"Okay guys... are we almost done setting up camp? It's getting pretty late!"

Gerard Way stood with his hands on his hips, surveying the group of boys who were both his best friends and band mates. They all looked up at him, giving him annoyed looks.

"Well Gerard," said Mikey, irritated, "You're so full of it! What have you done to contribute to the work, huh?"

Gerard gave his little brother a smug look. "Well, I set up the tent we're sleeping in. So I'm done!"

Ray and Bob looked behind Gerard skeptically. "You call that a tent?" Ray said, raising an eyebrow.

Gerard looked behind himself. A tarp was pinned to a tree's, the so-called tent blowing uselessly in the wind. Gerard shrugged. "You guys should be proud of me," Gerard said, beaming. "That's more work than I usually do in a month!"

Mikey rolled his eyes and continued to attempting to build a fire. Bob and Ray looked at each other, exchanged expressions, then went back to unloading the band's Suburban.

The band had decided to get away from the city by driving all the way from New Jersey to Soap Lake, which was located in Washington. The secluded area was perfect for fishing, hiking, and getting some fresh air. They all needed a place other than a crowded city for some alone time, and they had decided to rent out a private area near the lake.

Gerard looked around again. "Hey guys," Gerard said, "Where's Frankie? Is he still out getting some fire wood?"

Bob, Mikey and Ray looked at each other simultaneously, exchanging nervous glances. Finally, Mikey turned to his brother and said, "Uh, yeah he is Gerard. He's over by the... uh, lake collecting some."

Gerard gave his brother a fake smile. "Oh is he?" Gerard said sarcastically. "Okay first, I sent him out over an hour ago to get wood; second of all, there is no wood by a lake, Mikey. Now don't make me ask again: Where is little Frankie?"

Mikey sighed, and walked over to his brother. He whispered in Gerard's ear, "He's hiding over there, alright?" Mikey pointed to a group of trees, where a shadow fell on the ground coming from behind a tree. "You shouldn't force him to go out in the woods all by himself. You know he's afraid of spiders, snakes, and-"

Gerard threw his arms up in the air. "Is he really going to be a baby!? Man he is so useless!" Gerard said, frustrated and annoyed.

Mikey frowned at him. "You know Frankie is the baby in our group! He was abused when he was a child, so you can't blame him for being so afraid of so many things!" Mikey replied sternly.

"Well, he needs to get over his fears! He's safe now, gosh!" Gerard said, marching over to Frankie's hiding spot. The other band mates looked at each other anxiously, afraid of what Gerard would do.

Frankie jumped when Gerard popped up. "Gerard!" Frankie exclaimed. "I, um can explain-"

"Explain my ASS," Gerard muttered, as he roughly grabbed Frankie's wrist and started pulling him into the forest with him. Frankie tried to resist and pull away, but it was no use. Gerard was too strong.

When they seemed well deep into the forest, Gerard spun around and grabbed on to both of Frankie's wrists tightly, forcing Frankie to look into Gerard's eyes. Gerard's smoldering gaze pierced into Frankie's eyes, making him wince.

"Frankie, you've GOT to get over the past and move on already!" Gerard said angrily. "You're safe with us, so you've got nothing to fear!"

Frankie looked away from Gerard's gaze, ashamed. "I know, but…" Frankie started. "It's just hard to move on, you know. You can't just forgive and forget-"

"Well you have to!" Gerard yelled. "You're bringing everyone down for Pete's sake! Gosh I wish sometimes you would get over it already! It's no big deal!"

Frankie yanked his arms away from Gerard. He angrily retorted, "No big deal!? Really!? Yeah, getting beat by a belt and being stabbed multiple times is definitely something that's forgotten over time!"

Gerard furiously shouted, "No one can baby you anymore Frankie! Grow up already for God's sake!"

Frankie screamed at Gerard, "And why don't YOU quit being such a bossy, prissy little bitch!? We're you're friends, not your servants you twit!"

Gerard screamed, "PRISSY!? REALLY!? YOU PATHETIC LITTLE BASTARD!!"

Frankie screamed in Gerard's face, "BOSSY, INCONSIDERATE JACKASS!!!"

Gerard then lost control. He raised his right hand, and smacked it across Frankie's face. A loud slap rang out in the forest, and a thump resounded against the ground. Gerard stood there, panting with rage, while Frankie was on the floor of the forest, looking away.

