Chapter 120

“What do you mean: She has pneumonia?” Jon asked confused and stared at Dot and Kim’s doctor who just entered the bedroom.

“It means just that Mr. Bon Jovi. Kimberly has an acute pneumonia probably from streptococcus bacteria, but we are still running tests on that. The problem is that this form of pneumonia is contagious.”

“Contagious?”

“Yes, Jon. Kim already informed the whole crew. Everyone who was with her the last couple weeks needs to be checked on or at least everyone has to see a doctor as soon as symptoms occur. Especially with the children and Fran, as she is pregnant.” Dot told him.

“Where is she?” Jon asked and tried to get out of bed.

“She is in the hospital, Mr. Bon Jovi. She had too much trouble breathing. I couldn’t let her go.” The doctor explained.

“I need to see her.” He tried to reach his crutches.

“Jon, right now, you need to get checked too and you have to rest. Your leg is still healing.” Dot grabbed the crutched and took them away.

“Dorothea! Kim is in the hospital. I need to go there.” He said astonished.

“No, Jon. She doesn’t want to see you. And she needs to rest.”

“What do you mean she doesn’t want to see me? How do you know?” He asked angry.

“Well, after she sent me the message last night, she called this morning from the hospital and asked if I could come over. She told me that she had to stay and asked me to pack some of her stuff and bring it to her and to remind you of the rules.” Dot glared at him.

“She knew yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t believe she didn’t tell me.” He sounded at lost and shook his head. Dot snorted.

“Not really surprising, isn’t it?” He frowned and looked at her.

“What do you mean?”

“Jon, you blew it again….big time….think about.” She shook her head in disbelieve. “I need to get back to the hospital.”

“What about the kids?”

“So far…nothing….I will keep an eye on them. Especially on Romeo, because of the infection last year.” Dot told him. He only nodded and stared at his leg.

Dot watched him for a few seconds, before she left. He looked like a trapped animal. She knew it would be very hard for him. He couldn’t do anything, just sit there and wait.

After Dorothea and the doctor left, Jon let his mind travel back. He tried to remember the last three weeks. What he mostly remembered was anger, frustration and pain. He sighed. He couldn’t positively say that Kim was with him, even though he knew she was, but there was nothing in those weeks. No kiss, no hug, no nothing.

“God, dammit!” he growled and hid his face in his hands.

“Why am I so stupid?” he whispered to himself. He could really lose her this time. Why on earth should she keep up with him?

He needed to see her. Now.

Jon managed to get out of bed and hobble downstairs with his crutches. The dogs weren’t even bothering to get up when he leaned against the kitchen counter looking for his phone, they just watched him.

“I know, I know. I blew it. Ok?” he told them when he couldn’t stand their glance anymore.

He talked Lloyd into driving him to Kim and started his way for the elevator. By the time he was in the lobby every muscle in his body screamed from pain and he remembered that he didn’t take his painkillers yet.

Annoyed about himself he sank down on the backseat of the car and threw some in. Kim always made sure he took his meds on time.

“Good, I’m worse than one of my kids.” He mumbled to himself while Lloyd navigated the car through the New York traffic to the hospital.

“Do you want me to go inside with you, Mr. Bon Jovi?” Lloyd asked when he stopped in front of the hospital.

“No, thanks. Lloyd. I’ll manage.” Jon said and tried not to moan in pain while leaving the car.

He charmed the nurses into letting him visiting Kim, even though it wasn’t as easy as he had hoped. He was pretty sure, they had gotten a little warning from Kim.

When he entered her room, he swallowed hard. She looked so tiny, pale and fragile in this bed. She was getting oxygen from a nasal cannula and seemed to sleep.

Jon tried to move around without making any noise, but wasn’t really successful due to the crutches. She blinked sleepy when he sat down on a chair, which he’d pulled over to her bed and lifted his injured leg on another one.

“Jon.”

“Awww, shit. I didn’t wanna wake up.” He said softly and took her hand.

“Go back to sleep, honey.” He whispered and kissed her cheek. She looked at him.

“I’m fine.” She said and sat up in the bed and made sure her nasal cannulae wouldn’t strangle her.

“How are you feeling?” she asked. He looked at her surprised.

“I’m fine.”

“Really? You are in pain. You were late with your pain meds, right?” she said softly. He shook his head and chuckled.

“How do you know?” he wondered.

“I know you, Jon.” She laughed lightly.

“Yeah, apparently you know me better than I do myself.” He paused nervously and looked at his hands.

“Kimi, I have no idea what got into me. I’m sorry I ordered you around. I…if you want I move my stuff over to my old places.” She could barely hear his last words.

“Jon, I don’t want you to move out. But if you ever treat me like that again, you can pack your stuff and go. Don’t take me for granted.”

“I won’t, I promise. It won’t happen again. I love you, Kimi.” He whispered and slid from his chair to the bed to wrap his arms around her. She smiled.

“I love you too, Jon. I just don’t like you, when you are sick.” She added with an evil grin. He chuckled and kissed her cheek.

“So, what about your shot? Did Dot hit you?” Kim asked after they have been sitting in silence for a few minutes.

“No! No way! She would have killed me. I did it myself.” He told her and leaned back against the pillow.

“Yourself? You did it yourself?” Kim was shocked and surprised at the same time. He told her he couldn’t do it, because he was scared of needles.

“Yeah, it took me more than 30 minutes, some I couldn’t get myself to do it at first, but then I did it.”

“Wow.”

“I was very surprised though how resistant skin is. I always assumed the needle would go right in, but it didn’t.” he told her.

“Where did you do it?” Kim asked and stopped snuggling to his side.

“Here…” he said and pulled his shirt up to reveal his stomach. Kim took a closer look. There was only a tiny bruise visible.

“Well, you did quite a nice job, I would say.”

“Thanks. This one doesn’t hurt.” He said pointing at the bruise. “The one from last night does though.” He shifted lightly to give his rear end a little break.

“You deserved that.” Kim pointed out without apologizing.

“I know, honey. I know.” He said and wrapped his arms around her to pull her close again.