His vision was blurred when he opened his eyes. He could feel his body being weighed down by something, but he wasn't sure what it was. He realized that there was a needle stuck in his hand and it was attached to a stand that was parked next to him. A petite hazel eyed lady walked up to him, patted him on the shoulder and said "Your husband is here. He's doing alright, but right now it is iffy."

As soon as those words left her lips, the young man quickly made his way out of his bed and into the sterile hallway. The look of anguish covered his pale face, he was stumbling due to his equilibrium and the brightness of the fluorescent lights hurt his eyes, but he kept going. He shielded his face from the light as he walked and occasionally got too dizzy, but he was determined.

"Sir, can I help you?" the young blond woman asked extending her hand to him.

"I need to find him. Where is he?" he asked with desperation in his eyes.

"Sir, I'm not sure who..." the woman started.

"My husband. Where is he?" the man begged as he peeked into each passing room.

"He's right this way come with me" a similar voice said. The young man followed behind the nerdy man that was dressed in bright blue scrubs, a white coat and had a black stethoscope wrapped around his neck.

The tall man stopped at the door, and turned around to face the man before him. "He's ok just sleeping right now."

The pale boy was scared to look around the doctor to see what his husband looked like. "What happened?" the man replied, absolutely wounded.

"I'd rather not say right now, but you can go see him."

"Has he woken up yet?"

"No not yet, but he should hear your voice. That could help a lot" the older man stated as he sighed.

The young man took a deep breath, swallowed the huge lump in his throat, stood up straight then walked forward. Anything the doctor said couldn't prepare him for what he was about to see.

He grasped his chest as he viewed his sleeping lover with all the discoloration to his face, bandages everywhere and a tube in his nose. He slowly wandered up to the bed, not noticing anything else around him. His palms were sweaty, his hands were shaking and he looked as if his world had just crumbled around him. He succumbed to his bare knees as his chest felt like the wind had just been knocked out of him. He gently glided his hands to meet his companion's bounded fingers as the tears fell heavily down from his eyes. His whimpering must have been heard because all of a sudden he could feel his lover's fingers wiggle in his embrace. He instantly lifted his head from the bed to see if his husband had awakened.

The disappointment of the boy's eyes still being shut hurt him more than he ever could have imagined.

"Baby please wake up... please" the man pleaded as the tears fell even heavier than before. "I love you so much ok..." he hesitated, "Just... Please... Don't... Don't Die. I can't live without you please just wake up!" he begged.

After a couple of minutes, he picked himself up off the floor, placed a soft kiss to his beau's ear that was laced with a clear tube, smiled then whispered "You're a Southsider, you're a fighter and the love of my life Ian Clayton Gallagher! I know you will wake up. You are the strongest person I know, the best person I know, my best friend and my heart. I will be here every day until you decide you want to wake up" he chuckled to himself knowing how stubborn the redhead could be "But I promise I'm never leaving. I love you, so get some rest and I will see you in a little while." The blue eyed boy wiped his face, collected himself and tenaciously walked out of his husband's room with his shoulders and head held high.

Jason shook off his shaken persona and walked into the hospital room. He glanced over on both sides of the room gazing at each of the lifeless bodies that laid utterly still. He couldn't believe that it was the mortals of his little sister and her best friend. He swallowed the knot in his throat and held back his tears as he reviewed their injuries.

Ian was breathing on his own, he had a feeding tube and oxygen hose in his nose and had a little color in his freckled face. The older boy could see the contusions on his chest and his right eye looked like it was swollen shut. He noticed that most of his limbs were in casts, there were cuts on his face, a neck brace around his neck and his body looked as stiff as a board.

He almost didn't recognize his sister. Her beautiful blond locks had to be cut off in order for them to stitch up a part of her head. There was a tube taped to her mouth that was connected to a machine to help her breath. Her face was black and blue from bruises, she had several scratches and stitches under her left eye, her lip was cut and her body was completely bandaged. Her body looked frail and there was no color in her face.

