The only hope for me is you(On hold)

The air was humid. The freshly fallen rain left that particular smell on the tarmac that Gerard seemed to love.

Although he found it hard to enjoy considering the circumstances he was in at the moment.

"You're safe now, Gee," Mikey said, for the fifth time since they left the hospital. It was about an hour drive and they weren't even a quarter of the way back to his house yet.

"Why didn't Frankie come with us?" Gerard mumbled to his brother "He went to get your things from... Bob's house." Mikey explained, tightening his grip on the wheel.

Gerad frowned and started biting his grossly short fingernails. He knew that wasn't a good idea. He knew Frank was about to either kick ass or get his ass kicked.

He had faith in his best friend. there was no doubting that. But he also knew what Bob was capable of... And there was no denying that Frank could get hurt just as bad. If not worse.

"Gee?" He heard his brother call but made no move to respond. He was aware of the car pulling slightly to the left, and the engine shut off but still ignored it "Gerard look at me" He hated how helpless he always was. How afraid of everything he was. His younger brother was more mature than he was... "What if Bob hurts Frankie?" Gerard suddenly spat out, worriedly. "He won't, Frank knows how to fight." Mikey explained "You know that" He continued "Yeah... I know... But what if?" "What if nothing, He'll be fine" Gerard just nodded, not wanting to further the argument and have it escalate...

Pulling up to his old house, Gerard got a smile on his face. He'd missed living there with his brother and parents "Mom and Dad decided to go on a vacation... So it's just us" Mikey explained "Oh, okay" Gerard was slightly disappointed. He'd missed his parents a lot and was really hoping to see them.

Mikey led Gerard inside the house and then up to his old room "Wow" Gerard breathed out "Yeah, Still the same" Mikey laughed "Mom and Dad put in a pool too" Mikey stated "I can't swim" Gerard furrowed his brows at himself as Mikey gave him an amused look "Don't rub it in" Gerard snapped "Kay" Mikey laughed "I'll be ordering some Chinese soon, by the way," The younger boy informed before leaving Gerard to his old room, which is now his current room again.

He sat down on his bed with a small sigh and looked at all the posters on his walls, and comic books on his shelves.

Sighing to himself he flattened himself out on his bed linking his fingers together and placing them on his slightly chubby belly.

He frowned when he felt it though.

Bob's words scrambled Gerard's brain.

All the times Bob would call him fat. Tell him to lose weight. Tell him to stop eating. Drag him to the bathroom and force his grimy fingers down the poor boy's throat forcing Gerard to throw up.

Tears found their way to Gerard's eyes at the awful memories.

But he quickly wiped them away when he heard the front door open and Mikey's voice telling Frank that Gerard was in his room.

Feet made their way down the hall and soon Frank was in the doorway of his best friends room. Bag in hand and blood on his shirt, But surprisingly. Looked completely untouched.

Gerard sat up quickly, a shocked look painting his face "Fr-Frankie what did you do?" Gerard was horrified and slightly scared... Because what if Frank decides to do the same thing to Gee?

"I was packing your bags up, And Bob tried stopping me. Saying you were gonna move back in with him. So I let everything out, Told him if I ever catch him hitting you again I'd stab him"

Gerard's blood ran cold.

"He Kn-Kn-Kn-Knows you know?!" Gerard felt sick.

Now he's done for.

He hadn't even realized it, but he had started freaking out. He didn't realize it til' Frank had both his hands on either side of Gerard's face in attempts to calm him down.

"Gee, Look at me. Focus" Frank pleaded, Gerard just shook harder "hes gon-gon-gon-na ki-ki-ki-ki-" "Gerard, Hey. Stop. Breathe. Focus." Franks' voice held urgency as he looked helplessly at his panicking best friend. Gerard tried to inhale and steady his breathing. And once he had that under control Frank spoke again "No one, Is going to hurt you. Gerard, do you understand that?" Frank demanded. Gerard nodded meekly. Finally collapsing into his best friend for a much-needed nap.

___________

It's been three days since Gerard moved back into his old house. And waking up to a quiet house, that smells like lavender instead of booze. Was definitely different.

"Oh hey, Gerard I wanted to let you know in advance that I'm having a small party thing" Gerard stiffened "O-Oh" He said with a small nod "It shouldn't be anything to big, Uh. I hope... So far it's just Brendon, Pete, Patric, Andy, Joe, Ray, Frank of course, Uh Ryan and yeah you an I" Gerard nodded once again, these were all people he knew, Brendon, Ray, and Frank himself graduated together. It shouldn't be too bad.

But they were wrong.

So. So very wrong.

Within the first twenty minutes after everyone who was supposed to be there, About fifteen others piled in. But it didn't stop there.

Soon everyone was packed in the small house, out back, and upstairs. You couldn't turn anywhere without colliding with another person.

Gerard was starting to get nervous because he had lost Frank in the crowd somewhere.
He locked eyes with Brendon and was about to ask him when there was a hand on his shoulder, Roughly pulling him back.

