Life is but a Dream for the Dead

A week passed without any sort of message or sign from Gerard. Frank had let himself believe that maybe, Gerard might just be able to pull this off. But he quickly reminded himself that it wasn't going to happen. Murder didn't just go away. Life sentences didn't [i]just go away[/i]. Frank wasn't getting out of here, no matter how hard Gerard tried to make him believe that. Frank knew that Gerard completely believed it and even found himself amused at the fact Gerard clearly had a handful of other inmates watching his every move. Even without Gerard here, he was still under some sort of fucked up protection. A new prisoner arrived at Auburn Correctional Facicility one day. Word was that he was a dealer and had bumped off a guy who'd simply been there at the wrong time, an innocent man who'd seen too much. You couldn't have witnesses, which was why the guy was in morgue after being pulled out of a lake and the dealer guy was in jail. Frank didn't bother to learn anything else about him, just as long as he knew what his story was. As long as you knew what a guy was capable of, the rest meant shit. Frank didn't even know his name, although the new inmate clearly knew his. "Hey fag," he sneered, around his joint as Frank shuffled sat him in the yard. "Fancy seeing you in here." Frank ignored him, just kept his head and sped up his walk. A hand clamped down on his shoulder and he was hauled backwards and pinned up against the wall. Frank's head smacked back against the bricks and he tasted blood in his mouth as his tongue was bitten. "I was talking to you Iero. Looks like you still haven't learnt any manners after all this time." Frank stared, wide eyed. The guy's face was one he didn't recognise. He had a thin face with a pointed chin, a tacky gold tooth and a shaved head. His eyes were a murky grey colour, slightly blood shot and there was a small tattoo under his left eye, on top of his cheek bone. "I don't know you," Frank said flatly, struggling his grip. "Get off me." "Don't know me? Frank, I'm insulted. I thought you'd at least remember who I was," he sneered, his face inches from Frank's. "You haven't changed at all since high school, have you?" Frank's heart felt like it was in his mouth and he felt sick. His school life hadn't been a very long one, but it had been hellish.
"I..." Frank trailed off, struggling to remember. "I don't fucking know who you are, just let me go." "I'd let him go if I were you." Both of their eyes darted to the direction of the voice and Frank didn't know whether to feel reassured by Jay's prescience or not. "Who the fuck are you?" "Doesn't matter. What does matter is that you need to get the fuck off of Iero," Jay said flatly, fisting the back of the guy's shirt and pulling him backwards, Frank stumbling to his feet and watching Jay shove the new inmate away. "Go near him again and you'll regret it Daley," Jay snarled under his breath as he he backed the guy against the wall, his face cold and dead. [i]Daley[/i]. The name triggered memories and Frank felt like he really was going to throw up. He thought he'd forgotten all about that bastard, but hearing his name again opened a flood gate of memories. Daley hissed something at Jay and shoved past him, stalking off and throwing a glare over his shoulder at them. Jay just watched him go, standing over Frank. "You're a fucking magnet for trouble Iero," Jay muttered under his breath glancing at Frank with sigh. When Frank got to his feet, Jay left and Frank was alone again. Even with Gerard gone, Frank was still untouchable. He knew the fucker must have a handful of other inmates watching his every move and somehow reporting back to him. There had been a group of prisoners that had latched on to Gerard as soon as they'd found out who he was and Gerard had just used it to his advantage. If they were willing to run round and do everything he asked, that was fine with him. Nobody touched them because they were associated with Gerard, and Gerard got everything he'd wanted. Frank didn't like Jay. The guy was weird and he creeped Frank out. He guessed it was probably all the ice that Jay did. Drugs in prison were complete shit. Jay's drugs were probably laced with rat poison and cement, maybe a few painkillers for a buzz and some tar thrown into the mix. The other inmates left Jay alone and no one bothered themselves with him. He was an odd guy and people didn't like him, but he wasn't all that bad. Just weird and constantly drugged up.
