"Wait...Jules made YOU my sitter?!" Jon's speech had improved since his stroke and with pig-headedness, was determined to talk as naturally as he could.

"Obviously she thinks you'll listen to me," David chuckled, tossing his keys onto the coffee table and slung his leather jacket over an armchair. "I tell ya...those women work their asses off. I'm impressed."

Two weeks after Jon arrived back home from the hospital, Julie had begged David to watch after him while she and Leesha were working hard. He agreed hesitantly since he and Jon had been on such shaky ground. Even now he was careful to sit far enough from Jon to avoid getting beaten with his walking cane.

David made himself comfy on the plush sofa, kicking off his shoes and silence fell between the men. Only the distant ticking of Jon's grandfather clock echoed through the home.

"I don't need a fucking babysitter," Jon grumbled under his breath.

"Yeah she said you would complain about it," David rolled his eyes, sending a quick text to Gabby. "Gab's got a comedy showcase tonight in Brooklyn..."

"Lord above," Jon said, "You releasing another one to torture poor souls with your brand of comedy?" He had a flash of their early days where the combination of David and Richie together would have them all in stitches. He wasn't sure if it staved off the repetitiveness of the road or contributed to the lunacy of it all.

David shrugged. "She inherited my sense of humor and took it further. People love her. Did you need a drink or anything? What time did you need your pills?"

"I'm not an invalid," he groused, even though technically he was but the Bongiovi stubbornness shone through.

"Christ, Jon...just answer the question, will ya? I'm here to help."

"I hate this, okay?!" Jon sniped, "I hate having to rely on people to fetch and carry for me, I hate that I can't go for a run of a morning and I hate that Jules is treating my like spun glass!" He tossed his cane across the room in frustration.

David blinked rapidly. "Fine...whatever..." He took out a small bottle and cylinder from his pocket, carefully filling it with the amber liquid. He popped the cap back on the bottle and tucked it away, placing the silver vape pen between his lips and inhaled. His exhale was shaky and he grabbed his bottle of water, taking a long sip from it.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing with that in my house?"

"With what?" David asked hesitantly.

"That shit," he replied, pointing to David's hand.

"It's not recreational. Just drop it." The blonde stood and slowly walked to the kitchen to refill his bottle, noticing that Julie had set out Jon's medications. He grabbed the pills and a can of Coke for Jon and stopped beside his chair, holding out the items with a soft smile. "Jules, set them on the table."

With a sigh, Jon accepted the pills and the drink, putting them on the coffee table, and said, "So why? What are you not telling me?"

David sunk back into the sofa and took another pull from the vape pen, his hand shaking slightly. "Just been feeling off lately. Probably another stomach bug that won't fuck off."

"Did my warning not sink in?"

"All you did was tell Leesh to get me to a doctor. I've been too busy to piddle around, bend over and spread my ass cheeks. Got another musical in rehearsals. You know how my schedule can get."

"Make the goddamn time," Jon said, "Trust me on this one...please?! Now...why are you smoking that shit again??"

David groaned and took another pull, feeling the drug kicking in. "My appetite's nearly gone and the nausea has gotten worse, man. A lot worse but smoking has helped with needing to eat as well as helping the pain in my stomach for a short time.

"Isn't it bad enough that we've lost T, Hugh and Alec and almost lost Richie," Jon counted his friends off with his fingers, "I don't want to have to say goodbye to you too. Get to the fucking doctor, or I'm gonna drag your sorry ass down there myself."

"Drag me? You can't even stand to piss by yourself," David said with a chuckle. "Did you really pee down your leg last night??"

"What?!" Jon blinked at him, "How...how did you find out about that?"

"Dude, our wives talk about everything...every...fucking...thing. I just happened to accidentally look at Leesh's phone when she got out of bed for a drink."

"Goddamn it," Jon groaned, "I got more privacy when we were out on the road...." He scrubbed his hands over his face, "My speed is somewhat lacking these days, getting moving takes an effort. Mother Nature was looking for a hot lap instead."