He spun around thinking it was Frank or Mikey but his heart stopped when he saw Bob standing there, with a busted lip and a black eye "It's been a long three days without you princess" Gerard felt sick, he once again made eye contact with Brendon and this time he was on the phone in what Gerard hopes was with the cops, His thought was answered when Brendon nodded, seeming to understand Gerard's silent question.

"G-G-Go away" Gerard choked out, Bob laughed "What. Did. I. Tell. You" Gerard was shaking and he pushed himself up against the wall, Out of the corner of his eye he saw the front door was open, and Frank was outside having a smoke "YOU KNOW WHAT PEOPLE DO WITH RATS?!" Bob's voice was loud, Gerard shook his head "They fuckin drown em" Gerard now ex-growled, His eyes widened as Bob gripped Gerard's hair.

"FRANK!" Gerard screeched as Bob drug the helpless boy through the crowd of people and out back. Frank caught eyes with his best friend and started running after them.

Gerard's eyes widened when he saw them near the pool "St-Stop" Gerard tried fighting out of Bob's grip "I ca-cant sw-swim Stop!" The small boy pleaded "That'll make this a whole lot easier than holding you under" Bob laughed menacingly as he threw Gerard right into the middle of the deep end, which had no one in it at that moment.

The last thing He saw before plunging into the cold water was the panicked faces of Brendon, Ryan, Frank and his brother.

The force was so much that Gerard hit the bottom of the 7-foot pool. Not knowing which way was up, or down. Gerard thrashed. desperately trying to break to the surface, but no matter how mush he struggled he couldn't get far enough up. He'd only been down there for fifteen seconds but it felt like so much longer. He was fighting to keep his breath in, he didn't have strong lungs.

Soon he saw another body dive into the water, Swimming deeper and deeper til' they clasped their hand around Gerard limp arm.

Frankie...

Frankie had jumped in and saved him.

Finally breaking surface Franks and Gerard started coughing. There was so much commotion outside of the watery abyss. Flashing lights, Sirens, Screaming. Looking around lazily Gerard saw Bob with his face pressed in the dirt, hands behind his back in short metal cuffs.

"Fuck, Gerard are you okay?" Frank asked brushing Gerard's wet hair out from in front of his face.

Frank was sitting upright with Gerard leaning lazily against his chest "Ye-Yeah, But, Ge-Get me away fr-from the pool please" Gerard whined. He didn't wanna be anywhere near deep waters ever again.

Frank helped Gerard stand up and instead of walking him to the table like Gerard had thought, He walked him inside and all the way up to Gerard's room. Picking up a towel on the way.

Wrapping the scared boy up in a towel Frank sat him down on the big bean bag that sat in the middle of Gerard's floor "Sweater and Joggers, Gee?" Frank asked from Gerard's closet "Ye-Yes please." Frank nodded and grabbed Gerard some warm clothes.

Walking back over he crouched down in front of Gee "Is it okay if I????" Gerard's eyes widened "Ye-Uh-Yeah sure" He nodded letting Frank help him out of the sopping wet clothes.

Frank slipped off Gerard's longsleeved wet shirt and his eyes widened slightly at the marks on Gerard's left arm... He took no notice to Frank looking st his arm though he was more focused on the cool air on his wet skin and how it sent a chill down his spine. Frank quickly slipped the baggy sweater over Gerard's head then moved to his pants.

Once he was dressed Frank helped him stand up again. The noise from outside Gerard's room had died down, meaning everyone had gone home.

Walking back out into the main part of the house Gerard saw Mikey and Brendon talking to one of the Police officers. Frank linked his hand with Gerard and lead him to the L-shaped couch.

Hearing feet approach he straightened himself out. The cop from the door sat down in front of him and smiled "Hey, Gerard" He looked up at her "Hi" She crouched down in front of him "Here, This is for you. You can decide if you want to press charges. In the envelope, you will find a list of charges that Mr. Bryar has on him right now. We can discuss this more at the court hearing" Gerard nodded "Do you have a lawyer, Gerard?" He furrowed his brows "No ma'am, I don't" She nodded "Wait" Mikey intervened "Our parents do, Does that work?" he continued "Yes, As long as you have one" She nodded "Have a good night, boys"

"Are you okay, Gee?" Mikey asked, sitting down next to his brother "I'll be fine. I just wanna go to bed" Mikey nodded and then Frank helped Gerard up.

Once he was in the bed Frank went to walk away "Fr-Frankie, wait!" Gerard clasped his hand around his friend's arm "Stay with me?" Franks smiled "Sure" Then he crawled back into the sheets.

"Hey, Gee?" Frank questioned, Rubbing his thumb over the boy's cheek "Yes?" Gerard asked, making eyes contact. Franks' heart thrummed in his chest "I uh... Saw." He didn't know how to word it, so he just went for it "Gerard what ere those marks on your wrist?" Frank asked Gerard's face paled "They uh..." Gerard saw no sense in lying "I did it" He stated, shamefully, Frank nodded knowingly and brought Gerard closer to him "No more, Okay?" Gerard just shrugged "I-I'll try" "Thats all I ask"

Notes