Frank just hunched his shoulders and made his way back to his cell, his head down and his eyes to the floor. *************************** "Iero, you've got a visitor." Frank snorted and didn't even look up from his book. "Very funny Briggs." The prison guard glared at the small inked prisoner. "I'm not messing Iero. Either get out and see the guy or stay here, I don't care either way, just don't think I'm going to stand round here all day waiting for you. I have better things to be doing." Frank looked up at Briggs, searching his face for confirmation. He felt a small feeling in his gut and he suddenly was overwhelmed with the sensation that he was going to throw up, his skin draining of colour. He stood and was led down to the visiting room, sweating nervously, the cuffs biting into his thin wrists. He really did feel like he was going to throw up. Who the hell would be visiting him? The only person he could think of was Gerard, and he highly doubted that. When Frank sat down in the hard plastic chair in front of the thick pane of glass, he took in the man before him and knew he'd never seen him before in his life. He wasn't the sort of person you'd forget. He was extremely tall and well muscled, dressed in black. His skin was fairly pale and his face was solemn and serious. He head large, full lips and his nose was pointed downwards at the end with fairly large nostrils. His eyes were deep and the sort of eyes that made you feel your darkest secrets had been spilled with one look. A huge mane of frizzy dakr hair surrounded his pointed face, drawing attention to it immediately. Frank's shaking tattoed hands picked up the phone. "Mr. Iero," the man smiled, his voice higher than Frank had expected. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I have to say, you're not what I expected." "I'm not... I'm sorry, but who are you?" Frank stuttered out, his voice bewildered and confused. "Whe are my manners? I'm sorry, my name is Ray Toro," he interjected smoothly, keeping up the same smile. "I... Work. With Gerard." "You're one of them," Frank stated quietly, surveying Ray with in a different light. "He sent you, didn't he? Where is he?" "Mr. Way has a lot of clearing up after himself to do," Ray answered. "He's sorry he couldn't be here today, but he really couldn't make it. He asked me to come and see you." "No," Frank shot back at him. "You're here so you can run back to him and report to him. As if it isn't bad enough already, I have half of the fucking prison watching my every move because of him. What the fuck does he want?" Ray only amused and slightly surprised at Frank's sudden vicious outburst. "Mr. Way only has your best interests at heart." Frank gave Ray a filthy look. "Don't fuck with me. Don't talk to me as if this is one of your sick little business meetings." Ray's smiled only grew wider. "Gerard did warn me you wouldn't be too happy about having a visitor."
"I don't have to sit here and listen to this," Frank hissed. "You can tell Gerard he can shove his stupid ideas and promises up his ass for all I care. This isn't a [i]game[/i]. This is my [i]life[/i] Gerard's been messing with and even though he's not even fucking here anymore he still thinks it's fine for him to-" "Mr. Iero," Ray said smoothly. "I have orders that I have to discuss your release with you before my time is up. I intend to carry out those instructions, so I'd appreciate it if you listened to what I have to tell you." Frank just glared at him, waiting. Ray sighed. "We're waiting for confirmation that the charges against you have been lifted. That should be sometime within the next few days, meaning you'll be out of here by the end of the week. I trust that you'll be willing to co-operate, considering this is your release we're discussing." Frank just scoffed at the raised eyebrow and expectant expression on Ray's face. "Are you shitting me?" "No, Mr. Iero," Ray said, his patience wearing thin. "Mr. Way doesn't break promises. "
Frank stared at him. "You're serious? I'm getting out?"
Ray nodded. "As soon we hear word from the court what's been decided. Well... it's already been decided you're going to be released, but still... they like to make it look as if they're being official. You'd be surprised how easy the courts can be."
Frank gritted his teeth. "Yes. I'm sure they're so cooperative when they receive death threats and you pay them off to get your own way."
"Business is business Mr. Iero, and Mr. Way was insistent your release went ahead," Ray smiled slyly.
"He's a bastard. Tell him this doesn't mean anything. It doesn't suddenly make everything ok," Frank muttered coldly.
"I apologise you've had to share a cell with Mr. Way for three months," Ray laughed. "I understand he must have made it difficult for you."
"Difficult? You have [i]no[/i] idea," Frank snapped. Ray's expression softened. "I know more than you think Mr. Iero and I know Gerard better than anyone else in this world. He's only doing what he thinks is best, trust me."
Frank was speechless.
"It was good to finally meet you Mr. Iero, although I do wish it had been under different circumstances," Ray said, cutting through the silence. "I'll be seeing you again very soon."
*************************
Frank lay awake in his cell that night wondering how his life had managed to change so much in the last three months. Ever since Gerard had turned up at his cell door, grinning sleazily at him, his life had been turned upside down.
His hand slipped under his pillow and his fingers brushed over the crumpled piece of paper that was the only thing that he had left of Gerard, strangely comforted by the letter.
