Chipped Black Nail Polish

Disclaimer: I don't own them...and, I never thought I'd use them in my stories, but *gulps* the lyrics work. *dies*
Song is property of...Outkast...*dies again*

Chipped Black Nail Polish
Part Eight: I’ll Fix You

You're all I've ever wanted
But I'm terrifed of you

"Was it him?" I ask. Gerard shakes his head, but I know he's lying. "I should probably go." I move to get up, but he grabs my wrist softly.

"You don't have to do whatever he wants. He's twenty-three; he can take care of himself."

I force a laugh, a bitter laugh. "We both know he--" My voice cracks and suddenly I'm clinging to Gerard's shirt, sobbing. I feel his arms come up, one rubbing my back and the other stroking my hair. It's been so long since someone's held me, touched me like this.

"It's going to be okay." he whispers, kissing the top of my head. "Whatever it is, we'll fix it."

That just makes me cry harder. It can't be fixed. The pieces have all faded to dust.

Gerard kneels in front of my chair, both of my hands in his. I feel like I'm five years old. "He hurts you?"

I shake my head stubbornly. I don't care how much you've hurt me, I won't let them take you away. You're all I've got. If you leave me, I'll break. Shatter like glass.

"Please don't lie to me." Gerard says softly.

"I-I can't tell." I whisper, sobbing harder. Now he knows. And they'll come take you away and I won't have anyone.

"Frankie, the only way you can help him is if you tell."

"They'll take him away."

"They can help him get better." I look at him, my tears quieting. He nods. "They can find out what's wrong, why he did this. They can fix it, make it so he doesn't hurt you anymore."

"Promise?"

"Yes. I promise." Gerard says.

I nod. If they can help you, then it's for a good reason right? I mean, you’re not you when you do those things. I can tell. And you’re getting better. Maybe they can just make it happen quicker. I know you still love me. I just want things to go back to the way they were before.

But . . . if I tell them . . . they’ll never look at us the same way again. They’ll always wonder. And I don’t want that. I know you’re still you somewhere.

“I-I can’t.”

“Frankie.” Gerard kisses both my hands. “There are two ways to do this. There’s a way that will be easier for you and there’s a way that will be harder for you. The same thing goes with Mikey.”

“W-What are the ways?”

Gerard’s voice is soft and so are his eyes. His thumbs rub across the back of my hands. “Either you tell me what’s happening or I call the police.”

“No!” I try to stand up, but he pulls me back down. “I won’t. You can’t. It’s not fair!”

“What he’s doing to you isn’t fair, Frankie. And it’s not right. He’s hitting you and he’s probably raping you and God knows what else.” He’s got tears in his eyes. “I’m so sorry I didn’t do this sooner.”

“I won’t tell.” I whisper. “You don’t understand. He’s getting better. He doesn’t know what he’s doing. He still loves me!”

Gerard hugs me again. “He can go to a hospital. They can help him there and he won’t hurt you anymore.”

“B-But he’s your brother. You wouldn’t do that.” It’s a weak argument.

“I want him to get help just like you do. I don’t want him to hurt you anymore.” Gerard pulls away slightly and wipes at my eyes and my cheeks. “Please, please let us do this the easy way. If we do it the hard way . . . well, it’s your choice.”

I know what he was going to say. I’m not stupid. He was going to say you might go to jail.

“I-I’ll tell you.” I whisper, my eyes closed.

He kisses my forehead. “Let’s start at the beginning.”

---

Hehehe! Don’t you love a cliffhanger?