“Hey guys, come on in.” Brent said, unlocking the front door to his office building. It was about noon on Sunday, and Brent had made the time to come in to meet with them. He was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, and he definitely did not look like a lawyer.
“I can’t thank you enough for doing this for us, Brent. Whatever it costs, it’s worth it to have you behind our back. This means so much to us.” Gerard said to him as they walked in with an honest expression on his face. Frank and Gerard had talked briefly, about how they would pay for his services considering they were both equally broke. Gerard had a few thousand in his 401k at work that he could pull out, and Frank had a couple hundred in savings. They would likely need to get a loan from the bank to pay for all of this, but if it meant that Bert would go away forever it was worth every penny.
“You don’t think I’m charging you, do you?” Brent asked, leading them to his office with a smirk on his face.
“We would never expect you to do this for free.” Frank remarked, surprised.
“Well, I am. Anything for Lindsey’s best friend’s. Besides, what Bert did to you was horrible and I want to put him behind bars just as much as you do.” He sat behind a large wooden desk, with paper’s strewn about. He had music playing in the background, some type of light rock that Gerard couldn’t make out, but made him smile because he knew it was the same music Lindsey liked.
“Brent…you really don’t have to do that. I mean, we’re already troubling you on a Sunday and…” Gerard drawled on.
“It’s my pleasure, really. I may not know the guy personally, but I hate him based solely on what Lindsey has told me, and I probably would have taken this case pro-bono even if it wasn’t you guys had it been presented to me.” He smiled at them. “Did you bring the letter and the envelope?”
Gerard was pulled from his jumbled and ecstatic mind, and pulled the letter from his pocket. “Here it is.”
Brent studied it for a moment before laughing, nonchalantly. “This guy’s a fucking idiot.”
Frank and Gerard laughed in unison.
“The first thing I notice is that this letter wasn’t sent through the prison, or it would have its return address on it, they make sure you know when you’re getting a letter from a prisoner.” He shook his head in disbelief. “He had someone sneak this out and send it, likely because he knew there is a no contact order on him. He thought he was being sneaky, but he was pretty shit at it.”
“Yeah, he’s pretty shit at a lot of things.” Frank cocked an eyebrow and pointed to his arm, eliciting a playful scowl from Gerard.
“The second thing I notice is that he said they are going to try and play the self-defense card. No respectable lawyer that I know of would go with this, for a few reasons, the main being that the bullet entered from the back of Frank’s arm, meaning that he was turned around when Bert shot him. That makes it obvious he wasn’t going after him, like he claims. This would result in an almost immediate suspicion of guilt, and no lawyer would bother trying it. It’s not going to work.” He continued. “I’m going to assume, based on what I know, they’re going to try and plead insanity, which honestly, wouldn’t be a stretch based on what I know.”
Gerard and Frank nodded, agreeing.
“That would be good, right?” Gerard asked.
“Yes and no.” Brent said. “Good because it’s fairly clear, and it would be easy for a jury to convict him. Bad, because insanity cases typically get much lower sentences in far less secure facilities, like a mental hospital until they are deemed rehabilitated.” Brent said rehabilitated with air quotes as he spoke.
“So, what do you think we can do?” Gerard questioned.
“Honestly, the only thing we can do right now is wait. We need to wait to see if more letters come, and if they do I need you to bring them to me immediately. I’ve assigned myself to the case in the court, and I expect they’ll call me to schedule a briefing with Bert’s lawyer in the next few days. Until then, we just need to focus on preparing the testimony.” He continued.
“You can help us with that, right?” Frank asked.
“That’s what I’m here for.” He smiled at them. “Don’t worry too much; this case won’t end without Bert going to jail or in a mental hospital where he can’t hurt you. What we need to focus on is how long we get him to stay. We want this sentence to be as long as possible, and that’s where our testimonies come in.”
Gerard smiled at Frank, feeling much more content with their situation than he did the day before.
“Thank you, Brent, so, so much…” Gerard said. “You have no idea what this means to us.” Frank nodded in agreement.
“It’s no problem at all. I’m glad I can help. I hope I was able to ease some of your concerns, at least, for now.” He responded.
“Absolutely you did.” Gerard said, standing from his chair. He took Frank’s hand in his, squeezing reassurances.
Brent stood up from his desk and walked around the wooden frame. He outstretched his arms and gave Gerard a quick hug, followed by one for Frank. “I am so sorry that this happened to you. We’ll get through this together, and you’ll never have to think about that asshole again if I can help it.” Brent said. It was the first time he had really seen the compassionate, friendly side of him; the side that wasn’t the lawyer or the business man, but a person. This was the man Lindsey fell in love with, and she made a respectable choice. Gerard could not be happier for her than he was in this moment. “Oh! And a happy early Birthday, Gerard!” Brent smiled as they headed towards the door, he had almost forgotten his birthday was in two days.
