That Chain-Written Frerard Fic

Gerard P.O.V.

The next few days are fraught with worry and tension. Frankie and I are both confined to the house, but despite the police car constantly on surveillance outside, we both still twitch at every sudden sound. McCracken is a very dangerous guy of questionable sanity- he's already kidnapped Frank once, who knows what else he's capable of?

Three days after Frank came back home, we're curled up in a blanket cocoon on the sofa together, sharing popcorn and distracting ourselves with a trashy-horror movie marathon. Frank's head is nestled in the crook of my arm and I stroke his soft dark hair absentmindedly, content in our closeness and easy affection. He seems so small and vulnerable, tucked tight as he is against me, and I know that more than anything else in the world I want this precious boy safe and happy. I love him too much to let anyone get away with trying to hurt him.

Suddenly there's a low creaking sound, kind of like the bend of an old floorboard under foot. I start, grabbing Frank tightly and straining to hear more. Gee, you're paranoid, there's police outside, you're both perfectly safe.

"Gerard? Gee, what's wrong?" Frank whispers, looking at me fearfully.

I gulp. "Probably nothing baby, but..." I trail off, still staring at the door to the corridor as I pause the movie and untangle myself from Frank as gently and as quietly as possible.

Frank curls up in to a ball on the sofa, eyes wide and terrified as I creep silently to the door. I've almost reached it, am stretching out to put my hand on it, when it opens all by itself.

It's like a nightmare, right down to the lightbulb that suddenly flickers as I stumble backwards, flashing over Bert's stringy hair, the handgun clenched in his fist, the maniacal glint in his eyes.

Frank gives a choked scream and both of us back away to the corner of the room, neither of us daring to look away from the horrifying man slowly approaching us with a leer. I push Frank behind me, trying to shield him with my own body, and I can feel a small wet patch on my shoulder as he sobs silent, hysterical tears. My own arm shakes like a leaf as I reach it out to where Bert is advancing on us.

"How did you get in here?" I ask, voice low and wobbling.

He sniggers. "Didn't take much to get rid of those cops, if you know what I mean." He wiggles the gun suggestively and I feel Frank's knees buckle in terror.

"I called 911 when I heard you in the corridor, there's a whole lot more of them on the way," I bluff.

"Don't even bother, Way, I know you're lying!" Bert cackles like a hyena as he pulls back the safety and I know I'm only a few seconds away now from throwing up in fear.

Bert's leer twists into a savage snarl. "Now, I'm here to get my Frankie back. But I know he'll never love me while you're still around so guess what?"

He points the gun at me, the barrel a spinning black hole that I can't look away from. There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide and in those last few seconds that mean more to me than any other in my life, I reach behind me for Frankie's hand and clasp it tight, trying to convey to him in that one action just how much I love him and how sorry I am that I've failed him. I close my eyes as Bert's finger clenches on the trigger and then-

CRUNCH

THUD

There's none of the pain I expected and unbelievably I can still feel Frank's hand in my own. So what-

I open my eyes. Bert is lying in a heap on the floor, blood oozing from his head, while the gun has been kicked to the other corner of the room. And standing over him-

"Lucky I thought you'd guys would like some groceries, eh?" Mikey says calmly, as he puts down the fire extinguisher.

Notes

~The-Scum-Superior