After breakfast was cleared and a container of hot food was packaged for Julie, the first group of visitors was getting ready to leave. Ari showed no signs of her distress from earlier however she was still looking quite anxious, holding tight to her husband's hand. Sammy was carefully holding her card and drawings for her parents as she finished slipping into her jacket and shoes.

"Alright, let's hit the road," Richie said to the small group. He opened the front door and ushered them all outside to his car.

Becca was trying to locate her glasses that she'd put down somewhere, yelling "I'll be there in a moment, honey," before retracing her path.

Leesha followed Richie out after David grabbed her silk robe. She left it untied and let the soft material drape around her. David stayed in the doorway and hugging Janelle. "Here's a bag for Julie, Rich. It has a change of clothes, panties, shampoo, a brush, scrunchie, towel, and a face wash if she wants to shower at the hospital," Leesha said, "They're my clothes, but Julie's just a tad smaller than me so they should fit."

"I'll let you know how they both are when I get there. Thanks for the breakfast, darlin'," Richie pulled Leesha into a warm embrace, "I'm happy for you all about the baby, by the way. Any new life is a miracle regardless of how it's created."

Leesha walked out to the car with Richie's arm around her, her head resting against his arm. "That's the best thing we've heard yet, Mook," she said quietly, opening the door for Sammy to jump into the back seat. She leaned in and kissed Ethan on the cheek and slam the door.

"I found them!" Becca said as she hurried toward the car, "You'll never guess where they were?"

"Surprise me, babe," Richie grinned, his hands rubbing Leesha's bump.

"On top of my head all along!" Becca scoffed at herself, "Jake took great delight in point it out to me. Such a brat!" She shook her head and frowned as she got in the car, slamming the door. Richie kissed Leesha on the cheek and hugged her tight.

"Give Julie a big hug for me?" Leesha sighed and Richie nodded, climbing into the driver seat. Leesha waved to them as the car backed down the driveway and turned to her husband and daughter in the doorway.

Janelle leaned against her Dad and frowned, pointing upwards. "Mom...what is that?"

Leesha and David followed their daughter's gaze and David swore. "Fuck...hun...get in the house...NOW!"

"What is it?" Janelle asked again. David gently pushed her inside and hurried Leesha in before slamming the front door. Across the property, photographers were crouched behind the tall hedges high fiving each other at their good fortune for having captured some explosive pictures.

"David we can't let the kids leave here," Leesha cried, her emotions going crazy as she grabbed a handful of bacon.

David, however, was already on the phone with Mike and they listened to his side of the conversation. "Mike...DB...paps outside sent a drone in over my property...probably photos of the kids, Leesha...alright, see you then..."

Leesha rejoined everyone in the kitchen and living room. "No one else is to leave here until Mike secures the property. Understood?"

Meanwhile, in the car heading toward the hospital, Richie turns down the radio when the news broadcasts started in on Jon's accident with the lead in line of 'Lead singer, Jon Bon Jovi, in a life or death struggle after a horrific motor vehicle accident.'

"Fucking media!" he muttered before looking at his charges in the rear vision mirror, "I'm sorry you had to hear that kids. Your dad's a fighter, don't forget that." He felt Becca take his hand and he looked over to her. She gave him a small comforting smile that soon turned to horror as they approached the hospital car park.

"Richie, honey, do the block. Look at all those media trucks," Becca said pointing out his window.

"Fuck!," Richie swore, "Okay guys, here's the deal. I'll park as close to the door as possible. You get out and follow Becca inside. Don't say anything to anyone. Don't even look in their direction. Ethan, you look after Ari. Sammy-girl, you stay with Aunt Becca, okay? Don't let go of her hand. I'll try and distract them with a quick word."

"Understand me?" Richie asked sternly.

"Yes Uncle Mookie," came the quiet replied from behind him

The mood in the car dived a little deeper yet again as Richie made the second approach, this time turning into the car park and finding a spot to pull into. "Bec, you and I hop out first. You take the kids straight in. I'll meet you upstairs."

"Got it, babe," Becca nodded, "Hey...I love you." Becca leaned over and kissed her husband before the press recognized who they were.

"Love you too, honey," Richie replied, "Okay, kids, let's do this."

