Title: Almost Famous: The Trade, Part III

Rating: R [language, drugs, sex]

Word Count: 6,597

Characters: Summer Dylan, Jimmy Page, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, Lily Walker, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Benji LeFevre, and Cameron Crowe

Author's Note: This series is based on Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous. As the movie is autobiographical in nature, this series will gleam stories from the movies, based on real-life events and translate them into the world of DiF's epics. This one encapuslates Midnight Shift and Love Runs Deeper. Completely canon with the epic and WILL contain spoilers.

Summary: Summer is traded from one band to another, completely without her knowledge...

Held in Cameron’s arms, Summer felt all of the emotions run through her body. His soft word rang throughout her soul. She had been traded, like a two-bit whore. After two years of being assured she was not a groupie, after believing she was not a groupie, she had been tossed aside just like one. No, it had been worse than how Jimmy merely stopped seeing his groupies, like Lori. She had been traded, for booze and pocket change.

His arms tightened around her as he felt her body tense again, “Shhhh. Everything’s going to be okay, Summer.”

“They… they tr-traded me,” she muttered. “Traded me.”

“I know. I’m sure it was a mistake. I’m sure those roadies are being fired,” he claimed.

“Cameron… they traded me.”

“Sweetheart… have you eaten dinner yet?” he asked softly, hoping to distract her thoughts.

“No… not really.”

“Well,” he pulled back to look into her eyes, “let’s get cleaned up and we’ll go have some gumbo or something.”

“Really?”

He nodded and touched her nose, “Yes. Then tomorrow we’ll get on a plane and get you back to New York.”

“Is that where Jimmy is?”

Cameron nodded again, “For a couple more days.”

“I don’t want to go.”

He blinked, “You don’t want to go back to Jimmy?”

“No,” she shook her head, causing tears to spill down her cheeks. “If they’re going to just give me away like a common whore, then I don’t want anything to do with them.”

“But…”

“No,” Summer repeated. “Take me home.”

“Where?” he asked, confused as her home had been with Jimmy the past couple of years.

“Take me home with you.”

“To LA?”

She nodded.

Cameron remained silent for a moment, looking into her blue eyes. He did not believe that she would truly leave Jimmy, but he also could not imagine how she could stay with him after this. Having spoken with the band while he was trying to locate her, he did not believe any of them were involved with her trade. Even so, they had not really been looking for her. If it had not taken him that much detective work to narrow down where she was, a band as rich and powerful as them should have easily brought her home the following day. Something was fishy. Summer was right to not want to return to that.

“Okay,” he finally agreed. “You can come home with me.”

Grinning she quickly threw her arms back around his neck and kissed his cheek, “I always knew I could count on you. You are the best best friend a girl could ever have. I love you, Cameron.”

“I, uh, love you too,” he patted her back awkwardly. “We should get ready for dinner.”

“Thank you for saving me… again,” she kissed his mouth quickly before getting up. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

Sitting in a corner, nursing a beer, John watched the restaurant silently. If anyone were to ask, he would tell them he was fine. He was quite used to saying just that. After all, he still worked with his ex-wife. He was the expert of “fine.”

But it really was a lie.

Only a few days with a petite young woman and he felt his loneliness invade his soul more strongly. She had been so sweet to him, listening to his stories, encouraging him to explain more. In those few days, Summer Dylan made him feel important. He had not felt that in a very, very long time. It had to be a dream, because she was gone just as quickly as she came into his life.

As that thought crossed his mind, she stepped into the restaurant with the young man who whisked her away. She wore a white, cotton eyelet dress that skimmed her curves just right and two clips held her short curls back from her face. Though she had been very flirtatious around the band and even him, he had not seen her sparkle quite the way she did right then. Yet something was not quite right. He wanted to get up and interrupt her… date, just to make certain she was okay.

Instead, he ordered another drink and watched her sit down with the young writer. His eyes remained focused on the pair, watching her smile and laugh at whatever he said. The more he drank, the more jealous John became, not that he had any reason to be. She was just a groupie who had been traded to Fleetwood Mac, nothing more.

