Not So Pleasant Surprises (2/?)

Chapter 2

By the time Frank returned with his drink, Gerard had managed to move his back up against the wall, still in the floor.  Mikey and Ray had made their way to the ailing man.

“Do we need to get a doctor?”  Ray asked, with his arm propped against the wall above Gerard.

“Nah, I must be getting a bug or something.  I haven’t felt 100% in a couple of weeks.”  Gerard explained.

“Well we need to get you out of the hallway.”  Frank said with concern.

“Yeah, yeah just give me a minute.” Gerard said taking the drink out of Frank’s hand.

He swallowed the familiar fizzy liquid, hoping it wouldn’t turn his stomach.  After finishing the contents of the cup, he let out a large sigh and looked up.  He saw Mikey, Ray and Frank staring at him.

“Good grief!”  Mikey started, “You better slow down or you are going to puke that up!” 

“I’m feeling a bit better now.  The smell of all that different food mixed together was noxious.”  Gerard said with a scowl, pressing his lips together in disgust.

He stood up slowly.  “Ok I’m good.”  He tried to assure them as he chucked the empty paper cup into a near by garbage.

For the next few hours, he went about his business as he would at any other show.  After his nauseous incident he had returned to his trailer to lay down for a bit.  He still hadn’t felt like eating much.  All he wanted to do was swill soda.  It made his stomach feel better.

Then it was time for the show. 

“Hey you!  You feeling better? Haven’t seen much of ya,” Frank said as Gerard joined them behind the stage.

“Oh yeah I’m fine, I’m fine.”  He repeated trying to convince himself more than anyone.

Everyone started their ritual jumping jacks and high fives.  Gerard sat this one out.  Everyone just sort of looked at each other, all thinking the same thing.  Gerard had never missed a backstage ritual much less sitting one out.  No one said a word.  They took their places on stage.

The show was going as all others had, they only had two songs left. 

So far so good, Gerard thought to himself.

He started the first verse of 'House of Wolves' and saw Frank making his way over too him.  The crowd roared even louder.  He closed his eyes and opened his mouth to sing only to feel fingers being shoved in it and grinding on his thigh.  His eyes popped open as the taste of metal filled his mouth.  He heaved and his stomach churned.  Frank saw the look on his face and immediately removed his fingers and backed away.

Gerard couldn’t sing anymore.  He couldn’t deal… it was coming up.  All five soda’s worth.  He tried to swallow it back down to no avail.  There it was.  The crowd almost fell silent as they watched the mess splatter everywhere.

He jogged off stage and hurled the remainder of his gut all over the backstage floor.   The guys just kept playing the song hoping to see him come out once again.  Minutes later he returned and finished the little bit of song left.

He apologized to the crowd and told them he hadn’t been feeling great.  Gerard finished the last song and exited the stage immediately.  He didn’t stop.  He went straight to his trailer and threw himself on the couch. 

“God I feel like I am dying.”  He said to himself.

“Not dying, just sick,” Frank said as he walked up the skinny steps.

“Humph.”  Is all Gerard could say, as he lay with his arm over his face, remaining as still has he possibly could be.

“I am so sorry I had no idea that would make you puke.  I wouldn’t have done it if I thought…”  Frank said as he dampened a wash cloth in the small sink in the back.

“That’s ok.”  Gerard interrupted with an almost whisper.

“Raise up a bit.”  Frank instructed as he slid his hand beneath Gerard’s head.

Gerard slowly eased upwards as Frank slipped behind him on the small couch.  He laid his head in Franks lap turning on his side facing him.

“Frankie, I don’t know what the hell my problem is.  I have felt so bad lately.”  Gerard said muffled by Frank’s shirt.

“What hotel are we staying at?  I need to get there soon and lay down in an actual bed.”  Gerard said rolling onto his back again.

“I don’t know, but all the cars are waiting for us.  We can go whenever we want.”  Frank assured him as he swiped at Gerard’s forehead with the cloth.

“Ok let’s go then.”  Gerard said jumping up from the couch.  He started cramming things in his bag with a sudden onset of speed.

“Umm ok, I have to get my stuff.”  Frank said hurriedly stepping out the door, and then he paused.  “Are you going to be ok until I get back?” 

“Yeah, yeah, just hurry up.”  Gerard said never looking up, still shoving things in his bag haphazardly.

In the car, Gerard propped his head against the seat with his eyes closed.  Frank just stared at him.

Luckily, it was a rather short ride to the hotel.  As the car stopped, Gerard threw open his eyes, threw open the door and hit the ground running.  Frank stopped, stared, and then hopped out of the car.  The driver helped him retrieve their bags from the trunk.  From the bushes near by he could hear Gerard heaving and heaving.  He pursed his lips together.

“Sorry, I’ll take his bags too.”  Frank told the driver handing him a wad of cash from his pocket.

He struggled as he dragged both bags behind him.  He came up behind Gerard, who was still heaving in the bushes.  Gerard turned around wiping his mouth, his face pale.

“Oh dear god, I have nothing in me left to vomit!”  Gerard said taking the larger rolling case from Frank.

Frank just shook his head and followed behind him

The shorter man slid the key card in the door. Gerard stood there beside him with a vacant look on his face, saying nothing.  Gerard entered, leaving his suitcase near the door.  He flopped down on the bed.

“That’s it.  As much as I hate doctors I need one.”  Gerard huffs. 

Franks eyes stretched wide.  This is a first he thinks to himself.  “You want me to call Brian and get him to send one round?” he asks.

“No, I’m just going to wait until we get back to Newark tomorrow evening.”  Gerard stated.

“Get some sleep.”  Frank says sitting by him on the bed.  He leans down and kisses him on the forehead.