Gerard realized what he had done. He stared, wide-eyed at Frankie. "Frankie… I-"Gerard started to say, but Frankie got up and looked at Gerard with tears in his eyes. "You MONSTER. I… I… I hate you!" Frankie said, and then started to sprint into the forest, covering his eyes with his arm.

At first, Gerard stood there, dumbfounded and ashamed. Then, he snapped back into reality, and screamed, "FRANKIE!!! WAIT, I'M SORRY!!!" and started to sprint his way toward the guitarist's path.

Gerard kept chasing Frankie deeper and deeper into the forest, begging him to stop. Frankie kept saying, "Leave me alone! Go away!"

Finally, Frankie slowed to a stop to catch his breath. Gerard caught up to him. Frankie looked at Gerard with an icy glare. "You just won't quit, will you?" he said.

Gerard looked at him guiltily. "I-I just lost control, alright? Please Frankie, I'm sorry."

"Don't talk to me," Frankie said quietly, turning his back toward Gerard. "Camp is that way. I'm going back now."

Gerard looked at Frankie uneasily. "Uh, you're heading in the wrong direction, I think," he said. "I thought camp was back there."

They both looked at each other uncertainly. Instantly, they felt around in their pockets for anything to use: a cell phone, a compass, but found nothing. Frankie sighed and rolled his eyes. "Great, of all the people to be lost with and it ends up being YOU."

Gerard quietly said, "We're lost. And it's dark."

Sure enough, a dim glow was just disappearing over the west side of the horizon. Frankie crossed his arms, annoyed. "I'm going this way," he said, starting to walk off toward the horizon. "I think camp's this way."

"But we came running from over here," Gerard said, pointing behind himself. "Let's try this way first."

Rolling his eyes, Frankie followed Gerard, quietly sulking. They picked their way through ferns and bushes, occasionally tripping and getting scratched by the branches. After a few minutes, the sunlight's glow faded away, and it became a cold, eerie night.

The silence was creepy and tormenting. Gerard felt bad about what he had done to piss off Frankie, and very uncomfortable neither one of them was speaking. Gerard cleared his throat, which was loud against the silence. He said, "Frankie, I really am sorry. I shouldn't have done that, it was wrong."

"What else is new?" Frankie quietly muttered, his breath steaming up in the cold air.

Gerard turned around to look at Frankie. "Look, I'm trying to apologize, ok? So why don't you get over yourself and forgive me already?"   

"Look Gerard," Frankie said, "An apology isn't enough. You always think you're doing the right thing, but really you're making things much more complicated than they need to be."

Gerard said angrily, "I'm not trying to complicate things; it just ends up that way!"

Frankie shook his head. "You never get it, do you?" he muttered.

"Never get what!?" Gerard said, glaring at him.

"Never mind it," Frankie said, waving a hand at him. "Let's keep going. The sooner we get back to camp, the sooner I can get away from you."

Frankie started to lead the way, trying to find a visible path toward their camp site. It was a little hard to see things clearly, but the moon glow made things better. Soon, after thirty minutes, Gerard said, "Hey, I think we've been here before…"

"What do you mean?" Frankie said, looking at him bewildered. "We've been traveling straight! How could have we started going in circles already!?"

Gerard pointed to a huge oak tree. "I think I've seen that tree before! I swear I have!"

Frankie said, "You probably saw it back there and thought it was the same tree. I'm sure it isn't."

Gerard kept arguing. "I swear we are going in circles! No joke! Why don't you believe me, huh?"

Frankie sighed. "It's not that I don't believe you, I'm trying to reassure you. We are not going in circles, alright?"

Gerard said, "We ARE going in circles, can't you see that?"

Frankie shot him a nasty glare. "Hey, isn't it funny how all our conversations end up like arguments!? Why is that, you say? BECAUSE YOU START THEM FOR FUCK'S SAKE!" Frankie yelled at him.

"I'm just trying to get us back to camp! Why are you so defensive all the time?" Gerard said.

"Oh GOD you're so dense!" Frankie said, irritated. "Gosh I wish you would get over yourself already! The world doesn't revolve around you only!"

"EXCUSE ME!?" Gerard yelled into Frankie's face.

"Yeah, that's right. Stupid, selfish brat," Frankie said, getting tensed up for a fight. He clenched his fists and waited for Gerard to hit him.

Before any punches could be thrown, a sudden rustling broke out from bushes near by. Both the band members hesitated, and looked at the bushes. The bushes moved again, only this time more violently. The two boys looked at each other, concerned.

Suddenly, a huge, dark figure lumbered out of the bushes on all fours. It grunted and sniffed. When it was out of the bushes and advancing toward the two boys, it was very clear that the creature was a grizzly bear. And it was hungry.

