Gerard's eyes snapped open as a strange sound woke him from his sleep. With his hand on his gun, he walked slowly around the diner, dropping to his feet in front of Frank, tears streaming down his sleeping friends face. Without thinking of the consequences, Gerard pulled him onto his lap, holding him against his chest as he cried. "Shh Frankie." Muttered Gee, running his hands through his hair. "It'll be okay." Frank struggled to get free, his nightmare taking a violent turn as he lashed out, his fist connecting with Gerard's jaw. "Shit!" He hissed, waking Mikey and causing him to come running.
"You okay Gerard?" Mikey asked, his hand over his mouth as he stifled a yawn. Gerard shook his head, his hand over his jaw, the other running through Frank's hair. "Having a nightmare again?"
"Yeah, get me Dr D." Mikey nodded and ran off, leaving Gerard to attempt to soothe Frank, tears falling slowly down his own face as he witnessed the terrors his friend had trapped in his mind. Gerard's head snapped up as the familiar squeak of D's wheelchair worked it's way towards them. "Help him." He pleaded, his arms tightening around Frank's form as he became violent again.
"I can't Gerard. Whatever he is living in his mind? He is living it for a reason. The only thing we can do is wait until he wakes up, until then? We watch him, make sure he doesn't hurt himself or anyone else." Doctor D explained before wheeling off leaving a stunned Gerard with a finally still Frank.
"You want me to stay with him Gee? You can go get some sleep." Mikey asked, his hand on his brother's shoulder. Gerard shook his head, instead choosing to change his position so his back was against the wall.
"I'll call you if I need help Mikes." Gerard whispered as his brother walked back to his bedroll.

---

Frank woke up, confused and sore, his head pounding as he looked around the light diner. He could hear someone breathing beside him, his head turning to the left, his nose stopping inches from Gerard's. Trying not to wake his friend, he moved his arms, untying himself from Gerard's grasp. Slight movement from behind him caused him to freeze, his breath catching in his throat as Gerard settled back down, his breathing once again steady. Frank finished freeing himself and climbed to his feet, grabbing onto the edge of the table as his vision swam, creating an ocean in front of his very eyes. "Frank?" Gerard whispered, his voice still groggy with sleep.
"Mmm?" Frank asked, waiting for his head to stop spinning.
"Are you alright?" He asked, worry for his friend clear in his voice.
"Yeah, just, uh... need to pee. Yeah, that's it. I need to pee." Frank muttered before walking quickly from the bunk area.

Frank slid his back down the wall, tucking his legs underneath him and resting his head on his hands. "Fuck, fuck, fuck." He whispered, his voice hoarse. "Fuck, shit, bollocks. Oh goddamn it." He ranted, cursing everything that made him feel. "Damn you motherfucker!" He shouted, causing Ray to run around the corner to make sure he was alright.
"What's wrong Iero?" Ray asked, sinking to the floor and crossing his legs.
"Nothing Ray." He sighed, turning to look at his crazy fro-d friend. "Look, I'm sorry for having a go at you yesterday. I really didn't mean it. I was just frustrated that I let her get hurt. I let everyone get hurt." Frank lowered his head again, his hand raising to wipe away a stray tear.
"It's cool bro, just, uh... don't do it again. I'm here if you wanna talk." Ray muttered before climbing to his feet, a phrase from Frank causing him to freeze where he was. "What?" He asked, turning to face his short friend.
"I said that it was my fault that Jamia and Christa died." Frank whispered, his voice barely audible over the roar of the approaching car.
"Frank, it's not your fault. You couldn't have known that it was a trap. I don't blame you Frank. We both lost someone that day." Ray muttered, sitting down and pulling Frank into a hug.
"Ray, I didn't check for crying out loud. I didn't check that we were supposed to be there, I just let them run in, standing guard outside whilst they got mowed down inside. How is that not my fault?"
"Everyone makes mistakes Frank, everyone, even Dr D." Ray explained motioning Mikey over as he stepped from the car. After raising his hand to signal for him to stay silent, he spoke again. "Heck Frank, Korse made a mistake. He let you go. That made you come to us, it made us a stronger team because we have you now."
"Jamia was pregnant Ray. I was gonna be a dad and I still let her go in there, I still let her go out on a mission." Frank sobbed, burying his face in his hands. Ray stayed silent, unsure of what to say. Mikey stepped closer, crouching down in front of Frank and taking his head in his hands.
"Look at me Frank. This is not your fault. What happened to Jamia and Christa? That's Korse's fault for being a heartless bastard. Missile kid? That's my fault. I was meant to be keeping her occupied. Instead? I went and jerked off. It's not your fault Frank. It's mine." Frank looked at Mikey, his mouth slightly open as he took in his friends words.

