The Other Half Of Me

Halloween had been so much fun and Mikey swore that Pete was walking on air after his encounter with Bert the giant Spider Man. Now it was November and the snow was falling in Jersey. Bob was set to come home on Wednesday for Thanksgiving. They were all getting together on Black Friday for a major gaming marathon. Also Bob had said the tattoo healed nicely and they were excited to see it.

(time passes)

"Hey guys!"

"Dude, it's been forever!"

David and Mikey hugged Bob tightly and then got out of the way as pete pounced on him.

"Bobby!"

Bob removed Pete and patted him on the head.

"Lets go guys! We have all night for this shit! The pizza is on the way and mom got us chips, salsa, and soda!"

"Sweet!"

Bob took off his jacket and then his hoodie. His shirt sleeve slid up and Mikey gasped.

"Bob...your tattoo..."

"Yeah, isn't it amazing! I get so many compliments on it and I actually see a lot of this guys' work on campus!"

"That...that's...David look..."

David came over. He looked and grabbed Bob's arm.

"What shop did you get this at?"

"The one in the city. The guys and that girl we met at your birthday."

"Fuck the games, we need to get down there right now."

"Wait...what the fuck is going on!?"

"Gee designed your tattoo."

(time passes)

"If I see another piece of turkey it will be too soon."

Brendon groaned in his chair.

"So you don't want that roast turkey sub for lunch?"

Bert ducked as Brendon missed with a magazine.

Gee giggled from his seat on Frank's lap, where he had been pulled before lunch was served, and now wasn't allowed to get up.

"I-I'll eat it if y-you don't want it."

He giggled out quietly.

"Gee you're a turkey."

Bert hit Brendon and Ryan laughed. His arms draped around Lindsey.

"So Kitten, what do you want for Christmas this year?"

Frank nuzzled his cheek.

Gee's giggle died down and he shrugged, dropping his head so his hair fell in front of his face.

"I'm ok..."

He said quietly.

"Y-you don't have t-to get me anything."

"Gee..."

All the Strays turned to him.

"You said you wouldn't do that anymore."

Gee looked up through his hair, his bottom lip trapped between his teeth.

"No really...I...I don't need anything."

"TICKLE ATTACK!"

All the strays jumped up and ascended on Gee, pulling him from Frank's lap and tickling him mercilessly.

"Ahhh...nononononononononononono...stOP!"

Gee cried out, thrashing and laughing uncontrollably, swatting at their hands ineffectually.

"Not till you stop being a gloomy gus and tell us what you want for Christmas!"

Gee stopped laughing as his lip started to wobble.

"I just..."

"Come on tell us."

"Please Gee?"

Gee closed his eyes, stilling as tears slipped from his eyes.

"I j-just want my f-family back."

All the strays stopped.

"Gee..."

"We didn't..."

"We're sorry..."

"Alright that's it, fun's over."

Frank scooped Gee up.

"You guys handle the shop, I'm taking Gee upstairs."

Frank carried him to the apartment.

Gee buried his face into Frank's neck.

"I'm sorry."

He whispered against the tattooed skin.

"No Kitten don't apologize, if I could I would give you your family back, if I had that power."

Frank carried Gee into the bedroom. He and Frank had been sharing a room since they talked. He laid the boy down and crawled in after him.

Gee curled himself into a ball with his knees to his chest, his little black skirt sliding up his thighs as he sniffed quietly.

"N-no...I'm sorry I r-ruined lunch."

"You didn't ruin anything Kitten."

Frank pulled Gee into his arms. He shushed him softly.

"The Strays had good intentions, they just didn't think, that's all."

"But they w-were having fun and now..."

"Stop it, stop thinking and sleep."

Frank kissed Gee deeply to push everything out of his mind.

Gee gasped slightly before relaxing into the kiss, whining slightly as he pressed himself as close to Frank as he could get.

Frank continued to make out with the Stray till he was breathless.

"Let's take a nap."

