Chapter Twenty-two, Enclosed
Posted by DiF on Saturday, August 13, 2011
Title: Midnight Shift: Chapter Twenty-two, Enclosed
Rating: PG-13 [language, innuedo, alcohol]
Summary: Summer gains a cellmate. Robert completely fails her. The band leaves the Riot.
Sighing, Robert looked over the edge of the Riot as roadies began to filter into cars. While the band would be remaining behind in California for a couple more weeks, their employees were heading slowly to England, taking the entire stage setup with them. It instantly made the hotel much quieter, but his thoughts really were not focused on what his eyes were. His thoughts centered completely and totally on Summer. Worry etched his forehead with lines. The cigarette in his fingers not helping to smooth that over any more than the previous one or the three beers had. She had been gone for three hours already and no one seemed to know where she was taken, when he would see her again, or if she was afraid. Gods he hoped she was not afraid. And he hoped they had not told her what had happened. Seeing it was bad enough on the television, it would hit her ten times more than it did anyone else. She used to live where only hot embers burned now.
“Fuck,” he muttered, flicking the mostly untouched cigarette off the roof.
Bonzo slowly approached Robert, holding out another beer, “She’s okay, Perce.”
He accepted the beer, “I would believe that if they would at least let me talk to her. She has to be scared. I should be with her. Fuck, even you should be with her. She should not be alone right now. I do not care how safe they think they are keeping her. She should be with people who love her.”
“I agree. But we don’t have any authority here, Perce. You know that,” he cracked open his beer. “If anyone does, it’s Bob.”
“Where is he? Have you heard from him?”
“Nope,” Bonzo shook his head. “Not since last night. I bet this is hitting him hard too. He used to love her mother.”
“I can’t imagine he stopped loving her mother if she was anything like Summer.”
The drummer shrugged, “Hard for any of us to say. But I’m sure Summer is safe.”
“Being safe and being not scared are not mutually exclusive,” he pointed out before drinking the beer.
“I know. Why don’t you ask Grant what he can do?”
“Already did. He told me he would look into it and come get me if he came up with anything,” Robert answered.
“Well,” he crushed his can, “let’s go find Jonesy. He usually has some good shit and you need to relax. A lot.”
Sitting on the floor in the corner, holding Queenie close to her, Summer’s wide eyes looked around the non-descript room. She had no idea how long she had been locked up in the windowless room, but each passing moment struck more fear into her heart. No one had told her anything, merely escorted her into a building and directly into the room. If they were supposed to be protecting her, would it not make sense to explain to her why she needed to be protected? She knew it had to do with her mother, likely related to all the things she had told the men the previous day. But that was all.
She needed Robert or Bonzo or… Jimmy. Someone needed to come and rescue her from this hell.
The puppy wiggled out of her arms and wandered about the room, sniffing the walls and furniture. She called for Queenie but while the dog looked at her, she kept on her exploration. Clearly, the dog did not find being confined in a room a big deal at all. But maybe the dog knew something she did not. Maybe the room was safe.
Slowly she got to her feet and began to follow Queenie about the room. There was no TV and the telephone had been removed, not that Summer had any number memorized except for the general store back on the farm. The sparse room merely consisted of a bed, two wooden chairs, a small wooden table, and a nightstand with a lamp built into it. No artwork hung on the walls, making the mural qualities ever more apparent, especially as there were no windows. Following the dog into the bathroom, she found a small shower stall, pedestal basin, and single toilet. A cracked mirror hung crookedly above the basin.
“Come on, Queenie,” she muttered, backing out of the bathroom.
The dog followed her over to the single bed, jumping up with her. Without much pause, the puppy curled up in her lap, resting her chin on the young woman’s thigh. Her fingers absently stroked the dog’s head as her eyes focused on the stains on the walls. Where had they brought her?
The door to the room suddenly opened. One of the agents she had spoken with the day before – or maybe it was longer, she had no idea how long she had been locked up – slipped in. Queenie instantly jumped up and barked at him. He smiled and patted the puppy’s head before pulling one of the chairs over to the bed.
“Summer, has anyone come to tell you what’s going on?”
She shook her head, “I haven’t seen anyone since you brought me here.”
“Shit,” he muttered. “Sorry. Someone was supposed to come and brief you immediately. Has anyone brought you any food or water?”
She shook her head again.
“Goddammit,” he got to his feet and stalked over to the door, threw it open, and grumbled at the man next to the door.
She strained to look out the door, but saw nothing.
“We’ll get you something to eat right away. And I suppose you haven’t had the chance to take your dog out?”
Again, she shook her head.
“Come on,” he held out his hand. “Let’s take the dog out and I’ll tell you what happened and why you’re here.”
Walking in an enclosed courtyard where she felt like she was being watched by many pairs of eyes, Summer listened to the agent’s story. She said absolutely nothing, just letting his words permeate her thoughts. As the story reached its end, tears streamed down her face. She wanted – no needed – nothing more than to feel someone’s arms around her. Her mother was gone, murdered by her stepfather. She wanted to hate him, to curse upon his name, but she could not find it in her soul to do so. All she felt was empty, lost, alone. The glimmer of hope lodged in her heart was snuffed out. Her mother was dead.
“I can’t… I can’t breathe,” she muttered, falling to her knees. “I can’t breathe.”
The agent squatted next to her, his hand gently touching her back. She shrank away from his touch, reaching instead for her puppy and burying her face in the animal’s soft fur. Understanding the agent got to his feet and motioned over one of the other agents watching diligently over them.
“I don’t care who you get, but get someone here for Summer. She should not be shouldering this alone. Get someone.”
“Yes, sir.”
Fed up with ineffective answers from Peter, Jimmy climbed into the elevator and headed to the lobby. He could not understand why Peter would not commit to finding Summer. It was not like only Jimmy wanted to find her. Everyone did. But their fucking manager was dragging his feet, like she did not matter at all. He did not know how, but Jimmy was going to find her himself. That much he had decided. He had enough influence and certainly enough money to get his way in that town. He would find Summer himself.
Stepping out of the elevator, his eyes quickly flicked to the gathered groupies. The number of girls had drastically diminished with the departure of the roadies. They had probably assumed the band left as well. While it had been in the plan to relocate to a much quieter location, Benji had mentioned renting out a house on the beach, it had yet to happen. The band merely took up one floor at this point, not six. But the girls did not know that nor did they need to. Jimmy had no need for them any more, not even for a frustration fuck. His time, energy, and care belonged elsewhere. They would vacate the hotel before word got out that they remained; that much he was certain.
Heading towards the back door, Jimmy stopped at Bob slipped in. If anyone knew where Summer was, it was certainly the folksinger. He was the one who deserved to know above anyone else. Maybe he could talk her location out of Bob and sneak to see her. Bob did not seem to hate him, so he had that going for him.
“Bob,” Jimmy greeted him.
The folksinger looked at him, but said nothing.
“Have you heard anything about Summer?”
He smirked, “Don’t concern yourself with my daughter.”
Jimmy frowned, “I have every right to be concerned and care about your daughter, Bob.”
“I would think of anyone, you would be the least likely to risk your band over a girl.”
“Excuse me?”
“I saw how you treated my daughter the other day. I am not a blind fool, Page.”
Jimmy stared at him blankly for a moment, “Summer is with Robert. Everyone is fully aware of that, including myself. I would not risk the band or your daughter’s relationship for anything. I do not covet Summer.”
Bob snorted, “Sure you don’t.”
“I don’t,” he claimed. “In any event, why are you here? She is not here.”
“Where is she?”
A sly smile slipped across Jimmy’s lips. Bob did not know Summer had been taken away. That morsel of information seemed very tasty to Jimmy instantly. He had the power to not tell Bob and let the folksinger wander about the hotel looking for his daughter. While there was something seductive about that, he also realized that Bob would be the first one allowed access to Summer.
“They took her away,” he stated.
“Who did?”
“The FBI.”
“Why?”
“They said it was for her protection,” Jimmy answered.
Bob’s eyes snapped to Jimmy’s, “This is related to the fire. Does she know about Adele?”
“Yes.”
“And she’s alone?”
He sighed, “Again, yes. They only let her take her puppy.”
He ran his hands through his hair, “She shouldn’t be alone.”
“I agree. Will you help me find her?”
Bob stared at Jimmy for a minute, “What about her boyfriend?”
“He might already be out looking for her. I haven’t seen Robert in awhile,” he easily lied.
“All right. Let’s go see if we can find something out.”
As the odd pair headed towards the door, an agent in a black suit entered. Knowing Bob from the previous day of interviewing, he quickly headed over to the two men. He reached for the door before they could.
“Excuse me, Mr. Dylan,” he interrupted. “I have been sent for you.”