Both the boys stared at the creature, wide eyed and very still. The bear started to get closer and closer, sniffing in their direction. It growled menacingly.

All the anger and frustration had quickly melted into terror. The boys had fear pumping through their blood, adrenaline racing through their hearts. Neither one dared to take a single breath. They stood frozen like statues, wishing the bear would leave.

Frankie very carefully slid his gaze toward Gerard. Gerard looked back at him, and slowly brought a shaking finger to his lips. Frankie barely made a nod and brought his gaze back to the hungry monster.

The bear took two more steps toward them, sniffing and occasionally grunting. It growled under its breath. Then, it took another step, and the bear was now an arm's length away from the boys.

The bear froze. It didn't make a single movement. Frankie started to quietly tremble.

Suddenly, the huge, hairy beast rose to its feet, roaring loudly and bearing its teeth. Its arms came out high, showing sharp, dagger-like claws.

Gerard reacted instantly. Grabbing Frankie's wrist, he yanked the guitarist out of his trance and screamed, "FRANKIE!!! RUN FOR IT!!!!"

They both broke into a sprint, running away from the bear that charged its way toward them. Gerard's legs were longer and had more muscle; therefore he could run faster than Frankie. Gerard pulled Frankie along, clinging dearly to his wrist tightly.

Gerard didn't dare let up his speed one bit. The adrenaline drove him to his limits, making him fly down the forest at a pretty impressive speed. Frankie was barely making it, trying not to trip over himself.

They were starting to outrun the beast, and it was starting to slow down. The monster was now ten feet away and still slowing. Gerard ran faster, trying to finally run away from the hungry bear.

Suddenly, when it seemed the two boys were out running the beast, Gerard felt Frankie's wrist yanked out of his grasp. Gerard skidded to a halt and whirled around. Frankie had fallen down. "FRANKIE!!! QUICKLY, GET UP!!!!" Gerard shrieked.

Frankie tried to, but suddenly he cried out in pain and fell back down, clutching his left ankle. "I-I can't stand up!" he screamed.  "I-I think my ankle is broken! My foot got hooked on that tree root!"

The bear saw its chance, and started charging headlong toward the terrified boys. It roared loudly, advancing closer and closer.

Gerard panicked. He tried to help Frankie up, but he kept falling down in pain. The bear was getting closer and closer with each passing second, it's mouth open, bearing its sharp teeth.

Suddenly, Gerard let go of Frankie. Frankie fell to the ground on his butt, staring in disbelief at him. Gerard ran away into the forest, leaving Frankie to fend for himself. "GERARD!!! NO DON'T LEAVE ME HERE!!!" He shrilled.

But Gerard was gone. Frankie started crying, and turned around to see the monster, standing on its hind legs with its arms in the air. It roared at him, walking closer and closer. Frankie closed his eyes and sobbed. It's all over, he thought to himself.

Suddenly, he heard a loud thump, and the bear cried out it pain. Frankie opened his eyes, and saw Gerard standing in front of him, trying to fight off the bear.

"GET LOST YOU STUPID, UGLY THING!" He yelled angrily, throwing a large rock at the bear's head. The bear shrank away, roaring furiously. "LEAVE US ALONE!!!" Gerard screamed, walking toward the hairy bear and throwing more rocks. The bear kept backing away.

The bear, feeling trapped and enraged, suddenly swiped a large claw at Gerard. The claw made contact with Gerard's shoulder, and Gerard screamed out in pain, clutching his shoulder. The bear stood again, this time a crazed savage of rage. It started to walk toward them again.

Gerard fell down, yelling out in pain and gripping his shoulder. Crimson blood slowly started to drip down his arm and all over his hand. Gerard looked behind at Frankie, who stared wide-eyed at him. Gerard looked at him sadly. "I'm sorry, I wasn't strong enough," he said quietly.

Suddenly, Frankie started to drag himself over to a nearby fallen branch. He took the branch in his hand and held it like a club. He was trying to ignore the excruciating pain in his ankle, as he got up and started to thrust the branch toward the bear.

"FRANKIE!! DON'T, YOU'LL GET HURT!" Gerard yelled.

Frankie ignored him.

Frankie now stood in front of Gerard, trying to defend him. Frankie wildly swung the branch at the bear, trying to scare it off. The bear instantly started backing off, its roars quieting to little growls. "GO AWAY!!!" Frankie screamed, brandishing the branch toward the bear. It backed away more, shrinking down in fear.

