Mikey came to an abrupt stop when he saw Gerard remove his arm from around the woman. He was overwhelmed with so many emotions as he watched Gerard slowly get to his feet then moved towards the steps.

Lucy too was watching Gerard noticing his body was still tense. She was about to speak when he walked down the steps.

Gerard moved slowly towards his brother but his mind and heart were racing. His greatest fear had just become a reality. The world he had created with Lucy was in danger and he had no idea what to do.

Mikey took several steps forward searching his brother’s face. What he saw confused him, Gerard actually looked scared.

“Mikey.” Gerard said softy as he neared.

Suddenly, after being afraid for his brothers safely for so long, Mikey’s love for him took over. He threw his arms around him hugging him tightly. “You stupid fucker.” He whispered.

Gerard returned his brother’s hug. “How did you find me?”

The question caused Mikey to release him then take a step back. “Gee, what the fuck is going on?”

Again Gerard repeated his question.

Mikey shook his head as anger washed over him. “Didn’t want me to, did you?”

“I didn’t say that.” Gerard answered slowly. “But...” He fell silent as Lucy, who’d followed him off the porch, took his hand.

She wasn’t sure what was going on but she didn’t want Gerard to face it alone.

“Uh, Mikey, this is Lucy.” He said squeezing her hand, “Lucy, my brother Mikey.”

Lucy was slightly unnerved by the way Mikey was staring at her. “Nice to meet you.”

Mikey nodded then turned his attention back to Gerard. He was trying desperately to make sense of what was happening. “Where is your car?” He noticed only a truck was in the driveway.

“Uh, it got totaled.”

Lucy pointed to the field, “It’s actually over there in the hedge row.”

“I don’t understand.”

“There was a tornado.” Gerard began to explain but Mikey cut him off.

“You actually were in that tornado?”

Gerard frowned, “You know about the tornado?”

Mikey nervously shifted from one foot to the other. “Yeah, your duffle bag was found in a dry creek bed about twenty miles from here.”

Gerard’s eyes grew wide. “It was?”

“I told you it was probably in the next county.” Lucy reminded him.

Mikey tried not to glare at her. He kept his attention on his brother. “Yeah, some kids found it then turned it over to the police.”

Gerard was still digesting that information.

“So we knew you had a least been in Kansas.” Mikey said “The bag was fucked up and the authorities thought it looked like it had been involved in the tornado.”

“It was sucked out of the car.” Gerard nodded, “But the car got dropped in the field.”

Lucy was looking at Mikey and could see he was upset. “Gerard was lucky we made it to shelter just in time.”

Gerard spoke up. “Lucy saved me life.” He said staring into his brother’s eyes trying to wordless let him know how important this woman was to him. “She got me out of the car just in time.”

“You were here?”

Gerard nodded, “Yeah, I was turning around in the driveway when she ran out and yanked me from the car. She pulled me into the storm shelter just as the tornado was coming across the road.”

“You can still see some of the damage to the remaining trees.” Lucy said pointing.

Mikey glanced over then turned to stare at his brother again. “Why were you here?”

“Uh” Gerard paused trying to give himself time to think, “I was sorta lost when the storm hit. I saw the sign for Neosho Falls and thought it was a town where I could seek shelter.”

“It’s a fucking ghost town.” Mikey said shaking his head.

“I didn’t know that.” Gerard answered quickly. “I saw the sign so I headed this way.

Lucy smiled, “He thought my house was abandoned too.”

Gerard smiled at her. “Hey, it just needs some paint.”

Again anger washed over Mikey as he looked at the woman his brother had spent so much time with while his family worried endlessly. “So you’ve been here all this time?”

Gerard heard the anger in his brother’s voice. “Yeah, I’ve been with Lucy.” Again he stared into his brother’s eyes praying he’d understand that Lucy had saved him not just from the storm but from the destructive path his life had taken.