Gee panted slightly before nodding with a yawn.

"Ok daddy..."

He snuggled against Frank's chest.

"Y-you'll stay with me...right?"

He looked up at Frank with big wet eyes.

"I promise you Kitten that I am not going anywhere."

Frank kissed him again and then they both settled down to sleep.

(time passes)

"Is there anything left other than to mop Lynz?"

Ryan was pushing the last of the dirt into the dust bin. He had been closing ever since he and Lindsey got together. It was just easier and it was a nice break from Brendon and Bert honestly.

"Sweet, than I can do this."

Ryan dropped the broom as Lindsey passed by him and pulled her into his arms.

"I want to lay you in my chair and drive you crazy till you can't stand it."

Lindsey's breath hitched as Ryan's breath ghosted the skin of her neck.

"Easy tiger...let me at least lock the door before you rock my world."

She giggled, but made no real effort to pull away.

"It's six on Black Friday, who wants a tattoo now anyway?"

Ryan pulled one of Lindsey's thighs up to his hip.

"You wanna take the chance that there isn't some idiot out there right now...just about to walk through those doors and see you bending me over your workstation?..."

Lindsey raised an eyebrow at Ryan.

"Cos if you can handle the wrath of Frank when he finds out...then lets do it."

She challenged with a wink.

Ryan was about to answer when the door banged open.

"Where is he?"

David demanded as he walked in with Mikey and Bob right behind him.

Lindsey's eyes went wide, quickly pulling herself away from Ryan and straightening out her clothes.

"Well?"

Lindsey was suddenly at a loss for words...a rare occurrence indeed. She looked at Ryan for his input.

"Where is who?"

Ryan looked at the two boys that he knew and the one he didn't...but there was something familiar about him.

"Our brother..."

David grabbed Mikey's hand and pulled him to his side.

"Where is Gee?"

Ryan looked at Lindsey and then looked at the boy...the very familiar looking boy. Before he could say anything, Lindsey jumped in.

"The artist is your brother?..."

She made herself sound confused.

"We didn't know, he wanted to stay anonymous."

"Wait, I thought Kitten G. was a girl. I mean look at the art. I figured G stood for Gina or Gwen or something and she was too worried to admit she was designing tattoos."

Ryan played along knowing Lindsey must have a plan.

"You thought Gee was a girl?"

Mikey looked at David. He guessed it was possible.

David frowned slightly.

"You mean you haven't met him?...how do you get the designs?"

"Oh, they are scanned in on the computer. The money is all done through Pay Pal too."

"But you have a way to contact him right?...I mean you must have."

David persisted.

"Well Frank does, he's the owner of the store..."

"Yeah, he's the dude who did the tight filagree work on my tat."

"Right, but he doesn't live here. Plus it's Thanksgiving weekend so he's away visiting family and then he,s going on vacation with his wife."

"Oh, I didn't know he was married."

"Yeah, so he won't be back till almost Christmas."

"Fuck..."

David groaned, deflating somewhat, his hand coming up to rub at his eyes.

"I thought this was it...I thought we'd found him."

"Well after the holiday, I will get in touch with Frank and see what he knows about the artist that you say could be your brother."

"He is our brother!...we'd know his artwork anywhere."

"Alright little man, calm down. We've done what we can here today. Now it's late and we have a long drive to get home."

David gave Bob a look before turning back to the two tattoo artists, who he realised he didn't know the names of.

"Ok well, if you could talk to the owner and get him to call me or Mikey?..."

He sighed, grabbing a pen from his coat pocket.

"Do you have something I could write our numbers on?"

Lindsey handed him a piece of paper from Ryan's station, and David wrote their names and numbers down before handing it back.

"Thanks guys and everyone loves the ink. A lot of the guys and girls have it on campus."

Bob said, ushering David and Mikey back to the door. Ryan watched the boys leave and then locked the door. he turned to his girlfriend.

