Author's Notes: I hope you guys like this chapter! I did! We've got about 2,024 words; you know I hate giving you guys short chapters. If you're going to read, have something to read! I'm not going to write four lines and expect you to review. That's my motto! Anyway, THANK YOU again to my faithful readers I hope you still love the story.

I OWN NOTHING (only add-ons).

Please read, review and enjoy!

Italics are thoughts and memories.

Chapter Twenty-Four

With Sunday

The young woman looked about her, she was definitely in unfamiliar territory but she felt like she owed Angel something so she was determined to help in anyway she could.

"John Graves."

"Uncle John?"

"Sunday?"

"Yeah it's me! How are you?"

"Oh my goodness! Forget me, how are you? I talked to your mother and she says that she hasn't heard from you in a while. Are you alright? Where are you?"

"I'm fine. I'm in New York actually…on my way…to umm….visit you!"

He fell for it. "Really! I know your aunt would love to see you!"

"Uncle John, I actually have a favor to ask of you."

"Anything for my favorite niece."

"I need you to help me with a friend of mine; he's in some big trouble."

"Oh really?"

"Yes and I know that you know some people in very high places and I was wondering…"

"If I could help you fix whatever they need?"

"Exactly."

"Come by the office and we'll talk."

With Angel, Mimi and Aaron

"Chica, what in the world happened to make you act this way?" Mimi and Angel never hid anything from each other; this situation would be no different.

Angel's face fell; he knew he would have to explain himself not only to Mimi, but to the group.

One down, five to go.

"Collins got angry with me because David kept coming up. He's the reason why I hit my head, why I haven't been very present in too much of anything lately. It really upset him, and he got so angry that…well some things happened and I don't know what the hell happened…I just ended up here. It's all such a blur, a fucked up blur."

Mimi looked at her best friend; he was completely broken and didn't really know why. "Why have you been thinking of David chica?"

"Because it's the anniversary coming up." Aaron cut in.

Mimi was so confused. Wasn't Angel over David like he said he was? "He's been gone for 5 years Angel, why is he coming up like this now?"

Shaking her head, Angel searched for an answer. "I don't know why Mimi, I can't answer that."

"Don't you love Collins?"

"Of course I love Collins." Angel snapped.

"Chica I'm not going to pretend with you, I never have and I never will. It's always been the truth between us, always. I'm not going to sugarcoat this whole situation for you, but I know that you know you were wrong to be thinking of someone else when you are supposed to be with the love of your life. What you did…was wrong. Everything. Why would you want to continue the cycle that your family had created? Why would you put yourself into that situation in the first place?"

"Mimi, please lighten up. She's been through too much today hun." Aaron implored.

"What in the world are you doing here Aaron?" Angel asked, wiping his face.

"Angel, don't ignore me."

Aaron looked at the ground sheepishly. "I came to…bring you some things."

"Did you hear me Angel? I'm trying to talk to you." Mimi looked at her best friend confused, why was he tuning her out? Mimi glared up at the young man; he was not going to do what she thought he was going to do. Was he?

"What kind of things?" Angel was completely confused.

"Things of….of David's."

Silence fell over the small office. Mimi's gaze went to Angel, whose eyes were darting across the floor.

The dancer snapped around to Aaron startling him. "What the fuck is your problem?" she said, her teeth clenched.

"David?" Angel said forlornly.

"Angel listen to me. David is dead and he gave you a death sentence."

"What things were there?" Mimi's voice was only a distant sound; all he could hear was Aaron.

"Some letters that he wrote to you and some jewelry."

"Jewelry?" The dancer asked.

"Is…his favorite necklace in there?" The street drummer said, an eerie smile coming across his face.

Aaron smiled warmly at Angel. "Yes, it is."

Angel quickly got up, walking over to Aaron. "I want it! Give it to me! Please Aaron!"

Mimi walked over to the two, pushing Angel slightly. "What the fuck is your problem Angel! He's dead! Collins loves you! You love Collins! Don't throw this away for someone who didn't care about you in the first place! Don't be…like me."

"Mimi, I just want the necklace, please I just want a piece of him."

"He took a piece of you Angel! He took more than that from you! He took your fucking life!"

As the two argued, Aaron slipped out of the office, walking through the police station and out to his car where he found the box Mimi had placed in the passenger's seat. Why was he doing this? Knowing it was going to destroy a relationship that obviously meant so much to Angel. Wasn't he Angel's friend? He didn't want the box and he didn't want to throw it away, so why not give it to Angel. At least it would give him some closure, and if he wanted to burn it, he could. Shutting the door to the car, Aaron walked back into the police station heading toward the office. It felt as if he was in slow motion, knowing what power he held in his hands. He opened the door, letting Angel take in the sight he was holding this box that would mean so little to any outsider, but the world to one person.

"Aaron no!" Mimi shouted.

The street drummer tore himself from the dancer's hand and grabbed the box was Aaron's grasp. Mimi wanted to leave, she wanted to storm out and never talk to Angel again. But she thought of all the times that Angel was there for her and didn't have to be, so she stayed. She was painfully as Angel opened the box and dug for that necklace, beginning to cry when he did find it. A long dog tag that had David's full name, birthdate and his favorite saying on it "Lucky".

