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Chapter 17 - 'Under the Rose'

What the fuck do you want?" Mick asked mockingly at the men gathered around the door.

"Admittance is only with more doughnuts!"

Sid waved a box of Krispy Kremes at him and shoved past. "I bags the bed!"

Corey grumbled at him behind his back, weighed down with bags of more food.

"Gees, you buy out the supermarket or something?" Mick called to him as the singer stalked into the room.

"Nearly!" Shawn answered instead, quite cheerfully. "How's the little fucker?"

Mick smiled at him. "See for yourself."

"Hey, what happened to the thingies?" Sid asked, standing by Joey's bed. "And why isn't he awake?" He started to prod Joey's shoulder. Mick's laughter at Sid's technical terms died as he saw Sid trying to wake him. "Don't Sid! Leave him alone. He's tired."

The DJ looked up. "Sorry. But he's always asleep!"

"I know," Mick said, understanding. "But he just needs to rest."

"You wear him out already, Thomson?" Corey winked at him. Mick swallowed. That was far too close to the truth for him. "Shut up, Taylor."

"Ohhhhhhh!" Jim exclaimed, sarcastic. "I think you hit a nerve, Corey!" He winked, and Mick felt himself redden.

"Quit it, guys!" Craig said quietly. Silence descended, broken only by Chris's attempt to open the window. He nearly fell out as it finally jerked open, and fresh air rushed into the room. Mick wished he'd thought of that earlier, he could only imagine what the room smelt like. Grabbing some fresh doughnuts from the box, he took his usual position next to Joey on the bed.

"So, when did they take those whatchamacallits out?" Corey asked, mouth full of blueberry doughnut.

Mick smiled. "Last night. Much to Joey's relief."

Corey nodded, frosting falling onto his lap. "Awesome," he mumbled. "He looks better already."

"When can he leave?" Jim asked, eyebrows furrowed.

Mick shrugged. "Haven't actually asked lately. Hopefully the next couple of days, as long he stays ok."

"And what if he gets sick again?" Shawn asked quietly.

"More medicine I guess. Let's hope it doesn't happen." The conversation faded off, and they all looked at Joey on the bed. Mick laid a hand on his shoulder.

For a while, the morning passed much the same as it had the day before. They lazed around the room, munching on doughnuts and checking the net or reading magazines. Sid had a portable games console, and every now and again various loud noises would explode from it and startle everyone. After one particularly loud outbust, Shawn threatened to throw it out the window and Sid turned it off. The DJ wandered over to Joey's bed and flopped down in the vacant plastic chair. He leaned forward, resting his hands on the bed. Joey lay sleeping between them.

"You really like him, don't you?" Sid asked, so quietly none of the others heard him.
Mick nodded. "Yeah... I think it's a bit more than that though," he replied, just as quietly. Joey shifted on the bed and Mick stilled him with a soft hand. Sid watched them, fascinated. Mick caught Sid gazing at him, and smiled.

Sid blushed. "Sorry.... I just... errr..."

Mick chuckled. "Don't worry, Sid. I understand, it's probably a bit odd..."

"Not odd! Not weird, or anything. I've just never, um, had friends that were..... you know." He blushed even more.

Mick reached out with a hand to Sid's shoulder. "Sid. Seriously. It's ok!" He raised his eyebrows at the younger man, and nodded. Sid nodded back, breaking into a small smile. He opened his mouth to say something, but beneath them Joey started to squirm, waking up.

Mick forgot about the DJ and stroked Joey's face.

"Hey.... wake up, Joe.."

The small figure sighed deeply, before raising a hand to hold Mick's. His eyes blinked open, and Mick leaned down to kiss him softly. Sid could see Joey's hand tightening on Mick's as their lips met. Mick murmered something to Joey that Sid couldn't catch, and he watched as Mick helped the smaller man sit up.

"Hey Sid..." Joey said sleepily.

"Hey you. Good to see you awake." Sid hoped his voice didn't sound as odd as he thought it might.

Joey smiled as Mick fussed around him. He took the glass of water offered to him, settling back against the pillows that Mick arranged behind him. Feeling slighty awkward, Sid tried to bring the situation back down onto a plane he understood. "Doughnuts, Joey?"

