Part Nine: Comings and Goings
I haven't seen Mickey in two weeks, and I am starting to really miss him. I miss him telling me to "Fuck off" and to just get up and leave after sex. I miss his scent, I miss his anger, and I miss his "fuck u-up" tattoo. I just miss him.
That's why I'm going back to the juvenile detention center today. Mickey was surprised to see me last time and he seemed distracted, hopefully he won't be this time. I can't wait to see him. I'm skipping school to see Mickey.
I have to take a couple of buses to get there, but I think it's worth it. I am sent through several metal detectors when I enter the building. It's a bit of a process. I get pat down by some guy who seems to like to let his hands wander, before I am allowed in to see Mickey.
"Who are you here to see?" asks a man at the visitation desk.
"Mickey Milkovich," I say.
"Are you relation?"
"I'm his boyfriend," I say casually.
The man nods and waves me through. I look back and see him shake his head and whisper something. I have no idea why I told that man I'm Mickey's boyfriend. We aren't boyfriends, I don't think. I just didn't think the man would let me through otherwise.
Mickey is brought out. He's not on his crutches. He's still limping. He sits down across from me and takes the phone. I pick up my side. He's sporting a bruise under his left eye that looks really painful. I put my hand on the glass, but remove it quickly.
"What do you want?" Mickey asks.
"I wanted to see you," I say.
Mickey leans forward, glances around, and whispers, "You have to stop coming here. My cell mate wants to fuck you up. He gets out next week. You have to stay away."
"But I wanted to see you," I say feeling crestfallen.
"I'm fucking serious."
"If that's what you want. This will be my last visit," I tell him, fighting back tears in my eyes. "I just thought it would be nice for you to have visitors. I know Mandy won't come and I know that your father doesn't give a shit. I just thought I would do something nice for you."
"Fuck," says Mickey. He's looking right at me. He never does that. I smile at him. He doesn't return it right away, but his face does soften.
"How is your fucked up family?"
"Still fucked up. How's teenage prison?"
"It fucking sucks. You didn't bring me any porn or anything did you? Because I could really use something to fucking do in here."
"When are you coming home?"
"I don't fucking know."
"I need you."
Mickey doesn't give me a "I'll rip your fucking out" or "Don't say stupid fucking shit," he just stares at me as if he's not sure I'm actually here or not. He doesn't move his eyes away like he did last time, but I still don't feel like he's with me completely.
"Please, don't come back here again."
"I won't," I reply when I hear the desperation in his voice.
"Still fucking towel-head?" He asks after a few moments of silence.
"No. We actually broke up after he shot you. He's seeing someone else now. I don't care."
"I bet that wife of his was thrilled when he shot me," says Mickey.
"The neighborhood watch ladies baked him a fucking cake."
Mickey laughs. I miss it.
The buzzer goes off and that means it's time to go. I stay seated and so does Mickey. We wait until everyone else leaves before we get up. The big black guy from two weeks ago winks at me and waves two fingers. He looks down at Mickey before being pushed through the door.
"I asked for extra time," says Mickey. "We have five minutes."
"How'd you manage that?"
Mickey avoids answering and a serious expression comes on his face, "That black guy you saw, his name is Travon D'Johnson, and he's my cell mate. He is the reason you have to stop coming here. I'm serious. He won't just fuck you up; he'll go after your family."
"Time's up, Milkovich," says the guard. He takes Mickey by the shoulders and leads him away. I am still sitting there when a woman pats me on the arm. I nod at her and leave. My heart is constricting in my chest. I feel weak. I sit down on the bench in lobby and breathe. My head is spinning.
"You alright," asks the female guard who made me leave. She is kneeling in front of me. She looks kind of blurry. "I'm going to get you some water. Why don't you lie down for a second?"
I don't remember blacking out, but when I come to I am lying on the floor of the lobby of the juvenile detention center and the female guard and another male guard are kneeling on the floor next to me. The male guard helps me sit up.
"Do you know who you are?"
"Ian Gallagher," I answer.
"Who is the President of the United States?"
"Barack Obama," I answer.
"Where are you?"
"Chicago, Illinois."
"He's fine," says the man. I feel like blacking out again, but the woman gives me a cup of water with a straw and I sip it. She sits me up and I lean against the bench.
"Can I go home now?"
"No," says the woman.
"Okay," I say. I close my eyes.
I don't remember falling asleep or maybe I blacked out again, but when I open my eyes I am looking at my brother Lip and Fiona's boyfriend Steve.
"Ian," says Lip.
"How did you find me?" I ask.
"Mickey Milkovich told them my number. He said it was the only one he knew. He has my number because I referred some druggies to him a few months ago. You okay?"
I clutch onto Lip and let him I'm ready to go home. The female guard seems reluctant to let me leave. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"I just want to go home," I say.
I don't talk to Lip much in the car ride home. I mostly just sleep. I wouldn't want Steve to overhear and get suspicious about everything. He and Lip talk about a job that he as for Lip to help him make some money to take Karen Jackson to a concert.
Back at the house, Lip makes me tell him why I think I passed out.
"Stress," I say.
"Try again," says Lip calmly.
"Lovesickness," I throw out randomly. Lip nods and pats me on the back.
"I was really fucking worried."
"Thanks for coming to get me," I say.
"Ian, I will always come get you, every fucking time. I will drop everything and come get you."
"You don't have to protect me."
"Disagree," says Lip before tossing me my homework.
A/N: I know it's weird for Ian to pass out from "lovesickness" but I think Ian's stress has finally caught up to him and it took its toll on him. I really wanted a more serious chapter. So I hope it works.
