A/N (As I'm writing this, one of my new pet rats is scrabbling around in my lap, and oh my god does it tickle, but he is so goddamn cute! 3 3)
(He just pooped on me -_- he's lucky he is so cute)

Burnie found Geoff after 10 minutes driving up and down the street he had said he was waiting on. He eventually spotted him, curled up in a ball leaning against a fence, head buried into his own knees, shoulders shaking with silent sobs. Burnie got out of the car and walked over to Geoff, placing a hand lightly on his shoulder. His concern grew when the man did not react immediately.
'Geoff? What's up bud?'
When Geoff looked up at him with a glazed look in his puffy red eyes, Burnie's heart sank. He recognised that look. He hadn't seen that look on Geoff's face in a long time, and since he had begun his relationship with Griffon, he had hoped that he would never see it again.
He gently helped his friend to his feet, and led him to the passenger seat of his car, murmuring encouragingly.

Once they reached Burnie's house, and got inside, Geoff headed straight for the cabinet where he knew Burnie kept his hard liquor, and grabbed a bottle of whiskey. He cracked open the bottle and took a generous swig straight from the neck, silencing Burnie's yelp of protests with a promise to buy him a new fucking bottle, Jesus H Christ!
He threw himself down onto the sofa, taking long dregs from the pilfered liquor. Burnie got himself a beer from the fridge, and sat down in the armchair opposite Geoff.
'So, what's the problem, bud?'
'There's still alcohol in this fucking bottle; that's my current problem. But don't worry, I'm working on it.'
Burnie sighed, rubbing the back of his neck with his palm.
'I can certainly see that, Geoff, but c'mon. What happened? I've not seen you like this in years, not since-'
'I fucking remember when the last time was, Michael. I don't need you to remind me.'
Burnie groaned, as Geoff took another mouthful of the rapidly depleting whiskey.
'You gotta work with me here buddy! Should I call Griffon? Where is she anyway? Probably worried sick about you...'
'Will you just BACK THE FUCK OFF?!' Geoff actually snarled at him 'Griffon is fine. She's at home, probably packing her bags as we fucking speak.'
He glared at the bottle in his hand as if it had personally offended him, purposefully facing downwards and away from Burnie, but the tears rolling down his cheeks at the thought of Griffon leaving him, did not escape his friends notice.
On the pretext of grabbing another beer, Burnie walked out of the room, clapping the other man supportively on the shoulder as he passed him.
Once in the kitchen, he quickly pulled out his phone and scrolled to Griffons name.
Griffy, got Geoff here. Rly upset, what the hell happnd? Burns x x
He anxiously paced around, waiting for the reply. He made a show of slamming cupboard doors, and opening and closing draws, complaining about losing the bottle opener (he was hoping against hope that Geoff wouldn't come into the kitchen to help him look, and see that he was in fact still holding it from the last beer, but he figured that seeing as he was still making his way through a bottle of his finest whiskey, the chances of him needing a bottle opener any time soon was minimal)
Luckily, he didn't have long to wait long for the reply.
The familiar chime of his phone announced Griffons response as he was opening the cupboard under the sink for the third time.
Fuck is he OK? Dunno whats wrong Burn. I proposed to him & he just freaked the fuck out. Thought he was havin a heart attack! So glad you txt, i was about 2 call the police. Been calling his phone 4 an hour! Can I talk 2 him? X x
Instantly, Burnie knew EXACTLY what was on Geoff's mind. Why he had got that horrible defeated look back in his eyes.
He fired off a quick reply -telling Griffon not to call, that he would look after Geoff and bring him home in the morning and everything would be fine- and headed back into the living room, beer in hand.
Geoff is still right where he left him (although the bottle now held considerably less whiskey) with his head in his hands. Burnie took his place in the armchair again, reaching out to place his hand on Geoff's arm, preventing him from taking another swig.
'Geoff... She's...she's not her, y'know? Griffon loves you Geoff.'
'Burnie I-'
'No, Geoff. I know she asked you to marry her. I know you freaked out about the idea of getting married again, but buddy; it's GRIFFON. She isn't like her, Geoff. She isn't Molly.'
'DONT YOU THINK I KNOW THAT! GOD FUCKING DAMN IT BURNIE, I KNOW SHE ISNT MOLLY! I DON'T WANNA FUCKING TALK, I WANT TO HAVE A DRINK. WHY WONT YOU JUST LET ME HAVE A GOD DAMNED DRINK BURNIE, WHY?' Geoff was on his feet now, attempting to shake off Burnie's hold on his arm.
Burnie held on.