“Bloody hell,” he finished his fourth – or was it fifth – drink, setting it on the small table.

Though he had no intention of actually speaking with her, even with liquid courage in his veins, he found his footsteps inexplicably drawn towards her table. Part of him hoped she would just look up, see him, really see him, and there would be no need for talking. Her blue eyes lifted from her plate as he neared, looking through him momentarily. She seemed to realize who he was just as he reached the table and a smile lit up her beautiful face.

“John,” she spoke softly, though he could have heard her whisper in a crowd, “join us.”

He stopped and looked at her companion, slowly weighing his options in his mind. Saying nothing, he nodded and sat down beside her. The waiter quickly brought him another drink. With some prodding by Summer, he also ordered a small dish of food, though he had not intended to eat that night.

John hardly muttered more than a dozen words throughout the meal, but carefully paid attention to her interaction with the young man. The more he watched, the more they reminded him of himself and Christine. That made him more and less jealous at the same time. He wondered if either knew the other was in love with them.

Her blue eyes turned to him as the waiter hurried off for Bananas Foster, “John, you’ve been so quiet.”

“Sorry,” he muttered.

Her hand reached over and touched his gently. With very little struggle at all, he smiled at her. A part of him felt triumphant when she smiled back. Her hand remained holding his as she turned her attention back to Cameron. It was a small gesture, but it meant the world to him. How did she know?

Silent pangs of jealousy shot through him once more when she released his hand and shared the dessert with the young man far more suitable for her, sitting across the table. Even though she shared a couple of bites with him as well, John did not like how he was feeling at all.

“Um, Ishouldgo,” he slurred, wavering as he got to his feet.

Summer’s hand shot out and grasped his, tugging him back into the chair, “Stay just a bit longer. Have a cup of coffee with me.”

“Um…”

Her eyes flicked to Cameron, looking for his support. He quickly muttered something that sounded like agreeing with Summer. Remaining silent, John shifted in the chair, but did not release Summer’s hand. The last of the plates were cleared away and small cups of pungent coffee placed before them. Carefully, she pulled her hand free from the bassist’s fingers and stirred a bit of sugar into the coffee, her eyes focused on Cameron as he told some story about trying to get one of the Allman brothers to drink coffee one morning.

With coffees drunk, though John hardly touched his, Summer rose from the table and excused herself, leaving the two men alone for a moment. John folded his arms over his chest and stared at the writer. Feeling a bit uncomfortable, Cameron wiggled in his chair slightly before pulling out his wallet to pay for the meal. Before he could unfold it, John grabbed the bill and motioned for the waiter, declaring he would pay for it on the card previously given to the restaurant.

“Um,” Cameron rubbed the back of his neck, “thanks.”

John waved dismissively, saying nothing.

“And thanks for taking care of Summer the past few days. I can only imagine what could have happened if anyone else had… found her first,” he stated. 

“She’s a sweet girl,” he declared, reaching for the last of his seventh beer. “And she’s in love with you, lucky bloke.”

Cameron’s cheeks turned red, “Of course she isn’t. She’s Jimmy Page’s girlfriend. She’s devoted to him.”

He finished his beer and dug out a cigarette, lighting it before speaking again, “Believe what you want, but that girl is in love with you. And that makes you the luckiest man in the world.”

“Um…”

“Are you guys ready to go?” Summer returned to the table, interrupting the awkward tension.

Cameron quickly stood, “Yup. All ready.”

Trailing behind her best friend, Summer’s hand folded over John’s, leading him from the restaurant. She was slow and careful with her steps, feeling his hand tighten when his inebriation got the best of his balance. Cameron slipped to her other side, grasping her other hand, once they stepped out of the building. No one spoke as they headed towards Fleetwood Mac’s hotel, making Summer feel tension between the two men she had not realized before. But she pushed it aside, figuring she could get Cameron to talk about it once they returned to his hotel.

