Can't Stop (Frusciante fan fic)

Part 31-Here I Am, Waiting to Hold You

A/N: I discovered the Empyrean and this beautiful version of "Song to the Siren" not long ago. Love both! I'm starting to like John's solo work as much, if not more than, his work with RHCP. Don't judge :)

John's POV

I get back to the apartment carrying pizza and the salads up the stairs, ring the bell, and am greeted by Sophie. I suppose Ellie is still asleep. My namesake winds a figure 8 around my feet, trying to keep me from getting into the house. I have a feeling he finds this to be an amusing game.

"Oh, thank goodness!" Sophie exclaims. "I'm sooo... hungry, John," with a soft smile coming onto her lips. She grabs some plates and we dig in. She wipes out an entire salad container and four pieces in under 10 minutes, and has that look on her face like she could eat more.

"Sophie, we need to save some for your mom when she gets up. Think she'll feel up to eating later?" I ask. "Sure, her appetite is fine, she just needs to wake up again. Other than stress and a bandage, there's nothing wrong with her, John."

"I'm glad to hear that, Sophie. Now, do you have school tomorrow?" She nods, frowning. "OK, then I'll wash the dishes and put the leftovers away while you get ready for bed."

She groans. "Or, would YOU rather wash the dishes, honey?" "OK, fine, I'll take a shower, but I'll have to take the bus again tomorrow." She walks off with John following her.

I give John some extra food for when he returns, and empty his litter box, then clean up the dishes and the kitchen. Ellie still hasn't gotten up, but Sophie comes back out in her PJ's by the time I'm done, with John trailing her again.

We go to check on Ellie. She is still sleeping and beads of sweat on her face, but looks more comfortable than she did a few hours before. "I'll put you to bed then take care of her Sophie," I remark.

Sophie gets in bed and I tuck her in and kiss her cheek. She smiles up at me and reaches up for a hug, which I gladly return. "John, will you read to me?" I've never done this before. "OK, sure, what would you like me to read?" I reply.

"This," she grabs a book off her nightstand. To my dismay, it is Anthony's "Scar Tissue."

"Oh, no, Sophie, where did you get that? Please tell me you're not actually reading that!"

"It's Mom's book; I took it from the shelf when she wasn't looking. I've already read it once through, so you can read whatever chapter you want." I don't know what to say. This kid is a real character. 

I flip through the pages awkwardly and start where Flea is contemplating whether or not to play bass naked at Woodstock '99 and Anthony tells him just to do it. I remember that period of time very well, and had to stop myself from laughing on stage a few times when I realized I was playing in tandem directly across from a naked man with a bass guitar. Totally inappropriate subject matter, but the language of that section is clean. Sophie giggles, and ends up snuggling under the covers and falling asleep. I put the book down and let her be.

I walk into the bathroom with the strong urge to pee, and do so. I know Ellie needs some TLC, though I don't want to wake her. I notice on the counter some no rinse body wash and read the instructions on how to use it, to soothe her and make her more comfortable. I get a bowl of water and 2 towels.

I walk into Ellie's room and sit up on the bed next to her head. I kiss her forehead and she stirs a little. I wet the towel from the bowl and spray on some of the no rinse solution onto the towel. I gently guide her head onto my thigh. She blinks a few times and opens her eyes, looking up at me. "John?!" she says.

"What, what, how? Oh my God.." she closes her eyes again, trying to process, then opens them again. "Shush, it's OK, Ellie. You don't have to say anything." She starts to tear up. I pull her close and kiss her on the forehead again, more firmly this time. "Just let me cool you down a little then we'll put you back to sleep. You had a rough day."

She nods and closes her eyes, as I stroke her cheek and forehead with the wet towel, then pat her dry with the other towel. I do the same with her neck and upper chest, making sure to avoid her breasts as I don't want to be at all sexual when she's so fragile. She sighs contently and leans into my lap.

