Title: Too Late the Hero
Characters: John Entwistle, Cady Townshend, Pete Townshend, Audrey, Alec, and Zooey, Queenie, Chris
Word Count: 9,596
Rating: R [language, violence, alcohol, innuendo]
Warnings/Spoilers/Summary: Losing the Ox is a hard thing to face...



 

“Thanks, Mum,” he stated before running up the stairs.

Returning to Cady, he paused in the doorway once again, listening to the sounds of his bedroom. His heart sank once again, hearing her crying. Stopping to pull his boots off, John climbed into bed with her, slipping his arms around her shaking body, his lips touching hers. Before long, his tears joined her and they mourned their loss together. They spoke in sobs about Marlene, eventually deciding against a public funeral. Their soft words came to a natural conclusion, John’s arms tightening slightly about her. As he leaned forward to kiss her again, the door opened, his mother clearly her throat.

“Betty has the children,” she announced loudly. “And apparently Pete left her house over four hours ago after visiting them. Commented something about getting a drink before going home to Cady.”

“Fuck,” John mumbled. “Pete’s drinking again? I should go find him.”

“No,” Cady interjected softly. “Please don’t leave me, John.”

He glanced at his mother who turned and left, closing the door behind her, “I’m never going to leave you, Cady. Never.”

“Promise?”

“Promise,” he declared, sealing it with a kiss.

Cady was silent for a long moment, before her face once more filled with pain, “John… the baby…”

His arms tightened around her again, “Shhh, love.”

“The baby… I lost the baby…”

His lips touched the corners of her crying eyes, “Shhh. Don’t focus on that, love. You’re a wonderful woman. It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t your fault.”

“But I told her I was pregnant and then she… and then I… and the baby…”

“Shhhh. It wasn’t your fault, Cade. It wasn’t.”

“I’m sorry,” she breathed, snuggling closer to him. “I’m sorry.”

He kissed her forehead, his hands rubbing her back. He knew how loaded her apology was, not only because she was blaming herself for something she should not, but also because he knew her better than anyone did did. Cady was not just apologizing for Marlene’s death, which he certainly did not blame her, but for something greater. In that very moment, he completely shared in her pain. Her body would heal, but her soul and heart were forever scarred. He wished he could take away all her pain, take it on himself. Holding and kissing her would have to suffice for now.



January 1990 – New York
Leaning closer to the mirror, Cady wiped off her lipstick and crinkled her nose. She was going to have to do it all over again. Pulling open her drawer, she shifted items around, searching for the makeup remover cloths instead of scrubbing her face. Not finding the package, she sighed and slammed her drawer closed. Turning to go ask Audrey if she had any, Cady turned towards the door. Her eyes widened and she froze where she was. As her gaze met eyes of a similar shade, her lips curved into an excited smile and she quickly jumped forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. His arms quickly encircled her waist, holding onto her as her legs kicked up and her lips touched his briefly.

“There you are, beautiful,” he muttered and kissed her just as quickly.

“I didn’t expect to see you until the party,” she declared.

“I couldn’t wait that long.”

“Silly,” she rolled her eyes, leaning out of his embrace. “And in the way as normal.”

He didn’t move, “And what are you going to do to get me out of the way?”

“Scream?”

“And who would hear you?”

“Pete? The kids?”

He smirked, “Try again.”

“Tickle you?”

“Wouldn’t mind it, but still not moving,” he folded his arms across his chest.

“But, John,” she whined, “I need out.”

“Why, love?”

“To get rid of this,” she motioned to her face.

John’s eyes quickly looked over her face, “Yes, I can see why you wouldn’t want that face any more. It’s beauty will clearly outshine everyone else tonight.”

She flushed slightly, “I need to wipe it off and start over.”

“Why? You’re beautiful.”

“It doesn’t look right.”

“You’re beautiful,” he repeated, reaching up to caress her cheek.

Downcasting her eyes, she flushed softly, “How is it that you always make me feel like a little girl?”

“I have no clue. What are you wearing to the party?”