Gerard and Frank said their goodbye’s and headed towards Frank’s car in the parking lot. Frank stopped when they reached the passenger door and pulled Gerard into his arms. Gerard could feel Frank’s tension rolling away as he held him, both sighing relief into each other with each second that passed. When they finally pulled away, Frank had tears in his eyes.
“Oh, baby, you’re crying…” Gerard uttered, concerned. He gently wiped the area under Frank’s eyes with his thumbs to clear the moisture.
“I’m sorry.” Frank mumbled as he tried to pull himself together, wiping at his face. “Just overwhelming, you know? I was so worried about how this would affect you, and you seem to be doing OK, but the reassurance from Brent was just such a relief.” He sighed.
“I know how you feel. I was so nervous when I read that letter. Self-defense my ass. I was afraid it would scare you.”
“It did. It does still, somewhat, but Brent is right and I really needed to hear that from him.” Frank smiled up at Gerard who was still cupping his face in his hands. “I love you.” He said looking into his eyes.
“I love you too, so much.” Gerard replied, pressing their foreheads together. They both sighed in unison and let go of one another, motioning to get in the car.


“Nervous?” Frank asked, fixing Gerard’s hair on Monday morning. Gerard was returning to work for the first time in almost two months. For all he knew he was replaced, or the building burnt down or something. But, he assumed that wasn’t the case when his boss called him last week and asked when he would be ready to return. He thought about saying never, but that was just the laziness talking.
“Nah. I’ve been there for years now, nothing to be nervous about. Tired, though, sure.” He chuckled. It was 7:30AM and Gerard hadn’t woken up this early in weeks.
“You look cute.” Frank remarked when he was done toying with Gerard’s hair. He had pushed it back with his fingers and behind his ears, out of his face.
“Thanks for getting up with me, Frankie.” Gerard kissed him on the forehead.
“Of course. Is it still OK if I go to your apartment and bring over those boxes you packed yesterday while you’re at work?” Frank asked. He and Gerard had packed a few things yesterday afternoon after they met with Brent. They were things Gerard didn’t need immediately, and he could get out of the way. Gerard gave him a key to his so he could move things as needed.
“Sure. Just be careful with the books. It’s heavy and I don’t want you hurting your arm.” Gerard said smiling to him.
“I’ll be fine, baby. I love you. Have a good day, I can’t wait to hear all about it when you get home.” Frank said, kissing him on the lips.
Gerard said his I love yous’ and goodbyes’ to Frank and headed out. It was definitely a spring day, a little cloudy, fairly temperate with a nice breeze. Gerard had requested to walk to work, turning down multiple offers from Frank to drive him in. It had been weeks since he walked anywhere, and he enjoyed the quiet time to day dream. Gerard didn’t feel overheated at all today, and he had forgotten what the weather was like around his birthday – it was nice. He was wearing short sleeves out in the open, for the first time in years, and the moderate air around him felt good on his skin.
Gerard quietly slipped in the front door, trying to skirt passed anyone noticing him. He successfully made it into his office, shutting the door behind him. He inhaled the smell of old books and paper. The smell was always stronger after coming back from the weekend, and this extended absence made it even more amplifying. He hadn’t realized, but he had really missed being here.
Gerard sat behind his desk and turned his computer on, muting the sound so that no one would catch on to his presence; the fewer questions he was asked the better. There was a timid knock on the door, followed by a wave through the little window. Gerard waved his hand signaling for the person to come in. Oh boy, here come the interrogations.
“Hey, Gee. How are you feeling?” He asked. It was only his boss, Jason. He had given Jason some of the details, but not all of them. He was an older man, but very understanding. He had hired Gerard when he first came to the city as a junior editor and taught him a lot of what he knows. Gerard considered his relationship with Jason to be great as far as a boss and employee was concerned.
“Much better, thanks.” He responded, smiling at Jason who was now sitting on the edge of his desk.
“We missed you.” He said earnestly, putting a hand on Gerard’s shoulder.
“I missed being here; it feels good to be back.” Gerard replied, twirling a pen between his fingers and lightly rocking in his chair.
“I’ll let you get settled and back into the swing of things before I throw projects at you. I’ll try to keep nosy people out of here for a bit, OK?” He said, now standing up and walking towards the door, smiling.
“You’re the best, Jason.” Gerard called after him. It really did feel good to be back.


“Thanks for helping me out with this, man, I really appreciate it.” Frank said as he filled a box carefully with comic books.
“Anytime. “ James smiled at Frank, taping up a box of his own.
“I hope Gerard is surprised when he gets back to my place tonight. I don’t want to overstep my boundaries or anything, but I want him to feel like its home, you know?”
