Paul blinked out into the early morning sun, holding CJ close to him as the sat on the steps of the tour bus, trying to figure out what they were going to do next. �We are so fucking screwed,� CJ whispered to him.
�No. We made an honest mistake; we can�t be faulted for that.�
CJ blinked at him, her mouth slightly slack in incredulity. She turned and looked back at DJ, who was standing at the top of the steps above them, Benji just behind him. �DJ, could you go inside and ask Joel to find you something warm to wear?�
DJ nodded. �Okay,� he said cheerfully, then ran between Benji�s legs and down the aisle of the bus to find Joel. Benji followed the little guy, the cold air on his bare upper body beginning to chill him.
CJ returned her eyes to Paul, leaning close to him, speaking quickly and lowering her voice so she was sure DJ couldn�t hear. �Okay, now, you being a rocker, and me being Black, we both fucking know what it�s like to have the eyes of justice view you in a suspicious light even before you can plead your case. Don�t fucking talk to me about good intentions, all right-�
Paul shook his head as she was talking, conceding that she was correct while finding her hands, giving them a reassuring squeeze beneath the blanket wrapped around their shoulders. �You�re right, you�re right,� he breathed.
�-Because,� CJ spoke through his words, though she squeezed his hands back to acknowledge that she heard him, and to show she appreciated his concern. �Good intentions don�t mean dick when it comes to breaking the law. We both know that.�
�I know, CJ.�
�Paul, we are fucked.�
Paul put his hand placatingly on the top of her head, then slid it down to gently cup her chin. �CJ, you need to calm down. We need to keep level heads right now. We�re going to figure this out. We�re going to take him to the police, and they�ll find his mom, and we�ll explain ourselves. Remember, she�s a fan of ours, she�ll believe we only had his interests at heart.�
CJ nodded, getting that familiar inspired glint in her eyes. Paul smiled as he watched her returning to her vibrant, cocksure self right in front of his eyes. She threw the blanket off and stood up, stretching in the early morning light before she stamped her bare foot. �That�s it,� CJ said, climbing back up into the tour bus, pushing Benji towards the back lounge. �Get dressed,� she said to him. Paul followed behind her. He reached his hand inside Billy�s bunk and smacked the guitarist in the head to wake him.
�Ow.� Billy yanked open the curtain and stuck his head out, squinting from the sunlight coming through the windows. �What�s the problem, man?�
�We�re in Milwaukee,� Paul told him.
Billy dropped his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes, covering his face with his hands. �So?�
�So,� Paul whispered, leaning on the cushions next to Billy�s elbow, �we still have little DJ with us. So we just transported him across state lines. If mommy files charges we�re fucked up the ass.�
Billy split his slim fingers and glanced at Paul between the index and middle digits on his left hand. �That would suck,� he mumbled behind his hand.
�Yeah, it�d suck,� Paul agreed.
�Joel!� CJ called to him.
�What,� he called back from the lounge.
�Get dressed, dude. We�re going out for a family breakfast.�
Joel got up and came through the curtains. �Hunh?�
�If we�re gonna take DJ to the police station, we�re sure as hell not gonna get blamed for him being emaciated.� Joel scratched his head and pulled up on his boxers, a still confused look on his face. �We�re going to Denny�s,� CJ clarified.
Denny�s had become the band�s trusty standby since it was open all hours and it had such a variety of foods available. With Billy and Benji�s vegetarianism, CJ and Joel�s picky appetites and Paul�s generalized disinterest in whatever they ate, Denny�s, Big Boy, Shoney�s, or whatever the local derivation thereof always seemed the best choice for group dining. It was a funny thing; sitting around the same table for a meal made them all feel more like a family, and problems seemed a shade easier to handle when you had family at your back.
�I thought we were going to McDonald�s,� DJ piped up, leaning around Joel�s leg to look at CJ. DJ was wearing a small black Dickies work jacket some girl had left behind after vacating the bus. It was a cropped coat, so it didn�t look too big on his body, but the sleeves were too long and Joel had pushed them up above his hands.
