Note: Okay, so after re-reading the chapter and some reviews, I decided to just slightly edit this one to clarify the time. Also, please note that the chapter with Joanne and Maureen (where Maureen gets butterflies) isn't factored into "loft time" if that makes sense...sort of a "this is what happened to Maureen" and then going back to "meanwhile, at the loft..."--hope that makes sense. Please let me know if you need clarification. LOL In short, the loft is still the day Mark took Maureen to the rehab hospital.
"Where'd Benny go?" Roger asked. "He was only here for a minute…"
"Don't change the subject, Roger."
He nodded and shifted on the couch. Mark noticed the trembling in his hands. He put one hand over Roger's.
"How long has it been?"
"I'm not sure…I took a hit this morning. It was, um, it was early, before you and Maureen were up."
Mark nodded and moved his hand to Roger's forehead. Sweaty, but no temperature. "You're going to be fine."
Roger chuckled. "Glad one of us thinks so."
Mark stared at him. "You will be Roger. There is too much shit going down right now. I'm not letting you get away so easy."
"Why not?" Roger asked. His eyes filled with miserable tears.
"Because you're my best friend. Because believe it or not, you're a good man, Rog. You're like my brother and I'm not giving up on you."
Roger managed a small smile as he broke down in tears. Mark pulled him into his arms again, rocking him until the tears dissipated. When he'd calmed some, Mark pulled back enough to make eye contact.
"How about you go to bed for a little bit?"
Roger nodded and stood, shaking. As he stood, his face changed. Mark recognized the look.
"Gonna be sick," Roger muttered as he lunged towards the bathroom.
Mark followed him in, pausing only to grab a cup from the kitchen counter. Roger was leaned over the toilet, throwing up everything he seemed to have eaten in the last day and a half. Mark went to the sink and filled the cup with cool water. He set it on the floor and knelt beside Roger, rubbing small circles into his back. When he'd stopped, Mark handed him the water. Roger took a sip of it and sat back against the wall. Mark grabbed a towel from the counter and wiped the sweat from Roger's forehead.
"Okay?"
Roger managed a small nod. Mark helped him to his feet and slid Roger's arm over his shoulder, steadying him. They staggered the few feet to Roger's room and Mark helped him lay back. The shakiness had turned to chills. Mark pulled the blanket over Roger and went to the door.
"Mark!"
"It's okay, Roger. I'm just going to get you another blanket."
Roger nodded. Mark went to the closet and found a couple of extra blankets. He brought them to the bedroom and draped them on top of Roger.
"Better?"
Roger nodded again. Mark sat beside him.
"You okay?"
Roger shrugged and mumbled something. Mark couldn't tell what, so he brushed the hair from his friend's forehead.
"Get some sleep, Rog."
"Where are you going?" Roger asked when he stood up.
"Living room. I'll be right out there. I won't leave."
--LINE BREAK--LINE BREAK--
Mark picked up the phone and dialed the number to Maureen's rehab center. The receptionist answered promptly, rattling off the usual greeting.
"Hi, my name's Mark Cohen. I was hoping to talk to my girlfriend, Maureen Johnson. She's a patient."
"One moment please."
Mark waited a few minutes before the receptionist picked back up. "I'm sorry, Mr. Cohen. I'm afraid that Ms. Johnson is sleeping."
"Listen, I haven't been able to talk to her since I dropped her off this morning. Can you just tell me if she's doing okay?"
"She seems to be adjusting all right. I can leave a message for her, if you'd like, and have her call you back in the morning."
"That would be great. Could you just tell her Mark called and I love her?"
"Of course, Mr. Cohen."
"Thank you."
--LINE BREAK--LINE BREAK--
Benny was halfway to Allison's before he pulled the car over. This was ridiculous. Roger was his friend. He should be there helping just like Mark. Pulling out his cell phone, he tried to decide if it would be better to call the loft or just show up. Knowing Mark, he'd insist everything was fine and tell Benny to go back to Allison's. Benny sighed and dialed his girlfriend's house.
"Allison, baby, it's me."
"Hi, honey. You on your way?" Benny could tell by her voice that she'd been sleeping.
"Uh…no, not exactly. Listen, something came up and I need to stay in the city a few days."
"Why?"
"I told you. Something came up. My friends need me nearby, okay?"
He could tell she wasn't pleased, but she didn't argue. "All right. Just call me in the morning, all right?"
"Of course, baby. I love you."
"I love you too, Benjamin."
--LINE BREAK--LINE BREAK--
Mark sat on the couch, unsure of what to do. In the hours since he'd helped Roger to bed, he'd already washed the dishes, straightened the bookshelf, and cleaned all his camera equipment.
He jumped when he heard Roger scream, then glanced at the clock. Almost midnight. Here come the nightmares, he sighed as he headed to the bedroom.
Roger writhed on the bed, crying out. Mark had to bite back his own tears when he understood what Roger was saying.
"April! April, no! Please…please…I can't! I can't do this! Please, April! April!"
Mark grabbed him by the shoulders, shaking him. "Roger! Roger, wake up!"
His eyes jerked open. He saw Mark and gasped.
"Deep breaths, Roger. It's okay. You were just having a nightmare."
Roger nodded, saying nothing. He'd had nightmares the first time too. Mark knew he wouldn't talk about them. He no longer bothered asking.
"Feeling okay?"
"Too fuckin' hot," he mumbled, throwing the blankets to the floor. He yanked off his sweatshirt, leaving on the thin white tank-top beneath it.
Mark stood back, staring at him. "Other than the hot, you okay?"
Roger nodded, biting his lip.
"Want to come try and eat something?"
"Nauseous," he said, shaking his head.
Mark nodded. "Okay. How about—"
"Do we have any Tylenol?"
"I'm not sure. I'll go look. You have a headache or something?"
"Headache, muscle aches…"
Mark nodded. "I'll go check."
He shut the door quietly and made a point to make noise in the kitchen and bathroom before tiptoeing to his room. Mark knew he still had some Tylenol in there that he'd forgotten to give Benny. He didn't want to chance Roger finding out where it was. A few minutes later, he brought in two pills and a glass of water.
Roger took the water and downed the pills. A beeper sounded in the living room. Mark got up and turned it off before grabbing the AZT they kept in the kitchen cabinet.
"Here."
Roger stared at the pills for a minute before taking them. Mark patted his leg.
"It's okay, Rog. They'll help you feel better."
"Not as much as something else would…"
Mark pretended not to hear him.
--LINE BREAK--LINE BREAK--
Benny knocked on the door to the loft and waited for Mark to answer it.
"Benny, what are you doing here? It's almost two in the morning."
"He's my friend too. Not right that I make you guys do this alone."
Mark smiled. "Glad you feel that way. Roger's sleeping."
"Right, well, then, I suggest we get some shut-eye too. My room still here?"
"Always," Mark said, stepping aside to let him in.
