Lost

Chapter 10

Frank wasn't there. He wasn't anywhere.

Mikey had woken up with his face pressed against the wall. Once he'd remembered why he was in a bed in the first place (Frank had insisted they took turns sleeping on the couch), he soon got out of it. The phone started ringing downstairs, startling him out of drowsiness. He stumbled down in nothing but pajama pants and looked at the ringing phone. He approached it and blinked in confusion, picking it up.

"Hello?" he asked hesitantly.

There was silence. Then,

"Mikey?"

Mikey froze completely, having never expected that voice to be the one on the other line.

"G-Gerard?" he whispered, voice trembling.

"What are you doing with Frank's home phone?" his brother demanded.

"I... I live here now." Mikey felt the phone almost drop from his hand. Gerard... Gerard was talking to him? He'd been missing for almost a month, he'd visited Frank once and ignored Mikey's whole existence, he'd given Ray a message and again, ignored Mikey's existence, and now he was calling Frank.

Mikey hung up and dropped the phone, running back to bed. He heard it ring a couple more times, but ignored it. He couldn't figure his brother out. Once, they'd been so close. Then Gerard 'disappeared' and ignored him. Now he kept calling?

It made no sense and Mikey's head started to spin. He heard the door open and close, and the rustle of plastic bags. Someone, probably Frank, had come in.

"Mikey?" Frank called warily. "What happened to the phone?" Mikey didn't reply. "Mikey?" Frank yelled again. "You okay?" The phone started to ring again, so Frank picked it up and answered it.

About two minutes after, he dropped it like Mikey had and ran upstairs.

"Mikey?" he panted once he reached the bedroom. Mikey pretended not to hear him again. But Frank had seen him and wasn't giving up. "Mikey, I'm sorry. If I had known it would be him..."

"It's okay," Mikey whispered. "You didn't realize."

Frank sat down on the bed beside his head. "I'm still sorry you had to hear that. He wants to talk to you now, though."

Mikey tensed. "No."

Frank sighed, skimming light fingers through the taller male's hair.

"I know he made you worry, Mikey..."

"He ignored me when he visited Ray and you!"

"I know. And I'm not saying you should forgive him. But... he wants to talk. Would you throw that away?"

Mikey sighed and sat up slowly. "Is he still on the phone?"

"Yeah. I just put him on hold."

The taller man folded his arms. "I'll give him one chance."

Frank smiled and patted his shoulder. "Okay." He got off the bed and raced downstairs. There was a short talk on the phone, and then he was running back upstairs.

He handed Mikey the phone and then went back out, smiling a little.

"Mikey?" Gerard asked.

Mikey paused. "Yeah," he said finally.

"Jesus, I was worried for a second."

"Say one thing wrong and I hit that end call button."

"Okay, okay!" There was a sigh. "I just need to apologize first."

"Damn right," Mikey growled.

"I am very sorry, Mikey."

"For what?"

"For making you think this call was all about you and your problems."

Mikey froze. Oh, great.

"I do care, and I know you've been worried, but I'm fine, I promise. And I won't make any more trips to Frank's place now that you live there. It's obvious who has won his affections."

"You..." Mikey spat. "You think this is all because of a crush on Frank? You think I have been worrying non stop because I like him?"

There was a pause. "This isn't about that?" His older brother sounded puzzled.

"No the fuck it isn't!" Mikey screamed. "You disappeared! I was worried sick! I was scared of Ray because I thought he kidnapped you!"

"Mike–"

Mikey hung up and threw the phone at the wall. He immediately felt guilty and went to pick it up, but then keeled over and started to cry. Frank knocked on the door.

"Mikey?"

"Go away," Mikey whimpered. "I know you d-don't want me here. I'm just another burden to drag you d-down."

"Mikes, that isn't true."

Mikey ignored him and slowly stood up.

"W-well I'm not sticking around," he declared. "Mikey Way will no longer be a burden on you!"

"Mikey, for God's sake! You aren't a burden!" Frank stormed up to him and grabbed his wrists.

"So you've never been stressed about looking after me?" Mikey challenged. Frank sighed.

"I'll use your full name to nail this into your skull. Michael James fucking Way. You are not a burden, and you never will be."

"But–"

"Sit down!" Frank roared. Mikey immediately obeyed and sat down on the floor. "Stay," the shorter man hissed. He trudged out, and when he returned, he had two pills; a red and a blue.

"What are they?" Mikey asked suspiciously.

Frank blinked, but sighed. Mikey would always forget what the pills did every morning. It was like his mind just reset to no knowledge of them.

"Blue is antidepressant. Red is heart medication."

"I don't need—" He was cut off by Frank shoving the pills into his mouth and holding out the water.

"Drink."

Mikey slowly obeyed, wondering why he was acting like a dumb dog and complying with all of Frank's orders. Probably because he was Frank. Eh.

"Mikey?" Frank asked gently. He was treading carefully now. Mikey blinked at him. "Do you remember what we did yesterday?"

Mikey tried to conjure up the memory, but found that he couldn't. What?

"N-no," he stammered, confused.

"How long has Gerard been missing, Mikey?"

"Uh... a month, duh."

"How long have you been living at my place?"

"Two days."

Frank closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"I'm so, so sorry, Mikes," he whispered. "But Gerard's been gone five months. And you've been with me for three. Ray was wrong. He isn't coming back."