In the lobby of the hotel, fans of the band ignored the three, apparently not really caring or recognizing the bass player. With a kiss on his cheek, Summer convinced Cameron to wait for her in the lobby. A brief glimpse of jealousy filled his eyes, but he coughed and looked away to hide it. John muttered a goodbye to the writer before heading to the elevator with Summer.

Releasing her hand, John snaked his arms around the petite blond as the lift headed up towards his floor. Her blue eyes went to his, her hands resting on his chest. He smirked briefly before leaning down and kissing her strawberry lips softly. The door chimed and opened before he could attempt to deepen the kiss. Instead, Summer pulled out of his embrace, slid her hand into his pocket, and stole his key. Saying nothing, she headed down the hallway to his room. John watched her for just a moment before trailing after her.

Summer stepped into his room. As the door closed, John momentarily paused, envisioning her removing her simple dress. Though he had drunkenly touched and seen her breasts previous nights, he knew this was his last chance, probably forever. He stepped forward and sloppily kissed her, both hands cupping her firm breasts. She returned the kiss only briefly before pushing him away.

“You’re drunk, John,” she declared.

“Bollocks,” he muttered, reaching to kiss her again.

Her hand touched his mouth, halting his kiss, “You’re drunk. And this is goodbye.”

His entire body seemed to sink, “Summer… don’t leave. I haven’t… I haven’t…”

She dropped her hand from his mouth and kissed him sweetly, “You have been so good to me, John. I will always appreciate that. You have shown me kindness after so much… I will always consider you my friend, John.”

“Don’t leave,” he pleaded, intense sadness in his eyes. “I can love you better than all of them, than any of them. Don’t leave.”

“My place isn’t here, John. You know that.”

“You would rather go back to a man who gave you away for beer and cash?” he blurted out angrily.

Summer flinched slightly, “No… I am not going back to him, John. I’m going back to California with Cameron…”

He sighed, “Summer… please…”

She touched his cheek softly, “We will see each other again. I am certain of it.”

“Please…” he begged softly, tears forming in his eyes. “I don’t… I don’t… you make me… feel…”

“This isn’t goodbye forever, John. This is merely ‘until we meet again.’”

“Summer… don’t go…”

Her lips touched his softly once more, “I’m sorry, John. But I must.”

“I can… I can be better for you.”

Her eyes held his, “Be better for you, not for anyone else, John. I will see you again. Soon.”

“Promise?”

“I promise,” she kissed him again, wiping his tears. “I promise.”

Pulling herself away, Summer struggled to leave the hotel room. She had never seen such open emotions in his eyes before. Though a part of her wished to say, to please a man so kind and yet hurting so much, she knew she could not. They were not meant to walk the same path in that life, merely to cross paths every now and then. But she would carry a part of him in her heart. Always.

Unable to orgasm with the blonde groupie thrust upon him to fill the void left by Summer, Jimmy rolled off of her, glared at the young woman, and searched for his pants. Though he had half a mind to growl at the whore and tell her to get out of his sight. Instead, he glared at her, pulled his clothes on, and headed out of the room, hoping she would be gone when he returned.

Stalking down the hallway with little purpose, he found himself at Robert’s door. His hand rose to knock, but he halted just before touching the wood. Turning his ear towards the door, he frowned. He could hear Audrey’s unmistakable squeal inside. Robert clearly did not miss Summer as much as he did.

He sighed and continued down the hall. It had been five days since he last saw his beautiful princess. His heart ached more with each passing moment apart. While they had not spent much time apart since shortly after she lost the baby, he never expected to miss her so much. Summer was very much a part of his heart and soul, no matter what anyone else thought. He could not continue on without her much longer, especially since he had no idea where she was. Was she hurt? Did she miss him? Did she need him?

“Fuck,” he grumbled, pausing long enough to punch the wall.