The patient laughed. "How'd you know, Sid?"

The DJ shrugged. "You look like a hungry man, Joey! Blueberry, chocolate, strawberry, and errr, I dunno what these ones are, but Shawn reckons they're really good."

Joey played it safe and took a blueberry doughnut. Mick frowned at him. "That's not much of a breakfast."

"C'mon Mick, it's nice to be able to eat again," Joey said, a hand stroking Mick's arm. "A doughnut isn't going to kill me, is it?" he added, smiling.

Mick gave in and chuckled. Blueberry filling trickled out of the side of Joey's mouth and he carefully wiped it away with a finger, licking it off. "Hey, that's not bad. Chuck me one Sid."

The others came over to say good morning to Joey, perching themselves around his bed. Sid handed out the doughnuts, but only Shawn would eat the 'special' ones. Mick despaired at the copious amounts of crumbs spilling onto the bed, but knew he was powerless to do anything about it. Teaching these guys to mind their manners was about as practical as teaching an animal to live like a human. And Joey seemed happy enough, smiling and laughing with everyone. He seemed to sense that Mick wasn't so happy though, and turned to him every now and again.

Mick couldn't sense the problem, but he felt uneasy. Things should be good, with Joey getting better and everyone together again, but there was something about the scene that bothered Mick. He couldn't put his finger on it, and it was really starting to bug him. So he kept quiet, sitting in his place next to Joey.

Corey put on a DVD, and Mick sat numbly, not taking it in. Joey was leaning against him, breathing softly, giggling at the funny parts in the movie. Mick found himself counting Joey's breaths, and his world became that which only included him and Joey. It came as a surprise when Joey turned to him halfway through, wanting to get up. Joey grinned at the expression on his face.

"Wake up, you," he said playfully.

Mick smiled back at him, and helped him out of the bed. The others barely looked away from the tv screen as Mick helped Joey to the bathroom. He kept guard outside the door incase Joey needed him, but his services weren't necessary.

Joey leaned on Mick for support as he led him back to the bed, but Mick suspected it was more out of a desire for closeness than any sort of frailness. This seem to make him feel better, and at the same time increase his pyschosis. Joey clung to his hand as he climbed back on the bed, and didn't relinquish his grip as he settled back down again. Mick huddled closer to him on the bed, wanting to feel him near, pulling him against his chest.

Joey lay back happily, sighing, Mick's arms around him. He felt so comfortable, so safe.

Mick fell back into the routine of counting Joey's breaths, and knew the smaller man was falling asleep when his breathing became slow and deep. He nuzzled his head into Joey's hair, finding his neck and kissing him gently. Joey's skin was so soft, and he could feel the pulsing of veins under the surface. He just wanted to stay like this forever, holding Joey so close and protecting him.

In sleep, Joey lay his head against Mick's. His hands still clung to the arms around his waist, as if Mick was his anchor. Mick fell into a stupor, eyes pointed towards the tv but seeing something else. He didn't hear the laughter that echoed around the room when they found something funny, or the gibes that Corey and Paul threw at the screen during the so-called 'kissy parts'. Even when the movie was over and a nurse poked her head in to remind them they needed to move on, Mick needed several prods from Shawn to blink back into conciousness.

"Hmmm? What's up?" he asked confusedly, seeing the others for the first time in what seemed like hours.

"We have to go," Shawn said, smiling.

As Mick took that in, Joey started to squirm in his arms. Forgetting about the rest of the guys again, he rested a hand on Joey's forehead. "Hey, wake up...." he said quietly.

Joey stretched, arching his back. He smiled at Mick as he opened his eyes, squeezing his hand. He looked around the bed.

"You guys going already?" he asked sleepily, dismayed to see they were getting ready to leave.

"Yeah buddy.... it's nearly 4pm. You slept through most of the movie." Shawn chuckled, and leaned down to give Joey a hug, Mick shuffling back to give them room.

It was that moment that Mick felt something burn through his body. He watched with narrow eyes as Shawn let an arm linger innocently on Joey's shoulder, talking to him. Mick didn't hear what they said through the rush of blood storming his ears. He saw the others come round to hug Joey, and his addled mind picked out the way Joey leaned his head against the others' shoulders, hands around their necks, the same way he hugged Mick. He noticed how Sid smiled at Joey for longer than was surely needed, and how Jim ran a hand down Joey's back during their hug.

