The story is post-Rent from here on, just so you know. So both Mimi and Angel are dead, as much as I didn't want them to die. But I told Renthead621 that I couldn't, and wouldn't, keep her from her beloved Roger for long, so here's the third chapter for you. Obviously, if I owned the lyrics to YE, Jonathan Larson would have issues with me.

Mark was going through Roger's things in his room absent-mindedly one day, a month after Roger's accident had occurred. It had been four weeks to the day since the terrible night, and Roger still hadn't regained consciousness.

Mark and the other bohemians had almost forgotten about the post-24-hour complication period that was so long ago, because Mimi and Angel had both recently lost their lives; Mimi to a drug overdose and Angel to complications with AIDS, involving an infection.

Collins was doing well enough. Mostly, he was just trying to stay strong for Roger. He had said that when Angel died, all he would need was to be with his friends more, and he would be comforted. That seemed to be working.

Mark was still very concerned about Roger, however. Besides the fact that he was comatose, Mark knew Roger was going to go insane when he woke up and was told Mimi was dead.

Mark was looking through Roger's music collection, his CD's, his demos, etc., when he came upon something. It was a cassette, attached to a piece of paper. Mark carefully detached the paper from the cassette and he read it.

Your eyes
As we said our goodbyes
Can't get them out of my mind
And I find I can't hide from
Your eyes
The ones that took me by surprise
The night you came into my life
Where there's moonlight
I see your eyes

How'd I let you slip away
When I'm longing so to hold you
Now I'd die for one more day
'Cause there's something I should have told you
Yes, there's something I should have told you

When I looked into your eyes
Why does distance make us wise?
You were the song all along
And before the song dies

I should tell you, I should tell you
I have always loved you
You can see it in my eyes

From the moment he finished reading the note, Mark knew what the cassette was for. He put it in a player and pressed play and soon discovered he was right. It was a demo of the song Roger had taken all year to write, and that Mimi had never gotten to hear.

Mark realized there were tears stinging the backs of his eyes at the thought. He had to tell Roger he'd found it, and that it was amazing; but he knew Roger would feel beyond terrible that Mimi had not gotten to hear it. And then, Mark thought, Roger might bring up questions about how Mark had gotten a hold of the demo and lyrics in the first place and—

Cohen, stop it, Mark thought sternly. Roger trusts you too much to even think about asking something like that. You're his best friend. You've been his roommate for years. That is not gonna happen and you know it.

The phone ringing jerked Mark back to reality. He jumped with surprise and went out to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Is this Mark Cohen?"

Mark sighed silently. He was getting tired of phone calls always asking him that. "Yes, this is he. Who is this, please?"

"This is Doctor Jesse Thomas. I'm calling on behalf of Roger Davis."

Mark gripped the phone tightly. "Is everything all right? Is Roger OK?" Mark listened carefully to what the doctor said, making sure he didn't miss a word. "OK, I'll let everyone know. We'll be there as soon as we can. Thank you, Doctor."

Mark hung up and took a few seconds to let out the breath he realized he'd been holding, and to take another in. Then he picked up the phone again, his hands shaking, and he quickly dialed Angel's place, where he knew Collins was still staying.

"Collins? It's Mark. You need to know…"

Mark realized he'd said almost the exact same thing a month ago to everyone, as he dialed Maureen and Joanne's number.

"Mo, is Jo there with you? OK, good… No, nothing is wrong… In fact, everything is wonderful… That was the hospital. Roger's waking up."

Please don't kill me, Renthead621, LOL. You didn't have to be without our beloved Roger for long.

I would have put this up sooner, but the document manager is being evil and giving me trouble. And what is up with the Support Fan Fiction page not being there anymore? Can anyone explain that?

There will be more to come, so please keep reviewing!

Until next time, lots of love,

Renthead07