A/N: Here's the next chapter... so yeah... I hope you like it... please review!


"Is anyone here for a Mark Cohen," a male doctor asked, staring down at his clipboard. Roger wiped some tears from his eyes. He stood and almost tripped over his feet as he approached the doctor.

"Is he okay? Where is he?"

"Are you family?"

"Jesus Christ! Will you just tell me if he's alive!" He wasn't in the mood for all this doctor bullshit.

"Mr. Cohen pulled through but he has slipped into a coma. I'm not sure of how long it will last, but...," he trailed off.

"Can I see him," Roger asked quickly.

"Hospital policy says only blood-relatives may visit ICU patients. I'm sorry, but-."

"Sir," Roger cut him off. "I'm the closest thing he has to a family. Please I need to see him."

"Follow me, but I must warn you. Mr. Cohen will look different so brace yourself."

Mark did look different... way different. He was hooked up to so many machines, there was a tube down his throat and he just didn't look right. This was not his Mark. The doctor sensed that the boy needed to be left alone with the patient.

"Feel free to stay as long as you want," he said nicely before leaving. Roger slowly moved to the chair next to the bed.

"Oh, Mark, I'm so sorry. I can't believe I let this happen to you," he said gripped Mark's hand tightly. A few moments later, a nurse walked in, not knowing Roger was there.

"Oh, hi. I didn't know anyone was visiting Mr. Cohen. Are you his brother?" Roger didn't answer right away. The nurse thought he was still in shock.

"No, I'm his boyfriend," he replied softly. "Roger. I'm Roger."

"Hi, Roger. I'm Jessica. Just so you know, Mark is in good hands. He'll be just fine."


Roger and Jessica had talked a lot over the next few days since Roger was always there. Jessica had really helped. She convince Roger to go to school and that Mark would be fine while he was gone. She was just there for Roger. She felt bad for him. These two boys were great kids and then tragedy strikes when a homophobe comes along and decides to kick a gay boy's ass. The police came to talk to Roger but they kept it short, sensing the need for Roger attention to be on Mark at all times.


It was Thursday and Roger had just arrived at the hospital after school. He was alone for only a few minutes before a couple burst into the hospital room. Roger didn't even look up. He had a feeling of who it was.

"Oh, God, Marky," Mrs. Cohen shrieked running over to Mark's side. Mr. Cohen just silently stared at his motionless son.

"You let go of my boy's hand," he commanded coldly. Roger didn't make any attempt to do so. Mr. Cohen grinded his teeth, trying to hold down his anger. "Did you hear me, Roger?" Roger finally looked up at him and shook his head.

"Why are you here? Mark wouldn't want to see you," Roger said icily.

"We're paying for this. We have every right to see him," Mrs. Cohen replied.

"Oh yeah, I forgot. You don't give a damn about what your son wants."

"You don't know what he wants. You're just some fucking queer who made my son believe that you loved him. You did this to him," Mark's father yelled as he approached Roger. "I thought you were good for Roger when you two were just friends. You tore him away from that damn camera. But what you did to him, the way you made him is inexcusable."

"I didn't do anything to him. And just so you know, we've been going out since the day we met," Roger added that last part just to piss him off. And it worked. It worked more than Roger had hoped for. Before Roger really knew what was going on, Mr. Cohen had swiftly slugged Roger in the face with his right hand. The blow caused Roger to stumble backwards. Roger moved his hand to his nose, feeling a wet substance. He pulled his hand down and it covered in blood. Roger almost went to kick the shit out of Mr. Cohen but Mrs. Cohen pulled him out of the room. Thank God! Roger didn't want to do anything he would later regret.

Before her shift ended that night, Jessica went to check on Mark and Roger. Roger was pacing around the room with his head tilted back and his hands were filled with bloody tissue.

"Roger, are you okay? What happened," she interrogated him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Mark's parents were just here. I guess Mr. Cohen still hasn't gotten over Mark coming out."

"You want me to help with that," she asked trying to get a closer look at his bloody nose.

"No, I'm good. Thanks anyway," he replied, looking at the ceiling.