Unconciously he lifted a hand in farewell as they left, but he was deep within his thoughts. Joey curled up against him, head on his chest, and Mick found his arms had once again closed around the small man. They lay there for a little while, until Joey raised his head to see Mick.

"Is there something wrong, Mick?" His eyebrows were furrowed, and he looked worried.

Mick was startled that Joey had noticed. But then again, he should have guessed. "No, nothing's wrong. Go back to sleep." He closed his eyes and sighed.

Joey wasn't going to give up that easily. He sat up, wriggling in Mick's lap.

"Mick," he said, emphasising the point by laying a hand on each side of Mick's face. "What is it?" he asked, softly this time.

Mick opened his eyes as he felt the gentle hands on him. Joey was peering at him, concerned.

"Tell me."

Mick swallowed hard, and to his shame felt tears prick at his eyes. What was it about Joey that made him so damn teary? He closed his eyes tight, in an attempt to stop them escaping.

"It's you. I don't want to lose you," he said, voicing the thought that had plaguing him this afternoon.

He felt Joey shift on his lap, and those hands stop their gentle stroking.
"Mick?!" Joey said, a note of surprise in his voice.

"Look at me," he said quietly.

Mick opened his eyes slowly.

"Why do you think that you might lose me?" Joey asked.

"Because... because you're getting better, Joey. You can have anyone you want."

Joey was shocked, and it showed in his face. "And you think I'd just dump you?" he asked in disbelief.

Mick nodded slowly, unable to look at Joey. "I don't want to lose you," he whispered. He felt as though something was uncoiling and moving around inside him, disturbing his thoughts and stirring emotions that Mick didn't think he was capable of feeling.

Joey's lips were on his forehead, and he gasped and clenched at the smaller man's waist. The tears were dropping now, despite his best efforts to reign them in. Joey kissed them away, much the same as Mick had done for Joey not so long ago.

"I will never leave you..." Joey punctuated each word with a kiss. "Don't you ever think that."

With that, his lips found Mick's, and he kissed him sweetly. Mick's eyes closed and he gave in to Joey, clinging to the small body in his hands. He kissed him back desperately, reluctant to end their embrace.

And when they did slow and break apart, Joey stayed close to him.

"I love you so much. Nothing's going to change, I swear," he whispered, his mouth tantalisingly close to Mick's ear.

Mick could barely think when Joey's tongue started to tease him, swirling around his ear and making him gasp. "I love you too...." he choked out, as Joey's teeth lightly tugged at his earlobe.

To his disappointment, Joey sat up. He leaned back, smiling coyly at Mick.

The guitarist's hands, still holding Joey's waist, began to work their way up slowly. Joey gasped, arching his back as he felt Mick's fingers slide under his shirt. He quickly stripped himself of the shirt, throwing it away. Mick grinned as he took in Joey, chest heaving, still sitting on his lap. His fingers were gliding over Joey's stomach now, sending sparks straight to his cock. Joey's nipples were hard, and he brushed over them, hearing a sharp intake of breath from the other man. He rubbed them slowly with his thumbs, teasing Joey.

God, he needed him, now.

He lay Joey down carefully on the bed, hovering over him. Joey's face was flushed, and he was breathing heavily, hands roaming over Mick's body. Enticed by Joey's chest, Mick pressed his lips to his collarbone, licking and sucking at his smooth skin. Joey tasted sweet and musky at the same time; heat radiating off his skin and burning Mick's cheeks.

His tongue wet a trail down to one of Joey's nipples, and he played with it before sucking gently. Joey moaned, spreading his legs under Mick and wrapping them around his waist.

Mick could feel him hard against his own erection, and he grinded into the smaller man.
A cry from Joey was enough for Mick. He sat up, tugging off his shirt and pulling hurridly at his jeans. Pushing them down quickly, he didn't bother taking them off. Joey was watching him, hands tucked down his boxers, and Mick knew what he was doing. He pulled Joey's boxers down for a clear view, and his other hand gripped his own cock, jerking himself off in time with Joey.