Ray stepped into the diner, leaving Frank in Mikey's care. He checked each room until he came to Gerard, hunched over the sink, his back shaking slightly as he sobbed. "Did you know about Jamia?" Ray asked, stepping close enough to Gerard for him to hear his words. Gerard hesitated before shaking his head. "Did you know you were sending a pregnant woman out on a mission?" Gerard shook his head again.
"I didn't know Ray. I swear. If I knew, I wouldn't have sent her, I would have gone instead." Gerard paused, his breathing heavy as he looked down upon the bowl of rapidly cooling water. "I never meant to do that Ray, I never meant to get her killed."
"I know Gerard, I know that, but Frank thinks it's his fault. He's blaming himself for Jamia and Christa dying."
"It's not his fault. I didn't check out the information before sending them. We needed the food and I just didn't think Ray." Gerard muttered as he grabbed a towel and dried his face, slipping his arms into a clean t-shirt before grabbing his jacket from the back of the door.
"Frank was the dad Gerard." Ray whispered, looking upon the look of pure horror on his friends face.
"What?" Gerard muttered in disbelief.
"Frank was the dad. It's exactly what it said on the tin. Frank never got to see his child because he witnessed Jamia get shot, slaughtered in front of him. He hasn't been the same since Gee, can you guess why?"
"Yeah, I can Ray. I can guess why. In fact, I can do better than that. I can understand what he's going through. I've been through it before Ray. I've lost a child, but she died in her mothers arms, slaughtered by Korse as he forced me to watch. Fuck it Ray! I know what he is going through" Gerard half shouted before running out of the bathroom, tears streaking his face.

Mikey ran into his brother as he re entered the diner, his breathing heavy as he dragged an unconscious Frank and dropped him onto a bench. "Frank...Too hot I think...Maybe something else." Mikey muttered as he tried to catch his breath. "He tried to run away... He said he wanted it to end." Mikey dropped his hands onto his knees, doubled over as he caught his breath, his brain finally registering the tear streaked face of his brother. "Gee, what's up?"
"It's not important Mikes, we need to sort Frank out." Gerard muttered, taking a step closer to his fallen comrade.
"No Gerard, Ray can do that, you're coming with me. We need to talk." Mikey ordered, grabbing his older brother by the top of his arm and dragging him towards a back room. Once the door was closed, Mikey flicked on the overhead light, taking in the tired look of the store room. "Spill." He said, folding his arms over his chest.
"Don't wanna." Gerard muttered, pressing his lips together in a tight line.
"Fuck Gee, anyone would think you were five! Tell me what's wrong."
"Just ask Ray, maybe ask Frank, he might know because its something he said that made Ray come and ask me. Oohh, even better, ask Korse why the fuck he murdered them. Ask him, he's the one that started this." Gerard sobbed, his voice breaking towards the end. Mikey didn't say anything, instead choosing to envelope his brother in a hug, letting him cry out all the pent up emotions. "Ask Korse why he took them away from me Mikey... I miss them so damn much. I miss how Lindsey smelled and how Bandit would come running to me when I came through the door. I miss how we would all sit there at night around the fire, laughing and joking as a family. I miss having someone tell me they loved me."
"I love you Gee, you know that." Mikey protested, running his fingertips down his brothers scalp.
"It's not the same though. You're my brother, they were my life. I would have done anything for them, I would have died for them." Gerard whispered. "I would have sacrificed everything to keep them all safe."
"Gee, you can't blame yourself. Korse is a cold blooded killer who shoots before asking questions. I know you tried Gerard, but it was out of your control." Mikey consoled.
"I'm not just talking about them Mikes, I'm talking about Jamia and Christa, what about Alicia and Sarah and Bob? Or Matt or everyone else that I've sent out on a mission that hasn't come back? Can we think about that for a second? Korse isn't the murderer, I am Mikey. I got them all killed."
"Shhh Gee. It's okay." Mikey muttered as he and his brother sank to the floor, Gerard's breathing becoming paced and even as he fell asleep.

---

Frank tossed and turned, his breathing rapid as unwanted images flashed across his mind. Sweat began dripping from his skin, his slim form trembling as he relived the one moment he hated, the one moment that changed his life forever.

-Flashback (Frank's POV)

