The Start

The Start Book Two

From your Author:

I thought I’d lost this chapter. Playing lost and found on a computer is frustrating, to say the least when you write. I am way… ahead of you now. I write about what I know and what I wish could be. Personally, I have come to the end of a project that made me a lot of money and this last winter of mine will be spent finishing Book Two.

I have said that I write and add stuff to ‘spare parts’. It’s what I do when I hit a wall. I chose to do this in a POV of each main caricature because I like the style when reading but writing that way is hard for me and you, the reader, can be difficult. The next few chapters may seem confusing for you but I will post more frequently so we can all come up to speed. RJC

Niki’s POV:

“Do you remember when Dean and Rick were on every show under the sun?” And he nodded.

“WELL… Rick tried to kill himself. Dean reached out and Winston joined; he is Tom Hanks’ ‘Niki.’ We’re stopping in New York then to Chicago.” And I could tell by the look he needed more.

“OK. I will do my best to give you a quick catch up. Donny tried to kill himself after the shooting; it really is kind of a funny story. They were in Rugby and Donny stabbed himself in the stomach. Jeff’s uncle is a Vet and the guys Dean hires to take care of them. Do you get it? Jeff’s uncle was a vet and Donny had stabbed himself.” And now I could tell he was getting pissed with the rolling hands.

“Really; it’s a funny story. That’s how they wound up here. A stitch had come loose and one of Barry’s guys was a medic. Barry said Jeff turned white when the bandage was pulled off; can you imagine Jeff whiter? Well.” I could tell he was ready to through sand in my eyes.

“Can you get to the fuckin point Niki?” He asked.

“Well… we’re stopping in New York for Donny and Jeff. I guess we’re to Chicago for the same reason. You see. Well… you guys don’t even have to do it.

“Will, you, just, spit, it, the, fuck, out, NIKI?”

“We’re going to Phil’s.”

“Who, the fuck is, Phil?”

“Like, Dr. Phil.” I slapped him with.

He started to laugh. “You are good, really good, Niki. You had my blood pumping. What are we really doing, Niki?”

“Are you sure you’re not from North Dakota?”

“I am not like those two. I am not from North Da-fuckin-Kota.”

The Prince:

I was the last to come down the stairs with Dean holding my hand in a toddler tux trying to hop. David and Elton watched both of us with smiles and each kissed a cheek when I stood in front of them.

He cleared his throat clapping his hands and announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, May we present, Miss. Nikita, and, Master Dean Adam Cooper, the II.” And there was applause.

I was to make a late dramatic entrance and I so wish I could have seen the looks on faces when people saw Ryan.

“Miss. Niki.”

“Your Royal Highness.” And he kissed my cheeks and Dean’s.

“May I have everyone’s attention, please?” And all eyes turned to us.

“I speak for Our Queen. There are times when actions require a response. There are times when lineage prompts something more. It is by order of Our Queen that from this day foreword this child is known as ‘Sir Dean, of The Americas’ when on British soil.”

The Prince could maybe be my type. He took Dean from me and held him up turning to the dinner guests; “Sir Dean, of The Americas.” There was applause.

“Daddy, Daddy, Daddy,” Dean screamed.

Donny came up shaking his head, “You can never tell him this Niki.” Then turning, “Your Highness.”

“Mr. Fossness.” And Dean held out his arms. Donny took him spinning his body around so he could see and rested his butt on his arm and the other around his tummy.

He pointed at the Prince and yelled, “Daddy.” And the room erupted.

If you’ve never seen a ginger blush it’s a sight. Donny said he’d take Dean and I could catch up.

“I’ve never seen anything like it. He looks like I envisioned him with four or five years. He is very handsome. How are you? I hear The Foundation is doing well.”

“I wish Dean could have seen it. I told him towards the end that he was like a rock being dropped into a calm lake and the ripples would just go on forever. Dean never saw what he did as something like that.” And the Prince turned and gave me the, follow head nod.

I trailed him out and two guys closed the doors. “Do you smoke, Niki?”

“No, Your Highness; not cigarettes anyway.”

“I don’t either, Niki,” as he pulled a pack, lit one breathing deeply, then blowing the smoke away from me.

“How are you, Niki? I’d like to see my little Prince playing with yours and you have to meet Meg.” And he took another drag.

