Mark gripped his coffee mug tighter when Roger came in. Collins put a hand on Mark's arm.

"Don't."

"Don't what? I didn't do anything."

"I know you, Mark. I know what you're thinking. Don't."

Mark rolled his eyes but didn't do or say anything to last out at Roger. Maureen took a cup of coffee for herself and another one for Roger.

"Thanks," he mumbled.

Maureen patted his back and went to Mark's side. She kissed his temple and took his hand. "You okay, pookie?"

"Fine."

"Mark?" Roger said quietly.

"What?"

"I'm sorry."

Mark nodded. "Okay."

Collins shifted his gaze between them and then stood up. "Hey, Mo. I was just gonna go grab us some bagels from that deli on the corner. Come gimme a hand?"

"Give you a hand getting bagels?"

"Yes."

Maureen studied his face and realized what he wanted. "Oh. Yeah. Okay. I'll be right back, pookie."

She kissed Mark's head again and patted Roger's arm before skipping out of the loft behind Collins.

Maureen waited until they were on the street to talk to Collins. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Collins put a hand up for her to be quiet and stopped below the fire escape. He stood in silence a minute and then nodded, continuing on towards the deli.

"What the hell was that?"

"They'll be fine."

"How can you be sure?"

"Cause if they were at each other's throats again, there'd be a body flyin' over that fire escape or at least slidin' across it."

"Thanks, Col. Real reassuring."

Collins laughed as he opened the door to the deli. "Trust me, Maureen. They'll be fine. They need to talk it out and they're both too damn stubborn to talk about it in front of us."

In the loft, the Boho boys sat in awkward silence.

"Are you okay?" Roger asked.

"Fine."

Mark looked up to glare at Roger but saw the bruises on his face and winced.

"Are you okay?"

Roger nodded. "Think it looks worse than it feels. I'm really sorry, Mark."

"I know you are."

"Can you forgive me?"

Mark set down his coffee cup. "I can forgive you, Rog. But I'm not gonna forget what happened. And I'm not going to pretend things are fine."

"So you forgive me but you're still pissed?"

Mark didn't answer him.

"Fine. Whatever."

Mark sighed. "Look, I'm gonna go take a quick shower before they get back. You cool by yourself?"

"I'm not two, Mark. I know how to be alone."

Mark tightened his jaw and nodded. "Right. Forget I said anything."

Roger heard the shower start. Why the hell did he have to be so difficult? Roger was trying to apologize and Mark just wanted to treat him like some stupid kid and be pissed. He tried to steady the shaking in his hands.

"Fine, Mark, you wanna be pissed? I'll give you a reason to be pissed," he mumbled.

After scribbling out a hurried note, Roger grabbed his jacket and wallet and bolted down the stairs as he heard the shower stop.

Mark stepped from the shower and knew something was wrong. The loft was too quiet. No humming, no singing, not even the usual sounds of coffee cups being picked up and set down. Wrapping the towel around his waist, Mark tried to tell himself he was being paranoid. Still, he slipped his glasses back on and poked his head out.

"Rog? You okay?"

No answer.

"Look, I'm sorry I was being a prick. Would you just answer me?"

The silence started to worry him. His eyes flicked over the loft. No sign of him. Mark saw the open loft door and gasped.

"Son of a bitch," he muttered.

Mark went back to the kitchen where he'd left Roger. A piece of paper lay under one of the coffee mugs.

Guys,

Went for some air. Be back

R