"Alright, what are you planning? Why couldn't we just run upstairs and get Gee?"

Lindsey grinned, stepping over to wrap her arms around Ryan's shoulders and lightly kiss his lips before pulling back a little.

"Because dear Ryan, Gee said he wanted his family for Christmas...so I think that's exactly what we should give him."

"Oh...oh! You little devil you."

Lindsey winked.

"You know it. Now...where were we before we were interrupted?"

(Time passes)

"Snow!"

Brendon kicked up the powder in the back yard of the shop. Ryan grumbled.

"Fucking child."

Gee giggled as he watched them, snuggled up under Frank's arm in his fluffy black hooded coat and winter white furry boots.

"I like the snow, but it's too c-cold to play in."

He said quietly, smiling up at Frank.

"Maybe if you wore more than a skirt out here, it wouldn't be so cold."

Gee huffed slightly and moved out from Frank's arms.

"I'm g-going in where it's w-warm."

He mumbled quietly as he headed toward the door.

"Look what you did asshole."

Frank punched Brendon in the arm and then ran after Gee.

Gee opened the door and slipped inside, letting it close behind him but he'd barely taken three steps when he heard the door opening again, and turned his head to see Frank there.

"You d-didn't have to come in...I was g-gonna make everyone hot ch-chocolate."

He said quietly, his small smile not quite reaching his eyes.

"Kitten...don't lie to me, you were bothered by what the block head said."

Frank moved behind Gee and kissed part of his exposed neck.

Gee whimpered quietly at the touch, but shook his head.

"I'm ok daddy."

"Kitten..."

Frank put a possessive hand on Gee's hip.

"...what did we say about lying to daddy?"

Gee swallowed, his lip trembling a little. His eyes dropped to the floor.

"That it's bad, daddy."

"Now I don't want to punish my baby a week before Christmas cause then Santa will find out and put him on the naughty list."

Gee gasped a small shaky breath.

"I'm sorry daddy."

"Now tell daddy the truth."

Gee sniffed, eyes still cast down.

"Brendon did u-upset me...I d-don't think he likes that I w-wear skirts daddy."

"That's not true, I think you look great in skirts Gee, I just think you should have leggings on in the snow so we can play!"

Brendon came in and Frank moved, hugging Gee.

"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

Gee shrugged slightly, turning his face away a little.

" 's ok."

He whispered.

"Kitten, how about you go put on some leggings and then go play in the snow with the other strays."

Gee looked up at Frank slowly.

"Ok daddy."

He tiptoed and kissed Frank's cheek lightly before turning and heading up the stairs to change.

"I'm sorry Frankie, I didn't think..."

"It's okay Brendon. Hey do you know what Lindsey and Ryan have been up to lately?"

"You mean besides each other?"

Brendon giggled and Frank scoffed.

"No shit, Ryan has to keep disinfecting his whole area each day. No, they are being really secretive and I can't figure it out. Even Bert is confused."

"Sorry Frankie, they aren't telling me anything either."

"Who's not telling you anything?"

Gee asked brightly as he skipped back down the stairs wearing the same outfit as before, but with the addition of thick winter white leggings. He jumped the last three steps, straight into Frank's arms as he giggled and turned happy and curious eyes toward Brendon, his upset from before; forgotten.

"Frankie thinks Ryan and Lynz are planning something."

Brendon took Gee's hand when Frank let him go.

"Come one Gee. Do you wanna build a snow man?"

Brendon sang off key for fun.

Gee giggled and nodded, then started to sing along as they headed outside into the snow.

Frank shook his head and went to make the hot chcolate that Gee mentioned.

(time passes)

"Are you sure this is gonna work?"

Ryan was nervous. everything had to be perfect in order to get them all at the right place at the right time. Bert was playing a role he didn't even understand.

"So you want me to invite Pete and his friends to Central Park on Christmas Eve because you have a surprise for them?"

Lindsey nodded, wrapping her arms around Ryan's waist from behind and resting her chin on his shoulder.

