Family Ties

Chapter 17


What a week it was for both girls! They barely had a chance to eat, let alone anything else.

Lizzie finally collapsed on the couch , exhausted. Richie had run her ragged. She'd done more in one day than she ever had and it had all been done without him speaking even one word to her. He'd walked up and handed her a list of 'chores'. It had been an endless list. Restring the guitars, take them to Gary for tuning, wash his clothes, mend the ones that were torn, iron them. She'd cussed him up one side and down the other silently for the ironing. The man never looked IRONED before, why did he care NOW?. She also had to help him on stage, running him water, beer, towels, and whatever else high strung, fussy rockstars needed. Now that the show was over and he was in the shower and about to take off for the meet and greet, she finally had time to close her eyes and let her mind wander.

He hadn't spoken to her once! Not once since he woke her up that first morning!

So, she had snapped at him. He had done the same to her the other night! But, she had gotten over her anger by the middle of the first day and had tried to talk to him and he'd only held up his hand and walked away. Never had he done that to her! She had never been so depressed in her life. She just couldn't seem to do anything right where he was concerned. She sighed and pulled his trench coat over her closing her eyes. She was too tired to think about it anymore. To tired to even cry. Soon she was fast asleep, caught up in fitful dreams.

Beth walked onto the bus shortly after Lizzie had fallen asleep. She walked over and peered at her, pulling Richies trench coat up a bit more to make sure she wouldn't catch a chill. She'd been worried about Lizzie all week. At first she'd been extremely cranky, ok, Lizzie had been a royal bitch. But then, about halfway through the week, she'd fallen into a very sullen and withdrawn state. That was one Beth had never ever seen before. Lizzie was always happy and smiling. Even when she was sick, and that happened alot, nothing seemed to get her down. A frowning, brooding, bitchy Lizzie was just too odd for her to comprehend!

She noticed that Richie had also been acting strange, very quiet and solemn, not goofing off or cracking jokes at all, and that in itself was enough to throw Beth's mind into the twilight zone. She wondered if they had gotten into an argument that first night, it sure seemed that way.

She sighed and turned her thoughts to the whirlwind week she'd had as she leaned exhaustedly against the doorway leading to the back of the bus. After carrying the mountains of luggage down every day, Oh how she wanted to knock that smirk right of Jon's face when she was finished with that! He'd then sent her to making out copies of setlists for all the members, then changing the set list not once--but twice. It seemed simple enough, but with a setlist a mile long , she didn't think her hand would be the same again . She'd also had to test his mic and tune his guitar. He had her running back and forth from the stage to the soundboard to make the necessary changes he wanted.Even though she knew the sound was spot on. she knew by the leer on his face he was only doing it to watch her ass sway and tits bounce, she made a mental note to wear the loosest sweats and most covering shirt possible from then on out.No matter how much she enjoyed the heat of his stare on her assets. I will NOT allow him to have any pleasure in this! And, last but not least, he had her playing servant for all his thirst and hunger needs. She was surprised he didn't ask her to help him hold it in the restroom!

She stared at Lizzie one more time before heading to the back of the bus, collapsing on the couch right into a deep slumber.



Richie hadn't meant to ignore Lizzie all week long. Ok, maybe he did, but it was better this way. What happened that first night couldn't happen again! What the hell was that anyway? Since when did he pop a boner over David's little sister? And, since when did said little sister know how to rub up on a man so expertly? What the hell were they teaching girls in high school these days? Probably the same thing they taught em' when you were there old man, sex, drugs and rock n roll. She drove him crazy, just the sight of her, all week long. Her long blonde hair, her tiny curves, those glittering, knowing blue eyes. So many times this past week he had almost apologized, then he thought better of it. Better to just keep them both safe. Any kind of relationship beyond friendship between the two of them was just insane, impossible and, as well as he knew Dave, dangerous for his family jewels. You just didn't mess with family, not like that, no matter how blue your balls got.

This week had been as brutal emotionally for him as it had been physically for Liz. He missed laughing and chatting with her. He didnt like that she seemed so down and withdrawn. He wanted his sunshine back. He wanted to tell her one of his stupid jokes and hear her laughter ring out and light up the room. He knew he was to blame but was so lost as to what to do. He had to do something he missed her something fierce. They had the weekend off so maybe they needed to have a little talk. Yes , that was it. They would sit down together and straighten this thing out.