“Mikey, why don’t you come up on the porch and take a seat.” Lucy said softly.

Gerard knew he somehow had to get Mikey alone to explain to him the situation but for the moment couldn’t think of a way.

“Yeah” Mikey nodded, “Let’s all sit and talk.” He had several choice words he wanted to share with his brother, none of them nice. He tried to contain his anger as he followed them across the yard. Gerard now had his arm around Lucy hugging her to his body.

Gerard and Lucy sat on the glider while Mikey sat in the matching metal chair. For a moment no one spoke then Mikey asked, “So, you’ve been here almost the whole time since you left LA.”

Gerard heard the anger loud and clear. “Yeah, at first I stayed to help Lucy clean up the storm debris. The tornado made a hell of a mess.”

“And it never crossed your mind to call home?”

Gerard placed his arm around Lucy’s shoulder. “Uh, no phone.”

“I know you left your phone behind.” Mikey said, “I found it. But couldn’t you have used her phone?”

“Sorry.” Lucy said softly, “But he really couldn’t, I don’t have a phone.” She smiled, “Well at least I didn’t before your brother bought me one.”

Gerard really wished she hadn’t added that. He could see the anger flash in his brother’s eyes.

“How about an e-mail?” Mikey asked growing angrier by the minute. All the sleepless nights he’d spent worrying about Gerard were now filling his mind.

“Sorry, again.” Lucy answered, “No computer.”

Mikey wished she would shut up. He wanted to hear his brother explain why he’d put this family through hell.

“I didn’t know you were that worried.” Gerard said slowly. “Sorry.”

Mikey tried not to let his anger explode. “Are you fuckin’ kidding me? You didn’t think we’d be worried? Gerard, you took off almost two months ago not telling anyone where you were going. Do you have any idea what kind of hell you’ve put us through?”

Guilt washed over Gerard, “I’m sorry.” He said again. “Really, sorry. But I needed to get away.” He stared at his brother. “I’m sure you understand that.”

Mikey shook his head, “No, I don’t understand at all. Why would you do this to me?”

“Mikey, I didn’t leave to hurt you. I left trying to help myself. I needed to think, I needed time to figure things out.”

Lucy realized the brother’s needed time to talk alone. “Hey” She said softly. “Why don’t I fix some ice tea?”

Mikey glared at her. In his mind this woman had been the reason his brother had abandoned his family.

Gerard saw this as his opportunity to talk to Mikey alone. “Yeah, Honey. That sounds nice. I’d love a glass of tea.” He turned to Mikey. “Wouldn’t you?”

Mikey nodded. However with Lucy brushed a kiss on Gerard’s cheek before standing his anger began to simmer again.

Lucy pulled open the screen door then went inside.

Mikey wasted no time. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Mikey, please.” Gerard glanced over at the door to make sure Lucy was out of sight. “Just calm down. I’ll explain everything but later, okay?”

Mikey’s whole body began to tremble with anger. “No, you’ll explain now. What the fuck, Gerard? You take off knowing you’re leaving behind that whole fuckin’ mess with Karli..”

Gerard cut him off, “What mess with Karli?”

“Holy shit.” Mikey exploded, “Are you telling me you’ve really not had any kind of contact with the outside world? You’ve really been on his shit farm all this time not knowing what was happening in LA?”

Gerard knew he had to calm his brother. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on with Karli…”

“Well let me be the first to tell you.” Mikey spat. “She’s claiming you knocked her up.”

“That’s a lie.” Gerard shook his head. “A fuckin’ lie.”

“Well she’s all over the Net saying it’s true.” Mikey shook his head, “How could you do this to us, Gee? You take off not telling anyone where you’re going, you leave your phone, you don’t call...”

“I’ll explain everything later.” Gerard said quickly, “But please for now just don’t say anything about that. Lucy doesn’t know anything about my life in LA.”

Mikey gave him an incredulous look, “Are you fuckin’ serious?”

