Frank sat in the back for three long, tedious hours before finally being let out for a pee. He had to wear a long trench coat and a floppy sun hat; frankly, he looked like a vampire trying to avoid the midday sun. He grimaced at the attire Gerard handed him, but giggled when Gee kissed him on the nose.

"Is this really necessary?" he asked sarcastically, looking at himself. He looked like he had aged about 50 years and he had taken up pedophilia in his spare time. His height betrayed him; the coat reached the floor with ease, dragging slightly behind him. Gerard placed the tip of his toe on the back of the coat, making Frank trip, flail and fall. He fell back into Gerard, who gladly caught him. He stood him back up and turned him around; he picked up the coat by the waist and lifted it until it suited Frank's height. He tucked the waste material into Frank's waistband gently. Frank stood there, very still, while Gerard did this. He blushed when Gerard started tucking it into the waistband of his jeans; he felt like he was going to explode when Gerard brushed by his crotch. He grinned, flashing a daring look at Frank, who felt like melting.

"Yes, I think it is entirely necessary. It covers you and there fore hides you. If you don't like it, don't go for a piss. Stay here and bust your gut," Gerard said sarcastically, stepping out of the van into the light and offered his hand to Frank. Frank snapped his head the other way and walked out the van on his own, tripping slightly and falling to his knees in front of Gerard. He looked up innocently, but Gerard could feel himself blushing. "Right... uh... lets go." Frank sniggered, pleased that he could have that affect on him.

They reached the building that was at the head of the gas station. They entered; people's heads turned at the sight of Frank in his ridiculous clothing. He rolled his eyes under the hat so no one could see. he stopped to look at the papers on the shelf. He focused on one particular headline:

"MISSING: 17 YEAR OLD FRANK IERO MANHUNT!"

He gulped, suddenly feeling a bit nauseated. He grabbed the shelf to steady himself and felt himself getting very hot and sweaty. He forgot about the need to pee and focused on the fact that his picture was on the front of a national news paper. He shut his eyes, blocking out the world.

Gerard came out of the toilet to find Frank kneeling on the floor in front of the newspaper rack. He went over to him and helped him up. "What's up?" he said, looking from the boy to the papers and realizing. He picked up the paper, his eyes scanning searchingly over the text before setting his eye line on Frank who was wriggling under the gaze. Frank leaned up to Gerard's ear and whispered:

"Buy it. Please. I'll be back."

Frank rushed off in the opposite direction, heading for the male loos. He shut himself in a cubicle and slumped down to the floor. He wretched a couple of times before throwing the contents of his empty stomach into the bowl. He wiped his mouth, closing his eyes and slumping down again. Frank sighed; it was exasperated. He didn't know what to feel anymore.

Firstly, he was kidnapped. He thought he lived through this pretty well, not making too many demands or asking for anything too bad. He had a small crush on Gerard at times before the kiss, and in some moments forgot that he was a murderer. At night, he had terrors about the murder, but they were safely forgotten by the morning. He was just so... human sometimes that made Frank forget about the bad that he had done.

Secondly, he had kissed his kidnapper. He was ashamed of this, but also, at the same time incredibly happy. He liked Gerard, for who he was, not the murderer. He was a nice, gentle person on the inside that had the same inhibitions and the same worries and the same wants in life than everyone else. Frank was beginning to wonder how he got involved in the murder in the first place; maybe it was revenge, to get revenge on the man that he had stabbed. The man was stocky, taller than Gerard. Perhaps he had caused Gerard wrong in the past? Maybe it was his own doing, for a reason. One reason Frank had ruled out was that it was a random attack. It was definitely not that. He had watch Gerard over the days, in his drawing on the trip breaks, to the way he bopped around the back of the van to make Frank laugh. He didn't seem the sort of person to just murder someone.

Finally, he had kind of fallen for this man. This was probably the worst feeling Frank could have.

He thought about his mom back home, worried sick about his whereabouts. He sighed, rubbing his head in his hands. He wanted so badly to call her to let her know he was okay. He wanted to hear her voice, telling him everything was going to be fine. He didn't have a choice. He made his choice when he kissed Gerard, letting him know that he was the side that he chose.

He heard the swing open, and in walked a familiar pair of boots.

"Frankie?"

Frank chuckled softly at the nickname. Mikey used to call him that constantly when he was at home. He sighed, remembering Mikey. He would be worried also. He let a tear fall, thinking of his best friend.

"Frank, I got the paper you wanted..." Gerard's voice projected again bouncing off the walls of the cubicle. He got up, opening the lock on the door and letting in the man. Gerard sat down next to him on the cold, hard floor.

"Mikey..." Frank muttered when the silence between them got awkward.

"Hmm?" Gerard mumbled absently, turning to face Frank properly.

"Mikey... my best friend. He would be so worried..." Frank trailed off, letting the tears roll fast. He lent into Gerard's shoulder, wanting to hit him and kiss him at the same time. "It's all your fault," he sobbed quietly. Gerard sat there and put a gentle arm round the boy, bringing him closer and soothing him with "Shh" sounds. He kissed the top of his head and brought Frank to straddle him on his lap. He took off the silly hat, pushing back the hair in his face and looking at his tear-stained face and pained eyes.

"Frank..." Gerard started, but couldn't finish. What he was going to say sounded way too hurtful and selfish when he played it in his mind that he found it better just to keep shtum.

"What?" Frank breathed, choking back the sobs. He leaned into Gerard's chest, placing a hand and splaying his fingers across his jacket. He toyed with the zip and the creases is the leather, biting lightly on his lip.

"Nothing..." Gerard whispered so only Frank could hear. Frank shut his eyes. Normally, he would have argued with him, but he just wasn't in the mood.

"Okay. What did the paper say?" Frank asked quietly. He knew really that Gerard hadn't read it yet, but he asked all the same.

"I don't know, I haven't read it yet," he answered, half truthfully. He had read some of it, but not the bit Frank was interested in.

"Oh... okay. I want to read it," Frank said boldly. Gerard pushed the hair out of his eyes once again, and kissed his nose gently. Frank's mouth curved up at the corners. It was enough to make him feel butterflies inside. He shut his eyes, and leaned on Gerard again. He wiped his eyes gently. "I need a piss, Gee."

Gerard smiled, loving the nickname Frank had given him. Considering how much he wanted to see Frank naked below the waist, Frank was lucky he got him out of the cubicle. Frank did the business and stepped out of the cubicle to be greeted Gerard's open arms. He walked into them, staying for a matter of seconds, and leaving him to walk out to the van. He passed the paper again, his picture haunting him. He kept his head high and walked past. He got to the van and settled on the bean bags. It was a matter or seconds before he burst out crying. Gerard laid the paper down next to him, and sitting next to him, one hand on his back, rubbing gently.

"I didn't want to do this to you."