This one's for WestHamBabe, thank you for the request! I hope you'll like it <3

~~~~

3rd person's point of view

Silent tears fell onto the white bedding of the hospital bed. Blue, tearfilled eyes were disbelievingly staring down at the person laying in that bed, the person who meant everything to him. Everything.

He couldn't face what had happened, it just seemed so unreal. Tico and David had dragged him into the hospital room just a few minutes ago and he had nearly fainted by the sight that had awaited him. Richie was laying in that hospital bed, wrapped in the white sheets. His eyes were closed, there were bruises on his face and a thick bandage around his head, his dark brown locks lightly sticking out of it and framing his pale face. "Rich...", was all that he had managed to rasp out, his whole word crashing down around him. Tico and David had caught him shortly before his legs gave out, but he had willed himself to stand up again and walk over to the bed on wobbly legs.

Richie. He had walked down a street late at night, he and the boys getting home from a bar they had been partying in. Of course it had to be him that had to get hit by that damn car. It had to be him that had to fall into a coma and be unconscious for a day now. He had almost died right at the accident site, one of his legs and one of his arms got injured very badly. And then he had a craniocerebral injury on top of that, it still wasn't sure if a cerebral haermorrhage would follow. If that should happen, he'd be dead almost instantly. That knowledge made Jon want to throw up. He raced to the small bathroom of the hospital room, emptying the contents of his stomach into the toilet and remaining shivering in front of it after flushing. He was Jon's everything. If Richie died, Jon couldn't live with that. He swore to himself that he'd take his own life if Richie's got taken.

Memories flashed back to him, of the times they had shared, the times that made Richie so special to him. The moments his life had been depending on.

~~~~

Early 1984 - in a small bar on the Jersey shore

Jon, David, Tico and Alec were sitting on a few barstools on the bar, curiously eyeing the handsome stranger who set up his equipment. They had an audition for a new guitarist that evening, but so far no one had impressed Jon enough to get the job. However, Jon had a different feeling about the skills of that young man on the stage, even though he hadn't even started to play. Jon gasped as he set up a microphone as well. He could sing? Even better.

As the stranger started to play, Jon's eyes almost bugged out. This guy was amazing. And as his husky voice, more emotional than any other voice Jon had heard in his life, joined his playing, Jon had to hold himself together not to fall onto his knees in front of him and worship him. The stranger locked his chocolate brown eyes on Jon's the whole time he was playing, and Jon could see determination, happiness and hope in them. It got him directly.

As he finished, he hopefully gazed at the four men on the bar. Jon just smiled at him and crooked his finger at him in a gesture to come over to them. And after setting down his guitar and turning off the mic, he did.

"You were amazing! I'm so glad you came and played!", a still smiling Jon said to the glowing stranger, who was nervously fumbling with his fingers but couldn't hide the smile and the blush that invaded his face.

"What's your name?"

"I'm Richie Sambora, I'm 24 years old", Richie shyly introduced himself, his eyes raising to look at the four men before he moved towards them to shake their hands. As he held his hand out to Jon, the latter just took him into a tight hug. Richie was startled at first, but finally moved his arms around Jon as well.

"You got the job, Richie. You're fitting in perfectly", Jon mumbled into Richie's soft hair, finally pulling back again.

"I really got it?"

"Yes, you do. Now come on and jam a bit with us", Jon replied, kissing Richie on the cheek in a friendly way before pulling him to the stage again by his arm. Richie didn't mind anything anymore, he just kept on smiling, knowing that his dream of being a famous musician could finally come true.

~~~~

Jon remembered that night in one of New Jersey's smoky bars as if it had been just yesterday. A small smile tugged on his lips as he realized, how much he had gained through having Richie in his life. Flashback after flashback flashed in front of his mind's eye.

~~~~

1986 - Aftershowparty

Jon was drunk. Really drunk. But that didn't stop him from approaching someone he had wanted to approach for more than half a year now. Tall, dark and handsome, leaning against a wall with a beer bottle in his right hand and the other one around a chick's waist. Richie.

