Chapter 37

Kim watched smiling how Jon and the boys chased each other for the football over the lawn in Central Park. Steph and her were sitting under a huge oak tree the dogs by their sides. After a delicious picnic with sandwiches, fruits, cake and cookies they weren’t really in the mood to run around with the boys. Sambo and Kidd seemed to appreciate the break as well and even though Jake tried everything to lure his new friends into the game the dogs didn’t move.

“I still can’t believe that you get him to agree to it.” Steph said laying relaxing against the huge trunk of the tree. Kim turned her head and grinned.

“He needed just a little re-assurance that you’ll always be his little girl.” Steph rolled her eyes. Kim shook her head smiling.

“I know you don’t wanna hear it, but it’s very important too him…you are his only girl, you are special.”

Steph stared at her for a second. “Yeah, I know.” She answered a little embarrassed.

“Believe me, when you all of a sudden no longer hear it, you miss it like hell…and him.” Kim bit her lip and stared at the grass to her feet.

“You miss your dad right?” Steph asked tentatively.

“Yeah, and my mom too. You can be really happy that you still have your parents and that they are still friends. There are so many things I wanna tell mine…and I can’t.” Kim whispered.

“WATCH OUT!” Jon yelled just seconds before the football crashed to the ground right between them. The dogs jumped up and barked immediately. Kim and Steph screamed surprised.

“Sorry, girls…you ok?” Jon asked after jogging towards them and picking up the ball.

“Can’t you watch out where you throw that thing?” Kim asked with a little anger. Her dogs only calmed down slowly not sure whether to attack that damn brown thing or not.

“Sorry, honey.” He gave her his best smile and bent down to place a soft kiss on her lips. She glared at him after they parted.

“You think that will always save you, huh?” He chuckled.

“Well, I can try it, right?” he teased.

“Don’t worry, Kim. In a couple months you’ll be able to resist even his charm.” Steph said dryly.

“Be quite!” Jon told her laughing and put his hand over her mouth.” Steph laughed and tried to free herself again.

“And the next step will be staying mad when he is singing the heartbreaking love songs.” She giggled when her father pulled her in his arms and tried to put both hands over her mouth.

“Stop spilling all my secrets!”

“Let her go, Jon. I already know those secrets.” Kim said laughing. Jon looked at her surprised.

“Really?”

“Yep, you always forget that Fran is a huge fan of you and the band. She bombed me with videos; I had to watch and told me all your tricks.” Kim chuckled about Jon’s shocked face.

“She even told me I really have to buy your albums now.”

“You don’t have his albums?” Steph wondered and pushed Jon lightly away from her to sit up again.

“Well, I have this ‘Best of album’ from what was it ’94?….Actually Fran gave it to me for my birthday.” Kim admitted.

“I don’t believe it.” Jon muttered.

Steph grinned. “Ego problem now, dad?”

“Don’t be so damn feisty, Missy!” Jon glared at her.

“Awww, don’t worry baby…I will work my way through your songs…maybe I’ll find something I like.” Kim put her arms around his neck and grinned at him mischievous.

“MAYBE!” He pulled back from her and stared at her. She grinned.

“...Oh, you two are really…that’s unbelievable…Maybe…Hmpf!...” Jon grabbed the football and stormed back to his boys, pouting like a little school boy himself. Kim and Steph erupted in laughter.

“You were right; he’s so damn funny when he’s huffy.” Kim told Steph and the two girls leaned back against the tree and tried to get themselves under control again.

Just when they’d calmed down again, they heard a muffled scream. Steph was at her feet immediately.

“JAKE!!” She screamed. Kim ran with her to the boy, who landed right on his face and slipped across the grass when he tried to catch the football. Jon helped him sat up carefully.

“You ok, buddy?” he asked worried and looked a little helpless at Kim. Normally he’d expected him to cry.

“Hmm.” Jake only nodded.

“Jake…” Kim gently ran her hand over his head. The abrasion on the right side of his face didn’t look dangerous. It only needed to be cleaned. Suddenly Jake and turned his head and grimaced before spitting out some dirt.

“Geeh, did you try to eat the grass?” Jesse asked in disgust. Jon just glared at him and his son shut up.

“How about you rinse your mouth with some water.” Kim said sympathetically. He only nodded and they all walked back to the tree. Kim handed him a bottle of water and Jake made sure every bit of sand and dirt was gone.

“Better?” Kim asked.