I ran towards the store, Jamia and Christa hot on my heels as the thought of hot food, fresh food, crossed our mind, clouding our judgement against our safety. "Hold up!" I called, coming to an abrupt halt just in front of the store. "We can't all go in. What if some Drac's or something turn up?" I asked, talking sense for once.
"Well, I'm starving." Jamia muttered, her hand sliding subconsciously across her stomach.
"You can go in then. What about you Christa, want food or wanna keep watch?"
"I promise I'll bring you something." She pleaded, her eyes lighting up when I sent the two of them in, leaning against the crumbling wall behind me. I shut my eyes quickly, blinking away the dust, but that was all it took. Once my attention was elsewhere, the screams began, pained cries escaping from the confines of the building. The telltale sounds of ray guns startled me into action, running into the building in time to see Jamia hit the floor, blood dripping from a wound in her chest. A primal scream left my chest, my gun leaving my holster and firing at the remaining Drac's before dropping to my knees next to Jamia, my hands reaching out to stop the bleeding. "Christa!" I shouted, hoping that she was somewhere safe. There was no reply, but Jamia's hazel eyes looked up at me, tears beginning to fall as she lay there, the life slowly bleeding out of her. "Jamia, baby, please be okay. You have to make it through this." I begged as I pushed a strand of hair out of her face.
"I can't Ghoul. I..." She coughed, blood flying from her mouth. "I...I love you baby." She sighed, her voice filled with pain.
"Come on baby, you can't leave me, you can't go anywhere. We were gonna have a life together." I pleaded, the sound of my radio crackling to life startling me into action.
"Ghoul, we heard gunshots. Is everything okay?" Poison's voice called from the other end.
"Uhh.. Sent Kobra and Jet. Keep yourself at eight legs in case we need to make a quick getaway." I responded, brushing my thumb lightly over Jamia's cheek.
"Okay." Gerard responded, his voice steady as he relayed the orders.

I looked up, my eyes stinging from the tears I had cried, my hands sticky and stained from my efforts to keep Jamia alive, her heart slowing to nothing before the guys arrived. I heard Mikey gasp, his voice filling the silence as I took in the state of the room, Christa still missing. "Ghoul..." Mikey spoke, taking a step closer to me, his hands reaching out to take Jamia.
"Get away!" I shouted. "Leave them alone." I cried, my breathing heavy, my voice muffled by my sobs.
"Ghoul, we've got to go. We can take Jamia to bury her. I promise Ghoul, we'll make everything better." Kobra muttered, his hands coming to rest on my shoulders. After a moment of hesitation, I looked up at him, hiding the pain that was rushing through my body. "Jet, come and take Jamia, I'll grab Ghoul." mikey ordered, placing his hands under my arms and pulling me to my feet.
"I'll find her." I whispered as I looked up at Ray. "I promise you I'll find her."
"It's too late Ghoul. I already have." Jet replied, his voice low.
"I'm sorry Jet. I really am." I sobbed. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I was meant to keep them safe and now they are both dead." I held my arms out, accepting the weight of Jamia while Ray went back to get Christa. Together, we carried the loves of our lives from the store, trudging through the streets to the car, leaving behind any hope of a future with the beautiful women we were carrying.

-Present (back to 3rd person)

Frank's eyes snapped open, his ears ringing in the eerie silence. After inspecting the nearby areas for his friends he sighed and climbed to his feet, his throat dry from the lack of water. He stepped towards the marks on the wall, counting an extra three on their makeshift calendar. Frank sighed his brain registering that he had been out for three days, his heart longing to be with Jamia as it frequently did in times like this. Without making a sound, Frank grabbed a pen and a piece of paper, writing out a short note to his friends before placing it, along with his gun and holster on the counter and turning from the diner, walking into the distance.

---

A cry of "Frank's gone!" Roused Beth from her sleep, her hand on her gun before her eyes were even fully open. She shot to her feet and ran to the main room, slamming into Damon on the way.
"Sorry." She muttered as they steadied themselves and continued towards Mikey and Gerard's discussion. "What's wrong?" She asked in a sleep filled voice as Dr D tried, and failed, to silence the arguing brothers.
"I thought you were watching him!" Shouted Gerard, standing an inch away from his brothers face.
"It's not my job Gerard! I took the initiative that he was better and went to sleep, you know, that thing I've been missing out on since he passed out and you broke down?" Mikey shouted back, his hands clenched into fists beside his thighs.
"For crying out loud Mikey, can you not get something right for once in your pathetic life?"
"Me? Pathetic? Fuck you Gerard." Mikey snapped cooley before walking off, his body shaking as he sat with his back to the group.
"Explain yourself Gerard." Damon snapped, standing close enough to make Gerard uncomfortable.
"This should do it just fine." Gerard muttered before walking in the opposite direction. Beth stood behind Damon, looking at the note scrawled out in Frank's scruffy handwriting.

I've gone to join Jamia. I miss her and can't be without her. Maybe when Korse has me he'll leave you alone. Anywho, I'll never forget what you did for me.

Frank signed off the note with his name, the ink smudging where his tears hit the paper. "He even left his gun." Gerard muttered from the doorway. "He's not coming back."

Notes

Heya Killjoys :3

So, there have already been two entries for the competition and if no-one else enters, I know who I will be choosing as the winner, so all will be revealed on the 15th (to give me time to check all the entries after the deadline).

This was my first attempt at mixing POV's and I'm not sure how it worked... If you would mind leaving a comment and telling me what you thought, it would make my day. Of course, you don't have to because you reading this suggests that you liked it :P

Anywhore, thanks for reading my killjoys :3