Ship: Gerard/Patrick
Words: 831

"You have anywhere from a day to a week left to live, Mr. Way. I... I would suggest you make the most of it while you can."

Those were the words that sent my head spinning and my fingers gripping the sheets even though it hurt. One week. Seven days.

"What happened..?" I croak from the bed, my eyes watering in fear and disbelief.

She strokes my hand gently, "The cancer is spreading through your body. It's... We've found it in your brain. It's developed too far and we can't do anything. I'm so sorry..."

My mouth is open as my eyes gaze down at the foot of the hospital bed.

"I want to.." I swallow dryly, trying to regain my voice, "Go home..."

"Sir, I don't think–"

"I don't have–I don't have a chance left... Do I? So–So why not?" I snap, but it comes out croaky and dry and I need a drink of water because my lips are chapped and faded. I've looked in the mirror and I haven't liked what I've seen. My hair is gone, my lips are cracked, my eyes are always watery and most of all I hurt. It hurts to move. It hurts to talk. It hurts to stand. I just want the pain to go away.

"O-Okay... Yes, Sir. We'll bring you home."

***

"H–Hello?" I call through the house even though it hurts horribly. The nurse pulls my oxygen tank behind me as I wait for my roommate's reply.

"Gerard?" Patrick calls back, then I see him. He looks like a mess. His hair is tangled and there are dark rings under his eyes, "Oh my god, Gerard. You're home early. What happened?"

I swallow and try to speak but I don't really want to go through another wave of pain and instead look to the nurse.

"He has somewhere between a day and a week left to live. He wanted to come home early."

Patrick swallows at that and comes forward, "I'll take care of you then."

I feel like crying because I've never been so scared in my life. It feels like I've been fighting for ages but... it was all for nothing. I'm going to die anyways.

"There's not much we can do. We'll take him off of chemo and um... I guess just keep an eye on him..." She says quietly.

Patrick takes the oxygen tank from her and leads me into the living room carefully before I lay down on the couch and gaze at the ceiling. Listening to Patrick and Hayley's hushed words. Soon enough, Hayley leaves, handing over a bottle of painkiller and shutting the door behind herself.

Patrick sighs and comes to the couch, "I'm so sorry..."

He falls to his knees and cries into my shoulder.

"I'm so sorry..."

***

It was three days later when I felt the light fading. Patrick was by my side. He had offered to invite Mikey or Frank over but I only shook my head and pointed to him.

He sat by my side and we talked for a while. Small sentences because I couldn't say much... it hurt...

"I'm afraid..." I whisper croakily, "Of death... what do you think... comes after?"

"I don't know. But you shouldn't be afraid. It's going to be okay. I'm gonna miss you, you know..."

"I'm gonna miss you, too..." I whine.

Patrick gives a full body shudder as more tears leave his eyes.

"I... need... to tell you... something..." I whisper, feeling my body begin to shut down one moment at a time, I can't move my toes or my feet anymore. I can't feel them, anything. They're gone.

"What is it?" Patrick asks, his hand resting over my heart gently.

I open my mouth and feel no words come. I know what I have to say. I know something he doesn't and he needs to know before I leave.

"I..." I cough, "I l... I love... y-you..."

He strokes my chest, "I love you, too, Gee..."

The numbness has reached my thighs and my hips.

"N-No... I l-love you... a-as... a l-lover... more..." I can't finish it because the numbness has reached my fingertips.

He frowns, confused. And then it dawns on him and more tears leave his eyes.

"R-Really?"

"Y-yeah..."

He smiles, crying harder, before his lips reach mine. So softly I'm afraid they're not even there but I can see his jaw and hair in my fading vision and I know it's really happening.

The numbness is at my chest, I can hear my heartbeat getting slower, and slower, and slower...

The kiss keeps going and when he breaks it, it feels like everything is in slow motion.

I can't see anymore. I can't move anything. It's at my throat and I swear in the distance as I love farther and farther away, I hear a faint whisper:

"I love you, too."