Gerard's POV

When Frank pressed his lips against mine, I truly believed that I was going to be okay. His refusal to give up on me lit a small spark of hope in my darkened heart, and I had found a reason to keep on living.

I knew I had a long way to go to truly recover from all of my bad habits, but with Frank by my side, I had faith that I could do it.

Melting even deeper into his kiss, I surrendered everything to him, trusting that he would never let me fall.

My moment of happiness with Frank was torn away so quickly, I could barely comprehend what was happening when a shrill voice pierced through my haze of contentment. When I saw the look of fury on Frank's mother's face, I shrank down into my bed as far as humanly possible, refusing to meet her gaze.

Frank scrambled back from me quickly, but not before she had seen us in such a compromising position. We were so fucked...after being so careful to keep our relationship hidden all of these months, now everything was ruined.

I should have known something like this would happen...the world didn't want me to be happy.

I glanced furtively at Frank to try and ascertain his reaction, but he kept his eyes glued to his lap, and I didn't want to do or say anything in case I made it worse. Now that I was truly looking at him, I realized he was all bandaged up, and wearing a hospital gown to boot.

I couldn't believe I didn't notice sooner, but I had been so wrapped up in my own misery, it had failed to penetrate my foggy brain. I didn't even know how long I had been in the hospital. I mentally slapped myself for not being more aware, and now I wouldn't have the chance to ask Frank what had happened.

"Frank - come with me this instant," his mother ordered, but Frank didn't move a muscle.

"Don't you dare ignore me young man!" she shrieked, and I visibly flinched at her harsh tone.

"What is the meaning of this?" Dr. Wentz entered the room with pissed off look on his face.

"I simply came to retrieve my son," Frank's mother huffed out at a much calmer volume.

"Well you are disrupting my patients, so can you please keep your voice down," he barked in an icy tone.

"You have no right to be upset with me. I should have been alerted that my son was awake, which I blame entirely on you!" They continued to argue, but I tuned it out and focused solely on Frank.

"Go with her Frank..." I whispered quietly. Even though it pained me to tell him that, I didn't want him to get into even more trouble because of me.

"I don't want to leave you."

"I will be here when you get back - I promise." I squeezed his hand gently and he gave me a half smile in return.

Dr. Wentz and his mother were still in a heated conversation, and it seemed they had completely forgotten about us.

I took the opportunity to press a chaste kiss against Frank's lips. I pulled away quickly before they saw, but it was worth it when I glimpsed the sparkle in Frank's eyes.

"Fine mom - I'm coming!" Frank called out in an exasperated tone of voice before exiting the room in his wheelchair, leaving her gaping after him.

I noticed two cops standing outside the door and sipping coffee. What the hell was going on? Why would there be cops here waiting with Frank's mother? I tried to force my fuzzy mind to think, but too much had happened in such a short time for me to comprehend anything.

"You doing okay Gerard?" Dr. Wentz asked after slamming the door behind Mrs. Iero. I liked this guy already for not backing down to Frank's mother, so I decided he deserved an answer instead of the silent treatment I usually gave doctors.

"I guess..." I sniffled softly. Frank hadn't even been gone a minute, and I already ached to have him back in my arms.

"I am so sorry about that...no one should be allowed to upset my patients, no matter the circumstances." I nodded absently, trying to decide which one of the million questions I had swirling around in my head to ask first.

"It's okay...how long have I been in here anyway?" I wondered, picking the easiest one first.

"A little over three weeks. You really had everyone worried there for a while, but I knew you would pull through."

He began to poke around the machines surrounding me, and I repositioned myself on the bed silently. Three weeks? I could barely believe it. So much must have happened while I had been unconscious. I wish I had more time to talk to Frank, but for now, I had to settle for Dr. Wentz.

"What happened to Frank? Why is he in the hospital?"

"I'm sorry - I can't tell you that...confidentiality issues and all." I pouted sullenly, but I couldn't really blame him for following the rules.

"Is he your boyfriend?" the doctor asked slyly.

"Yeah...I don't know why he puts up with me though. I'm such a fuck up," I mumbled.

"He loves you a lot. He has been in here every day to see you."

"Really?" I gasped.

"Mhmm. You are lucky to have such an amazing guy in your life."

"I really am. God I am so stupid, I can't believe I tried to leave him all alone..." I dropped my face into my hands in shame. I had no idea why I was continuing to talk to this random doctor, but he was so causal and supportive, it was easy to speak of things I haven't told anyone else.

"He is just so young...and I feel like I am becoming this weight on him when he needs someone to lift him up and love him. I don't know if I can be that person, but I want to. I can't imagine life without him anymore."

"Well if you really love him, then you need to keep trying. Believe me on that; I never thought my own relationship would work out, and there were so many times when I wanted to give up, but in the end - it was worth it. Frank may be young, but I can tell he is determined to do anything to be with you as long as you are willing to stay with him." A wistful smile had formed on his face, and I wondered if I looked like that when I talked about Frank.

