Chapter 22：Life of the Party

"You need to get up and get ready Bambi," Jordan called out from the bathroom, "I need you to accompany me somewhere in the next hour."

"Where are we going this time Carter?" she mumbled as she stumbled out of bed and shuffled into the bathroom.

"You'll see," he smiled and kissed her forehead; before walking out of the room.

"Ahhh," Lana massaged her temples as she sat on the toilet seat, "My head..." she groaned loudly.

Her head was pounding and she felt like it didn't belong to her. She had become addicted to aspirin and alcohol she admitted grudgingly to herself. They had another wild after-party after Jordan's concert. Tomorrow he was closing off his tour and they would be another party to seal the tour. Life with Jordan was a constant party and the only way she could cope was alcohol and more alcohol, day after day, event after event, party after party, night after night.

"We will sleep it off sweets don't overthink it. It's not like you have work or school tomorrow. Just let loose okay?" was Jordan's mantra for her.

Jordan was always the life of the party and always surrounded by people. Lana had learned the names of some of them but she met new faces almost everyday and she couldn't keep up. A part of her missed home (minus her grouchy mother) and her friends..her real friends. She was kind of relieved to be heading back home on Sunday evening. This lifestyle was draining and it was turning her into something that she's not.

Lana turned on the showerhead and the warm water beat down her back soothingly. She turned around as she heard Jordan open the door.

"Your outfit is on the bed sweets. Please hurry we're running late," he said and left quickly. He closed the door and leaned against it. This was harder than he thought and it was the longest he had gone without getting some. This celibacy thing was going to be the death of him.

"Deep breaths Jordan," he mumbled to himself before dashing out again.

"Let's go, Carter," Lana tapped on his door and when he didn't respond she went into the room to search for him. She heard someone throwing up in the bathroom so she made her way there. Jordan was kneeling over the toilet wrenching his guts out.

"Are you okay babe?" Lana knelt beside him and rubbed his back. He nodded weakly before spilling his guts out once again. Lana got a wet towel and wiped the sweat off his face and looked at him with concern. She got water in a glass and gave it to him to rinse him. He rinsed his mouth and collapsed back onto the floor.

"Rain-check?" He groaned as he leaned against the wall. His shirt was lying on the floor; his jeans unbuttoned, leaving his torso in full view. Lana tried not to stare and concentrated on his pale face instead.

"Yeah-of cos," she furrowed her brows, "are you okay?" she absently rubbed his jean-clad thigh.

"I'm-no sweets-I'm not," he shook his head. His face was flushed; beads of sweat were forming on his forehead again.

"Can I drive you to the hospital or something?" she crouched in front of him and pushed his hair back as she felt his temperature, "you're burning up babe!" she exclaimed as she stood up, picked up his shirt from the floor and gave it to him, "we're going to the hospital now-no arguments please," she said firmly as she helped him put his shirt back on.

"Hmm, you're so sexy when you talk tough Bambi," he drawled.

"It's nice to see you still have your perverted sense of humor," she commented dryly, "Can you get up or should I get Jones?"

"I gave him the day off sweets. It's just you and me today," he scrunched his face and pushed himself up against the wall and staggered out of the room, with Lana's help.

"Which car are we taking?" Lana asked as she scanned the car keys lined on the garage wall.

"You're going to let me drive your Ferrari??" Lana was shocked, to say the least.

"It's no biggy sweets. You're my wife, aren't you? What's mine is yours," he kissed her softly and smiled.

"Is that so Carter?" Lana tried not to blush.

"Sure thing babe," he winked at her.

Lana opened the car door and helped him slip inside. She adjusted the seat so he could lie back and strapped his seat belt. She jumped into the car and smiled at Carter as she drove out of the garage. He winked at her again, squeezing her hand before lying back on his seat. She couldn't believe that she was driving a Ferrari-and not just any Ferrari-it was Jordan Carter's prized possession.

"You okay..?" Lana glanced over at him briefly.

"Yeah.." Jordan said with his eyes still closed, his teeth chattering.

"According to the GPS we're almost there," she glanced at him, trying not to panic.

"I trust you baby. Do what you need to do okay?" Jordan's body began to tremble slightly as Lana swerved the car in front of the hospital's entrance, "Can you walk or should I get a nurse to bring a stretcher or wheelchair?" she unbuckled her seat belt and went over to his side.

