"No….." whispered Mark, staring at his lover through the window of the hospital room. "Please don't let it be true. Please."
Mark wrestled himself away from his friends' embrace, barged into the hospital ward, and stood beside Roger. Hot tears spilled down his face as he stared at his boyfriend's ice cold body lying on the bed, stiff and motionless. He took Roger's hand into his own and squeezed it hard.
"I am so sorry, sir. We did the best we possibly could," said the doctor, his voice thick with sympathy and regret. "But he's been lying in the snow for God knows how long. We all tried our best to help him. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry." Mark ignored the doctor and focused his attention to Roger.
"Roger? Baby, are you awake?" he whimpered as he moved his face closer to Roger's and gently traced the dried tear marks on his stubbled face. "You're not really dead, are you? Huh? Can you hear me, baby?"
"Mark, you know he can't hear you," said Joanne quietly through her tears.
"Shut up! Of course he can!" hissed the filmmaker. He moved closer and cradled the rock star's head gently in his arms. "You can hear me, can't you baby? Please wake up. Stop fooling around, Rog. It's not funny anymore." More tears spilled down his face as he gently shook Roger's body, trying desperately to rouse him. "Please wake up."
"Mark, c'mon man. Don't do this to yourself," Collins gently scolded while he, Maureen and Joanne and Benny tried to slowly pry him off Roger's cold form.
"No, stop it! He's alive!! Let go of me!! " Mark twisted his body violently as his friends pulled him away from Roger's body. He screamed and swore at them in fury before finally crumbling to the floor in a bout of tears. The four Bohos wrapped their arms tightly around him and held him close as they all cried for their friend Roger, the Boho rock-star.
The nurse removed the oxygen mask and began to cover Roger's body with the sheet when the doctor stopped him. "Leave him there a little bit longer," whispered the doctor. "His friends will want to say goodbye too."
The nurse nodded and left everything the way it was. The two of them stood quietly on either side of the bed, their heads bowed and hands clasped in respect. Suddenly, a quiet beeping sound was heard. They slowly lifted their heads.
"What's that?" whispered Maureen, who was the first one to hear it.
"I dunno," said Benny. "That couldn't possibly be –"
"The heart monitor!" the nurse gasped, finishing his sentence. "He's still alive!!"
"Quick! Give him the oxygen mask!" said the doctor. "I'll revive him!!"
The nurse and the doctor got down to work, trying frantically to kick-start the last flame of life left in Roger's body. The five Bohemians watched in anticipation, their hearts thudding, their mouths hanging wide open, as their friend received some vital life-saving treatment.
"CLEAR!!" yelled the doctor as he placed the equipment on Roger's body. His body bucked right off the bed.
"Blood pressure is back up," said the nurse. "He's almost there."
"CLEAR!" Once more, his body jumped off the bed. This time, his chest started rising and falling ever so slightly.
"Yes!! He's breathing!!" exclaimed Joanne, her face breaking into a grin. The nurse increased the flow of oxygen, which caused Roger's chest to heave more rapidly.
Mark detangled himself from his friends' grasp, got off the floor and stood beside Roger's bed again. He picked Roger's hand and squeezed it once more. This time, his hand got a squeeze back.
"Roger?" he called his boyfriend's name eagerly. "Roger, can you hear me?"
Roger's head started rolling slowly from side to side, a low groan escaping the depths of his throat. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and face. Mark picked up a wet cloth and began mopping his face while softly coaxing him to wake up.
"Roger? It's - it's me….."
"MMmmmaaaaaaaaa?????" was the first thing that escaped Roger's lips, but wasn't fully audible with the oxygen mask over his face. Mark gasped when he heard his boyfriend trying to call his name. And lo and behold, his olive-green eyes slowly fluttered open.
"Well, I'll be damned," mumbled Collins, who was stupefied.
The nurse gently took the oxygen mask off his face and raised the back of the bed into a sitting position so he could talk better. He took a few minutes to try and catch his breath, then turned to Mark and went:
"Hey. Missed me?"