“I’m doing well. Donny and Jeff live with Sir Dean, and Me. We’re all going to University in Washington State and The Chancellor’s live on the houseboat next door.” And he took another drag and blew the smoke out.

“Do you realize you have surrounded him with men? You have four, strong, men, making up for the one who's missing. You are both so fortunate, Niki.”

“We are. That was a very kind gesture Knighting, Dean.”

“My Grandmother would have done it for his father had he ever come back to England. It seemed the fitting thing to do. You really live on a boat?”

I nodded as the doors opened and Harry tossed the smoke. “Dinner Sir.”

I walked in on the arm of a Prince and we went in different directions. I mingled as we all moved to the dining room and the ladies were seated as the gentleman waited. I counted and there were twenty-five people. We were purposely not sitting by each other.

Robby had Sir McCartney on one side and Mr. hot as fuck, Leonardo DiCaprio, on the other with Ryan a few seats down on the other side of the table. Ryan was between Sir Clapton and Red. Elton was at one head and the Prince at the other. Jeff and Donny flanked the Prince. And I was across from David with both of us next to Elton.

“I’m so glad we could do this, Niki.” And David nodded at me.

“He is quite remarkable, isn’t he?” And I nodded again looking down the table at him.

“At first I thought there was no way I could live next door to him but, I don’t ever want to forget Dean, and Ryan has every good quality Dean had; including what’s in his pants. I would never fool myself into thinking anything could ever happen between us. If you can’t tell, the Chancellor’s are joined at the hip.”

“And he’s rich?” David asked.

“Fuck his money, David. I want to know more about what we can’t see.” And David slapped his arm.

“Well, our lawyer is his God Father and he didn’t give numbers. The Chancellor name goes all the way back to colonial days. He is the last survivor and the estate along with huge holdings went to him a couple of years ago. But he doesn’t flaunt it.” And I took a sip of soup.

“Now, sitting next to Harry, the darker one is my, well we all live together. Donny is worth a couple hundred million. I don’t think he really understands. You guys so much has been done to him; he has been so fucked up.” And they both nodded at me.

“He’s a remarkable young man, Nike, they all are.”

After an eight coarse meal and two hours, we all moved to the music room and Harry slipped outside for a smoke. There was more mingling until Elton got our attention.

“Ok, everybody; this is the elephant in the room, Mr. Ryan Chancellor. We can all agree he bears a freaky resemblance to One, Dean Cooper. It doesn’t end there because this attractive young man can sing and he wants to challenge me on the piano. And it just so happens, we have two pianos.” And there was clapping.

It was like dueling banjos or Wipeout on the drums. But it was the piano. I remembered Dean filling this room with sound and closed my eyes.

Ryan started and Elton followed. When Ryan doubled the bar on, Boogie Woogie to sixteen; he left Elton in the dust and that earned him applause and a kiss on the cheek.

There was some whispering between them and Ryan sat back down. “I know the only reason I’m here is that I look like Dean Cooper. Well, and we live next door to, Sir Dean, of The Americas.” And there was some laughter.

“His Father and I did meet and we talked when he was close to the end. I told him the last time we spoke, ‘you’ve given me direction.’ He really had.” And he paused for a minute still playing softly with his right hand.

“He came to Washington to see doctors and meet with my Godfather, his lawyer. He’d set us up. In all honesty, it was an unseen blessing. The next day I helped him record a song that I’ve never heard played. I’d like to do that now.”

He started touching the keys with such tenderness before he opened his mouth. “Each day I live, I want to be, a day to give, the best of me. I’m only one, but not alone, my finest day is yet unknown. I broke my heart for every gain To taste the sweet I face the pain.”You could have heard a fucking pin drop.

He gave a nod to Robby and he came up and rested his hands on Ryan’s shoulders. “This one, he’s why I’m not alone. He has seen my best days and faced the pain with me through all time.” And Robby kissed his cheek.

“I rise and fall, yet through it all, this much remains; I want one moment in time when I’m more than I thought I could be. When all of my dreams are a heartbeat away. And the answers are all up to me.

Give me one moment in time when I’m racing with destiny. Then in that one moment of time, I will feel, I will feel, eternity.” And Robby kissed his cheek again and walked over to Elton resting his hands in the same manner. Ryan sang to me.