They had become really famous in that year, their first two singles of the third album, You give love a bad name and Living on a prayer, directly blowing the roof off and hitting number one slots all over the world. And with it, the band had gotten closer than ever to each other. They had to share hotel rooms in almost every hotel they hit during the tour, it had always been this way. Exept that this time the tour was much longer than all their tours before, which meant, they practically lived together for over a year. And during that year, Jon's obsession had started. He had gotten obsessed with his handsome, goofy guitarist.

At first, he tried to deny it. He tried to distract himself with a ton of different groupies, he tried to avoid Richie as much as he could. But the only one he was fooling was himself. He found himself fantazising about Richie whenever he was alone, he found himself aching to run his fingers through that mane of brunette hair and pull him in for a kiss whenever they stood close to each other. And finally he admitted to himself, that he had to do something about it.

Well, still he couldn't because he just didn't have the guts to tell Richie. But everyone knows that when you're drunk, you're able to do things you normally wouldn't dare to do in a million years.

So it happened, that Jon walked towards Richie that night on unsteady legs, shooting the chick on Richie's side a death glare, which made her leave quickly. He then took in the sight of the man in front of him completely. Richie had managed to shower and change his clothes after the show, and in Jon's eyes he was looking mouth-watering. Tight blue denim jeans emphazised his long legs, a black top leaving his strong arm muscles exposed to Jon's sight, his soft dark brown locks framing his face and his dark eyes popping with the addition of black khoal.

"Hey man, it's rude to scare girls away like that. You-" Richie got interrupted by his best friend crashing his lips on his own and his hands holding onto Richie's shirt to keep himself standing upright. Richie was shocked at first, but he didn't really mind. He was drunk too, after all.

~~~~

That night had been one of the best nights in his whole life. After that night they had begun to fool around whenever they had shared a hotel room, and soon it meant more than sexual satisfaction to both of them. Well, to Jon it had been secretly more for quite a long time before. They had tried to keep it under wraps for as long as possible, but David, nosy as he was, had found out about their secret relationship. However, the boys, Tico, Alec and David, didn't mind at all. They stood behind them through all the little crises on their way, but they had never been against them. And Jon praised them highly for their support. The memory of another night flashed through Jon's brain.

~~~~

1988 - Jon's house

Jon knew they had to tell the public, but he couldn't do it. He had to worry, that he might never sell another record, that he would loose his job. And he couldn't risk that. But then on the other side there was Richie, who he loved deeply and unconditionally. Richie was getting more distant with each night Jon told him they couldn't tell the public about them. And Jon started to go crazy because of that. He needed his job, but most of all, he needed Richie.

So there they were, in Jon's bedroom, both a glass of red wine in hand. Richie had his back against the wall, black leather pants and a loose black top covering his body, his cross necklaces reflecting the dim candlelight the room was iluminated by and his cowboy hat shadowing his eyes. Jon was sitting on the edge of the bed, not able to make eye contact with the handsome man in front of him, thoughtfully sipping on his wine. No one said a word. And that was almost unbearable. But then something happened. Richie pushed forward, his hand gently wrapping around Jon's wine glass and taking it from his hands. He then placed both glasses on the closest surface, which happened to be Jon's dresser, and took Jon's hands in his, pulling him up and against his chest. Jon hesitantly made eye contact with Richie and saw those chocolate brown eyes filled with love and need.

"Can we just forget all those problems tonight? I miss the way we've been in 1986, when we just didn't worry about anything. Let me love you again tonight Jonny, please", Richie whispered, his hand gently caressing Jon's cheek. Jon simply nodded, his eyes closing as Richie took his mouth in a loving, passionate kiss.

