Here's yet another chapter for you all to enjoy. I try to write a little everyday (except Fridays, those are my social life days), so expect frequent updates. Aside from nice compliments and reviews (thanks everybody. You all make me blush), I got a couple good questions that I'll answer here, in case other people were wondering: How long will this be? I have no idea. Just follow the 'Bleed Guitarist' episode. When I get up to the bit with the guitar duel, we're near the end. I just really write without a plan. Will there be updates everyday? I'm going to try. I want this done before I get really busy with school. I just started classes Thursday and I'm going to carry a full workload this semester. Okay, now enjoy the new chapter.

Chapter 4: I'm Looking Through You

"Damnit!" Derek hissed as he tried to yank his metal studded, leather jacket from beneath a large pile of Burger's clothes. It appeared to be tangled or something, causing it to be stuck. He decided he was going for a long walk. The farther he was away from Bleed, the better. But first he needed to free his jacket. "Come on, you stupid-"

Footsteps clomping down the hall and coming towards the bedroom, made Derek lose his grip on the leather sleeve and he fell back on his butt. "Derek?"

Derek knew Bleed well enough to know the man wasn't going to let go of what happen and would bother him until it was resolved. Well, Bleed would have to catch him first, Derek thought grimly as he opened the window and put a foot on the sill.

"Derek, I just wanted to talk to-" Bleed opened the door and stopped, frozen as he saw Derek half-way out the window. "Are you insane?"

Derek twisted his head to retort. The would-be witticism never left his mouth as he lost his balance and pitched forward through the window. Derek braced himself for momentary impact with the shrubbery that lurked outside their window and covered his face. His shrub-fate never came since a strong arm snaked around his waist and yanked him back from tumbling out the window. The back of his head connected with the top of the window frame, making him yelp in pain and sending him and his rescuer to the floor. "Ow! You idiot!"

Bleed groaned in response as Derek was sitting directly on his rib cage. "You welcome."

"You know we're on the first floor, right?" Derek grumbled, rubbing the back of his head. While his head throbbed a bit, he was more flustered about looking like a idiot and nearly falling out a window in front of Bleed. "And I wouldn't have fell if you left me alone!"

"I wanted to say sorry about the thing!" Bleed wheezed as Derek's weight shifted heavily on him. "I was an ass-"

"All I hear is 'sorry' from you. It's getting bloody old." Derek snapped as he adjusted his windswept hair.

"Well, it's because I am! For-you know…everything…" Bleed's voice trailed off slowly.

Derek didn't move for a long moment, only doing so when Bleed's breathing started to go funny. He shifted off of Bleed, rolling his eyes at the large intake of air Bleed made. He studied the blond for a moment, feeling a bit drained. Being angry was rather tiring after awhile. "Why did you do it anyway?"

"I dunno…stupid reasons. I was stupid and selfish. I mean…after Vic left us, we were just sliding further and further down the tubes. I just wanted to make it out with me skin still attached." Bleed sighed and tugged absently at a thread hanging from his shirt. "We just weren't doing anything. We weren't writing music or recording-nothing. I wanted to get away and do my own thing."

Derek blinked furiously and shook his head, feeling it hurt even more. Everything was telling him to get up and leave, but he couldn't move from the floor. He hated feeling this hurt and confused again. He had quite enough of that the first time around. "You could've asked me to go with you-" Derek stopped abruptly and wished he could claw those words back into his mouth. Guilt filled him as soon as he said that.

"…Don't be stupid. Like you'd ever ditch the others. Even if I did ask, you would've probably kicked me to curb. I mean, I know you're a selfish prat and all. But you're not a backstabber," Bleed chuckled weakly and fiddled with his silver rings, nervously, before continuing. "And…we were all fighting back then. Especially us. I was being petty." Bleed admitted, looking uncomfortable. "I mean-now I know it was dumb to let a few fights get between us and the band. A lot of things I did were really dumb..."

