Chapter Fifteen: The Time It Takes To Fall

They found a deserted corner in the tent city, near a big brick wall, a small fire burning in a trash barrel nearby. They rested Collins against the wall, bringing the fire closer. Collins sighed as everyone bustled about around him silently.

"Angel would know what to say,"he said suddenly. "Angel always knew what to say in bad situations. When I see her, I'll ask her to help you..."

"Collins, don't talk like that,"Roger commanded.

"Roger, please...we need to accept this-"Collins began softly.

"NO!"Roger shouted. "We do not need to accept this, because it is NOT going to happen! You are going to live, we are going to get through this!"

"Roger, we need to be reasonable-"

"STOP BEING REASONABLE OR YOU'RE GOING TO DIE!"Roger bellowed.

"Stop yelling!"Aaron snapped. "Dad, you just need rest. Rest, you'll be okay."Aaron and Roger stayed by Collins's side, refusing to leave, catering to his every need.

"He needs a doctor,"Mark stated, as they fussed over Collins's coat.

"We have no way to get him to one,"Aaron pointed out. "We have no way to call a cab, and even in we could they've blocked off all the streets in this area. The hospital is too far away, and dad's too weak to even try and make it there by foot."Mark and Roger nodded silently, knowing this was true, as Collins continued to wheeze. They were all scared, nervous, frantic...but they could not let Collins see that.

Maureen showed up at about 10:00, still in her outfit from the protest, her eye makeup streaked down her face. She had obviously been crying, and she looked furious. The others all stared at her, confused, as she came storming over.

"Maureen, thank God you're here,"Mark cried, relieved. "We need to take Collins to your place-"

"I've been kicked out my building!"Maureen yelled angrily.

"What? Why?"Roger demanded.

"You want to know why? For keeping drugs there!"Maureen spat. The others all frowned.

"...what? Maureen, you haven't been..."Mark trailed off.

"No, my daughter has!"Maureen shrieked. "Someone gave the cops a tip, they searched our apartment and found cocaine in my daughter's room! MY DAUGHTER! I can't believe her! How could she do this? How could she do this to me, to Joanne, to us?"She was hysterical, and Mark tried his best to calm her, but Maureen was angry and hurt. Collins watched Maureen sadly as she began crying.

"Aw, Maureen..."he croaked. Maureen walked over to Collins, kneeling down beside him. He motioned for her to rest her head on his shoulder, and she did. He rubbed her back as she cried. The others were all touched to see that Collins still had that calming, gentle effect, even when he was sick and exhausted. Collins was always there for them. What would they do without him?

Not long after Maureen arrived, Roxie herself appeared in the tent city, looking around nervously for the group. She ran over when she spotted them.

"Mom!"she cried, rushing towards Maureen. Maureen stood up, pulling away from Collins, and glaring at her daughter.

"Mom, please, you have to understand, this wasn't my fault--"Roxie began.

"What, Roxie? The fact that you got us kicked out of the only place we could have taken Collins because you were hiding drugs? The fact that you didn't even show up at my protest because you were out getting...getting high?"Maureen demanded.

"Mom, it's not mine, I swear! Lindsay stashed it in my room, her brother's a dealer! I didn't know!"Roxie cried frantically.

"Now is not the time for excuses, Roxanne,"Maureen snapped.

"It's not an excuse, I'm telling the truth! Please mom, you have to believe me. I would never do that. I was coming to your protest when Lindsay told me about the drugs. She said her brother had called the cops, I was trying to get home to get them out before the cops came!"Roxie explained.

"That's a nice story, Roxie. But I don't want stories right now,"Maureen spat. Roxie's eyes welled with tears as she glared at her mother.

"I'm your daughter. How can you not trust me?"she growled.

"I don't know what to believe any more,"Maureen replied. "I can't discuss this now. I can't even speak with you."And Maureen walked off quickly, leaving Roxie standing alone, tears streaming down her cheeks. Aaron came over, hugging her tightly.

"Aaron...I'm telling the truth!"she insisted. Aaron hushed her, stroking her hair.

"I know you are, Roxie...I know."The tension was now raised. And things were only about to get worse.

At 11:30, Becky arrived. She looked ghostly pale, and very sick. Sicker than she had ever looked before. She was shivering uncontrollably, and tears were streaming down her very bloodshot eyes, which had huge gaunt marks underneath. Her breathing was ragged and sharp. She was a mess, and it was a frightening sight. Roger, Aaron, Roxie and Collins all stared at her in shock. Maureen let out a gasp. Mark and Jason leapt up, dashing to her side.

"Becky! Where have you been?"Mark demanded. "Are you okay? Oh God, you're freezing...Becky? Becky what's wrong?"Becky looked up at her father, her icy blue eyes looking scared and empty as tears flowed from them.

"The b-baby d-died,"she managed to croak out.

"Oh no...Becky, I'm sorry,"Mark said, hugging her closer. "But I'm sure you did all you could."Becky struggled out of Mark's grasp, and when Jason tried to touch her, she pulled away.

"They th-think she d-died of Sc-Sc-Scarlet fever,"she managed to stutter out.

A horrible, terrifying silence befell the entire group. Mark's expression went from concerned to absolutely horror-stricken.

"Wh-which means I h-h-ave it, too,"Becky continued, tears streaming from her eyes. "I'm s-scared."

"Becky, no!"Mark gasped, tears welling in his eyes as a sob escaped his lips.

"Oh my God..."Collins sighed, closing his eyes and shaking his head sadly.

"No...this can't be happening...not to Becky, not to Mark..."Roger groaned, holding his head in his hands.

"We have no way to get her to a doctor either,"Aaron realized.

"I h-have to st-stay away fr-from Collins. Fr-from everyone. I c-can't risk them c-catching it,"Becky insisted, pulling herself away from the group.

"Becky please!"Mark pleaded, not letting go of his daughter.

"N-no, d-dad!"Becky persisted. "I d-don't w-want you t-to g-get sick!"

"Becky, I won't leave you,"Mark declared.

"Mark, we'll help you take care of her,"Roger insisted, standing up.

"No!"Mark cried out. "No Roger. None of you. Not with the AIDS...it's too risky. We can't take that chance, Scarlet fever would kill your immune systems."

"Mark, we're not going to let Becky sit there and-"Roger began.

"No Roger,"Mark said sternly. "Please...no. We can't lose anyone else."Mark looked so pleading, so pathetic...Roger nodded.

"Okay. Be careful,"he said softly. Mark nodded, and carried Becky off, away from the AIDS-infected group. Jason watched Mark and Becky go across the tent city. The girl he loved was deathly ill. And he just had to sit there and watch.

A/N: Okay, so that was pretty inevitable, I've been leading up to that since chapter one. I did a lot of research to try and find the right disease to fit Becky's symptoms though. So that's why it's Scarlet fever, even though I realize that people catching Scarlet fever now is pretty rare. Also, as it stands, I'm still trying to decide Collins's fate. So there might be a small delay before the next chapter as I rewrite and decide what to do with Collins. It won't be too long though! As always, thanks for reading, and thanks for feedback!