"Yep, that's right."

"You really hate me."

Bert huffed, but pulled out his phone and started texting Pete.

"Honey...what if this doesn't work?"

Lindsey grinned, pressing a kiss to the side of Ryan's neck before answering.

"It will. Have faith in Christmas miracles sweet cheeks."

(time passes)

"I don't know how you talked us into this Pete."

Mikey never expected to be on a train for the city on Christmas eve with his best friend and his brother.

"This is either going to be really lame, or immensely cool..."

David said thoughtfully as he stared out of the window at the snow covered ground.

"I'm kinda betting on lame though."

"It'll be cool guys...you'll see."

Pete chirped.

"It's gonna be sooo cool! Bert says the park is amazing and full of Christmas magic!"

Pete was waving his arms about and Mikey rolled his eyes and ducked.

David sighed and looked at Pete.

"You got it bad dude...seriously."

He shook his head and turned back to the window.

Mikey wondered what Gee was doing at that moment. As he looked out the window the snow started to fall.

"Merry Christmas Gee. I hope you are happy whereever you are."

(Time passes )

"I never saw Central Park at Christmas before..."

Gee said with a smile as he snuggled against Frank's side, tucked up under his arm.

"Will there be lots of people daddy?"

"There will be and we can go ice skating and take a ride in a carriage drawn by horses and I will buy you fresh roasted chestnuts...and if you start singing Brendon I will cut yours off and roast them."

"Awww, you're no fun Frankie."

Brendon pouted and Bert slung an arm around him.

Gee giggled then looked up at Frank.

"I used to be g-good at ice s-skating daddy...I could do spins and everything..."

His smile slipped slightly and he looked down.

"I used to skate w-with David and Mikey."

"Maybe it will happen again. You never know baby."

Gee shook his head sadly, before burying his face in Frank's coat.

"I'll never see them again...I know that."

He mumbled quietly.

"It's Christmas Kitten, a time for true miracles."

"Come on Gee, let's go ice skating."

Ryan grabbed Gee's hand and pulled him away. Lindsey walked up and took Frank's arm.

"I know you too well, you are hiding something Lynz."

Lindsey smiled innocently at Frank.

"I don't know what you could possibly mean."

Frank rolled his eyes.

"Whatever, come on I'll get you hot chocolate."

Lindsey grinned wide, her eyes sparkling as they headed along the snowy path.

"You know the way to a girl's heart Frankie...shame your's is taken, and you're, y' know...gay."

Frank laughed and swatted her playfully as then headed off in the direction of the vendor.

(time passes)

"It's fucking cold out here Pete!"

Mikey was grumbling as he pulled himself into his hoodie tighter.

"There is hot chocolate around here, I see everyone with it. Ah! There is it!"

Pete took off ahead of the brothers to the cart.

David rolled his eyes, grabbing Mikey's hand.

"Come on Mikes...we better go after him else we'll loose him...he's like a fucking five year old sometimes."

"Tell me about it. Gee used to say he..."

Mikey stopped. He could feel the tears.

David sighed as he pulled Mikey into a hug.

"I know Mikey...I miss him too. But we'll find him one day, you'll see."

"We looked everywhere for him! We even were at the same place he was on New Years and we didn't find him!"

"Well we haven't heard back from the guy who owns the tattoo shop yet...maybe he'll call soon and be able to help us."

"I just...I want to believe. I want to keep hope still, but I..."

(time passes)

Pete was standing in line for his drink when he saw a familar face.

"Hey! I know you guys! Frank from halloween right?"

Lindsey grinned, she knew Pete would come if Bert asked him...and if Pete was there...

"Hey Pete...don't run off, we'll never find you in all these people."

David panted as he and Mikey jogged to catch up.

"Hey, it's the kids from the party. How are you guys? At least you are smart to wear scarves, it is cold as fuck today."

Frank smiled at them.

"How about some hot chocolate?"