As soon as Richie's door opened and the press recognized who it was, they swarmed to his side of the car. He closed his door and held his hands up to quieten down the fracas while Becca almost managed to get everyone else inside the building. As Richie was making his small statement to the cameras, some obnoxious paparazzi were in Sammy's and Ari's faces with cameras and recorders, trying to get something out of them.

"Samantha, is it true your Dad and Mom are splitting up?"

"Arielle, is David's son your husband and is it true you eloped?"

"Was there a fight? Was he drinking?"

They were shouting and jostling amongst themselves like a pack of carrion eaters around a carcass which spilled over into the family group, one of them falling on Sammy and knocking her to the ground.

"ARI!" Sammy screamed, crying as she watched her drawings for Jon get trampled under feet. She tried grabbing the paper and her hand was stepped on by a photographer. "NO! They're mine!" The smallest Bongiovi yelled as someone snatched the paper off the ground and her tiny fists punched.

"SAMMY! SAMMY Stop! It's me!" Ethan yelled and helped the girl from the ground, letting Sammy hop up onto his chest and wrap her little legs around him. He handed her the drawings back and had her put her head down, shielding Ari under his arm.

Becca tried to push her way through the rowdy mob at the front door after seeing Ethan holding Sammy. Eventually, the door swung open and three sets of strong hands helped the small group inside.

"My husband is still out there," Becca said to Mike, "Can you please help him get inside?"

"Yes ma'am," he replied and hurried out while Bec turned to the others.

Becca made sure everyone was okay, looking closely at Sammy's hand when Richie was ushered in through the doors by an angry looking Mike. A flurry of flashes from outside happened the moment Becca fell into her husband's arms.

"Just got a call from the bossman," Mike informed the small group, "Someone has sent up a drone from outside the perimeter of the Bryan property. I'm on my way to check it out. I'm leaving two of my best men to keep the scum at bay. Here's the phone number. Call them when you're ready to leave. They won't let that kind of scene happen again." He squat down on his haunches in front of Sammy, "Did they hurt you, my little lady?"

Sammy's eyes swam with tears and her bottom lip trembled before she fell into her friend's arms, "I was so scared, Mike," she whispered as the dam broke, sobbing into Mike's shirt.

"I know something that will help," Mike said, looking up at Richie and getting a nod, "I think you need to go see your mama and papa now. I'll make sure those fuckers outside won't hurt you again, okay?"

"Mike?" Sammy whispered before straightening up, "You swore!" She sniffed loudly and grinned.

"Can you think of a better name for them?" Mike chuckled, "Just don't let your mama hear you say that word though. Our secret."

Sammy looked around and whispered back, "Yeah...they're mean fuckers..."

"That's right, little lady. They are. But you can't let them get to you. That's what they want, you got me?" Mike leaned his head in and reached out his big fist.

"I got it!" Sammy returned the fist bump as Mike winked at her and took his leave.

Richie and Becca climbed into an elevator with the kids, pressing the button labeled 16. "Man, even in the hospital Jon gets a penthouse," Richie joked, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Daddy likes the view from the top," Sammy grinned, "That's what he told me once."

"Yes he does, sweetie," Richie grinned wryly, "His room is on the right when the elevator stops." He kissed the top of the young girl's head affectionately. The automated voice announced their floor and the doors slid open silently.

Sammy darted out first before anyone could stop her, almost racing down the hallway and missing the two guards outside her dad's room. She stopped and double backed after spying her mother through the glass window. Sammy was about to walk in when one of the guys stood and blocked her way.

"Excuse me, Miss," he looked down at her, "I don't think you're allowed in there."

"Yes I am!" she replied with indignance, "I'm Mike's little lady." She stood and crossed her arms just as he was standing.

"Is that right?" he cocked his eyebrow at her. He was about to say more but the door behind him flew open and Julie pushed past him to get to her daughter.

"Sammy-girl! Oh, honey, I've missed you..." Julie cried as Sammy threw herself at her mother. "Oh baby, it's so good to see you."

"I want to to see Daddy, mama," Sammy said, wriggling free of her mother's arms.

"Mom!" Ari cried and ran the rest of the way to her mother.

