6 Whooah, we're half way there

The doctor knocked before opening the door and letting himself in, then bowed, continuing their joke from earlier.

"Yes, my lord?" He asked. Then saw the blood on the gown and turned serious, shaking his head. "I thought I told you not to do anything?"
"It's not that bad, I didn't even notice until it was pointed out that I was bleeding, so help me out please?" Richie asked.
"It’s all my fault, shouldn’t have done that." Jon got up and disappeared into the bathroom.

The doctor raised a brow at Richie while he set about to see the stitches and re-do them.

"You were having that talk and he's trying to come to terms with being bisexual or not?"
Richie winced when the first stitch got replaced and sighed. "Yeah but it's not his fault and he knows it."
"It's both of your faults, but then again, we don't choose who our hearts love, now do we?" He smiled at Richie.

Jon came back from the bathroom, looking more decent and sat down in the chair. "I'm sorry, it was stupid, shouldn't be doing this."

The doctor looked at them both. "Don’t be sorry, and though it was a little stupid, more of him," he looked at Richie pointedly, " for not considering his own injury than yourself, it’s more than understandable and is something you should be doing. How else are you really going to come to terms with your sexuality if you don’t do anything to find out how far those feelings go?" He sat down on the end of the bed and looked at Jon. "It’s new for you, and you’re trying to understand it, just like the rest of us that aren’t straight heterosexuals."
"I’m perfectly fine with my sexuality thank you very much and I don’t need to understand anything. I am a straight heterosexual."
Hearing that, Richie looked away from them.
"You’re in denial of being bisexual. I know you have a wife and kids, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be attracted to men too. If you look back at all the things you’ve done together, at least publicly, no one would actually question either of you being together as more than friends."
"I'm not attracted to men." Jon insisted.
"That's not what the bulge in your boxers was saying when I walked in here."
"Shut up."
The doctor chuckled. "You’ll come to terms with it eventually. Don’t worry, I’m not about to go tell the tabloids or anything either. This is all staying between us."
"Like the tabloids post anything that’s true even if you would, nobody would believe it cause they all know it’s not true." Was Jon's comeback.
"I wouldn’t be so sure about that. All anyone would have to do is see how the two of you interact, at the very least on stage, and they would find it very believable actually."
"No they wouldn’t, you just like to think that because you would like it if it is true but it’s not, I’m not gay." Jon continued to insist. He was not gay.
"Why would I like it? Doesn’t get me any more of a shot than before now does it? Besides, I’m happy with my husband, sorry to break your heart, but he’s a lot more handsome than you *smiles* They would believe it after maybe 5 minutes of thinking about it. If that. If you don’t believe me, just think about all the times you’ve kissed him," He indicated at Richie who was still looking away from them. "On stage before, always touching him, not to mention when you grabbed his ass."
"That’s exactly what I mean, cause I don’t mean anything with those things, nothing at all, it’s just joking and having some fun on stage, meaningless, you know, without meaning?" Jon said annoyed, why did people have to be so difficult all of a sudden, last week everything had been fine, nobody had thought anyone was gay.
"True as that may be, it’s because of all of that that people wouldn’t have a hard time believing it was all true, even if you don’t know it. People wouldn’t care because they’d think for a second then shrug it off with an “makes sense I guess.” and carry on with their day."
"No they wouldn’t, you got a very romantic mind going on, people aren’t just gonna carry on. saying things like that change people there perspectives and their opinion about a person so just shut up about it. I’m not gay!" Jon pressed on.

The doctor raised his hands in that innocent thing and calm down dude I’m just saying kind of way.

"Of course it does, but the people that matter will have seen this coming and won’t be bothered one way or another." He stood up to leave. "I know I’ve just given you even more to think about, but you can only live in denial for so long."
"No they won’t, you’re just imagining things."
"You keep telling yourself that." He looked over at Richie, "and you behave yourself or I won’t let you go home."
Richie smiled a little. "I promise I'll be good."

The doctor left and silence fell over the room. They both sat motionless, not knowing what to say anymore. Richie looked over at Jon after a while, wanting to say something but didn't know what so say.

In silence Jon got up from the chair, unnoticed that Richie was watching him, Jon packed his bag that he had brought the night before. He didn't really want to leave but he didn't know how to fix it anymore and decided it was easier to just leave and give up.

"You're going then?" Richie asked.
"I don't know." Jon sighed.
"What time is it anyway?" Richie wanted to know.
Jon got his phone and checked the time. "One."
"And what time did you say my flight was?"
"At 7, check in at 5."
"Alright, if you're going, I'll get a cab or something to get me there."
"I don't know about that either, I don't know." Jon said, so confused.
Richie looked down, unsure of what to say. "I'm sorry for putting you in this mess."
Jon shrugged. "Dunno."

