182 - Rock and Roll Jesus

June 25, 2010

London, UK: O2 Arena (Night 11)

 

The morning started with Jake and Romeo fighting over God knew what, followed by a full-on family breakfast in their suite before they all, yes all, Jon wasn’t letting her out of his sight, left to take those going home to the airport. It was good that they were going. Maybe it would relieve some of his stress because what she did to him last night and again this morning didn’t seem to quite do the trick.  

 

Though the news channels seemed to have forgotten them and moved on to the next day’s gossip, there were still the legal ramifications that needed to be dealt with, so from the airport, they headed to the arena. Fewer distractions, or so she thought. With two shows left before heading into a two-week break, the natives were getting a little restless, or as they liked to call them in the business…. Rowdy. The pranks were frequent and everyone and anyone was a target. Even their fearless leader. She was coming out of Jon’s dressing room when she bumped into Rew. He was holding a boom mic with Obie carrying a camera behind him.

 

“Priscilla, just the person we were looking for.”

 

“Oh, boy. This doesn’t look good. What are you two knuckleheads up to now?” Ari stood with her back flush with Jon’s door, clinging to the knob. If they were going to try to go into that room, they would have to pass her first.

 

“Just a little fireside chat session.”

 

“With a boom mic?”

 

“Okay, so maybe we’ve been sneaking up on some people. What’s the boss man doing?”

 

“Uh-huh. You are not going in there.”

 

“Ahh, c’mon. Since when did you become a party pooper?”

 

“You want me to send him to your room tonight, Obie?”

 

“No thanks, Sweetheart.”

 

“Didn’t think so. But I have an idea, though.” A huge smile spread across her face. “Let’s go find Nicole. She’s never been a part of Fireside.”

 

“I knew I liked you.” Rew laughed.

 

Maneuvering their way through corridors, they stopped a few times to interview whoever passed them by. As they approached catering, they could hear Matt’s bold laughter coming from the room. Peering her head in, she motioned with her index finger they found who it was they were looking for. Nic and Matt, sitting at one of the room’s round tables, way off to the side in the back corner. A plate of fries, the only thing separating them. The only other people in the room, the catering crew.  

 

“You can’t go in there holding that thing.” Ari pointed to the pole looming over her head. “It will draw attention and we don’t want to scare her.”

 

“Good call.” Setting the boom against the wall, Rew switched it out for the handheld mic he had stuffed in his back pocket. Wires set, they entered the room with Rew leading the way.

 

“Looky what we have here.” Rew called across the room, with Ari and Obie following behind him. “If it isn’t the Circle Tour’s Head of Security and resident Doctor. So, kiddies, what’s so funny?”

 

“Fuck off, Rew.” Matt popped a fry in his mouth.

 

“Such a lovely mouth you have.”

 

“Why don’t you go bother someone else?” Grumbling, Matt slapped away the mic that was just put in his face. 

 

“Touchy, aren’t we? Did we interrupt your romantic meal?” Rew copped a seat on the empty chair next to Nicole. Whose facial expression just went from smiling to worrisome when he did. “So, tell me Doc, is this your first time…” he pointed the mic towards her, then pulled it back “I mean, as a tour doc...”

 

“Uh, yes.” she answered hesitantly.

 

“Cool. Cool. So, in case you didn’t know, this is Fireside chats. Impromptu segments we here in Bon Jovi land we put together for our fans, letting them know what’s happening behind the scenes. You game for a few questions.”

 

“Sure.”

 

“I promise it won’t hurt. We’ve been filming crew all day. Obie will splice it together sometime later and we throw it up on BonJovi.com,” he motioned for Obie to start rolling. Little did she know he already was. "Sound cool?" At her nodded acknowledgement, he turned and faced the camera.

 

“Hey you out there in Bon Jovi land, Mike Rew here with a long overdue segment of Fireside. As you may know, we are just about to wrap up a month here in cheery ole England, at the wonderful O2 arena. I’m here with Matt Bongiovi, Head of Security and our newest member to the crew, Dr. Nicole Cummings. Nicole, why don't you tell everyone what you’re doing here?”

 

Looking up at Ari, Nicole waited for her to give the okay. “Well, like you said a minute ago, I’m a doctor.”

 

“You’re an OB GYN.” he cut her off, which was how these things usually went. People talking over people. Though we put these segments up to give the fans a glimpse into the background of a tour, it was more for the crew and band to let off a little stress. Most of what they filmed never made it to the last cut.

 

“I am.”

 

“So basically, you look at hoo ha’s all day. Sorta like Matty over here,” his hand came down with a hard slap on Matt’s shoulder, “but you get paid for it and your patients aren’t kicking you out of bed in the middle of the night.”

 

“You’re a dick.”

 

“Don’t deny it, big boy. You nail that walk of shame better than any Victoria Secret’s runway strut.” 

Ariana bit her lip, so that she didn’t laugh, watching as Nicole’s cheek flushed and she squirmed in her seat. 

 

“Sorry,” he brought his attentions back towards Nicole, “continue.”  

 

“Technically speaking, yes.”

 

“See here folks, we here on the Circle Tour care so very much for female crew members. We provided them with traveling gynecological exams."

 

Nicole cleared her throat, stopping him. “Not really. I delivery babies, hence the OB. Obstetric. I’m here as Mrs. Bongiovi's personal physician.”

 

“So, you get to look at her...” His words fell short when Lema and Jeanie entered the room, laughing just as loud, if not more than these two were mere moments ago.

 

Rising from his seat, Rew made has way across the room, talking while Obie walked backwards filming. 