“I get that, I’m sure he’ll love it. He seems pretty easy going.” James replied.
Frank nodded, pulling more books down from the shelves. “Make sure you mark those as bottom shelf, he has, like, a whole system for them or whatever.” Frank flapped his arms wildly.
“I know, dude. You told me like twice already.” James laughed, waving a black sharpie.
“Sorry, sorry.” Frank shrugged, embarrassed.
“You really love him, huh?” James questioned, amused at Frank as he stood on his tippy toes to reach the top shelf.
“I really do.” He smiled to himself.
“Well, he does seem to make you happy.” James remarked, now moving on to a new box.
Frank just nodded silently, agreeing. “I hope that patch job in the kitchen holds OK.” He mumbled.
“Eh, I’m sure it will be fine. Kid knows how to pack a decent punch, though.”
“Right? I didn’t know he had it in him.” Frank laughed.
“How is he doing now?” James probed.
“He seems pretty great, actually. I mean, obviously the whole ordeal took a lot out of him, but he seem optimistic.” He shrugged.
“That’s good. How about you? How are you doing?” James stopped what he was doing to look at Frank with concern.
“Honestly?” Frank stared at James. “I’m happier than I’ve ever been.” He laughed.
“That says a lot coming from a guy who just got shot.” James laughed, returning to his box. “It’s pretty badass, you know. You still have to show me that scar.”
“Yeah? I guess it is.” Frank giggled.
The two packed James van with boxes and both of Gerard’s bookshelves. Gerard thought Frank was just getting the few boxes he had already packed, but Frank wanted him to start seeing Frank’s home as his own, and he knew the most important thing to him was his books. Frank had already cleared the spots around his TV in the living room after Gerard left for work, so when he got home he could set them up to surprise his boyfriend. God, he hoped he wasn’t overstepping his boundaries.

Gerard walked happily out of the building, seeing Frank’s car waiting for him out front. He had a fairly laidback day, no one bothered him and he eased back into his work well.
“Hey Frankie.” Gerard remarked, getting into the passenger seat.
“Hey baby, how was work?” Frank asked, planting a kiss to his cheek.
“Really good, actually.” He smiled at Frank as he pulled away from the building.
“Glad to hear it. Anyone give you the third degree?” He joked.
“Nah, actually, Jason did a good job of keeping the questions at bay.” Gerard smiled at Frank, contentedly.
Frank and Gerard drove silently, Gerard just contemplating the day and feeling comfortable, while Frank was secretly freaking out a little. Frank shot Gerard a look when they pulled into the parking lot that he thought was benign, but it was actually full of anxiety.
Before Frank unlocked the door, he inhaled sharply and shut his eyes tight. Please don’t let this have been a mistake…
Gerard walked in, not noticing the change to the living room at first, but when he looked up from his feet, he saw his bookshelves, now perched next to either side of the TV. His books and movies were perfectly placed where they were in his apartment, in order and all. The shelves had been dusted (something Gerard had been neglecting for…oh, months or so…) and his knick knacks that had been haphazardly placed in his house, were now all facing forward and set up symmetrically.
Frank stared at him as he took in the state of the room, trying to wait patiently for his reaction.
“Frankie…” Gerard said, walking over to the shelves, and placing a hand on the side of one of them, feeling the smooth wood.
“Listen, Gee…If I went too far…” He stuttered. “I just wanted to surprise you, I know how important your books are.”
“You did this yourself?” Gerard asked, turning to him.
“James helped me, I asked him yesterday if I could borrow the van and he offered to help. We patched the hole in your kitchen, too.” Frank said. “I just know how significant these are to you, and I thought it would be the first thing here that would make it, you know…home.”
“I love it.” Gerard said, smiling widely.
“Really?” Frank grinned, stepping towards him. “I was so afraid I might have went too far. Did I set everything up OK?”
“Yes, Frankie…it’s perfect. Where did you put your movies and everything else that was around the TV?” Gerard questioned, grabbing Frank by the waist.
“Moved them to the room, so we can watch movies in bed together. I have another surprise for you in there, too…” Frank said, taking his hand and leading him down the hallway. Frank opened the door to his room and pulled Gerard to his dresser. He opened two drawers on the right, half of the dresser, and revealed them to be empty. “These are yours now, I donated some of my clothes that I never wear, and I put some in the closet. There’s space in there for you now, too.”
“Frankie, you’re amazing, you know that?” Gerard remarked, pulling Frank by the hand towards the bed.
“Well, I thought maybe this would be a good start to making this feel like home.” Frank winked at him, now comfortably in his arms lying sideways on the bed.
“I would feel at home wherever you are. You’re my home, Frankie.” Gerard kissed Frank on the lips, and the rest of the night was history.

Notes