Frank didn't sleep at all that night. He was unable to rid himself of the image of the blood soaked floor. He cried for Gerard, desperately needing to know how he was. Nobody had been able to tell him anything for the remainder of the previous day and he was going mad with worry. When the cell doors were opened the following morning, he rushed to find Ray to ask what had happened.
Ray was sat in the canteen with his hands wrapped around a coffee cup, just staring into it's contents.
"Ray?" Frank rushed over to him shaking him by the shoulders.
"Oh fuck Frank" Ray stood up to hug his friend. "Have you heard anything?"
"No" Frank replied. "I'm going to find Bob soon, but wanted to see you and ask what the fuck happened."
"I don't know man" Ray shook his head and swallowed hard. "I don't even know why I was going to look for him now, but thank fuck I did."
"How bad was he?" Frank asked nervously. Part of him didn't want Ray to answer, but he needed to know.
Ray just looked at Frank solemnly. He knew Frank wanted him to tell him everything would be ok, but he just couldn't.
"I don't know" he simply whispered. "I think it's pretty bad Frank."
Frank's breath hitched in his throat and he felt tears sting his eyes.
"He was just lying there man," Ray answered looking into space as though he was re-living it.
"I just heard a groaning sound as I got near his cell. At first I thought he was with you, you know?" he smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. "I was going to turn away but there was no towel man, so I just walked in."
Ray paused. He took a deep breath and tried his very best to compose himself. "He was just lying there Frank, and I swear I've never seen so much blood. I didn't know what the hell to do, so I just pushed a shirt to his stomach, told him to hold it tight and ran for a guard."
"I should have been there" Frank chastised himself. "But I insisted on having a lie down because of a stupid fucking headache. I should have been there!"
"It's not your fault" Ray replied kindly.
Frank couldn't help but feel guilty. If he'd been there he could have done something. Who knew how long he'd just been lying there? Just the thought of Gerard maybe calling out for him for help had Frank reeling. Why the fuck would someone do this to him? Why?
The two went to find Bob, only to be told he wasn't on shift until the following evening. The other officers insisted they hadn't heard how he was doing, but would hopefully find something out later in the day.
There was no evidence as to who had done this to Gerard, although there was a lot of speculation and rumours. If Frank found out that it was Bert, he would fucking kill him. Ray had told him to keep his head down though, not wanting him to be on the receiving end of anything similar, and not wanting him to jeopardise his release date. Ray was a good man and Frank was glad that he would be out of here in the next few weeks, so Frank didn't encourage him to get involved in the matter either.
All day, and the next, Frank, Ray & Pete tried to find out anything they could about Gerard's condition, but nobody would tell them or knew anything yet. Frank lay on his bed and cried at night. The love of his life could be fucking dead and he wouldn't know. He needed some answers as to what was happening.
Finally finding Bob two days later, Frank almost pounced on him. Bob hadn't heard anything either but promised Frank he would look into it and let him know.
Appearing at his cell a couple of hours later, Bob made his way to the chair in the corner. He sat and ran his hands through his hair sighing loudly.
"Bob?" Frank shouted to him.
"He lost a lot of blood Frank," Bob started. "He had surgery as soon as he got to the hospital and a blood transfusion, but he's still unconscious. I don't know what else to tell you kid. They haven't said either way whether they think he'll make it."
Frank pushed the heels of his hands into his eye sockets, seeing stars as he did. He couldn't believe this was happening.
"We both know that that pain in the ass is a tough motherfucker though, don't we?" Bob tried to lighten the mood.
"Yeah" Frank smiled the smallest smile; it was all that he could manage.
After another torturous couple of days, Bob returned to Frank's cell. Frank froze in fear; dread flooding him at what Bob might have to tell him. He held his breath as Bob began to talk.
"He's awake, Frank" he beamed into his now favourite inmate.
Frank jumped up from his bed, overcome with joy. His obvious lack of sleep and constant worry ebbing away from him. He couldn't help himself, as he threw his arms around Bob and squeezed him tightly. Even Bob found Frank to be adorable and managed a slight pat on his back in reply.
"He's going to be ok, but he's not 100% yet" Bob smiled to Frank.
"Thanks Bob" Frank hollered as he headed out to find Ray.
-------------------------------
The powers that be were still pissed that nobody had been held accountable for what had happened. It looked bad on the institution and they were still questioning a lot of people. Nobody was talking and nobody ever would.
Bob appeared yet again at Frank's doorway and nodded his head to the side for him to follow.
"Where are we going?" Frank asked.
"You're wanted for questioning Frank," Bob answered in reply.
"What?" Frank snapped. "I know fuck all. If I did, don't you think I would have done something about it."
"Look kid" Bob retorted, "I'm just doing my my job, so just shut the fuck up and follow will ya?"
Frank was pissed beyond belief as Bob led him through corridors he'd never been down before. He would be so pissed if this affected his release date.
He was raging inside as Bob led him through door after door. He kept questioning him on what they would ask him, and complaining that they should be trying to find the actual culprit and not questioning Gerard's friends. Bob sighed and told Frank to shut up and just get on with it. Told him to tell the truth and everything would be fine. Frank followed like a moody teenager and Bob just laughed at his attitude.
"It's not fuckin' funny Bob" Frank hissed.
"It kinda is" Bob replied with a grin as he watched Frank's stroppy shuffle along the long passageways.
As he unlocked and opened the last door, he ushered Frank inside. He shuffled his feet behind Bob, head down, jaw jutted out in temper.
"You've got twenty minutes kid," he winked to Frank, giving a little ruffle of his hair as he did.
Frank looked at him confused and then took in his surroundings. Looking around, he realised he was in the prison infirmary. As he looked to his right, he was met with a mop of red hair and a beautiful face smiling towards him.
"You bastard" he laughed towards Bob who was laughing back at him. He ran at Gerard as fast as his legs would go and probably hurt his lover with the force he applied when he threw his arms around him.
He looked up at Gerard and noticed tears quietly slipping down his face. He wiped them away and kissed the stained streaks. He was breathless and the relief that washed over him felt like a warm hug.
"You fucking scared me Gee" Frank whispered as he held onto Gerard's hands.
"I'm sorry" he replied, lifting Frank's knuckles to his lips and kissing them softly.
Frank sat on the edge of the bed and drank in every part of Gerard's face. He had missed him so much. He couldn't imagine being apart for months when he was released.
"How are you feeling?" he asked looking towards where he presumed his injury was.
"I'm fine" Gerard spoke quietly. "They're just keeping me in here for a few days in case of infection."
"What happened? Who did this to you?"
Gerard shrugged. "I honestly don't know. I just remember being grabbed from behind and then hitting the floor. That's it. Nothing else."
"Well you're ok. That's what matters" Frank smiled easily. "I'm gonna look after you when you're back" Frank squeezed Gerard's cold hands. "I'm gonna look after you forever."
Gerard smiled at that. "We'll look after each other. Yeah? No more pissing about when we're out of here Frank. I want a simple life with you. It's all that's kept me going, the thought of you and I, and our future. If that's what you still want" He looked at Frank hoping he still felt the same way.
"I can't wait Gee" he cuddled into his side. "I fucking love you like you wouldn't believe."
"I love you too Frankie. So much" Gerard smiled. "This has made me think a lot you know; about us? And I wanted to ask you Frank "........ he took a deep breath,
"When we're out of here" he began nervously. "Would you maybe wanna marry me?"