Richie didn't look back up as Jon sat down in the chair heavily, really not knowing what to do anymore. Richie stayed quiet, starting to wish he would've kept his hands to himself. He watched, Jon sitting there, his head down, he knew he was confused. When Jon started sniffing, Richie knew he was close to crying. Richie moved to the edge of his bed and sat up, silently offering Jon his hand.

When Jon took his hand, Richie coaxed him to sit beside him. So Jon got up and moved to sit, his head still down and sniffing, still fighting to keep the tears back. Richie didn't say anything and held Jon close, tucking Jon's head against his shoulder. Then Jon broke down and started crying all the way.

Richie didn't mind and did what any good friend would do and held him, letting Jon cry it out, getting his emotions back together. Richie gently rocked him.

"Stop that, I'm trying to have a break down here." Jon complained when Richie started rocking.
"Sorry, it's just a natural way to comfort people."
"But I'm not a baby, I don't need rocking." Jon sat up a little.
"I know, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to comfort you because I hate seeing you like this, even more when it’s my fault you’re upset."

Jon started to try wipe away his tears, Richie gently wiped them away for him, making Jon smile a little. Richie smiled back lovingly and just kept holding him.

Jon put his head back on Richie's shoulder.

"What am I gonna do?"
"You’re going to get encased in your work, do some thinking about things I guess, and figure yourself out over some time."

Jon sighed and Richie didn't say any more, just held him, knowing Jon needed the comfort right now.

"Want me to leave?" Jon asked unsure.
"I wish you never had to honestly." Richie answered.
Jon nodded. "I can still spend the next three hours with you then?"
Richie smiled. "Of course you can."
Jon nodded again. "Okay, can we get out of your room?"
"Sure where to?"
Jon sat up on the bed. "Could we go for a walk?"
"If you don't mind a slow walk."

"Thought you were gonna hit me with a crutch if I walked too slow?" Jon wondered.
"And if you go too fast I can't keep up." Richie smirked.
"I promise to not run away and abandon you after I tie you to a tree in the woods."
Richie laughed. "And what would you tie me up with? I don't see any rope around here. And even if you the call button and ask doc for some, that's my servant." He stuck his tongue out at Jon.
"Didn't say there's any rope around here, did I? So wanna get up?" Jon got up and handed Richie his crutches. "You can get up on your own? Be careful."

Richie got up with the crutches. "I am being careful."
"Of course you are." Jon watched him anyway, to make sure.
Richie got his crutches in a comfortable position. "Lead the way." He said, wanting Jon to show the way so he could watch his nice ass.
"Don't stare at my ass then." Jon went to open the door.
"Awe, why'd you have to go and put rules in?" Richie pouted and followed Jon.
"Be good or I'll make up more rules."
Richie pouted even more. "Yes, dear."
"Don't call me that." He said as he got into the elevator.
Finally Richie stopped joking. "Sorry."

They walked outside and found a nice little place to sit on a bench.

"How's your leg? Still attached?" Jon teased.
"Yup, ale my legs still attached." Richie smiled.
"Good, don't wanna have to walk back and look for legs, people would have already taken them by now." Jon referred to losing money somewhere, people would usually take it, not return it.
Richie chuckled. "Probably, other people need legs too."

"They shouldn’t just take other people their legs, they have two, it’s not fair to take someone’s leg, that’s stealing and that’s wrong ‘cause the bible says so."
"Yeah, but the bible says you can stone people to death if you don’t like them too." Richie pointed out.
"The bible also says if a man lays with another man, he should be stoned." Remembering his religion and what being gay would mean to him and everyone else.

