If You're Reading This

"Critter quit it." Alex growled. "I didn't know what he was like when I wasn't around okay?"

"Don't growl at me Alex, you don't want to do that." Critter's eyes seemed colder. He had a friend like that and what he had done was horrible. Critter almost lost hos wife for it.

"Then quit trying to make me feel bad. I didn't do shit." He grumbled.

"I was not trying to make you feel bad Riley, I was trying to protect your family. I had a friend like that, he almost cost me Sarah." Critter sighed and got up, walking to the door. Alex was not in any shape to fuck with him. "I'll have them let you go in a little bit."

Alex groaned.
"Don't go please." He begged.
He couldn't take being alone again.

Critter turned around, he really needed to go see about Mike but he could stay for a moment or two more. He sat back down in the chair and took the photo album back. The child really was precious.

"Critter... you don't have to answer if it's too personal. But could you tell me what happened with that friend of yours and Sarah."

Critter sighed. "Well.....he liked me..alot and he hated that I wouldn't have him because of Sarah, my pregnant wife. And one taunting and bothering Sarah didn't work he tried to kiss me and make me want him but I couldn't have that. He got so bad, he came to my house with a gun while I wasn't there and shot her." He grit his teeth. "I lost my first child like that, but thank God it didn't kill Sarah, if I hadn't had gotten home when I did he would have though." By the time Critter finished he could feel tears welling up in his blue eyes but he would not let them fall, he had cried enough.

"Oh.. I'm so sorry." Alex said softly, hannd resting on Critter's shoulder. This was the first time he'd seen tears in his eyes. That story really made him realize how much danger he was putting Mike in.

"Its fine Alex." Critter shrugged his hand off. He was a man who never got comfort, he was always alone so he could deal with it.

"Why don't you like comfort? It's none of my buisness but you seem to be so cold. I like you, don't get me wrong but you seem to avoid getting close to people..."

"Alex, everyone I get close to dies, my little girl bless her heart is healthy but damnit, Mike is dying, Sarah is dead, Daffy is dead,my Parents were fucked up I was at war for ten to fifteen years. I might be a cold mother fucker, hell I know I am but that's better than being suicidal from all the grief. I quit letting people close. And I never got comfort, Sarah and Mike tried but I couldn't have that." Critter got up and walked to the door. "Ill tell them to let you go."

Alex sighed.
"I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry Critter."

"Im fine and you have no reason to be sorry." Critter sighed, he hadn't meant to snap.

"I'm sorry for asking. It's not my buisness." Alex said.

Critter shrugged, "I don't care. I had no problem telling you. If i didn't want to I wouldn't have." Critter left and soon a nurse was in, looking frightened as she scurried to let Alex go.

"Thank you." Alex said blankly. He ran to Mike's room.

Mike lay lifelessly in the bed waiting. He was missing his husband so much. He didn't like being alone.

"Mikey are you alright darlin?" Alex said worriedly, immediately at Mike's side.

Mike looked up at him. "Lost the baby...." He murmured weakly, playing with the golden band on his finger.

"I know sweety. I know." Alex sighed, eyes watering all over again.

"It was.....beautiful though." Mike sighed. Critter and him had a long talk earlier so Mike was no longer upset about Chris, Critter was taking care of it.

"It was." Alex sighed. "She looked so much like her mother."

"She had your eyes.....your nose..." Mike felt tears well up in his eyes. "I missed you..."

"I missed you too baby. I guess this means you're not mad anymore."