The nearest door opened and Cole’s head popped out, instantly darkening Jimmy’s already sour mood. Cole’s inclusion on the tour was a matter of logistics, not personal desires. Jimmy hated the man for what he attempted on Summer two years before. Had Peter not assured him that the manager would be kept far away from the golden girl and would be strictly supervised by the band manager himself, Jimmy never would have let the greasy man anywhere within his sights. He knew that Cole had secured the band’s financial and personal security, but this was one of those times Jimmy struggled to listen to his manager’s advice.

“Oh, hello, mate. Care to join me in a shag?” Cole asked.

“No,” Jimmy responded darkly.

The manager smirked, “How about a little bit China White?”

Hesitating for a moment, the guitarist nodded. At least that would get his mind off of Summer for awhile. He entered the manager’s room, glanced at the two naked women playing with each other in the bed, before opting to sit in the arm chair. A moment later, Cole pulled out his stash, offering the first dusting to Jimmy. With a smirk, the guitarist snorted two lines of the illicit drug and leaned back, his eyes closed and his face turned towards the ceiling. He heard the manager partake as well before the girls squealed and pulled him towards them. Jimmy cared not; he was already beginning to feel comfortably numb.

Sometimes a heroin high was the perfect solution to a hostile heart.

“Cameron?” Summer whispered in the dark as she lay beside her best friend. “Are you still awake?”

Biting his cheek, as he was very much awake and had been since she slipped into the smallish bed beside him, Cameron struggled to not reply. The fact her bare thigh currently pressed against him caused enough issues. He did not know how he was going to be able to talk to her with the knowledge she was half-naked beside him.

“Cameron, I know you’re still awake,” she stated, rolling carefully onto her side so that she faced him.

He sighed, “We really need to sleep, Summer. We’re on the first flight out.”

“Cameron, I think… I think they touched me,” she uttered.

“What? Who?” alarm filled his body.

She paused for a moment, “I am… I am remembering things… I was with Jimmy and we… you know…”

“Go on,” he responded a bit awkwardly.

“I remember… being in the back of a car… and hands on my breasts… and up my skirt…”

“Summer…”

“I think… I think that’s all, but…”

He quickly shifted in the small bed and wrapped his arms around her, “No one is going to hurt you again, Summer. No one is going to touch you when and where you don’t want to be touched. You’re safe now. I promise you.”

“Cam… I don’t want to go back.”

“I know,” he reached up in the darkness to touch her short curls, but accidentally poked her in the eye instead. “Shit, Summer, I’m sorry.”

She chuckled softly, “It’s okay. I don’t need to see in the dark anyways.”

He pulled her closer instead, and kissed her forehead, “But in all seriousness, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”

“I’m so glad you came for me. So glad,” she paused. “But why didn’t Jimmy or even Robert?”

“Because I didn’t have a concert at Madison Square Garden to prepare for,” Cameron declared.

“Jimmy could have come for me, if he wanted.”

He paused before answering, “I’m sure he would come for you if he knew where you were.”

“Why doesn’t he? Did you not tell him?”

“Sweetheart, I didn’t have a chance. Once I figured out where you could be, I hurried to the airport to get to you as quickly as possible. I told Audrey, but I don’t know if she told anyone else,” he explained.

Summer snuggled close, “I’m so lucky to have you, Cameron. So lucky.”

“You always will, Summer. Always.”

Feeling her eventually relax into sleep in his arms, Cameron sighed and tried to go to sleep himself. Though he knew it was her choice to travel and stay with Jimmy, with the band, he hated how they treated her. If pressed, they would all claim she was more than a groupie, but an integral part of the band. Yet in reality, they allowed her to be traded to another band like any ordinary groupie. On top of that, Fleetwood Mac’s roadies had molested her. If he had not been wrapped around her in that very moment, Cameron would have headed directly over to the band’s hotel and tell them what she told him. But he stayed where he was, where he was actually needed, and tried to will himself to sleep. It should have been simple with an angel in his arms, yet it wasn’t…