Note: Hi! I don't know if anyone is actually reading this, but I wanted to give fair warning with this chapter; there is some significant ickyness (if Shakespeare can make up new words, so can I) in here. Just fair warning! Please feel free to review if you feel so inclined. Thanks!

Two days have passed since Tommy was over at Mary's place, but it felt like two years. He wanted to try to play one last round of golf, but only got as far as the second tee during the unseasonably warm winter morning. He kept going back to that morning at Mary's. Had Tommy been ten years younger he wouldn't have given Toni's concern over Fran having a peaceful homecoming a second thought. He was a changed man though, some might even say that he'd finally grown up. He sat at that kitchen table while his abdomen felt like it was being squeezed through a colander. The pain was constant now, not come and go as it had been for weeks and months. The temptation of taking some Tylenol was starting to become all consuming. Still, Tommy did have some degree of self-preservation so he tried to put it out of my mind. Instead he sat and thought about Frankie, Bob and Nicky, knowing his time was coming to an end. He had to find some way to say goodbye to my brothers.

After Tommy's failed attempt on the golf course, he went home and crashed. Tommy knew Bob wanted to get everyone back to the studio, Tommy knew time was limited and they had three songs left, he just couldn't bring himself to care. He was so damn tired.

Finally, on the morning of the 23rd, Nicky called and told Tommy he'd be over in twenty minutes to pick him up to go record and "Tommy's butt better be ready when he got there". It was slightly amusing to be taking orders from quietly little Nicky, Tommy smiled thoughtfully as he lay in bed, enjoying his last moments to rest. He quickly realized it was his first real smile in weeks. Another thought had been plaguing Tommy's mind. A thought he didn't want to put in to words. A thought that came to him every time he turned the radio or the television on. A thought that came to him just two weeks ago. It had hit a raw nerve and sent Tommy into a tailspin, ending at Bobby's house two days ago. Glancing at the clock again, he groaned and rolled out of bed.

Pulling on the clothes heaped in a pile at the foot of the bed, Tommy was able to open the door just before Nicky could knock.

"Well, at least you're clothed," Nicky smirked.

"What?" Tommy looked himself over. Maybe he did look a little wrinkled, but who was he trying to impress anyways?

"Nothing," Nicky shook his head. "You ready?"

"No…yes…"Tommy answered, trying to clear his head. He stepped out of the apartment and turned to lock up. "Nicky, I was thinkin'…"

"Yeah?"

"Lennon was a good guy, and Chapman shot him," Tommy frowned and followed Nicky to his car.

"I know, it's horrible."

"People loved Lennon, He inspired people. Hell, he had his wife…girlfriend…whatever Yoko was, and two kids. He had so much and he was shot."

"Yeah Tommy, I know." Nicky frowned and pulled the car out on to the main road.

"Well, I was just thinkin; It's not fair. Why is he dead and yet I'm still alive?"

"Tommy, the world doesn't work like that," Nick answered after a minute of stunned silence. "You have friends and family just like Lennon did. You had also made a mark on the world. It's not the same as John Lennon, but don't make him into a saint that he is not."

"You're right," Tommy nodded slowly. "I just wish I could make some sense of everything."

"You can't," Nicky smiled a little. "That's why there's wine, music, friends and more wine."

"You sound like a Hallmark card," Tommy chuckled and undid his seatbelt as Nicky turned off the car. The men were getting out and slamming car doors as Tommy muttered something he thought Nicky wouldn't hear. "I know I am not what people want me to be to."

Nicky decided to pretend he didn't hear that and hurried on in to the studio with Tommy on his heels.

The guys were working through some warm-ups and tuning as Tommy looked over the sheet music Bob had given him.

"What are you thinkin' Tommy," Bob broke into his thoughts. "You've been studying that music for the last fifteen minutes."

"It's…" Tommy started. "I just…." He trailed off again, as he fingered the chords.

"What is it Tommy?" Bob came over and put a hand on Tommy's shoulder. Frankie and Nicky noticed and paused their actions as well.

"It's nothing, let's do this," Tommy answered with fake cheerfulness.

"You sure Tom?" Frankie asked.

"Yeah," Tommy took a seat on a stool and started the opening notes.

Stay, Ahhh, Just a little bit longer.
Please, please, please, please, please tell me that you're gonna.

After a couple hours of work, Frankie sighed happily. "That sounds great guys."

The studio recorder seconded Frankie's comment.

"I say we take five and go get some lunch," Bob suggested.

"Guys, before lunch, we gotta try one run though of Let's Hang On," Tommy requested.