Finally, Frankie hit the bear with the branch. "I SAID TO GET LOST!!!" Frankie screamed at the bear. The bear cried out in pain, and instantly started to run away from the boys, whimpering and crying.

Frankie stood there, watching the bear vanish into the night. He threw the branch on the ground. Finally, the pained and exhausted guitarist fell to the ground, gripping his ankle tightly.

"Frankie…" Gerard whispered.

"What?" Frankie said, annoyed.

Gerard rose to his feet. He extended a hand toward him. "Here, I'll carry you on my back," he said.

"But your shoulder…" Frankie said quietly.

"I think I'll be fine, as long as there's not too much weight on my arm," Gerard said, and he helped Frankie on to his back.

"Are you sure about this?" Frankie said, his hot breath in Gerard's ear.

"You're pretty light. I'll be fine, it doesn't hurt that much," Gerard said. And he started off down the path again, carrying Frankie on his back.

"Thank you for saving our lives," Gerard said. "We'd probably have been mauled if you hadn't done that quick thinking."

"I just didn't feel like dying today," Frankie said, giggling.

They both became quiet after that. Gerard trudged along the path, trying to ignore the pain in his shoulder. Frankie's head started to nod, for Gerard's heat was making him sleepy.

Gerard whispered, "You can sleep if you want, Frankie."

Frankie slowly let his head fall on to Gerard's left shoulder and closed his eyes. "Thank you," he whispered.

"I'm sorry," Frankie said quietly.

"For what?" Gerard asked him.

"For being useless," Frankie replied. "I'm always so afraid of everything, always scared I might get hurt. I try to do things on my own, but flashes of the past haunt me every time I pick up something sharp, or look at a strap of leather. Everyone, especially Mikey, always has to take care of me, and I feel bad that I make them do my work."

"I'm pathetic, useless, and pretty much nothing. Sometimes I hate myself, because I'm always making everyone's life harder," Frankie said, trying not to cry. "Now YOU are working for me. I can't even carry myself when I'm hurt."

"No, Frankie." Gerard said. "You're injured. It's not your fault you can't walk with a broken ankle. Don't be so hard on yourself."

Gerard sighed and continued. "Frankie, you're not useless. In fact, I think you're a pretty hard working guy. Sure, you can't cook or go alone into the woods, but you can do other cool things. Like that bear back there. You had enough guts to grab a branch and stand on your own to fight off a bear, with a broken ankle. I thought that was very brave of you."

Frankie, barely awake, said, "I guess you're right."

Gerard said, "Hey Frankie, I know you want to sleep, but there's something I need to tell you."

"Let it rip," he said, raising his head.

"I'm the one who should be apologizing," Gerard said, ashamed. "The way I act is just fucking horrible. I do think I'm always right, and use everyone to do my work for me. I'm such a bitch."

"I also never thought much about you," Gerard went on. "I never thought twice about how your past could affect you today. I thought it was no big deal, but obviously it was for you. You suffered through a lot of shit, and I thought it was nothing."

"I'm sorry for all my crap," Gerard said silently. "But I'm different than I was before we got lost."

Frankie didn't respond.

"Frankie?" Gerard said.

"I heard what you said," Frankie replied sleepily. "And thank you. I forgive you, and I bet the rest of the band will, too."

Gerard smiled, and let Frankie fall asleep.

Gerard traveled the uncharted woods for what seemed like hours, as the moon rose higher and higher into the sky. Gerard looked helplessly around, trying to find any proof of anyone nearby to help them.

He felt the blood from his shoulder pour down his arm, staining Frankie's jacket and leg. He began to grow a little dizzy and light headed, but he tried to stay focused and not give up. They needed help.

Finally, Gerard couldn't take it anymore. He carefully leaned Frankie against a tree, and sat next to him, clenching his teeth and gripping his shoulder, trying to stop the pain.

Frankie woke up, and saw Gerard. "Gerard…" Frankie said, rubbing his eyes. "I think I need to see…"

"No… I'm- SHIT!" Gerard screamed, the pain getting worse and worse.

Frankie gingerly took off Gerard's sweatshirt, and ripped the sleeve off his shirt to see his shoulder.

"Holy shit…" Frankie said, wide eyed and mouth hanging open. Three large gashes ripped Gerard's shoulder, the cuts horizontally open. Blood gushed out, and meat and muscle were greatly torn apart. Frankie put a hand over his mouth, seeing the heavy damage Gerard had taken.