Benji moved closer to DJ and looked down at him. �Hey, what were you gonna get from McDonalds, big man?�
DJ wrinkled his brow and looked down at his feet. �A sausage, egg and cheese biscuit,� he said resolutely.
�I�ll make you one personally,� Benji promised him, reaching down and touching the tip of DJ nose as he said the last word. His eyes lit up and he smiled brightly, reaching up to grasp Joel�s hand with his left hand and Benji�s with his right. Joel and Benji looked at one another, then smiled down at the little boy. Three peas in a pod.
They found a Denny�s about three blocks from the Holiday Inn at which the bus was parked. Benji took DJ up to the buffet and lifted him, putting him on his hip so he could pick out anything he wanted. Watching him from the table, Benji looked like a natural, pointing to the foods as DJ asked for them and letting the little guy lean down and scrape what he wanted onto the plate Benji held for him. She couldn�t hear him, but CJ imagined that Benji was gently asking DJ, �Do you want some apples?�
DJ would shake his dark mop head. �No, I don�t want apples.�
�Do you want some eggs?�
�Yes, I�d like some eggs.�
�How �bout some kugel, you want some kugel?�
The meal was topped off by a one serving box of Froot Loops.
Paul noticed her watching Benji with a slight smile gracing her lips as she rested her chin on her hand, elbows on the table. He first followed her gaze, then leaned forward and looked into her face. �Earth to CJ,� he whispered. She refocused her eyes on Paul a moment and her smile widened. She looked past him at Joel and Billy who were currently at a stalemate, their arms cocked back with a handful of food, Joel with eggs, Billy with hash browns, daring the other to make a move. Benji set DJ on the floor and he bounded over to the table, diving onto CJ�s lap, pulling himself up to the table by perching himself on her left thigh. Benji slid into the booth next to his brother and set DJ�s plate in front of him. Paul unwrapped the silverware for DJ and handed over the fork.
�I dunno how parents do this,� CJ said to Paul, trying to eat around the little boy while fielding mile-a-minute questions.
�I�ve never had this before. What�s this called?� DJ asked Benji, leaning across the table and looking up at him with wide brown eyes.
Benji pointed at the last of the pinkish dough and fruit concoction on DJ�s plate. �You mean that?� DJ nodded. �That�s kugel. Good, isn�t it?� He nodded again. Joel noticed that was the only thing that had disappeared from DJ�s plate.
�You can�t just eat that, DJ,� Joel said gently. �Eat some eggs for some protein.�
�You know, maybe you should just eat some potatoes,� Billy said, leaning in front of Joel to hijack DJ�s attention. The little boy looked at them through thick, dark lashes, an unsure smile on his face.
Joel pushed Billy away from himself and stared at him. �Why wouldn�t he just want the eggs, Billy?�
�Maybe he doesn�t want to eat any animals or animal by-products, butcher,� Billy replied, sticking his fork into one of the sausage links on Joel�s plate.
�How much butter do you think is on those home fries, buddy?� Joel countered, gesturing at the pile of shredded potatoes. Benji looked on as he scooped some of Billy�s potatoes onto his spoon.
�Do you want me to get you more kugel?� Paul asked DJ, ignoring the bickering across the table.
�No, I�ll eat my eggs,� DJ said quietly, his voice sounding a little bit shaky, his eyes downcast as though he might feel guilty about starting the fight.
�Aww, don�t worry about them,� Paul said, touching DJ�s chin so the dark eyes shifted onto the bassist. �They aren�t really fighting. They�re just� pretending.�
CJ turned her wrist over and checked the time. 8:30. It was early enough that there wouldn�t be too many people on the street on a Saturday morning to stop them and ask for autographs, and hopefully there would be few people at the police station. �Okay, kids, it�s time to get a taxi to the station,� she said.