"You should have been a psychiatrist," I joked.

Seriously though, I felt so much better about everything after laying it all out for him. Something about saying it out loud and having a complete stranger support me was insanely uplifting. Hopefully Frank's mother wouldn't be too mad, and we could work on repairing our damaged relationship as soon as I got out of the hospital.

"Actually my boyfriend is one, so I guess some of his skills rubbed off on me," Dr. Wentz chuckled wryly. His face lit up every time he mentioned his boyfriend and I made an internal "aww" noise.

"So when am I going to be released?" I was eager to get out of this boring white room and away from the odd smell that clung to all hospitals.

"Well..." He was interrupted by the door being opened, and Mikey bounded into my room, followed closely by my mother.

"Geebear!" Mikey squealed before throwing himself onto my bed so hard I bounced into the air. I giggled as he engulfed me in a massive hug, and I ruffled his hair affectionately.

"It's good to see you Mikey." I couldn't stop grinning, and it felt good to smile again.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again you asshole!" Mikey teased.

"Michael - language!" my mother chastised him, but I could see her trying to hold back laughter.

"Hey mom." I reached out and clasped her hand since I couldn't move with Mikey on top of me.

"Oh honey - we were so worried."

"I know - I'm sorry mom..." I felt tears forming in my eyes, and I struggled to hold them back.

"I'm glad you are all here, because I have something we need to discuss," Dr. Wentz broke through our happy reunion.

"Oh yes - go ahead Doctor." My mother sat down in the chair next to me without letting go of my hand.

"Well - Gerard is healthy, and he can be released from the hospital at any time...but because this was a suicide attempt, I highly recommend he is admitted to Laurel Hills for a minimum of two weeks before he returns home. I know it seems extreme, but by the amount of scars on his body, this isn't this first time he has self-harmed, and I don't want to see him back here again."

"Laurel Hills? No way!" I interrupted rudely.

Laurel Hills was basically a mental hospital for crazy teenagers. Last year - a student had gone psycho and stabbed someone for no reason, and they had taken him there. I wasn't that kind of crazy...there was no way I could go to Laurel Hills.

"I know it isn't ideal, but I just want to make sure you are going to be okay. There will be people to watch you there, and as soon as they decided you aren't at risk anymore, you can go back home. You will be able to catch up on your schoolwork while attending therapy as well."

"Fuck that - I'm not going..." I crossed my arms over my chest stubbornly.

Yes - I wasn't exactly in the best place right now, but how was getting sent to a nut house going to help me - if anything it would make it worse.

"Gerard - please calm down," my mom begged me.

"No! I don't want to be sent away...I just want to come home..."

"I know baby, but maybe this is for the best. I am working so much right now that I can't be with you as much as I would like, and I need to know that you are safe. It will only be for a little while..."

"Seriously mom? You are siding with him?" My newfound trust in Dr. Wentz had completely washed away with this new development.

"Yes honey - I am. If you would just think about this rationally, you would see that it's for the best."

"Mikey?" I turned to him with pleading eyes. Even though he didn't have any real say in my future, I wanted his support.

"I'm sorry Gee, but I think mom is right...I can't bear to lose you, and I want you to get some help."

"I will give you some information so you can enroll him - if you would come with me?" Dr. Wentz and my mother exited the room as if I no longer existed.

I was so frustrated I felt like I was going to explode. Bitter tears began pouring down my cheeks, and I buried my face in my pillow to muffle my choking sobs.

"Gee it's going to be okay..." Mikey rubbed my back soothingly, but I just cried even harder.

How could this be happening...just when I thought everything was looking up for once, my entire world plummeted back down. I understood why my mom wanted to send me away...I probably deserved it after what I had done, but Laurel Hills? I don't think I could survive there for two weeks...

But the worst thing of all was that I wouldn't be able to see Frank. Laurel Hills was a good hour drive from my house, and there was no way his mother was going to let him visit me after what she witnessed earlier.

All I needed to get better was him, but now they were ripping me away from the only positive thing in my life. Would he wait for me...I wouldn't blame him if he didn't.

What if he couldn't wait though? I don't know what was going on, but he was obviously hurt, and somehow the police were involved. Were they here because of our relationship...I mean it was technically illegal, but if that had been the reason, then surely they would have spoken with me.

Suddenly it hit me like a baseball bat to the head...his stepdad...what else could it be?

Oh god - I had left him alone for three weeks, so he would have had to go home...which meant he was back in his stepfather's line of fire. This was all my fault...I was such a failure. How could he possibly still care about me after I had abandoned him?

But he did...and I couldn't leave him alone for another day. I don't know how, but I would find a way to stay with him and protect him if it was the last thing I ever did.

Hurray, I didn't take a million years to update like I normally do!

I am currently listening to my Punk Goes Christmas playlist, and it is really great to write to :)

This chapter is dedicated to Adrienne555 because your comments are hilarious and I am super happy you are enjoying my story.

Stay beautiful

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