Gerard nodded, “I mean it. She doesn’t know anything. She just thinks I’m a writer who needed some time away.”

Mikey’s hands clinched into fists. “That woman has no idea you have a wife and child back in LA, is that what you’re trying to tell me?”

“No, she doesn’t know and I don’t want her to know, not now. I can’t tell her that right now.”

“Oh fuck,” Mikey shook his head, “What kind of fucked up game have you been playing here? Your family has been worried sick and you’ve been shacked up here this whole time playing house with that woman?”

Gerard started to answer when a movement out of the corner of his eyes made his heart skip a beat. Turning he saw Lucy standing on the other side of the screen door. When he saw her face his heart sank. Jumping to his feet he pulled open the screen door. “Lucy…”

Lucy’s eyes were wide, her mind trying to come to grips with what she’d just overheard. “I uh…” She stumbled trying to speak, “I just was coming back to see if Mikey wanted his tea sweetened.”

Gerard took a step towards her but she started shaking her head wildly. “Lucy, honey, I need to explain.”

Lucy took a step back, “Explain?”

“Yes” Gerard took another stop towards her. “Please, listen to me.”

She couldn’t listen, the sound of her racing heart filled her ears. She spun around running for the kitchen.

“Fuck.” Gerard muttered as stood a moment trying to think of a way to stop what was happening.

Mikey had gotten to his feet. “Gerard.”

Gerard ignored him as he turned to follow Lucy. He found her leaning over the kitchen sink.
When she heard him enter the kitchen she slowly straightened up to face him.

“Lucy, please listen to me. Let me explain.”

Her world was shattering before her eyes, “Just tell me. Is it true? Are you married?” When he once more began to say he needed to explain Lucy shouted, “Yes or no?”

Gerard looked down, “Yes” He whispered.

Lucy felt physically sick, “And you have a child?”

It was over, Gerard knew that from the bottom of his aching heart, “I have a daughter.”

“Oh” Her hand flew to cover her mouth as vile inched up her throat.

Mikey who had decided to follow them entered the kitchen.

Lucy’s voice was shaking, “All this time…we were together and you had a wife and child.” The betrayal was too much.

“I was going to tell you.” Gerard whispered but the words died in his mouth.

Lucy’s eyes filled with tears. “You were going to tell me.” She repeated. “When?” A tear rolled down her cheek.

Mikey’s own anger over the situation was still strong. In his eyes his woman was the reason his brother had forsaken his family. “You must be good, lady.” He spat. “Made him forget he had a wife and kid.”

Lucy’s eyes grew wide and she flinched as if she’d been physically struck.

“Shut the fuck up, Mikey.” Gerard said rounding to face his brother. “She didn’t know, it’s not her fault.”

Mikey glared at him. “Are you seriously telling me she had no idea who you are? Are you telling me she just thought you were some stranger she invited into her home then let him move in?”

Lucy had no idea what that meant and she didn’t care. Her heart was shattering into a million pieces. She quickly turned to move towards the kitchen table. Grabbing the truck keys she spoke, “He’s right. How stupid of me to just let a stranger move in. A man I didn’t know and still don’t.”

Gerard wanted to plead with her to listen but he knew it would do no good.

“I want you out of my house by the time I get back.” Lucy said, her voice shaking. “Go home with your brother. Go back to your wife and child.”

Mikey crossed his arms feeling pleased at this outcome.

Gerard took a step towards her. “Lucy, if you’d only listen.”

“Listen?” She cried out. “Listen to what? More lies?”

“I never meant to hurt you.”

Years of being alone with a broken heart had somehow prepared her for this. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll forget I ever met you.” Another tear rolled down her cheek, “Damn you for doing this.” She reached the back door then turned to face him one last time. “Why? Why?” The pain in her voice was overwhelming, “I really believed…I really…”

Gerard stared at this woman who’d given him her wounded heart only to have him break it again. “I’m so sorry.” He whispered.