Julie hugged her daughter's tightly, kissing them each on the forehead and her tears flowing freely. She looked up as Ethan approached, holding the bag of clothes and the warm breakfast plate. "Oh, Ethan," Julie cried and pulled him into her arms as well, her emotions and exhaustion finally getting the better of her.

Richie and Bec joined the small gathering in the hallway. "Hey darlin'," he said, "How is he today?" Bec let go of her husband's hand and gathered Julie into her arms when she saw how broken she was.

"He...he has stabilized overnight but," Julie sniffled as she tried to gain control again, "the doctor is still keeping him sedated for the brain to heal as much as possible."

"Leesha sent some fresh clothes and toiletries and David packed some food," Richie said as he held the bags aloft, "I'm surprised they made it through the vultures outside though."

Julie looked at the group quizzically. She couldn't remember the last time she set foot off this floor.

"There's a whole media pack circling the entrances," Ethan offered, "We kinda got stuck in it. Sammy got knocked to the ground."

"Are you okay, Sammy-girl?" Julie studied her daughter intently looking for any injuries.

"Yeah, mama, I'm okay but they almost got Daddy's picture that I drew for him," Sammy wiggled free yet again. "Can I go in and give it to him now?"

"Okay honey, but," Julie stopped her from rushing off, "Daddy's very broken and sore and is sleeping so he won't be able to talk to you just yet. We'll put that picture where he'll see it first thing when he does wake up though."

"Okay mama," she said, tugging on Julie's hand.

"We'll be right out here," Bec said, kissing Julie's cheek.

Julie took Sammy's hand and nodded to the two guards as she opened the door to Jon's room. The quiet of the room was broken only by the machines monitoring Jon and keeping him breathing. She heard Sammy gasp and her grip get tighter on her hand as she got closer to her father.

"Daddy!?" Sammy cried at the sight of Jon's face all cut up and bruised down one side. She stopped in her tracks, not wanting to get any closer. "No!" Sammy cried and turned into her mother's body.

"Sammy, it's okay, honey," Julie wrapped her up in her arms and sat down in the recliner with her, "Daddy's not going to die sweetheart. He got into a car accident so he has a lot of bumps and bruises. The worst one in inside his head so that's why he's sleeping. He also has a broken leg and some other stuff inside. The doctors had to operate on him and under the bandages on his head, they had to shave some of his hair."

"Oh Daddy's not gonna like that," Sammy said seriously.

"Right?! But I'm sure he'll understand," Julie smiled, knowing how vain Jon was about his hair.

"Can I show Daddy my picture now," Sammy asked slipping from Julie's lap and swiping the back of her hand over her eyes.

"He'd love that, baby," Julie nodded and watched as Sammy moved closer to Jon.

"Hi Daddy," Sammy said and tentatively touched Jon's hand. She looked back at Julie who encouraged her to keep going. "I made you a picture to help you get better, but some mean people with cameras outside tried to take it from me. Mike called them fuckers but told me it was our secret word."

My little girl's hand...is that what I'm feeling? SammyGirl? Fuck!

Those vicious piranhas can't leave my family alone for one minute. I'm so sorry, SammyGirl, I hope you didn't get hurt. I bet that picture is pretty. It'll go up in my office like all the others.

Julie managed to hide her surprised gasp behind her hand as she listed to their baby girl talk to Jon. Sammy reached out to Jon's face and gently touched it before turning back to Julie, asking, "Mama can I look at his broken leg."

"Of course, honey," Julie nodded.

Sammy moved down the side of the bed to the bottom and lifted the sheet up to see the halo of steel protruding from various places down his leg. As her gaze traveled up Jon's leg, Sammy let out a giggle and dropped the sheet. "Mama, Daddy's naked!"

Sammy, is that you touching my face? It's warm and tingling. No don't let her...please don't let her!

Oh for Chrissake, Jules! Cover me up! She doesn't need to see all that.

Julie couldn't stop the bubble of amusement from surfacing. It felt wonderful to feel something other than grief and guilt for a change. "Oh honey, I don't think Daddy could get any pajama pants over his leg anyway."

Sammy grinned at turned back to Jon, declaring, "Daddy I know what I want to be when I grow up. I'm going to be a doctor so that I can fix people just like they did for you. I still want to be a drummer too, but I can do that in my spare time."

