Requested by and dedicated to JamieVanHalen

~ The Best Job ~

I consider myself lucky. Yes, very lucky indeed. I have the best job in the world-- I get to talk to the members of my favorite bands, and I get paid for it. Yeah, being a journalist rocks.

I knew I had made the right career choice when I went into work one awful Monday morning. I'd spilled my coffee on my hand, and it had left a horrible red burn. I was wearing the same pair of pants I had worn yesterday, and my hair must've looked like a rat's nest. And to top it all off, I'd missed my bus that morning and had had to wait an extra forty-five minutes.

"(L/N)!" My boss barked upon seeing me. "Mind telling me where the hell you've been all morning?"

"I'm sorry, I really am. I just missed-"

"Save it. I've got a new assignment and I need someone on it. Are you up for it?"

I was tempted to say no, because I didn't like being interrupted and I honestly wasn't in the mood for another assignment. I already had to write up a bunch of interviews for publishing. However, I couldn't turn it down; it might be something fun.

"Yeah, I've got room for more. What is it?"

"We got an interview with Def Leppard. None of the other fields are available, so it goes to you if you want it."

The burn on my hand was healed. I liked my pants anyway, and what my hair looked like today didn't even matter. I had enjoyed waiting for that bus.

"Def- Def- Lef Deppard- Def Leppard?"

"Yes," my boss confirmed. "I take it you want that interview?"

"Are you kidding me? I'd pay you to let me do it! Of course I want it!"

"Good. It's tomorrow at 11 a.m., at the arena they're supposed to play at-- use the pass, they'll be expecting you. Don't be late, don't act stupid, don't get off-script. Got it?"

I nodded. I must've had stars in my eyes, because she gave me a weird look before walking off.

My boss had given me an interview with Def Leppard. Now that had to be more than luck. A chance to meet the guys in my absolute favorite band? I'd known the perks of the job when I'd taken it, but I never thought I would get this far.

I even had to rehearse what I was going to say to them. Being who I was, I wasn't exactly allowed to spend the entire interview telling them what a big fan I was. All I could do was ask the usual questions. But how on Earth did my boss expect me-- or anyone for that matter-- to stick to the script? This was Def Leppard, for goodness' sake. Lots of people would give an arm and a leg to meet them. And here I was, about to do just that, and all I was going to be able to do was ask them what their future plans were (not that I didn't care, but I would rather ask Rick Savage if he was seeing anyone).

I went to bed that night full of excitement and anticipation. I'd been given the chance of a lifetime, and I'd be a fool not to take advantage of it.

***

I showed up at the arena the next day at 10:30 a.m. I made my way inside by flashing my journalist's pass at every security guard I met and letting them know I had an interview scheduled. Once inside, I just had to find the band.

"Hello there," a male voice said from behind me. I whirled around to face the person, seeing yet another security guard had been standing behind me. "You lost?"

"A little, actually. See, I've got an interview with Def Leppard-"

"Yeah, all the crazy fans say that."

Okay. I might have been wearing a shirt with their logo on it, but that did not make me a crazy fan and that did not give him the right to just interrupt me.

"I'm not a crazy fan, I swear. I actually have-"

"I don't buy it. Tons of people have told me they've got interviews with the band when in reality they just want to meet them. Why should I believe you?"

"I do have a pass, see-"

"As if those can't be faked."

"What is there, some kind of secret code-word I'm supposed to know?"

"Maybe, maybe not. You would know, wouldn't you?"

"Look, asshat, I'm only doing what I get paid to do. I've got to make a living somehow, right? I just happened to choose a career where I get to do things such as... I don't know... interview bands. This is in the job description, you know. Now if you would just shut up, get out of my way, and let me do what I gotta do so I can buy myself a meal later, I'd appreciate it."

"Alright, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave. And don't make me force you."

"No, don't make me force you-- to back the hell off. I don't-"

"Whoa, there! What's going on?"

I was just about to turn around and pimp-slap this newcomer for just cutting me off in the middle of serving this guard his dish, but stopped short when I saw who it was.

"Rick Savage, pleasure to meet you," he said, sticking out a hand. I opened my mouth to say something, then closed it. Then I opened it again. Then closed it. I probably looked like a fish out of water.