Lucy’s mind went numb. Turning away she pushed open the back door blinded by tears.

As the truck tore down the driveway Gerard lowered his head, his own eyes wet with unshed tears. He’d lost Lucy but what tore at his heart was knowing how badly he’d hurt her.

Mikey was slowly beginning to feel bad about what he’d just witnessed. Lucy’s obvious pain made his early thoughts leave his head. “Gee” He said softly. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that to her.”

Gerard wiped his eyes. “She didn’t know. She honestly didn’t know.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“There is nothing to do.” Gerard whispered. “I’ve hurt her and that’s something I’d have given anything to keep from happening.”

Mikey stood unsure what to say. He now understood how deeply his brother cared for his woman.

Gerard looked around the kitchen, his mind trying to memorize each detail. This life he’d created for himself was over but he didn’t want to forget one thing. “I need to get my stuff.” He whispered turning for the stairs.

Mikey took a seat in the living room while he waited.

When Gerard returned he was wearing his own clothing, the clothing he’d worn the day he arrived. He’d neatly folded Rafe’s thing and placed them back in the box.

“Gee” Mikey stood when his brother entered the room. “Maybe you can still talk to her.”

“And tell her what?” Gerard asked angrily. “Tell her I’m a son of a bitch who didn’t mention he was married? She knows that now. No point in telling her.”

Mikey was still trying to figure everything out. “Uh, why is there a mattress on the floor?”

Gerard’s eyes went to the mattress and immediately his mind was filled with images of holding Lucy in his arms as she slept. “She was sick...” He started to explain but decided he couldn’t. “Let’s go.”

Mikey watched as his brother walked over to the desk. Gerard grabbed a piece of paper and wrote something. Then he turned away, taking nothing with him.

“Ready?” Mikey asked softly as he watched Gerard looking around the room.

Gerard blinked back tears, “Yeah, lets get the hell out of here.” His only thought was to leave, he couldn’t bear to cause Lucy any more pain but first there was something he needed to do.

_________________________________________

As they passed through Neosho Falls Gerard took what he believed would be his last look at the town. He tried to push the memories of exploring the old building with Lucy from his mind but it was impossible. He’d never forget one moment he’d spent with her and in truth he didn’t want to.

Mikey gripped the steering wheel of the rental car tightly. He wasn’t sure what to say to his brother but he understood Gerard was in pain. “What happened to this town?” Mikey asked softly seeing how Gerard was staring intently out the window.

“It died.” Gerard whispered. “This is all that remains of the hopes and dreams of those who once lived here.”

Mikey was overcome with guilt over his part of what had just happened. “Gee, I really am sorry. I was just so upset, I’ve been so worried about you and when I got here and saw you with her…”

“Please.” Gerard cut him off. “I don’t want to talk about it. I can’t.” As the car left the town behind he leaned back against the headrest and closed his eyes.

_____________________________________________

Lucy drove around mindlessly for hours. When exhaustion had finally caused her to head back home it was dark. As she slowly drove up the driveway her home too was dark. A fresh batch of tears fell from her eyes as she climbed out of the truck, there was no Rex to greet her and she knew her house was now as empty as her once healed heart.

Not bothering to turn on the kitchen light she walked through the darkness to the living room. The first thing she saw was that Gerard had removed the mattress from the floor. It didn’t matter that he’d carried it back upstairs because she knew in her heart she’d never be able to sleep on it again. Then she noticed the desk. Walking over she saw the paper where he’d scribbled a note. It simply said please if you need anything and under that was a phone number and a PO Box address. Lucy wiped her eyes then grabbed the piece of paper crumbling it into a ball. She needed nothing from him, nothing he could give her. She also saw he’d left everything he’d written.

“Of course he did.” Lucy’s voice echoed in the empty room. “This was all just part of his lie.”

She turned away to leave the room but stopped when she saw he’d left the guitar on the sofa. More tears rolled down her cheeks.