It all turned out so well and the boys weren’t all clingy. They kind of held there own with Ryan shining the brightest. With the party on the twenty-seventh, we would leave the next evening. We could sleep on the plane and land in New York the next day. Provided these five boys didn’t gas me out.

We were met by a car and whisked off to the Mayflower; It’d been over a year and I thought it was time for Don Lemon to see what a different kind of recovery looked like. Don never used footage of his interview with Donny, he would reference it though.

He opened the door to his New York high rise and Dean yelled, “Daddy.” We all laughed.

Don pulled me in for a hug and asked what I was trying to pull. I knew he was talking about Ryan. “I’ll explain.” I hadn’t mentioned the Chancellors'.

Don welcomed Donny and Jeff then shook Ryan’s hand saying, “Wow.”

We were on time and Don said food would be delivered in an hour. Robby and Ryan were basically clueless when it came to what Donny had been through and the shooting other than benign news. As Donny and Jeff sat on the windowed balcony I explained. Both of them were horrified when I divulged just a little.

I hesitated to tell Robby but I did. “When Donny jumped in the water to save you he told me, ‘This is going to sting like fuck, Niki.’ Later he told how he knew that.” And I thought back on that morning.

“Ice fishing is big in North Dakota and his brothers would take him out to the fishing lodge sitting over a hole in the ice.” Their eyes were big as I went on.

“They would make him strip, tie his feet, and drop him headfirst into the hole of frozen water. Some times it would go on for a while and others he would drown and they would revive him. He wasn’t even fifteen.” I had already told them too much.

Don came in with Donny and Jeff saying, “Let’s eat.” Ryan and Robby went up and gave Donny a more than genuine hug with him looking at me over their shoulders.

We talked over a late dinner with Don addressing the world stage and the boys going on about Barry’s and England. I told him that, The Little Guy, was a Knight; Sir Dean, of The Americas.

Ryan finally stood and looked at Don. “Why are you looking at me like that?” And he had a stance.

“I’ve had people looking at me for a week but yours. So I look like Dean, fuckin, Cooper; get over it.” The cockiness in his voice was disturbing.

“If it were only that simple; Dean was special. I can’t describe it but you could feel it. You must have felt it when you were with him. I feel that same strange thing when I’m this close to you.” And Don took a drink as Ryan sat back down.

“Dean and I talked weekly if not more. He was on my show countless times and was wise beyond his years. I somehow see that in you.” And he turned to me.

“You look me in the eye, Niki, and tell me you don’t see and feel it.”

Now all eyes were on me. I turned it back on Ryan, I chickened out. “He asked you a question. Did you feel something when you were with Dean? Do you know Dean never told me about you? And you recorded a fucking song with him that has never surfaced?” I was out of shit.

He took a drink of water and I could tell he was contemplating something. “I don’t know what you all are talking about.” And he folded his arms across his chest. Case closed.

Robby was glaring at him and it didn’t take long before he looked at him with a ‘WHAT’ attitude. “If you don’t tell them, I will, Ryan.”

Ryan wasn’t actually spitting nails but you could see them just the same. Then he opened up. “He had all but given in when we met.” He started.

“I have no idea how he kept himself in check; he was Dean Cooper, after all. And he was dying fast. Like I said at Elton’s, we spent a little time together and we did record a song. I told you, Niki, he gave me focus; direction.” And he took a breath.

“You all meant so much to him and he felt he was letting everybody down by dying. Those two held a special spot,” He said looking at Donny and Jeff.

“Niki, you were his rock, and he didn’t use that term about anyone else. You were his City Girl. He talked about you for hours. I’m sure you know how much he loved and respected you?” And I nodded wiping the tears as Ryan held back his own.

“And you, Don. He talked about you as well. I think if there is one person who knows more about, Dean Adam Cooper, it’s you. As for myself, yes, I felt it and I could see it.” And he looked at Robby.

“I’ve only seen it around this one.” And his head nodded towards the one next to him.

“I think there might have been an unwritten list of things Dean was to accomplish this time around. I have never met anyone more humble. The song we did was his choice and he didn’t have the wind for it so it was mostly me.” He took a breath and thought.

“He sang with more people than anyone and I have seen the change in the music industry because of what he did. It used to be just the old musicians who would sing together and now younger artists are sharing the stage.” And we all just kept looking at him for more.

