the gutter and dragged me back into rehab. He saved my life.

Sophie, an 8 year-old, has been left alone with a very sick Ellie. I know a thing or two about being taken over by bad spirits and voices. Some people might call it mental illness. So many people are immune to it, or they think they are. I feel a surge of anger that the men in their lives have been a disappointment at best, and more like a disaster.

I need to go to them now. I should have called again when Ellie turned down my call to see if she was alright. I know Flea and Marcia will be angry with me. I love them, but I can't deny that I love Ellie and Sophie too. Marcia has been rather distant with me since the band and I started recording, and I can't do any shows with her right now. I don't know what she expected when I rejoined the band. She seemed so supportive at first.

Like Ellie, and like Flea, who is on his third wife, and being divorced myself, I am no genius when it comes to relationships. But what I know is that a sweet child and her mother I feel a deep connection to are in trouble. Like I was in trouble.

I'm very nervous, as I've never driven farther than Malibu, and Flea still jokes that I'm not much of a driver. Being behind the wheel still gives me acute anxiety. It's ridiculous, I know.

I throw a few shirts and pairs of jeans absent-mindedly into my duffle bag and start to head out the door. I realize I should call Flea to let him know why I won't be coming to Thanksgiving, and know I will have to explain to Marcia soon too. But time is of the essence.

I call Flea, "Flea, look," I blurt out, "I know you won't approve, but I need to go to San Diego now. Ellie and Sophie are in trouble." I try to prevent my voice from cracking. "Oh, John, what's going on?! Is there anyone there who can help them?"

"No, I'm afraid not, Flea," I cut him off, and tell him more what is going on. "Look, John, I know you care for them, but you can't save everyone. You have to find out how to get ahold of family or get her man back there. You have the band and Marcia and on Thursday.."

"I don't think you realize how alone they are and that there is an 8-year-old child involved here, Flea," I snap at him. "Where do you'd think I'd be if you hadn't come to my place 23 years ago and dragged my stoned ass out of the house?" He's silent. "I'd be fucking dead, Flea, and even if it's not 100% like that here, I wouldn't wish what's happening on my worst enemy."

"I know John, but what about Mar-" "I'll worry about her later tonight. Flea, I need to go now! I'll call you." I hang up the phone. I love Flea, but someone that is on his third marriage (don't get me wrong, Melody is really great, and people always speak of the "charm" of the third time, but I know better than to be over the moon about that) has no right to judge. Plus, he has daughters himself that he would do anything for.

I run to the car and start the ignition. I'll put in Ellie's address, which I have saved, into my phone GPS when I get closer to San Diego. My car is too old to have one built in. I remember in my head from riding with various people how to get to the 5. I know there will be a good bit of traffic with the holiday coming up and it being the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. I want to get down there as soon as possible, but stop and go traffic is really the best thing for a subpar driver.

Plus, you can drive the left lane on the 5 almost the whole way down if I remember right. And in Orange County, where the HOV lanes start, they don't police very much, so that will cut off some time. I maneuver, very nervously, into the far left lane, which is at least moving, and keep on driving.