Frank was more worried about Gerard than ever. He was worried about Gerard's relapse, but he was also worried about what would happen when they showed up at Eyeball the next day. How would Gerard react, having to face his rapist every day for nearly the next week?

"Please don't make me go!" Gerard whined as Frank rubbed his back, trying to coax him out of the bed. "Please! Alex is gonna be there and—"

"I'll be there," Frank interrupted him. "And Mikey'll be there, and Ray, and Matt. You'll be fine, I promise. And, if you want, I'll talk to Alex for you."

"No!" Gerard cried, his eyes widening in fear. "No, you can't say anything! Please, just let me stay home today!"

"Gerard, as much as I want to, you need to go," Frank said. "Show Alex that you're the bigger person."

"I'm not, though," Gerard said quietly. "I'm not brave like you. I can't be in the same room as him. I threw up just thinking about how I'd have to be near him."

Frank sighed before saying: "Baby, I'm really sorry, but I think you should come today. We can leave early, but we have to show up, at least. Show Alex that you are brave. Because, I've seen a side of you that nobody else has, and that Gerard— he Gerard that lived through 9/11, being away from his new boyfriend for two, almost three months, said boyfriend cheating on him with the same person who raped him— That Gerard is pretty damn brave. Braver than I'll ever be."

"But I'm not," Gerard argued. "I relapsed after six months. I wasted six months of my life, just to get back to square one. I'm weak. I can't do anything without wanting to be or being drunk and, ya know, being raped doesn't really help this."

Frank said nothing. He watched Gerard with sad eyes before wrapping him in a tight hug. "Gerard, I know you hate this, and you'll hate me for this, but you need to go to Eyeball today. We can leave at noon if it's too much."

"Frankie," Gerarf whimpered into Frank's shoulder. "Please don't do this."

"I'm sorry, but it needs to happen."

---

---

As soon their car pulled up in front of Eyeball, Gerard paled and turned to Frank, fear evident in his eyes. "Frankie, please let me go home, please, you don't understand," he said in a panicked rush, his hand shooting out and taking hold of Frank's hand tightly.

"Gee, you'll be fine, I promise," Frank said. "Let's go in."

Notes

So sorry for the short chapter. Writers block is a bitch most of the time.

xoøli