"I dont want to go back" I mumbled into his neck. We were laying in the tent after another round of our lake sex. I was laying on his chest while he traced his fingers up and down my back. Lately, he couldnt stop touching me. Its like all the times he was holding back at home was being let out now.

"Mhmm" he mumbled into my hair. I started rubbing my fingers over his chest lightly. "Hey uh-I forgot to tell you. When I called Mandy at the diner she said some guy stopped by the house. Said his name was Josh" he said quietly, trying to hold his anger. What? How did he find me?

"I dont care" I answered sleepily. He scoffed and I knew the thought of Josh being anywhere around was making him want to punch something. He stood up, throwing his clothes on. "Mick its not my fault he was there!" He could not seriously be mad at me for this. He stormed out of the tent and starting packing up, guess he could be mad at me. I packed up the tent while he packed up outside. Complete silence as we walked back to the car and all the way back to Chicago. When we pulled up to the house Lip and Mandy were on the steps sharing a cigarrette.

"Hey!" she said running up to hug us both. Mickey didnt hug back, just whispered something in her ear. She whispered back and he walked away, all the way down the street.

"Where is he going?" I asked starting to walk after him. She held be back with her hand.

"Let him do this" she said. Fuck, he was going after Josh. We walked inside, leaving the bags in the car. Id return the car to Kev later. We sat and ate the dinner Mandy had made while listening to the couple talking about everything that happened while we were gone. Frank was in the hospital, Jimmy was gone, and Carl wasnt talking to anybody. Shit. I couldnt even pretend to care, all I needed to know is that Mickey was okay. I know he can kick ass, but Josh just put a guy in a coma. I went to bed around four in the morning, laying in his bed, but trying not to fall asleep. When I felt him come into bed the sun was shining through the window, hitting his face. All I could see was blood.

"Mick" I whispered getting up and getting a wet rag from the bathroom. I sat on the bed and cleaned him up. He kept his eyes closed and wouldnt talk. He didnt touch me. When I was done I tried to grab his hand, he pulled away. "So thats it? Everything from camping is gone now that some dick came looking for me?" I couldnt have things go back to how they were now that I saw how good it could be. He turned over away from me. "Fuck you" I mumbled standing up and walking into the kitchen to get a beer. Mandy was laying on the couch watching TV. I sat next to her.

"Ian hes trying" she whispered. If Mickey heard her all of his progress would have gone out the window and she knew it. I nodded. I knew this, but I just wanted the camping Mickey back. "You know, when he called at the diner he told me he was happy. I mean he mumbled it and then changed the subject, but he said it." She couldnt get the smile off of her face. I couldnt believe he said that. I needed to change the subject.

"How are you and Lip?" I asked her. I felt bad, I was being the worst best friend possible. I didnt even know how they ended up being okay. She blushed and I could see her eyes wandering into her room where Lip was sound asleep.

"Were good, he uh, told me he loved me" she said blushing with the biggest smile on her face. I loved seeing her happy, she really did deserve it. I put my arm around her and she cuddled up onto my chest. "Im late Ian…" she whispered even quietly. My face dropped and she didnt say anymore. She just layed there, and I could tell she was crying. I played with her hair, the way I do with Mickey. Its the way they like to fall asleep.

"It will be okay" I whispered as she fell asleep. I knew Lip didnt know by the way she told me. Thats why she had hit Karen in the first place, so she couldnt hold Lip back from college with a baby. Now Mandy could be pregnant and we both knew Lip would stay. She fell asleep on me, the tears soaking my tank top. Well, Mickeys tank top I was wearing. In the morning I woke up to Mandy running to the bathroom, her hand over her mouth. I ran after her, holding her hair as she got sick. I looked back towards her room making sure Lip didnt see or hear. I got her into the bath as she cried, I knew this was hard for her. God she was beautiful. This is what she wanted. A family, someone that wouldnt leave her. She was so happy and so excited, but yet so sad. She wanted the best for Lip, and being stuck here because of her wasnt that. I washed her hair and then wrapped her into a towel, laying her down with Lip. I loved her so much. I walked back to Mickeys room, standing against the door frame. The same door frame where he tried to tell me not to go.

"He's fine" he mumbled. I thought he had been asleep. I walked forward sitting on the corner of the bed near his feet.

"I dont care." I really didnt.

"Where did you sleep?" He asked sitting up and lighting a cigarette.

"With Mands on the couch. We were watching a movie" I lied. He nodded and looked at his lap, inhaling the cigarette deeply. "Where did you find him?" I asked.

"Outside the gay bar. Fucking fag" he mumbled. Guess it was a bad time to tell him I had gone there with Ned. I nodded.

"Are you over it now?" I asked, ready for this to be over. He shrugged, still looking down. "You have to let it go" I mumbled, scared he would get mad. He passed me the cigarette and I took it, inhaling deeply. "Do you want me to go home?" I asked dreading the answer. He shook his head