I wash her back down to the waistline of her pants. She's still wearing jeans from earlier today, and a big sweatshirt, and the T-shirt under it with the blood stains. "Hey," I whisper to her as she continues to rouse and lean against me. "Do you want to change into something more comfortable then go back to sleep?"

She nods. "Yes, thank you, John," she smiles up at me, face with some color to it now, no longer sweaty and clammy. I help her up and she grabs her pajamas and goes to the bathroom to change.

"You don't have to do that Ellie. I won't look unless you want me to. Plus, it's not as if I haven't seen you naked before," I laugh. She gives me a fake annoyed look then a pretty smile comes over her face.

"I'm still not 100% John, plus I want to brush my teeth," she remarks. "I'll be right back." While she's gone, I take my jeans off and crawl into bed in my T-shirt and boxers, ready to hold her if she wants me to.

She comes back in the room in plaid pajama pants and a T-shirt, looking adorable. I smile and pat the spot next to me in the bed. She looks at me. "Only if you want," I say. I don't even get to finish speaking before she lays next to me and puts her arms around me. "John, I don't even know what to say. I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I just-just.." she starts to cry again. "

"It's OK, Ellie. Your episode is over. The surgery and the pain are over. Nothing bad will happen to you tonight or the day after that or the day after.." She suddenly rolls over with her back facing me, and I wrap my arms around her tightly and press my body against hers. She takes my hands in hers and presses against me. "Thank you, John. I'm glad it was you.." I kiss her cheek and jaw, both our heads hit the pillows, and we must have been asleep within seconds, from the wreck of a day.

Ellie's POV

"Mommy! John! Scoot over!" I am awakened by Sophia, who is trying to get in my side of the bed. I'm still lying comfortably in John's arms, and groan. I hear John stirring too, mumbling and looking confused by being shoved to the other side of the bed. It's still dark outside. I look up and the clock says 4:00 AM.

I look into her eyes. I'm not sure she should be seeing me with a man in bed that I'm not married to, but pull her into the space with me. She's carrying her beloved kitty with her, and promptly dumps him directly on John's head.

John groans, "great, so I'm now officially a pillow for cats." Sophia giggles, and John obligingly scoots back further in the bed so she can crawl in next to me. He wraps his arm back around me, and I wrap mine around Sophia. I feel relaxed, but don't get back to sleep for the next hour. I try to figure out how to escape from this sandwich, as lovely as it is, so I can take a shower.

I eventually manage to wiggle free of the two of them. They both groan a little bit and John reaches to pull me back into bed. I peck him on the lips and tell him, "I have to shower then I'll make us some breakfast. Go back to sleep." He nods, though pouting a bit. The space I occupied remains empty as the two of them remain passed out. Feline John looks comfortable too.

I feel refreshed under the warm water, making sure not to get the surgical bandage wet. Sophia did an amazing job. She's going to be a great vet when she grows up. I realize we're supposed to go the surgery clinic today to get the drain taken out, but I stupidly took care of that myself. I'll just call Jennifer the PA to tell her it accidentally fell out and hopefully that will suffice as an explanation.

I start thinking about a magazine article I read years ago as a stupid young adult, the title and the magazine I don't remember, that talks about having to sex too soon, and how you know you're just hooking up when "you've seen his orgasm face, but you don't know what he likes for breakfast."

I chuckle, thinking of how I've seen John's orgasm face several times, and it is a thing of beauty. He has much the same expression when he is performing on stage, which has been acknowledged by many. Little do they know how much better it is in the shower or in the bed.

I've both fucked him and made love to him. And despite the consequences, for some reason, this is something I don't regret. Even though I'm sore from surgery and a fresh mental breakdown, I would like to do both again. What is wrong with me?

I finish cleaning up and drying off. I get a fresh pair of yoga pants and put my San Diego sweatshirt back on. I'm going to make us all breakfast. This is not something I usually do, and no,I still do not know what John likes for breakfast.