Author's Notes: I wanted to apologize to you, my readers for not updating sooner. I've been extremely busy with work and school, and I just haven't had the time to actually sit down and write. Today is my day…my only day. Expect another update early next week (maybe even Monday).

I OWN NOTHING.

Please read, review and enjoy!

Italics are thoughts...

Chapter Five

The steering wheel showed Benny just how nervous he was as he drove over to Collins and Angel's apartment. Grabbing a napkin from the glove compartment, the man began to wipe the steering wheel that was covered in his sweat. Collins sounded really upset on the phone and he knew that he had to help in some kind of way, I mean after all the shit he put Mark and Roger through he knew he owed them something. It never did occur to Benny that if he had done something for Mark or Roger it might ease their hatred against them. But Collins was as close as he was going to get to the guys and he knew it. As he was stopped at a stoplight Benny looked out the window of his Range Rover remembering the good times he had, how the guys really brought him alive after he left his parent's prison of a house. Now he was dead again. Back to that old shit of not being who he was, of not living. One more block to go and Collins' familiar building came into view. He stepped out of his car, making sure the windows were up and the doors were locked, and took one last look in the mirror.

Traveling up the stairs Benny thought about what he had done to the group and how much it has changed since he left. It was quite apparent to him that Angel was holding them all together, which had to be tiring. They depended on her for everything, and what made it even more saddening was that Angel was barely holding onto life herself. Taking in a deep breath, Benny knocked on the door not knowing what to expect since Collins wouldn't relay any details to him.

"Who is it?" Came Angel's muffled voice.

The man cleared his throat nervously; even Angel's voice had a way of sending shivers up his spine. "Benny."

He heard locks being unlocked quickly and as the door opened Angel's tall form stood in the doorway. She looked stressed and exhausted; he immediately saw the disease taking a toll on her. "Hi Benny. Thank you for coming."

"Hey Angel. Good to see you." He spat out as she gestured him in.

"Tom is in the room, he'll be right out." Angel said as she grabbed her drumsticks and pickle tub. "Tom I'm going to do some drumming!"

"Alright." Collins answered back tiredly. When the street drummer got her response she weakly smiled at Benny and closed the front door behind her.

The man looked around the apartment; it definitely had both of their personalities written all over the apartment. Collins' philosophy books sat on one side of a shelf and Angel's colorful cup of fabric scissors were on the other. The two were complete opposites, but they fit together like a hand in a glove.

"Hey man, thanks for coming." Collins said as he wiped his face with a small washcloth.

Benny turned around on the couch to see his old friend. "That's alright man, are you alright? You didn't sound too good on the phone."

Collins plopped himself in the old lazy boy chair, the cloth lying in his lap. "Gran died last night man."

"What!" Benny was genuinely upset, which sort of threw Collins off a bit. He'd known Gran for a good while and she was always in the best of health when he saw her. But when was the last time he saw Gran? A few years ago. Benny felt like an asshole for not keeping up with Collins' family, he was like a brother. "God man I am so sorry."

"That's where I was all night."

"Jesus." Benny said rubbing his face. "I can't believe this."

"Yeah, you and me both." Collins said as he looked out into the small living room of the apartment.

"How are you going to pay for this?"

"That's why I asked you over." That is one thing Benny could depend on, Collins' honesty.

"I see. How much were they thinking?"

Collins began to wipe his face again. "I don't know. I've got an appointment with them in about an hour to go over all of that."

"Well I'd be happy to help you man." Benny said walking over to his friend and placing his hand on his back.

The professor stood up and grabbed Benny into a tight embrace. "Thank you man. Thank you so much."

Benny patted Collins' back as he hugged him. "I owe you a shit load more than this. Don't worry about it."

"I just…don't know what to do man. Me and Angel…we…I don't know." Collins said as tears began to fall again.

"Shh. Don't worry about it man. One thing at a time." This was the old Benny, the caring and compassionate Benny. Collins' friend Benny. Was he still there? "We'll deal with Angel later, but right now the priority is Gran."

Collins wiped his face with his shoulder, nodding. "You're right man, I know."

"Come on; let's get out of here so you won't be late."

"Alright let me write Angel a note."

Ang –

Benny is taking me to the morgue. I'll be home later. Don't stay alone. Go over to Mimi's or Joanne's. We'll talk when I get back.

I love you.

Tom

After a couple of hours of good drumming, Angel felt revived and anew. She even made about $20 which she was definitely happy about. Angel placed her drumsticks inside her pickle tub, and looked around the empty apartment. Figuring she'd better shower and take a small nap, Angel looked up to see a note hanging from the top of the door frame. She smiled when she saw in that odd but extremely clever place; Collins amazed her with something everyday. Standing on her tiptoes, she grabbed the note and read it carefully.

"Don't stay alone." She muttered to herself. "I'm taking a nap Thomas."

As she stepped into the shower, Angel began to think about the way she acted to her man in his greatest time of need. She weighed her responses and figured she was right. He didn't call. He didn't apologize. He didn't even consider her feelings. She wasn't selfish. She was just so worried. She loved him with all of her heart and just didn't want to lose him. In the letter he wrote he said that he loved her, but if she kept up her attitude was she going to lose him? He would never leave her. Would he? No. He loved her.

After brushing her teeth and giving herself a nice facial, Angel wrapped herself in her terry cloth housecoat Maureen had bought her a few weeks ago. The cloth felt soft and gave her comfort as she brushed it against her cheek. Padding out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, Angel climbed onto Collins' side of the bed wanting to smell his scent, as it gave her comfort. Inhaling his scent with each breath, the street drummer fell into a deep sleep as the noises of Alphabet City sang into her ears.