Chapter 121

I felt a little better at 9PM, when Tom and I followed behind TJ Soda, as he walked quickly to the stage. The horrible thumping shit they called music began immediately.

The warm up band had been pretty good, if you liked hipidy hop music. The warm up bands were always locals. Some how the promoter always hired the best band in the area to warm up the crowd. Usually they weren't as good as the band that night though.

Mostly it was a cover band that did a lot of bump and grind shit. So it was kind of nice to enjoy the music that came through he walls of the dressing room. Okay enjoy may not have been the right words, but I didn't want to take a Mac 10 to them either.

Rodney, Tom and I stood at the bottom of the stage waiting for the shit to end. When it did, we hurried him to the dressing room. I told Tom to go inside as I rushed to the bathroom. I couldn't decide which end to hang over the toilet bowl first. I managed to work it out, but when I finished I found Tom and Rodney in the parking lot. The bus was pulling out.

"You Okay," Rodney asked.

"Sorry guy's. I think it is the flu. The doc said there is a two day version of it going around. I should be okay tomorrow."

"And if you need help in the middle of the night? I think I should move in the extra room and make sure you are okay," Rodney said.

"Sure you do that, then we both get to deal with a pissed off Joan. I think I would rather die than spend two more months wath a boss who has a hard on for me," I said it drifting back to the days in Afghanistan with my choice of those words.

Tom put his hand on my forehead. You have a fever, look I got nobody waiting on me at home. I left Randy with my daughter. I can call and she will let him sleep over. I can stay with Sylvia to make sure she is okay. I'm working with you guys tomorrow anyway. I can run for a change of clothes for tomorrow night. I won't have to leave her till after the show. Maybe a night's sleep is all she needs, if not she will have another day to mend."

"Is that okay with you Sylvia," Rodney asked.

"Well he doesn't look like a rapist. If he is he will be easy to find, he will be the one covered with vomit." I said.

"Gee that sounds romantic," Tom said.

"Just telling it like it is, so you wouldn't get any ideas, you horny old man," I commented.

"I guess I don't have to worry about her. But Tom keep your pistol handy. Sylvia is a horny old lady," Rodney said.

"Thanks Rodney I will. I would hate to lose my virginity to the boss," he said. "That is just so trampy. Do they still say that?"

Rodney and I both said, "No," and laughed.

"You want me to drive you back to the motel," Tom asked.

"No, I'm good. Meet me at the Embassy Suites. You know where that is?" I asked.

"On the same road as the Econo Lodge," he said as confirmation.

"That's the one," I said heading for the SUV. "Unit 23"

"Are you okay to drive?" Tom asked.

"I already answered that," I said. I looked at the day old coffee cup in the car and I tossed it. That insulated travel cup had cost me five bucks, but looking at it made me ill. I dry swallowed one of the anti nausea pill and then an anti fungal one as well. While I was at it I took the OTC pain pill. I wanted to barf and crap again, but I headed the SUV for the motel. I decided along the way that I wasn't going to make it but I did make it to a McDonald's.

I found the bathroom to be clean. I didn't get much more than water from either end of me. I did buy a milk shake on the way out. That chocolate milk shake was the best thing I had ever had. It calmed my scratchy throat and seemed to sit on my stomach well enough. I took all those pills again since they were no longer in my system.

Tom was waiting by the door when I arrived. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I stopped by McDonalds for a shake." I said to him.

"Not a problem," Tom said with real concern showing on his face.

Once we were inside I handed him a hundred dollar bill. "Just to prove you are really working, not just babysitting for nothing."

"You don't have to pay me to stay the night. I'm no whore," he said laughing at me.

"That was for the concert, not sleeping here. If anyone pays you it will be Rodney, so he could sleep with Joan. Frankly I doubt she is worth a hundred bucks,"

"Damn, you are mean when you are sick," he said.

"Mean hell, I'm a real bitch, when I'm sick," I said to correct him.

"Yeah that to," he replied.

"I'll make you a deal. If you go to the lobby and get us a couple of cokes, I'll buy you a drink." I suggested.

"You sure you are up to drinking?" he asked.

'I'm not, but you can have one. There is no need to deprive yourself for me," I said.

"But what if I'm a mean drunk?" he asked.

"I have a 10,000volt stun gun, a .38 revolver, a Glock model 22, and two very sharp box openers, being a mean drunk would be a very bad idea." I admitted.

"I'm not a mean drunk. I just wanted to know you could protect yourself," he said.

"Good, now you know," I said.

"Now I know," he agreed and went for ice and the cokes.

When Tom returned I had the bottle of cheap bourbon sitting on the small table. He sat down and put the two canned cokes and the ice bucket down. The table already held two of those disposable cups. Tom made himself a drink. while I poured coke in a glass. Unlike Tom's, my glass had nothing but coke. I drank it and held it down just fine.