Author's note: Well, I'm sure that all of you hate me by now! If anyone can guess which famous court-related show I was referencing heavily to last chapter, I'll give you a cameo in my next RENT related story(which may be awhile, but whatever), a shout-out in the fifth story in the Mommie Quintet and a virtual animal (cat or dog only) in the breed of your choice! Also, I realize that Bubba Gump wasn't open yet, but it was the only Cajun food place I could locate above the Mason-Dixie line. So, onto the story. The next few chapters are going to be heavily flashback-laden.

Even with Roger ailing, the trial went on. Mimi stood in for Roger, while Maureen and Firefly took turns sitting with him. For the first week, he drifted in and out of consciousness. So after a particularly harrowing day in court, Mimi was glad to find Roger conscious and waiting for her. He smiled weakly. "Hey, babe. How was court?"

"Oh." Mimi sat next to him on the bed. "Without you, Joanne has no case. Farrelburg can disprove everything she says. He claims we've made all of this up, and that's why you won't show your face in court anymore."

Roger frowned. "Then I have to go back."
"No." Mimi shook her head. "Don't you worry about it. You worry about you."

"Why bother?" Roger looked away. "I'm not stupid, Mimi. You've all been skating around the truth with me, but I know what's going on. I know I'm dying."

"Baby…"

"Don't worry about it, Meems. I'm not mad at you. I'm not afraid, anyway."

Mimi sighed. "I need to feed Marina. Should I bring her in?"

"No, Collins brought her in earlier. I don't want her to see me like this, anyway."

"Roger…" Mimi sighed. "Okay. Try to get some rest. I love you."
"I love you too, baby."

Flashback (freshmen year of high school)

"Dude, you look like crap. What happened this time?" Mark was looking at Roger's face, which was sporting several fresh bruises, including a large black eye.

Roger shrugged. "I tripped. Hit a doorknob."

"Uh-huh." Maureen sat down next to them, her arm around Mark. "Roger, you've always been a horrible liar. Remember the time you broke my mom's one of a kind, commemorative USS Arizona plate? You were so scared that she'd be angry with you that you glued it together, but you couldn't find one piece, so you pinned it on the cat. We didn't even have a cat!"

"I said I was sorry," Roger muttered.

"I know, but my point stands. You can't lie. So what happened?"

"Nothing."

"Roger…"

"I don't want to talk about it."

Maureen smiled. "Rog, you can't bottle everything up. What happened? Did Charlene…"

"I said I don't want to talk about it!" Roger glared at Maureen. "I tripped. End of story." The bell rang, and Roger jumped up. "Look, I gotta get to class. I'll see you later. He took off.

Maureen frowned. "You get the feeling he really needs our help?"

Mark nodded. "All the time, Maureen. All the time."

End Flashback

Roger watched Mimi sleep wistfully. 'Dammit,' he thought. 'I can't die yet. Not with Mimi and Marina depending on me. What the hell did I do wrong?' He stood up, moving to the fire escape. He slammed his fist into the railing, waking Mimi. "God damn it!" he yelled, glaring into the sky. "Why me? Why now? What the fuck is your problem, you sick twisted asshole? You call yourself God? Some god you are! You…"

"Roger?" Mimi placed an arm around him. "I thought you weren't afraid to die?"

"Mimi, I'm terrified. The only thing that keeps running through my mind is 'Is this what Angel had to suffer through?' I'm not ready to leave you guys yet. You need me, and Marina needs a father."

"I know, but we can't fight time."

Roger sighed. "I hate that."

"Baby, come back to bed. You have to get your rest."