�What station?� DJ asked her, shifting on her lap, putting his feet up onto the booth next to Paul�s thigh.
�Well,� CJ began, putting her hand on his head and straightening out his hair. �We�re all going to go on a trip to wonderful little place called the police station.�
DJ frowned at the words. �Am I in trouble?�
�No, no,� CJ laughed. �They�ll find your mom.�
She felt his hand grip hers as his eyes flicked quickly to the other members of the band. �You aren�t going to leave me, are you?�
CJ couldn�t answer that right away. They had a show that evening, press to do this afternoon, and there was absolutely no guarantee his mother was going to show up in a timely fashion if they could get in contact with her at all. She didn�t want to lie to the kid.
�We�ll wait with you until your mom comes,� Paul said, allaying his fears. DJ reached out and grabbed Paul around the back of the neck, clinging tightly to him while CJ slid out of the booth and Paul followed.
The police station hadn�t many delinquents to process when the band and DJ showed up. All eyes shifted quickly to them, however, and they were suddenly painfully aware they were in the middle of the Midwest. White, bucolic, middle of the road Midwest. They stuck out like a stalk of corn in a soybean field. �Oh, crap, I gotta get outta here,� Benji whispered, glancing over at Joel and feeling a sudden rush of inappropriateness wash in from each of his facial piercings, pouring into his bloodstream to make the blush creep up from his neck and burn hot in his cheeks. He immediately scolded himself for the reaction and fought it back, pride and empowerment replacing those feelings that were so quickly born and extinguished.
One of the larger uniformed officers approached them, moving cautiously, his hands reflexively resting on the handle of his gun at the right, and his baton at the left. �Can I help you fellas with something?� He asked, squinting his eyes as he spoke, stopping just outside of an arm�s length away from them. CJ stepped forward, DJ just in front of her as she goaded him gently. DJ took a quick look up at the officer, then faded back behind her, standing close to Billy and catching hold of his black pants at the knee for security. The guitarist placed a hand on the little boy�s head while CJ spoke.
�Well, it�s kinda a funny story,� she began, smiling in hopes of getting one in return. �We found this little boy here at our show last night. We�re a band.� She gestured at the guys with her thumb. The officer�s eyes flicked immediately to Benji�s before they came back to rest on CJ, and he didn�t look to be in the mood to be amused. �Uh, long story short, he�s lost and we just hope you can find his mom.�
All at once, it seemed, the stony fa�ade crumbled, and the officer produced a tootsie pop from his pocket. �Here you go, little guy.�
DJ reached out and took the treat, still hiding behind CJ. �Thank you,� he said politely.
His smile was surprisingly warm when he motioned them to follow. �Come on back, you guys can tell me the long story once we get the processing under way.�
It was obvious from all the crayon drawings and finger paintings up on the walls that the officer had kids. He said little, just dropped his belt off in his chair, then led them over to another part of the building. He told them they could hang out in one of the interrogation rooms until he was ready for them, and he left the door open when he walked out to indicate that there was no suspicion of wrong-doing. The twins and Billy emptied their pockets onto the table to give DJ something to occupy himself, and CJ and Paul stood near the door, trying to get their story straight.
In a glass-enclosed office directly across the hall, a young, slender woman was explaining her situation. Because both doors were open, her voice just made it into the interrogation room, though Paul and CJ were the only ones who could see and understand her. She had obviously been done wrong in some way. The left side of her face had a cut from ear to chin, and she was barefoot, a police blanket draped loosely on her shoulders. She gestured emphatically as she spoke to the officer behind the desk. �Are you listening to me?� She demanded. �I don�t know how I even got here. I don�t have my purse or my wallet, I mean, I went to a show and next I knew I fucking woke up in a ditch off of 57.�
�Uh huh,� the officer corroborated, unconsciously looking down her body at her attire. She was in a tank top and tight black pants beneath the blanket.