Derek couldn't help but feel a bit better at Bleed's words. True, he could never leave Ash and Burger, even back when he was agonizing over Bleed. But he felt guilty for even ever considering the notion. "So, when did you figure this out?"

"I always missed you. Just not as much when I first left. I mean, it's not like it was a picnic being on my own." Bleed chewed the inside of his cheek and rubbed his mouth. "I never stopped…you know-"

"Know what?" Derek leaned towards Bleed, his eyes narrowed. His stomach was flip-flopping and he actually got close enough to Bleed to the point of nearly touching. He shook Bleed's arm, agitatedly. "What?"

Bleed went into a coughing fit and ducked his face into his arm. Derek let out a heavy sigh and scooted back away from him, a disappointment filling him. Bleed's coughing faded and he spoke again, slurring his words into each other, rushed and unintelligible. "You know, that I lo-you know?"

"…No, I don't know." Derek hissed, feeling more angry at himself for actually feeling…disappointment? Hope? Indigestion? Whatever it was, Bleed elicited those feelings from him and it troubled him. He didn't have much time to dwell, since Bleed's hand wrapped around his arm and he found himself staring into those dark eyes.

"If you don't know, then you must of hit your head pretty hard." Bleed's jaw was working and he looked faintly embarrassed. He withdrew his hand and ran it through his hair, taking his bandana off in the process and making his hair even more messy. "You're really going to make me say it?"

"Yes." Derek replied bluntly.

Bleed didn't say anything for a minute, only clearing his throat excessively and wordlessly opening his mouth once in while. Derek scowled and scooted away from Bleed, aggravated. "Okay, okay! I'm trying to say something deep here, give me a second…" At Derek's expectant look, Bleed sighed and rubbed his neck awkwardly. "I, uh…can't do this without you, you know. I mean, we're a pair. I figured that out a bit too late-"

"Was it the lame album you made that helped you figure it out?" Derek interrupted, feeling a tiny bit a smugness at Bleed's wince.

"Before it came out actually. You know how hard it was writing and making music without you? I tried to convince myself that I only did so badly because I was doing it by myself for the first time. But I knew it was because you weren't around." Bleed looked up at Derek, their eyes meeting. "You're…kinda like my other half or something. I didn't come around here to ride off your turn of luck. You guys may not be living in the van anymore, but it's not like you have money or fame or anything. I came for you and the guys. Mostly you, though."

Derek held Bleed's gaze for a moment longer before looking away and focusing on staring at his belt buckle. "You could've just said 'I love you' instead of all that. Or 'You're the greatest, most handsomest, most talented person ever' would have done too."

"You're the greatest, most handsome-"

"Oh, shut up."

"And I love you for it." Bleed smiled a bit as Derek colored.

"Fine." Derek sighed and rubbed his temples, feeling light-headed suddenly.

Bleed squinted at him and leaned over so they were closer. "Fine? So, you-"

"Yes. I forgive you…" Derek felt Bleed's forehead press against his own and found himself leaning into the small bit of contact. "Don't think much of it. I'm just tired of hearing you apologize."

"Right. So, this means what? Are we…you know?" Bleed sounded hopeful.

"I dunno. We'll just see what happens."

"Sounds reasonable."

"Oh. And Bleed?"

"Yeah?" Bleed's hopeful voice turned into a groan as Derek sucker punched him in the stomach.

"Now I really forgive you." Derek smiled as he got to his feet.

"Okay-I deserved that-OW!" Bleed yelped as his leg was kicked. "Alright, already-"

Derek smirked, feeling smug. His smirk suddenly vanished when the back of his knee was whacked and he buckled and found himself back on the floor. "You're not suppose to hit back."

"Reflex. Sorry-"

"If I hear you say that word one more time-"

"Okay, okay."

"Good." Derek supposed he should get up now and go to the kitchen for breakfast. But he was reluctant to leave the room. Or get off the floor. "…What now?"

