Author's Note: Howdy folks! How'd y'all like the last chapter? I love reading your reivews...especially when you say stuff like "Josh needs to die". It makes me giggle and feel like I'm writing the character well. This chapter is a bit...more emotional. It took a little while to write for a couple of reasons. The main one being I sobbed while writing it, especially that ending. But I hope you likey. This story is winding down, but I'm thinking maybe a prequel...tell me what you guys think? Also, a new story is in the works, so be on the lookout! Reviews make me a happy gal! Oh! And this is NOT slash...Roger is still with Mimi (remember her, back in the loft, going through withdrawal?) I do love me my Mark and Roger slash, but this one isn't it. Just friendship!

Disclaimer: I OWN IT! HAHAHAH! Okay, no I don't...sheesh, I'd have thought you'd have known that by now!

The first thing Mark heard was an annoying beeping. He had thought that maybe his alarm clock was malfunctioning. He opened up his eyes and found himself in an unknown room. It was white. As he looked from side to side, he saw Roger pacing the room.

"Oh my God, you're up!" Roger shouted, rushing over to him. "Are you okay?" Mark blinked a couple of times and Roger handed him his glasses.

"What happened?" He asked, trying to sit up. Roger gently pushed him back down.

"You were talking with Cindy and she called for help. You had a seizure and we called an ambulance. You've been in the hospital, out of it, for three days. We've been worried sick." Roger sat down on his bed. "Cindy didn't want to leave you, but I sent her home to be with her kids." Roger said. His voice sounded unfinished, like there was something else he wanted to say.

"What all did I tell Cindy?" Mark asked. Roger bit his lip. During the initial wait when they got to the hospital, Roger had begged Cindy to tell him what Mark told her. She finally opened up and told him everything. It took all of Cindy's powers of persuasion to keep Roger in the hospital and not to find Josh and kill him.

"You...you told her everything Mark." He finally said. Mark closed his eyes and sighed.

"I was afraid of that." Mark opened his eyes and looked at Roger again. His eyes had dark circles and he looked worried sick. "Have you slept at all?" Roger didn't say anything. "Have you been home at all?" He still didn't say anything. "How's Mimi?"

"Mimi's actually doing really well. She was here about an hour ago, but she went home with Collins." Roger said. Mark smiled slightly.

"What aren't you telling me, Roger?" He asked. At that moment the door opened and in walked Cindy with the kids.

"Uncle Mark!" Mason shouted. Cindy grabbed him before he charged Mark.

"Mason, honey, Uncle Mark needs to rest." Cindy's eyes were shining. She glanced at Roger, who shook his head ever so slightly. "You're awake Mark!" She said. "How are you feeling?"

"I have a headache." He said, trying again to sit up and succeeding this time. He closed his eyes as a wave of dizziness washed over him. Gently, he patted the bed giving Mason the okay to climb up next to him. "I was so proud of you when we saw your Daddy, Mr. Mason." Mark told him. Mason's face lit up in a grin. He snuggled into Mark's chest.

"Thanks Uncle Mark." he said. Mark smiled as he stroked the little boy's hair. "Cindy, why don't you take these two little rascals to get some juice or something?" He suggested. Cindy and Roger exchanged another glance. Roger nodded to Cindy, who shooed Mason out of the room and left the two boys alone.

"Roger, I need you to tell me what's going on." Mark said. Roger nodded and sat down on the bed, next to Mark. He put his arm around the film maker. He knew that Mark wasn't going to like what he had to say.

"When Cindy and I were waiting to hear about you, I made her tell me everything that you had told her, Mark. Once we had found out that you were stable, Cindy went home." He took a deep breath and held tightly to Mark. "She called home first, to talk to your parents. According to Collins, she was scary, screaming at them. She said something about them not believing you or her. Then...she called the police, Mark." Mark tensed and Roger held him tightly. "She told them that her husband had been beating her and her kids...and what had happened to you." Roger took a deep breath and let Mark process this before starting up again. "Cindy came back here to be with you and the police came to question her. She told them everything that had happened between her and Josh...they took some pictures of her bruises. They also talked with Mason. Cindy's pressing charges against him. And she's filing for divorce. I told her she could stay with us for as long as she needs to." Mark nodded in agreement.

"And...me?" He asked.

"Mark...I'm really sorry. There's nothing they can do about what happened between you and Josh. You would have had to report it years ago, they need substantial evidence." Roger said.

"But...but he...he...and now he's getting off? They're not going to do anything?" Mark asked, his voice heavy with tears.

"He's not getting off. He's being charged with abusing his wife and his daughter." Roger tried to comfort him. Mark pulled away.

"He won't go to jail for that. They'll give him a slap on the wrist. It's a first offense." Mark's voice was terrifying. It was completely void of emotion. Then he started to laugh, a maniacal laugh. "Josh...he fucking molests me at age eight, rapes me at thirteen and they can't do anything!" Mark's laughter became louder. He could barely catch his breath.

"Mark..." Roger started. Mark laughed harder.

"So, I admit the worst thing to ever happen to me in my LIFE. Now everyone knows what a pig I am and he gets nothing!" Mark laughed so hard the words came out fragmented.

"Mark, please..." Roger tried again. Mark finally snapped.

"NO! Get out!" Roger stared at him. "GET OUT!" He screamed. Sadly, Roger got off the bed and headed for the door. He realized that Mark was still laughing and didn't understand it. He let himself out of the door and waited right outside.

Mark couldn't see, his tears filled with eyes from laughing. He ripped out the IV line and detached all the monitors. He got up and headed for the bathroom. He tore off the flimsy hospital gown, turning on the water and making it as hot as he could stand it. He climbed in, opened the pre-packaged soap, and began scrubbing. He was never sure when the laughter turned into tears, but he sank to his knees, still scrubbing as hard as he could at his body.

Roger heard the water turn on and waited for a minute. He could hear the wails coming from Mark and came back in the room. Quietly he entered the bathroom, only to find Mark on his knees in the shower, scrubbing futilely at his body, sobbing. Roger dropped to his knees so he was eye level with Mark. He held out his arms and Mark fell forward into his body. Roger just held him as he cried harder than he had ever cried in his life.