Bob looked coolly at the man, “For my daughter, I presume.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Did she just ask for Bob?” Jimmy spoke up.
“She did not ask for anyone, sir. I was merely sent to get her someone,” he responded.
“May I come as well?”
“I do not see why not.”
Heading in the door as Jimmy and Bob headed out with the FBI agent, Benji greeted them, asking where they were going. Finding it odd that those two would be going to see Summer without Robert, he instantly went in search of the singer. First Benji tried John Paul’s room, but was quickly redirected to Bonzo’s room. Pushing the door open, he sighed. Robert was there and so was Bonzo. Both men had clearly been drinking all day, from the smell of the room alone. They were both barely coherent as they lay on the bed.
“Rob,” Benji approached the bed. “How was this a good idea at all?”
“They t-t-took S-summer aw-way,” he struggled to say.
“And getting drunk helps you get her back?” he eased Robert into sitting up.
“Hesaidso,” he pointed at Bonzo.
“Well now Bob and Jimmy are going to her. How does that make you feel?”
“Gonnabesick.”
The personal assistant barely managed to turn Robert quickly enough to avoid being puked on himself. Sighing he moved around the bed and picked up the phone. It was not often he had to clean up after Robert, normally just Bonzo. But nothing seemed normal right then; nothing at all.
The agent led Bob and Jimmy into a rundown looking hotel. Both men scowled; neither believing Summer belonged in such a place, no matter if it kept her safe or not. Bob still could not understand why they felt it necessary to seclude his daughter like this. Everyone in the compound had perished. That alone should make her safer than she had ever been. As they passed down hallways, he had the distinct feeling everyone in the small hotel worked for the government and that alone was creepy. His daughter did not need to be there. At all.
“Right this way please,” the agent stated, leading them to a glass door that lead to an interior courtyard.
Stepping into the mostly destitute courtyard, Jimmy’s eyes snapped to Summer huddled on the concrete floor. While Bob did have parental rights, the guitarist reached the young blond first. Her tear-stained face turned up to him as he squatted next to her. Her arms released her puppy and she quickly fell into his embrace. He kissed her forehead as she trembled in his arms, her small fingers clutching at his shirt.
“Shhh,” he breathed. “I’m here now, princess. I’m here.”
“J-jimmy,” she stuttered.
He kissed her forehead again, “I’m here, Summer.”
For a long moment, Bob stood silently, watching the pair interact. As much as he did not care for Jimmy moving in on his daughter – especially since he had only recently decided Robert was okay – the man clearly cared for her. To be honest it was a relief to see that she was not merely a conquest he was after, but a girl he cared about. But it still did not sit well that he was more or less enabling a partner switch.
“Summer?”
She pulled back enough to see who spoke her name. Seeing Bob, she pulled out of Jimmy’s arms, shakily got to her feet, and stumbled into his arms. Again, she trembled and gasped with sobs as strong arms circled around her. Bob looked around for some place for them to sit, his eyes only spying an empty and cracked fountain. Deciding that would do well enough, he guided the young girl over to it, inviting her silently to sit.
“D-dad-d, they s-s-say sh-she’s really g-g-gone,” she uttered.
He kissed her forehead, noticing Jimmy sit on her other side, the dog leash in his hand, “I’m afraid so, sweetie.”
“But-t-t you s-s-saw h-her, right? M-maybe sh-she escaped b-before the f-fire?”
Bob sighed, “I wish that was the case, Summer. I really do wish that was the case. I loved your mother so much more than I loved any woman. But I’m afraid… I’m afraid she’s gone.”
She shook her head, “No. She can’t be. She escaped. She must have.”
“She loved you so much, Summer,” tears began to surface in his eyes. “All she wanted was for you to be safe and happy. She knew when she let you go… there was a good chance she would never see you again. She wanted you to be safe and free, Summer. She loved you. She always will.”
“She escaped, Dad. I know she did,” Summer claimed.
Bob sighed, “I wish she had, Summer. My god do I wish she had.”
She turned to Jimmy, “She escaped, right, Jimmy?”
He reached up and caressed her cheek, “I haven’t heard that anyone has, but if she has half the spirit you do, I bet she has a chance.”
“Miss Dylan?” the agent who led her and the dog outside approached the three. “Why don’t we head back inside? Joe just returned with food for you and the puppy.”
“Jimmy and my dad can stay right?”
He nodded, “Of course they can.”
Once back in her room, the agent left the three alone. Not realizing how hungry she was until that moment, Summer nearly attacked the food on the table as eagerly as her puppy attacked the bowl Bob filled with kibble. With only two chairs in the room, someone presumably had to sit on the bed. However Summer quickly discarded that notion by sitting in Jimmy’s lap uninvited and turning to eating.
“How long has she been here?” Bob asked as he sat in the rickety, vacant chair.
“They took her from us,” he brushed her hair back behind her shoulders, “seven hours ago.”
He frowned, “Summer, is this the first chance you’ve had to eat?”
She nodded with her mouth full.
He glanced at the puppy, “You’re not staying here any longer. I won’t allow it. You’re either coming with me or you’re going with Jimmy. I don’t care which. You’re just not staying here.”
She swallowed, “You think they’re going to let me leave?”
“They won’t have a choice,” he stated, got to his feet and headed towards the door.
Opening the door, his angry blue eyes went to the agent in the chair next to the door who instantly jumped to his feet, “Is something wrong, Mr. Dylan?”
“Yes. You’re holding my daughter hostage here. I will not stand for it. She is coming with us.”
“I cannot allow that, Mr. Dylan. I have strict orders to–”
“Lock up my fifteen year old daughter like she’s some kind of criminal? What has she done to deserve such treatment?”
“I… uh, don’t know? I don’t have the authority to say.”
“Then go and find someone who does,” he spat and stalked back into the room.
Bob halted a couple of steps in the room. His eyes focused intently on Summer and Jimmy. His anger quickly softened as he watched the guitarist whisper in Summer’s ear, causing a slightly smile to tease the corners of her lips. Even if he did not like Jimmy and his daughter, he could not help but feel grateful for the guitarist’s presence now. Summer needed to smile more than anything, no matter the cause.
“We’re going to take you with us. One way or another,” Bob declared. “My little girl is not staying here overnight.”
Pressing his forehead against the cool bathroom tile, Robert tried to figure out what he was doing there and why. Slowly his thoughts cleared and he realized he had been invited to drink himself into oblivion by Bonzo. He was never going to take the drummer’s advice again. It always resulted in him being drunk, far more drunk than he cared to be. And neglecting his girlfriend. Where was Summer? Where had he left her this ti – oh, god. They had taken her away. That was why he had been drinking, because he did not know what else he could do.
“Bloody moron,” he muttered and pushed away from the floor. “What good does this do for Summer?”
“Ugh. Do you have to scream so bloody loud!?” Bonzo bellowed from the other room.
Shaking his head slowly, he left the bathroom, tasting the acrid flavor of vomit in his mouth and smelling that very same scent. Glancing down he noticed he wore no shirt and he was certain he pulled one on that morning after leaving Summer still dozing in bed.
Summer.
Not even glancing at his mate, he headed to the door and pulled it open. Two steps out the door, he ran into Benji. The other man instantly reached out to steady him. Wordlessly Robert was guided across the hall to another room. Gently pushed to sit on the bed, his blue eyes watched the other man move about quickly, filling up a large glass with water before pressing it into his hands. Without being told, he lifted the glass to his lips and slowly drank.
“Are you done being stupid?” Benji asked. “Because if not, I’ll go get Bonzo.”
He winched slightly, lowering the glass, “I’m good.”
He sat in the chair across from Robert, “So explain to me how smoking as much as you did and drinking as much as you did helps Summer?”
“I don’t know.”
“It doesn’t. In fact it probably does the exact opposite.”
“What do you mean?”
Benji sighed, “Jimmy left about two hours ago with Bob. I bet even you can figure out where they went.”
His eyes widened, “They went to see Summer?”
“Ding ding,” he responded. “While you were drinking yourself to an early death.”
“Oh fuck. I need to get wherever they are. I’m the one who should be,” he stood up quickly, wavered, and sat back down. “Sleeping this off.”
“Exactly. You lie down and sleep it off so that you’re actually functional when you see her. I am going to go check on your partner-in-crime and make certain he’s still breathing. Think about how you’re going to salvage this, Robert. Flowers are not going to cut it,” Benji declared before leaving the room, the door closed firmly behind him.
“Fuck,” he groaned, laid back, his hands holding his head.
He knew buying her things would not work; Summer was not a material girl like so many others. Taking her some place would not do it – though he certainly was taking her away from Jimmy in any event. What was it that she said she liked so much about him that night they first met? Something about singing, wasn’t it? He could write her a song. That would be his best option. If only his head would stop spinning.