Richie climbed on the bus to find Lizzie already asleep. He stared down at her, his mind still running in circles. She had started coughing a bit this morning. He hoped she wasn't coming down with another one of her neverending colds . He really hated to see her sick. He really felt she needed a second opinion. Dave had told him what her doctor had said, allergies, a bit of anemia. But even so, hell, who was he to say? He wasn't a doctor. He just worried too much. He had probably pushed her too hard and he had to admit that alot of it he had done on purpose, just to keep them distanced from each other. He gently lifted her up a bit sliding on the seat under her and laying her head in his lap. She barely stirred at all. He slowly stroked her hair away from her face and watched her. She really was an angel. He stretched his legs out and leaned back resting his arm lightly on her side and closed his eyes. Tomorrow, tomorrow they would talk and everything would be ok again. He drifted off to sleep.

Jon had watched Beth all week. He was really proud of her she had put up with a lot of shit from him. He had been relentless but she kept plugging away, finishing each task with perfection. He knew she was really exhausted from it all but she hadn't voiced one single complaint. Sure she had teased calling him slave driver and probably even wanted to slug him a couple times but he knew deep down, she really loved the road and even if she hadn't been paying back a debt, she would be working right along with the roadies as well as themselves doing whatever that needed to be done .

That was the difference between Beth and-- Jon groaned as he thought about 'her' he didn't even acknowledge her name anymore. She hated everything about the road. He never understood that, she knew what she was getting into when they started dating. she had said it was ok but I guess it wasn't he sighed to himself

Oh fucking well , her loss! He shook her image from his mind as he joined everyone already on the bus. He saw Richie, stretched out, eyes closed, Lizzie asleep with her head in his lap. Whatever had been wrong between those two all week must have been water under the bridge now, cause that was a sight he was used to seeing and it was about damn time. He mused.

He glanced around and didn't see Beth so scouted out the back. Ah,there she is he said with a smile. Poor thing! She really was exhausted. She hadn't even taken off her shoes. Jon gently removed her shoes and covered her with a blanket. He started to turn away but something kept him there . What would it hurt just to hold her for the night nothing more , just to feel her in his arms .Taking off his shoes he decided to take a chance slid under the covers beside her. She turned to him in her sleep and seemed to gravitate toward his warmth. For a moment Jon let her sweet smell of her perfume envelope him as he stroked her hair . This feels right was the last thought he had before sleep overtook him .

The bus pulled in to the next hotel around 4 am. Tico and Alec headed up to check in. Dave stopped and looked at Richie and Liz sleeping and nudged Rich.

"Hey man, we're here" he said quietly

Richie startled awake " Hmm?? oh!" He looked down at lizzie still sound asleep.

" Here let me take her up" Dave made a move for her but Richie stopped him.

"No man. Let me--I worked her kinda hard the last few days and I feel kinda bad. I'll take care of her ok?"

Dave hesitated, At Lizzie's age now he just didn't think it was appropriate for her to be alone over night in a hotel room with Rich. A few years ago, it was fine but now, he wasn't so sure.

He studied his friend's face and saw the sincerity and concern etched there. Then stole a glance down at his sleeping sister, she looked so angelic and peaceful that he relented.

"Alright man. You take good care of her." He clapped Richie on the shoulder and with one last glance down at his sister, he left the bus.

Richie stood up and scooped Lizzie into his arms. Her eyes fluttered open a few times and when it registered that it was Richie holding her she relaxed and laced her arm around his neck, laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes once again.

He called for one of the road crew to grab his bag and hers and follow him to his room. Carrying her in his arms, even that short distance set his mind back where he really didn't want it to go.

God she feels so good right where she is 

The roadie opened the door for him and Richie took Liz straight to the bed and put her down. He turned around to thank his crew member and shut the door, then spun on his heel to find Lizzie sitting up in the bed, wide awake and looking at him with those amazing blue eyes. Hurt and question still lingering in their depths. He took a deep breath and made his way over to her. He sat a few inches away and just looked at her for the longest time trying to find the right words to heal the wound between them