A/N: Aww...only 2 reviews for that last chapter? Took a lot of guts to post it...anywho, this is a shorter chapter, but necessary nonetheless. Just as a heads up, I'm not sure when this story will end or how it will end just yet. For the latter, I have a general idea that I'm toying with, but I'm not sure if I'll go through with it. So this could end in two chapters, or it could end in five. It's not going to be really long, but I'm just not sure how much longer it actually will be.

Disclaimer: Oye. Okay, don't own. I own my story line, Kate, her family (except Mark, of course)...and that's about it. Wish I owned Roger. No such luck.

Kate walked down the street hurriedly, unaware of where she was going or even if she'd be able to find her way home. But she needed to escape. This was all too surreal for her.

It was hard for her to trust men. Really hard. But for some reason, she connected to Roger faster than she had ever imagined she would have.

And now he's dying.

With AIDS.

And he didn't find it necessary to tell you before kissing you.

Walking under the ironically cold city lights, she felt even colder tears run down her cheeks before hitting the concrete streets.

Never trust. You always get hurt.

---

Mark found himself torn. He would either run to Roger and talk to him, or run out into the street and find Kate and talk to her.

He had no idea where Kate was. She could be anywhere. New York wasn't exactly a small place.

With Roger on the other hand, Mark was almost certain the man would punch him.

But at least he knew where Roger was.

He slowly made his way to Roger's room, quietly opening the door and peeking inside. Roger was lying on the bed (mattress, really) staring at the ceiling, one hand draping over the side, the other hand placed on his heart.

Mark paused. He realized that he could run. Roger didn't notice him. He didn't have to stay.

But his feet wouldn't move. His guilt was too heavy.

He took a deep breath. "Listen, Roger...I just want to apologize."

"No." Roger answered.

Mark stared at him, confused. "What do you mean, no?"

"I mean you don't need to. I've had some time to think about it and I realized that I had no right to yell at you. It's not your fault that I was a jackass and didn't tell her when I should've."

Mark was astounded. Roger was actually being sincere and mature for once.

He thought seriously before asking the next question. "...Do you love her?"

Roger laughed. "Mark, I've known the girl for a few days! But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't attracted to her. It's nice to have someone to talk to...who relates to me in that way. Talking about my past isn't easy and it never will be, but somehow it's easier with her."

Mark nodded, slightly hurt. He always assumed that Roger knew he could come to him with his problems. Maybe Roger did know. But it hurt even more that Roger wasn't comfortable with that idea.

Roger looked up at Mark, a look of concern on his face. "Where is she?"

Mark shook his head. "I don't know...this is big, Roger. It's not just something you two can forget. As hard as this is to accept, AIDS is a part of who you are. And this is going to hurt, but I'm not sure if Kate's up to the idea of taking care of you for the rest of your life."

Roger nodded, knowing that everything Mark had to say was true. And it did hurt. For once, Roger wanted a girlfriend that didn't run when trouble came their way. That was a pattern that he fell into far too many times.

The pattern was getting old.

Getting off the old spring mattress, he grabbed his leather jacket, and for the first time in ages, he opened the loft door and ran out.

It was about time that something good happened in Roger's life.

And he wasn't about to let it slip away.