Rolling onto his side, he pulled one of the pillows down and clutched it tightly. Images of Jimmy holding and loving Summer when he should have been filled his mind’s eye. He knew if that was truly happening, it was his fault and only his fault. He was done drinking, right then and there. He was never taking Bonzo’s advice again.
“Summer, I’m so sorry,” he muttered. “I’ll make this up to you, baby. I promise.”
Growling Bob re-entered Summer’s cell. The pair remained exactly as he had left them nearly forty-five minutes before, sitting at the table, Summer in Jimmy’s lap. Only now instead of Summer smiling to whatever Jimmy whispered in her ear, her cheek pressed to his shoulder as she slept. Bob nearly was unable to restrain his rage and keep from waking her. But Jimmy’s intense eyes met the folksinger’s and Bob bit his tongue.
“They won’t release her tonight,” he stated softly, sitting on the bed instead of getting closer to the pair. “Maybe not even tomorrow.”
“Why?” Jimmy whispered.
“They claim it’s for her safety. It took me nearly the entire time I was gone to get a full explanation of that. They’re nervous that some may have escaped the fire or that there may have been recruiters out of the compound and that those will come for Summer,” Bob stated.
“But why? Why would they come for her?”
“To silence her. Permanently. Or so the agents tell me. Apparently her stepfather was known to order the deaths of defectors,” he claimed. “His favorite hitman was a young man by the name of Quincy Wilson.”
Jimmy’s eyes widened slightly, “She said a Quincy gave her a ride down here to LA.”
“They know that too,” he pointed to the door behind him. “Which is one of the reasons they’re keeping her here, they say.”
“We can just leave the Riot. That’s where he thinks she is. We’re supposed to leave the Riot anyways,” he stated.
“I tried that. They still refuse. She has to stay here tonight.”
Jimmy looked at the young woman sleeping in his arms, “Then I will stay with her.”
Bob smiled crookedly, “I thought you might say that. They gave conditional permission for one of us to stay tonight. I volunteered you.”
The guitarist nodded, “What will you do?”
“Wake up my lawyers and get them to force them to turn over Summer to me in the morning,” he declared, standing again.
Slowly approaching the couple, Bob kissed her forehead. Summer stirred, her eyes opening, instantly filling with questions. He placed his finger on her lips to silence her speech.
“You have to stay here tonight, Summer. Jimmy is going to stay with you. I am going to go do whatever is necessary to get you released,” Bob stated. “I will be back in the morning.”
“Will you… will you bring Robert with you?” she requested softly.
He tucked her hair behind her ears, “Certainly. You get some rest tonight, daughter. Robert and I will bring breakfast in the morning.”
“Thank you, Dad.”
“Good night,” he kissed her forehead again.
“Good night, Dad.”
“Take care of her,” his eyes met Jimmy’s. “I don’t need to tell you how much she means to me.”
“You can count on me, Bob.”
Nodding the folksinger turned away, patted the puppy’s head, and headed out the door. For a long moment, the two remained silent, just as they were. Summer sighed and wiggled, slipping out of his lap. Before Jimmy could ask anything, she headed into the tiny bathroom and closed the door. Waiting for her to return, he clicked off the larger overhead lamp, leaving just the small one built into the nightstand on. Stripping back the blankets he was relieved to find the sheets looked clean, not that he was planning to get naked. The bed was a single, so if she wanted him in bed with her, they would have to cuddle all night – not that Jimmy was opposed to that at all.
Exiting the bathroom, Summer paused briefly, her eyes going to the bed, “You’re not going to make me sleep alone, are you? I think the walls might eat me if that were the case.”
Jimmy chuckled, “No, princess, if you want me to, we can both fit.”
“Please.”
He held his hand out to her. Approaching the bed, her fingers slipped into his, albeit briefly. She allowed him to guide her to the small bed, but rather than lay down, Summer paused and removed her jeans, tossing them on the nearby chair. Clad only in a tour tee shirt, she climbed into the bed and turned on her side to look at him. Her eyes flicked to his jeans, not expecting him to sleep in them any more than she was. Smirking Jimmy clicked of the light and then removed his jeans. With no window in the room providing any semblance of light, it was completely dark. He tossed his pants without direction and heard the dog yelp softly, clearly buried by the heavy pants. Sinking onto the bed, he pivoted and lay down, reaching for Summer before the blanket. The young girl curled easily around him, making Jimmy sigh slightly in contentment.
“Why are they keeping me here, Jimmy?” she asked softly, her fingers walking across his chest in search of his hand.
“Because… because they’re afraid someone might come and hurt you.”
“But who? Didn’t everyone die in the fire?”
“They don’t know that yet.”
She paused, “So my mother could still be alive.”
Jimmy reached up and stroked her messy curls, “I don’t know, princess. I saw the footage of it. If anyone survived that, it would be a miracle.”
“But miracles do happen, Jimmy.”
“I’m not sure that I beli–”
“You’re here with me now and that’s kind a miracle.”
He thought her words over, “No. It’s because I wanted to be.”
She squeezed him slightly, “Thank you for not abandoning me, Jimmy. You don’t know how much it means to me.”
He kissed her forehead, “I have an idea.”
“Why didn’t Robert come? I thought he loved me.”
“He does,” Jimmy quickly defended, despite his own reasoning. “He was… so distressed at what they did that… Bonzo and he… I am fairly certain Bonzo and Percy were not lucid when I left.”
“Oh.”
“He felt helpless, princess.”
“So clearly drinking was the solution?”
He sighed, “Not really, but I can’t deny that I didn’t look for other things to do myself. I just could not silence the need to find you long enough to do most of them. He just had Bonzo around helping him. I know he was probably more worried than me.”
“Jimmy, I... I do not know that I can forgive him. I was so scared and lonely and… I don’t know that I can forgive him.”
Biting his bottom lip briefly, he responded against his better nature, “Give him the chance, Summer. At least talk it out with him. He does love you.”
She wiggled closer, draping her leg over his, “But he didn’t come to rescue me, Jimmy. You did.”
His fingers caressed her cheek as he swept her hair back from her face, “I will come for you no matter where you are. Nothing can keep me away. Not the US government. Not brick walls. Nothing. I promised you, Summer. I will never break that promise.”
Sitting in the lobby of the Riot, Robert watched as the last of the band’s possessions were loaded into vans. The LA Queens had snapped to attention when he stepped into the lobby and sat on a chair to watch the proceedings, but he paid them no attention at all. Benji has assured him that he would be able to see Summer that morning, though he really had no clue how the manager knew where his little girl was and he did not. But then again Benji always seemed to know things Robert did not. That is what made him a great assistant and now band manager.
He still had no idea how to make it up to Summer. He had completely failed her. Now Jimmy was likely in his place, holding her, caressing her, kissing her. In the very least, Jimmy was assuring her that she was not alone, that she was not abandoned, and that the world was not falling apart. And what was he doing? Sitting in the lobby of the hotel, his ears ringing from his hangover, watching the last of the band depart. He was a failure to the love of his life. Perhaps he should go home to his wife and be miserable for always. Summer probably did not need him anymore. She had Jimmy now.
No. He could not take on such a defeatist attitude. He needed to sweep in and steal her right back from Jimmy. If only he knew how. He was so fucking clueless at the moment, it was killing him.
Approaching the surly-looking singer, John Paul stopped, “I hate leaving without seeing Summer again.”
His eyes went to the bassist, “You’re leaving?”
“Sadly so. I’m meeting Mo and the girls in New England for a bit of a holiday before the shows in London,” he answered. “We had been hoping you and Summer could come with us, but under these circumstances…”
“She would have liked that, I’m sure.”
“I’ll keep in touch. Hopefully they’ll release her and you can meet up with us,” John Paul suggested.
“I don’t think that will happen.”
He cocked his head to the side, “Why is that?”
“Jimmy is with her now.”
“That’s where he’s been all night?”
Robert nodded.
“I’m sure once she sees you that will change. He just likely happened to be around at the right time,” he stated.
“No,” he shook his head. “Jimmy has been after her… since the beginning. I ignored it. It has been there all along. In addition, she is fond of him too. I don’t doubt that they have been fu–”
“Give Summer more credit than that. She is young and pretty naïve, but she does love you. She is not messing around with Jimmy any more than she is with Bonzo or me. She’syour girlfriend,” John Paul argued. “Jimmy does not have the power to make her do something she doesn’t want to. She’s your girlfriend.”
“But I let her down. I should have been with her last night, not him.”
“True. You should have been. But you weren’t. She loves you. And there is no love without forgiveness and no forgiveness without love. She will forgive you for last night,” he declared.
