turps

I can do that!

Despite Gerard's protests Mikey goes back to his apartment as soon as he's out of the wheelchair and onto crutches. It's not the best idea that he's had, getting up the stairs hurts and each time he does it he ends up light-headed and panting for breath. But it's something he needs to do, to show that he can go back to his old life, despite still feeling so scared.

That's why Frank helps him out onto the roof that first night home, helping him through the window and then down, where they sit side by side saying nothing, until Mikey simply says, "Thank you."

~*~*~*~

Brendon does ask Frank out. Their first date is at a roller rink and when they come back Brendon's sprained his wrist and Frank's got a black eye. But they're also both grinning, talking over each other as they describe the epic crash in the middle of the rink.

~*~*~*~

It takes Gerard a long time before he can sleep without nightmares. Not that he says, because this is Mikey's trauma, not Gerard's, but still, each night he wakes screaming after dreaming about finding Mikey dead on that table.

It gets worse when Mikey goes home, and Gerard ends up smoking in the middle of the night, trying not to look at one of the missing posters of Mikey that he keeps close to his bed.

He only copes those first few months because Mikey takes naps, and says he feels safer when Gerard's beside him, curled up in Mikey's bed, Gerard's arm over Mikey's side, holding him close as they both sleep.