"I'm fine-"Gerard began to say, but Frankie cut him off short. "No, you are NOT," he replied sternly. "Holy FUCK this is horrible! That bear totally ripped you apart!"

Taking Gerard's sweatshirt, he tied it to Gerard's wound, putting pressure on it to stop the bleeding. "There," Frankie said happily, patting his shoulder.

Gerard blushed and said, "Um… thank you Frankie. For taking care of me."

Frankie smiled at him. "No problem," Frankie said.

Gerard sighed and closed his eyes. "I can't carry you anymore, Frankie," Gerard said.

"It's alright," Frankie said. "You need some rest. We've been out here for five hours, and it's around midnight, so you're pretty fucking tired. Sleep, okay?"

Gerard smiled. "Okay," he said, and instantly fell deep asleep. Frankie relaxed too and slept as well.

Oddly, a few moments after they fell asleep, deep in Gerard's mind he could hear voices. Familiar voices. They were shouting his name. "Gerard!" they repeated over and over, the voices echoing in his mind. They also called for Frankie. Gerard couldn't sleep very well, for the voices got louder and louder. He moaned. "What do you want?" he said quietly, annoyed by the voices calling out.

Suddenly, a loud voice broke out, clear and strong. "GUYS!!! I FOUND THEM!!!" The familiar voice shrieked, as footsteps started running toward them. Gerard and Frankie woke up, and rubbed their eyes sleepily. When their vision cleared, they saw Ray, Bob and Mikey running toward them happily.

"Yay!!! We're rescued!!!" Frankie cried out happily. Gerard sighed with relief.

"Holy shit, what happened to you two!?" Mikey said, as he saw the blood stains on their clothes.

"Nice to see you guys, too," Gerard replied.

"No really, what happened!?" Mikey asked.

"Eh, long story. We'll explain everything when we get back," Frankie said.

"But I gotta know, who's the injured one?" Mikey said.

"Both of us," Gerard said. "Frankie has a broken ankle, and I got three deep cuts in my shoulder."

"YOU HAVE WHAT IN YOUR SHOULDER!?" Mikey shrilled, as he ran over to investigate the damage done to Gerard.

"He's gonna be okay," Frankie said, waving a hand at him. "He just carried me for two hours straight, so he'll be fine. Speaking of that, Ray can you carry me on your back? I can't walk."

"Sure Frankie, no problem," Ray replied, as he hoisted Frankie on to his shoulders easily.

So the boys walked back to their camp, which wasn't very far from where Gerard and Frankie had stopped to rest. Both Gerard and Frankie talked about their adventure lost in the woods, describing in detail about every single event. Gerard told the band what he had told Frankie earlier, and they happily forgave him.

When they all quickly got into the car and drove to the hospital, where Frankie was put in a cast and Gerard got 21 stitches, 7 in each gash. They prescribed medicine to both of the patients, and the band finally got to go back to camp. All tired as fuck, they left the hospital at 4 in the morning, and returned to the campsite around 4:45.

Now each of them lay snuggled in their sleeping bags, all fast asleep after the long night.

All except one.

Despite the long night and medication he was on, Frankie couldn't sleep. He was cold, shivering in his sleeping bag. He lay there, hugging himself and chattering his teeth, trying to gain some warmth.

Gerard, asleep, suddenly woke up because a sharp pain erupted in his shoulder. He quietly winced at the pain, grinding his teeth. While he lay there, gripping his shoulder, he suddenly felt small trembling next to him. He turned, and saw the cold, restless Frankie, shivering.

"Frankie, are you cold?" Gerard whispered to him.

"Y-Y-Yeah," Frankie said, turning to look at him.

Gerard unzipped his sleeping bag, and patted the extra room he had in there. "Here, you can sleep with me. You'll be warmer," Gerard said.

Frankie scooted his sleeping bag up to Gerard's, unzipped his, and snuggled close to him. Suddenly, Frankie wrapped his cold arms around Gerard, making him jump at the cold hands. Frankie dug his nose deep into Gerard's chest, making Gerard blush wildly.

"Thank you," Frankie whispered.

"F-For what?" Gerard stammered.

"For trying to save me, for carrying me on your back when I was hurt," Frankie said, a smile on his lips.

"For caring about me." He looked up at Gerard with cute puppy dog eyes.

Gerard was surprised at first, but he slowly relaxed and wrapped his arms around Frankie, too. "You're welcome," Gerard whispered. So they fell asleep in each other's arms. Warm and happy, and finally safe.