“If you move, I’ll show you,” Cady responded.

John stepped aside, allowing her to step out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. She crossed over to her walk-in closet, opened the door and stepped in. A moment later, she returned with a short, flirty black chiffon dress on a padded hanger. With his hand on his chin, John looked over the garment, taking it from her to turn it around.

“Oh no. This won’t do,” he declared.

“What? Why?” she gasped. “I don’t have anything else I can wear, John. And there’s not enough time for me to go find something else.”

He slipped the hanger over her head, causing the dress to cover the front of her silk robe like an apron, “Because you’ll be so beautiful that no one is going to be paying any attention to the three of us geezers getting accolades.”

Her cheeks once more flushed and she looked down at the dress, “You really think so?”

“I know so,” he kissed her nose quickly.

“Then I suppose I should find something else to wear. It’s your night to shine,” she commented softly.

His finger on her chin, he tilted her face back up to look into his eyes, “Nonsense. Go put it on and let me see.”

Nodding she returned to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. When she stepped out a moment later, Pete stepped into the bedroom. His eyes flicked to his best friend briefly, before both men focused their gazes on the woman. Neither said anything as they looked over the form-fitting bodice that flared out into a flirty skirt. Cady tugged a bit self-consciously on the strapless top and chewing on her nude bottom lip.

“Cady, you look amazing,” Pete stated.

She smiled at him, “Thank you.”

“Cade…” John muttered.

“Is it okay?” her eyes went to his.

“Pete, you realize we can’t take her with us to the Waldorf, right?” John commented to the man he stood next to.

Pete glanced at his mate, “Because she’s so gorgeous?”

The bassist nodded.

“Yes, it would appear to be a problem,” he agreed. “I would leave her here but the children might find it odd.”

“Perhaps if she wore slippers, not the boots she has set out…”

Pete’s eyes flicked to the black boots next to the closet, “We wouldn’t want people to think she has gone crazy like Yoko though.”

Before John could respond, ten-year-old Zooey rushed into the room and gasped, “Mum, you’re beautiful!”

Stepping aside, Pete smiled at the young girl as she hurried to Cady and embraced her.

“Mum, Dad,” Audrey stepped into the doorway, “and John. The car’s here.”

“Bloody hell,” Cady muttered, peeling her youngest daughter from her. “Find mummy’s shoes please?”

“Okay!” she skipped over to the closet, not even glancing at the pair of boots outside it.

A few minutes later, John held up Cady’s winter coat. As she slipped her arms into the lined sleeves, he subtly kissed her ear. Her hands covered his briefly, squeezing, before she moved to button the coat. As she turned to make certain Zooey had her coat on, her eyes glanced over John, noticing he wore the large spider necklace she gifted him. How she had missed it before, she knew not. However, seeing the glittering arachnid made her grin.

Noticing her locked gaze, John leaned over and whispered, “Of course I’m wearing it, love. I couldn’t very well not on the day The Who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”



September 2001 – New York
Waking with a start, Cady sat straight up in bed. Rolling out of the bed, her bare feet touched the thick carpet. Not sure why she had woken with a start, she wandered confused down the hallway. The SoHo flat was empty, as Pete was in London, the children in their own homes. She was in the States, developing a gallery show in New York and supporting John while he toured about with A Walk Down Abbey Road. He was due to return to the city that afternoon, after spending a week in California doing something secretive. None of that did not matter right then. Something was wrong. Something had shaken her out of bed.

Finding nothing amiss with the large family apartment, Cady frowned and headed into the living room. Having moved to the top floor of the SoHo building three decades before, the large expanse of glass windows afforded her a view towards the south of the city. As her eyes flicked to the windows, she froze in place. Though she did not have a clear view of the source, she could see thick, dark smoke drifting from the financial district. Regaining her thoughts once more, she snatched up the TV remote and clicked it on.

A second later, the device dropped to the hardwood floor, the back and batteries falling out with the collision. 

