JJ and Sam took to wandering around outside the arenas before the shows, hoping to hear someone who knew where Jon was. Peter had a fit when he heard about it and hired a female body guard. The three became very good friends and had a blast going though the crowds, listening to the conversations. Though they never heard anything about Jon, it turned into a great source of input for criticism and ideas.
So they took to looking in the teen magazines. Both JJ and Sam hated them, but wanted to find Jon. After about three months, they were ready to give up. They were leaving a 7 eleven when Sam picked up a magazine neither had looked at and glanced through it, turning right to the letter page to skim. JJ had already gotten on the bus, a new book in hand. There was a letter that might be about Jon, and if not, well, the picture of Danny was one of the best, so she bought it. On the bus, she read the letter slowly.
"Dear editor,
Where is Jonathan Knight from New Kids on the
Block? My friend and I think he's in Boston at home and
recovering from what ever put him in the hospital last
summer. My sister says she's seen him at the Music
Conservatory in Colorado, where she is a student.
Can you clear this up for us?
Two fans."
"Yeah, thanks," Sam grinned, then turned to the picture of Danny, grinning. After a minute, she looked up at JJ, who avidly read the book she'd bought. After a moment to make sure that she was really immersed in her book, she waved Danny over to sit by her. "Danny, when do we get to Colorado?" she asked softly as he moved to sit next to her.
"A couple of weeks, I think. Why?" he asked, looking at the magazine. She showed him the letter, and he smiled at her. "You're a genius, you know," he said, and kissed her.
"Why, thank you!" she laughed.
When they reached Colorado, Sam went to find a phone book while the others ate, too nervous to join them. She looked for the number of the university, and dialed as Danny walked up.
"Hello, Music Conservatory information."
"I'm looking for Jonathan Knight. I heard he's a student there," Sam explained.
"How's that spelled?"
"J-o-n-a-t-h-a-n, and Knight as in King Arthur and his."
"Just a minute."
Sam found herself on hold and looked around. She then spotted JJ waking towards her. "Danny, get JJ outa here," she hissed. Danny walked over to JJ and began talking to her about the book she'd bought, and if she'd had any luck in finding Jon. Sam breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm sorry, but there is no one here by that name," the girl said, coming back on the line. Sam panicked.
"Is there a Rasleigh Knight? "
"Spell it, please."
"R-a-s-l-e-i-g-h," Sam said. She was getting worried.
"No, I'm sorry."
"Jonathan Rasleigh?" she asked next, starting to run out of ideas. She crossed her fingers.
"No, but there is a Jason Rasleigh."
"Jason?" Sam asked aloud, then remembered. Her uncle, Jon's father, was named Jason. Jon might very well have decided to use that name because Jordan would never guess. Jon had not been happy when his father had left. "I think that's him. Can I have his address and phone number, please?"
"He's listed at 1221 Illinois, #F. Phone number is 555-0667." Sam wrote frantically.
"Thank you," she said, and hung up, still writing. When she finished, she looked up. "Yes!"
Chris noticed her and wondered at her excitement. He had noticed Jordan's lifted spirits, but continued to watch him and keep away from him. It still hurt that Jon had left him, Chris knew, but he had recovered well.
Once Danny got away from JJ, he went to find Sam, and found her standing outside his door. He let her in his room, where she plopped onto the bed. "I think you need to go find Jonathan," she said bluntly.
"Me?" he asked. "Why?"
"Because you are involved in this. He owes Jordan, me and you an apology. Sending Jordan might start the whole fight up again. And I think Jordan needs a surprise. He hasn't been feeling well. It's been hard on him." She grinned suddenly. "Besides, you can manhandle him into coming if you have to. Knock him unconscious or something."
Danny grinned back at her. "You don't want me to force him. But you're right. He has a lot to apologize for."
"And if you have to, hit him."
"Now, Sam. He's still a friend."
"Hunh. Some friend." But she was beginning to smile, and he tickled her to get her to laugh.
Later that night, Danny knocked on Donnie's door. "Hey, can I come in?" he asked when Donnie opened the door.
"Yeah. What's up?"
Danny made sure that the door had closed behind him before he spoke. "Sam and I found Jonathan."
"Word? Great! When are we going to get him?"
"Tomorrow morning, before rehearsal. Just you and me."
"That's whacked. Are you crazy?" Donnie stared at him. "No one's up at that time!"
"It's finals. I bet he is. Besides, this is Jon we're talking about. I'll drive, you navigate or sleep, which ever comes more overwhelming."
"I won't be up," Donnie grumbled. "Finals?"
"Yeah. He's in college."
"Here? Why'd he choose here?"
"If you come with me tomorrow, you can ask. Look, I just need some back up in case he doesn't know he wants to come. We might have to persuade him to come back."
Donnie looked at him in some consideration. "He does owe JJ an apology, and Jordan."
"And Sam," Danny added.
"Yeah. Okay, I'll come." Donnie smiled. "College. And Marlene doesn't even know where he is."
"Yet," Danny grinned. Donnie grinned back.
Sam met them the next morning when they started out to find Jonathan. "His name is Jason Rasleigh, not Jonathan, okay? Please don't forget." Donnie's response was more of a grunt than anything. They called a taxi after a brief discussion, and Sam waved them off. She turned and went to the pool - that's what she'd told JJ she was doing, and dove in, hoping their plan would work. After all, Jonathan could just call them another cab.
It took a while to find the apartment building, and Donnie had nearly fallen asleep when they finally did. Danny shook him awake and they left the car. Both recognized Jon's jeep. They found apartment #F easily, and Danny knocked on the door. The young man who opened the door a while later looked about as alive as Donnie.
"We're lookin' for Jason Rasleigh," Danny informed the man.
"Come in. He's down the hall, last door on your right," he mumbled in response and stumbled back to bed. Danny pushed Donnie down the hallway and into the other bedroom. Donnie fell onto the neatly made vacant bed as Danny nudged the other person, who they had not recognized as Jon.
"Excuse me," he said politely as the other stirred. "Where's Jason?"
"Final," Paul mumbled, turning over sleepily. He was instantly awake; he hadn't expected to see a New Kid in his room.
"When will he be back?" Danny asked, amused at the expression on Paul's face.
"When he's done," Paul responded. "You're a New Kid, aren't you." Danny nodded.
"Sorry to bug you. Thanks a lot." He left the room and found himself in the kitchen. Grabbing a book from the table, he sat down to read.
Go on to Next Chapter | Grounds for Vengeance
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