"Aww Come on Tommy," Nicky whined. "It can wait."

"One run through guys," Tommy practically begged.

"Fine…" Bob sighed heavily and nodded to the recorder.

Nicky and Frankie both went back to their microphones as well. Tommy picked his favorite guitar back up and stood, as a small burst of energy coursed through him. Frankie started singing as Nicky strummed a back beat. Counting slowly in his head prepped for his solo.

Right as Frankie was singing "Don't let go girl, we've got a lot of love between us," Tommy fell onto the stool and his guitar slipped from his hands, swinging awkwardly from its strap around his neck.

"Tommy?" Frankie exclaimed. The guys all rushed to his side.

"Trash can," Tommy murmured. His eyes were clenched shut and a band of sweat was shining on his forehead.

In an instant, Bob snatched the trashcan from the corner and brought it over.

Tommy grabbed it and held it for dear life, his shoulders quaking every few seconds. "Go to lunch," Tommy ordered, gruffly. "Get out of here."

"No, we won't leave you," Frankie wrapped an arm around Tommy's shoulders. Nicky brought a glass of cool water over, while Bob waved the recorder to go on to lunch.

"You don't want to see this," Tommy moaned as he continued to convulse.

"It's okay Tommy, just let it out," Nicky soothed.

He couldn't hold back any longer. Tommy emptied his aching gut into the trashcan. Frankie almost gagged at the sight of the blackish red substance Tommy was producing, but he didn't stop rubbing gentle circle's on his friend's back.

Finally, Tommy lowered the trashcan and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. Little bits of red and black smeared across his sweaty face. Nicky handed Tommy the water, which he took gratefully. Two sips in, and Tommy felt his stomach lurching again. The vomiting starting all over. No longer able to hold himself on the stool, Tommy slipped to the floor, trashcan and all. The guys went down with him. Frankie tried to cushion Tommy's landing as best he could.

By the time the second round ended, Tommy was a shaky mess.

"Obviously, we're done for the day," Bob stated plainly. "Do you need us to take you home or to the hospital?"

"Hospital," Tommy mouthed. Even sitting up was too much for him anymore and he laid down on the thin carpet.

"Tommy, can you make it out to my car," Frankie asked. "We'll help you."

"Bring trashcan," Tommy whispered.

"Of course," Frankie nodded.

Bob was too tall to offer a shoulder so he hurried ahead to get Frankie's backseat open. On the way out the door, he dumped the contents of the trashcan. The smell was overwhelming, but Bob had no thought other than getting his friend to the hospital, fast.

Nicky and Frankie eased Tommy into the back of the car and Bob slid in so Tommy's head was resting on his lap. Any other time, both men would have found this very awkward. Three months ago, Bob would have laughed in anyone's face who suggested he'd be cradling his friend's head in his lap. Gently, he mopped Tommy's face with his handkerchief. The vacant expression on Tommy's face had Bob really worried.

"Faster Frankie," Bob urged quietly. They he started singing softly to Tommy.

Just a little bit longer
Please, please, please, please
Tell me you're going to Stay.

Come on, come on, come on and stay-yey- yey-yey
Come on, come on, come on and stay-yey-yey
Come on, come on, come on and stay
Come on, come on, come on...

Bob kept his eyes on Tommy's face the whole way to the hospital. Nicky kept turning around to check on Tommy. After what seemed like ages, Frankie pealed into the emergency circle drive. "Bob, Nick, get him in there. I'll find you." Frankie ordered.

The men were out of the car in a flash, and carried Tommy into the hospital. The whole time, Tommy felt his head swimming. Everything seemed so surreal. "Gonna be sick," Tommy groaned as Nicky set him in a chair and sat next to him. Bob raced to the desk, while Nicky held the trashcan with one hand and his friend with the other hand.

This time, when Tommy raised his head, his lips, teeth and chin were stained red with blood. Without giving it a second thought, Nicky used his impeccably clean, pressed shirt sleeve to wipe off Tommy's face. Bob and an orderly with a wheelchair arrived second later.

"Only one of you can come in the room with me this time," The orderly whisked Tommy to ICU.

"You go Nicky, I'll find Frankie." Bob commanded. Without having to be told twice, Nicky followed along. He watched as two nurses and the orderly got Tommy on the bed and his shirt removed. A doctor rushed in next. If Nicky thought everything was moving too fast before, things really sped up then. He could no longer follow the flurry of hands and tubes fluttering over Tommy. He couldn't tear his gaze from Tommy's still, unresponsive form.

"Hold on Tommy," Nicky murmured. "Just a little bit longer."