Eyes glued to the screen, Cady nearly did not hear her cell phone ringing. Shaking herself free from the TV, she hurried to the phone left on the breakfast table, barely picking it up before the caller went to voicemail.

“Cady? Cady, are you okay?”

Though she heard his voice, she did not process his words.

“Cady? Cady, baby, are you there?”

His panic cut through her dazed thoughts, “I… I’m fine. I’m okay… I think.”

“Baby, you need to get out of there.”

“And go where, Pete? How?”

He sighed, “I don’t know. I just want you out of there and some place safe.”

“I’m safe, Pete. There’s just a fire at one of the towers in the financial district. I’m safe,” she assured him.

“Cady… Cady, I love you. Please try to get out of there. I don’t think this is just a fire, baby. I really don’t.”

She went silent for a long moment, listening to the report on the TV, “Pete?”

“Yes, baby?”

“They’re saying… they’re saying the fires were started by planes hitting both towers,” she said softly.

“Cady, I’m going to call John. We’re going to get you out of there.”

Her eyes widened and she gasped, “Oh, god, Pete. He was supposed to be flying here today. What if… oh god…”

“I’m sure he’s fine. You and I both know that he wouldn’t get up early enough to be arriving in New York this early. He wasn’t on either of those planes. I’m certain of it. I’m going to call him right now and we’ll figure this out, Cady.”

Her phone beeped, indicating an incoming call. Pulling it away, she glanced at the displayed number, her heart skipping a beat.

“He’s calling me right now, Pete.”

“Good. Take his call and tell him to call me after you talk, okay? I love you, Cady.”

“I love you too, Pete,” she responded, took a deep breath, and switched to the other call. “Hello?”

“Cady, love? Are you okay?”

“J-John…”

“Love, I’m on my way. I took an early flight because I couldn’t wait any longer to see you. But they’ve grounded planes everywhere. I’m in Chicago now, but a few blokes are getting a car and we’re going to drive the rest of the way. The best estimate is twelve hours to get there,” John quickly explained. “If I could get to you any faster, I would, love.”

“I… This is bad, isn’t it?”

He sighed, “Baby, pack anything that you can’t live without. Fill all the tubs in the flat with water. Turn off the air and close the vents. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I promise.”

“Pete… Pete wants you to call him.”

“He can bloody well want whatever he wants. I don’t give a lick about him right now.”

“John…”

He took a breath, “Thank god Zooey’s not in New York with you, like she was considering. I don’t think I could handle worrying about both of you.”

“John… I…”

“Sweetheart, I have to go. We’re heading out now. I’ll ring you as soon as I can. I love you, Cady.”

“I love you too.”

“I will be there soon. Promise.”

As soon as she disconnected the call with John, Zooey rang. Drawing on John’s words for strength, she spoke calmly to her youngest daughter, promising that she was safe over a mile from the plane crash. The young girl did not relax or agree to anything until Cady mentioned that John was on his way to her, apparently driving with a group of men. Making her promise to check in periodically, the young actress hung up and Cady’s phone immediately began to ring again. Sitting on the couch, she spoke with both of her older children, who apparently had been lunching together when the news of the crash in New York came through. As they were en route to her and Pete’s house, she was certain to hear from her husband as well, to inform him of John’s plans.

Her eyes flicked to the TV as Alec mentioned they were pulling into the driveway. Cady went completely silent. Struggling to not drop her phone, she jumped to her feet and rushed over to the window, looking south down the street. A large, white-gray cloud of dust screamed down the street. Eyes wide with fear, but unable to move, Cady remained focused on the pyroclastic cloud, no longer hearing the words of her children in her ear.

“Cady!? Cady!? CADENCE!?” Pete shouted.

She flinched as dust and debris hit the window in front of her, “P-Pete…”

“Oh good. Baby, you’re okay. You’re going to be fine.”

“P-Pete…” her bottom lip trembled, pressing her palm to the now dirty window.

“You’re going to be fine. John’s coming for you, right? Audrey said that you told her he was. You’re going to be fine.”

