Blackfly: I'm finally back.

Roger: It's about damn time.

Joanne: Language.

Maureen: But he's right Pookie.

Blackfly: Well I'm sorry you two….I just don't have free time like I used to and you're just going to have to deal with it. Or else I will attack you with the cuddly/evil/radioactive/rabid bunnies.

Roger: There is no way for these to be evil/radioactive/rabid bunnies. Goes to pet bunny, and bunny attacks him AHHHHHHHH!

Blackfly: Didn't I tell you they were evil?

Roger: Mimi, help get this thing off of me!

Mimi: Nope she warned you and you should have listened. Now on with the next chapter.

XXX

Since Ricky was the only family they could contact they allowed him to spend the night in the hospital with me. I knew I wouldn't be able to get through it alone. I was glad they did, especially when the police came ask me questions about the rape and why I hadn't reported it when it initially started.

I hardly got through it with him sitting next to me and holding my hand. All I could see was his eyes as he watched me fight back against him and his hands snaking their way up and down my body. Telling them all I could remember brought back many unhappy memories that I had been trying to forget, but with no success.

'Why had this happened to me? What did I do to deserve this?' I was brought to reality when Ricky started talking to me.

"Mimi?" A nickname given to me by him when we were younger

"Hmm."

"Do you umm… wanna talk about it?" He said as he scratched the back of his head.

"No. Not now, I just don't want to think about it now. Maybe later okay?" I say to him with a watery smile.

"Alright just tell me when you're ready to talk. Things like these aren't good to keep hidden inside of you. It's best to share the burden with someone sometimes."

"When I'm ready I'll tell you."

"Okay. I'll be back then squirt." He says as he kisses my cheek and starts to leave the room.

"Where yah headed?"

"To find some decent food. And to call dad, he should be off of work by now and needs to know. I'll be back soon don't worry."

After he leaves I lay my head back on my pillow to take a quick nap. Not too long into my nap I hear the door to my room open and a nurse walks in to check on me.

"How are you feeling Ms?"

"Better now. I don't feel as much pain as I did yesterday, but I still ache."

"That's good to hear. I guess I'll have to up your morphine dosage." She said as she walked over to the bag dripping into my i.v. "You feel up to getting a roommate?" The nurse asks with smile.

"Male or female?"

"Male."

"Older, younger, or near my age."

"Older, but not by that much. You're what… sixteen and he's twenty, that's not that much of an age difference now is it." She said as she fluffed my pillow and helped me sit up on the bed.

"I think I'd like to a lot then." I said trying to sound cheerful. On the outside I looked excited at the idea, but on the inside I didn't really want a roommate. Yeah, it would be great to have another person in the room and someone other than my brother to talk to, but would he laugh at me if I told them the reason I was in the hospital for.

"It's good that's settled then. You're lunch will be here in a second dear. Have a nice day."

'Oh joy. A mysterious meat by-product and something that I think is jello, I hope.' I thought as I prodded the "meat" on my plate. When I prodded the meat…it jiggled. I thought the jello was supposed to do that, not the meat. I cut off a piece and winced as I hit my elbow on the side of the bed. I hastily brought the food to my mouth and chewed on it. Chicken. It tastes like chicken. Hmm I guess it isn't that bad. I ate the rest of my meal and drank a glass of water that was provided.

Content and feeling happy that I had food in my stomach, but uncomfortable because of the cuts on my back; I turned my attention to the television that was tuned to "The Price is Right". They had gotten to spinning the big price wheel when he was brought in.

I was awe-struck to see that he looked as bad or maybe worse then I did. His torso was bandaged, his left arm was in a sling and he was covered in multi-colored bruises.

"Alright Miguel this is your new room." Said the nurse that had helped wheel him in.

"Wow…Different room, same walls. I think I should redecorate in here. I see the perfect colors green and pink. Pink goes good with green."

She chuckled at this and quietly exited the room. I could tell he was trying to catch my eye while I pretended to be entranced

"Hi, my name is Marcela."

"The name's Miguel. Miguel Angelico Dumott-Schunard But please call me Angel. So Marcela, what yah in here for?"

'I didn't really want to tell him, but maybe I could start getting it off my chest now. No time like the present…..right?.'

"I was raped by my step-father….it's been going on for a while now." I took in a deep breath as I commanded myself to let loose the tears I knew were threatening to run down my cheeks. "How about you?" I asked her not knowing what else to say.

"I was beaten by this group of thugs that hang out around my building."

"I'm so sorry." I said to him, but he didn't look very discouraged.

"Don't worry about it. This wasn't really the first time it's happened to me. I've been treated here at Mercy plenty of times. People seem to have a problem with the way I am. I think I've been in here so many times I should be able to have a room saved just for me." He said as he laughed at his own joke.

"Why would people have a problem with your lifestyle?"

"Oh Honey..i'm gay. And I think there should be no reason for me to hide it, but they think otherwise."

"You're right, if they can't accept you they shouldn't beat you up for it."

"Well I'm trying to tell people that but they just don't seem to be getting the message."

'I looked at him and was impressed at his cheery outlook on life. I also felt bad at the thought that he'd probably gone through this torture, pain, and ridicule for some time now.' At that time the morphine and the food kicked in and I fell asleep.

XXX

Angel: "hey I remember that day."

Mimi: "I would hope you remembered…you were there."

Mark: "So that's how you two met. Its sort of a shame that you were both in the hospital."

Collins: "Angel, baby. Why did you never tell me you used to get beat up like that?"

Angel: "Well I didn't think it was really something I wanted to tell you. You gotta put your past behind you."

Maureen: "I always thought it was you gotta put your behind in the past?"

Angel: "No Mo. That;s not it."

Maureen: "Oh well."

Roger: "Why hasn't anyone helped me with this evil bunny yet?"

Blackfly: "Oh quit your belly-achin' Davis, I'll be there in a second."

XXX

A/N: Sorry for such a delay between chapters…I've been quite busy lately. And I promise the next chapter wont be so far away.
So please anyone and everyone reading this…REVIEW.