M.j's place, (giggles) he's adorable. Thank you, updating. takers dark lover, I would be happy too, hehe. LadyDragonsblood, you're fine, sweetheart. I understand all that. Chris is doing wonderful, I was actually worried about it myself, lol. Thank you as always.

The Darkest Corners;
Chapter three/ 'Sheltered'
Rated; M/ L, S (some adult-adult situations, tickling, masturbation)

Chris was awoke up by the screaming. It took him a minute to process that it wasn't a dream he was having and another minute to figure out that the startling, frightened wails were just their new house guest, crying out in the night. Adam was more alert and was out of bed and headed to Gerard's room. Chris tossed back his covers and followed him to make sure everything was okay.

The blonde flipped on the light. Gerard had the covers threw off and was tossing and turning restlessly, eyes closed and brow furrowed, mouth twisted in a grimace. He whimpered pitifully, grabbing the sheets. "Nooo... no, stop. Please! Stop!" His screams became more high-pitched and frantic.

Adam tugged the bars down and gently shook the boy. "Gee, wake up.. c'mon, it's just a dream.. it's okay."

Gerard opened his eyes, blinking them rapidly before letting them dart around the room. His new room. He was panting and sweaty, shaking all over. He whined and raised up to wrap his arms around Adam, clinging to him and crying.

Adam rubbed his back, rocking him. "Shh, it's okay.. I'm here.. What happened? Want to tell me about it?"

Gerard shook his head. He couldn't ever really remember. There were bits and pieces, but nothing whole when he woke up. There had been blood and screaming and this dark figure was grabbing for him. He could never see the figure's face or make it out completely, it was always blurry and shadowed and it scared him. He didn't know what it was or why he dreamed it, he just knew it was something bad.

Chris watched from the doorway as Adam got Gerard calmed back down and settled in. He smiled sleepily and went on back to bed. Adam sat with Gerard until he fell back asleep. Usually he only had the one nightmare and slept through the rest of the night, or so Adam had always been told. Adam hoped it was that way tonight.

"Can he remember what he dreams?" Chris asked as Adam came back to their room.

The blonde yawned and slipped back into bed, wiggling to get comfortable again. "Nope. He's been asked about it in therapy, I've asked him about it. They even tried hypnosis, but it didn't work very well. We think he dreams about that day.. when he found the robber."

"They never arrested anybody, did they?" Chris asked as he settled in behind him, pulling the covers over the both of them.

"No. If Gerard could remember what the person looked like, but he says he can't. They think his brain may be repressing it to protect him, or something on those lines. Like he don't want to remember, but his dreams try and force him to. Anyway, this asshole murdered two people in cold blood and severely brain damaged another and got away with it. It's sick."

"Very sick." And very sad. Chris snuggled up to Adam's back, spooning him comfortably and burying his face in his long golden locks. He tried to keep the terrifying thought of it out of his mind. Or the thought that the guy could still be out there waiting to finish the kid off to prevent him from ever remembering.

-xx-

The next day there was a loud continuous rapping on the door. "Copeland! I know he's in there! I want to see him!"

Adam drudged to the door. He hadn't even been up that long, Chris had already left for work and he didn't need this shit this early. He opened the door and peered irritably at the man that stood behind it. "What, Phil?"

Phil Brooks glared at him. "I know you got him. I want to see him."

"What? No. I can't do that. Go away." Adam tried to shoo him away, but Phil grabbed the door and kept it from closing.

"C'mon, man. He was my boyfriend before the attack. They should've released him to me."

"Why? I don't remember you being there to take care of him." He stepped aside as Phil barged in. "He's in the living room."

Phil headed the way he was pointed to. "Gee.. oh, god.. there you are."

Gerard was sitting in the floor by the couch. "Hi, Philly.." He didn't take his eyes off the cartoon playing on TV, not even as the other man got down to him. He was watching Fairly Odd Parents and giggled as Cosmo exploded in an array of bright green confetti.

"Least you remember me." Phil pushed his hair back and kissed his forehead, only slightly annoyed by Gerard flinching back, wiggling away to watch TV. "Adam taking care of you?"

"Uh-huh." He raised his hand up to nibble on his fingers.

Phil sat beside him and took his hand down, lacing their fingers. "I miss you."

Gerard only switched hands and nibbled on those fingers.

Adam sighed. "Phil, you can't do this."

"Well, you got him here now, I can be more apart of his life."

"He's not going to understand what you're doing."

Phil snorted in insult. "And what do you think I'm gonna do? And he might one day. They said his brain was probably blocking stuff out as a defense mechanism. Like it doesn't want to remember that day."

"You just gonna keep holding on to that?" Adam sat down on the couch, crossing his legs.

Gerard shrank back. They were talking about him and he was getting uncomfortable. He could so remember some things. He couldn't exactly remember Phil from before but he had kept coming to the hospital and the institute to visit him. He said they used to date or something like that, but he didn't remember that. Gerard couldn't remember the attack they talked about, all he knew was he was in an accident that he couldn't remember.

