AN: Here it is...The Finale
About half an hour later, The crowd of people started to show up.
And there was still no sign of Elwood.
"Damn it!" Jake cursed "Where the hell is he? I'm usually the one who's late!"
Little did they know that not only did the Bluesmobile not have gas, it had an expired car sticker so Elwood got pulled over as he left the gas station and got fined.
C'mon stupid cop! I need to get to that gig! Elwood thought impateintly to himself as the cop was writing him up.
He wanted to haul ass away from them like how he used to, but he didn't want to risk getting arrested. Not right now when he needed to be free...
"Did you guys ever perform when Jim was late?" Maria asked Robby
"No. We always waited for him, even if it took an hour for him to get there."
"You know what? Fuck it" Jake said "Six Strings, I think you need to perform this thing now."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, because it looks like the crowd is getting restless"
Maria peeked from beinhd the curtians and saw the crowd clap thier hands in rythm as they chanted
"WE WANT THE SHOW! WE WANT THE SHOW!"
"Ah crap." she cursed "Okay let's do this thing"
The band went onstage and the audience cheered, glad that they were finally on the stage.
"Hello everyone." Maria said into the microphone as she plugged the wire into the guitar socket on the front of it "Um..there has been some delays to the program, but not to fear because we have a opening performance. Um...this is a Stevie Ray vaughan number called 'Crossfire' and I hope you all enjoy...Thank you."
Wille and Don began the riff with thier instruments, then Murph then finally Maria.
Day by day night after night; Blinded by the neon lights
Hurry here hustlin' there; No one's got the time to spare
Money's tight nothin' free; Won't somebody come and rescue me?
I am stranded; Caught in the crossfire
The other guys came in with thier horns as Maria played and sang more
Stranded; Caught in the crossfire.
Ray John and Robby watched her from backstage, in full understandig why chose that song.
Tooth for tooth eye for an eye; Sell your soul just to buy buy buy
Beggin' a dollar stealin' a dime; Come on can't you see that I; I am stranded;
Caught in the crossfire I am stranded; Caught in the crossfire.
Outside, the hotel, Elwood finally arrived and parked the Bluesmobile. He heard the music blaring as he walked closer.
I guess Jake found our opening performance
I need some kind of kindness; Some kind of sympathy oh no!
We're stranded; Caught in the crossfire...
Elwood snuck finally inside and arrived backstage, where he heard a guitar solo play. It sounded intense and energetic, yet with the familiar blues sound he was accustomed to. His heart skipped a beat; he only knew one person who played like that. Elwood spotted Jake
"Hey man, uh...who's performing?"
Jake snickered "Who do you think?"
Elwood froze No...Can it be?...no! I doubt it!
He peeked from behind the curtains and found none other than his girlfriend having the time of her life and playing the hell out of her guitar.
"Oh my god!" Elwood exclaimed in complete happiness and bewilderment. "She's here?"
"Yes, Loverboy!" Jake laughed.
Save the strong lose the weak; Never turning the other cheek
Trust nobody don't be no fool; Whatever happened to the golden rule?
We got stranded; Caught in the crossfire. We got stranded; Caught in the crossfire We got stranded;
Caught in the crossfire. Stranded; Caught in the crossfire Help me!
She shook her head side to side as she played the ending guitar solo. It felt damn good fro her to be back in her element in not only being in front of people who enjoy her style of music, but actually having her fingers move rapidly across the fretboards and across the six strings that she grew to love growing up. After the final ending note, she bowed and felt joyous at the cheering audience. She pointed to the band in back of her, motioning for the audience to cheer for them as well. The audience did so as Maria turned her attetion to backstage to beckon Jake to come, but she froze once she saw who was next to Jake. There stood Elwood, the handsome 6'1 bass singer she'd fallen in love with and whom she had regretfully left behind many months ago.
"Psst. Six Strings!"
Maria turned her attention to Mr. Fabulous.
"What?"
"I know you're in the midst of young love, but we got a show to do!"
"Somethings never change" Maria mumbled to herself as she rolled her eyes "Alright guys... One two. One two three four!"
The band played the beginning riff to "Cant Turn you Loose" as she introduced the band
"And now Ladies and Gentlemen, here is the main event, the main attraction! Here they are, Joliet Jake and Elwood, those Brothers of Blues, The Blues Brothers!"
Jake and Elwood entered onstage with thier usual handcuff and suitcase routnine.