Shortly after that, they ended up on the bed, making love. They just felt, forgetting their problems and fears for a while. Afterwards, Richie held Jon in a warm embrace, kissing his cheek and simply whispering, "Everything is gonna be alright".

~~~~

That was the last memory of Richie that Jon had. Because that night had taken place in the night before the night where Richie had had the accident. He had gained everything by meeting Richie, but he was aware of the fact, that he could loose everything in each moment that went by.

Completely desperate Jon finally managed to raise himself from the bathroom floor again, stumbling into the main room again and taking his place on Richie's side by sitting down onto the small side edge of his bed.

"Rich... Oh god...", Jon mumbled as he took Richie's hand in his, seeing the IV cannula on the back of his hand, through which he got provided with liquid. Richie was so weak, he was attached to so many machines that kept him alive, that Jon was scared shitless. His Richie had always been strong and happy. But most of all, it scared him that Richie needed help to breathe. Tears made their way down Jon's cheeks, desperate, burning tears, that rolled in fat drops down his face. He continued to hold Richie's hand, linking his fingers with the long, cold one's of the love of his life, hoping for a light squeeze or another sign that told him Richie was on the way to health. But there was nothing. Soon after that he fell asleep because of exhaustion, his chin resting on his chest.

Jon was startled when he got woken up from the sound of the door opening.

"Hey, I'm the nurse and just checking on Richard. Has there been any change or sign while I wasn't there?", a young woman asked him, trying to cheer him up a bit, but nothing, apart from Richie, could lighten his mood in that moment.

Jon shook his head in a negative and squeezed Richie's hand lightly, looking at that pale face again.

He could loose him.

Another wave of desperation crashed over him at that thought, sobs shaking his body and the nurse embraced him in an attempt to shush him.

"Hey, it's gonna be okay. I'm sure Richard will get well again", the nurse whispered, but Jon heard the uncertainty in her voice. Even the nurses weren't sure if he could make it. That was everything but definitely not soothing.

A few moments later the door opened again and David and Tico entered the small room, rushing immediately to Jon's side while the nurse started checking on Richie.

"Hey Jonny, we brought something to eat for you with us. And I'm optimistic that Rich will make it, he always was a fighter, a strong one too", Tico tried to soothe him and Jon let himself be led to one plastic chair on the side of the room, Tico setting him down while David handed him a sandwich. Jon hesitantly took small bites, not wanting his stomach to rebel again.

"Dave?"

"Yeah?"

"Tell me what happened last night. I want to know everything."

"Are you sure you can handle it Jon? I-I'm not sure if it'll make you feel better", David tried but Jon just looked him dead in the eyes, determination in his bright blue orbs. "Well, okay. I tell ya."

"We had been partying in that club, Black Horse, where we also went for Tic's last birthday. Tic and I were really drunk, but Rich however, not so drunk. We were crossing the main street on our way back home, and that was when it happened. Tic and I were just maybe two steps in front of Rich, but that was enough. When that big black car raced towards us, Tico and I only had to make one big step to reach the other side of the street. But due to the fact that Richie was behind us, the car hit him straight on. Because of the car's speed, Richie was thrown backwards maybe four meters and hit the ground with his head first. There was so much blood... I've never seen so much blood in my life ever before, Jonny. I'm so glad you didn't have to see it.

However, the driver exited the car immediately and called the ambulance. I knelt beside Richie and tried to keep him conscious, but he couldn't stay awake. The last thing he said to me was 'Tell Jonny that I'll always love him', before he closed his eyes and hasn't opened them again til now. The ambulance came a few moments later, and I tried to help, but they sensed that I was drunk and told me to go home. Tico and I however managed to persuade the ambulance team to let us come with Rich to the hospital and we got to see how they checked him over to see how serious it was.

His head was the worst. There was a giant laceration on the back of his head and a smaller one on his forehead. They were both bleeding lots, his hair was soaked in blood and it was also flowing like red rivers down his face. Due to his landing, he had gotten a fractured leg and a fractured arm as well. The arm was worse than the leg though. It had been angled in a strange way and twisted weirdly. I don't know if he'll be able to play the guitar ever again. We can only hope it will heal. He has a few fractured ribs as well, but they could already stabillize them so that they won't turn and be able to hurt his inner organs. All in all, Richie was in the worst condition I've ever seen a person in. I can't tell you if he'll survive this Jonny, but I pray for him."

Tears ran down his face as David told him everything he knew. Jon could picture the whole scene in his mind's eye, and it made him sick. But at the same time, he was glad that he knew what had happened in that night in which he could have lost everything.

~~~~

The next week was harder to face than everything else. There was no big sign of health from Richie. The doctors checked on him every day and told the three destroyed men, how Richie was doing.

