Isolation

Trying

"Hey, Mike," Micky said softly as he made his way into the bedroom. Mike's head snapped up and looked around until he could find Micky. When he did, he smiled as Micky approached him.

"How are you feeling?" Micky asked, sitting beside him on the bed. "Are you okay?"

There was a pain behind those words. Mike looked at him closer, noticing that Micky's eyes were red.

"You're crying," he pointed out and Micky smiled with a sniffle.

"Yeah, I am," he said, wiping his face. "Did you enjoy the party?"

"What party?"

Micky sighed.

"Never mind," he muttered, looking down at his shaking hands. Now Mike was worried.

"What are you talking about?" He asked, putting his hand on Micky's shoulder.

Micky looked at him, thinking about it for awhile before he could say anything.

"Peter's party," he said. "You were there...for the most part."

Mike frowned, staring down at the box in his hands. He was supposed to bring it down for Peter a half hour or so ago, but had forgotten about it.

"Mike?" Micky asked, trying to snap Mike out of his thoughts.

"Things are..." Mike whispered. "Things are changing every day...just hold on tight and you'll be just-"

Micky sighed but smiled, putting his hand on Mike's shoulder, causing him to jolt out of his thoughts. Mike smiled at him, but it quickly faded when he noticed the tears refilling in Micky's eyes.

"You're crying," he said again, becoming more concerned when Micky let out a laugh at the statement.

"Yes, Michael," he exclaimed. "I'm crying."

"Are you okay?" Mike asked, setting the box aside and turning to his friend. Micky quickly shook his head and cried more when Mike embraced him.

"What's wrong?"

Micky couldn't bring himself to answer that question.

"Everyone went home, Mike," he said instead. "Peter sent everyone home because you didn't come down and we were worried about you."

Mike looked at him, confused about what he was talking about. People were here? Who was there? Where? Why? And why would anyone be worried about him?

Micky noticed Mike looking at him strangely, head cocked to the side in confusion. He sighed.

"Forget it," he muttered, looking down.

"Forget what?"

Micky smiled, nodding.

"Just like that."

Mike frowned but didn't say anything. He could tell that something was bothering Micky but he couldn't understand what it was. Not knowing what else to do, Mike took Micky's shaky hand in his own and squeezed it. It caused Micky to look at Mike, eyes filled with tears.

"Mike?" He asked in a whisper, caught off guard by the gesture.

"Why are you crying?" Mike asked, worriedly.

Mike's concern only made it so much harder. He shook his head and let out a sob, Mike was quick to come and comfort him.

"It's okay, it's okay," he said comfortingly, but it was clear in his tone that he had no idea what was going on. "Don't cry, it's okay."

"I'm s-so sorry, Mike," Micky sobbed as his friend pulled him into a hug. "I-I tried."

"It's okay," Mike smiled. "Trying is what matters, right?"

Micky shook his head and only cried more. It was hard when Mike still didn't know what was going on.

"I should've done better," he sniffled. "I should've done more wh-when I still could...then maybe..."

"You did your best," Mike said gently. "It's okay. No one's gonna judge you."

That only made Micky feel so much worse.

"It's okay," Mike said again. "Let me go and get you some tissues from downstairs."

He jumped up and made his way out of the room and down the stairs. Micky sniffled and wiped his eyes, following close behind him.

As Mike walked down the stairs, he noticed Peter and Davy sitting in the kitchen. Both seemed upset about something, but Davy looked up and put on a smile when he saw Mike coming down.

"Hey, Mike," he said, his voice shaking. "How are you feeling?"

Mike frowned when he saw Peter, who still kept his head low. Peter couldn't even bring himself to look at Mike.

"Are you okay?" Mike asked, approaching him. Peter closed his eyes and let out a slight whimper.

"I-I'm okay," he said sadly but Mike didn't believe it.

"Mike, do you need anything?" Davy asked, trying to prompt him again. "Are you okay, or...?"

Mike shrugged.

"A little headache, but not anything too bad," he said, looking around. The whole bottom floor of the Pad was decorated with colorful balloons and streamers.

"The room looks different," he pointed out and Davy let out a slight laugh.

"Yeah, it does," he smiled slightly. "Do you like the decorations?"

Mike nodded when Peter quickly jumped up and threw his arms around Mike, sobbing.

"P-Peter?" He asked, worried. "What is it?"

"I-I-I don't want you to go," he cried, holding onto Mike.

"Go?" He asked. Peter sniffled and continued.

"M-Micky said that w-we were sitting a-and waiting for a m-miracle to happen th-that wouldn't happen...I-I'm sorry, Mike!"

Mike frowned, confused by the statement, and turned to Micky behind him for some sort of explanation. When Micky didn't respond, Mike turned to Davy. Davy only sighed and hung his head low.

"I'm really sorry, Mike..." he said softly. "But we really tried..."