Lost

Chapter 4

Mikey followed Ray, shivering in the cold wind. Ray had finally given in and allowed him to come along on the searches for Gerard.

Mikey pulled his hoodie closer around him and squinted through the painful rain that lashed against his face.

Ray shook his head and looked at him.

"We'd better go back home," he shouted over the winds. "We'll never find him in this."

"But..." Mikey chewed his lip. "Gee!"

Ray just shook his head again and grabbed Mikey's arm, pulling him away.

"We'll look again in better weather," he said quietly. Mikey whimpered but allowed the older man to pull him along. He didn't want to leave, but he was also cold and Ray would never let him stay out alone. They reached Ray's car, and Mikey pulled his beanie over his eyes once he was in.

"Frank said you weren't sleeping again last night," Ray said, sounding tense. Mikey slid down in his seat.

"I need to watch for Gee," he whispered. "You know that."

"Mikey, you need sleep. It's important." Ray's tone of voice offered no room for argument. Mikey pulled his beanie down further, sitting in a sullen silence.

The quiet was interrupted by Ray's phone ringing. He cursed and risked a glance down at it.

"Mikes, can you get that?"

Mikey blinked and picked it up, answering it.

"RAY?" Frank's voice was frantic.

"Um, no," Mikey replied quietly. "It's Mikey."

"Oh, Jesus, Mikey, say something when you answer the phone next time." He heard a sigh on the other end. "Is Ray there?"

"Yeah."

"Tell him to get home. Now."

"What is it?" Mikey was becoming hopeful that Frank had found Gerard.

"The cops are here," Frank growled, crushing Mikey's hopes. "They think Ray's kidnapped Gee."

"What?"

"I know, right?" Frank sighed again. "Just tell him to get home now." The line went dead.

Mikey brought his knees up to his chest, uncertain of how to feel about Ray now. What if he had kidnapped Gerard? That would mean that he lied to Mikey and let him fall into this mess.

"Who was it?" Ray asked, making him jump.

"O-oh, it was just Frank. He... he says to be back at the house as soon as we can. It's an emergency."

"Okay..." Ray increased the speed and Mikey went to staring out of the window. The trees and passing lampposts hurt his eyes as he curled as far into himself as possible in the seat. Sweat was trickling down his neck, but he blamed it on sitting next to the man who could have maybe kidnapped his older brother. Why did it take such a short time for him to become scared of Ray? Was he that paranoid already?

He cast a quick glance over at Ray, scared. The older man seemed oblivious. Mikey leaned his head against the window, trying to breathe slowly. He didn't feel safe or anywhere near calm. There was a pain in his chest, and it slowly grew until Mikey had to bite his lip to keep from crying out. He clutched at his chest, starting to wheeze. Ray cast a worried glance at him and pulled over, stopping the car.

"Mikey?" he asked in worry. Mikey looked over at him, still wheezing. "Mikey?" he repeated slowly.

"It hurts," Mikey managed, before his eyes rolled up in his head and he fell forwards, his head hitting the dashboard.

*****

Frank was fidgeting in distraction as he sat beside Ray in some sort of waiting room.

"A heart attack," he kept muttering. "Mikey Way had a heart attack."

"I know." Ray sounded miserable; probably due to the fact they could see their unconscious friend through a window, and that his wrists were handcuffed behind his back.

Ray had stopped to call 911 before he called Frank, who had to tell the cops what happened.

They'd cuffed Ray but were going to wait until Mikey woke up to interrogate him. Ray would get five minutes with him then be taken away for questioning.

Frank sighed and looked over at the cops flanking the doors. He just wanted Mikey to be okay. The doctor had said that this heart attack was probably due to stress building up over a lack of sleep and the disappearance of his brother.

So this was Gerard's fault. Or Ray's. Maybe both.

Frank didn't know and it was killing him. He had thought this was all some bad dream when Ray called him and told him that Mikey had collapsed and was now unconscious.

He sighed and rested his forehead on the palms of his hands. Mikey was his friend, Ray was his friend, Gerard was his friend, even if Frank wanted him to be more sometimes.

But, as he constantly fretted over Mikey's deteriorating mental state, he found he didn't have room in his head for the older Way brother.

It was confusing. Frank just wanted Gerard back, not because he was worried, but because that would return order to the world.

When he finally looked back at Mikey through the window, the man's eyes were wide open.

Frank jumped to his feet and Ray started.

"Frank?"

But Frank was already walking towards the door, standing with his nose pressed against the window.

Mikey's gaze slid to his and he frowned. One of the nurses inside opened the door and looked at Frank, sighing.

"Mr. Iero, you can come in if you stay quiet."

Frank nodded and eagerly followed her into the room. Ray was chuckling softly behind them.

Mikey was staring at a doctor as he asked a few questions. Frank sat down on a chair, staying silent like the nurse had said. The doctor was talking to Mikey about seeking professional help for his stress.

Mikey only seemed half aware of himself, so Frank listened for him, soaking up every detail.

"Mr. Way, we think you should take one of these pills every day to reduce your chances of another heart attack."

Frank made a mental note of this.

"You'll be in here for a few days whilst we look after you," the doctor continued. "And then you can go home."

"Okay...?" Mikey's voice was slightly slurred, like he was drunk. But Frank knew he hadn't had alcohol in ages. He scooted a little closer as most of the doctors left, leaving one doctor and a nurse behind. They seemed distracted, so Frank guessed he could talk to Mikey now.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, barely aware of Ray walking in behind him.

"Weird," Mikey mumbled. "But better than before."

"That's good," Frank smiled encouragingly. Mikey gave a small nod and his eyes drew towards Ray, who looked apologetic.

"Frank told me that you were probably scared after he explained the whole cops thing to you."

Mikey gave another small nod. 

"I think I have a little explaining to do."

"Why did the CCTV catch you helping Gerard into a car?" Frank asked immediately. Mikey frowned.

"What?"

"That... that's part of my explanation."

"Did you kidnap him?" Mikey asked fearfully. Ray looked at him.

"No. And I don't know where he is." He sighed.

"Explain," Frank hissed.

And so Ray began.