"No..I think I can manage..just help me out," he stepped out of the car and put his arm around Lana's shoulder. Fortunately, the hospital wasn't so busy so they were assisted quickly. The nurse led them into the private ward and helped place him on the bed.

"Dr. Leon will be here shortly," she announced before leaving.

Lana sank into a chair by his bedside and took his hand. He seemed to have gotten worse, his face was pale and he was sweating profusely. At least he was in a place where he could get help, she thought to herself.

"Good evening, I am Dr. Leon. What can we do for the famous Jordan Carter?" the doctor asked as he stepped forward and began to examine Jordan, "you must be..his girlfriend?" He looked like he had just graduated from med school and was part of Jordan's band.

"I'm his-" Lana began.

"She's my wife Doctor, so she's off-limits," Jordan threatened.

"Okay, now that's out of the way, let's get down to why you're here," Dr Leon laughed and put a thermometer under Jordan's arm.

"I feel lousy," Jordan mumbled.

"Care to elaborate on that Mr. Carter?"

"Sweets, can you?" he asked, breathless.

"He was throwing up and is feverish. So I brought him here," Lana advised, "That's all I got- sorry Doc," she shrugged.

"I think that should suffice," Dr. Leon pursed his lips as he began to type on his iPad, "I think it's either food or alcohol poisoning. Have you been drinking a lot?"

"Yeah..we have..," Lana said, guilt written all over her face.

"I figured," he muttered, "You're on tour right?" Dr. Leon asked.

"Yeah," Jordan replied, "No lectures please okay Doc?"

"Got it," he nodded, "How about a prescription and a recommendation for a thorough detox?" Dr. Leon suggested.

"I think I can work with that Doc," Jordan answered.

"Great, let me get you on a drip and get a nurse to prepare the rest of your meds. Sounds good?" he started to set up the drip while he talked.

"Music to my ears Doc," Jordan replied.

"Just one last request..you don't happen to have any concert tickets lying around, do you? I tried to get but they were sold out on the first day they went on sale," he sighed.

"I can do you a real solid and get you two VIP tickets," Jordan grinned at the doctor.

"Really??" Dr. Leon gushed, "My girlfriend is going to be so..Wow! Thanks a lot, man!" Dr Leon couldn't stop smiling, "let me get your other meds. I'll be right back so we can discuss the concert further."

"Babe- not to be a party-pooper but do you think you will be well enough to perform tomorrow night?" Lana asked with concern

"I'll be okay sweets. I feel better already actually," Jordan took her hand and brushed his fingers over it like he liked to do. She almost lost her trail of thought but she fought to focus on what they were talking about.

"If you're sure," she replied with uncertainty.

"Hey, I'll be okay. Don't worry your pretty little head," he lifted her hand to his lips, "Thanks for caring Bambi," he winked at her.

"Right, I think I've got everything," Dr. Leon burst into the room after some time, "I think you can go home with your beautiful wife."

"She's is a beauty isn't she Doc? And she doesn't even know it," Lana blushed as Jordan looked at her pointedly. He sat up as the doctor removed the drip.

"Well at least she has you to remind her constantly and to sing about it too," Dr. Leon smiled.

"Thanks for everything Doc. My driver will drop off your tickets tomorrow morning," Jordan said as they walked out of the hospital.

"Thanks, Jordan. I really appreciate it, man. I am such a huge fan! My girlfriend too. You have no idea what this means to me," Dr. Leon beamed, "Nice wheels! Wow!" he walked around the car, trailing his fingers on the body.

"If you're not too busy you can join us for the after-party at the hotel. We're staying at the Hilton," Jordan offered before he jumped into the car.

"I'm so there man! Can I bring my girlfriend along?"

"Of cos. I'm going to string mine along as always," Jordan smiled at Lana.

"Great! See you tomorrow then," Dr Leon waved at them as they drove off.

"Are you feeling any better?" Lana asked Jordan, her eyes fixed on the road.

"Yeah, thanks for being here for me sweets. I appreciate it," he squeezed her hand.

"That's what wives are for," she winked at him and turned on the radio.

"Welcome back to Rock FM! It's your girl, Lexie! Rumor has it that America's hottest heart-throb has been snatched off the market. It's a sad day for the female species-me included... Anyway here's his latest offering simply entitled She's Got Me; indeed she has got you on lockdown JC!"