Chapter Seventeen: Precious Little Meltdown
That evening, just as the sun was setting, the group was met with a huge surprise.
"Maureen!"Joanne, Benny and Sam all came dashing into the tent city. Joanne threw herself down before Maureen, who burst out into new sobs, leaping on Joanne and hugging her tightly, crying into her shoulder.
"Joanne!"she cried.
"Oh God, Maureen..."Joanne said, hugging Maureen and stroking her messy dark hair.
"What's happened?"Benny demanded. "We got Mark's call from a few days ago and came down here as soon as we got the chance. How's Collins? Where's Mark?"Roger jumped up angrily.
"Roger..."Aaron warned. But Roger pinned Benny against the wall.
"You want to know how Collins is, Benny? Collins is dead!"he spat. "He died out here in the cold last night because we were kicked out of our fucking home!"Benny looked shocked.
"Collins...no...not Collins...oh God, no..."he stuttered in disbelief.
"And Mark? Mark is over there with his sick, dying daughter, because we have no money and no way to get her to a hospital! Collins is gone and Mark is suffering all alone! Thanks a lot, Benny! Thanks a fucking lot!"Benny looked hurt and shell-shocked.
"Roger...oh God...I'm sorry, I tried, I really tried, I thought we could fix things! I was too late...too late...oh my God...not Collins...Roger, please understand..."he stuttered.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa...Becky is dying?"Joanne repeated, looking up immediately.
"She has Scarlet fever, she got it from the Harrison's baby. Mark won't let the rest of us take care of her, so he's been taking care of her all alone,"Roger barked, trying not to hold any animosity against the fairly wealthy lawyer who had also left them.
"Where's Mark?"Joanne demanded, standing up quickly.
"He's over there,"Jason muttered in response, pointing.
"Oh my God..."Joanne gasped when she caught sight of Becky. She ran over to Mark quickly, leaving Maureen panting and weeping on the ground. Roger let go of Benny, letting out a deep breath and storming off. Jason shot Benny an angry glare. He was blaming Benny for Becky's sickness. He needed someone to blame.
"Where's Roxie?"Sam asked, walking over to Aaron and Jason.
"She ran off about an hour ago. She and Maureen were kicked out of their apartment because Roxie's friend was stashing cocaine in her room. She and Maureen had a huge blow-out,"Aaron explained.
"Oh God..."he muttered. "Do you have any idea where she might be?"
"We haven't heard from her for hours,"Aaron said sadly.
"Did anyone go after her?"Sam asked.
"Roger, Jason and Maureen went out a few hours ago. We haven't been able to go out again since. It's been so hard here, Sam..."Aaron explained. That's when Jason lost it.
"Becky is dying! Collins is dead! You guys weren't here! We couldn't go after Roxie! We couldn't save Collins! We can't save Becky, because YOU GUYS WEREN'T HERE!"he yelled angrily at Sam, who backed away, looking hurt and confused.
"Jason, please. Relax, this is not Sam's fault,"Aaron said softly.
"How can you say that! Your father is almost dead because his father didn't help us! How can you not put the blame on them! HOW!"Jason demanded, sounding very much like his father.
"My father was fighting harder than you know to save Collins and your home!"Sam yelled.
"THEN WHERE WAS HE WHEN WE WERE KICKED OUT?"Jason screeched.
"Guys! Stop!"Aaron called out, stepping between the two.
"I'm going to find Roxie,"Sam mumbled. And he ran off as well. Jason sighed, kicking the wall, just like Roger.
"God, I can't take this any more!"he groaned.
"Jason, please..."Aaron began. Jason could feel tears filling his eyes, which made him angrier. He didn't want to cry. Because if he started, he wouldn't be able to stop himself. He turned, walking away from Aaron quickly.
Becky had just vomited more bile, nothing left in her stomach for her to throw up. She was shaking violently, as Mark held her tight, shushing her and stroking her hair calmly, as he fought back tears with all his strength.
"Shh...it's okay Becky...it will all be okay..."he assured her.
"I feel bad,"Becky said weakly. Mark frowned.
"Why is that?"he asked.
"Because I'll get to see Collins sooner than the rest of you,"Becky murmured. Mark began shaking his head.
"No...no Becky, don't talk like that,"he said.
"I'm being honest, dad..."Becky began, sounding delirious.
"No! Becky, you're not going anywhere. I can't...I couldn't...I couldn't..."Mark trailed off, overcome with emotion. That's when he heard someone call his name.
"Mark!"Mark looked up.
"Joanne!"Joanne came running over.
"How is she?"she asked immediately, kneeling down beside Mark.
"She's...she's not holding out very well,"Mark admitted. Joanne examined Becky sadly.
"Oh my God...Mark, this child is not healthy at all,"she said, shaking her head.
"I know,"Mark said sternly. "But what can I do? We're stranded, Joanne."
"Not any more. Benny and I are home now,"Joanne explained. Becky began wheezing in her sleep, as Mark tried to lie her down. Joanne looked heartbroken.
"Oh dear Lord, this girl needs to get to a hospital,"she said.
"We have no money,"Mark pointed out.
"Benny does,"Joanne said.
"I can't let Benny pay..."Mark began.
"You will. Or I'll pay with every cent I have left,"Joanne insisted. Mark nodded, too tired to argue, as Joanne lead him away from his sick daughter.
Aaron caught Jason, just as he was about to sneak out of the tent city.
"Oh, you're running away now, huh? Great timing, Jase,"he snapped.
"You don't understand, Aaron. I have to go,"Jason sighed.