"That's okay, I'll help you out," Rick said. He reached down and grabbed my hand, then gave it a little shake. "Now you tell me your name."

"I-I'm (Y/N) (L/N), and the pleasure is all mine." I managed to sound at least a little normal.

"Are you the 11 o'clock interviewer?"

I nodded and clumsily fumbled for my badge. I turned it over and showed it to him with a nervous grin.

"Alright, Mark, you can get back to what you were doing. This is a reporter here on official business."

The guard silently nodded and stalked off in another direction, probably looking for someone else to insult. I knew I couldn't say anything, though; I'd just blown my lid at him.

"Sorry about that. The poor chaps are used to getting conned into thinking people are reporters. Can't really understand why anyone would go to those lengths just to meet the band, though. Anyway, what can I do for you?"

Did this guy have no idea how famous he was? Did he not know he had real fans who practically worshiped him and his bandmates?

I didn't say what I was thinking, of course. Instead I went with: "I just have some questions to ask you, if you don't mind."

He nodded. "I figured as much, you being a reporter and all. Well, fire away, and I'll do my best to answer them. The rest of the band is a bit occupied at the moment, but I am completely free."

"Right." I tried to grab at one of my thoughts as they stumbled by. Okay, okay, I'd met bands I admired before, I could do this. Just calm down, I told myself.

I asked him a bunch of questions about the shows and his opinions on all sorts of matters, but my question from the day before was still flashing through my mind.

"I have one last one-- you know, for the gossip column. They want to know if you're seeing anyone." That actually wasn't a lie. Reporters were often asked to get a few details about celebrities' personal lives, and this was a question I often threw out at the end of interviews.

He raised an eyebrow and grinned. "No, not at the moment."

I nodded lamely, lowering my eyelids to make myself seem less eager at the response. Alright, so he's not taken, and I have a chance.

"The rest of the band should be done now, if you would like to talk to them as well."

"Yeah, that would be great."

When I met Joe, I almost tripped over my own feet (and I was standing in place when I did). He was charming and very funny, and sweet as sugar. I eventually gave in to my fan side and asked him to sign my camera, which he did.

Steve Clark was an absolute sweetheart. He asked me if I needed anything and was more than eager to answer my questions, not hesitating to give thorough and honest responses.

Phil Collen was very funny. He was witty, though a bit shy at first, he was soon cracking jokes up and down the stage (I was following him around as he showed me how the wiring and all that worked).

Rick Allen was all smiles. He pulled a total of four pranks on random people while I was interviewing him, and I had to wonder if he even knew them.

It was a great couple of hours all-around. Rick Savage stuck around most of the time, randomly joining in the interviews with the other band members. I didn't mind, of course; I enjoyed his guest appearances.

I was just about to get ready to say my goodbyes and leave when he came up to me.

"You're a fan of Def Leppard, right?"

I looked down at my shirt, then at my camera (which I had asked them all to sign), and laughed. "What tipped you off?"

Rick laughed as well. "I'm very intuitive. Well, here, I've got something for you, if you want it."

He handed me a laminated piece of paper hanging from a lanyard.

"All-access pass."

I resisted to urge to snatch it out of his hand and slowly reached out to take it. "F-for me?"

"Yeah, of course. It's special, see. It lasts forever."

"And you're giving it to me?"

Rick nodded.

"Man, I don't know what to say... Thank you, really, thank you. Thanks a lot."

"You're very welcome. So will you come to the show?"

"Of course I will! I don't have to turn this report in until tomorrow, so I'll just stay here until it starts."

"Great! You can hang out with me if you want, but the choice is up to you."

Of course, I stuck with him. We chatted until it was time for him to get ready to perform. One of the people on the stage crew was calling him to go and get his bass.

"Would you look at that? I've been having such fun, I didn't notice the time had come."

"Me too," I said. I really hadn't noticed that four entire hours had gone by. "Maybe I'll see you after the show?"

"Oh, definitely." And then he walked off toward the stage and was gone.

"What a flirt!"

I turned and saw Phil standing there, his arms crossed and an amused expression on his face. I put on a smirk and asked, "aren't you all?"

