Chapter six

Richie sighed deeply and watched his wife sleeping in the chair next to their son’s bed through one of the big windows on the ICU. She wasn’t leaving him out of side a single second since he was back from the surgery two days ago.

Unfortunately John hadn’t opened his eyes yet. The doctors were telling them that it could take some time, that his little body needed time to heal and they were probably right about it. But it simply broke his heart to see his little trouble-maker lying motionless, pale and with a huge white bandage around his small head here in a bed on the ICU.

His normally strong and controlled wife was as pale as a wall and crying nearly all the time. He smiled softly. He had a rather good idea why she was that way, but she didn’t say anything yet.

At home his two girls were out of balance as well. Kathy was sitting on the couch with one of her brother’s transformers in her little hands. She was barely speaking and didn’t wanna sleep alone. As the adults were commuting between the hospital and the Bongiovi house all the time, Romeo and Jake were sharing their beds with her.

It was really sweet how protectively the two boys were towards Kathy; Richie just wished it would have been other circumstances to find it out.

Ava didn’t wanna be alone either. Sixteen years old or not, she was in his arms immediately when he entered the house. When he wasn’t there Jon and Jesse were comforting her. Richie just wasn’t sure he liked the look on Jesse’s face when he was hugging Ava.

He sighed. Everything was a mess right now and just because they couldn’t keep his son of the tree. Whose stupid idea was it to put trees in a school yard of a pre-school? Were there all incompetent idiots in the world? His hands clenched to fists angrily. He wanted to hit something, wanted to let out his anger.

“Don’t hit anything and hurt yourself, brother. We couldn’t handle another family member in hospital!”

Jon’s calm voice made him turn around. Brown angry eyes met calm blue ones. Richie closed his eyes, dropped his head back and exhaled sharply.

“I know.” He whispered. “How are the girls doing?” he added.

“Unchanged.” Jon answered and stepped closer to the window that separated the hallway from the rooms on the ICU. “Jake and Romeo tried to play Candy Land with Kathy, but she barely acknowledged the game.” Richie smiled sadly. His little girl loved the game.

“Ava and Jesse watching movies or listening to music. I have the feeling he wants to hold her in his arms forever.” Jon added softly.

Richie glared at him.

“Don’t worry, he’s 18 and I talked with him. He won’t!” Jon stressed the last two words. Richie nodded and rubbed his eyes.

“Let’s try to get her out of there for a few minutes. She needs to eat something.” Richie said silently and entered his son’s room.