He fell asleep in position, one hand resting under his pillow over the letter he'd read every day for the past week.
By the time Thursday rolled around, Frank was uneasy and couldn't sleep. He only seen Ray on Monday afternoon, and yet he was completely on edge and full of anticipation. He paced his cell, too frustrated to read or just sit and chain smoke.
He almost went looking for Callum.
Almost. Frank's head snapped up as the cell door swung open and Briggs stood in the doorway, looking in at Frank warily.
Frank stared at him, eyes wide with dread.
"Come with me Iero," Briggs muttered eventually.
Frank was on his feet in seconds.
The procedure was like any other, Briggs cuffing Frank and leading him through the prison without a word. Only this time, he took Frank off down a corridor he'd never been down before, leading him into tiny bare room and uncuffing him. There was a pile of neatly folded clothes sat on a bench.
"Mr. Way sent you these clothes," told him. "We still have your old clothes that you came here in but they're not...exactly in one piece anymore. They fell apart."
Frank glared at him. "Well, it's pretty hard for homeless crack whores to buy new clothes all the time, y'know."
Briggs just looked away from him, his jaw stiffening. Frank rolled his eyes and looked at the clothes Gerard had sent for him. They were brand new and looked so expensive Frank was afraid to touch them.
They were all exactly Frank's size. There was a pair of tight fitting black jeans, a close fitting t-shirt that hugged Frank's body tightly, the material soft and expensive. Gerard had also sent a heavy leather jacket that fit Frank perfectly and a pair of stylish boots that Frank slipped his feet into with ease. He felt wrong and awkward wearing an outfit that had clearly cost thousands of dollars. It wasn't really that fact that Gerard had spent so much on one outfit for him, it was more the fact where the money came from.
When he was done, he followed Briggs out into what looked like a sort of reception that was at the front of the main building.
Frank's heart was in his mouth when he spotted that dark messy raven hair bent over a clipboard, a pale hand scrawling carelessly over paperwork at the desk.
Gerard was dressed in ripped grey jeans, a loose fitting black shirt that was cut low and reveal his milky white chest and a deep navy blue jacket. He looked absolutely gorgeous and filthy stinking rich. There were two huge muscled men stood waiting silently by the door, side by side.
They didn't look at Frank, they just kept their eyes focused straight forwards.
Gerard looked up and spotted Frank, his mouth tugging up into a crooked smirk. "Hey baby. You miss me?"
Frank didn't know what to do, so he just gave Gerard a cold look.
Gerard laughed and beckoned to him, Frank begrudgingly moving forwards. Gerard seized his wrist and pulled him in for a kiss, their mouths meeting and Frank's heart fluttering as Gerard cupped his face, kissing him deeply. He looped an arm round Frank's waist when he pulled away, his smirk even bigger. The guards and the receptionist's faces were a mixture of shock and disgust, and yet Frank didn't care.
This was really happening.
"Paper work's all done Frankie. You finally wanna get out of here?" Gerard murmured in his ear.
All Frank could do was nod, swallowing the lump in his throat. He didn't even look back as Gerard led him out of the building, his warm, reassuring arm still round Frank's waist, holding him close.
There were two cars waiting outside, both shining black with tinted windows that were clearly bullet proof. Gerard opened the door for Frank who climbed in, after glancing at the jail that had been his home for the past three years.
The car was made up of three parts, the very front for the driver and passenger seat. The middle and last sections were large and held plush, soft seats made of pristine leather. It was exactly how Frank had always imagined the cars the Mafia owned would look like.
The muscle Gerard had brought with him were about to get into the same compartment as Frank and Gerard, but they were quickly dismissed.
"No, go and sit up front. I'd like some privacy," Gerard told them firmly.
"Of course Mr. Way."
As soon as the door shut, Gerard was all over Frank, kissing him and touching him.
"Fuck, I missed this," Gerard cursed under his breath softly. He pulled back and looked at Frank, his eyes hungry. "I knew you'd look good in those clothes. So fucking good Frankie."
Frank gasped when Gerard kissed him again, his mouth insistent as he pinned Frank beneath him against the cool leather seats.
"I think, Mr. Iero," Gerard purred in Frank's ear, "that we have some unfinished business."
Frank just fisted his hands in Gerard's hair and kissed the hell out of him.

Notes