As she climbed the stairs her whole body felt heavy, pure exhaustion was shutting her down physically and mentally. At the top of the stairs she glanced towards the little room where he’d replaced the mattress. Then she turned to move down the hallway but only glanced into the room where last night they’d made love. The pain was becoming unbearable. There was only one place she could lay her head, Lizzy’s room.

Kicking off her shoes she curled up on the child’s size bed then closed her eyes. She prayed for sleep, she prayed for anything that would make this pain stop.

________________________________________

Gerard hadn’t spoken on the way to Wichita, he hadn’t spoken during the charted flight Mikey had arranged. When they touched down in LA he simply followed his brother off the small plane to the waiting car.

Mikey wished Gerard would say something, at this point he needed his brother to speak. He’d never seen Gerard like this before, looking so broken, and it frightened him. Once they were headed out of the airport Mikey glanced over at him. “The meeting is in the morning.”

Gerard nodded.

“So you’re going to be there?”

Gerard spoke softly looking ahead, “I won’t let you and the guys down.”

Mikey sighed, “Gee, you’ve never let us down.”

“Of course I have, it’s just none of you ever said it. Now please just take me home.”

“I thought you’d go to my house for a while.” The idea of taking Gerard home in his present state of mind frightened Mikey.

Gerard understood, “I’m not drinking any more so you don’t have to worry about that.”

“You’re not?” Mikey was very surprised and yet when he thought about it he shouldn’t have been. It should have been obvious to him when he first saw Gerard in Kansas. His brother had looked healthy, much healthier than he had in a long time.

“No, I’m not.” Gerard answered closing his eyes again while leaning his head back.

Several minutes passed before Gerard spoke again. During the flight when Mikey had tired to get him to talk he’d been told Lindsey had filed for divorce. “Is she back from New York?”

Mikey glanced over at him. “Yeah, she’s back.”

“Is she at the house?”

It hurt Mikey to hear his brother’s voice sound so lifeless. “She’s been staying with friends but I know she’s been packing some of her stuff. You don’t want to see her right now, do you?”

Gerard answered without opening his eyes, “I need to get things settled with her, I need to tell her how sorry I am things ended up this way.” He paused, “But more than anything I need to see Bandit.”

Gerard was silent for the rest of the drive. He’d fallen into a troubled sleep when the car stopped.

The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was the Spanish words on the wall surrounding his home. HOUSE OF MY DREAMS. His mind immediately went to the yellow piece of paper where he’d written the other Spanish words that had begun his trip, the trip where he’d found Lucy. Emotion chocked his words. “Please, pick me up in the morning, okay?"

Mikey was visibly upset. “Gee, I don’t want to leave you here.”

“This is my home.” Gerard said pushing open his door.

“But Gee.”

Gerard gave him a sad smile, “I’m okay. I’ll see you in the morning.” With that he got out then quickly closed the door.

Mikey watched as Gerard disabled the alarm system then walked inside the gate. He’d wanted his brother to come home, he’d convinced himself that this very result would happen but now as he saw Gerard’s slumped shoulders, as he remembered the pain he’d seen in his eyes, Mikey regretted his actions.

Gerard didn’t have to worry about not having his keys, he’d seen Lindsey’s car in the garage. His wife was here and it was time to face her. Taking a deep breath he pushed open the front door.

Lindsey, who had been packing up some mementos in the living room heard the door open. She walked slowly towards the front entry hall.

Now that he was inside Gerard was bombarded by memories. For a moment it felt like he couldn’t breath.

Lindsey stared at her soon to be ex-husband shocked at what she saw. However she reminded herself she shouldn’t be. He looked terrible but she was sure that was because of the alcohol. As angry as she was with him, it still hurt knowing what he was doing to himself would affect Bandit. Crossing her arms she glared at him.

“So I see your brother brought you back from your love nest in Kansas.”