It had been three days since Frank had moved.

He had become another feature in the house, a decorative statue. He didn't move from the chair that was positioned facing the forest in the living room. The hours would pass and the sun would move across the sky, and yet he didn't move.

For the first day Gerard stood and watched him nervously, thinking he must be sick. But as the hours passed and his captive didn't move a muscle, he knew there was something wrong in Frank's head.

He knew, because he'd seen it countless times before. When he had been in the hospital, everywhere he looked, all he could see was drugged up, brain dead kids with blank eyes, motionless and staring.

Frank wasn't really there anymore. He was somewhere lost in his head and that scared Gerard. He knew what a dangerous place the human brain was. Especially a mind that has seen and thought the darkest things.

"Frank?" Gerard whispered, crouching down to the boy's eye level.

His eyes remained fixed, staring. Dead.

"Frank, please," he breathed, cupping his cheek in his cold, pale hand, his long fingers crooking around the curve of his jaw.

A single tear rolled down Frank's cheek and he swallowed.

"I'm worried about you sweetheart," Gerard said softly. "You haven't eaten anything for days, you're going to make yourself sick."

Gerard wasn't expecting a response, but he was still disappointed when he didn't receive one. He sighed and stood up, stroking his hair that was starting to turn greasy.

"Do you want a shower baby?" Gerard offered, still running his fingers through Frank's hair.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Gerard's hand dropped from Frank's hair and fell a his side. He sighed and turned away from him, slowly trudging into the kitchen to make food for Frank, even though he knew it wouldn't be eaten.

**************************************
On the fifth day, Gerard couldn't take it anymore. He walked in and picked the boy up, biting back his tears when he felt his weight. Frank was so much thinner now compared to when Gerard had taken him. He hadn't eaten properly in a month and his lack of sleep was doing nothing for him either, never mind the endless violence and torture.

Frank felt like he was dying.

Gerard carried him upstairs and sat him on the bed, wincing as he felt the sharp bones of Frank's ribs. He turned and headed for the bathroom, running a hot bath. As he was leaving he heard the sound of a whimper from the bedroom and returned to find Frank curled up in a ball, sobbing and convulsing.

Then Gerard realised. The sound of running water triggered Frank to remember the time when Gerard had tried to drown him.

He ran back to the bathroom, cursing under his breath and turning the water off. When he came back to the bedroom, Frank was still crying, tightly formed into a protective ball, his thin arms wrapped around his legs.

Gerard lowered himself down onto the bed next to the shaking teenager and pulled him into his arms, waiting for the sobs to end.

"I'm s-sorr-y," Frank rasped between his crying.

"What?" Gerard demanded, pulling back from Frank to stare at him.

"I'm so so-orry Gerard," Frank cried, his hands grabbing him and clinging to him. "Don't hurt me again, I'll be good, I promise!"

He scrambled up Gerard with surprising strength for someone that hasn't eaten or slept in a week and hooked his arms around Gerard's neck, trying to kiss him desperately.

Gerard made a muffled sound of protest as Frank kissed him, gently pushing the boy away. "No Frank, not now."

Frank slowly withdrew, his face the perfect picture of horror and rejection. "You don't want me?"

"No! For fuck's sake Frank, I love you! I love you so much it hurts, of course I want you!" Gerard insisted.

"But you don't," Frank whispered, fresh tears spilling down his face. "I'm not good enough for you. Why didn't you just let me die Gerard?! Why didn't you just let me finish this?!"

Gerard didnt mean to, but he's slapped the boy across the face, knocking him down on to the mattress. Frank gasped, the air knocked out of lungs. He felt a rush from the pain and found himself enjoying it.

Gerard's mouth hung open in horror and he lent over the boy to see the damage, but all his saw was the small smile on Frank's lips.

Two bony hands grabbed his shirt and pulled him down on top of Frank, their faces inches apart.

"Kiss me," Frank demanded in a ragged breath. "Please Gee, just... just kiss me."

Gerard hesitated before meeting Frank's lips, softly kissing him at first but then deepening the kiss, groaning as Frank bit his lip. Gerard hooked one of Frank's legs around his waist, pushing himself up into his crotch.

Frank groaned, tangling his hands in Gerard's hair and gasping for air as the older man worked on his throat, teeth and lips and tongue driving Frank crazy.

Frank knew he was losing his sanity, and maybe he'd already lost it, but there was no point of caring anymore. It felt too good to be out of his mind to turn back now.

"Shit Gerard," Frank gasped, rocking his hips upwards. "I love you, I-"

Gerard's mouth cut him off, kissing him deeply. He drew back and shook his head, smiling sadly. "Please don't lie to me Frankie."

"But I'm not!" Frank protested, holding Gerard's face between his hands. "I swear Gerard, I mean it. I'm not making it up."

Gerard paused, taking in Frank's wide, earnest eyes.

"Then show me. If you mean it, show me how much you love me."