Her big brother could barely look at her so he quickly grabbed a chair and placed it in between the two of them. He started to reminisce about all the good times the three of them had. Jason felt like Ian was the little brother he never had so it felt like he was losing two siblings instead of just one. He had read a long time ago that talking to unconscious patients could help them wake up so he thought he would give it a try.

"So Ian, you remember that time you came over to spend the night with Chris when our parents were out of town? Chris informed me that you were gay. I didn't believe her because I always thought you were into her as much as you were over at our house in her room" he said as he shook his head and smiled. "She told me if I wanted proof to walk in front of you naked so that's what I did. Right before you came over to spend the night, I purposely took a shower and waited until I heard you come in. Chris set you up by telling you to put your stuff in her room while she got some snacks and movies for you two to watch." The blond bit his lip then took a deep breath as he felt the tears coming. "I walked out of the bathroom and there you were looking like an innocent little boy. You tried to close your mouth as your eyes roamed my wet body, but I knew right then you were gay. You couldn't hide a boner from a sexy body like mine" the older boy replied smugly and giggling. "Then Chris came down the hall and nearly dropped ya'lls drinks when she saw you staring me like you were. that's why I stood straight up and planted my hands on my hips like Superman."

The thought of that day came flooding back to Jason and forced a huge smile on his face. All of a sudden he felt his heart hurt and the flecks of tearing started pouring down his face. His face was completely red, he started shaking and he began to bawl. Nobody had ever seen Jason cry, let alone breakdown like he did. He was bent over, his head was in hands and the muscular man cried harder than he had ever in his life. He had finally cracked, the hard boy mask had finally come off. He thought he was alone so no one would see his vulnerability, but what he didn't realize there was a certain blue eyed boy standing at the door listening to his every word. The blond could feel his body being pulled into a deep hug. He realized that it was Landon. He became completely defenseless in this man's arms and just let himself go. He felt a sense of contentment and tranquility especially at that moment.

As the blond lifted his head up from the younger man's chest, the brunette cupped his face tear-stricken face with his bulky hands. They looked into each other's eyes as if they were using them to have a conversation. Landon's green eyes followed the every move of the blue eyed boy in front of him.

Impulsively, the boys kissed each other, but not in a way that was bleak and brisk. It was sensual, sensitive, passionate and warm-hearted. Landon ran his long fingers through the crying boy's hair as Jason softly placed his left hand on the back of the younger boy's neck and placed his right palm on his cheek. The kiss caused them to become lost into each other and they almost forgot where they were until Jason heard Ian's breathing machine start to beep due to his breathing speeding up.

He gently pulled away from the gorgeous man, got up from his chair then said "I can't do this!"

Landon watched patiently and looked a bit hurt as the older boy paced around the room for a minute covering his face from embarrassment. "I didn't mean that. I mean I like you I do, but I can't do that not like this."

The brunette nodded his head and costively made his way over to the distraught man, grabbed his hands and responded "I understand, but I want you to know what I feel for you is real so when you are ready I'm here." He placed a gentle kiss to the blonde's cheek, rubbed his chin with his thumb, smiled supportively then walked out the room.

"Hello... Yes, um my name is Mickah Gallagher. I would like to make an appointment with Dr. Williams as soon as possible please!" the pale boy said nervously chewing on the side of his lip. "Yes, I can be there tomorrow…. Thank you... bye!" The brunette hung up the phone as he sat with his legs hanging over the bed.

"Hey, Mickey" a weak voice said from the doorway.

"Mands?" the older boy replied squinting. He couldn't tell if it was his sister because her bright blue eyes were absent, her hair was messy and her face was uncannily hollow and very pale.

"Yeah" she whispered as she slowly sauntered into the dreary hospital room.

Her older sibling could tell she had been crying, but now had absolutely nothing left. "I'm sorry Mick" she started as she walked towards him.

The older boy extended his arms so that she could hug him. The younger girl didn't object. She sat on the bed next to him, laid her head on the left side of his shoulder and wrapped her left arm around his waist. "Mick... I thought they were dead..." she exclaimed with her voice sounding defeated.

