Chapter Fifty Four

Sleeping soundly, my senses were being stirred by a distant knocking at the front door, drifting in my dreams it was strange as it did not fit, again it came, knock, knock, knock... slowly my body woke, and for me to realise it was not in my dreams, but someone wanting in downstairs. Opening my eye's, I  lay listening, knock, knock,  knock it came again. this time I sat up and slowly swung my legs over the edge of the bed, despite a good sleep, and for once not haunted by the nightmares of late I yawned before lifting my body up out of bed. Taking my robe from the bottom of the bed, still yawning I made my way down stairs and to the front door, calling out "Alright already, I'm coming."  On nearing the door I heard Richie's voice on the other side, "Hey man, I've been here for ages, its freezing" Reaching the door and unlocked, Rich walked in rubbing his hands together,  he blew on them and rubbed again more vigorously. "Man its cold out there"
"It's autumn what you expect?"
"Well it was warm yesterday, I was walking around in jeans and T..."
"Right so you figures today would be the same? " I laughed as I walked away in the direction of the kitchen. "Continuing to talk I asked, "So what do you want from me at this god unearthly hour?"
Rich followed close behind, "god unearthly hour? man are you fucking serious?"
I stopped briefly to look at him, with all the drapes closed it was still dark in my house.
"Jon, its like 11.30 man...the world has been turning and living... "
I jumped back at him... "Yep and I've been resting..." then carried on walking to the kitchen.
Immediately he looked guilty, "yeah, I'm sorry, I forgot about that. I guess freezing your butt off outside for half and hour makes all your memory leave through your cold finger tips right?" I laughed as I replied, "In your case yeah..."
Reaching the kitchen I switched on the coffee pot, "you want some?" he was stood by the drainer and shook his head.." yeah please." Again I asked, "so what you want? why the visit?"
"I was concerned man, just wanted to see how you are"
"Bullshit Sambora, or you would have remembered I was resting... so what is it?"
he hung his head before he looked up, "Antonia"
"What about her?"
"I wanna go see her"
"What? have you lost your ever freaking mind?"
"No, listen hear me out ok?"
as the coffee had filtered through the cup I added the whitener and sweetener for Rich and handed him his cup before making my own. Then turning round to look at him I answered.
Ok I'm listening, but it better be good?" I was feeling pretty pissed at his suggestion and he knew it.
"Ok, Look, the reporter says the Docs have said she has no recollection of who you are right?"
"Right."
"so I thought I'd go along and check her out, see,  like, you know if someone recognises you or not right?,  then if I saw she knew me, then I could be a witness and that way it would help you with your case with the lawyer and the cops......" he paused briefly before carrying on, " you know being able to press charges and  the like, and finally put this fucking nightmare to bed.." he paused again and stood looking at me." My face said it all, but still he asked, " so what ya say bro..?"
"You seriously want me to ask?, no give my blessing to your fucked up scheme?"
"It aint fucked up, I think it'll work and will give you something else to use to get her locked up once and for all..." he looked at me hurt, so I tried reasoning with him again, this time a little calmer
 "But what if she is playing a game and fools you Rich eh? what then... you seriously are underestimating what this bitch is capable of, no man I can't agree, I'm just not comfortable with it."
Rich would not stop, as he carried on,
"Jon, what have you got to lose...c'mon bro think about it?"
I just did not get why he was pushing so hard for me to agree to him going to see her... this time I snapped,
"Look I've told you how I feel, its your call, just leave me out of it..."
I walked out of the kitchen and headed into the lounge, leaving Rich in the kitchen; sitting on the couch I placed my coffee cup on the table and raised my legs so I was reclining, relaxing as I was told.
Yesterday I knew I had done to much and I needed to allow my body to rest, and right now that included the stress I was feeling too. It wasn't long though before Rich followed too, as he came in he held up two fingers in a peace sign. " ok?"
I was still pretty pissed but gestured for him to sit on the couch opposite.  there was a little silence as he sat and he tried to change the subject, "So what ya do yesterday then, and don't tell me you rested, cause I can see your struggling this morning, so what did ya do?"
"Nothing much just laid down a track in the studio..."
"What? man are you crazy?"
"no, look when I got home ok I felt fine, and needed something to relax my mind that's all."
Rich was on his feet, this time he spoke with a sarcasm in his voice,
"Man, you are something else?"
Immediately my temper was back as I replied in a dangerous tone "whys that?" Richie paid no heed, or was bordering stupid this morning as he carried on "You come home from hospital and go into the studio?, has nothing registered with you?"
giving him the stink eye, and swinging my legs back on to the floor, I spat back. "Oh yeah, Rich I have every recollection of every fucking thing I have gone through, want me to give ya a run through?, in hospital, the nightmares were awful, coming to me at night and everyime I closed my eyes, the pain Is a constant reminder of what that fucking bitch and her hunches did to me, then I get home and decide to try to ease my mind of the fucking horror and go lay down a single track, which helped more than you can tell, but then this morning some fucking dumbass calls and says he wants to go see the fucking nightmare and wants my fucking blessing..."
I stood a little too quick and grabbed my side in pain, Rich was immediately at my side, guilt on his face again  "You ok?"
with my head bent and holding my side I raised my hand, "Yeah I'm fine, but I want you to leave"
" No, i'm going no where,  I can't just go and leave you like this?"
I was boiling mad and doubled in pain, right now I wanted Rich gone, I lied,
" Look I'm fine, just go already, ok the nurse will be here shortly..." Still he protested, "but Jon... I.."
"Please Rich just go"
He looked at me, his face full of concern as he made his way to the front door, as it closed I sat back on the couch and gasped for breath as the pain took hold.
I was still crippled over when my nurse arrived. She immediately rushed over when she saw me on the couch, taking a syringe from her bag she injected into me, and minutes later the spasm had stopped. finally able to relax I sat back on the couch as she sat opposite, "Just what was that about?"
"Madison, I-I_"
another spasm hit me as I doubled over again and this time blacked out. The next time I awoke I was in bed, fearful I was back in hospital I looked around, but I was in my own room and Madison was close by.
"Hey sleepy head, how you feeling now?"
I moved in the bed, and felt a little pinch to my side," a little sore, but ok"
"So you gonna tell me what happened to cause that spasm back there?"
"Yeah I jumped up off the couch to quick.."
"and why would you do that?" I had no option but to tell her about Richie's visit.
"I think Mr Sambora needs to stay away for a while, would you like me to sort it?"
I shook my head, "No, honestly, I can take care of Richie."
"Well ok, as long as it does not involve jumping up of any more couches, deal?"
I shook my head and agreed "Deal"
"So lunch, what would you like?"
"Something light"
as she reached my bedroom door she looked back, " Ok leave it with me.." With Madison looking after me, I felt relaxed, so laid my head back on my pillow as I waited for Madison with my lunch.