Fundamentally Loathsome

6. In Joy & Sorrow

* DISCLAIMER: Contains explicit language, drug use, violent references, sexual content.

"This shit isn't a game. She could be hurt – she could be dead. And you don't even fucking care!" Joey yelled to Shawn for the fifth time so far. They all hung around the bus last night, not wanting to jeopardize anything with the band but also worried about their favorite of the Crahans. Jim didn't tell anyone that he had seen Frankie – just that he ran to look for her but didn't actually find her.

Shawn's plan seemed to be backfiring because now, instead of just three people fighting, there were nine. But it was 8 - 1. Shawn was amazingly out numbered. "Fuck this shit!" Joey yelled and stormed off the bus to go find Frankie. Where to start? She could be anywhere by now. "You go left and I'll go right. The rest of the guys said they'd look, too." Joey heard from behind him.

He turned to see Corey. "We'll find her. I promise." Joey said through clenched teeth. Corey nodded and gave Joey a pat on the shoulder. At least for now, they're on the same side. Frankie's safety was their main concern. Fuck everything else, including the band and their show tonight – if they had to miss it.

They all searched for three hours with no Frankie and no leads. Corey had to stop and get something to drink before he passed out. He went to walk into a small diner when he saw a short, thin girl walking out from the bathroom. His heart skipped a beat and dropped to his stomach when she looked up.

◊◊◊

"Fuck, Frankie! Why is your goddamn phone off?" Sid cursed as he walked up the streets. He had no idea where the hell he was. He didn't really care either. He just needed to find Frankie. He walked for about another hour. He ended up walking down a long, narrow alleyway. He heard a cat meowing in front of him and a small figure slouched on the ground.

"Frankie?" He whispered and took off running to her.

◊◊◊

The rest of the guys continued their search as well. They kept getting excited with seeing anyone who even came close to resembling the crazy, little weird girl that they were searching for. They just hoped that Shawn was finally starting to understand he fucked up. Shawn didn't want to admit that the other eight band mates were right. He sat on the couch, in shock that Craig had actually yelled at him. Silent Craig opened his mouth to call Shawn a piece of shit.

He sighed heavily and then, too, got off the bus to find his sister. He just hoped that the guys were wrong. "Please, let her be okay," Shawn constantly mumbled to himself.

◊◊◊

"Frankie!" She heard and she felt her body tense up, feeling cold as if the blood ran from her body in an instant. She was standing behind a building. She had no idea how she ended up here. She just remembered walking until she was too tired to continue and slept on a bench in front of a shopping mall. When she woke three hours later, she had continued walking and ended up – wherever the hell it was. She really couldn't remember seeing any signs that would help her figure it out. For a little while she was scared. She didn't bring her phone with her and she had no money for anything she needed.

Frankie turned around, meeting the most beautiful yet sad pair of crystal blue eyes she'd ever seen. In an instant she was wrapped into a bone crushing embrace. She cried into the shoulder of the man that she held onto for fear that if she let go, he would disappear. As crazy as it sounds, she wondered if she was dreaming again. Was he real this time? Or was she simply day dreaming?