"Well then it’s convenient they’re legalizing marijuana too then isn’t it?" Richie smartly pointed out again.
"For the ones that want to get high, I guess."
"It works for them." Richie shrugged.
"It doesn't work for, at all." Jon said, remembering the times he had tried drugs.
"The drugs don't for me either." Richie agreed.
"Not anymore you mean, you still had to be drunk the first time you went to a gay bar to experiment."
Richie shrugged, it wasn't exactly true. "I didn't have to be, but it was the only thing I could think of at the time."
"Good you're done with that now."
"The drinking anyway."
"That's what I meant, that also means I can't be drunk to experiment like you did."
"Well you could, you just couldn't experiment with me if you were, I'd feel like I was taking advantage of you." Richie explained.
"Then I can't cause I'd only trust you, cause I've known you for so long... Not saying that I want to do this.
"I hear what you’re saying. It’s nice that you trust me with this, because I know it’s not easy to come to terms with sometimes. I’ve got your back. And if you don’t want this, then I guess I’ll know then."
"We’ll just see in a few weeks alright? Got a show in LA in two weeks so I’ll have to come visit you then anyway, maybe I’ve made my mind up by then too."
"We’ll see then." Richie agreed.
"Yeah, you’ll probably be able to walk again then, we could..." Jon didn't know what they could do so left his sentence open ended.
"Experiment more?" Richie tried.
Jon just shrugged.
"Depending on what you decide."
"What if I haven't made my mind up by then?" Jon wondered.
"Then you take more time."
"But if I want to experiment more?" Jon asked.
"Then you do that." Richie said simply.
"I don't know, I'm kinda curious but I just don't think I'm gay."
"It's human to be curious and only you can answer if you are or aren't."
"But I don't know." Jon repeated once again.
"That's why you get time to think." Richie reminded him.
"Thanks for that, don't think a lot of other people would give someone that much time to make a decision on this." Jon said a little relieved.
Richie smiled. "Probably not, but no matter what you decide, we're still best friends... right?"
"We'll always be best friends." Jon confirmed. That was something that would never change, it might be a little weird after this but they'd still be best friends.
"And if you decide you don't want this, I know that."
I'm still sorry though, shouldn't have freaked out like that yesterday." Jon apologized.
"I can’t really blame you though can I? I was pushing my luck as it was just kissing you."
Jon shrugged. "It's not so bad. I should have been more careful with grabbing stuff off the table."
Richie shrugged too. "What happened, happened."

"Yeah, I did notice that, thanks." Jon remembered Richie laughing at him for almost saying the same thing last night. "Shouldn't you be starving? You haven't eaten in almost four hours."
Richie laughed. "Has it been four hours? Missed some time in my nap. We did miss lunch though."
"Of course you needed your nap." Jon teased him. "We should get some lunch."
"Nothing wrong with a nap."
"No course not, especially not if you take one before a show, on the plane to the show, usually even on the car to the show and back... Nope nothing wrong, you’re just old."
"No, I’m getting caught up on all that sleep I missed when I was younger." Richie defended himself.
"Sleep doesn't work like that."
"Shush." He playfully smacked Jon's leg with the crutch and got up. "It's my story and I'm sticking to it."
Jon turned serious immediately after Richie's tease. "That wasn't within the rules."
"You're moving too slow, that's in the rules."
"You better watch it or I take your crutches from you." Jon threatened.
"Then I'd just make you give me a piggyback ride." Richie smirked. "Now that would be hilarious."

"Oh shut up, let's go."

They walked back to the same cafeteria they had eaten earlier, Jon got two trays and started picking out food.

"That’s it? Are you okay? Maybe you need another doctor, you could be dying." Jon said with concern.
Richie laughed and picked up a few more things.

Jon went to pay everything while Richie found a table and could sit down already.

"Do you think we can talk here or should we wait to be back in your room?" Jon asked when he got situated.
"I think we're alright here."
"Sure? Don't get excited again."
"I promise to behave myself." Richie smiled.
"Okay."

Jon took a few bites of his lunch, thinking over his words, what he wanted to say.

"So... How did you figure stuff out, I know, gay bar, get drunk, then what? You just asked someone to have... have sex?" Jon finally asked.
"Pretty much, I was talking to this one guy, told him I was new to the whole gay thing, and asked him if he could give me the run through," Richie shrugged, "lucky for me he agreed."
"You just went to have sex with a stranger?" Jon asked in disbelief. "What if you changed your mind halfway or something?"
"This guy told me it would be alright if I did. He was at least a nice enough guy to give me the option to say no, kept on asking me if I was alright and all that."

"So... How was it?" Jon asked curiously.

Richie hesitated. "It’s weird at first, a little uncomfortable, but you forget about the pain when he hits your prostate."
Jon gave him a confused and disgusted look. "Too much info."
"And that's just from being prepared."
"But it's good after a while?"
"Even better." Richie grinned. "After being prepared, and any caring guy will do that for you, then you actually get to the sex, and it’s hot as hell."
"Oh..."
"If I was healed, I’d offer to give you a crash course, but, as it is..."
"No thanks." Jon said quickly.
"Not like I really could at the moment anyway." Richie shrugged. "But you’ll never know unless you try eh?"
Jon shrugged too. "I guess."

They finished lunch and went back to Richie's hospital room. Richie sat back down on his bed, letting Jon take his crutches away before joining. Hoping time would go slower, they didn't say anymore and just sat close together. Only an hour or two before they had to say goodbye. Richie would go home and Jon would go on to tour on his own, without his best friend.

"This sucks." Jon said, Richie was leaning against him and he was glad he was.
"Yeah it does." Richie agreed with him, he was glad Jon felt comfortable now and was worried he might distance himself again after they'd left.
"When do you get discharged?" Jon asked.
Richie shrugged. "I'm sure if I asked, I could go now, if we have to leave at 4."
"Would you rather leave now than to wait here? We can lay down together again..."
"I’m good with staying here for a little longer, at least it’s quiet and just us." Richie agreed.