"You're asking me?" Bleed questioned.

"Yeah…I don't really feel like going out there right now."

"Huh. Well, we can stay in here and get reacquainted…"

The hand creeping onto his leg made Derek stand up in a hurry. He blushed seeing a smirk on Bleed's face. "Let's just go…"

"I thought that might get you going," sang Bleed teasingly as he got up to follow Derek out of the room. He chuckled when Derek stuck his tongue at him. "Oh, what are you doing this Friday?"

"Nothing. Practice, lay about, that sort of thing."

"Ever hear of SuperNova?"

Derek frowned and turned to look at Bleed, wondering where the man was going. "Yeah, it's that new club everyone's talking about. Why? You want to take me on a date?"

"Heh, no. But I booked you guys a gig there-" Bleed started to say, his voice casual. Derek cut him off by grabbing his arms.

"Seriously?" Derek scrutinized Bleed, feeling excitement growing in him. Bleed nodded, still feigning nonchalance. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. I know a guy who's friends with the owner so I made a few calls last night…if you don't believe me you can drive by and see this weekends billing. You guys are on there." Bleed watched Derek's face spilt into a wide smile, feeling a bit blinded by the sheer whiteness of it. "You know, it's been awhile since I seen you smile like that."

"I can't believe this!" Derek was genuinely touched by Bleed's gesture. "I don't know how to thank you…I mean, you could've called in that favor for yourself…"

"Well, I sort of owe you lads." Bleed shrugged. He smirked suddenly and took on a teasing tone. "But you can thank me with a little kiss….Joking, of course-" A unexpected mouth crammed against his, and Bleed's eyes widened. Derek pulled away slowly, still smiling but slightly pink. "I was joking…"

"Well, you did something surprising with booking that gig…I wanted to surprise you too." Derek shrugged and wiped at his mouth delicately. "I don't like being outdone."

"You want to surprise me more with another?" Bleed asked, stepping into Derek's space.

"No. That was just a thank you." Derek was a bit surprised at himself. The kiss was completely spontaneous and he didn't even register doing it until he pulled away. He chalked it up to temporary insanity and sexual frustration. "You're going to have to work for it more if you want another."

"Well, you shouldn't have teased me with the first one." Bleed grabbed the back of Derek's head and pulled him down to his level. "You better kiss me again right now."

Derek raised an eyebrow, putting his hand's against Bleed's shoulders to push him away. "Oh? And if I don't? Because I won't."

"I'll explode and die." Bleed said in a serious tone. "It's really a matter of life and death. I can't have that laying on your conscience."

"Ha, ha. I'll risk it-" A part of Derek told him to toss Bleed off him the moment their lips touched. Oh, whatever, he thought, closing his eyes and letting himself get lost in the moment. It's not like anyone can see us. The loud creak of the door opening made them jerk away but Bleed's hand remained tangled in his hair and Derek kept his grip on Bleed's shoulders.

Ash and Burger were visible through the opening of the door, Ash crouching on the ground and Burger standing over him. Their heads were turned so their ears were poised for listening through the door. "Uh…hey, guys." Burger joined Ash on the ground suddenly and began patting around the floor. "I'm helping Ash look for his contacts."

"Yeah, I can't see!" Ash nodded, joining the search.

"Idiots." Derek turned red and backed away from Bleed. He stalked to the door, making Ash and Burger jump away. He glared at them before continuing down the hall. "I'm going to eat. Finally."

Bleed smirked at the questioning glances from his friends. He shrugged and began whistling jauntily as he followed Derek out of the room.

Ash sighed in relief and looked at Burger. "So, Bleed's not going to explode and die anymore?"

I had waaay too many people urging for some Derek and Bleed action (you perverts), so I rewrote the last bit of this chapter to fit some loving in. Just a wee, little bit to tie you over until later. Originally, they were just going to talk, then go join the others in the kitchen and eat. Fun fact for you all.