Gerard kissed my cheek as I got into the car. I batted him away gently, buckling my seatbelt and leaning my head on the window.
“Oh. It went that well, huh?”
I shrugged, hugging myself tightly.
“Wanna talk about it?”
I didn't say anything, so he just started the car and headed home.
“I'm here for you, Frankie,” he tried again a few minutes later. “You can tell me anything. I'm here to listen.”
“I just hate my fucking teacher and I want to fucking strangle her, okay?” I snapped suddenly, surprising myself as much as Gerard.
“Okay. Why?”
I felt his hand on my leg, but didn't brush it off. “She refused to help me, and she didn't print the Braille version correctly. It was all fucked up and unreadable and I'm gonna fucking fail because she's a cunt!”
Gerard's hand flexed and he sighed. “What's your grade, baby? In percentage?”
“One oh four,” I mumbled sullenly.
“Okay. Have you figured out how much your test could bring it down?”
I shifted uncomfortably. “No, I didn't look..”
“Baby, the first thing we’re going to do when we get home is look at your grades and figure that out. If it's only going to bring you down four percent, then it's not worth worrying about. But if it is, I am going to your school tomorrow and I'm going straight to the principal about this. That's not acceptable and I'm sure it's illegal somehow.”
I sniffed, starting to tear up slightly. “R-really?”
“Of course. I got like straight C’s in school, but I know how important those grades are to you. It's the least I can do, Frankie.”
He parked the car and stroked my cheek, pecking my lips quickly. “Let's go unwind and eat ice cream or something.”

I straddled Gerard's lap, giggling as I poked his lip with the spoon.
“Missed again.”
I rolled my eyes. “I'm trying to be cute and romantic and you're ruining it!”
“You're the one who can't get the ice cream actually in my mouth,” Gerard teased gently, rubbing my sides slowly. “Try again.”
I managed it this time, giggling happily and kissing his forehead. “Yay!”
Gerard sat up slightly, gently taking the spoon from me and feeding me a mouthful. “I have to go back to work in an hour or so, are you gonna be okay?”
I frowned, my shoulders dropping slightly. “Oh. Yeah, I'll be fine, I guess.”
“Okay. Just remember that that test doesn't matter, okay? It can't even drop you below a hundred percent. No need to worry.”
I nodded slightly, putting the lid back on the ice cream and sliding off his lap. “I'll go tidy up.”
I walked into the kitchen, putting the ice cream back in the freezer and the spoon in the sink. I stood in the middle of the kitchen, slowly sinking to my knees on the floor, my face buried in my hands. The pain was almost unbearable now. I'd been hiding it from Gerard, a pain in my stomach I’d had for almost three days. I'd woken up with it on Monday and it hadn't gone away, instead just getting worse. I gagged, my body shuddering as I tried to get up and slipped, falling back onto the floor.
“Frankie? You okay, baby?”
I grabbed at the countertop, trying to heave myself up, but I slipped again, gagging. “Fuck..” I whimpered softly, then retched again and heaved, throwing up all over the floor. I heard running footsteps and Gerard scooped me up off the floor like a little kid. “Fuck fuck fuck fuck,” he muttered, lifting me up to sit on the counter and handing me a large bowl. “I'm gonna clean this up and then we’re going to the goddamn hospital again.”
I sniffed, tears running down my cheeks. “I'm okay, Gee,” I gasped, trying to sound convincing. “You go to work, I'll be alright. It's just a stomach bug.”
I managed a smile, but he clearly wasn't buying it.
“Fuck, Frank. You're throwing up blood, you're not oh-fucking-kay, and I'm not leaving you here!”
I flinched as he raised his voice, but he hurried over to me quickly, lifting my head gently. “It's alright,” he murmured. “It's okay. Your Gee’s here, he's gonna take care of you. Can you stand up?”
I slid off the counter, stumbling as I landed. “Fuck,” I whimpered, trembling as I leaned into Gerard. “I don't think I can walk..”
He scooped me up again easily, holding me to his chest tightly. “Okay. I've got you, baby. This is really important. Did you throw up at school today?”
I nodded slightly, grabbing at him shakily. I'd never heard him sound scared before, and it was terrifying. “Y-yeah, I thought it was just n-nerves.”
“Oh baby,” Gerard sighed. “You're always doing this to yourself, huh?”
I sniffed, burying my face in his chest. “It hurts, Gee.” I whined, feeling the fresh air on my face as he carried me to the car, stumbling slightly under my weight.
“What hurts, Frankie? Tell me what hurts..”
“My stomach,” I groaned, gagging again. Gerard lifted me into the passenger seat and handed me a bag quickly. “Here. You should have told me. How long has this been going on?”
I rubbed my eye with the back of my hand, shaking even more now. “T-two days..”
“For fuck’s-” Gerard cut himself off quickly, leaning up and kissing my cheek. “You need to tell me this stuff.”
He slammed my door and got into the car, backing out of the driveway quickly and flooring it down the road. I heard him turn his phone on and he sighed loudly as he dialed a number.
“This is Gerard Way. I'm not going to make it to my shift today. No. I'm sorry, it's an emergency. Yes, I'm going to call Cindy. She’ll tell you later but I have to go.”
He hung up and dialed another number quickly. “Gerard Way. I'm bringing in my friend, he's had bad abdominal pain for two days and he's vomiting blood. Yes, I'm sure it's blood, I'm a probationary nurse! Jesus, I know what fucking blood looks like! It's bright red, he’s been throwing up at school as well, I think he's lost a lot of blood.”
I gagged again and heaved, managing to get it into the bag. Gerard sighed, taking a turn far too fast.
“Can you have someone ready, please? Can you talk to Cindy, she's on shift now, right? Thank you. I think he's...shit...Frank, stay with me, sweetie. No, I think he's about to pass out.”
Gerard tossed his phone onto the dashboard and reached over, grabbing my shoulder and shaking me. “Frank? Baby, please! Stay with me!” He was shouting now, I could tell by the tone, but his voice was just getting quieter and quieter.