Richie moved back on the bed and laid down, with Jon following him.

"Gonna miss your pretty hospital room?" Jon tried to joke.
"The company."
"At least you get to go home, have a break, see your kid." There was some good to this according to Jon.
Richie shrugged. "I'd like to be working on the road with you though."

"I’d like that better too but it’s only two weeks and you shouldn’t stand on stage for about three hours, wouldn’t be good for you so before you know it’ll be May and we go to Africa."
"I know, doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it." Richie complained.
"Okay, be depressed about it." Jon said annoyed
"I’m just not happy that you get to have all the fun while I’m stuck at home with stitches in my dick." Richie sighed. "It’ll be fine, I’m just going to get bored."

"I'm sorry." Jon apologized and had forgotten how many times he had actually said he was sorry. "You’ll keep busy, freak the media out and stuff, now’s the time to elope and stuff, you could do that..."

Richie chuckled. "That would only work if the one I wanted to elope with could come with me." Once again he smiled lovingly at Jon.

"But still, you could mess with the media, bring out your journalist skills and start rumors about yourself, just phone tabloids and they’ll write whatever you say." Jon started to get a little excited about the idea.
Richie laughed. "That's one way to keep the boredom at bay."
"Yeah it would be... Wonder what rumours they’re gonna spread today, told the crowd yesterday you would be out for a while because of personal reasons, hope that’s okay?"

"Well it’s the truth, no doubt they’ll all assume the worst though."

"Don’t be surprised to hear that you're dead and that I’ve killed you." Jon joked.

"Of course, or I’m back in rehab or some shit." 

"That’d be really shitty of them to think. You’re sober..." Jon said. "So you’ll keep busy at home and I’ll phone you and stuff, keep you updated about everything that’s going on."

"It’s something I guess." Richie shrugged, it was better than nothing at all.
"I’d hide you in my stage box but I don’t think that’s a good idea."
Richie laughed again. "You'd have to put holes in it so I could breathe, think that might be a give away."

For another few minutes they were silent, enjoying the embrace they were in, close together before they would be so far apart. Jon moved his head to lay it on Richie's chest, somehow he liked that closeness, he could hear Richie's heart beating and his breathing. He felt completely at ease, like everything was perfectly fine like this. How everything should be. Richie was running his hand along Jon's side, just as comfortable as Jon was.

"This sucks." Jon repeated.
"Yeah."
"I don't want to go, can't we just not go to the airport?" Jon asked and snuggled into Richie. "I want to stay here with you."
"I wish."
"I really don't want to, I don't like doing shows without you."
"I hate not being there. I feel like I'm letting everyone down, especially you." Richie said.

"But you're not."
"It's gonna be a long two weeks." Richie sighed.
"I know, it's nicer to just be here with you."
"I love it, this is really nice."

Jon stopped talking, realizing what he was doing would be considered gay. Richie didn't care and kissed the top of his head again, holding him close.

"Ready to leave?" Jon asked after a while.
"Yeah I guess so." But Richie didn't move or let go of Jon.

Jon didn't make any attempts of getting up either and snuggled a little more.

The doctor knocked on the door frame and walked in, not really wanting to interrupt their moment.

"So sorry to bother you but I’m here to let you know that you’re free to be discharged if you so." He said.

Richie still didn't let go of Jon. "I guess so."
"I brought you sweats to wear."
"Only because you don't think scrubs are good enough." Richie tried to joke a bit.
"No they're not, you'd look better in jeans thought." Jon got away from Richie's embrace and sat up.
Richie reluctantly let him go. "Yeah but jeans would rub against the stitches."
The doctor stood quietly, trying not to laugh at Jon in light of their last conversation.
"I know but you always pants like that on stage so you must think you look better in those." Jon tried to fix what he had said.

"Of course I do, but they’d rub against the stitches and that would be bad. Besides," Richie sat up next to him, "if you ask me, I make the scrubs look good too."

"Sure you do," Jon didn't agree, "sign your papers so we can go." Jon got off the bed and got Richie his crutches.
"The papers are at the front desk of the ward, there's a prescription too and I wish you both the best of luck." He said.
"Prescription?" Richie asked confused as he took the crutches and got up.
The doctor nodded. "Yes, there's these pills, anti erection pills, we usually give them to men that have had penis surgery and well since you don't want to do that to stitches again, it might be safe. So prescription at the front desk because you can't just get those."
"Oh," Richie thought it over, probably safer, just in case, "okay. Thanks."
"Yeah thanks." Jon said too but didn't really mean it.
The doctor said his goodbyes again and left.

Jon got everything together, while Richie waited, getting both their stuff together and then walked out with Richie up to the front desk to let Richie sign the papers so he could leave and go pick up his prescription.

"Ready to go?"