Don looked at all of us “He told people how he felt; that was one of the many special things about him. I imagine he told you how he felt?” Ryan nodded, Jeff played with his watch, and Donny just looked off to space as Robby and I looked at Ryan.

The subject changed. “Are you guys staying for New Years? You have to stay. Anderson is doing the ball drop and I’m kind of working but, New Years, in Time Square. You have to stay.”

Now I had five sets of eyes on me; six if you count, Sir Dean. I remembered Donny and Jeff the last time we were here and the helicopter over the Statue of Liberty on the Fourth of July. I nodded. Robby and Ryan high fived, Donny and Jeff just looked at each other and Don had a big smile.

“You guys will meet everybody. We have a floor of rooms and CNN has a monster trailer. Ryan? Most all the performers knew Dean. You have been the talk of the gossip tree for the last ten days. You probably aren’t Facebook or Twitter friends with the ones who have been talking about you.” And Ryan just looked at him; deer in the headlights look.

“One thing you need to know about Barry Gibb; he lives through his friends and the ones he loves. His first post was, ‘you won’t believe it.’ The second was, ‘you, really, won’t believe it.’ The third was a selfie with you and him; the Pacific Ocean behind. There wasn’t anything other than that from Barry but there were videos of you at Elton’s. It’s lit up YouTube.” And Ryan looked at me.

“You knew this shit, didn’t you, Niki? You better cover his ears. What the fuck?” He yelled.

“You had to have known this and you didn’t say a word. The second to the last thing I would ever want is to go through this life as a look alike. You better make sure that shit disappears.” And he stood.

“Come on Robby. We’re going home.” And Robby didn’t stand. I could tell Ryan was giving him the ‘really’ eyes.

“Sit, the fuck, down, Ryan.” And after a shocking couple seconds he sat down.

“Niki, you should have told him. I’m sure you knew what was happening. Ryan, don’t act all dumb and shit; it’s not a look you wear well.” And it was quiet for a minute. I was fighting not to smile.

“You were different that day when you came back, Ryan. Dean told you what was going to happen if you weren’t careful. You went into to this with your eyes wide open.” Robby finished looking just at him.

“I don’t want this, Jr. I like who the RJ Chancellor’s are. I don’t want to move. They’re like family.” And he paused to find words.

“This time was going to be just about you and me; you know that.” And it was like we weren’t there as Ryan’s chest heaved and he ran a finger under each eye.

Robby rested a hand on his, “When have we ever been in control, Ryan? Why would this time be any different? You knew damn, good, and well, who our neighbors were when you bought that hag. You and you alone, put all of this in motion.” And now it was obvious the confrontation had reached a new high.

“You didn’t have to have to sing with Barry. You didn’t have to do all that shit at Elton’s.” And now Robby’s arms rested across his chest.

It was funny watching the exchange. Ryan stood saying, “Excuse us,” And he reached down like he was going to grab Robby’s arm and I guess he thought twice. They walked out to the deck and all of us could all tell they were having words.

We talked at the table about them when they were out in the cold. They weren’t long.

“Fine; I’m RJ. Robby was right; I knew what all this would mean and I guess I’m ready. And just so you know, Don. If something spontaneous happens and I whined up on stage and televised; I have a lot of money. You won’t see the second day of the new year.” He and Robby sat back down.

“Well, I guess you should all excuse me, I need to jump off the building before he has me killed.” And he looked at Ryan.

“What are you going to do if Bon Jovi calls on you?” And he waited for a response.

“What if Pink wants you to do something

With her?” And he watched it sink in on Ryan’s face.

“Am I still a dead man? A lot of people held Dean Close. We are talking, John Legend, Pink, big time, KC, and just too many to mention. The choice is yours.” And Ryan turned to Robby.

“I fuckin told you. Is this what you want? Do you want guys in suits following us so we’re safe? We’re going to The UW, for Christ's sake. Do you want to bring all of this down on them?” he looked at us.

Donny raised his hand and said, “Been there, done that.”

Jeff’s hand went up and he said, “Been there, too.”

Ryan looked at me. “Well, of course, dumb ass; I’ve been there before.” And I looked at him thinking about what Barry said.

“So does this mean I don’t have to worry?” Lemon asked.

From your Author:

I would just like to say ‘a big thank you’ to all my patient readers. I will hear this chapter was too short; not really a chapter but a couple of pages. I understand.