'You have drunk your way through half a bottle of my $50 scotch. I think it's safe to say I am letting you have a fucking drink, okay? Okay.' He squeezed Geoff's arm gently but firmly, guiding him back into sitting on the sofa 'now, were just gonna have a chat, okay bud? You and Griff have a great thing going on here, and I'll be damned if I'm gonna stand by and let what Molly did to you almost 10 years ago ruin that. Okay? You gonna sit and talk through it, or are you just gonna drink yourself into oblivion and let her control you again?'
Geoff didn't speak, just nodded numbly, looking at the carpet.
'Okay, good.' Burnie sat down again, his hand still on Geoff's arm 'Now you gotta see the differences here dude; Molly... Molly was poison. She was manipulative, and controlling, and all she did was hurt you. Now Griffon, has she ever hurt you? In all the years you two have been together, has she ever hurt you? Has she ever threatened you, or made you do things you didn't want to? Has she?'
Geoff shook his head, still refusing to make eye contact.
'Well that's a relief to know. But ya see? See the difference?'
Geoff stared at the floor, bringing up the arm not clutching the bottle and rubbing his mouth and cheek. He mumbled something into his hand.
'What was that?' Burnie said, ducking his head downwards in an attempt to get his friend to look him in the face.
Geoff looked up, tears once again rolling down his face.
'I said; Molly was perfect too.'
Burnie felt like tearing his hair out. Something of his frustration must have shown in his face, as Geoff immediately began back tracking.
'Not...not like that. I mean, I know she was abusive; I know that. I just mean in the beginning. When we were first together, she was the perfect girlfriend, like Griffon is now. You didn't know her then, you didn't meet her before we were married, but Gus knew her when we were still just dating. She was great, honestly. She didn't...didn't change until after we got married Burnie.'
Comprehension dawned on Burnie.
'So...so when Griffon proposed to you... You thought...'
'What if it happens again Burnie?' Geoff wailed suddenly dropping the bottle of whiskey on the carpet, and launching himself into Burnie's arms 'I can't do it; I can't take it if it happens again. I love Griffon, but I can't help it, I can't. If it turns out like before, it would mean Molly was right. What if she was right Burnie, what if it is my fault and I did deserve it? I don't want to do that to her, not to Griffon. If she becomes like Molly was because of me, I don't know what I'd do!' Geoff was bawling his eyes out into Burnie's shoulder, his tears soaking through his friends' jumper.
Burnie pulled him onto his lap -ignoring his legs protesting at the weight of a full grown man being sat on them- and held him until he was cried out.
Once Geoff had calmed down again, Burnie spoke softly.
'You know that's bullshit, right?'
Geoff shifted in his arms to look up questioningly
'What Molly told you about deserving it. Its bullshit. She was sick in the head, dude. There is no one to blame for what happened, except for her.'
Geoff didn't reply, just gave Burnie a quick hug, and slid off of him. He glanced down at the still open whiskey bottle and winced as he saw the remainder of the golden liquid soaking into the otherwise pristine baby pink carpet.
'Shit dude, I'm sorry.'
Burnie grimaced at the stain, but shrugged. 'Eh. Jordan will understand. I hope.'
He smirked at Geoff, who returned it with an embarrassed grin, and a yawn. This of course set Burnie off yawning, and the two were caught in a strange yawning cycle for a few minutes, which set both men off laughing, clearing the atmosphere of any lingering tension between the two.
'C'mon you, bed. I'll drop you off in the morning, and you are gonna talk to Griffon, okay?'
Geoff paled, and started to stammer out a rejection, which Burnie quickly nipped in the bud.
'Uh-uh. No excuses. The sooner you two talk about this, the better.'
'But she'll think I'm weak... Beaten up by a girl for years...Not exactly the most masculine model of a man, am I?'
'Geoff, have you MET Griff? When has she ever given a fuck about gender stereotypes? Now come on. I assume you wanna sleep in the bed with me again? Jordan is away so it's no problem.' He remembered the first few weeks after Geoff has escaped Molly. The poor guy had not felt like sleeping alone, so he had stayed with Burnie until he found his own apartment.
His assumption proved correct when Geoff nodded shyly. Burnie held out his hand towards him.
'Good. Now c'mon. I'm tired as dicks, and we're getting up early. Fuck, it's gonna be annoying as heck to sleep in boxers again... The things I do for you, Ramsey!'
Geoff chuckled. 'Fucking tough, Burns. There is now way we are sharing a bed with you being buck ass naked. And you better keep them on all fucking night this time; it was awkward as dicks last time when Gus walked in to see you with your fucking cock resting on my leg. I swear I almost took all the skin off my knee making sure it was fucking clean after that!'
He took the outstretched hand, and squeezed it gratefully, allowing himself to be dragged up the stairs to bed.