“Yeah, but my face burns…” the boy answered and tried to touch his cheek.

“Stop.” Kim got a hold of his dirty hand. “Don’t bring more dirt into the wound. We will clean it and then the burning will stop. You’ll see.” She winked at him.

“So, we better get back to your place, right?” Jon asked while sitting down next to Jake and checking his cheek himself.

“I have a first aid set here…we can stay, if Jake is feeling ok.” She said and took the small kit from her bag.

“Always prepared, huh?” Jon said smiling.

“Yeah, nothing worse for a doctor not being able to help, because the basic necessities are missing.” Kim explained and carefully cleaned Jake’s face. The boy didn’t pull back once.

“Better now, Jake?” she asked after applying a cooling wound spray to prevent infections.

“Yeah, it doesn’t burn that much anymore.” He replied and leaned back against his father. Jon scanned Jake’s face and shook his head.

“Oh boy…what will your mom say when she sees you…you look like someone beat you up.” Jake grinned and touched the still present bruise on his forehead from the doorframe.

“I told you a doctor is more then welcome in this family.” Steph said dryly.

“Oh, shut up!” Jesse said and pulled at her long hair.

“Ouch…stop it you idiot!” Steph jumped to her feet.

“Hey, hey, hey…what the hell got into you Jesse? You know I don’t like it when you hurt each other and use that language!” Jon stood up as well.

What was wrong with his son? Verbal attacks between his two oldest were normal, but pulling Steph’s hair…well, that didn’t happen in a really long time.

Jesse looked at his father sullen. He didn’t wanna pull Steph’s hair, but her comment made him so damn angry. But why?

Kim watched that scene and realized Jesse was rather unsettled. He was pulling at his fingers constantly and she was sure it was not only because of Jon’s anger.

“Jesse, when was the last time you smoked?” she asked. Jon and Steph looked at her surprised.

“Uhm…on your patio…when we talked.”

Kim checked her watch. “So a little bit over five hours ago…he is having withdrawal syndromes.” She told Jon.

“You gotta be kidding? He only smoked a couple cigarettes a day.” Jon said shocked.

“Well, that’s enough to cause the syndrome. His body is craving for the nicotine and that’s makes him unsettled, aggressive and let me guess Jesse…hungry?”

“Yeah.” The boy nodded.

“Wow….and what can he do against it?” Steph asked a little worried. Jesse looked at her surprised.

“What? Do you think I want you in that mood forever? You are already annoying when you ain’t craving for cigarettes.” She told him. Jesse stared back at her and you could see a small smile on his lips. Steph chuckled.

“Don’t kid yourself.” she said.

Kim looked at Jon confused, who had a grin on his face as well. “I think I’m missing something here.” He laughed and leaned down to her.

“Their way of telling each other ‘I love you’.” He whispered so only she could hear it. Kim shook her head. These kids were really unbelievable.

“So, what can I do?” Jesse asked moving from one foot to another.

“Oh, yeah…well, you can take one of these…” she gave Jesse a package with nicotine gums. “…just when you can’t handle the craving anymore!” she told him strictly. He nodded.

“And very often it helps when you do sports.”

“Thank God.” Jon said relieved. He already thought his whole crew needed a pre-warning when he would stop smoking completely.

Chapter 36

Kim sighed and stretched lightly. She didn’t really have a recreative night. Thereby the evening started so nice yesterday. When the kids were asleep Jon and she were sitting snuggled up on the couch having a glass of wine. After a while Romeo came into the living room and looked for his dad.

“He’s on the phone right, now.” She told the sleepy boy. “Wanna sit with me until he comes back?”

Romeo nodded and climbed on the couch. Soon he was snuggled up to her just like his father minutes ago and sound asleep. She couldn’t take her eyes of him and softly stroked his dark hair.

“He’s a little heartbreaker, you better watch out.” Jon told her smiling when he enter the living room after finishing his phone call. It had something really peaceful seeing his youngest son sleeping in her arms and somehow he was relieved that Romeo trusted Kim already enough to stay with her without him being around.

She smiled. The little boy didn’t make a sound when they were carrying him back to bed.

Therefore her phone made a nasty sound and woke her up just three hours later. She didn’t stay at Jon’s place on purpose. She wanted to give the kids the chance to talk to Jon in the morning, before they all would meet at her place for the picnic.