"We do our best," he grinned. "Anyway, guess I've got to be on my way. Good luck with Sav. I, for one, think the two of you would make a nice couple. Don't give me that look, it's obvious you're both into each other."

I couldn't even respond. He gave me a sly smile and a wink, and by the time I was able to wrench open my mouth to respond, he was too far.

I somehow ended up backstage, which was okay since I had that pass. I ran into Joe, who gave me a pat on the shoulder and a little salute before going out onstage.

"Oh, you're... well, back here. Nice to see you."

Rick was making his way from somewhere further behind the stage to the front. He caught up with me and stood there, giving me a little smile. It seemed like we were both trying to say something, but neither of us could find the words.

"You nervous?" I asked.

"Only a bit," he responded. "Pre-show jitters, you know how it is."

I didn't know as much as he did about that, but understood. "You're going to do great tonight."

He fidgeted a little, drumming his fingers on his bass. He really did seem nervous.

I wasn't sure what else to do or say, so I stood on my toes and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "For luck."

His eyes seemed to lose focus, then he blinked rapidly and looked straight at me. Then he moved forward and kissed me; a real kiss, on the lips and not the cheek.

"For even more luck," he said when he moved back, smiling. "I'll see you after the show?"

"Of course," I responded. "Now go and rock this place to the ground."

Rick laughed and shook his head, putting a hand on his face. Then he smiled, nodded, patted me on the shoulder, and headed out onstage.

***

It was an amazing show, of course. They all did splendidly and gave a flawless performance that kept the crowd cheering. I myself couldn't contain the excitement I felt from being at my first Def Leppard concert. That mixed with every emotion I'd felt that day made for a very overjoyed me.

When the show was over, I hung around backstage, waiting for the band to join me. I heard as Joe yelled out a wild 'thank you and good night' (which got the crowd to scream even more than they already had been). Then I saw Phil come around the side and enter the backstage area, followed by Joe, then Steve, Rick, and Sav. I pushes myself off the wall I'd been leaning against and made my way over to them.

"You guys, that was awesome! You all did so good!"

"Thanks, (Y/N)," Steve said, his left hand running up and down his frets. "Well, I'm going to go sit for a minute. I'll see you lot around."

We all bid him goodbye, and soon Rick Allen followed after him. Phil told us he had to go and wind down, but once he was gone Joe whispered that he was really going to meet a girl. Joe himself then went to the bus to get himself a water.

Sav then whispered to me that he was really just going to get a water, because he couldn't get a girl. Which in turn made me laugh my ass off because I had a view of the bus from there, and I watched him enter it, come out with a bottle of what clearly wasn't water, then sit on the steps for about ten seconds and drink it by himself. Not fifteen seconds later, a girl walked by and they exchanged words. Not very many, because almost right away they were walking off together, her clinging to his arm.

Rick, who had turned to watch the whole thing when he noticed me doing so, turned and gave me a look of complete dismay.

"Never mind. Have you got anywhere to get to?"

I didn't, so he took me out for a late dinner. I had a wonderful time; there wasn't a single dull moment to be had. After we ate he offered to walk me to my apartment, and I accepted.

"I have something else for your report," he told me when we reached my door.

"That so?" He nodded. "Tell me, then."

"On the subject of whether I am currently seeing them-- you can tell them I am, if the one asking the questions will have me."

"Of course she... I... will," I said with what was probably a stupid grin on my face. "Hey, do you want to come inside?"

"I- as much as I would like to say yes, I think it's best if I get back to the band. They'll be expecting me."

"Oh, right. Well, you should get going, then."

"Sending me off before I even get to say goodbye, are we?"

"No." I gave him a kiss on the nose and pushed his chest. He looked down at me and raised an eyebrow, not even budging.

I laughed and leaned into him, and he wrapped his arms around me and pressed his lips to mine.

See, being a reporter rocks.

***

And there it is, the longest chapter I've ever written (I think lol). Originally I had a completely different idea for this, but I ended up changing my mind and writing this instead. That's why this one took so long. Well, sorry about the wait.

Also happy birthday to Steve Perry and Steven Adler! Two of my favorite celebrities ever. I love them both and hope they have rockin' birthdays :) I'm glad, too, because I got a Journey CD for half the usual price as a special offer. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this one! Next one is Duff McKagan, until then!