After a few minutes, the doctor signed and stripped his gloves off.

"Tommy," Nicky exclaimed from his spot by the wall. "Is he…?"

"He is stabilized," the doctor explained. "Let's step outside for a minute and find your friends Mr. Massi."

Nicky could only stumble after the doctor. Bob and Frankie were sitting in the waiting room outside ICU. The doctor took a seat on the coffee table across from the guys and motioned for Nicky to sit as well.

"Guys, there is no easy way to put this, but Tommy is dying."

"We know," Frankie spoke up. "He only has a few weeks left."

"No Mr. Valli," the doctor shook his head sadly. "I'd say it's more like hours, a day if he is lucky."

The guys sat silent, stunned, unbelieving. They knew this was coming, they just didn't expect it to be like this.

"Can we see him," Frankie finally choked out.

"We'll be moving him upstairs to a private room in a few minutes. You can see him then."

"Will he be awake," Bob asked.

"He'll be going in and out," The doctor explained. "I can promise you though, he is feeling no pain or discomfort."

Frankie nodded and bit his lip. "We should call Nick and Joey."

"There is a phone down the hall. Just try not to overwhelm Tommy. "

"Last I heard, Nick was in prison again." Nicky muttered. "We won't get far with him. Doctor, can you call and see if there is some way they can at least get a message to Tommy's brothah?"

"I'll have my assistant call if you can get him the number. He was meet you upstairs." The doctor stood up. "You can head on up stairs now. He should be in room 406."

The three men hurried out of the room and to the fourth floor.

When they found Tommy, they were happy to see him awake and propped up with a few pillows.

"How are ya feelin'," Nicky asked carefully.

"Better than I have in weeks," Tommy choked out.

"Do you want us to call your brothah?" Frankie asked.

Tommy thought for a minute. "I haven't talked to him in two yeahs…"

"It'd be no problem to try to get a hold of him," Bob pointed out.

"Call 'im tomorrah'" Tommy replied, shaking his head gently. "Man, my hands are huge," Tommy lifted and looked at his two hands.

"It's just the drugs they have you on," Nicky took one of Tommy's hands. Tommy looked up at Nicky and stared at him hard. His eyes narrowed slightly as Tommy read his friend's face. Finally he nodded and leaned back on the pillows. "What time is it?"

"About three o'clock." Bob answered.

"I'm so tired," Tommy sighed. "Hey Bob…"

"Yeah Tommy, I'm here."

"Listen to me," Tommy spoke though his eyes were still closed. "You're good, and you already may know this, but…" Tommy took a deep breath. "remember, music comes from your heart, not from your head. You're amazing. You can doing things that not many others can. You were meant to be a musician so keep at it. It would be a crime not to."

"I will Tommy," Bob nodded and patted Tommy's shoulder.

"Frankie," Tommy called and raised his head slightly before flopping it back down on the pillows.

"Yeah Tommy?"

"If there is one I learned from you over the years, it's that you don't give up on your family, no matter how tempting we've made it…especially me…thank you." Tommy finished speaking with a cough.

"Family forever," Frankie murmured, squeezing Tommy's hand.

Tommy rested for a minute while the guys watched him expectantly, especially Nicky.

"Fellas, nothin' personal, but could Nick and I have a minute alone?" He finally wheezed.

"Oh…uh sure," Frankie and Bob stammered and hurried out of the room.

When the door closed, Tommy rolled his head to the side to look at Nicky.

"I know what you're planning and I know you haven't told the fellas yet." Tommy frowned.

"It'll just be too hard, besides, Bob and Frankie have their own partnership and all. They'll be fine. I want to focus on my kids, maybe do more with my art."

"I understand," Tommy smiled thinly. "Look, moving on is simple. It's what gets left that's so hard…You just do what you gotta do and be happy. Dear God, I just want you to be happy for once. That, and remember those you leave behind. Don't forget them."

"I'll never forget them fratellino," Nicky dropped a brotherly kiss on Tommy's shoulder.

After that, the guys came back into the room and held a watchful vigil throughout the night. For the most part, Tommy slept, except for a short time just after midnight when he awoke with a gasp. The guys, all on alert, moved closer into Tommy's line of sight.

"We're here Tommy," Frankie whispered. "We're all right here with you." Nicky, Bob and Frankie all awkwardly took Tommy's hands in their own.

Tommy didn't say anything, but looked at his friends with a small smile on his lips. He closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

When a nurse came rushing in, there was no need for the guys to release their hold on Tommy. Quietly, she was able to move around them, unplugging various machines and removing tubes and wires.

Tommy's battle was over.