"Why?"Aaron demanded.
"Because everything is so fucked up! How can we go on without Uncle Collins?"Jason asked, his voice cracking slightly as he felt hot tears fill his eyes.
"Did you listen to my father at all? He said to go on. Keep living. Keep sharing love,"Aaron pointed out. "You have so much here to care about, Jason. There's your dad, there's me, there's Becky..."
"There is nothing I can do for Becky now!"Jason blurted out.
"Is that why you're running away? You're scared because Becky is sick?"Aaron asked.
"No. I'm terrified. She's so sick, Aaron. She probably won't live another day. Aaron...the girl I love is dying and there is nothing I can do to help her!"Jason yelled.
"That's not true! She loves you with all her heart, Jason, and she needs to know how you feel! You have to talk to her before-"Aaron began.
"No! I can't tell her!"Jason interrupted quickly. "Because telling her would mean accepting the end, and I can't do that right now!"
"Jason, please. Don't do this. Don't leave her, not now,"Aaron pleaded.
"I can't stay, Aaron. I love her too much to just sit here and watch her die!"Jason bellowed as he whirled around the corner...only to realize that Becky had been sitting against the wall, listening the entire time. He froze, shocked.
"You...you heard that?"he asked. Becky nodded, looking up at Jason with her sad, sick eyes.
"All of it,"she replied. Jason opened and closed his mouth several times...before turning and running out of the tent city. Becky watched him go miserably. Aaron knelt down beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged away.
"Aaron, please. Don't come near me. For your own sake,"she begged. Aaron nodded, and backed away from Becky, as Mark and Joanne returned with Benny.
"Oh my God..."Benny gasped upon seeing Becky.
"She needs a hospital,"Joanne declared.
"And fast,"Benny agreed.
"We have no money-"Mark began again.
"I'll pay all the bills. No debt,"Benny assured him. "Get her to Joanne's car, quick." Becky was lifted up again by her father. She looked down the street for Jason as she was carried to Joanne's car.
"Goodbye love..."
Roxie, Sam and Jason had all taken off now, not returning. Maureen had gone with Mark and Joanne to take Becky to the hospital, and Aaron and Roger stayed behind with Benny, who was kneeling beside Collins' body, and seemed to be praying softly.
"I'll pay every cent for his funeral,"he assured them, as he stood up.
"Don't-"Roger began, but Aaron interrupted.
"Thank you. We appreciate it,"he said. Roger sighed, as Aaron shot him a stern look. How could an eighteen year-old be so much wiser than him?
"Benny..."Roger began, not sure where he was going with this at all. "I...I'm sorry." Benny stopped, looking at Roger curiously.
"Roger, please, you have no need to be sorry. I understand why you were angry, I should have been here, I should have done more..."Benny insisted.
"No Benny. You've done more than enough already,"Roger assured him. "I mean, Mimi's rehab, Angel's funeral, Mimi's funeral...you've always been there to support us when we needed you the most. You might not have been here when Collins passed away, but you were trying to save him. He knew that. He thanked you before he died."Benny smiled, and for the second time ever, Roger saw tears falling from Benny's eyes. He moved towards Roger, then pulled away...but Roger went over to him, pulling him into a hug.
"I missed you guys,"Benny confessed.
"We missed you too,"Roger replied.
"I already told Mark I'd pay for Becky's hospital bills. I'll pay for a new home for you, too, I'll pay all your rent. I'll do anything, I promise,"Benny said frantically.
"Benny, calm down. You should discuss this with Alison,"Roger said logically. Benny shook his head.
"Alison left me months ago. We're filing for a divorce now. That's why I'm back. I wanted to make amends, I wanted Sam to know your kids. I wanted my old life back, my good life back,"Benny explained. Roger smiled.
"Well then...consider it back,"he said, which got Benny to laugh a little. "I'm sorry to hear about Alison."Benny smiled a little.
"Thanks, but you don't mean that,"he said. Roger shrugged.
"Maybe not. But can you blame me?"he asked. Benny and Roger shared a laugh, as did Aaron. That's when Benny turned to Aaron.
"Oh...Aaron is it?"he guessed. Aaron nodded. "Aaron Collins. Sam's talked a lot about you. He said you're very smart. Just like your father."Aaron smiled. "I'm very sorry for your loss, Aaron. I was very close with your father when we were younger."Aaron nodded again.
"I know. And thank you,"he said kindly. "Thank you for everything."Benny patted Aaron's shoulder.
"You're a strong kid, Aaron. I know you'll end up well off, just like Collins,"he said. Then Benny turned back to Collins's peaceful body. "We should get him to the hospital."Roger and Aaron nodded, as they lifted Collins' frail body and carried him to Benny's car.
A/N: I know, still lots of drama in this chapter! But I tried to make sure it had a happier ending, to give more hope. The next chapter will have some strong Mark/Roger friendship, A LOT more Roxie/Maureen/Joanne, and some strong Jason/Aaron friendship, with a little bit of Jason/Becky. But all the REAL Jason/Becky is being saved for one special scene.
In case it wasn't obvious, this chapter was supposed to remind you of 'Goodbye Love'.
Also, someone pointed out that Maureen and Joanne have money, so why isn't Maureen paying to take Becky to a doctor? I'm sorry, I really didn't make this clear earlier, but Joanne only left them a certain amount of money when she left, and they used it all to buy food and AZT, so they have no money left with them. And also, they have no way to take Becky to a doctor, which I believe I also neglected to mention. Sorry guys!
I've got to stop leaving such long Author's Notes...anyways, thanks for feedback!