She caught the look and was livid. �I know what that look means. You�re thinking I deserved it. You know, men are all the same. You probably think rape is always the woman�s fault.�
�Hey,� the officer said, his eyes round and concerned, putting his hands up to halt the progression of the conversation. �Whoa, no, no, that�s not what I was thinking. But, do you know there was sexual activity involved in your abduction?�
She dropped her head, looking a little defeated, sitting down in the chair provided for her. She covered her face with her hands. �I don�t know there was. I don�t know.� Her voice dropped lower than CJ and Paul could hear when the officer came around the desk and put a hand on her shoulder, kneeling next to her as he started speaking again.
�Wow, that�s brutal,� CJ whispered to Paul, not even able to imagine how scary and disorienting it must be to have no memory of a chunk of your past.
The young woman�s eyes shifted their direction, and a different look came over her features. Her mouth fell slightly slack and her eyes widened, as though surprised. The officer looked over his shoulder at them, then turned back to look at her. Paul read his lips: What�s wrong? What is it? �Uh oh, what the hell do you think this is about?� Paul murmured.
The young woman ignored the officer and jumped up out of her chair, coming out of the office and running into the interrogation room, grabbing Paul�s and CJ�s hands. �You�re here, I can�t believe it.�
�Mommy!� DJ cried happily, sliding off of the chair and bounding over to the young woman. She bent and scooped him up, hugging him and kissing his cheeks furiously.
�Oh my God, DJ! You�re okay, you�re okay.� She kissed him on the forehead as she set his feet on the interrogation table and looked at him, tears in her eyes as she came to realize fate had aligned and brought her son back to her, safe from harm. And Good Charlotte was to thanks. �You�re okay,� she breathed again and kissed his cheek, holding him tight. She looked at the stunned faces around her and mouthed thank you, over and over again, to Joel, to Billy, to Benji and to God.
The young woman�s name was Alissa. Benji sat in a chair facing her as she was getting the wound on her face cleaned up after having the full physical her condition deserved. Apparently she had no injuries other than the one on her face, and she hadn�t been violated, just drugged and rolled for her purse and valuables. DJ was playing with the officers not far away, as she refused to let him out of her sight any time soon. Joel, Billy, Paul and CJ were over at the coffee machine eating the free donuts and trying to caffeinate themselves to coherency for the press they had to do later.
�I�m just glad this all worked out for the best,� Benji said, flashing her his best smile.
Alissa tilted her head towards the light as instructed. �I�m glad too. I can�t believe everything came together the way it did.� Her wide green eyes caught the light and made them seem like they were glowing, the auburn hair falling down her right shoulder looking glossy despite the presence of a few leaves and wild grasses. He leaned forward and pulled a piece of hay from her head and dropped it on the floor. She smiled. �Thanks.�
�No problem.� Benji glanced behind him and looked at her son. �He, uh, he looks like you.�
�Oh yeah?� She asked, shaking her head at the nurse when she asked if she wanted a bandage. The nurse turned off the light and moved away. Alissa turned her eyes to watch her pride and joy for a few minutes. �I don�t see it,� she admitted, but she smiled softly anyway.
After a few moments of silence, during which Benji was studying her face, he asked, �Have we met before?�
CJ read his lips from across the room. �Oh, Lord, it�s the �have we met before� line.�
�He�s trying to pick up mom?� Billy asked, shaking his head. �We should stop him.�
�No, I wanna watch him get shot down,� Paul laughed.
�You don�t remember me, so shut up,� Alissa laughed, pushing on his shoulder so he leaned away from her a little.