"That's a bit odd" Robby commented "but it sells"
"Yeah" the other members agreed
As they did the rountine, Elwood gave Maria a wide grin that made her swoon. She blew a kiss to him as he dropped his suitcase next to Don and retrived his harmonica. Once the last note Jake did a front flip and Elwood got down on his knees,like a 'Ta-da!' sort of thing. The audience however, remained silent. They weren't going to get won over so easily. Elwood looked over at jake as Jake counted down "1.2. 1234"
The music began as Jake and Elwood danced along and the horns played thier part. Elwood continued dancing as he said to the microphone
"We're so glad to see so many of you lovely people here tonight and we would especially like to welcome all the representatives of Illinois' Law Enforcement Community, who have chosen to join us here in The Palace Hotel Ballroom at this time..We do sincerely hope you all enjoy the show, and please remember people, that no matter who you are, and what you do to live, thrive and survive, there are still somethings that make all of us the same. You, me, them everybody, everybody."
Everybody needs somebody. Everybody needs somebody to love Someone to love.
Someone to love Elwood repeated in the deep voice Maria missed so much
Sweetheart to miss. Sweetheart to miss Sugar to kiss. Sugar to kiss I need you you you. I need you you you I need you you you In the morning!
You you you. When my soul's on fire. You you you
Elwood got out his trusty blues harp and played it with all his might as he and Maria got close to the microphone and Jake sang.
Sometimes I feel, I feel a little sad inside
When my baby mistreats me, I never never never have a place to hide
I need you!
Backstage, the Doors members watched the band as they continued with thier song, higly entertained and impressed.
"These guys aren't half bad at all" Robby said
"We should tell our record label excecutives about them. Aren't they always looking for more blues acts?" John asked Ray
"I don't know" Ray said as he glanced at the band "We need to find a phone."
Robby found one and gave it to him as Ray dialed the number...
"Hey...Paul..Paul? It's me Ray...Ray Manserick? You know how you were looking for more Blues acts...Listen to this!"
AN: A bit of a 'Back to the Future' reference
Maria noticed the audience got up on thier feet and began to dance along to the song. She felt such at ease being in a familar enviroment with not only her band, friend and boyfriend, but with a crowd that actually likes her. Maria, Elwood and Jake got close to the microphone with their instruments...except for Jake
Sometimes I feel, I feel a little sad inside
When my baby mistreats me,
I never never never have a place to hide
I need you you you! I need you you you!
As Jake sang, the audience began chanting along I NEED YOU YOU YOU! as they pointed their fingers in the air to the rhythm. As they chanted, Elwood and Maria danced down the catwalk, playing their instruments and feeling joyous about performing with each other again.
I need you you you.I need you you you I need you you you. I need you!
Elwood held his girlfriends waist with one arm as they danced a bit, as the audience still chanted, and as he said into the microhpne as honestly as he could.
"When you do find that somebody, you gotta hold that woman, hold that man! Love him, please him, squeeze her, please her! Hold, squeeze and please that person, give 'em all your love; Signify your feelings with every gentle caress! Because it's so important to have that special somebody to hold, kiss, miss, squeeze and please!"
He suddenly turned to his girlfriend and said outloud in front of 5,000 people
"I love you, Maria!"
At those words, Elwood gave her a passionate kiss. The crowd roared as she kissed him back and wrapped her arms around his neck, basking in the warmth and softness of his lips that she missed. Jake sang happily as he pointed the couple out.
Everybody needs somebody! Everybody needs somebody to love!
Maria broke the kiss and smiled dreamily at him "I love you too"
Someone to love!
Elwood smiled once again, glad to hear those words instead of reading them on paper. The re-united couple danced thier way up the catwalk back on stage as Maria sang along with Jake
Sweetheart to miss! Sugar to kiss! I need you you you
I need you you you! Maria sang as she Eskimo-kissed Elwood playfully.
I need you you you She directed at Jake as she gave him a playfull noogie on his head
I need you you you! She said to the band as she faced their direction and pointed them out.
Jake and Elwood danced to the bass rhythm of the song as the 'I NEED YOU YOU YOU' chants continued and Jake kept singing
I need you you you! I need you you you! I need you you you! I need you you you! I need you you you!
Once the song ended, the whole ballroom cheered at the top of their lungs. Jake approached Maria and gave her a noogie, which was his way of saying 'Welcome Back'. She laughed and punched him playfully on the arm and gave Elwood another hug and kiss.
During intermission, the band took about a 30 minute break backstage. Jake, Elwood and Maria were chatting along happily with each other.
"So you're the famous Elwood..."
Elwood turned and found Ray, Robby, and John approaching him.
"Yeah, so?"
"Your girlfriend told us alot about you." Ray said as he glanced at Maria.
She smiled and turned pink as she looked at the floor
"She really missed you guys and bragged that you were good. I couldn't really agree with her until we saw your performance out there. It was pretty awesome."