---

I woke up with needles in my arms and something loud beeping at me from the corner. “Gee?”
All I could hear was beeping. “Gerard?” I called out shakily, sniffling. I couldn't be here alone, surely? He wouldn't leave me here. Would he?
“Gerard!”
No answer. I felt the hot tears stream down my cheeks as I tried to sit up, screaming as pain burst through my stomach, setting it on fire. “Gerard! Where are you?”
The door of the room slammed back, and I heard him running to me. “Holy fuck...baby, you're gonna wake the dead,” he laughed, but I could tell he was crying as he leaned over me, stroking my cheeks frantically. “I was in the bathroom, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you all alone, baby. I'm sorry.”
I started to sob, each breath sending hot pain ripping through my body. “G-Gee..”
“Shh, baby, don't cry. Shh. No crying, sweetie. It's alright. I'm here. Gee’s here, he's gonna protect you. It's okay, shh.”
He comforted me quietly, holding my hands down and kissing my forehead over and over. “That's it,” he murmured as I started to relax, the tears still running down my cheeks. “Does it still hurt, baby?”
I nodded shakily, trembling all over. He held onto my hand tightly. “I'm gonna up your pain meds, it's gonna feel better in a minute.”
He fiddled with something and a couple seconds later, the pain started to wash away, leaving me shaky and sick. Gerard sat down on the edge of the bed, stroking my chest slowly. “That's it, Frankie. You're so brave, baby boy. You're so brave.”
I sniffed, trying to grab at his hand. “What's going on?”
Gerard took a deep breath just as the door slammed back again.
“Frank? Frankie?” Mikey called out, sounding upset and worried. I felt a hand on my shoulder and shifted uncomfortably. “It's just me, Frank,” Mrs. Way said quietly, and Mikey shut the door behind him.
“I don't know what's happening,” I whimpered, feeling tiny in the cold room. It smelled stark and of rubbing alcohol, and it scared me. “I don't like it in here. I can't...I want to go..”
Gerard shushed me softly. “No, baby, you can't go just yet. Not yet. The doctors are still running tests to figure out what's going on, and you're on a drip and blood. You lost a lot of fluid as well as blood, and you need to rest. I promise everything will be okay, Frankie. I promise.”
I sniffed, shrinking back under the blankets. Mikey sat down on the other side of the bed, rubbing my arm slowly. “What can we do to make you more comfortable? I know hospitals are kinda scary, and I know you like to be comfortable. What would help?”
I put my arm over my eyes, still shaking just slightly. “P-pajamas. A-and something...something that smells nice. A-and that fucking beeping...I h-hate it.”
Gerard leaned over and the beeping stopped. “Would some music be nice as well?” He asked gently, taking my hand and holding it tightly.
I nodded slightly, trying to curl up and whimpering in pain. “Shh, lay still, Frankie. It's alright.”
Mikey reached across me and touched Gerard’s shoulder. “Why don't you go fetch Frankie some things to make him feel better? You know what's best to get.”
Gerard sighed and squeezed my hand. “Would that be okay?”
I nodded again, letting his hand go reluctantly.
“I won't be long, baby. I promise.”