"Miiiicccckkkkk... " Joey gasped, his hips bucking. He let go and gripped Mick's hands, trying to sit up.

"Baby!" Mick pushed him down again, and pulled his boxers off. Spitting in his hand, he rubbed Joey's entrance, feeling how relaxed he was. He inserted two fingers, but felt there was no point continuing to prepare. Joey was ready and waiting.

He pulled the smaller man up by the hips, barely able to contain himself. Guiding himself in, he watched Joey's face, seeing the pleasure wash over him. Propping himself up with shaky arms, Joey's legs over his shoulders, he started to thrust. Joey was moaning and whimpering, making no attempt to prevent himself being heard. Mick knew what it was like, being so aroused you just didn't care about anything else. He felt that now as he was fucking Joey, just wanting to pound him into the mattress.

He increased his pace, slamming against Joey, losing control. All the blood in his body was rushing so fast he felt faint, and the sweat dripping from his pores was leaking down his skin, slippery next to Joey's. He couldn't stop, didn't want to stop, wouldn't stop, and Joey was mewing his pleasure, holding tight to Mick. The air between them was thick with heat and lust, and Mick crossed it to clash his lips with Joey's.

They were both close, intoxicatingly caught up in their feverish love-making. Mick stroked Joey's forehead, brushing back the soaked black hair. All too quickly, he felt himself reach his peak, and stilled his movements. Joey joined him, crying out his ecstasy, his fingernails causing Mick to bleed. Moaning quietly into Joey's hair, Mick gripped a handful of blanket, his knuckles turning white.

Breathing deeply, they shuddered as their muscles eased their spasming.

"Goddddd...." Joey sighed, his hands rubbing over Mick's back. He felt satiated, warm and content, pleasure still bubbling in his veins. Mick was a comforting weight, and he missed him instantly when he rolled to lay beside Joey. His jeans tangling his legs, he pulled them up tiredly. Joey draped an arm around his neck, smiling happily. Mick looked down at him, running a finger down the side of his face. Joey closed his eyes in pleasure, and Mick leaned down to press a kiss to the corner of his mouth. Mick felt small arms gliding over his back to clasp at his neck, tangling in his hair.

"Do you still think I'm going to leave you?" Joey murmered, eyes half shut.

Mick smiled. "No. But I don't think I could stand it if you did.... it would kill me," he said, serious.

"That's not going to happen..." Joey whispered, a small hand now stroking the side of Mick's face. "Besides... I think Chris would kill me!"

They laughed quietly together, and Mick felt his heart fill with love and relief. He was stupid to think that Joey would get over him just like that.

Joey was so tempting lying there, face still flushed from sex, a quiet smile playing on his red lips. He raised his eyebrows at Mick, as if to ask what was taking him so long.

Mick didn't hesitate any longer. Eye candy was one thing, but actually getting to kiss those lips - there was only one thing on his mind. Joey tasted sweet, and of something that reminded Mick of cinnamon. He was savouring the flavours, exploring them on his tongue as he kissed the man beneath him, when there was a 'thump!' at the door and it flew open.

Mick whipped his head up, leaving a surprised looking Joey. Sid stood in the doorway, looking horrified. Mick thought it probably resembled his own expression, as he found himself rudely interrupted. Joey was still naked, and he hurridly pulled the bedsheet over the small man.

"What the fuck Sid?!" Mick spat, knowing he was probably going red. He was mortified at having Sid walk in them, but a small part of him was grateful it hadn't been 5 mins earlier.

Sid's mouth opened and closed wordlessly, as his eyes poked out on stalks at the sight on the bed.

"Sid!! Get whatever the fuck you forgot and get the fuck out of here!!" Mick roared.
That seemed to galvanise Sid into action. Practically running over to Mick's hospital bed, he rummaged around for something. Pulling out a cellphone, he held it up, as if it would explain everything. Stammering out a choked, "Sorry!", he stumbled out of the door and slammed it behind him.

Mick stared at the door. It had happened so quickly, he was still coming to terms with it. Something highly embarrassing had just occurred. Or so he thought. He became aware of a sound in the room. It was Joey, giggling madly.

"You should have seen your face Mick!!" he uttered between explosions of laughter.