“How can she when I can’t even forgive myself?”
His eyes flicked to Benji who motioned to the car outside before returning to Robert, “She will show you that. Trust Summer, Robert.”
“I do trust her. I don’t trust Jimmy.”
“It takes two to tango,” he declared. “Now I have to go and catch my flight. I will ring you later after you’re settled at the house and see how Summer is. Good luck, mate.”
Remaining where he was, he watched the bassist head out of the hotel and slip into a car, pausing to speak with Benji briefly. After the car pulled away, the manager turned and headed towards Robert. He paused at the front desk, speaking with the desk clerk briefly, and then sat in the chair next to Robert.
“I spoke with Bob about five minutes ago. He is on his way over to collect you to take you to Summer. He didn’t tell me much, but he is fairly certain they will release her today. If not to you, then to him. In either case, the four of you will come to the beach house as soon as you’re allowed. Your driver will know the location, but no one else should,” Benji explained. “I’m taking John down to the track today. Apparently he bought another car last night he wants to play with and I figure that will give you the chance to figure out things with Summer without his blustering interjections.”
Robert looked at Benji, “Thank you. I still don’t know what to do or say to her.”
“Just be honest and speak what is on your mind and in your heart. She’ll listen,” he claimed.
Elbows resting on his knees, his head collapsed into his hands, “I left her to Jimmy, Benji. There is nothing good about that.”
“Yes, there is.”
He glanced through his fingers at the manager, “What?”
“She wasn’t left alone last night. Who knows what would have happened had she been? The girl has lost everything she ever knew and is being locked up by people she doesn’t know. At least Jimmy was there to comfort her. She wasn’t alone and that has to be a good thing,” Benji pointed out.
“But it was Jimmy. It should have been me,” he argued.
“Stop dwelling on it Robert,” he glanced to the door. “Bob’s here. Time for you to go and show her you love her.”
With no windows and no clock, it was impossible to tell what time it was in the dark room. Had Queenie not woken up and started to whine, Summer could have remained in bed, cuddling with Jimmy forever. He did make her feel safe and protected, even if he should have been someone else. At least he cared. Stretching slightly, as much as she could in the tiny bed, Summer carefully straddled Jimmy and reached for the single lamp. His hands went to her hips as she clicked the light on, as much to keep her from tumbling out of the bed from the imbalance of the act as to keep her close to him. Her eyes went to his as she shifted back over him. With little consternation, she leaned down and embraced him, his arms easily slipping around her back.
“Thank you, Jimmy. I wouldn’t have slept at all if you weren’t here.”
“There’s nowhere else I would rather be,” he claimed softly, his eyes closing so he could concentrate on how her slight body felt squeezed to his.
“I wonder when Dad will be here. How much more time alone we have,” she commented.
His hands trailed down her back and the curve of her ass. Noticing she wore no panties under the shirt, his body began to react as his fingers settled on her upper thighs. Squeezing his eyes tighter, he inhaled deeply, trying to silence his libido. This was not the time to be pressing such a thing with Summer.
“I don’t know that we have enough time for that, Jimmy,” she teased and quickly pivoted off him and retrieved her jeans.
Remaining where he was, exactly as he was, he focused on all sorts of things to chase his arousal away. She was right, very right. And she was not yet his to have. Her father would likely bring her boyfriend and that would definitely ruin everything, even if she could not forgive Robert. He did think he had earned points though, if anyone was keeping a running score between the two men.
“We need to take Queenie out, Jimmy,” she stated, throwing his jeans at him.
“Okay,” he sat up slowly.
His eyes followed her as she went into the bathroom. As he pulled his jeans on, he watched her reflection, as she had not closed the door this time. She scrubbed her face with the small white soap and ran her wet hands through her messy hair. Jimmy wanted to forget about buttoning his jeans and run his hands through her hair instead. He caught her eyes in the mirror and she smiled, turning off the water. She crossed the small space between them, her wet hands surrounding his face.
Pressing her lips briefly to his, she muttered, “Thank you, Jimmy.”
“Princess…”
“Let’s go take her royal highness out. Then hopefully breakfast will be here. Or maybe they’ll let you go get us food?”
She pulled away to grab the dog’s leash, but Jimmy quickly pulled her back into his arms and kissed her again. Giggling she slipped out of his arms, snatched the leash and attached it to Queenie’s collar and headed to the door. Jimmy paused long enough to shove his feet into his shoes before reaching around her to pull the door open. The door sentry instantly snapped to attention, preparing to bar them from exiting.
“My dog has to go out,” she claimed.
“Oh. Right this way,” he stated, leading the pair and pooch to the walled in courtyard.
Rather than walk the dog around the courtyard, Summer released her leash. She figured that since she could not escape the courtyard herself, the dog would not either. While Queenie bounded off in the concrete palace, Summer and Jimmy retreated to sitting on the edge of the dilapidated fountain. His hand reached for hers, but she pushed it away and crawled into his lap instead.
“Jimmy?”
“Yes, princess,” his arms settled around her waist.
“How do people live like this? I mean I know where I… grew up it wasn’t as… nice as where we’ve stayed since I met you guys. But at least there was life around. Queenie has seriously peed on that clump of weeds way more than she ever should,” she pointed out.
“We’ll be out of here soon and I will take you to the castle you belong in,” Jimmy declared.
“I feel like… what it must feel like for animals when they’re in cages,” she stated. “What are zoos like, Jimmy?”
He pulled back slightly to look at her. Her innocent question instantly reminded him how sheltered she had been, how those fucks had clearly stunted a lot of her development. They had five weeks until going to England for the Earls Court shows. Right then in that moment, he decided he was going to show Summer as much as he could.
“I will take you to one,” he finally answered. “As well as all the other places you should have gone as you were growing up.”
Her eyes went to his, “Really?”
Jimmy nodded, “Of course.”
“Can we ride a bicycle?”
He chuckled, “We can certainly try.”
She pivoted in his lap to embrace him tightly, “I’m so lucky to have you, Jimmy.”
Leading Robert into the hotel, Bob grunted a greeting to the agents guarding their every step. The two men stopped at Summer’s room and were instantly instructed she, the puppy, and Jimmy had gone on a walk. Knowing they would not be unescorted, Bob headed towards the courtyard. He stopped just a step through the glass door, his eyes on the pair embracing on the fountain. Having spent the past thirty minutes with Robert, he understood how the singer felt and even sympathized with him. The scene in the courtyard would likely confirm all of his fears. Luckily, the dog spotted Bob and barked at him, her little toenails clicked on the concrete as she ran across the courtyard to him – or at least he thought she was intent on him. Instead the puppy darted between his legs and jumped up on Robert, completely distracting the singer from seeing his girlfriend in another’s lap – and allowing Summer to pull away from Jimmy.
“Dad?” she spoke, her eyes meeting his.
“Hey, sweetie,” he smiled, crossing the courtyard to embrace her. “I know I promised breakfast, but there was a bit of a complication in such.”
She frowned, “But I’m hungry.”
“Did you leave anything in your room?”
She shook her head, “We have nothing to leave anywhere. Why?”
“Good. Let’s go get you out of here and get some breakfast,” he stated.
“I get to go?” her eyes lit up.
“Yes, Summer, you’ve been released,” Bob smiled. “So let’s get out of this slum.”
As he stepped aside, her eyes met Robert’s for the first time. Her feet instantly turned to lead and she was unable to move, even with Bob’s hand at the small of her back. While she had asked her father to bring her boyfriend, she was not at all certain how she felt about Robert being there. He should have been there last night. He should have been there first. Queenie had obviously forgiven Robert, as she sat at his feet wagging her tail, but Summer was not certain she could so easily.
“Summer,” he breathed, “I’m sorry.”
His soft apology broke through her fragile shell. Her frozen lips curved into a frown, her bottom lip trembling slightly. She could not forgive him that easily, she just could not. But the emotions in his eyes beckoned her forward. A large part of her wanted to fall into his arms and forgive him. But she could not. She just could not.
“I was so scared, Robert,” she stated softly. “And you didn’t come for me. Why didn’t you come for me?”
“Because… I am stupid and cowardly and so many other things,” he responded. “I don’t expect you to forgive and forget. I should have been here with you as soon as it was possible. I should have been the one beating down the drawbridge. I know I should have been. I cannot tell you all the thoughts I have faced the past few hours when faced with my greatest failure to you. I apologize for not being the chivalrous king to your queen, Summer. I apologize from the deepest depths of my soul. I should have been here for you. I am sorry.”
“I don’t know… I don’t know…” she breathed.
“Let’s leave this place and you can decide if you want to come back to New York with me or stay here with Robert,” Bob suggested. “It’s better to make decisions on a full stomach.”