"Me too Mands" he replied rubbing her head.

"When the doctor told me that she died, I lost it. I love her so much Mick. She means the world to me and I don't know what I would do if she wasn't in my life." Mickey didn't respond he just nodded his head. "Finding you unconscious on the floor of the apartment scared the shit out of me. I couldn't lose the three most important people to me. Jason told me that you had a severe panic attack. Why didn't you tell me you had one before?" the young girl asked with her tone displaying the torment she was feeling.

"I'm sorry sis I just..." he hesitated, "I was embarrassed."

"Why? We tell each other everything" the brunette said as she sat up from his embrace looking her brother in his eyes.

"There's some things I haven't told you."

"Like what?" the young woman asked, raising her eyebrow and widening her eyes.

"Well... the last time I was here was because I had a panic attack at home."

"But Ian said..." Mandy Started.

"I know what he said. He was trying to protect me." Mickey said, putting his hand in the air, as if he was still trying to guard that part of him.

"Protect you from what Mickah? TELL ME NOW!" the brunette barked.

The older boy could tell his sister was getting irritated with his vague answers already. He covered his face with his hand and sighed. "I been going to see a therapist with Ian."

The young Milkovich cocked her head as the look of disorientation and astonishment covered her fatigued face. "I know, I know us Milkoviches don't go see a fucking shrink, but the doctor said if I didn't address my problems I was going to end up here again. Ian wanted me to. Isn't that fucking ironic?!" he chuckled softly.

"So what was he talking about? Are you and Ian having problems?" Mandy asked.

"Naw we're good. Great in fact that's why I need his ass to wake up so badly" the eldest Milkovich replied, running his fingers through his greasy Mohawk.

"Then what is it GALLAGHER?" Mandy stated with sternness in her voice.

Her brother was surprised when he heard those words come out of her mouth. He didn't realize until that moment that she still had enough Milkovich fight left in her to get that infamous attitude she got when she wasn't getting her way. When she was really angry with him as a kid, she wouldn't call him by his first name she would just call him Milkovich, so here she was calling him by his last name again.

He knew he had to tell her the truth otherwise it was going to be hell to pay. "So that kid Dawson..." he started.

"Devon, yeah what about him?" the girl asked, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Well" he sighed loudly, "you remember when I stayed out of Southside for like months and didn't come home?" Mickey asked nervously.

"Yeah?" the brunette said as she shook her head for more information.

"And dad beat the shit outta me and you took me the hospital? Well that was because Dawson and I had been seeing each other."

"Oh shit, when did this happen?" His sister giggled while playfully nudging her brother in the side with her elbow.

"After that damn party you dragged me to."

"So what the hell happened?" She asked, with a more serious tone plastered on her face.

"We fooled around and then started... kinda... ugh... seeing each other" the older boy replied shyly and slightly embarrassed.

"Damn and here I thought he was fucking straight. He was flirting with all the sluts at the party."

"Shit, I thought he was too until he asked me if he could come home with me to drink and smoke a few blunts. He made a move on me and it kinda fuckin surprised me."

"So what does that have to do with dad?" Mandy asked.

Mickey didn't reply, he just stared down at the tile floor.

"Oh God NO! Dad didn't find out did he?" the younger exclaimed as she put her hand on her forehead.

The older boy casually nodded.

"OH MY GOD MICK! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?" she gasped.

"Cause I wasn't fucking "out" I guess and I didn't know if you would disown me too."

"Mick, I would NEVER do that. I love you too much. Like I said at your wedding, you're not just my brother you are like my dad" she explained wrapping her arms around her brother.

"That's what Ian said too, but I wasn't sure if I was fully gay and I didn't know how to tell you."

"Well regardless, I love you no matter who you choose to love. I'm just glad you didn't marry a dickhead. Otherwise I was going to have to tear some shit up at your wedding" the younger girl laughed causing her brother to laugh too. "So why didn't you and Dawson stay together?" she asked, being totally nosey.

"After dad beat the shit outta me, I stayed at his place. One day when I came home, on my birthday none the less, and I found him being fucked by two other dudes so I left."

