Chapter 95

She sat quietly in Richie's quick change area. He'd nodded to the chair then left her there. She wasn't sure what else she could do. She'd apologised, profusely at that. She'd promised to never think about guns or going after Jared again. Hell she'd nearly gone to her knees. He'd forgiven her and told her it was ok, but he'd still been way too quiet afterwards. She didn't know what else to do.

Should she sit here? Go find Geena and talk? She so needed that girl to girl connection right now. Talking to Geena would help her figure out just exactly why and how she'd gotten it so backwards. Obviously she had. She wasn't used to the type of man Richie was, a good man. In her indecision she simply sat, until someone let her know she could find her place in the pit, if she was allowed the pit tonight.

Richie glanced back and sighed. She sat there so silently, not even reading the magazine's he'd actually started allowing in his area. Gone were the days of all the guitar periodicals. Now he also boasted the girlie shit in his room. He'd been ragged about it too until he'd shrugged and pointed her way.

Damn she still looked sad, obviously she didn't fully believe he'd forgiven her. He had forgiven her he had meant it. Once an argument or whatever was done it was done dammit. He grunted as he moved along the corridor. He just couldn't talk to her right now. The way he was he'd be spilling the beans about his plans. Never could keep his mouth shut when it came to good things . He just couldn't chance giving away his secret to her yet. Richie walked down the hall and into the dressing room.

"G where are ya darlin?" Richie called out

Geena walked out of the bathroom pale as a ghost. "Oh hey Rich whats up?"

"I was wonderin-- hey you ok?"

"OH yea just a bug I think," Geena lied. "What were you wondering, whether I'd smack you or not for what you did to Bri? "

Richie wasn't sure if he quite believed her but let it go, his brow lifting at the last of her comment. Choosing to ignore the question he offered one of his own. "Could you go and keep Bri company while we do soundcheck?"

"Sure where she at? "

"In my quick change area. Thanks darlin." Richie smiled, turned, lifted a hand in a wave and took off.

Geena quickly wiped her face with a cold cloth hoping she wouldn't need to run to the bathroom . The more she made these trips the more it looked like she was indeed pregnant. "God what am I gonna do?" She muttered to herself while walking down the hall to and to where Bri was waiting.

She poked her head through the quick change curtain, her eyes settling on Bri curiously. She looked ok, a bit down and quiet, but ok. "Heya girl, " Geena called out.

She glanced up at Geena, her breath catching in her throat as she held back her speech. A swift smile flashed onto her lips, her eyes traveling past her friend to the change area's entrance.

Geena grunted at the question in Bri's eyes. What had he done? Some sort of silent punishment or something? She offered her friend a smile as she walked up to the chair beside Bri and settled herself. "Richie sent me to keep you company during sound check."

Her gaze flicked from entryway to friend and back again, her voice a barely there whisper, "He sent ya?"

"Yea he did. Tracked me down personally and asked me to come."

Her heart lightened just a bit, the first sigh of actual relief whispering through her. "He seem ok? He wasn't mad or anything?"

"No not all. "

She dropped her head onto Geena's shoulder a deep breath of relief escaping her. "Thank god, he was soooo mad."

"He loves you so much Bri. You should have seen him when you were gone. He was beside himself with worry. He was scared he was going to lose you. Until we heard from Matt we thought we had lost you."

"I couldn't do it this time G. I was set too. I was ready to vanish and when I hit the bedroom door I turned around. He was asleep, that sexy devilish smirk replaced with this sweet smile. He looked happy G. I knew then I couldn't just go. My heart, it was ripping in two just thinking of it, and by the time I made it to the city limits the pain was so bad I had to turn around and come back. So, I found Matt and pulled him into my plan."

"I was gonna find Jared. I had my gun and I was gonna kill him. Flat out kill him, to protect Richie, you and everyone else. I didn't matter, nothing mattered but keeping that smile on his lips." At Geena's look of wide eyed shock she grunted, "Matt didn't know about that part of course."

She glanced up ruefully, "When I got back last night Richie found out about the gun, next thing I know he'd gotten the entire idea outta me, then boom, I slept on my side of the bed and he didn't talk to me at all.. hasnt really except to tell me he forgave me. Nothing since LA."

"That boy has a strange way of punishment but -- ""Her voice trailed off as Bri's words finally hit. "Wait you had a gun? What the hell Bri, you coulda been killed," Geena exclaimed as her voice raised a couple of octaves.

She winced and leaned back a bit. "Yeah a 45. Man Richie went ballistic. Can't decide if he was that mad or horrified. I tried to explain my reasons, he just," she sighed quietly. "He wanted to make sure I got that I shoulda trusted him, that as a couple you just didn't go off alone, that I didnt have to anymore."

She felt her eyes tear and dashed at them with her palms quickly, her voice small and tiny, " never want him that mad at me again."

"Aw hun its just cuz he loves you so damn much." Geena pulled her into an embrace. " We all do. Thats why I did what I did."

"He went without himself G! He lay there all night and never touched me once. God." Her head dropped back onto her friends shoulder. "I promise you though, you ever EVER try something that dumb again, I'll have Rich tell Jon exactly what to do."