"Doctors say that comatose patients can still hear when people talk to them. Give it a try. You might be able to stimulate some brain activity."

"What should I say," Roger asked after sucessfully stopping the bleeding. He moved into the bathroom to clean up his face.

"Just have a normal conversation with him. I know that's hard with only one person, but just tell him about your day or your plans after graduation." She paused to let him think about it. "I better get going. You have school tomorrow. Leave by eight." After she left, Roger sighed and moved back into his usual chair.

"I guess it's worth a try," he muttered. "Mark, if you can hear me, the past few days at school have been rough now that everyone knows we're together. Graduation is in five weeks. I hope you make it. I've done a lot of thinking about what our lives will be like after high school. I guess we'll go to college. Hopefully we'll still be together after that. I want us to live together in the city like we've always dreamt about. I want my band to play in places that maybe actually matter. I want you to keep filming, even though it drives me crazy." He let out a small laugh. "But filming makes you happy so it makes me happy. I hope we have good lives. You know, I would never admit this to anyone except you, but I've always kinda wanted to be a father. Underneath the rocker exterior, I've always had a soft spot for kids. I know it's impossible for us to have a kid of our own, but we could always adopt. But only if you wanted to. I wouldn't push something like that on you if you didn't want it." Roger looked down. But his head shot up when he felt his hand being squeezed weakly. He saw Mark's eyes darting all around, trying to distingush his location, then he started coughing. "Mark, Mark! Don't try to breathe. I'll go get the doctor." Roger ran out of the room and returned with the familiar doctor.

"Welcome back, Mr. Cohen," Dr. Godinez said happily. He gently removed the tube from Mark's throat. "I'll let you two talk for a few minutes but then Mr. Cohen will have undergo some tests."

"Oh my God, Mark. You're awake," Roger said happily as he kissed Mark's hand. He wanted to hug him and hold him but that could hurt him so he had to fight against the urge.

"Roger," Mark replied hoarsely. "Matt Roeling, Jimmy Pierce." It was hard for him to speak, but Roger knew what he was telling him.

"Okay, Mark. Here, drink some water." Mark did and it helped a lot with his voice.

"Roger, it hurts," he whimpered.

"I know, baby. Just relax, okay? Everything's gonna be okay," he soothed, stroking Mark's forearm. Roger leaned forward into Mark's lips. It only lasted a few seconds though.

"Ow, ow," Mark moaned after Roger took it a little too far.

"I'm sorry, Mark. I forgot-."

"It's alright, Roger." His voice was quiet. "What happened to your face?" Mark's hand slowly moved to caress Roger's face. All of Mark's motions were slow. It hurt him to move at all. Roger put a hand over the hand positioned on his cheek.

"Your parents were just here... and your dad...," Roger trailed off.

"My dad hit you? How could he do that?"

"Relax, Mark. It's okay. I'm actually glad he did because I was about to just kick his face in but I didn't want to do that. Thank God your mom pulled him away or he'd be laying in a hospital bed right now." Mark smiled and yawned.

"How long have I been here," Mark asked. Roger laughed at the face that he'd been awake for a few minutes and he just now asks.

"You've been in a coma for three days. The doctor thought it would be longer, but you're a fighter, Mark," Roger answered sweetly.

"Have you been going to school?" Roger smiled at his comment. Of course, Mark put Roger in front of himself.

"Yes, I have. There's this nurse. She just went home, but she's been making me leave by eight so I would be rested for school. But tonight I'm not leaving."

"Yes you are, Roger. You have to go to school."

"I'm not leaving you. I didn't come to the gym on Monday like I do most days and look what happened."

"Roger Michael Davis, you are going to school." Mark sounded so much like his mother.

"Alright, alright. I'll leave when you go to sleep."

"I'm tired, Rog. I think I'm gonna go to sleep now. Go home. I'll be okay."

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, three-thirty at the latest." Roger stood and kissed Mark's forehead. "I love you, Mark. Thanks for pulling through."

A/N: So Mark made it after all... did you really think he would die? Like I would do that to Mark... anyway... I didn't want him to be in a coma for too long cuz that's just mean! please review!