You can be anything you want to be, my baby. You're the smartest of them all, Sammy-girl.

Julie, baby, it's so good to hear you laugh again. I don't want to ever hear you cry anymore. I've caused you too much pain lately. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I'm such a fuck up lately. Please don't leave me. I don't want to live if you're not in my life.

Jon's monitors beeped erratically for a moment or two causing Julie to stand and check on him. "I think Daddy heard you, honey," she said brushing her hand over Sammy's hair.

"Do you think so, mama?" Sammy looked up seeing Julie nod, "I love you, Daddy. I miss you at home. Oh wait, I stayed at Uncle Lema's place. I slept with Ari and Ethan after I fell asleep on Jesse." Sammy smiled when the beeps sped up again and leaned over to kiss his cheek.

Yes, Sammygirl, I hear you! I love you so much...you and your mama both. Wait...Lema's place? Why aren't you all at the house? If Jesse is there too, probably means Colton and Stephie are as well.

No matter what bullshit he and I have been through, sounds like Lema's taken my family in...shit...

"Why don't you go tell Ari that she and Ethan can come in soon, Sammy," Julie said, "I want to ask Daddy something."

"Okay mama," Sammy said, "Bye Daddy, come home soon. I love you." She slipped out the door with a skip to her step.

"Oh baby," Julie sighed as she held his hand, kissing his knuckles, "Why aren't you giving me any signs that you can hear me? I'm not angry with any of you anymore. I just want you back. I want you to wake up." She watched the monitors closely, willing Jon to show her some sign. She didn't hear the door open.

I can! I can hear you. I don't know why I can't make that stupid fucking machine beep when you're there.

You're not angry? You don't know how happy that makes me. I'm trying to wake up, baby, but I can't make anything work. What's happened that I can't wake up, baby?

Jules, honey, I'm scared....what happened? I wanna wake up, I wanna come back...please, dear god, let me wake up.

"Mom?" Ari peeked around the door.

Julie swiped away the tears and motioned for Ari to come in. Ethan followed.

"Sammy said we can come in," Ethan said as his young bride cautiously made her way to the bed, "Uncle Mookie's taken her down the cafeteria. Becca's waiting outside."

"Thanks," Julie nodded and watched Arielle from across the bed. The teenager looked shocked and on the verge of tears.

"I'm so sorry for everything, Daddy...please come back to us...I don't wanna lose you and mom needs you. We all do," Airelle cried.

Arielle, sweetheart, please don't cry. I'm not going anywhere, do you hear me? I know I've been a shitty dad to you lately. I promise I'll make it up to you as soon as I can. I'm trying to understand how quickly you've grown up to be such a beautiful young woman, but you'll always be my Baby-mine, Ari. I'm so proud of you all. I need to remember to tell you all more though, don't I?

God help me! I want to wake up now! Please...please I beg you!

Julie couldn't watch anymore as Jon's vitals peaked again at Ari's plea. She stood and said to Ethan in a strangled voice, "Look out for her, Ethan Bryan, or so help me." She left the room and walked straight passed Becca and into the ladies room, locking herself into a stall before crying.

Back in the room, Ari was tearfully saying to her father, "We know about the baby but we're not mad, Daddy. He'll be a beautiful addition to the family. Auntie's got such a pretty bump...you have to come back to see it..."

You..you know? About the baby? Well...fuck! What happened? Was it a breaking news item?

"Will you let him call you Pops? Since you won't let me call you that...Uncle Jon," Ethan said. He looked sharply to the monitors when his vitals spiked violently.

Ethan, I don't let you call me Pops because...fuck...it'll solidify your connection to my daughter. Though we're long past that. You'll understand when you're older and have kids.

"Bitter much, Shaggy?" Ari asked.

Ethan shrugged, "Maybe a little. It still hurts."

Fuck...please just let me wake up so I can hold my family and tell them how much I love them. Don't make me suffer anymore damnit!

"We'll make him change his mind," Ari said and curled into Ethan's side, turning her face up to his for a kiss.

**~~**

Becca tapped on the only closed stall door in the ladies room, "Jules, honey, are you okay? Do you need anything?"