 

“Speaking of hoo ha’s, let’s welcome our crew’s Chief hoo ha expert and longtime personal assistant to the head honcho himself, Ms. Jeanie.”  

 

“Rew, how many times have I told you, if you want in on the girl on girl action, all you have to do is ask?” Not even stopping, Jeanie continued her way towards the long row of chafing dishes.

 

Rew looked into the camera. “She’s always teasing me like that. She doesn’t mean it.” Looking back to Jeanie, “We were discussing Dr. Cumming’s role around here as Chief Baby Doctor.

 

Lema held his hands up to the camera, and with a thick foreign accent, spoke. 

 

“Zeez hands… Coulda birtha lots a babies… But No!” he shook his head. “I play keyboards et have sex with lots a women. Dis is good too. You, Dr. Cummings,” he pointed to Nicole across the room, “have sex with one man,” the index finger he used was now pointed upward, “and he’s not even the hot Bongiovi!”

 

“So folks, there you have it, the sex-nanigans of the Circle Tour. Tune in next time to see who’s sleeping with whom.”

 

“I knew it, Lema!!” Jon exclaimed, leaning against the doorjamb.  “You two were acting a little too strange when you returned from New York. And you,” he pointed over to Matt, shaking his head.

 

♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱

 

Running as fast as her legs would allow, Ari headed down the corridor, giving quick nods or waves to the various people that acknowledged her as she made her way towards the stage. She didn’t want to be late. After Jon showed up, they took their dinner back to the dressing room. No, he wasn’t mad, but he wasn’t happy either. She told him that they were are consenting adults and that whatever they did; it wasn’t their place to make judgement. Not when you took in consideration how they ended up together. And after she explained to him that way, he agreed grumpily that they would agree to disagree. Which to her meant he realized she was right but wouldn’t admit it.

 

 “Did you get them?” she asked, out of breath, to a waiting Matt at the foot of the stage stairs.

 

“What do you think? Are you sure you want to be out there, though?”

 

“Hell, yeah. Where’s Nicole?”

 

“Right here.” Nicole appeared behind them. “Ready?”

 

“Let’s go.” Ari started walking. “Matty, you coming or what?”

 

“Not like I have a choice, do I?”  

 

Matt ushered the two women under the ramp and to the front of the stage. Where he stopped to speak with two of the arena security guards before showing them to their seats. Front row, dead center, just like his sister-in-law asked. When his brother found out, he was sure he would rip him a new one for this, but who was he to deny a pregnant woman?

 

“Will Jeanie be joining us?” Nicole asked.

 

“Nah, she’s taking one for the team and will keep Jon busy for me.”

 

“Yep, I’m going to catch the shit for his little stunt.” Matt mumbled, thinking no one would hear him.

 

“I told you not to worry. I will handle your brother. After the two days we have had, I need this. Besides, I missed them opening the other day. I’m not missing it now.”

 

The house lights dimmed, strobe lights flashed red and white as the sirens blared, Kid Rock took center stage, sunglasses, fedora and leather jacket.  

 

“You ready to rock and roll?” he screamed as Stefanie Eulinberg pounded out the opening of Rock-n-Roll Jesus.  

 

For the next twenty minutes, they sang and danced to some of her favorites, You Never Met a M’fucker Quite Like Me and Rock and Roll Pain Train. She was grateful when he took a seat at the vintage piano, slowing things just a little with a cover of Sly and the Family Stone’s, Everyday People.

 

“Getting tired yet?” Matt leaned in and asked into her ear.

 

“Not a chance. But if you have to go, be my guest.”

 

“No can do. Just don’t go into labor, please.”

 

“I’m Fine. Just ask my doctor.” With her thumb, she pointed to Nicole and went back to the show.

 

♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱

 

“Hey Ton, I made a switch with the setlist.” Jon ducked his head as he took the empty chair next to his brother’s workstation, his eyes glued to the monitor. Kid was midway through their last song, but that’s not what had his eye, his wife did.  

 

“She been there the whole time?” he asked, still watching. Wearing a straw cowboy hat, Kid’s no doubt, her arms up in the air swaying back and forth to the familiar beat.

 

“From the first note. Matty’s been with her the whole time.”

 

“And Nic.”

 

“Yup, like a copula of groupies.” Tony winked. “Want me to get them?”

 

“Nah, let her have her fun. I’ll just wait for her by the steps, need to let Kid know about that change.” Jon tapped the piece of paper he came to bring Tony. “Just let Matt know.”

 

With that, Jon pushed back his chair and left. By the time he reached his destination, the band was coming off the stage. Catching Kid by the arm, the two men moved to the side so the crew could switch out the equipment. The men were discussing something when Jon felt a roundness press against his back and two arms come up and around his waist.

 

“Great set!” Ari peered her head around Jon’s shoulder.

 

“Thanks, babe. You seemed to be rockin' and having a good ole time.”

 

“I was.” Taking the hat off her head, she started to hand it back to him.

 

“Keep it.” Pushing her hand away, he looked at Jon. “We cool here.”  

 

“Yeah. Catch ya later.” Jon winked.

 

“Dealio.”

 

Turning in her clutches, they were now standing face to face. She was wearing a big wide grin and her eyes glimmered with heat. “So that’s where you ran off to. You know, I should be jealous. You never rush to sit front row for me.”

 

“A fatty like me might cramp your style with the girls.”

 

“You sure move good for a fatty.” He pushed up the brim of her hat as it fell over her eyes.

 

“You were watching?”

 

“Just the last song. I had to give Tony something.”

 

“What?”

 

“It’s a surprise. One you will only get if that fine ass,” his hands moved down and covered hers, “is sitting up front and center.”