She glanced over to the TV and realized the power had gone out, “Pete…”

“John will be there soon, baby. I know it. I’ll stay on the line with you as long as possible, Cady. Oh, thank god you have your satellite phone. The news is saying power is out in that part of the city. And phone lines are jammed. Oh god. Cady…”

“Pete, if I don’t make it…”

“Nonsense. Don’t say such things. You’re going to be fine. John will be there soon to ensure it. Everything is going to be fine.”

“Pete…”

“I’m writing you a new song. I think you’ll like it. When you come home, you can help me with the lyrics.”

They spoke until her phone died, Pete trying to distract her from the horror of the city outside the window. Once her phone died, she curled up in an armchair, staring down the dirty street, her legs pulled to her chest. Tears dripped down her face as fear enveloped her in the dark and silent apartment.

The TV blared on a few hours after suddenly going out. Cady slowly pulled away from the window and mechanically went to the sofa. However, before sitting she headed into the bedroom and opened the closet. Her fingers instantly pulled one of John’s shirts out. Pulling the button-down over her nude body, she grabbed one of Pete’s sweaters and pulled that over her as well. Returning to the sofa, she curled up around a pillow, her blue eyes blankly watching the TV screen.

This was exactly how she was when a key jiggled in the lock on the door after ten in the evening. Stepping into the top floor apartment, John quickly dropped his bag and removed his dirty jacket, leaving it on the floor next to the bag. He closed the door and glanced around, trying to figure out where Cady was. Seeing her curled up on the couch, John quickly stepped forward, blocked her view of the TV, and squatted. Her vacant eyes slowly focused on him.

“John,” she muttered as she sat up.

“Cady,” he breathed, reaching for her.

“Oh god, John, I thought…”

“Shhh,” his arms folded around her. “I’m here now.”

“John…”

“Have you eaten today, love?”

“…no…”

“Let’s eat something and then I’m going to take a shower. No, wait. I’m going to take a shower first. I’m covered with filth,” John declared.

“Can I… can I…”

“Of course, love,” he released her, stood, and helped her up. “I don’t want to lose sight of you either.”

Holding her hand, John led Cady to the bathroom. She leaned against the granite countertop as he pulled open the large glass shower door and turned on the water. Turning once more to face her, John cupped her face, turning it towards his to kiss her lips softly. He shed his dirty clothes before helping Cady remove hers. Hands clutched again, he stepped into the large shower enclosure, pulling her in. They washed each other tenderly, Cady stepping into his embrace once completed. John held her for a long moment before reaching behind her to turn off the water. Kissing her wet forehead, he guided her from the shower and toweled her off. After she returned the favor to him, they left the bedroom, dressed before John gathered his clothing, and shoved it into a rubbish bag.

Silently the two headed to the kitchen. Mechanically Cady removed items from the fridge, handing them to John, until her eyes caught a glimpse of the windows. Though night had long fallen on the city and dust caked her windows, she could still easily see glow from the fires that still burned, interspersed with large white lights from the rescuers. Slightly more than a mile away from the site, she still felt shaken. Her sense of security was certainly gone, even with John there with her.

Noticing where her eyes focused, he stepped around her and pulled the curtains closed. John paused to turn on the stereo and returned to her side, helping her prepare a light meal for the two of them. They ate quickly, John trying to keep her spirits up by telling her silly stories about his visit to California. Though she smiled, he could tell she was still greatly haunted by the day’s events. He quickly cleared the table, rinsed the dishes, and shoved them into the dishwasher before pouring two more glasses of wine and asking her to join him in the living room.

Seated on the couch, curled around each other, the pair did not speak. They sipped wine and bathed silently in each other’s presence. Every now and then, John would kiss Cady or his arms would tighten briefly about her. It was exactly what she needed in that moment; he understood without an utterance at all.

“Why… why were you in California?” Cady softly asked.

John smiled and sat up, taking her wine glass from her, “I’m glad you asked. Wait here.”