Unfortunately she had to go to the hospital in the middle of the night. Tyson’s condition got worse and after talking again with her colleague Donald about it, she finally decided to call his family and tell them it was time to say good-bye. She hated it!

She hated taking the last bit of hope from his parents, but she had too. They deserved to be with him and so did his huge family.

Again she shook her head. Now Donald was with him again and she would go over tonight after she spend a funny day with Jon and the kids in the Park. She really hoped she wouldn’t bring them down with her mood. It was hard to be happy, when you knew that a little kid was slowly passing away at the same time.

She checked the two baskets again and realized everything was packed.

“Now we can only wait, boys.” She told her dogs. She kneeled down and pet them gently. “You promise me to be good when the kids show up. Don’t scare them!”

Sambo woofed softly as if he’d understood her.

Just minutes later her phone rang and Ed told her she had visitors. Smiling she opened the door and waited for Jon and the kids to show up. Her dogs were sitting right next to her.

“Oh, look Daddy…the dogs.” Jake clapped his hand happily as soon as they stepped out of the elevator. Jon smiled.

“Remember what I told you don’t rush to them all at once.” He told his kids in a rather strict voice. Kim looked at him surprised.

“I had no idea how they would react.” He pointed out.

“I think they are fine. Come on in, we can leave for the Park in a minute.” Kim stepped aside and the kids followed the dogs into the apartment. Jon stopped next to her and gave her a long kiss. She sighed and relaxed against him.

“Are you ok, honey?” he watched her concerned. She looked tired.

“I’m fine. I just had to go over to the hospital last night.”

“Ahh, shit and now we all show up here.”

“It’s ok really…you are a nice and welcome distraction.” She sighed.

“Tyson?” Jon asked. It was the only case he knew about that was affecting Kim that much.

“Yeah, it’s coming to an end.” She said shortly, not willing to really talk about it. Jon didn’t press. “Come on; let’s see whether all of them are still alive.

They entered the living room and Jon started laughing. The dogs were both lying on their backs and each one got pet by two kids or better four hands.

“They must think they are in heaven.” Kim laughed as well.

“And I had to buy my way into their hearts” Jon pouted lightly.

While the two youngest boys were totally focused on the dogs, Steph and Jesse looked around in the apartment after spending a couple minutes with them.

“Can you play all these instruments?” Steph asked while checking out some of Kim’s guitars.

“Yes, my mother was really into music. I was rather young when she started teaching me different instruments.” Jon looked at her surprised. He didn’t know that.

Jesse walked over to the patio doors. “Wow, what a great view. You sure have a little money.”

“Jesse James Bongiovi!” Jon couldn’t believe his ears.

“What?” his son asked. “This apartment is amazing. It’s even bigger than ours…don’t think I’m stupid. It sure costs lots of money.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to be so damn bold.” Jon told him off. Kim walked over to him and gently ran a hand over his back. He exhaled sharply.

Jesse shrugged his shoulders. “Whatever.” And walked out onto the patio, out of his father sight.

“Jesse!” Jon was really close to explode. Kim squeezed his shoulder.

“It’s ok Jon. He only pointed out the obvious.” She tried to calm him.

“I simply don’t like his new behaviour.” Jon said frustrated.

“I know.”

“Kim.” She turned her head when Romeo called her name. “Where’s the potty?”

“It’s right here…” she started to walk over to the bathroom, but Jon stopped her.

“I’ll show him; maybe you can find my oldest son out there. I’m not sure it’s a good idea I see him smoking right now.” He grabbed Romeo’s hand and vanished in the bathroom with him.

“I’ll be right back Steph.” The girl nodded and sat down next to Jake and the dogs.

Kim stepped onto the patio and could see Jesse standing at the end of it close to her office. When she walked closer she could not only smell the cigarette but see it in his hands.

Without saying a word she leaned against the wall next to him. He looked at her shortly, surprised that she didn’t say anything about the cigarette. Her being a doctor he really expected she would tell him immediately to put it out. But she didn’t. Why?

“You and your dad clash often lately?” she asked staring down at the Park.

Jesse sighed. “Yeah, it kinda sucks.”

Kim looked at him. “Sorry…” he mumbled. She smiled.

“It’s not easy being a teenager. I know I always had problems with my mom.”

“I just don’t like that he is telling me all the time what I have to do…I’m not a little kid like Jake or Romeo…I can make my own decisions…” Kim looked at him sceptical.

“…well, at least some.” He clarified.

“Like smoking?” she asked softly.