"Thanks" Elwood simply said
You're a man of many words, Elwood Maria thought as she giggled a bit and leaned her head on his shoulder
"So what are you getting at?" Jake asked
"We called our record label excectuive as you guys performed and held the phone as he listened to you guys. He really liked you guys and wants us to write you a check of 10,000 for your next recording session"
Jake, Elwood, and Maria were wide eyed as they glanced at each other
"Bullshit!" Jake exclaimed, not beleiving what he had heard.
"I don't bullshit, especially towards band members" Ray said as he glanced at Maria again.
Robby ripped out a check from his checkbook and handed it to Jake. Jake looked at it in awe and looked up at Elwood and Maria, who were still shocked.
"Sooooo...you guys in?" John asked
"Uh yeah..." Jake said
"Yeah...S...sure we're in!" Elwood said as he shook hands with the Doors members "Thanks for reccomending us to them!"
"No problem at all."
"Ugh guys..." Maria began uneasily as she faced the 60's band "You do realize what this means right?"
"What?" Jake asked
Maria faced Jake "I..I'm gonna have to leave The Doors"
Their was silence for a few seconds. Both Elwood and Maria had mixed feelings about the situation. They both would be happy for her return into the Blues Brothers band, but both would feel bad that she would have to leave yet another band who enjoyed her presence.
"I know" Ray finally said
"I...really like you guys" Maria began "You guys are cool; but...The Doors aren't for me. Only the Blues Brothers Band." she added with a smile.
Elwood smiled and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him.
"We understand completely" John said as he felt relieved.
Now we don't have to fire her.
"No hard feelings?" she asked as she held a hand out
"Nope"
Ray said as he shook her hand. "No hard feelings at all, because at least we made a new friend out of this whole thing."
"Yeah" she said with a smile
Later on that night after the gig, and after the whole band got a share of the door money, Maria officially quit The Doors. She still felt bittersweet about the situation, but she knew that it was for the best.
"C'mon Elwood!" Jake called out to his brother as he stepped into the Blues mobile
Elwood approached him but then focused his attention on the beautiful red colored hotel. He hadn't seen his girlfriend in almost 6 months and he was about to leave her at the hotel...
"I...uh...I don't think I'm gonna go with you guys tonight. I'll meet up with you tomorrow"
Jake riased an eyebrow and wondered breifly why Elwood wanted to stay. He suddenly remembered Maria's room was already paid for so she decided to stay after The Blues Brothers band left and she would meet up with them the next day. Jake faced his brother and smiled smugly, in full understanding why his brother wanted to stay.
"Alright."
He got out of of the Bluesmobile since it was of course his brothers car, and went into the ex "Murph and the Magictones" car
"See ya, loverboy!"
"Bye."
Elwood noticed the Doors touring bus parked outside still as Jake and the band left and went into the hotel's lobby where he could hopefully find his girlfriend. When he arrived he found only the three original Doors members.
"Hey, you guys know where Maria is?"
"Yeah I think she went to the hotel's mini-store to get some toothpaste or something." John said "She already said her goodbyes to us."
"Ohh."
"Well, see ya in the future." Robby said as the members were about to leave
"Hey listen" Elwood called out, making the members turn around "Thanks for uh...being so calm and okay with Maria coming back to us. It means alot to them, me and to her for her return."
"Our pleasure" Ray said with a small smile as he shook Elwood's hand. "Nice meeting ya, Elwood."
"Thanks. Nice meeting you guys too."
Ray, Robby and John left to their tourbus and soon drove out of the parking lot, with no female singer.
Elwood soon afterwards got an extra key to Maria's room and made his way there. As he stood silently in the elevator, he began to think about how he wish he knew she was in twon so he could get her a gift...
It''s too late for me to get her anything. I wish I can do something though...
His mind began to wonder of what she would like coming from him...
Well let's see...what would I like coming from her?
He thought about that dream he had of her and how sexy she looked in her lacey corset and how she sang to him in her smooth voice...
Maybe...if I can do something like that...No I don't think I can...well...
He smiled smugly to himself Maybe she'll like it
Maria approached her room, wondering where Elwood was. She was told that he was staying with her, but she hadn't seen him.
Maybe he's already in the room...
She unlocked the door and entered the room
"Elwood, you here?"
"Yeah" she heard a deep voice say.
She looked in front of her and found Elwood leaning his back against the balcony outside, looking casual, but in a totally different outfit than he normaly would wear. He was wearing a white tanktop undershirt that made his cut abs more noticeable and wasn't wearing pants, but black boxers. Maria stood there in awe and let her purse slide from her shoulder and land on the ground. She bit her bottom lip a bit and raised an eyebrow, impressed by what she was seeing. She walked slowly to him.
"You uh...like what you see?" Elwood asked smugly
"Y'know, I..." Maria began as she ran her hand up slowly underneath his undershirt, feeling his abs and making his pulse rise. "never expected you to do something like this ..."