She watched as he deposited their glasses in the kitchen before returning to his dirty abandoned bag by the door. Squatting, he carefully opened it and reached in. With a small box in hand, he returned to her side. Rather than return to sitting on the couch beside her, John sat on the coffee table and held the box up to her. Her eyes went from the box to his, asking what she did not mutter. He smiled and nodded once, holding it a bit closer. Slowly Cady reached up and accepted the box. She opened it and gasped, her fingers reaching inside. Glancing to him for confirmation that she was allowed to touch it, Cady lifted the silver-toned cuff bracelet from the box. Rather than a large silver plate with etchings and embellishments, the fill of the cuff was a delicate spider web-like pattern. Where the webs crossed, a small diamond or smoky sapphire glimmered. Mouth falling open in surprise, Cady looked to his eyes.

Not saying anything, John lowered the box and removed the bracelet. He reached for her hand and kissed each knuckle before slipping the bracelet about her wrist. His lips touched her palm before he released her hand. Cady held up her hand, twisting it slightly to see the details glitter in the light.

“John…”

“I know… I know. You’re going to tell me that I shouldn’t go around spending my money on you,” he smiled crookedly. “But… I wanted to give you something special, something just for you. It should have been completed last year… to mark our thirty years together. But every single sketch they sent me, I didn’t like. Then it took awhile finding the right stones… They called me a day, a day, after your birthday to tell me it was ready. Anyways, this is just to show you how much I care for you. I would… I would…”

“It’s beautiful,” Cady commented before shifting forward on the couch to kiss him. “Thank you.”

John smiled before she kissed him again, “I love you, Cady.”

“I love you too, John,” she muttered against his mouth. “Thank you for… coming for me… for this beautiful gift… for loving me… Thank you, John.”

“Come, my love. It is late. Let us go to bed,” he slowly stood, his hands helping her to her feet.

Cady kissed him again softly and followed him from the living room, pausing with him to turn off the stereo and then the lights. Guided to the bedroom, she paused in the doorway, forcing John to stop. He turned, confusion shining in his blue eyes. Quickly kissing him, she asked him to fetch the bottle of wine they left open in the kitchen. He quickly smiled, nodded, and hurried back to the kitchen. Without John present, Cady changed from her shirt and jeans into slinky satin nightgown.

As she was pulling back the blankets on the bed, John returned and whistled, “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known.”

He set down the bottle of wine, slipped up behind her, and pulled her into his arms. His lips touched her neck as her arms folded over his. He muttered how much he loved her, always had. Turning in his arms, Cady kissed his mouth gently at first. Their kiss deepened briefly before becoming sweet once more.

Her glittering eyes went to his, “John…”

“I’m always going to be here for you, baby. Always…”


*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*



Her eyes dropped to the bracelet about her wrist. Releasing Pete’s hand, Cady covered the sparkling bangle, pressing hard. She could feel the spider web marking both her wrist and her hand. A part of her wished she could push it hard enough to bleed. However, Pete noticed her actions and gently lifted her hand from her wrist. He quickly kissed her knuckles before slipping his arm around her shoulders. Without any shame at all, she buried her face on his shoulder and cried through the rest of the service.

“Why, Pete? Why?” she muttered softly.

“I don’t know, love,” he responded, squeezing her a bit tighter. “I don’t know.”



If she had the choice, she likely would not have joined Queenie and Chris in the lawyer’s office that afternoon. It was enough to her that she and Pete had an urn of John’s ashes to scatter where they wished. However, John’s lawyer rang Pete and told them when to be at his office for the reading of John’s will. The couple arrived discreetly and slipped in a back door, not that they expected there to be press outside; it was really more of a habit than anything.

Shifting uncomfortably in the seat next to Pete when John’s last girlfriend entered the room, apparently believing she belonged there as well, Cady fiddled with the hem of the button-down white shirt she wore. Queenie, who sat on her left while Pete was on her right, reached over and squeezed her hand reassuringly before sending a glare in Lisa’s direction.

The man in a three-piece suit cleared his throat, “Well now that everyone is here, shall we get started?”

