Still Life

Chapter Ten

Disclaimer: I don't own RENT, nor any of the characters contained therein.

Mimi and Collins watched Roger practically run down the hallway to Mark's room. Mimi sighed, feeling very small, and very cold all of a sudden. Collins heard her sharp intake of breath, and placed a comforting arm around her shoulder, leading her back to her plastic seat. She leaned back in the uncomfortable chair and closed her eyes, exhausted. Just as she was beginning to drift off, the door opened loudly. Again. Mimi huffed in irritation. Honestly, she thought, this is a hospital! Mimi tried to tune out the incessant high-pitched wailing of the voice, but she jolted awake, suddenly, realizing that she recognized said high-pitched wailing.

"Maureen?" She said, twisting around to get a look at the dramatic scene unfolding behind her. Mimi, as well as most of the waiting room, was watching the blonde-haired beauty wail and sob, collapsing in a heap on the floor, only to stand up and fall down again. Mimi watched, incredulous, and snuck a peek at Mark's parents. They looked on in suburban, sheltered horror, and Mimi had to stifle a laugh. She snorted, ungracefully, and felt Collins' elbow dig into her side. She looked up at him, apologetically, but noticed his attention was not on her. Rather, he was staring at Joanne, who was, in turn, staring at nothing, tears welling up in her eyes. Mimi watched her try to swallow the lump in her throat without much success. She was gripping the handle of her briefcase so tightly her knuckles were turning white, and she seemed oblivious to Maureen's hysterics. Maureen, put out at the lack of attention from her girlfriend, threw herself at Joanne's feet, clutching her legs, and sobbing loudly. This seemed to snap Joanne out of her silence.

"Damn it, Maureen!" Maureen recoiled, in shock, and stood up, quickly. Joanne put her hand to her head. "Maureen…do you understand why we're here? This isn't some stupid game, or some audition for whatever the hell show you want to be in this week. This is real, real, do you understand?" She said, quietly, in a controlled voice. "Mark is lying in some godforsaken hospital bed, possibly dying, and you're writhing around on the floor like a fish out of water. Get a goddamn grip!" She spat, frustrated. Mimi and Collins exchanged uneasy glances, and Mimi started to go over to Joanne, when Collins grabbed her arm. He motioned for her to take Maureen outside, and Mimi obeyed. Once they were both safely out of the room, Collins walked over to Joanne, and put his arms around her. She rested her head under his chin, and closed her eyes. They were suddenly very aware of the whispers from all over the waiting room, mostly from tourists.

"Was that some kind of performance art?"

"Um…does this usually happen in New York?"

"I think I dated that girl!" Joanne scoffed under her breath at that one.

"She was Mark's friend!" Was not a whisper, but rather, an incredulous shout from Mark's mother. Joanne felt Collins' chest begin to shake with silent laughter, and against her wishes, she felt herself begin to smile. She allowed Collins to lead her over to a seat, and collapsed in it, gratefully. Collins took the empty chair next to her, and crossed his legs. He noticed an obviously out-of-town couple sitting one seat over from him, staring at him with unabashed curiosity. He smiled, and leaned over to them.

"Hi, I'm Tom Collins. I'm gay," he shot a look at the husband, "And you're cute!" Joanne, who had been watching the display with interest, had to stuff her fist in her mouth to keep from breaking out into raucous laughter at the look of horror on the man's face.

"I'm—I'm—I'm," The man stuttered, horrified. "I'm a Republican!" And with that he grabbed his wife's hand and led her hastily out of the room, muttering, "No painkillers are worth this…"

Collins sighed, and leaned back in his seat. He offered a handkerchief to Joanne, who accepted it gratefully, and used it to dab at her runny mascara. He watched her, solemnly.

"Are you alright?" He inquired, gently. She laughed bitterly, and shook her head.

"No." She replied, bluntly. "I should have known. I mean, I talked to him! I never thought," She stopped, forcing back tears. "I never thought he's do this." She finished, hoarsely. Collins chuckled, more bitter than good-humored and rested his head on his hand.

"I didn't either." He offered. "None of us could have known. In the end, it was Mark's decision. We can only hope we'll get an explanation at some point." Joanne shook her head, and frowned.

"We'd better get an explanation." She said. They lapsed into companionable silence, watching the minutes tick by, slowly.

A/N: This one's up fast to make up for how long it took for chapter nine to upload. Next chapter, Maureen and Mimi have a discussion in the hallway that they were banished to by the omniscient Collins! Prose In My Pocket—Matt Caplan was actually who I was thinking of. Anthony Rapp plays Mark as protective, and angry. Matt Caplan's lines have a little more avoidant! Mark feel to them. In particular, the difference in the "so do you!" line in "What you Own" really struck me. the-fraulein—My most faithful reviewer. Much "propz" and thanks. MandiMooShoe—Glad you found it funny!

Harper's Pixie—I was pretty happy Mark survived too. He's so resilient.

BwayDiva—Yeah, no fatalities in the story…yet. I don't think Mark would have been very pleased if Roger had killed one of his parents. That might have been a joy kill, eh?