"I need my husband back," Julie cried angrily, "That's all I want, Bec." She just wanted a do-over of the last few months and go back to a simpler time, before Ellie's party and they were all one big happy family and not fractured into million pieces."

"Oh honey, I know you do," she replied, "Can you open the door, please?"

Julie used a strip of toilet paper to blow her nose before opening the door to a worried Becca.

Becca was a female version of Richie, Julie thought, laid-back but takes no nonsense and fiercely loyal and caring when it came to family. The whole family was eternally grateful she had come into Richie's life when she did, saving him from himself.

"Right! You look like shit, Jules," Becca stated, "I bought the bag Leesha packed for you. They're her clothes but they'll do for the moment. I want you to have a quick sponge bath here. It'll make you feel better until you can go home for a shower. Do you want me to stand guard outside?"

"No, please...I...I don't want to be alone, Bec," Julie said.

"Okay, I'll just text Richie to tell him where we are," Bec said reaching for her phone, "There's a washcloth and some toiletries. Do you want to talk while you freshen up?"

"Oh Bec...," Julie sighed as she started to strip out of her clothes, "Why won't he show me any signs that he can hear me?" She found the washcloth and a small bottle of shower gel and ran some warm water into the basin. It felt heavenly to have clean skin as she swiped the cloth over her, turning for modesty when it came to more delicate areas. "The kids all got reactions! Why not me?" she railed at the blank wall.

"I can't give you that answer, Jules," Bec sighed, "but we all know how much he loves you. Hell, he almost killed himself chasing after you!" Bec looked horrified at what she'd inadvertently said, "Oh shit! I didn't mean it like that!"

Julie pulled up the panties Leesha had supplied and reached for the matching bra before turning around. "Oh Bec, I know you didn't," Julie reassured her, "and I know Jon loves me. It's just frustration and exhaustion talking. I'm sorry."

Becca blinked a couple of times at Julie before starting to chuckle, "Looks like you're about to hit to the stripper life again, honey. Maybe you should show those to Jon to wake him up."

Julie looked down at herself. Leesha had packed a matching fluorescent pink leopard print set of underwear, her breasts slightly spilling over the demi-cups of the bra and the panties barely covering her cheeks. "Leesh does like her leopard print!" Julie agreed as she searched in the bag for what other surprises might be revealed.

"I wonder what other clothes she packed? It doesn't really matter though. She could have sent a mumu and it would still feel better than my clothes," Julie said wryly.

"Don't speak too soon," Bec chuckled, "Leesha had the bag packed before we got there this morning. There was a heated discussion happening when we arrived."

She was rewarded with a soft pair of black lounge pants and with a deep russet colored long sleeved top. A pair of ballet flats completed the outfit.

"Oh? What was the discussion about?" Julie asked distractedly as she dressed.

"Ah the older kids found out about the baby, " Becca said hesitantly, "It was a Bryan vs Bongiovi situation. Who, what, where and when."

Julie dropped her head against her chest and sighed sadly. Fuck what a mess, she thought. She brought her eyes up to meet Becca's reflected in the mirror.

"Don't even think of tackling that situation at the moment," Bec said, "Concentrate on Jon and your family for now. He needs you the most."

Julie nodded. "The hardest part, so far," she continued, "was when Matt and Tony bought John by this morning. No parent should have to see their child like that, regardless of ages."

Finding some scent and a hairbrush, Julie brushed her hair into a ponytail and put on some perfume. "God, I feel almost human again," she sighed, "Thank you, Bec. Hey, how is Richie holding up? I haven't had a chance to ask."

"He's better now that he's seen Jon," Bec said and helped Julie pack up the bag again, "He couldn't get out here quick enough. I know that if we had any alcohol in the house, it would have been gone in a flash. I know there's always going to be a third person in our marriage but I'm okay with that. Just as I'm sure you are too, am I right?"

"Uh huh," Julie sighed, "Those two have an inseparable bond. I wouldn't even want to try to sever that. I'm glad you understand that too."

"You're looking much better already, honey," Bec stated, "Are you ready to face everyone again?"

Julie nodded, "I think so. Thank you Bec. I'm so grateful you came into Richie's life and into our lives."

"Oh stop it!" Bec said, "Come on. I know my husband will be champing at the bit to have some time with Jon."