Paying little attention to the boring aspect of the will, Cady played with her hem until Pete reached over and pulled her hand away. Little surprise registered on her face as John’s estate was split evenly between Queenie and Chris. She struggled to not snicker when the lawyer read the clause purposefully denying any provisions to Lisa. Believing that to be the end of the will, Cady reached for her purse as the former girlfriend rushed out of the office in tears.

“To my best friend, Cadence Emerson Kersey Townshend, I leave my 1967 Silver Shadow Rolls Royce, my Boris bass, my collection of Boris necklaces, and the contents of my safety deposit box. To my other best friend, Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend, I leave my first bass.”

The lawyer handed Cady an envelope with the bank’s address scrawled on it in John’s hand. Her fingers gently ran over the envelope, feeling the shape of the key. Her eyes flicked to Pete and he shrugged. They remained through the rest of the reading, embracing John’s kin and promising to visit soon. Once out in the car again, Pete asked if she wanted to go to the safety deposit box then or later. Struggling with the decision for a moment, she asked to be taken to the bank, but to go in alone.

They arrived at the bank and Cady hurried in alone. Ripping open the envelope, she shook the key out and smirked at the number imprinted on it. Waiting in line to speak with a teller, Cady glanced around. Though she had no reason to think so, she believed he had been there not long before, perhaps before leaving for the tour. It made her feel sad and yet closer to him in the same moment. Finally stepping up to the counter, she produced the key, handing it to the young woman.

The girl’s eyes brightened briefly before she frowned, “I am sorry for your loss, ma’am.”

“Excuse me?”

“Come with me,” she stated, closing her line and heading to the end of the counter.

Following the younger woman into the room with safety deposit boxes, Cady asked softly, “Did you know John?”

“I did. I was the only one he entrusted with his safety deposit box… for the last twenty years,” she responded, leading Cady over to the correct one.

Cady watched as she pulled the box out, carrying it to a small room with a table, “Do you… do you know what’s in it?”

“No. He was very pleasant but almost ridiculously business-like. Only… on his last visit did he give me any indication about its contents,” she declared, setting the box on the table.

“What did he… what did he say?”

Her kind brown eyes went to Cady, “That he loved you very much.”

Cady quickly bit her bottom lip to keep from crying.

“Take as much time as you need,” the teller declared, touched Cady’s shoulder gently, and left the room. “Ring the buzzer when you are through.”

Glancing at the now closed door, she pulled the chair out and sat before reaching for the large box. Inserting the key, she turned it slowly and pushed the hinged top up. Her eyes widened and her hand covered her mouth. Neatly stacked in rows were dozens of folded papers, which she presumed were letters. Partitioned from them was a stack of photographs, some of them just of her, many of them of the two of them together. A few reels of film, a couple of video cassettes, and an envelope of negatives were also tucked into the box. Her fingers traced over everything but did not lift any of the contents out. She did not think she was at all ready to read whatever John felt necessary to write to her.

Just before closing the lid, her eyes noticed a small black velvet box underneath the reels of film. Pushing the lid back open, she reached for the small box, biting her bottom lip once more. Cracking it open, tears instantly ran down her cheeks. She recognized the diamond ring, instantly recalled seeing it in a shop in America while out shopping with John. Though she wanted nothing more than to try it on, seeing it made her heart ache even more. She only hoped one of the dozens of letters held an explanation behind the ring. Once she found that, she would try it on, not a moment sooner. Closing the ring box, she returned it to the metal box, closed the lid, and locked the box. She stood from the chair, the wooden legs scraping on the floor, and pressed the button near the door.

The teller opened the door a moment later, “All done?”

“I… I will return at a later time. I cannot…”

“I understand, ma’am,” she responded and picked up the box.

Cady watched as the box was slid back into place before turning to head out of the secure area with the teller. Neither woman spoke, though Cady wished to ask how John had looked when he was last there, what he wore, what he smelled like. Oh how she missed him.

Stopping outside the entrance to the secure area, the teller quickly embraced Cady and whispered, “He loved you. He will always be with you. Always.”