Chapter Eleven.
In the brief moment between Gerard stopping crying and starting again, Frank had managed to convince him to get into bed. He'd also managed to soothe Gerard enough so he would fall asleep. Unfortunately, and as much as he wanted to, Frank couldn't stay. Instead, he turned on the desk lamp and quickly scribbled a note on a piece of paper. It read,
Gerard,
I'm sorry I couldn't stay with you tonight. I know how much you need me and I promise i'm on the end of the phone whenever you want to talk. You remember me telling you about that music thing right? Well I'm going to that but it's in Philadelphia and I have to be there at eight. You're sleeping, you look so worn out. I'm gonna miss you but I'll be back in two days.
I love you, Frank.
He sighed deeply and turned the lamp off, Frank then left after giving Gerard a kiss on the forehead. He swallowed uneasily and left him to sleep.
The little amount of rest Frank got wasn't easy, he kept waking up and checking his phone just incase Gerard had called, he hadn't. He's just asleep Frank; you're paranoid, calm down. You're making things harder than they are. His thoughts disturbed his brain and his sleep. It was six o'clock in the morning. It took about an hour to get to Philadelphia from New Jersey; he'd have to set off now if he was going to get there for eight. He slowly rolled himself out of bed and pulled on some clothes. He then got the small suitcase he'd packed the night before from under his bed and dragged it downstairs. After eating a piece of toast and downing a coffee he got into his car and set off.
The roads were quiet; he couldn't help but think that Gerard should be with him to keep him company. It was only just starting to get light when Frank reached the first toll road that's when he had to focus himself, thinking about Gerard would be no good on a busy road like this.
Unfortunately, Frank snapped out of his thoughts a second too late.
A car swerved to avoid him but caught his front wheel. Both vehicles spun in opposite directions, tires were screeching, the smell of burning rubber filled the air and car horns blared into the sunrise.
Frank was suddenly aware that he couldn't move. His car was stuck between a concrete road division and another car that didn't quite stop in time. His neck ached, his back felt like it was on fire, and he saw blood dripping onto the carpet below him. His breathing was shallow and his ribs ached, his eyes were closing on their own. Someone was talking, maybe it was Gerard. Frank's eyes flickered open; it was a paramedic asking him if he could move.
"No." Frank couldn't even shake his head. He then heard some kind of saw, the roof of his car was being cut off. Frank drifted off into a state of unconsciousness again only to awake what must have been a good few hours later in a hospital bed. A nurse saw him and walked over.
"What happened?" asked Frank, his mind had gone blank and his vision was blurry.
"You were in a car accident. Do you want me to contact any family or friends?" she replied, looking at his details on the board behind his bed.
"Um yeah, their numbers will be on my phone," Frank said, memory returning slightly, he felt for his pockets, only to find they'd been replaced with a blue hospital gown, "I uh, I don't know where it is."
"Don't worry, we have your wallet and phone. We took them so we could find out who you were. I'll bring your phone if you'd like?"
"No it's okay, could you just ring Gerard and my mom?" Frank was tired. He felt stupid but he didn't regret asking for his mum. He caught sight of a sign on the door that said patients must have no more than three visitors at a time.
Suppose I'll have to invite Ray, Mikey and Bob some other time, he thought to himself. The nurse walked back in and told him that Gerard and his mum had been called and they would be there in about half an hour. Frank was relieved; he breathed deeply and then fell asleep.
Sometime later, a hand was stroking his cheek and hushed voices could be heard. Frank tried to open his eyes, they were heavy and kept shutting but after the third try, two blurry faces floated into view.
"Oh thank god you're awake." breathed his mother, Linda, smiling happily and letting a tear roll down her face.
"Frankie," Gerard's voice was soft and deep, "don't ever scare us like that again." He picked up Frank's hand and put it in his own.
"Sorry." Frank said, with barely enough energy to hold Gerard's hand.
"Oh it's not your fault honey. Some car caught your wheel and you both went spinning. I'm just happy you're alive." Linda said, smiling sympathetically and kissing his cheek.
"How long have I been asleep for?" Frank asked.
"Well you've kinda been drifting in and out of consciousness since we got here and that was like half an hour ago." said Gerard.
"Oh. I can't seem to stay awake." murmured Frank.
"That's okay. I'll stay with you if you'd like? It's not as if I need to be places or see people unlike your mom." said Gerard, smiling at Linda.
"Yeah, I'd like that."
"Honey? I love you but I have two meetings to go to and I need to pick your aunt up from the airport. I'll come back and see you tomorrow I promise. Get better soon." Linda kissed Frank's forehead, despite it being wrapped in bandages, and picked up her handbag. She turned to Gerard and whispered, "Look after him. I'd stay if I could but I'm just too busy. Oh and thank you for telling me about the pair of you." with that, she left.
Gerard sighed deeply and hung his head. After a moment he looked at Frank, who had fallen asleep again. "I got your note, I'm gonna keep it in my pocket until you're out of here. Looks like I'm gonna have to be there for you now instead of the other way round." he whispered. Gerard knew that Frank wouldn't reply but he didn't need him to. He knew what Frank would have done.