“Dad is smoking too!” Jesse protested.

“I know…but I also know that he’s trying to stop. It’s just not that easy for him after all these years. You on the other hand could still stop from one day to another.”

“I don’t see the point. So many people are smoking and doing fine.” He said defiant. Kim watched him closely for a second. He sure was as stubborn as his dad.

“Do me a favour. Come with me, I wanna show you something.” She finally said and entered her office through the wide open patio doors. Jesse put the cigarette out and followed her slowly.

Kim walked along her huge bookshelf, which only contained medical books. Finally she pulled a huge blue book from one of the shelves and put the on her desk. Jesse gulped when he read the title. “The Human Anatomy – Illustrated and explained with the help of autopsy pictures”.

“Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as you think…it’s hardly as bloody as everyone imagines…” she told a lightly pale Jesse.

She knew it was a rather brutal way to stop a fourteen year old kid from smoking, but she had the feeling he would understand it better when he could see it with his own eyes. At least it was worth a try, but she needed to be careful. She turned a couple pages until she found what she was looking for.

“This is a perfectly healthy lung…and the heart in the middle.” She pointed at the picture in the book. To Jesse’s relief it really didn’t look so bad. You could only see the organ in the open chest, but not the face or anything else of the person it belonged to.

“I had no idea they were that big.” Jesse took a closer look at the picture. Kim smiled. Something told her Jesse would be fascinated by it. She always had the same feeling during autopsy classes. You reached a point where you no longer think of the person, but only of each single organ or tissue, its damage and the symptoms.

“How old was he or she?” Jesse asked without taking his eyes of the pic. Kim read the little explanation next to the picture.

“He was 69, non smoker, died of a car accident.” She paused shortly. “This Jesse…this is the way your lung looks right now.” The boy nodded and put his hand on his chest. Kim started turning the pages again.

“Here we have a not so healthy lung. The man was in his early forties, smoking since he was a teenager…just like you.” She added softly. Jesse stared at the pic. Again it was only the organ in the open chest, but it looked completely different. It was of a black-greenish color. Really didn’t look healthy at all.

“The color comes from the smoke?” Jesse asked with a little tremble in his voice.

“It comes from the tar which is in the cigarettes. It causes problems in the function of the lung.” Kim explained and watched Jesse rather carefully. The boy sucked nervously on his lower lip and ran his hands through his hair over and over again. He couldn’t take his eyes of the picture. Kim closed the book. Jesse turned to her a bit shocked.

“Jesse, I don’t wanna scare you. I just wanna show you the facts; show you what could be in your future. You can get emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma or cancer from smoking. The chances to survive five years with lung cancer are about 10% and believe me those five years aren’t fun at all.” She paused and watched him again. She could see the inner debate and was sure there was something else.

“How many of your friends at school are smoking?” she asked softly.

“Nearly all of them…” Jesse answered nearly soundless. Just what she thought.

“What would they say when you stop smoking?” She had a rather good idea, but she wanted him to tell her.

“They would probably say I’m un-cool, a coward.” The boy replied lightly desperate. Kim put a hand on his shoulder.

“Believe me, they are the un-cool-ones. I know it’s not easy to say ‘No’ to your friends, but in the next couple years there will be situations like this again. Maybe not about cigarettes, but about drugs or alcohol…and I know your parents raised you with enough…backbone ….to say no to all of it.”

Jesse nodded lightly and took the package of cigarettes out of his jeans pocket; he stared at it before throwing it in Kim’s wastebasket. She smiled.

Suddenly clapping came from the door. Jesse looked up shocked. His father was standing in the door with a smile on his face. “I’m proud of you, Jesse.” He said and walked over to pull him into his embrace. Jesse didn’t pull back and told him he’s too old for a hug, but literally pressed himself closer to his father. Jon smiled and kissed his hair.

“It’s ok, buddy.” He said and soothingly ran his hands across his son’s back when he felt him trembling stronger. “I know you can make it…you ain’t alone…Mom and I will help you with it.” Jesse turned lightly.

“And Kim too.” He whispered.

Chapter 35

Steph and Kim started to wash and cut the different vegetables for the salad and wrapped the huge potatoes into aluminium foil to put them on the BBQ.

“We will get used to seeing you and Dad kissing and hugging.” Steph suddenly said. Kim looked up from cutting a cucumber.

“It takes just sometime; I guess…normally it was Mom.”