Rating: PG-13 [language, innuedo, alcohol]
Summary: Summer gains a cellmate. Robert completely fails her. The band leaves the Riot.
Sighing, Robert looked over the edge of the Riot as roadies began to filter into cars. While the band would be remaining behind in California for a couple more weeks, their employees were heading slowly to England, taking the entire stage setup with them. It instantly made the hotel much quieter, but his thoughts really were not focused on what his eyes were. His thoughts centered completely and totally on Summer. Worry etched his forehead with lines. The cigarette in his fingers not helping to smooth that over any more than the previous one or the three beers had. She had been gone for three hours already and no one seemed to know where she was taken, when he would see her again, or if she was afraid. Gods he hoped she was not afraid. And he hoped they had not told her what had happened. Seeing it was bad enough on the television, it would hit her ten times more than it did anyone else. She used to live where only hot embers burned now.
“Fuck,” he muttered, flicking the mostly untouched cigarette off the roof.
Bonzo slowly approached Robert, holding out another beer, “She’s okay, Perce.”
He accepted the beer, “I would believe that if they would at least let me talk to her. She has to be scared. I should be with her. Fuck, even you should be with her. She should not be alone right now. I do not care how safe they think they are keeping her. She should be with people who love her.”
“I agree. But we don’t have any authority here, Perce. You know that,” he cracked open his beer. “If anyone does, it’s Bob.”
“Where is he? Have you heard from him?”
“Nope,” Bonzo shook his head. “Not since last night. I bet this is hitting him hard too. He used to love her mother.”
“I can’t imagine he stopped loving her mother if she was anything like Summer.”
The drummer shrugged, “Hard for any of us to say. But I’m sure Summer is safe.”
“Being safe and being not scared are not mutually exclusive,” he pointed out before drinking the beer.
“I know. Why don’t you ask Grant what he can do?”
“Already did. He told me he would look into it and come get me if he came up with anything,” Robert answered.
“Well,” he crushed his can, “let’s go find Jonesy. He usually has some good shit and you need to relax. A lot.”
Sitting on the floor in the corner, holding Queenie close to her, Summer’s wide eyes looked around the non-descript room. She had no idea how long she had been locked up in the windowless room, but each passing moment struck more fear into her heart. No one had told her anything, merely escorted her into a building and directly into the room. If they were supposed to be protecting her, would it not make sense to explain to her why she needed to be protected? She knew it had to do with her mother, likely related to all the things she had told the men the previous day. But that was all.
She needed Robert or Bonzo or… Jimmy. Someone needed to come and rescue her from this hell.
The puppy wiggled out of her arms and wandered about the room, sniffing the walls and furniture. She called for Queenie but while the dog looked at her, she kept on her exploration. Clearly, the dog did not find being confined in a room a big deal at all. But maybe the dog knew something she did not. Maybe the room was safe.
Slowly she got to her feet and began to follow Queenie about the room. There was no TV and the telephone had been removed, not that Summer had any number memorized except for the general store back on the farm. The sparse room merely consisted of a bed, two wooden chairs, a small wooden table, and a nightstand with a lamp built into it. No artwork hung on the walls, making the mural qualities ever more apparent, especially as there were no windows. Following the dog into the bathroom, she found a small shower stall, pedestal basin, and single toilet. A cracked mirror hung crookedly above the basin.
“Come on, Queenie,” she muttered, backing out of the bathroom.
The dog followed her over to the single bed, jumping up with her. Without much pause, the puppy curled up in her lap, resting her chin on the young woman’s thigh. Her fingers absently stroked the dog’s head as her eyes focused on the stains on the walls. Where had they brought her?
The door to the room suddenly opened. One of the agents she had spoken with the day before – or maybe it was longer, she had no idea how long she had been locked up – slipped in. Queenie instantly jumped up and barked at him. He smiled and patted the puppy’s head before pulling one of the chairs over to the bed.
“Summer, has anyone come to tell you what’s going on?”
She shook her head, “I haven’t seen anyone since you brought me here.”
“Shit,” he muttered. “Sorry. Someone was supposed to come and brief you immediately. Has anyone brought you any food or water?”
She shook her head again.
“Goddammit,” he got to his feet and stalked over to the door, threw it open, and grumbled at the man next to the door.
She strained to look out the door, but saw nothing.
“We’ll get you something to eat right away. And I suppose you haven’t had the chance to take your dog out?”
Again, she shook her head.
“Come on,” he held out his hand. “Let’s take the dog out and I’ll tell you what happened and why you’re here.”
Walking in an enclosed courtyard where she felt like she was being watched by many pairs of eyes, Summer listened to the agent’s story. She said absolutely nothing, just letting his words permeate her thoughts. As the story reached its end, tears streamed down her face. She wanted – no needed – nothing more than to feel someone’s arms around her. Her mother was gone, murdered by her stepfather. She wanted to hate him, to curse upon his name, but she could not find it in her soul to do so. All she felt was empty, lost, alone. The glimmer of hope lodged in her heart was snuffed out. Her mother was dead.
“I can’t… I can’t breathe,” she muttered, falling to her knees. “I can’t breathe.”
The agent squatted next to her, his hand gently touching her back. She shrank away from his touch, reaching instead for her puppy and burying her face in the animal’s soft fur. Understanding the agent got to his feet and motioned over one of the other agents watching diligently over them.
“I don’t care who you get, but get someone here for Summer. She should not be shouldering this alone. Get someone.”
“Yes, sir.”
Fed up with ineffective answers from Peter, Jimmy climbed into the elevator and headed to the lobby. He could not understand why Peter would not commit to finding Summer. It was not like only Jimmy wanted to find her. Everyone did. But their fucking manager was dragging his feet, like she did not matter at all. He did not know how, but Jimmy was going to find her himself. That much he had decided. He had enough influence and certainly enough money to get his way in that town. He would find Summer himself.
Stepping out of the elevator, his eyes quickly flicked to the gathered groupies. The number of girls had drastically diminished with the departure of the roadies. They had probably assumed the band left as well. While it had been in the plan to relocate to a much quieter location, Benji had mentioned renting out a house on the beach, it had yet to happen. The band merely took up one floor at this point, not six. But the girls did not know that nor did they need to. Jimmy had no need for them any more, not even for a frustration fuck. His time, energy, and care belonged elsewhere. They would vacate the hotel before word got out that they remained; that much he was certain.
Heading towards the back door, Jimmy stopped at Bob slipped in. If anyone knew where Summer was, it was certainly the folksinger. He was the one who deserved to know above anyone else. Maybe he could talk her location out of Bob and sneak to see her. Bob did not seem to hate him, so he had that going for him.
“Bob,” Jimmy greeted him.
The folksinger looked at him, but said nothing.
“Have you heard anything about Summer?”
He smirked, “Don’t concern yourself with my daughter.”
Jimmy frowned, “I have every right to be concerned and care about your daughter, Bob.”
“I would think of anyone, you would be the least likely to risk your band over a girl.”
“Excuse me?”
“I saw how you treated my daughter the other day. I am not a blind fool, Page.”
Jimmy stared at him blankly for a moment, “Summer is with Robert. Everyone is fully aware of that, including myself. I would not risk the band or your daughter’s relationship for anything. I do not covet Summer.”
Bob snorted, “Sure you don’t.”
“I don’t,” he claimed. “In any event, why are you here? She is not here.”
“Where is she?”
A sly smile slipped across Jimmy’s lips. Bob did not know Summer had been taken away. That morsel of information seemed very tasty to Jimmy instantly. He had the power to not tell Bob and let the folksinger wander about the hotel looking for his daughter. While there was something seductive about that, he also realized that Bob would be the first one allowed access to Summer.
“They took her away,” he stated.
“Who did?”
“The FBI.”
“Why?”
“They said it was for her protection,” Jimmy answered.
Bob’s eyes snapped to Jimmy’s, “This is related to the fire. Does she know about Adele?”
“Yes.”
“And she’s alone?”
He sighed, “Again, yes. They only let her take her puppy.”
He ran his hands through his hair, “She shouldn’t be alone.”
“I agree. Will you help me find her?”
Bob stared at Jimmy for a minute, “What about her boyfriend?”
“He might already be out looking for her. I haven’t seen Robert in awhile,” he easily lied.
“All right. Let’s go see if we can find something out.”
As the odd pair headed towards the door, an agent in a black suit entered. Knowing Bob from the previous day of interviewing, he quickly headed over to the two men. He reached for the door before they could.
“Excuse me, Mr. Dylan,” he interrupted. “I have been sent for you.”
Bob looked coolly at the man, “For my daughter, I presume.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Did she just ask for Bob?” Jimmy spoke up.