Mark let out a loud, happy cry and threw his arms around the rock star, crying joyfully. Maureen, Joanne, Collins and Benny all breathed huge sighs of relief while the doctor and the nurse stared in disbelief.
"Are you feeling alright, Roger?" asked the doctor, slowly approaching him.
"Never been better, Doc," he replied with a grin. "I just jumped over the moon."
"I don't believe it," whispered the flabbergasted doctor. "It's a miracle." The nurse nodded.
"It certainly is," said Mark, smiling widely at his boyfriend.
"Hey Rog-man, welcome back," said Collins, giving him a huge smile and a famous, warm bear-hug.
"Thanks man. It's great to be back," said Roger, smiling right back at him. Next was Maureen, who engulfed him a tight, clingy octopus-hug, her wild hair blocking his face. Then came Joanne, who gave him a more motherly hug and a gentle squeeze on his shoulder. Then next was Benny, who gave him an apologetic hug filled with relief and regret over leaving them and selling out, and a warm pat on the back. Then finally came Mark, who slid his arms around Roger's neck and buried his face into his shoulder, crying softly. Roger snaked his arms around his skinny waist and held him close, stroking his back.
Maureen, Benny, Joanne and Collins smiled at the scene before them. "I think we should leave them alone for a while," whispered the Drama Queen. The others agreed. One by one, the all filed out of the room, with the doctor and nurse in tow. Mark and Roger remained in each others' arms, holding each other tightly, not daring to let go. Mark was the first to speak.
"I though I'd lost you," he whispered into Roger's shoulder.
"I thought I'd lost you too," Roger whispered back, kissing his temple. He gently pulled away so the two could gaze into each other's eyes. Roger gently wiped the tears off Mark's face.
"I thought I'd lost you to Death," mumbled Mark, his voice shaking.
"I thought I'd lost you to Christian," replied Roger.
Mark broke into tears at the mention of that name. "I'm so sorry Roger! I should never ever ever have set eyes in him! I love you, Roggy! I'm so-"
Roger cut him off. "Yes Marky, I know. You already told me when we got to the hospital, remember?" Mark blinked at him.
"Yes baby, I did hear you," said Roger, smiling warmly. "And I believe you. I know you're truly sorry for what you did." He gently took Mark's face in his hands, pulled him close and smiled lovingly at him. "And I forgive you. We all make mistakes sometimes. We all do things that hurt ourselves or other people. But what's important is that we learn from our mistakes. And I've learnt how important it is to hold tightly onto what you cherish," he declared, pecking Mark's lips softly.
Mark smiled right back at him and squeezed his hand. "And I've learnt how incredibly fuckin' lucky I am to have someone as amazing as you who loves me so much, and is willing to do anything for me………even forgive me, despite how much I hurt you." He quickly blinked away his tears. "I love you so much, Roger. I am nothing without you. Please remember that."
Roger smiled. "Of course I will. I love you too, with all my heart." And with that, he pulled Mark close and kissed him softly and lovingly. Mark kissed him back, with all the love and passion in his body. Their arms went around each other again. Mark raked his hands through Roger's shaggy blond hair and Roger stroked Mark's neck and shoulder blades, making the Jewish boy shiver with excitement. There was no control, no fight for dominance, no lust, and no roughness. This was a kiss of pure love, accompanied by passion, sweetness and soul. Their tongues danced together, learning the feel of each other all over again after having suffered several weeks of hurt and separation. Finally, when their oxygen supplies began to dwindle, the two lovers reluctantly pulled away and held each other tightly, gazing into each others' eyes.
"So," Mark began hesitantly. "Can we start again?"
"Of course," said Roger smiling widely.
Mark smiled back. "Wanna make me a cup of tea?"
The rock star shook his head. "No fucking way. I think I'll let you do that." The lovers giggled and laughed and hugged and laughed some more, overjoyed to have found each other again. Everything they ever wanted, they already had. They needed nothing more. They had love, and that's all that mattered.
-THE END-
And that's it!! Thank you everyone for your amazing reviews and for a being a part of this story. See you all later and God bless!! –blows kisses and mini mud cakes-