(Time Skip)

"Brendon, I'm gonna be right back," I laughed at the boy clinging to my leg.

"You promise?" Brendon had be more reluctant to me leaving ever since the incident a few weeks ago. He followed me everywhere for about a week before Ryan moped about not getting enough Brendon time. Now, he only made my departures longer than they need to be.

I pulled away from him and squatted down to his level. I looked into his puppy dog eyes. He did this in hopes that I would cave and stay with him.

"I'll be back after my session. I promise." He dropped his eyes to his hand playing with the carpet and nodded reluctantly. "Alright, now go spend time with Ryan. He's waiting for you." I ruffed his hair to get him to shine his bright smile.

He let out a little giggle and nodded again. I watched him hurry over and jump on top of Ryan before walking out of the room. I started down the hallway toward the infirmary wing of the hospital.

Before fulling reaching those doors, I turned down another hallway with the same few doors I've come to see often now. I pushed it open and smiled at the sunlight bathing me.

Coming out here was continual thing, but it still felt like the first time every time. I went over to the bench and sat down. I kept my head low as my smile grew more.

"Hello, Gerard. How are you today?" I let out a chuckle.

"You're started to sound like my therapist," I replied and looked up at Frank. He was shining a big smile.

"And that's a bad thing?" I shrugged.

"I don't really act the same way with therapists as I act with you."

"And what way would that be?" Frank asked in a teasing tone as he leaned in closer. I dropped my head again and blushed. I felt Frank hook his finger under my chin and lift it to look up at him. He had a smirk playing his lips. "In what way, Gee?"

A breath caught in my throat at the sound of the nickname he gave me. This had been a reoccurring thing between us, constant teasing and flirting with nothing really happening. He released my chin and gave a small chuckle.

"But seriously, how are you today?" I shrugged and turned my gaze to the flowers beside the bench.

"Just like any other day. Breakfast, group, Brendon being reluctant to let me leave." Frank laughed softly and I saw him shaking his head from my peripheral.

"He's so attached to you."

"Can you really blame him? He's been through a lot." He shrugged.

"I wouldn't know. I don't know why he's here."

"It's not an easy thing for him to talk about. I don't even think Ryan knows, but he's getting better at accepting it."

"Accepting it by being clinging and using you as his anchor?" I felt a hint of anger.

"I'm fine with it. Whatever helps him get through the day," I replied defensively. "It's like I get a second chance at being a big brother."

"That doesn't sound healthy though. For either of you." I shrugged and kept quiet. "I'm serious Gerard. Brendon can't depend on you for everything. That's what the staff is for." I let out a sarcastic laugh.

"The staff? They do their job sure, but they're very good at keeping things professional."

"They're nurses not family. This place is about overcoming problems and trauma not creating a big family. He shouldn't be so dependent on another patient."

"Well, how would you handle having abusive and neglectful parents then finally finding a friend who shows you what it's like to be cared for and loved then watching him die in a burning building that you were just lucky enough to get out of in time," I yelled, unable to contain the anger building up in me.

Frank's eyes widened a fraction before changing into a blank expression, almost as if he was trying to hide any reaction. I dropped my head and stared down at my hands.

"I-I didn't.. I didn't know.." I heard him stutter beside me.

"Yeah, you didn't. So don't go off trying to stick your nose in things that aren't your business," I hissed. The edges of my vision began to darken as the anger boiled in me.

"I'm sorry." His apology only made the rage intensify. My hands tightened into fists and I clenched my teeth together. "Gerard?" I felt myself slowly slipping into the dark feeling. I hear the soft echo of my name in the distance. My eyes closed and I didn't even try to fight it.

A second before I let it take complete control over me, I felt a sudden pressure on me. It was rough, but cautious and it managed to slowly pull me out of the darkness. My eyes slowly opened to see Frank in front of me. His lips pressed against my own.

I blinked a few times to ensure I wasn't just imagining things. The more I realized the reality, the more I felt his lips against me. They were soft and warm and fit perfectly against mine. My eyes shut again as I moved with him.

His hand came up to cup my cheek as he deepened the kiss. My head went fuzzy from the feeling and I didn't want the warm feeling to ever end. It did though. We pulled apart in unison.

When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with concern written all over his face. I watched his eyes flicker back and forth between mine. I opened my mouth to question what just happened, but my throat constricted and I found it difficult to speak.

"H-h..wh..why?" Was what I managed to get out eventually. Frank's cheeks reddened for a second before he cleared his throat and moved back to the spot beside me.

"You weren't answering me and I saw that you didn't seem to be in control, so I assumed maybe you were blacking out like you told me you did. I thought that maybe getting you to feel something would help bring you back," he rambled as I watched him. "Sorry if I crossed a line."

Crossed a line? I was already starting to miss the way his lips felt against mine. I wanted to do that again and not just to stop me from blacking out. I guess I was lost in thought because I heard Frank clear his throat to get my attention. I turned to him and saw a hesitant smile on his lips.

"Why do you think you need a second chance at being a big brother?" Oh, we're going to talk about that.

"Because I wasn't a big brother to Mikey. It was more like he was my caregiver and I was his responsibility. When I came here, I knew I wouldn't be able to make it up to him, so when a traumatized seventeen year old boy came looking alone and scared, I saw it as an opportunity do at least one good thing in my life." I let out a heavy sigh before continuing.

"I was able to control my blackouts on some level because I was more worried about  being there to protect him and care for him."

"So he's been here as long as you have?" I shook my head.

"He showed up a few months after me." He nodded in understanding.

"That explains why he's so attached to you." I dropped my head and nodded because I wasn't sure how to respond. I didn't notice how badly my hands were shaking until Frank's fingers slipped through mine and held them steady. I gripped his hand tightly and took a deep breath.

"He's getting better and his doctor said he might be able to get released soon. I'm worried about him," I said truthfully. "What if something happens and I'm not there to protect him?"

"He's been doing really well. Everyone can see that." I nodded. He hasn't had a breakdown in a while. He even handled my going to the infirmary really well. He was only upset that he couldn't see me.

"Gerard?"

"Hmm." I looked up at Frank when he didn't answer. He was studying me as he was deciding how to word what he wanted to say.

"Are you worried about how Brendon will be without you looking after him.. or are you worried about how you'll be not having someone to look after?" I shut my eyes and dropped my head again. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

I never blacked out around Brendon, never lost control. I needed to be in complete control to be there for him and I couldn't let him see me whenever I wasn't able to keep that control. I didn't want to think how I'd be when I don't have him around anymore.

"He'll be okay, Gee." I know he'll be okay. He's a strong kid. "He'll be okay and so will you." I let out a shaky breath and slipped my hand out of his. I didn't want to think about this anymore.

"Do you wanna go to Pete and Patrick's wedding with me?" I looked up to see Frank's eyes wide in surprise. He obviously wasn't expected this big of a subject change.

"Uh.. I.. when is it?"

"I think they decided on July first, so kinda soon." He pulled his lip ring between his teeth as he thought about what I was asking him. Not long after, he came to his decision.

"Okay. Yeah, I'll go with you," he responded. I nodded and looked out in front of me. We sat in silence for a while before I decided to get up. He watched my movements, but stayed in his spot.

"I'm gonna head back. Promised Brendon I wouldn't take too long." He nodded and I went inside. His words circled my mind as I walked alone down the hallway. I didn't want to believe what he told me was true. Had I become dependent on having someone to look after to help me cope with my problems?

The chuckle echoing in the back of my head only jumbled my thoughts. It felt like too much was happening at once, Frank, Brendon, the wedding. The only thing that seemed to be constant was that the voice would be there through all of it, even long after.