Dave watched Jon expectantly with a smirk on his lips. "You need diapers? I can run out for a package..."

"Fuck off, Lema!" Jon chuckled, "Just don't tell anyone else okay? I don't want to be the subject of one of Gabby's jokes tonight, or else I'll tell her about the time you got so drunk in the 80s that you got naked and tried to fuck a mannequin. I'm gonna have words with my wife later, too."

"That mannequin had nice tits and she was giving me that look..."

"Who had nice tits?" Julie's voice echoed from the hallway.

"You do, gorgeous!" David called out.

"In your dreams, honey," she replied with a chuckle as she popped her head around the corner, "You both playing nicely together, boys?"

"You forgetting already that I've seen and had you naked a few times?" David asked incredulously. "Does Kitten need a spanking?"

"Um, no...thanks, though," Julie gave him a short smile, "Look how well that turned out last time, huh?" She moved further into the room and sat beside Jon, fussing around him.

"I believe you were moaning and purring--"

"OY!" Jon cut off David. "We all know how that turned out."

Leesha appeared around the corner, her simple but tight black dress showing off her baby belly. "You two pissing against the wall about that night still?" She sat next to David and giggled when he leaned over to rub and kiss her belly.

"They'll never change," Julie said, "Have you taken your meds, Rockstar? Do you need anything? Bathroom? I mean after last ni-."

"Stop!" Jon said, "Babe, I love you but you gotta stop. Especially telling these two everything. Give me some dignity...please?!" He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. "I'm fine, okay?"

Julie nodded and sat back with a sigh, "Sorry, Jonny."

Leesha kissed her husband's head and smiled at him. "What about you? Did you take your medica--" She stopped at the look David gave her and her eyes widened. "Oh...nevermind...I was...thinking of...something else."

"Wait a minute!" Jon said. He maybe a little slow physically but mentally he was still as sharp as a tack, "What medication? Lema...spill it?!"

David closed his eyes at his wife's grimace. "Sorry," she whispered, "I thought you were gonna tell him..." He shook his head.

"Tell me what?" Jon persisted.

"Jon...don't upset yourself," Julie said, soothing a hand down his back which he shook off with a small grunt.

David looked up to Jon, his eyes pleading forgiveness. "I...she...did take me...to the doctor's...Damnit, woman," he said to his wife who shrunk into herself. "I just didn't want you two to worry."

"Worry about what?" Julie asked looking between her friends, "Leesh? Is everything okay?"

"The doctor sent me to an...Oncologist..." David took another deep inhale from the vape pen and let the medication seep in before exhaling. "Stomach cancer. They...uh...they started me on a high dose of steroids and three other pills. I'll be on those for a few weeks and, if there's little to no improvement...I...I'll be sent for radiation and chemotherapy..."

"Fuck!" Jon swore, his head hanging in despair as Julie gasped in shock.

Julie looked over at Leesha and shook her head, "Why didn't you say something? What's...what's the prognosis?"

"There's a 60% chance of survival. It had progressed to Stage 2," David explained, letting Leesha snuggle into him.

"The darkness...," Jon mumbled, "I saw it. In my coma. I saw it in you." He raised his head and pinned David with a look; blue eyes to blue eyes. "You fucker! You weren't going to tell me?! What the fuck's with that?!"

"You and Jules have enough on your plate without worrying about me. I was gonna tell you--"

"When?! When you hobbled in here with no hair?!"

"Jonny...please," Julie tried to calm him.

Jon held up a hand to his wife to shush her and shakily stood from his chair, his steps slow like a baby learning to walk. He made it to the sofa and plopped down next to David, staring at his brother of over 50 years in the eye. Dave stared back, his face showing worry about what Jon was going to do.

"You gonna beat me up?" David tried to joke, straightening up to the edge of the sofa.

Jon shook his head, unable to speak for the moment. He grabbed David in a bone-crushing hug, taking and giving comfort, and said in a hoarse whisper, "Don't ever fucking keep anything like that from me? You hear me?!"