Mick looked at him in bewilderment. Sid had just walked in on the two of them, cuddling naked on the bed, and Joey thought it was funny? He realised he had a way to go before being able to fully understand Joey. The smaller man was curled up, shoulders shaking, nearly crying with laughter.

Mick couldn't help it. Laughter was contagious, and he shook his head in disbelief as he found himself starting to chuckle. He wasn't sure what he was so amused about: watching Joey rolling around on the bed like he'd just drawn an evil cartoon of Shawn and taped it to his back, or that maybe having Sid walk in like that wasn't so desperately awful and he could loosen up about it. Either way, he now found himself laughing, although he wasn't very impressed about it.

"Ahhhhh....." Joey finally seemed to have been able to contain his glee, and relaxed back against the bed. "You know, that really was quite funny."

Mick shook his head for the second time in less than a minute. "Why exactly was that so funny, Joey?"

"I don't know. It's just funny."

Mick felt like hitting Joey with a pillow, but restrained himself. "You're insufferable, did you know?"

"I don't know what that word means, Mick."

Deciding that further conversation would get him nowhere, Mick just smiled. Joey gazed back, slightly confused, but Mick offered no clue.

"You're not going to tell me what 'insufferable' means, are you?" Joey asked, eyebrows narrowed. Now, he was curious.

Mick decided to give in. "It means... it means that sometimes, I wonder what makes your brain tick," he said, playing with a strand of Joey's hair.

The drummer tilted his head and pursed his lips as he thought. Mick could be odd, occasionally. "Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?" he asked, hoping that Mick didn't find him annoying.

"Good thing." Mick said it before his brain could think about it. Joey's quirks were what made him so, well, Joey-ish. Putting up with Joey being 'insufferable' was just part of the package.

Joey seemed to decide everything was ok now, and he'd quite like to get up. Kicking the white sheets off his legs, he found himself feeling unbearably dirty. He couldn't remember the last time he'd showered or had a bath. Sex hadn't helped; the sweat had dried on his skin, leaving him sticky.

"What's up babe?" Mick asked, a hand on Joey's hip.

"I want a bath, or a shower, or something. I feel gross."

Rolling his eyes at Joey's sudden leap from one thing to another, Mick followed his lead and sat up. "Want me to run a bath?"

"Hmmmm mmm. " Joey nodded. "Is there any bubble bath?"

Mick stopped in his efforts to climb off the bed, and looked back at Joey. "You want bubble bath?"

"Yeah. Why not? Bubbles are fun," Joey said, wondering what the problem was.

Mick looked slightly shocked. He shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno babe, I'll look. But I don't think so."

Joey's oddities came at the strangest times, Mick couldn't help but think as he made his way to the bathroom. Joey was how old, and he wanted bubble bath? Still, Mick had to suppress a grin. At least Joey knew what he wanted. Mick wanted a Harley and an endless supply of beer, but conceded Joey was more likely to get bubble bath. So maybe, there was a point there.

Alas, the bathroom cupboard was bereft of bubble bath. There was soap (the harsh sort, that made your skin tight and uncomfortable) and a bottle of shampoo (most likely, not Pantene). Glad they'd brought their bags with them, Mick went back into the room to find Joey-approved supplies. The supple drummer was walking around naked, and although Mick had to stop to admire the view, he wondered at his starkness. What if it wasn't one of the guys who walked in next time? What if it was his doctor, who he'd have to put up with until his discharge? How uncomfortable would that be!

Joey saw him staring. "No bubble bath?"

"No bubble bath, Joey. I'm sorry. I'll get Shawn to pick some up for you, next time though," Mick smirked.

Joey poked his tongue out, and walked over. "If you get Shawn to buy me bubble bath, I'll never hear the end of it."

"Especially if it's Barbie bubble bath," Mick said.

"Especially if it's Barbie bubble bath!"

"So you promise to behave, under threat of potential bubble bath purchases?"

Joey looked sour. "I promise!"

"Good boy," said Mick, having fun.

"Did you even run the bath yet?" Joey sulked as he wrapped his arms around Mick's waist.

"No sweetie. I was too busy looking for bubble bath."

Joey wasn't amused. What was wrong with bubble bath, anyway? Some people.....