Chapter 118 - I'll Be The One Who Knows Your Middle Name

"Her?  What do you mean her?"  Jon snaps back at Beth, barely giving himself a second to think of a response.   

"Who did you go see?" Beth barks right back.  The feeling in her stomach would not settle.  It was too reminiscent of feelings gone by.   When she greeted him in the driveway, she could see that he had gotten very little sleep, if any at all.  Her mind instantly goes to the impossible.  It always goes to worst case scenario, and in her heart she knows that it will never happen.  Dani/Melissa happened when they were on one of Beth's famous 'breaks.'  Technically, Jon never cheated on her, but that doesn't erase any of the feelings that she has, as a result of his one night stand.   

Jon's relationship with Dani cost the entire family more than they had to lose, more than they even wanted to think about.  The heartbreak and the rage that is still alive today often causes Beth to act and react in ways that aren't always level headed.  She's always been one to prepare for the worst, finding relief and comfort when the worst rarely happens.  It's just part of who she is.  Jon on the other hand silently punishes himself everyday for bringing that woman into his life, ultimately into their lives.  

Jon takes a seat next to Beth and he can see that she is hurt, angry, scared and very uninterested in his explanation as to why he went, when he went, in the way that he did.  He sets his coffee on the table and takes her hand.  Beth shoots him a look.  The one that he's seen a million times before that tells him, hurry up and get this over with.

"It was Brian's dad." he holds his breath.

"Who?" she doesn't even hesitate.

"Brian's dad" he tells her again, this time a little softer.

Beth goes quiet and Jon can see that she's processing what he had just said to her.  He waits for her to absorb it and is ready for whatever she has to say.   Much to his surprise, she says nothing - even after she gets up and leaves Jon alone on the kitchen.  He has no idea where she has gone in the house, deciding to give her some time and some space.  

Alone in the kitchen, Jon sits there and thinks about the night he had just had.  He made love with his wife, flew to Seattle to meet with Brian's dad and then flew back.  He can't help but wonder why he is the bad guy all of the sudden.  He needed to take care of the situation, protect his wife from any further harm before he leaves for tour in a couple of days.  What else was he to do?

He lets Beth stew for about a half hour before he heads off to find her.  As he shuffles through the house he makes the customary checks on things.  He finds his wife in her closet, packing a bag.  She's hysterically crying, almost out of breath and packing clothes that she'd never wear this time of year.

"What are you doing?"  Jon asks, grabbing her arm.  "What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm taking care of this, once and for all," she screams at him, pulling away in a rage.  "I am ending this bullshit today."

In a calming voice, Jon takes a second, "Babe, I already did."

"No, you didn't.  It ain't over."

"Yes it is."

"If that letter came from Brian's dad, it ain't over Jon." Beth screeches, throwing a pair of boots in her overnight bag.  

"Where do you think you're going?" he asks her, as calmly as he can seeing what he's seeing.  "The kids are still in bed."

"I'm going to Seattle and taking care of this the right way." she mumbles back at him.  

"Yeah, and what way is that?" he sarcastically asks her, knowing that he could increase her rage.  "What do you think you can do that I didn't do?"

Dropping her arms at her side, wisps of her blonde hair falling into her mouth, she looks at Jon through the tears, "They let him play dead for years.  Came to my vineyard and acted like everything was fine and  then he sends me this letter.  The protection order for Brian should cover his asshole parents too."  She slowly drops to her knees, "They should just leave me alone."

Jon kneels at her side, gently taking the bag from her hand, to show her that she doesn't need to go anywhere, "Babe, I took care of it.  I promise you."

Moments pass before anything else is said.  Jon sits with her, cradled in his arms giving her the time that she needs.  They are startled at the sound of another voice, "Dad, is everything okay?"

Jon looks up and sees Stephanie standing there with a concerned look on her face.  "Yeah, everything is fine."

"Why is Beth crying?" she steps closer getting a better look at Beth.  "Beth are you okay?"

Wiping the tears from her cheek and brushing the hair off her face, Beth looks up at her dearest friend and assures her, "Everything is fine Rose, when did you get here?"  Beth looks at her watch.

"I just got here.  What's going on?  Why are you crying in your closet with a bag packed?" the young woman kindly demands an answer.  "Dad, what did you do?"  Stephanie leans over and picks up the bag.  As she removes the boots from the top, she adds, "Beth, where were you going?"

"Steph, this is between Beth and myself."  Jon flatly tells his daughter.  "Can you give us a minute please?"  As he says that Beth breaks their embrace and starts to stand, taking the bag from Stephanie.  The eldest of the Bongiovi children blankly looks at Beth but doesn't put up a fight when Beth takes the bag from her.

"You made Beth cry and she's packed a bag - what's going on?"

"Nothing Steph, it's all worked out now."  Beth tells her, looking down at Jon as he sits on the floor.  

"Why is dad's bag down by the door?" 

"Not now, Stephanie." Jon blasts, standing up and righting his jeans.  "We aren't getting into it now."

Beth sets the bag on a shelf and takes her leave of the closet, making her way downstairs.  When she gets into the kitchen, Pete is there feeding the twins and Romeo.  "Good morning everyone."  She says to all.  She flashes a fake smile and kisses the little ones on the head.  "Hi Pete."

"Good morning, Beth.  How did you sleep?" the loyal friend asks.

"Good, good. How long have they been up?" Beth questions, unaware that they were up.

"Oh, just a few minutes.  Romeo woke me up." Pete putters around the kitchen, catering to the little ones, "I guess we all had a late night."

"Yeah."

"Can I make you some breakfast?"

Beth shakes her head no, "I'm good.  I had a late snack, but thank you."

Jon and Stephanie make their way into the kitchen.  Beth hangs out long enough to be pleasant and excuses herself to take a shower.

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"I have no idea where she is.  Her car is here and her purse is here."

"What was she wearing when you seen her last?"  Questions the Rumson police sergeant, that was called to the Bongiovi residence when Jon had no luck in his search for Beth.   

Jon, with Jesse and Matt at his side answers, "Black yoga pants, a white t-shirt and her hair was in a ponytail."

The sergeant takes notes without looking at Jon, "Anything else?"

"She may have had a watch on and her wedding ring.  Maybe her house shoes?" Jon starts to think about what she had on, "Yeah, she had her wedding ring on, I don't think she had her watch on."

"Has anyone been in the house since you called us?"

"Just the kids, they're in the family room in the back of the house with the nanny. Shouldn't you be telling someone this over your radio?  My wife is missing, Sergeant."  Jon jumps down his throat.

"Dad, let me handle this."  Jesse steps in, seeing his fathers fear and frustration.  Jesse puts his arm around his father, "Go inside."

"No."

"Sir, can you think of anywhere that she could have gone?  A friend?  Relative?"

"She couldn't have gotten very far without her car."  Jon snaps.  "As you can see, we live in the middle of no where."  He throws his arms up in the air, gesturing his frustration of the situation.  In his mind, they should already have an all points bulletin out for his missing wife.  

The sergeant feeling that Jon might be thinking down those lines, he can't help himself as he deals with a man of privilege, "Did she take one of your cars?"

"ALL OF THE CARS ARE ACCOUNTED FOR!  ARE YOU GOING TO LOOK FOR MY WIFE OR DO I NEED TO CALL IN REAL POLICE?"  Jon has lost it.  His hands go through his hair, he exhales loudly, "Fuck this, I'm calling my own guys."  He turns and walks away.