“I know. That’s why I wanted to…well;…keep it away from you guys until you know me a bit better. Seems your Dad sees it differently.” Kim explained.

“It’s ok…really…” Steph assured her and added red pepper to the salad bowl. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure. What do you wanna know?”

“Did you ever cut your hair?”

“Oh no, Steph not again!” Jon interjected when he entered the kitchen.

“What I can ask, right?” his daughter said a little snappy.

“Yes, you can….” Kim told her and gave Jon a stern look. “And the answer is…yes.”

“What?” Jon asked shocked.

“Really?” Steph smiled happily.

“Sure, when I was sixteen…I cut them this short.” Kim held her hand up to her chin.

“You gotta be kidding?” Jon stared at her. “Why?”

“Why?...because I wanted it. I was going to college, everybody already saw the Baby in me, I sure as hell didn’t want to look like one too…it was a big change in my life and my hair needed to follow.”

“I wanna do it too.” Steph said excitedly.

“No.” Jon answered. Kim looked at him surprised.

“I don’t think you should have any saying in that, Jon.” his mouth fell open, but Kim continued without paying any attention to it. She knew very well, it wasn’t Jon’s opinion that was counting in this, it was some else’s.

“What is your mother saying about it?”

“Well, she said it’s my decision, all she wants me to do, is go to her hairdresser.” Kim nodded.

“That’s a good idea…and honestly you should take your Mom with you. It helps a lot when questions about the cut or color come up. You have another opinion and she will make sure you will still look like a woman and not like a man.” Steph listened interested.

“That’s always very important when you cut your hair very short. You wanna look tough, but still feminine.” She pointed out.

“You’re right.” Steph said and turned to her Dad. “I really wanna do it.”

He sighed. “Baby you have such beautiful hair…”

“It will grow back Jon.” Kim said softly and pointed at her long tresses. He frowned. Now he had three women against him, shouldn’t at least Kim be on his side?

“I don’t get it…why do men want women to have long hair?” Steph asked suddenly a little frustrated. Kim bit her tongue and grinned at Jon, who stared at his daughter. He couldn’t tell her. No way!

“Well, Steph …” Jon looked at Kim with huge eyes, paling lightly. She wouldn’t right? Kim nearly laughed out loud. What the hell does he think I would do, she wondered.

“…it has something innocent…and well, the rest you will find out on your own in a couple years.”

“No, she won’t.” Jon said demanding. Kim shook her head and put the knife down.

“Could I talk to you for a second?” she asked and walked back into the living room. Jon followed her frowning. Steph watched the interaction between them lightly amused. It wasn’t any different from her parents, just like they had been together for years. Maybe she is good for him.

“Kim, don’t even start…I already had a real long talk with Dot about it and she didn’t convince me either.” He said a bit angry when they were alone. She looked at him for a second.

“Ok, if you don’t want my opinion or get involved in anything that has to do with your kids…” she said calmly and tried to walk back into the kitchen.

She wasn’t angry or mad, but they needed to define how much she should be involved when it came down to his kids. If he didn’t want her input and just wanted to talk with Dorothea about his kids, she had to live with it.

He stopped her. “That’s not what I said, Kim.

“Look Jon, she will do it…it’s just a matter of time. She is a very strong young woman, even when her mother would be against it, I’m pretty sure she would surprise you both with a new look one day….if you wouldn’t go so much against it, then she would maybe listen to some of the stuff you are saying.”

Jon sighed. “You really got her in the little time you are here.” Kim smiled.

“She’s a lot like you Jon…” he looked at her surprised. Normally the people were comparing her to Dot. “She knows very well what she wants and she will do anything to get there.”

Jon nodded and stared at one of the family pictures. Kim’s gaze followed his. Jesse and Steph were small kids on the photo. Maybe three and five years old. Softly Kim put her hand on his arm.

“She’ll always be your little girl…” he smiled sadly at her. “…age or hair cut won’t change it.”

He sighed and pulled Kim into his arms. “I know…there was just so much change going on in the last year…I guess I wanted to at least keep my kids the way they are. I know Dot would never get her a hair cut that looks terrible…and my baby will look great, she always does.”

“Yep, she got that from her Daddy, too.” Kim teased him. He looked down at her and smirked.

“You are really good for my ego.” He kissed her gently.

“I know, come let’s go back and tell Steph.” She took his hand in hers.

“Ok, ok.“ he sighed and prepared for a massive scream attack from his daughter.