"But oh yes...I like it very much."
Elwood held her closer to him as he kissed her and soon began trailing from her lips to the side of her neck. She got excited chills down her spine as she reached for the hem of his his undershirt and slowly took it off of him. However, as he aimed for her skirt and tshirt, Maria began to think about why she was happy to see him in the first place back at the Ballroom.
I love him...not just because of the intimacy...but...because he makes me a better person and helped me out so much in my life in more ways than he knows...
"Elwood?"
"Yes?" he asked as he carried the-now red-bra and panty-clad Maria to the bed.
"Even if ..." She began with all seriousness "you weren't wearing your boxer and undershirt outfit tonight and just your regular suit..I would still be happy to find you standing there becasue... you being with me is what I really want. I missed you alot and...seeing you again backstage at the Ballroom made me..."
She sighed and ran her hand through her wavy black locks. "I dont know how to describe it...i guess...made me feel like...I was in love all over again."
Elwood listened to her still, and felt touched by her words towards him. It made him feel happy that she was happy because of him. He always knew he made her happy, because of her actions, but hearing her say it from her own lips meant alot to him, still.
"That means alot, hearing that from you" Elwood said
As they got under the covers, She leaned towards him and kissed him. "I love you..."
Their kiss soon became heavier and heavier as Elwood's hands made thier way to Maria's panties and her hand towards the elestics of his boxers...
Then things took off from there...
Later after thier...rendevouz, Maria leaned her head on his chest and Elwood yawned, a bit sleepy. She closed her eyes and sang a familiar song almost in a whisper
Before you slip into unconsciousness, I'd like to have another kiss.
She lifted her head up and faced him with a sleepy smile
Another flashing chance at bliss. Another kiss, another kiss
He leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss. She leaned against is chest again and sang some more
The days are bright and filled with pain. Enclose me in your gentle rain
The time I ran was too insane.
She thought about the song's lyrics and how they fit perfectly with her situation. When she left the band, it was insane...but now Maria had reunited with Jake, the rest of the band, and Elwood with a new record deal. So now, she can do what she loved for a living with the people she loved...
We'll meet again. We'll meet again
The next morning, Elwood and Maria left the Palace hotel to drive up back to Calumet City to meet the rest of the band. Elwood drove past Joliet Prison, a few miles later
"There goes Jake's old prison."
"Yup."
She was quiet for a few seconds until she said
"I just thought of something"
"What?"
"How ironic is it that you pciked up your own brother from prison in a cop car?"
"Well..." Elwood began "I traded our Cadillac for a microphone and picked this up."
Maria lifted her eye brows a bit "A Cadillac? Wow..."
The car stopped at the end of a line of cars who were waiting for the retractable bridege over the canal.
"You don't like it?" Elwood asked as he turned his head at his curious girlfriend.
"No it's not that.." She said honestly "I was just curious why you got a cop car instead of another Cadillac."
Elwood said nothing as he turned his attention towards the road ahead of him...
And slammed on the gas pedal.
The Bluesmobile jolted past the immobile cars and drove up the retracting inclined plane. Maria looked at the road in front of her, wide eyed and surprised about the speed of the old Dodge as the Bluesmobile basically flew in the air for a few seconds until coming down with a THUD, making the passenger and the driver of the car jump in thier seat a little.
"Wow..." was all she could say
"It's got a motor of 440 cubic inch plan. Its got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks." Elwood listed proudly "And the model was made before catalytic converters so it runs good on regular gas. What do you think, is it better than a Cadillac or what?"
Maria chuckled a little and held his free hand
"Ah how I missed you and your cleverness..." what all she could say
Elwood smiled shyly and he held her hand a bit tighter as the Bluesmobile sped off into Calumet City where not only the band...
But the future...
Was waiting for the loving Blues Brother and Rock N' Roller.
AN: (sings) This is the end; Beautiful friend...
Oh wait, not yet because of the epilouge...
(sings)This is not the end...my only friend...not the end...
This was such a fun story to type out. A Blues Brother and a Rock N' Roller fell in love. 'Cause after all 'Everybody Needs somebody to love' 3
Be sure to check out the Epilouge soon to find out what trully happened afterwards...
The song I used to 'set the mood' i guess for Elwood and Maria was slightly less perverted than 'Love in an elevator' like last time.
It was 'Touch Me' by The Doors. A Highly appropriate song ;)
And I had to include the Bluesmobile chat somehwere! Mind as well use it at the end of the story, right?
BTW: Elwood's 'undershirt and boxers outfit' I know is a bit out of character for him...but to you Elwood fangirls...are you really compaining about that?
I didnt think so...