Author's Notes: Yes! Yes! Yes Ladies and Gentleman. I AM BACK. I know it's been an extremely long time, and I've missed you all. Thanks so much for understanding, I'm still pretty busy but I wanted to get this out to you. I'm not as proud of this chapter, but there will be more to come soon! Thanks again.

I OWN NOTHING (but this story and add-ons).

Chapter Twenty – Six

With Joanne, Maureen and Mimi

On the way to the hospital, Mimi had fallen asleep in the car, her curly hair covering her face just a bit. Maureen looked into the rear view mirror, watching her friend restlessly sleep. "I'm so worried about her Jo."

"I know you are honeybear, we all are. But we'll get through this."

When the three arrived at the hospital, Mimi still hadn't wakened yet. "I don't want to wake her."

Joanne rolled a few of the windows down and laid her head back on the head rest. "Well, how about you stay here with her while I go and see where they've placed Collins. Hopefully Roger is up there so he can come sit with Mimi."

"Sounds good." Maureen said as she got out of the car and went into the backseat to sit next to Mimi.

Joanne leaned her head into the car to look at the two. "I love you, I'll send Roger down."

Giving her girlfriend a tender kiss, Maureen pulled Mimi onto her lap.

With Aaron and Angel

"Angel please don't cry anymore." Aaron said as he knelt down next to the drag queen who was still crying her eyes out.

"I love him so much! I don't want to loose him!"

Aaron gently rubbed Angel's back as she sobbed. "Sweetie please, he'll be alright. His love for you will keep him going. There's nothing more lifesaving than an Angel's love." The man smiled at Angel, helping her to her feet. "Come on; let me get you to bed. Tomorrow is another day, a brand new day. I'll take you to see your man in the morning."

As Aaron opened the door to his apartment, Angel felt faint. A shower and a bed sounded so good right now.

"Alright girlfriend, my house is your house so please feel free to do whatever it is that you want to do. I'm going to get your room going so go take a shower."

The warm water ran down her body and relaxed her immediately. Aaron was always one to be prepared for anything, already he had a guest basket filled with lotions and bath soaps. As Angel stepped out of the shower and enveloped herself in a terry cloth towel, she fumbled in the basket for a lotion to put on. Rose Mist. That was a good scent to fall asleep on.

After drying off and putting on the Rose scented lotion, Angel walked into the spare bedroom. "Here you go sweetie. I'll leave you alone now. Have a good night. Please know if you need anything I'll be in the next room."

"Thanks Aaron, I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome Angel."

As soon as her head hit the pillow, Angel was completely out waiting for the next when she would see her love again.

With Mark, Roger and Collins

Mark sat down gently rubbing the top of Collins' dark hand, hoping for him to come through.

"Mark?"

"Joanne?" Mark said quietly. Gently placing Collins' hand on the bed, Mark jogged over to the lawyer embracing her. "Oh my God. How are you? Are you okay? Where's Maureen?"

"I'm fine Mark. Maureen's in the car with Mimi. How is he?"

The film maker looked back at his friend. "He's doing alright for now, but we can't do anything that will bring him stress."

Joanne covered her mouth with her hand, stunned to see her lively friend in an almost comatose state. Tears slowly fell down her cheek as she walked over to the professor. "Collins." She whispered into his ear. "We love you. Please hold on." After kissing her friend on the cheek, Joanne walked over to Mark who was staring off into space. "Where's Roger?"

"I have no idea."

"I think he should go downstairs with Mimi. Mimi said that she and Angel had had a big fight. She's sleeping right now; she said something about needing a hit."

Mark wiped the sweat from his brow, sighing in exhaustion. "Great, that's all we need now."

"How is he?" Roger said peeking in to see Collins.

"He's doing alright. Man what happened to your hand?"

The guitarist sheepishly looked down at his hand which was wrapped in a bandage. "I was angry and tried to punch my hand through the wall."

"Jesus Roger, what the hell is your problem?"

"Mimi's downstairs sleeping." Joanne said a worried look on her face.

Roger immediately snapped out of his foolishness at the mention of Mimi's name. "Is she alright? Is she alone?"

"No, Maureen is down there with her. Her and Angel got into a big fight. Talked about wanting a hit."

Without a word more, the guitarist sprinted down the hall toward the elevator out of sight.

"Did you see Angel?"

"No, he left before we got there. No one knows where he is. The mayor's wife is threatening to close down the show. I just…don't know what to do anymore. I'm barely keeping it together Mark. How do you do it?"

Truth was Mark didn't even stop to think about how he was doing, he didn't want to think about it.

"I'm fine." Definitely an overstatement.

With Maureen and Mimi

"Johnson!" Roger said as he banged the car window startling the performance artist who fell asleep as well.

"Shh!" Maureen said as she gestured to Mimi who was still out cold.

"Open the door." As she did, Mimi began to stir subconsciously scratching her arm that she used to get her high from.

"Roger." Mimi slurred.

Quickly Maureen and Roger switched places. "I'm going to go see Collins I'll see you later!" She said as she ran toward the building.

"I'm right here babe."

Mimi tiredly fluttered her eyes open. "Angel hates me."

Roger had no idea of what she was talking about, but decided to play along. "No he doesn't baby."

"I want a hit."

"No you don't Mimi!" Roger shouted. "No more hits…ever."

"I hate my life Roger, I hate it."

This hurt Roger who looked out the window to conceal his tears. "Does that include me?"

With Sunday

The young woman walked toward the elevator pressing the button for the 15th floor.

"My darling niece!" John Graves said with outstretched arms. "How are you my darling?"

"I'm fine Uncle. I need some help."

"Have a seat." The man said as he closed the door to his huge office. "Now what happened?"

"I have a friend that is going to need his record cleared from NYU. He's a professor there."

John Graves rubbed his chin. "NYU huh? What is your friend's name?"

"Thomas Collins."

"I'll see what I can do. Now what are you doing in New York again?"