Mikey held my hand as I waited, shivering. “You should have said something to someone, Frankie,” Mikey murmured after a short silence.
“I didn't know it was blood..”
“I know, but if you're not feeling good, no one minds you saying so. You're not letting anyone down or anything. We don't think you're weak. We love you.”
“Where's my mom?”
Mrs. Way touched my other hand gently, stroking her fingertips over my knuckles. “I contacted her, but I haven't heard anything back yet, I'm sorry, Frankie.”
I tried to sit up again, but Mikey gently pushed me back. “You need to rest, Frank. For all of us.”
I blinked and suddenly felt panic wash over me. “What about my finals? I can't...I can't miss my finals, Mikey! I can't be in here, I-”
“Gerard thinks it might be serious, Frank,” Donna said firmly, rubbing the inside of my forearm slowly. “He's very scared and I think under these conditions, they'll waive your tests or figure something out. You don't need to worry about it.”
I relaxed slightly, closing my eyes tightly. “It still hurts.”
“I don't think we can give you more drugs,” Mikey sighed, lifting my hand and kissing the back of it softly. “God, if you could see yourself, Frankie. You'd say you looked like something from a Hammer film.”
I smiled just slightly and Mikey went on.
“You're all pale like Dracula, but with a little more yellow, so maybe a mummy. Yeah, that sounds right.”
I giggled a little, but stopped quickly when the pain spiked again. Mikey brushed my hair out of my face gently. “You need a haircut too. Jeez, you're just such a mess. Get it together.”
I smiled, leaning into his touch slightly. The door opened again, a little more quietly this time. “Hey..” Gerard said softly, walking up to the bed. “I brought you some stuff, sweetie.”
I turned my head to face him, managing another small smile. “Thank you..”
He sat down on the edge of the bed, humming softly. “I brought some lavender oil, you can put a tiny bit on your pillow, and some candles I like. You can't burn them, obviously, but they smell nice anyway. Um. Your favorite pajamas, and that blanket from my bed you like. And I brought you some presents, but I'll give you those in a bit.”
I nodded, grabbing at his hand carefully. “Thank you...thank you, Gee.”
He leaned down, kissing my cheek softly.
“Will you help me get changed?”
“Of course, Frankie..”
I heard Mikey and Donna walk out, then Gerard put one hand under my back and the other under my neck. “I'm just gonna lift you, this might hurt a little.”
He lifted me into a sitting position and quickly undid the hospital gown, pulling it away. He tugged a shirt on over my head, helping me sort out the drip leads. Then he helped me into a pair of boxers and my pajama trousers before pulling the sheets back over me. “There. Feel better?”
I nodded slightly and he leaned over me. The smell of lavender filled my nostrils and I breathed in happily, closing my eyes. “Mm.”
“I'll take the tops off the candles too..”
More lavender and vanilla flooded the room and I relaxed deeply, my hand slipping off his leg.
“Are you getting sleepy?” Gerard murmured worriedly, stroking my hair.
“A little. I'm just...I've been so tired lately...I'm just...tired.”

Notes

I promise no one is gonna die in this...