�No, seriously.�
She pursed her lips, trying to figure if she wanted to bring up the past or not. �This was a while ago. Do you remember a girl named Vicki Burton?�
Benji�s eyes sparked in recognition. �Yeah, I remember Vicki�� He sucked in an audible breath, grinning from ear to ear. �Lissa James!� He pointed at her. �You were her roommate for a while, weren�t you?�
�Yeah.� Alissa looked quite surprised that he would remember. �You came to one of our parties, I remember this because I had no idea who you were then, but you acted like you were some big shot celebrity.� Benji opened his mouth to defend himself. �And you weren�t, dude. You guys weren�t all big like you are now.�
�All right, all right.�
�So we were all partying down at the pool and you ended up getting completely trashed. So you go up to our apartment and climb out over the balcony rail and threaten to jump from up there into the pool.�
Benji knit his eyebrows together. �I vaguely remember something like that. Did I yell �I am a golden god�?�
Alissa laughed aloud. �That was Almost Famous.�
Benji snapped his fingers. �That�s right.�
�Well, we all tried to goad you down, but you jumped anyway and didn�t drown by some act of God. But you had all your clothes on when you jumped in, so you got cold, and I really first met you, you know, and got to talk to you because I got stuck taking you inside to throw your clothes in the dryer. And that sucked because I was almost as drunk as you were. Shit, you were probably more sober than me after the dip.�
Paul and CJ looked at one another as warning bells went off in their heads. They looked down at the little brown-haired, brown eyed mop top of a boy playing with a pair of handcuffs, than at Benji.
Benji�s grin was sly, but his eyes still gave him away as having no memory of the encounter. �Man, I don�t remember any of that.� He scratched his head. �Hope I didn�t take advantage of you in your compromised state.�
Alissa looked down at her lap, then up into his face. �Nah, nothing like that. You were the perfect gentleman.�
Benji shifted, rubbing his palms against his pants. �Jesus. When was that?�
Alissa shrugged and waved at DJ when he paused in his activities to visually establish that his mom was still there. �Early August of �99.�
Benji nodded as he turned his chair around so he could look at DJ and her at the same time. �Man, he�s cute.�
�DJ,� CJ called quietly, speaking out of the corner of her mouth so as not to draw attention. �When�s your birthday?�
He looked up from handcuffing one officer to another. �May fourth. Why?� The little boy cocked his head.
�Uh�� CJ thought. �We�re all gonna send you a present.�
�Why would you bring him to a punk show, anyway,� Benji asked, then winced because it came out sounding almost accusatory, when he was only genuinely curious.
Well,� Alissa sighed, frowning as she gazed into Benji�s soft eyes, so wide and expectant, looking for the world like a little kid. �I think it�s important for him to see his� to see his favorite band live.� She nodded to make it seem more believable. �And you�re good people,� she added.
�Well, that�s nice of you to say.� He reached out, about to take her hand when CJ grabbed his wrist.
�C�mon, Benj, it�s time to go.�
He knit his eyebrows together and cocked his head. �What?�
�We got press, remember, back at the hotel. It was nice to meet you, Alissa.� CJ gave her a quick smile.
Benji looked down at his watch. �Oh, yeah.�
�Hey, it was really great to meet you, Alissa,� Paul said hastily as CJ pulled Benji out of his seat. �And DJ, he�s just, wow. He�s adorable.� Benji scooped the little guy up and gave him a big hug, pressing a guitar pick into his tiny hand. CJ kissed him on the cheek and told him to be good. �But we�ve gotta go, now,� Paul continued, speaking to Alissa. �You know, band stuff.� He backed up slowly as he spoke, smiling to show her everything was fine. �But we have your number. And any time you want free tickets, you got �em.�
�Okay, yeah,� she said softly, waving to them in parting. The sketch artist showed up and wanted Alissa to describe her assailant, giving the band a perfect opportunity to exit. Billy set DJ down after Paul and Joel said goodbye, and he ran over to his mother, holding her hand tightly as he watched his surrogate family walk out the door. Billy was the last out, and he looked back over his shoulder at mother and child, and DJ waved to him. He smiled and waved back.
�What�s with the rush?� Benji asked as Paul hustled him down the steps to the sidewalk.
�We�ll tell you later, Benj,� Joel assured him. �Like, half past never.� The confused look on Benji�s face was priceless.