"Are you fucking shitting me?!" the young girl yelled as she threw her hands up in the air. "I'm glad I haven't seen that kid cause I damn sure would fucked his ass up on sight."

The boy snickered at the thought of his sister knocking a guy out over him. "Shit, you won't have to cause a few months ago Ian did it for you."

"What the hell?" the brunette replied putting her hand under her chin.

"Turns out that he use to work for Ian at the gym."

"Get the fuck outta here!" Mandy gasped, coping her mouth with her hand as her eyes widened.

We saw him at the movies and he tried to size up Gallagher."

"So what happened next?" she asked excitedly, bouncing up and down on the bed.

"He 3 pieced his ass, choked him the fuck out with one hand, body slammed his ass on a car, almost crushed his windpipe and then punched his ass AGAIN, knocking him unconscious, off the car and on to the parking lot." The older boy smiled at the memory of his now husband beating the hell out of his ex.

"HOLY SHIT! Ian has hands like that?" Mandy asked, shock written all over her face.

"Hell yeah! I was just as shocked as you" he explained while laughing.

"Ian didn't do all that just cause he cheated on you did he?"

"Naw there's more to it..." he started.

"What'chu mean there is more to it Mick?"

"Uh oh" Mickey thought to himself.

"I was the reason dad fell off the building!" he blurted out with his eyes fixed completely shut.

He couldn't hear any screaming or feel any hitting so he slowly opened his eyes. He looked over to see his sister with tears in her eyes. "There's a reason I don't really like celebrating my birthday anymore. After dad beat the shit outta me, I came home to get some clothes to take back to Dawson's place and he threatened if he saw me back in Southside, he would make sure he killed me. On my birthday, I came home early from work and found Dawson cheating me. I moved back to my place that night. The next day..." Mickey stated.

"My birthday?" she asked nervously.

"Uh yeah" he replied, sounding like he was ashamed. "Dad found out about it and followed me to those abandoned buildings. We fought and he fell off the edge of the building."

"OH MY GOD MICK!" the younger girl cried out. "I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry!" She cried, contemplating on if she should hug her brother or not.

"It's ok you didn't know Mands."

"Don't tell me! You had the panic attack right after my birthday party?" the younger girl replied, starting to put the puzzle pieces together.

"Yeah. I had a nightmare that night and Ian woke me up. I have the same nightmare every year. I told him what happened and then I blacked out. I didn't even remember I told him. WHAT I told him. " The boy explained.

"I can't believe you have been keeping this from me all this time Mick."

"I know. I'm sorry. I should have told you, but I realized that I wasn't ready to face it until now. After I left here, Ian found me a therapist to go see once a week. I made an appointment for tomorrow, but the one person who I depended on for this is laid up prolly not even knowing if I even exist." Mickey said, dropping his face into his hands as he started crying.

"Don't say that Mick" Mandy started as she gently rubbed her hand across his back. "I have hope. They are going to make it through this. They need us right now, so it is a good idea you made an appointment. If you want I can go with you..." the brunette said sincerely as she moved her hand from her brother's back to his thigh.

"You would do that?" Mickey asked as he looked up from the floor, over to his sister.

"Of course I would. I will do anything for you" she responded.

The spikey haired fella just nodded his head and laced his fingers into his sister's. "But can you do something for me first? Will you go with me to see Christy and Ian? I haven't been able to face them since I woke up."

"Of course, Mick" Mandy answered.

The older boy got off the bed, helped his sister off and they made their way to the room.

They were exceptionally quiet as they walked in, observing the lethargic bodies before them. Mandy handled it better than her brother thought she would so at that point he was proud. He watched as she placed a gentle kiss to her girlfriend's head and whispered "Chris, I love you."

He turned to his lover, rubbed his fingers that were in a cast from his broken arm, kissed his wrist that was fractured then placed a soft peck to the redhead's lips.

The two then tiptoed out the room to allow their mates to rest while holding each other's hands and the girl resting her head on her brother's shoulder.