"I just don't know what you expect of him?" Adam said calmly.

Phil sighed. "I don't know either. I just.. don't wanna leave him." He kissed Gerard's head. He was used to Adam reminding him he couldn't be normal with him anymore. But he thought he was full of shit. Just because his brain was busted didn't mean he couldn't learn to be normal again. They just didn't want to let him and kept sheltering him.

Adam stood up. "Well, since you're here, let's see if you can watch him while I go shower. And if I hear one thing.."

Phil put his hands up in defense. "I'll be on my best behavior. I just want time with him."

"I'm trusting you." Adam warned, heading down the hall to the bathroom. He wasn't sure if what he was doing was right, but it really wasn't like Phil was a sleaze-ball or a predator. He was a jackass and liked to get snarky, but he wasn't a bad guy. Or maybe if Chris hadn't knew Phil and wasn't friends with him, Adam would be more wary. Just.. Adam didn't really know Phil, and he hadn't known about Gerard before the attack, so he had no idea they were dating when Phil had burst into the hospital hysterical.

Phil raised up and crept over to see that Adam had shut the bathroom door and waited until he heard the water running before returning to his spot beside Gerard. "Now.. How you doing?" He nuzzled him, breathing him in.

Gerard blinked and looked around, brought out of his television stupor by the dreaded commercial break. "Adam..? Huh? I'm okay." He laid his head on Phil's shoulder and gazed up at him lazily. He didn't flinch when Phil touched his cheek. Phil didn't scare him. Of course anyone scared him when they got upset, but that was different. He hated yelling and fighting.

Phil looked down at him, petting his hair. "You are so pretty. Can I have a kiss?"

Gerard smiled and nodded before kissing his cheek.

Phil gave his own amused smile and tilted Gerard's head back. "Not that kind of kiss. Here, let me show you."

Gerard felt the other man's lips press against his own and tensed only a little as Phil's tongue parted his lips to deepen the kiss. He had never been kissed like this.. at least that he could remember. It wasn't bad, but he wasn't sure how he felt about it. He felt sort of tingly and panicked, but so relaxed at the same time. It was weird. Phil pulled away from him and he looked up at him in question, his breathing labored.

"You like that, huh?"

Gerard wasn't sure, he thinks he did. Those tingles kind of felt good. He didn't know if he should ask for more of it, or just block it. Instead he nodded slowly, puckered his lips and closed his eyes. Phil smiled and kissed him again, wrapping his arm around his waist and placing his hand on his hip. Phil knew Adam could come out any minute and just wanted to taste him a little while longer. It had been so long.

"I miss you.. so much.." Phil whispered against his lips, pecking him again. He still remembered making love to him, getting to hold and kiss him whenever he wanted without it making him a pervert. Now he felt dirty, but Gerard was his, damn it. Phil had been the one to drop Gerard off at his parents that day, they had been arguing and Gerard got out of the car and slammed the door before Phil drove away angry. He had been so angry.. and then, it was all gone.

Gerard blinked and turned his head back toward the TV, bringing his hand back up to chew on his thumb. "Feel funny."

"Sorry, Gee, I.." Phil sighed and pulled the smaller male into his lap, holding him. He kissed his neck, nuzzling him. He knew if he accidentally turned Gerard on, it would be really awkward to explain to Adam.. even more awkward to explain to Gerard. He also knew if Adam found out he'd have his head, possibly both of his heads. "Gerard.. baby, look at me."

Gerard caught his eyes for at least a second. "What?" He pointed at the screen, fascinated by the bright colors of the cartoon.

"I see. Listen, you don't let anyone else kiss you like that, okay. That's something just between us. Got it?" His eyes darted to the hallway leading to the bathroom. He still heard the shower and Adam singing incredibly off-key.

"Yes, Philly."

"Promise?"

"Uh-huh."

"And you can't tell anyone, okay? You can't tell Adam."

Gerard gave the tattooed man a questioning look. Don't tell Adam? There wasn't much he kept from Adam. "Why?"

"Cuz it's just like.." Phil rubbed the back of his neck. "It's just between us, our special little secret. And we're friends, right? Well, friends keep each other's secrets to themselves, they don't tell anyone else because that would hurt their friend's feelings." It sounded really fucking corny coming from him and he really wanted to wash his own damn mouth out with soap. "You understand? It's private."

Gerard blinked, lips slightly puckered as he gave this thought and processed it. He guessed that made sense. It was like when Adam told him about his baby- what no one else, not even Chris, knew- and told him not to tell because it was a sensitive subject and had hurt him very much. Adam had trusted him. Gerard smiled, he liked having his own secret with Phil, it made him feel special. "I un-derstand.." He pronounced carefully, when he got tongue-tied people laughed and made him feel uneasy, even if they said it was because it was cute. He didn't see how it was cute. "Our secret."

"Good boy. Now you can't tell. Promise?"

"Promise.." Gerard felt Phil's hand under his shirt, his fingers ghosting up and down his side. He wiggled. "Tickles.. no.."