David kept a hold of Mikey's hand, after all he hadn't met this guy before, he could be a serial killer or something...then he noticed the woman at his side.

"Hey, I know you. From the tattoo shop, right?"

Lindsey nodded and smiled.

"Yep."

"Yeah David, Frank owns the place. Oh! Hey, the artist that did our friend's tattoo, we wanted to ask you about them."

"Frankie did you see Gee?"

Ryan ran over to them with bert.

"He can really spin on the ice!"

David's eyes went wide as his face went kind of white.

"G-Gee?...he's...he's here?"

Lindsey just nodded and grinned wider.

"Yep."

"Wait...what the fuck is going on? How do you guys know Gee?"

Frank looked back and forth at the two boys. Then one took their scarf off and Frank gasped.

"You look like..."

"Hey daddy, did you see me spin?...I nearly fell over, but I didn't."

Gee giggled as he ran over and jumped into Frank's arms, not noticing the weird atmosphere that sat around the group yet...or his brothers and Pete who were all stood, open mouthed and staring.

"I did Kitten, but..."

"Gee?"

Gee turned his head with a bright, happy smile...and froze, his eyes widening and his fingers gripping tighter to Frank's shoulders.

"Gee, it's really you."

David said quietly, as if he thought Gee would vanish if he raised his voice at all. Gee didn't answer...he wasn't even sure this was real. He slowly turned his eyes back to Frank, his smile slipping away.

"Am I d-dreaming d-d-daddy?...can...can you s-see them?"

He stuttered out, his whole body starting to tremble.

"I see them baby,"

Fank turned to Lindsey and Ryan.

"Strays?"

"Merry Chistmas Gee."

Gee sniffed, sucking his bottom lip between his teeth to stop it wobbling as he hesitantly turned back to his brothers.

"Is...is h-he h-here?"

He whimpered, still clinging to Frank's coat with white-knuckled fingers.

"Gee Gee it's really you!"

Mikey ran over and hugged Gee tightly.

Gee tensed up, gasping with his eyes wide.

"M-Mikey?"

"Yeah Gee, it's me, it's us and we have been looking for you ever since you left!"

"Mikey?...D-David?..."

Gee's vision blurred, then everything went black as he slumped, unconscious in his brother's arms.

"Gee!"

"Fuck, we need to get him home."

Frank scooped Gee up in his arms.

"Come on Strays, let's go."

"Wait!...where are you taking him?"

David demanded, grabbing Frank's coat sleeve and pulling him around.

"I am taking home cos thanks to your piece of shit parents he didn't have one and he had to hook on the street in order to survive till we found him!"

Frank was livid! This was not the brother that Gee described.

"No..."

David gasped, his eyes falling on his twin.

"Oh God no..."

He moved in closer, pressing his cheek hard against Gee's and breaking completely...huge ugly sobs escaping him as he clung to his unconscious brother.

"No Gee, please Gee no...we tried to find you...we never stopped looking for you and it's safe now...that asshole's gone now Gee...you're safe!...you're safe."

David could barely breathe between sobs.

"Stop, all of you. Let's just all go back to the apartment. We can warm up and talk about everything while we wait for Gee to wake up."

Bert was holding a trembling Pete's hand.

"I second that."

Lindsey said, looking a little shaken herself as she gripped Ryan's hand.

They all headed to the car.

"Okay so who is going in my car and who is going in Lindsey's?"

"Mikey and I are going wherever Gee is."

David said, still clinging to Gee's limp hand and staring intently at his face.

"Okay, so Bert and Pete go with Lindsey and Ryan, and Brendon come with the brothers and me."

They piled into the cars and drove off.

Notes

Hi there chipmunks...how's you?

So the moment you have all been waiting for...was it good?...did you like?

Just 2 more chapters to go...well, 1 and the epilogue, but then it will be over. Don't worry though, cos we already have plans for a new fic to take its place...

Until next time...PLEASE COMMENT, and peace out babies!
<3