"That just proves to me how much you mean to him. Don't worry I got punished enough." She took a deep breath and continued, letting all her worries out to her friend. "Besides, now I have another reason not too. " She paled as a stray odd scent wafted by, her mind pushing the urge to hurl away. Swallowing hard she continued, "What was I saying oh yea he just wants you two decide together."

She glanced up only to see Geena go pale. "You ok?"

"Well to be honest I'm not sure," Geena admitted.

She sat up straight, her hand going to Geena's. "What is it?? God tell me your okay. You finally found someone wonderful. Fuck you found Mr. Fantasy!"

Geena swallowed hard and spoke softly. " I think I'm pregnant. " She winced as she waited for the backlash she was sure she'd get. Wonder what it will be? How could you Geena its too early, or Damn girl how old are you?

A Grin split her lips as her eyes widened. "You shitting me?? G! You been wanting a kid forever." She watched Geena,and noted the indecision in her gaze. "Oh woah, you haven't told sexy boy yet have ya?"

"I'm scared Bri. You know as well as me how often He has said no more kids." Geena bit her lip. " What if? I don't even know for sure yet."

"G babe, you gotta tell him, even if you aren't sure. Don't do like I did, dont keep a secret, it just blows up in your face and you end up miserable. GO talk to him NOW. DON'T YOU FUCKIN' WAIT another second!"

"Now? He has shit on his mind now! This will make it a hundred times worse." Geena tried to find an excuse to not say anything but by the look on Bri's face she wasn't gonna let it go til she did "A'right I'll go but if this all blows up -- I dunno know what I'll do. "

"You'll handle it, just like everything else. Now go, scoot, go talk to him!"

Geena stood up, her nerves were just about shot. As she walked back to where Jon was she willed her stomach not to rebell on her til she got this over with. She walked down the steps and down the hall to the dressing room. Peeking in she lightly tapped on the door in case he was busy. she didn't want to interrupt him.

He turned and felt the smile as it hit his lips. "Just the gorgeous Vegas babe I wanted to see."

Geena smiled and walked in. " You busy ? "

His hand came up, his fingers waggled to lure her in. "Naah, just resting til the show babe. I'm all yours, well as all yours as I can be in an arena filled with crew. Come on in." He watched as she walked in, his mind attaching itself to the fact that she seemed nervous. "Ok tell me you didn't kill the guitarist."

"No, he is safe but we do need to talk." Geena sat down in front of him twisting her hands nervously in front of her. "I have to tell you something."

He slipped into the spot beside her and took her hands. "Twist them much harder you're gonna break 'em, then how will I get my back rubs huh?"

"God this is so hard. Ok here it goes. I think I'm pregnant." She blurted out and quickly closed her eyes

He felt his heart stop then start again as he took a sudden deep breath. Fuck. I played it careful, I know I fuckin' did. One glance into her terrified eyes had him pulling back every word he felt rising. "How long?"

"If I am, not long 3 weeks 4 at the most," Geena answered her voice shaky.

He nodded and after a momentary pause pulled her into a hug. "It's ok baby, no need to be scared. Well take care of this you and me. I promise you."

'Take care of this how? I know you don't want more kids, you said so. " Geena buried her face into his shoulder and shivered.

He forced a lopsided grin to his face. She was just unsure is all, after all the stress of the last couple of weeks, and meeting him, her whole life was changing. She was probably just late and scared. "Naah don't worry about it baby. Not like we can't afford another new baby right? Like I said, we'll handle it."

He shoved his fury and worry down with ruthless precision. It wasn't the time to get bent out of shape over her not being sure. It was stress it had to be. Til he knew for sure he had to play it careful, she wasn't too nice about his loss of control. He leaned into her and whispered, "You ain't getting away from me that easy ya know."

"I was hoping you were ok with this cuz I don't wanna lose you. "

"Never could be angry with you, unless you did something on purpose. I know you wouldn't have done this on purpose. " Did she? Could she have? The look in her eyes spoke clearly of fear of him being angry, so it was a surprise to her. Hell for that matter, women were rarely wrong about this sort of shit. Goddammit to hell.

You won't lose me baby. I take care of my own, and you are that."

Geena cried not sure if it was from relief or from being damn emotional. This would explain alot of her crazy behavior. She held on tightly to him still afraid he would pull away once it sunk in.

He held her, his mind twisting and turning over what she'd said. He didn't want more kids, he had four already dammit it all, he didnt want marriage again this fast. But he cared for her, and he was a man of honor, he couldn't, WOULDN'T abandon one of his. He felt the trap shut tight around him as her small sniffles found their way into his heart. You just had to fuckin' cry.I can't stand it when they cry.

As he sat there, his hands soothing her, his mind twisting it hit him. He'd already planned to do Sin that night, he'd add Chapel too it. She was a smart cookie his Geena. She'd figure out what it meant.

Geena pulled back and sniffed. " I probably should get a test to be sure, but I'm never late and I have been so sick lately. I hadn't told you 'bout the other times cuz I was scared, " she admitted.

"We'll get you to a doctor tomorrow babe, just to reassure you if need be. I'll be there for you." He winced at the words. "Sometimes I fucking hate our catalog."

She managed a little laugh. "I happen to love your catalog. "

He leaned in pressing a kiss to her lips."You would."