"He's a fighter. He could've passed away quite a few times now, but he keeps on hanging on. That's a good sign", the main doctor said one day two weeks later, and Jon had to smile a bit. His Richie was strong. He had always been strong. On that day, the main doctor told them as well that Richie's wounds were on a good way of healing. It was a relief for all of them, even though Richie still was in a life-threatening situation. His arm and leg, as well as his ribs, were healing well, but a cerebral haermorrhage still wasn't excluded.

The best news came after four weeks though.

The doctor told the three men, that Richie had started to be partly conscious and that he could now breathe on his own. He had taken Richie's breathing tube out and a nurse had switched his head bandage, while Jon, David and Tico had eaten something out of the hospital's cafeteria. The happiness between them had returned, at least a bit. David had started to goof around again, and even Jon was sometimes able to laugh about his jokes. As they returned to Richie's room, the main doctor and a nurse stood next to his bed.

"Mr Sambora, if you can hear me, please squeeze the hand of my assistant", the doctor said and a moment later the nurse looked excited at the doctor. "He squeezed!", she said and a smile spread over both of their faces. As they turned towards the three men standing in the doorway, Jon felt tears prickling behind his eyes. But after a long time they were happy tears. He rushed over to Richie's bed, sitting down on the edge of it and taking Richie's hand in his own.

"Rich, babe, can you hear me?"

A light squeeze was felt at his hand that was clasped around Richie's, and Jon almost cried in relief. Richie was there. Richie was hanging onto life like a piranha onto its prey, and Jon was so damn proud of him for that. Suddenly the doctor piped up from behind him.

"He is maybe able to open his eyes if he's strong enough, just talk to him for a while and you'll see."

Jon nodded, clearing his throat slightly before starting to talk once again.

"Rich, we all miss you. Especially I. You're such a brave strong man Rich, we're all so proud of you for pulling through. Do you think you can open your eyes for me for a while? Don't demand yourself, but try if you think you're able to. Please Rich, I love you", Jon mumbled, his thumb grazing over the one beneath, his fingers linking with Richie's. And then it happened. Richie slowly but surely opened his eyes, Jon's free hand coming up to gently caress Richie's cheek.

"Rich... Oh sweetheart...", Jon mumbled incoherently, his mind just being able to focus on the fact, that Richie could survive and be his old self again. A weird sounding rumble came out of Richie's mouth as he tried to speak, but as he tried again, it worked.

"Jon", he croaked and motioned for him to hold him. Jon did as he was told and gently took Richie into his arms, careful not to hurt him in any way. And then Jon couldn't hold back his tears any longer.

"Rich, I thought I'd lost you...I thought I couldn't even say goodbye..."

He silently wept in emotion as Richie clung onto him surprisingly strongly for such an injured person. Tico, Dave, the nurse and the doctor had left for a moment to give them some privacy, using the moment to hear the doctor's prognoses about how long Richie had to remain in the hospital. Meanwhile, Richie and Jon were still unaware of something else than each other.

"Jon... kiss me...", Richie silenty croaked out, turning his face towards Jon's, and Jon smiled softly at his still weak, but well recovering lover. He softly took the pale, still a bit chapped lips with his own in a searing kiss, hearing Richie sigh and arch a bit into him while he closed his eyes and just felt the happy emotions flow through him. They could face everything together.

~~~~

Richie fully recovered about eight weeks later, and Jon sat on his bed every day. He almost transformed into a second nurse. But he proudly saw how the colour in Richie's face returned and got told by the doctor, that a cerebral haermorrhage was finally excluded.

As Richie left the hospital after three months, he and Jon slowly started to make music again, Richie's finger strength slowly but surely returning. And as Richie finally felt well enough to take Jon to bed again, they finally loved each other to the fullest and Jon couldn't hold back the tears escaping his eyes.

"I love you so much Rich, you can't imagine how much happier you made my life by coming into it."

As Jon looked into Richie's tear-filled, chocolate brown eyes again, he had his response without Richie needing to say a word. He did anyway.

"I love you too Jonny, I'll be by your side, whatever happens."

Sleep took them quickly as Richie curled into Jon's embrace, the latter gently running his fingers over his back and drawing a soft sigh from Richie. "I love you", he whispered again and Richie cuddled even closer, their eyes finally falling shut and the sound of their regular breathing silently filling the room.

They had made it through. And Jon knew, they could face anything if they just trusted in love and faith.