“She did not ask for anyone, sir. I was merely sent to get her someone,” he responded.
“May I come as well?”
“I do not see why not.”
Heading in the door as Jimmy and Bob headed out with the FBI agent, Benji greeted them, asking where they were going. Finding it odd that those two would be going to see Summer without Robert, he instantly went in search of the singer. First Benji tried John Paul’s room, but was quickly redirected to Bonzo’s room. Pushing the door open, he sighed. Robert was there and so was Bonzo. Both men had clearly been drinking all day, from the smell of the room alone. They were both barely coherent as they lay on the bed.
“Rob,” Benji approached the bed. “How was this a good idea at all?”
“They t-t-took S-summer aw-way,” he struggled to say.
“And getting drunk helps you get her back?” he eased Robert into sitting up.
“Hesaidso,” he pointed at Bonzo.
“Well now Bob and Jimmy are going to her. How does that make you feel?”
“Gonnabesick.”
The personal assistant barely managed to turn Robert quickly enough to avoid being puked on himself. Sighing he moved around the bed and picked up the phone. It was not often he had to clean up after Robert, normally just Bonzo. But nothing seemed normal right then; nothing at all.
The agent led Bob and Jimmy into a rundown looking hotel. Both men scowled; neither believing Summer belonged in such a place, no matter if it kept her safe or not. Bob still could not understand why they felt it necessary to seclude his daughter like this. Everyone in the compound had perished. That alone should make her safer than she had ever been. As they passed down hallways, he had the distinct feeling everyone in the small hotel worked for the government and that alone was creepy. His daughter did not need to be there. At all.
“Right this way please,” the agent stated, leading them to a glass door that lead to an interior courtyard.
Stepping into the mostly destitute courtyard, Jimmy’s eyes snapped to Summer huddled on the concrete floor. While Bob did have parental rights, the guitarist reached the young blond first. Her tear-stained face turned up to him as he squatted next to her. Her arms released her puppy and she quickly fell into his embrace. He kissed her forehead as she trembled in his arms, her small fingers clutching at his shirt.
“Shhh,” he breathed. “I’m here now, princess. I’m here.”
“J-jimmy,” she stuttered.
He kissed her forehead again, “I’m here, Summer.”
For a long moment, Bob stood silently, watching the pair interact. As much as he did not care for Jimmy moving in on his daughter – especially since he had only recently decided Robert was okay – the man clearly cared for her. To be honest it was a relief to see that she was not merely a conquest he was after, but a girl he cared about. But it still did not sit well that he was more or less enabling a partner switch.
“Summer?”
She pulled back enough to see who spoke her name. Seeing Bob, she pulled out of Jimmy’s arms, shakily got to her feet, and stumbled into his arms. Again, she trembled and gasped with sobs as strong arms circled around her. Bob looked around for some place for them to sit, his eyes only spying an empty and cracked fountain. Deciding that would do well enough, he guided the young girl over to it, inviting her silently to sit.
“D-dad-d, they s-s-say sh-she’s really g-g-gone,” she uttered.
He kissed her forehead, noticing Jimmy sit on her other side, the dog leash in his hand, “I’m afraid so, sweetie.”
“But-t-t you s-s-saw h-her, right? M-maybe sh-she escaped b-before the f-fire?”
Bob sighed, “I wish that was the case, Summer. I really do wish that was the case. I loved your mother so much more than I loved any woman. But I’m afraid… I’m afraid she’s gone.”
She shook her head, “No. She can’t be. She escaped. She must have.”
“She loved you so much, Summer,” tears began to surface in his eyes. “All she wanted was for you to be safe and happy. She knew when she let you go… there was a good chance she would never see you again. She wanted you to be safe and free, Summer. She loved you. She always will.”
“She escaped, Dad. I know she did,” Summer claimed.
Bob sighed, “I wish she had, Summer. My god do I wish she had.”
She turned to Jimmy, “She escaped, right, Jimmy?”
He reached up and caressed her cheek, “I haven’t heard that anyone has, but if she has half the spirit you do, I bet she has a chance.”
“Miss Dylan?” the agent who led her and the dog outside approached the three. “Why don’t we head back inside? Joe just returned with food for you and the puppy.”
“Jimmy and my dad can stay right?”
He nodded, “Of course they can.”
Once back in her room, the agent left the three alone. Not realizing how hungry she was until that moment, Summer nearly attacked the food on the table as eagerly as her puppy attacked the bowl Bob filled with kibble. With only two chairs in the room, someone presumably had to sit on the bed. However Summer quickly discarded that notion by sitting in Jimmy’s lap uninvited and turning to eating.
“How long has she been here?” Bob asked as he sat in the rickety, vacant chair.
“They took her from us,” he brushed her hair back behind her shoulders, “seven hours ago.”
He frowned, “Summer, is this the first chance you’ve had to eat?”
She nodded with her mouth full.
He glanced at the puppy, “You’re not staying here any longer. I won’t allow it. You’re either coming with me or you’re going with Jimmy. I don’t care which. You’re just not staying here.”
She swallowed, “You think they’re going to let me leave?”
“They won’t have a choice,” he stated, got to his feet and headed towards the door.
Opening the door, his angry blue eyes went to the agent in the chair next to the door who instantly jumped to his feet, “Is something wrong, Mr. Dylan?”
“Yes. You’re holding my daughter hostage here. I will not stand for it. She is coming with us.”
“I cannot allow that, Mr. Dylan. I have strict orders to–”
“Lock up my fifteen year old daughter like she’s some kind of criminal? What has she done to deserve such treatment?”
“I… uh, don’t know? I don’t have the authority to say.”
“Then go and find someone who does,” he spat and stalked back into the room.
Bob halted a couple of steps in the room. His eyes focused intently on Summer and Jimmy. His anger quickly softened as he watched the guitarist whisper in Summer’s ear, causing a slightly smile to tease the corners of her lips. Even if he did not like Jimmy and his daughter, he could not help but feel grateful for the guitarist’s presence now. Summer needed to smile more than anything, no matter the cause.
“We’re going to take you with us. One way or another,” Bob declared. “My little girl is not staying here overnight.”
Pressing his forehead against the cool bathroom tile, Robert tried to figure out what he was doing there and why. Slowly his thoughts cleared and he realized he had been invited to drink himself into oblivion by Bonzo. He was never going to take the drummer’s advice again. It always resulted in him being drunk, far more drunk than he cared to be. And neglecting his girlfriend. Where was Summer? Where had he left her this ti – oh, god. They had taken her away. That was why he had been drinking, because he did not know what else he could do.
“Bloody moron,” he muttered and pushed away from the floor. “What good does this do for Summer?”
“Ugh. Do you have to scream so bloody loud!?” Bonzo bellowed from the other room.
Shaking his head slowly, he left the bathroom, tasting the acrid flavor of vomit in his mouth and smelling that very same scent. Glancing down he noticed he wore no shirt and he was certain he pulled one on that morning after leaving Summer still dozing in bed.
Summer.
Not even glancing at his mate, he headed to the door and pulled it open. Two steps out the door, he ran into Benji. The other man instantly reached out to steady him. Wordlessly Robert was guided across the hall to another room. Gently pushed to sit on the bed, his blue eyes watched the other man move about quickly, filling up a large glass with water before pressing it into his hands. Without being told, he lifted the glass to his lips and slowly drank.
“Are you done being stupid?” Benji asked. “Because if not, I’ll go get Bonzo.”
He winched slightly, lowering the glass, “I’m good.”
He sat in the chair across from Robert, “So explain to me how smoking as much as you did and drinking as much as you did helps Summer?”
“I don’t know.”
“It doesn’t. In fact it probably does the exact opposite.”
“What do you mean?”
Benji sighed, “Jimmy left about two hours ago with Bob. I bet even you can figure out where they went.”
His eyes widened, “They went to see Summer?”
“Ding ding,” he responded. “While you were drinking yourself to an early death.”
“Oh fuck. I need to get wherever they are. I’m the one who should be,” he stood up quickly, wavered, and sat back down. “Sleeping this off.”
“Exactly. You lie down and sleep it off so that you’re actually functional when you see her. I am going to go check on your partner-in-crime and make certain he’s still breathing. Think about how you’re going to salvage this, Robert. Flowers are not going to cut it,” Benji declared before leaving the room, the door closed firmly behind him.
“Fuck,” he groaned, laid back, his hands holding his head.
He knew buying her things would not work; Summer was not a material girl like so many others. Taking her some place would not do it – though he certainly was taking her away from Jimmy in any event. What was it that she said she liked so much about him that night they first met? Something about singing, wasn’t it? He could write her a song. That would be his best option. If only his head would stop spinning.