"He got this when he went to an Air Force demonstration, the day before he told me that he loved me." Angel said holding the necklace to his chest.

Tears fell down Mimi's dark eyes as she watched. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

With Mark, Roger and Collins

Roger paced back and forth plotting what he was going to do and what he was going to say when Angel got there.

"Roger, fighting or hurting Angel is not going to solve our problems." Mark pleaded.

"Like fuck it isn't! It'll teach him not to fuck around with Tom!" Roger was so fumed up, his hands were shaking.

"Roger we're all friends, we all need Angel just as much as Collins."

Roger laughed out loud. "Fuck that! I don't need him! We don't need him! We were just fine without him! Look at what he did to Collins, Mark! Don't act like you aren't pissed off about it!"

Mark sighed tiredly. "I'm not acting like anything, but I'm trying to be rational about this."

Roger pointed. "Fuck rational. Collins doesn't need him, he can find someone better."

"Collins isn't going to want to find someone better; he believes he's found it. We can't change how he feels about Angel."

"Time heals all wounds Mark, I know first hand."

Mark stood up, fed up with Roger. "God dammit Roger, this isn't about you! This is about Angel and Collins. They love each other, we cannot change that! You and I both know what Angel has done for our group, don't fucking deny it."

Hearing voices rising, Collins creaked his eyes open so he could see his two best friends. His voice was hoarse and dry. "Guys."

"He hasn't done SHIT for our group; he hasn't done SHIT for me!"

"How can you be so stupid!" Mark shouted.

"Mark."

"We need them to be together! We need them to show us that we can feel true love for someone else and get it in return!"

Roger angrily pointed at his room mate. "No YOU need that Mark! I don't need some fucking random person off the street to tell me anything!"

"Roger."

Mark walked up to Roger facing him closely, a little too close for Roger's liking. "Why can't you just admit that you love Angel just as much as we all do? That you can actually care for someone that isn't like you!" Roger was surprised at Mark's force but wasn't letting it get to him; soon enough Mark would back down just like he always did.

"Get the fuck out of my face Mark." Roger growled.

"Stop it guys."

"Admit it." Mark said coldly.

"Fuck off Cohen."

"Guys please."

The two young men were inches apart now. "You are a sorry excuse for a friend Roger Davis."

"If I'm so sorry of a fucking excuse then why are you still my friend?"

"Guys." The pain was becoming severe and Collins couldn't handle it anymore.

"I was beginning to ask myself that exact question."

"STOP IT!" The wounded professor shouted with all his might, the pain searing through his entire abdomen. His cry was so loud a nurse immediately ran into the room, ordering Mark and Roger to leave at once.

"His stitches have torn!" She shouted to a fellow nurse. "We've got to get him back to the ER! If any more blood gets out, we'll loose him!"

The other nurse pushed past a stunned Mark and Roger, who were standing completely mortified and what they had caused.

"Oh my God, what have we done?"

With Joanne and Maureen

"Maureen, please stop fumbling with the radio it's giving me a headache." Joanne said as she tried to weave through the New York traffic.

"I'm trying to find some music!"

Maureen had gone through radio stations, listening thoroughly too each one before changing to the next one. It wasn't until the performance artist went past a talk radio station that Joanne asked her to go back.

"Was it a good song Pookie?" Maureen asked, completely oblivious.

"Go back."

Just what she thought it was a talk radio, Joanne turned up the radio to listen.

"Hi there New York this is WQQR Talk Radio. Our topic today, our beloved Mayor's Wife and her next project…of undoing. Now she's going after our children. Yes, our children. No one is safe. All our kids want to do is be in a play, how harmful could it be? According to her "highness", very harmful. Especially if it's being run by a lesbian couple, a first in New York. Their names, Joanne Jefferson and Maureen Johnson locals at the famous Life Café in New York's very own Alphabet City."

"Oh my God! They said my name on the radio!" Maureen squealed, but stopped when she realized what he had said. "I'm not a lesbian."

Joanne couldn't believe it either, but hushed Maureen when the man continued to talk.

"What could these lovely lesbians have done to ruffle the old bird's feathers? According to one of our sources, Joanne, the director of the show told her off claiming and I quote 'I don't give a s about you or your voters and I'd appreciate it if you didn't bring your s a views of how life should be into this Theatre because as far as I'm concerned, you're not welcome.' Woah! That's the way to tell 'em Joanne, stick it to the man straight up her detox loving a!"

The lawyer felt a wave of embarrassment come over her, what she said really was more horrible when she heard it a second time.

"Oh Pookie! What you said is turning me on!" Maureen said rubbing Joanne's leg suggestively.

"Maureen, get a hold of yourself for one moment please."

"Well Joanne, if you're listening…the Mayor's Wife, the Old Bird, Mrs. Detox herself is out to get you dear and it is said she's going to be paying your little show a visit soon enough!"

Immediately, Joanne pulled over and through her face into her hands.