Phil snickered. "Oh, it does? Really? It tickles?" He moved Gerard to his back on the floor and started tickling him mercilessly. "Huh, tell me.."

Gerard squealed, trying to squirm away from the probing fingers and giggling helplessly. "No.. no, stop.. please.." He coiled up tightly. Phil had stopped, his fingers splayed and curled above his ribcage as he teased him. "No."

"Why not?" He wiggled his fingers down in the boy's sides, loving the sweet sounds of his laugh.

"Cuz! I gotta pee.. quit.." Gerard took another fit of laughter and tried to close his legs, tensing up all over. He wasn't bluffing, his bladder was aching. And there was this funny little ache in his tummy, kind of like when he got butterflies. "Please! It hurts!"

Phil pushed his legs back apart and stopped as he looked down at him, his own giggles ceased completely. Gerard was flushed and breathing hard, his hair a mess with strands strewn across his face. He swallowed and stared up at Phil with wide eyes. "You still like being tickled, huh?"

"What is all the racket out here?" Adam demanded as he came out, dressed in a long bathrobe, his hair wrapped up in a towel.

Gerard looked back and wriggled away from Phil before running off to the bathroom. He barely got the lid up and his pants down in time. It felt so good to pee.

Phil sighed and sat back. "Just playing, mom."

"Uh-huh, I'm sure." Adam let his hair down and started toweling it dry. "You need to leave now, Phil. Please. You can come back later, just.."

Phil nodded and got up from the floor, straightening his clothes. "I wasn't trying to, uh.. I was just playing."

"Phil, you can't play with him like that. I know how you must feel-"

"No, you really don't. See ya. Take care of him." Phil then just left. He wasn't in the mood to be lectured.

Adam sighed and went to get dressed and dry out his hair. Heath and Jay were supposed to come over and he needed to tidy up the house.. even though Chris had assured him daily that it was tidy and he was just a neurotic neat freak. What did he know? Adam didn't want to look like a slob around his friends and family.

-xx-

Phil slammed the door to his apartment and tossed his keys on the table. He flopped down on the couch and groaned in frustration, running fingers back through his short dark hair and tugging at it. What good was being frustrated? Nothing. He knew he should just accept Gerard was gone from his life and find someone else.. but it wasn't that easy. He still loved him.. and fuck, he still wanted him. And that was the shitty part because it was still Gerard's body, still Gerard's sweet little pixie face, but it wasn't Gerard's mind, or memories. He was like a zombie without the decay.

Gerard looked at him so innocently and he hated himself for finding it sexy. Gerard had always been a little too innocent, shy and unsure.. until he really got him turned on and going, then he could make him writhe and beg and yell, talking pornstar dirty.. Tickling used to get him going, it was sort of a small fetish. Gerard once liked to be tied up or held down and tickled until he couldn't take it anymore, couldn't breathe, couldn't hold it in. They never got into water sports, okay.. but Gerard liked to be right on the brink and be fucked or jerked off. It was amazingly hott to watch him just let go.

Phil knew he shouldn't have tried tickling him back there.. but he just wanted to see if it still did the trick.. he just wanted a piece of his old boyfriend back. And maybe Gerard didn't understand what his body was doing, but Phil got a rise out of him. If only a little bit, he had got hard. And Phil felt like shit for thinking he had scared him or confused him, but it proved that Gerard was still in there and still knew what he liked and wanted, if only subconsciously. With time maybe he could get him to remember, even if it never completely fixed him, he could get him back.

Phil could still see the boy laying on his back, hair mussed and those long lashes batting up at him, full cherry lips parted and tummy rising and falling with his hitched breath, the flush on his cheeks creeping up his delicate neck. Phil groaned and unfastened his pants, shoving his hand down inside them and wrapping it around his throbbing cock to bring it out and jerk himself off roughly. He cursed, wetting his dry lips with his tongue and laying back against the couch cushion as his hand furiously worked his dick.

If Adam hadn't been there he would have probably took it further, at least in his fantasy. Jerked him off or sucked him through those pajamas, made him whimper and squirm and cum. Then flip him over and yank the pajamas down to bury his tongue in his ass. He wondered if he'd be scared, or curious.. Phil would be slow, be gentle, coax him. He would never hurt him, never force him. If he said stop.. he'd just have to patiently coax him into wanting it.

He still tasted Gerard's lips, felt them on his, so soft and sweet. He remembered the little mewl that Gerard wasn't even aware he made and lost it, cumming hard with more curses and nearly a whimper. Phil gasped, sitting and panting while he cooled down. The shame of his thoughts then hit him and he growled. None of this shit was fair. He couldn't do that to him, he couldn't mess him up even more.

Adam is not clueless. Seriously, Philly, you mess with the lioness's cub, she will hurt you. (shifty eyes) Honestly, during the course of writing this, Punk's trying to make it rapey. I'm not sure I want it to be.. so I've settled for slightly uncomfortable and borderline molesty. Adam's taken this fic & my pixie & ran with them. He's surprisingly nurturing. There's a preggo ginger in the next chapter.