Rolling onto his side, he pulled one of the pillows down and clutched it tightly. Images of Jimmy holding and loving Summer when he should have been filled his mind’s eye. He knew if that was truly happening, it was his fault and only his fault. He was done drinking, right then and there. He was never taking Bonzo’s advice again.
“Summer, I’m so sorry,” he muttered. “I’ll make this up to you, baby. I promise.”
Growling Bob re-entered Summer’s cell. The pair remained exactly as he had left them nearly forty-five minutes before, sitting at the table, Summer in Jimmy’s lap. Only now instead of Summer smiling to whatever Jimmy whispered in her ear, her cheek pressed to his shoulder as she slept. Bob nearly was unable to restrain his rage and keep from waking her. But Jimmy’s intense eyes met the folksinger’s and Bob bit his tongue.
“They won’t release her tonight,” he stated softly, sitting on the bed instead of getting closer to the pair. “Maybe not even tomorrow.”
“Why?” Jimmy whispered.
“They claim it’s for her safety. It took me nearly the entire time I was gone to get a full explanation of that. They’re nervous that some may have escaped the fire or that there may have been recruiters out of the compound and that those will come for Summer,” Bob stated.
“But why? Why would they come for her?”
“To silence her. Permanently. Or so the agents tell me. Apparently her stepfather was known to order the deaths of defectors,” he claimed. “His favorite hitman was a young man by the name of Quincy Wilson.”
Jimmy’s eyes widened slightly, “She said a Quincy gave her a ride down here to LA.”
“They know that too,” he pointed to the door behind him. “Which is one of the reasons they’re keeping her here, they say.”
“We can just leave the Riot. That’s where he thinks she is. We’re supposed to leave the Riot anyways,” he stated.
“I tried that. They still refuse. She has to stay here tonight.”
Jimmy looked at the young woman sleeping in his arms, “Then I will stay with her.”
Bob smiled crookedly, “I thought you might say that. They gave conditional permission for one of us to stay tonight. I volunteered you.”
The guitarist nodded, “What will you do?”
“Wake up my lawyers and get them to force them to turn over Summer to me in the morning,” he declared, standing again.
Slowly approaching the couple, Bob kissed her forehead. Summer stirred, her eyes opening, instantly filling with questions. He placed his finger on her lips to silence her speech.
“You have to stay here tonight, Summer. Jimmy is going to stay with you. I am going to go do whatever is necessary to get you released,” Bob stated. “I will be back in the morning.”
“Will you… will you bring Robert with you?” she requested softly.
He tucked her hair behind her ears, “Certainly. You get some rest tonight, daughter. Robert and I will bring breakfast in the morning.”
“Thank you, Dad.”
“Good night,” he kissed her forehead again.
“Good night, Dad.”
“Take care of her,” his eyes met Jimmy’s. “I don’t need to tell you how much she means to me.”
“You can count on me, Bob.”
Nodding the folksinger turned away, patted the puppy’s head, and headed out the door. For a long moment, the two remained silent, just as they were. Summer sighed and wiggled, slipping out of his lap. Before Jimmy could ask anything, she headed into the tiny bathroom and closed the door. Waiting for her to return, he clicked off the larger overhead lamp, leaving just the small one built into the nightstand on. Stripping back the blankets he was relieved to find the sheets looked clean, not that he was planning to get naked. The bed was a single, so if she wanted him in bed with her, they would have to cuddle all night – not that Jimmy was opposed to that at all.
Exiting the bathroom, Summer paused briefly, her eyes going to the bed, “You’re not going to make me sleep alone, are you? I think the walls might eat me if that were the case.”
Jimmy chuckled, “No, princess, if you want me to, we can both fit.”
“Please.”
He held his hand out to her. Approaching the bed, her fingers slipped into his, albeit briefly. She allowed him to guide her to the small bed, but rather than lay down, Summer paused and removed her jeans, tossing them on the nearby chair. Clad only in a tour tee shirt, she climbed into the bed and turned on her side to look at him. Her eyes flicked to his jeans, not expecting him to sleep in them any more than she was. Smirking Jimmy clicked of the light and then removed his jeans. With no window in the room providing any semblance of light, it was completely dark. He tossed his pants without direction and heard the dog yelp softly, clearly buried by the heavy pants. Sinking onto the bed, he pivoted and lay down, reaching for Summer before the blanket. The young girl curled easily around him, making Jimmy sigh slightly in contentment.
“Why are they keeping me here, Jimmy?” she asked softly, her fingers walking across his chest in search of his hand.
“Because… because they’re afraid someone might come and hurt you.”
“But who? Didn’t everyone die in the fire?”
“They don’t know that yet.”
She paused, “So my mother could still be alive.”
Jimmy reached up and stroked her messy curls, “I don’t know, princess. I saw the footage of it. If anyone survived that, it would be a miracle.”
“But miracles do happen, Jimmy.”
“I’m not sure that I beli–”
“You’re here with me now and that’s kind a miracle.”
He thought her words over, “No. It’s because I wanted to be.”
She squeezed him slightly, “Thank you for not abandoning me, Jimmy. You don’t know how much it means to me.”
He kissed her forehead, “I have an idea.”
“Why didn’t Robert come? I thought he loved me.”
“He does,” Jimmy quickly defended, despite his own reasoning. “He was… so distressed at what they did that… Bonzo and he… I am fairly certain Bonzo and Percy were not lucid when I left.”
“Oh.”
“He felt helpless, princess.”
“So clearly drinking was the solution?”
He sighed, “Not really, but I can’t deny that I didn’t look for other things to do myself. I just could not silence the need to find you long enough to do most of them. He just had Bonzo around helping him. I know he was probably more worried than me.”
“Jimmy, I... I do not know that I can forgive him. I was so scared and lonely and… I don’t know that I can forgive him.”
Biting his bottom lip briefly, he responded against his better nature, “Give him the chance, Summer. At least talk it out with him. He does love you.”
She wiggled closer, draping her leg over his, “But he didn’t come to rescue me, Jimmy. You did.”
His fingers caressed her cheek as he swept her hair back from her face, “I will come for you no matter where you are. Nothing can keep me away. Not the US government. Not brick walls. Nothing. I promised you, Summer. I will never break that promise.”
Sitting in the lobby of the Riot, Robert watched as the last of the band’s possessions were loaded into vans. The LA Queens had snapped to attention when he stepped into the lobby and sat on a chair to watch the proceedings, but he paid them no attention at all. Benji has assured him that he would be able to see Summer that morning, though he really had no clue how the manager knew where his little girl was and he did not. But then again Benji always seemed to know things Robert did not. That is what made him a great assistant and now band manager.
He still had no idea how to make it up to Summer. He had completely failed her. Now Jimmy was likely in his place, holding her, caressing her, kissing her. In the very least, Jimmy was assuring her that she was not alone, that she was not abandoned, and that the world was not falling apart. And what was he doing? Sitting in the lobby of the hotel, his ears ringing from his hangover, watching the last of the band depart. He was a failure to the love of his life. Perhaps he should go home to his wife and be miserable for always. Summer probably did not need him anymore. She had Jimmy now.
No. He could not take on such a defeatist attitude. He needed to sweep in and steal her right back from Jimmy. If only he knew how. He was so fucking clueless at the moment, it was killing him.
Approaching the surly-looking singer, John Paul stopped, “I hate leaving without seeing Summer again.”
His eyes went to the bassist, “You’re leaving?”
“Sadly so. I’m meeting Mo and the girls in New England for a bit of a holiday before the shows in London,” he answered. “We had been hoping you and Summer could come with us, but under these circumstances…”
“She would have liked that, I’m sure.”
“I’ll keep in touch. Hopefully they’ll release her and you can meet up with us,” John Paul suggested.
“I don’t think that will happen.”
He cocked his head to the side, “Why is that?”
“Jimmy is with her now.”
“That’s where he’s been all night?”
Robert nodded.
“I’m sure once she sees you that will change. He just likely happened to be around at the right time,” he stated.
“No,” he shook his head. “Jimmy has been after her… since the beginning. I ignored it. It has been there all along. In addition, she is fond of him too. I don’t doubt that they have been fu–”
“Give Summer more credit than that. She is young and pretty naïve, but she does love you. She is not messing around with Jimmy any more than she is with Bonzo or me. She’syour girlfriend,” John Paul argued. “Jimmy does not have the power to make her do something she doesn’t want to. She’s your girlfriend.”
“But I let her down. I should have been with her last night, not him.”
“True. You should have been. But you weren’t. She loves you. And there is no love without forgiveness and no forgiveness without love. She will forgive you for last night,” he declared.
“How can she when I can’t even forgive myself?”
