Saving Grace

A/N: After too long I found my notebook, and am ready for an update. Hopefully I can be forgiven. It has been a crazy year. I am not joking. If you only knew. Enjoy!

-Med

Disclaimer: Don't own Rent, never will.

Chapter Four

Angel pushed her chair back and scooped Maggy up into her arms. "Come on, we have to get her to a hospital!"

Mimi threw some money on the table and quickly followed Angel down the street. She had only really known Maggy for a few minutes, but she knew from her talks with Angel that the two were very close. Mimi also knew that Maggy was dying. She selfishly hoped that Maggy could hang on just a little bit longer, because she really wanted to get to know her. Anyone that Angel had taken under her wing was worth knowing.

Maggy came to surrounded by the sterile whiteness of a hospital room. She vaguely remembered passing out over dinner at the Life Cafe. Angel and Mimi must have gotten her there somehow. It took some time, but her eyes began to focus, and she saw Angel and Mimi sitting on either side of the bed. She smiled weakly and tried to struggle to a sitting position.

Mimi was the first to move because she was closest. She gently helped Maggy to sit up. "It's good to see you awake," she said quietly.

Angel came over and kissed her cheek. "Do you want news, or do you want to settle in a little more, Honey?"

"News," Maggy said. "I would rather hear it from you than some doctor. How long have I been out?

"Two days," Mimi said.

"The good news is that you can come home, "Angel said. "You got a blood transfusion, and they upped your AZT."

"And the bad news is?"

"They don't know how long...days...weeks...months."

"That doesn't matter. At least I can walk out of here," Maggy laughed. "Can we make it sooner rather than later, I hope?"

"Of course, Sugar. Let's go home.

It had been two weeks since she had been released from the hospital and Maggy was still feeling pretty good. The weather was actually turning out really beautiful. Today she was sitting on a bench in Tompkin's Square Park contemplating her life. Angel was in another part of the park, but she could still hear her drumming away. The fresh air did wonders to clear Maggy's head, and the warmer weather was helping to improve her health.

The Man came into view and Maggy wondered why he chose such a public place to do his deals. She was hardly surprised seeing Mimi walk over to him and make an exchange. Maggy was still disappointed; she was a seventeen-year-old kid. That was not the life that she should have been living. Maggy waited for Mimi to get clear of the man before she walked over to her.

"You shouldn't do that stuff," she chided.

Mimi quickly pocketed the Smack and shrugged. "Oh, well. We're not perfect."

"I won't deny that, Mimi. That's why I won't lecture you; I just don't understand the drive for a fix."

Mimi motioned for Maggy to sit beside her on the bench. "If this wasn't your undoing; what's your tragic story, Girlfriend?"

Maggy sighed. That was not a memory she really wanted to relive, but it would probably cathartic to tell someone exactly how she had started down the path of ultimate self destruction. She took a deep breath and turned to Mimi. "Too much drinking, too much sex, not enough protection or common sense can be a deadly combination. I really thought I was safe because I was on the pill. Never in my life would I have imagined that I would end up like this." She was surprised to find that tears were sliding down her cheeks. She wiped them away bitterly.

Mimi smiled kindly and patted her hand. "I don't we'll ever be sure where the future will take us. It's a hard lesson to learn." She picked up a rock from the ground and skipped it across the pond.

Maggy sighed. "I really was sheltered in my own perfect little world. Who knew that it would take me moving nearly three thousand miles away and dying of AIDS to get a reality check.

"Talk about learning the hard way!" Mimi laughed kindly.

Maggy frowned and pushed Mimi gently. "Hey, that's not nice. I never said that I was an intelligent teenager. Book smarts and street smarts are two very different things."

"So, I take it, you did well in school?" Mimi asked.

"Well enough enough for the amount of effort I always put into it." Maggy chuckled. "It was pretty boring actually, so I found other ways to amuse myself."

"No kidding!" Mimi dodged the good-natured smack that Maggy attempted to land for her sass.

Angel joined them a few minutes later. "Maggy, is this girl giving you a hard time?" She slid onto the bench taking Maggy's hand and wrapping the other around Mimi's shoulders.

Maggy shook her head. "She's just forcing me to be a bit introspective is all." She grinned. "I think we are making some good progress; she knows my deep, dark secret!"

Angel couldn't help but laugh. "Good I was wondering when I'd be relieved of that burden." She winked.

"That's all settled. In all seriousness though. If I fall ill again before my parents come out could you please call them for me? Unfortunately, that may be a real possibility these days."

"Of course," Angel said, "But I'm hoping that it won't have to come to that."

Maggy nodded. "Me too, but I'm just trying to be realistic. There's no sense in denying that the end will come. I just have to enjoy what I've got left to live."

"As hard as that is, you're right, Maggy, and Mimi and I will be right there for you all the way."

"Well, in that case, can we go dancing late?"

"Yes, if you give Mimi and me enough time to get ready!

Maggy nodded. "No problem, getting out is all I ask. It's been too long since I got out and had a little fun."

Angel giggled and squeezed Maggy's hand. "Oh, we will have fun tonight, Honey, I can promise you that!"

Maggy stretched for a second and settled back onto the bench happily. It was nice to be able to sit in a companionable silence, and not feel forced into keeping the conversation going.

"What kind a club are you looking for, Maggy?" Mimi asked for a few minutes of silence.

Maggy thought for a moment. "Somewhere fun, and no offense, clean. I'd rather not be propositioned all night, and I would like to stay as healthy as possible."

Mimi nodded. "Don't worry, Chica, I know just the place!"