Chapter Two-Hundred and Six

John leaned heavily on the doorframe of his bedroom, taking the weight off of his leg for a moment before he had to force himself to face the pain and pretend that he was okay to perform at the concert that night. Nearly two days had passed since he'd proposed to Claire, and his leg was still giving him hell. He jumped as Brian opened his bedroom door, placing weight back onto his leg as if it were normal. "Hey Big Bri." He smiled, forcing his limp back as he walked over to his friend. "Can you do me a favor?"

Brian nodded, noticing something off with John. "Yeah, what you need?" He watched as John shifted his weight, wondering if the weather changes were messing with the old break in his femur bone.

"Can you run the lights tonight? Max -our usual light guy- has a cold and can't make it." He began walking again, hoping to draw Brian's attention away from his leg. "Duke just called and told me."

"Sure thing." Brian nodded, excited to actually have a useful job other than fixing up back stage.

"Thanks." John grinned, stepping down the stairs and gritting his teeth to keep from wincing.

"The world is a studio and the stage is a canvas where our message is delivered through music however... We ain't in it for the money We ain't in it for the fame We ain't even in it for the perks We're in it for the journey Hopes and dreams come true. Rags can turn to riches and broken hearts and bodies can be healed with loving hands, however... We ain't in it for the money We ain't in it for the fame We ain't even in it for the perks We're in it for the journey Fate dealt us this hand and now we walk this path with a medium and message. We each have a destiny, however... We ain't in it for the money We ain't in it for the fame We ain't even in it for the perks We're in it for the journey Before we breathe our last, we'll discuss our triumphs and regrets, leaving nothing undone. A worthy legacy. However… We ain't in it for the money We ain't in it for the fame We ain't even in it for the perks We're in it for the journey!" John sang into the mic, grinning as the crowd cheered. "Thank you, LA!" He met Claire's eyes as she watched him, smirking as he held his hand out to her. "I've got some news to share with you tonight… I'd like to introduce my fiancée, Claire." He took her hand, pulling her onto the stage. "I can't imagine a better woman to spend the rest of my life with. A better woman to mother my children. Or a better person to be my best friend… and my other half." He leaned forward, pressing his lips to hers in a gentle kiss.

The crowd roared, only stopping when a boom rattled the room. They screamed, covering their heads as the lights above them shook.

"Brian!" John shouted, pushing Claire behind the stage as flames ignited above them. "Get out of here." He kissed her cheek, shoving her toward Clarissa as the roof began to crumble. He grabbed onto one of the prop ropes, and cutting the weight that held it down with his knife. "Go!"

Brian clung to one of the support beams, blinking the smoke from his eyes as everything crumbled around him. He listed to the steal groan around him, wiping a tear from his cheek until he heard something odd in the smoke. "John?"

"Brian!" John's voice was a harsh rasp, his lungs aching as he fought the smoke inside of them. "Come on!" He coughed wiping some sweat from his face and smearing soot over his skin. "Move!" He grabbed Brian's shirt, throwing him forward as a beam fell. "Ah!" He screamed in pain as his leg twisted wrong, able to feel something inside shift.

"John!" Brian looped his arm over his shoulders, taking his weight as he hacked and coughed. "Come on, man. Don't pass out on me." He pulled John along, smiling when he caught sight of the exit. "Look! We're almost out."

John yelped as his bum leg caught on something, screaming as whatever it was began to burn through his pants. "Mama!" He sobbed, relying on Brian to carry him. "Mom…" He groaned, squinting at the flashing lights of ambulances and cop cars.

"I'm here, Pumpkin." Clarissa took his hand in hers running beside him as he was loaded onto a stretcher and into the ambulance. "Mamma's here…"