His eyes flicked to Benji who motioned to the car outside before returning to Robert, “She will show you that. Trust Summer, Robert.”
“I do trust her. I don’t trust Jimmy.”
“It takes two to tango,” he declared. “Now I have to go and catch my flight. I will ring you later after you’re settled at the house and see how Summer is. Good luck, mate.”
Remaining where he was, he watched the bassist head out of the hotel and slip into a car, pausing to speak with Benji briefly. After the car pulled away, the manager turned and headed towards Robert. He paused at the front desk, speaking with the desk clerk briefly, and then sat in the chair next to Robert.
“I spoke with Bob about five minutes ago. He is on his way over to collect you to take you to Summer. He didn’t tell me much, but he is fairly certain they will release her today. If not to you, then to him. In either case, the four of you will come to the beach house as soon as you’re allowed. Your driver will know the location, but no one else should,” Benji explained. “I’m taking John down to the track today. Apparently he bought another car last night he wants to play with and I figure that will give you the chance to figure out things with Summer without his blustering interjections.”
Robert looked at Benji, “Thank you. I still don’t know what to do or say to her.”
“Just be honest and speak what is on your mind and in your heart. She’ll listen,” he claimed.
Elbows resting on his knees, his head collapsed into his hands, “I left her to Jimmy, Benji. There is nothing good about that.”
“Yes, there is.”
He glanced through his fingers at the manager, “What?”
“She wasn’t left alone last night. Who knows what would have happened had she been? The girl has lost everything she ever knew and is being locked up by people she doesn’t know. At least Jimmy was there to comfort her. She wasn’t alone and that has to be a good thing,” Benji pointed out.
“But it was Jimmy. It should have been me,” he argued.
“Stop dwelling on it Robert,” he glanced to the door. “Bob’s here. Time for you to go and show her you love her.”
With no windows and no clock, it was impossible to tell what time it was in the dark room. Had Queenie not woken up and started to whine, Summer could have remained in bed, cuddling with Jimmy forever. He did make her feel safe and protected, even if he should have been someone else. At least he cared. Stretching slightly, as much as she could in the tiny bed, Summer carefully straddled Jimmy and reached for the single lamp. His hands went to her hips as she clicked the light on, as much to keep her from tumbling out of the bed from the imbalance of the act as to keep her close to him. Her eyes went to his as she shifted back over him. With little consternation, she leaned down and embraced him, his arms easily slipping around her back.
“Thank you, Jimmy. I wouldn’t have slept at all if you weren’t here.”
“There’s nowhere else I would rather be,” he claimed softly, his eyes closing so he could concentrate on how her slight body felt squeezed to his.
“I wonder when Dad will be here. How much more time alone we have,” she commented.
His hands trailed down her back and the curve of her ass. Noticing she wore no panties under the shirt, his body began to react as his fingers settled on her upper thighs. Squeezing his eyes tighter, he inhaled deeply, trying to silence his libido. This was not the time to be pressing such a thing with Summer.
“I don’t know that we have enough time for that, Jimmy,” she teased and quickly pivoted off him and retrieved her jeans.
Remaining where he was, exactly as he was, he focused on all sorts of things to chase his arousal away. She was right, very right. And she was not yet his to have. Her father would likely bring her boyfriend and that would definitely ruin everything, even if she could not forgive Robert. He did think he had earned points though, if anyone was keeping a running score between the two men.
“We need to take Queenie out, Jimmy,” she stated, throwing his jeans at him.
“Okay,” he sat up slowly.
His eyes followed her as she went into the bathroom. As he pulled his jeans on, he watched her reflection, as she had not closed the door this time. She scrubbed her face with the small white soap and ran her wet hands through her messy hair. Jimmy wanted to forget about buttoning his jeans and run his hands through her hair instead. He caught her eyes in the mirror and she smiled, turning off the water. She crossed the small space between them, her wet hands surrounding his face.
Pressing her lips briefly to his, she muttered, “Thank you, Jimmy.”
“Princess…”
“Let’s go take her royal highness out. Then hopefully breakfast will be here. Or maybe they’ll let you go get us food?”
She pulled away to grab the dog’s leash, but Jimmy quickly pulled her back into his arms and kissed her again. Giggling she slipped out of his arms, snatched the leash and attached it to Queenie’s collar and headed to the door. Jimmy paused long enough to shove his feet into his shoes before reaching around her to pull the door open. The door sentry instantly snapped to attention, preparing to bar them from exiting.
“My dog has to go out,” she claimed.
“Oh. Right this way,” he stated, leading the pair and pooch to the walled in courtyard.
Rather than walk the dog around the courtyard, Summer released her leash. She figured that since she could not escape the courtyard herself, the dog would not either. While Queenie bounded off in the concrete palace, Summer and Jimmy retreated to sitting on the edge of the dilapidated fountain. His hand reached for hers, but she pushed it away and crawled into his lap instead.
“Jimmy?”
“Yes, princess,” his arms settled around her waist.
“How do people live like this? I mean I know where I… grew up it wasn’t as… nice as where we’ve stayed since I met you guys. But at least there was life around. Queenie has seriously peed on that clump of weeds way more than she ever should,” she pointed out.
“We’ll be out of here soon and I will take you to the castle you belong in,” Jimmy declared.
“I feel like… what it must feel like for animals when they’re in cages,” she stated. “What are zoos like, Jimmy?”
He pulled back slightly to look at her. Her innocent question instantly reminded him how sheltered she had been, how those fucks had clearly stunted a lot of her development. They had five weeks until going to England for the Earls Court shows. Right then in that moment, he decided he was going to show Summer as much as he could.
“I will take you to one,” he finally answered. “As well as all the other places you should have gone as you were growing up.”
Her eyes went to his, “Really?”
Jimmy nodded, “Of course.”
“Can we ride a bicycle?”
He chuckled, “We can certainly try.”
She pivoted in his lap to embrace him tightly, “I’m so lucky to have you, Jimmy.”
Leading Robert into the hotel, Bob grunted a greeting to the agents guarding their every step. The two men stopped at Summer’s room and were instantly instructed she, the puppy, and Jimmy had gone on a walk. Knowing they would not be unescorted, Bob headed towards the courtyard. He stopped just a step through the glass door, his eyes on the pair embracing on the fountain. Having spent the past thirty minutes with Robert, he understood how the singer felt and even sympathized with him. The scene in the courtyard would likely confirm all of his fears. Luckily, the dog spotted Bob and barked at him, her little toenails clicked on the concrete as she ran across the courtyard to him – or at least he thought she was intent on him. Instead the puppy darted between his legs and jumped up on Robert, completely distracting the singer from seeing his girlfriend in another’s lap – and allowing Summer to pull away from Jimmy.
“Dad?” she spoke, her eyes meeting his.
“Hey, sweetie,” he smiled, crossing the courtyard to embrace her. “I know I promised breakfast, but there was a bit of a complication in such.”
She frowned, “But I’m hungry.”
“Did you leave anything in your room?”
She shook her head, “We have nothing to leave anywhere. Why?”
“Good. Let’s go get you out of here and get some breakfast,” he stated.
“I get to go?” her eyes lit up.
“Yes, Summer, you’ve been released,” Bob smiled. “So let’s get out of this slum.”
As he stepped aside, her eyes met Robert’s for the first time. Her feet instantly turned to lead and she was unable to move, even with Bob’s hand at the small of her back. While she had asked her father to bring her boyfriend, she was not at all certain how she felt about Robert being there. He should have been there last night. He should have been there first. Queenie had obviously forgiven Robert, as she sat at his feet wagging her tail, but Summer was not certain she could so easily.
“Summer,” he breathed, “I’m sorry.”
His soft apology broke through her fragile shell. Her frozen lips curved into a frown, her bottom lip trembling slightly. She could not forgive him that easily, she just could not. But the emotions in his eyes beckoned her forward. A large part of her wanted to fall into his arms and forgive him. But she could not. She just could not.
“I was so scared, Robert,” she stated softly. “And you didn’t come for me. Why didn’t you come for me?”
“Because… I am stupid and cowardly and so many other things,” he responded. “I don’t expect you to forgive and forget. I should have been here with you as soon as it was possible. I should have been the one beating down the drawbridge. I know I should have been. I cannot tell you all the thoughts I have faced the past few hours when faced with my greatest failure to you. I apologize for not being the chivalrous king to your queen, Summer. I apologize from the deepest depths of my soul. I should have been here for you. I am sorry.”
“I don’t know… I don’t know…” she breathed.
“Let’s leave this place and you can decide if you want to come back to New York with me or stay here with Robert,” Bob suggested. “It’s better to make decisions on a full stomach.”
blog comments powered by Disqus