The two men sat together, both hugging and crying. "I love you, J," Dave choked, "I fucking love you, man..."

"Brothers, man," Jon replied, "We were a band of brothers. We look out for each other, right?! You did that for me...now it's time I repay the debt."

Over the next four to six weeks, Jon stayed true to word. As David transitioned into his chemotherapy and Jon worked on his physical therapy, Ethan had taken up being the man of the house in his Dad's absence. He looked after his mom and sister alongside Jon.

David had been admitted into the hospital where he could be cared for during his treatment since he had a pregnant wife at home. This would ensure she didn't come into contact with any of the chemotherapy medication.

Either Julie and Jon or Ethan would go with Leesha to the hospital every day to visit. Some days were better than others.

His symptoms started off as fatigue and him sleeping most of the time, graduating to mild neuropathy then his beautiful blonde curls started to become heavy and lank, thinning more and more over time.

"Dude, you look like shit," Jon greeted him one morning. He'd come in with Jesse this time as he'd brought a small keyboard and stand with him for David to stay occupied.

"Reckon I'm still better looking than you," David croaked, coughing hard and reached for his water cup.

Jesse snorted at the snide remark aimed at his father. "You all good, Uncle Lema?" he asked as he set the stand up near the chair David was sitting in.

"Better now that I'm seeing those ivory keys again," David smiled, "my hands may not be able to play like before. Fucking treatments are bullshit. Only so many times I can watch the same fucking tv shows. The nurses are gorgeous though."

"Eh...noodle around some," Jon shrugged, choosing to ignore the nurse comment, "something good might come out. I just knew I was bored when I was stuck inside four walls, so I figured you would be too."

"Nurses, huh?" Jesse said, his eyes lighting up, "Where do I find 'em?"

"Someone call for a nurse?" A tall man with dark hair and green eyes walked in wearing nurse scrubs and smiled at Dave. "How's my favorite patient doing?"

"Better now that I have something to play with," David replied, eyeing the male nurse up and down.

Jesse stood open mouthed, blushing from the neckline of his shirt as Jon stood by and watched his son's discomfort. The nurse busied himself with Dave's vitals and changed the bedsheets. Finally, Jesse spoke. "So...you're not the doctor?"

The nurse, whose name tag read Carlos, laughed and shook his head. "No, I'm the head nurse here."

"Where are all the hot women nurses you said there were?" He asked his Uncle.

"Oh, we don't have any female nurses in this wing. They are all on the other side with our female patients. Only male nurses over here," Carlos explained.

"Oh!" Jesse exclaimed, "Dad, I'm...I'm just...just gonna go get myself lost for a little while. You two gay up...I mean catch up! Call me when you're done."

"Bye, Jesse," David said, sarcasm dripping heavily from his words as he waved at the rapidly closing door that Jesse almost ran out of, "Great to see you. Good chat."

"That boy is a walking, talking, Tindr app," Jon shook his head, "Even Jake isn't that bad." He took in his best friend's appearance from his pale skin to the dark shadows around his eyes.

David felt Jon looking him over and swallowed. "I know. I'm not the hottest thing in the world right now. How's my babygirl? You all taking care of her and the baby?"

"Of course," Jon nodded and eased himself down into a chair beside David, "Julie's with them now. I think they're doing a few hours work then going to the salon or spa for the afternoon. I dunno why...they're perfect the way they are. So...when are you outta here?" He fished out a clean notebook and pencil from his backpack and lay them on top of the keyboard within easy reach.

"They're giving me another week. Had my MRI last night...should have the results today. That'll depend if I need another cycle. If so, I'll at least be able to go home for a resting period," David told him, taking a sip of ice water. Carlos readjusted the pillow behind his back and laid fresh warm blankets over his lap and shoulders. "Just wanna be back in my own bed and hold my wife and feel that baby kicking."

"Oh, he's giving her grief with that," Jon provided, "He'll be a footballer, that's for sure."