Word Count:2323
Title: Loving Care
Disclaimer: I did not create the RENT characters, they belong to Jonathan Larson. After April was asleep Mark knocked on the door to the room Roger and April shared.
"Roger, it's me"
"No shit captain Duh"
"Can we talk?"
"I think that's what we're doing"
"Roger, we need to talk face to face"
"April's sleeping"
"So we can talk on the fire escape"
Roger sighed
"Okay"
They walked in silence to the fire escape
"Roger she was high"
"Mark when they have a 'duh' contest you'll so win"
"This isn't a joke. She was high. She did something wrong"
"Again thanks for stating the obvious"
"Roger, she shouldn't have gotten high"
"That's true"
"Roger, don't you think she should be punished for-"
"For what," Roger asked a little annoyed, "for being played for a sap. Greig is the only one that should be punished"
"Yes but she made a choice. She didn't have to sniff"
"She didn't know what it was. He just said it was something that would make her feel better"
"Come on Roger. She's not stupid"
"You don't have to be stupid not to know what smack is"
"She should know what a smack is"
"Mark don't even think about it!"
"Calm down Rog. I'm not talking about anything big"
"Mark, she's been through so much already and it's the day of her mother's funeral"
"I understand but if you give them an inch they'll take a mile. If you give them a mile they'll take a yard"
"Mark, April's not Christine's age. She's been sheltered all her life and she made a mistake"
"She's one of my best friends I don't want to see her hurt"
Roger calmed down a little
"I know Mark. I don't want to see her get hurt either but she promised me she wouldn't do it again"
"How do you know she'll keep the promise"
"Um... maybe because she had a major hangover. Punishment enough I'd say"
Mark sighed.
"Look Rog the day will come when-"
"Mark, don't you think I know that"
"You know it up here," Mark said pointing to his head, "but do you know it in here" He put his hand on his heart.
Collins came outside.
"What are you guys talking about"
"About your perfect timing," Mark answered sarcastically then laughed.
"So," he added, "when is our girl coming"
"Our girl?"
"Christine?"
"Oh," Collins smiled, "she'll be here tomorrow"
"I can't wait to meet her," April said coming out
"Hey look who's up sleepyhead," Roger said pulling her in for a kiss
"I'll tell you she's going to love you"
"I haven't met her and I love her already"
Collin's smiled.
"Do you plan to adopt her," Roger asked
"Does a bear shit in the woods," Collins responded, "is the sun in the sky? Does a baby come out of his or her mother"
"I'll take that as a yes," April said laughing
"Hey Collins," Roger said, "I want you to know something... but I think it's best expressed in my song if you'll give it a listen"
"I love your songs Roger," Collins said
"Can I hear it too"
"Of course," Roger said before Mark could respond. Then he began. His eyes were on April the whole time
So no one told you
life was gonna be this way
Your job's a joke
You're broke
You're love life's d.o.a (with a glance at Mark who rolled his eyes)
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day,
your week, your month or even your year
But
I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
Cause you're there for me too
You're still in bed at ten
And work begins at eight
You burned your breakfast so far
Things are going great
Your mother warned you there'd be days like these
But she didn't tell you when the world
has brought you down to your knees...
That
I'll be there for you When the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
Cause you're there for me too
No one could ever know me
No one could ever see me
Seems you're the only one who knows
What it's like to be me
Someone to face the day with
Make it through all the rest with
Someone I'll always laugh with
Even at my worst I'm best with you, yeah
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day,
your week, your month or even your year
I'll be there for you
When the rain starts to pour
I'll be there for you
Like I've been there before
I'll be there for you
Cause you're there for me too
At the end Roger pulled April into a romantic, gentle and passionite kiss.
***
Mark woke up first the next day. Collins woke up soon after. He was in the kitchen fixing breakfast when Mark came in.
"Hey Col, can I talk to you. I promise I won't annoy you"
"Mark," Collins said gently, "You don't annoy me. So what's on your mind, besides what we talked about last week"
Mark threw Collins a pitiful look.
"Well a couple of things are on my mind," he said, "where should I begin"
"Well the beginning is always a good place to start"
"Okay. To start with I'm worried about April."
Mark filled Collins in on what happened.
"I can understand why you would be concerned about that," Collins reflected with a thoughtful nod.
"I mean she should know-"
"Mark let me interrupt you for just a minute. There is no such thing as should have could have and would have. If you should have and you could have you would have"
"Great advise"
"Thanks"
"Now you should follow it"
"Don't you think I want to," Collins intoned, "it's not that easy."
"Nothing worth while is easy," Mark retorted with a thoughtful reflection.
"I mean, I don't even know if I'd succeed or not"
"Okay may I interrupt you for a minute"
"Of course"
"You didn't know if you would succeed in adopting Christine but you went for it anyway"
"That's true but-"
"You can't lose what you don't have"
"That's true also but Mark it's-"
"Not that easy I know. Look I'm going to the hospital to see Sara. I'll be back later"
Sara was Mark's girlfriend. She has been going out with Mark for 18 months and was diagnosed recently with bone cancer. Collins was not only a professor. He also had a medical degree and he knew that short of major intervention the case was hopeless. One year maybe less, the doctors told Mark.
"Hey Mark," Collins called out as he was leaving
"Yeah"
"Remember the tape"
Roger had recorded a song for Sara... written by Mark.
Ten minutes later he was in the hospital.
"Hey baby"
"Hey"
Sara was laying back on a mophine drip. So she wasn't feeling any pain.
"How do you feel"
"As good as I can for a dying girl"
"You're going to get better," Mark sobbed not believing it himself. He was one determined young man but he knew in his mind that some things can't be changed.
Sara nodded, not believing it.
"Can I play something for you," he asked
She nodded.
He put on the tape and the music played.
Starlight and wonder
The universe seen through your eyes
The moon is a glorious halo
Hanging high over your head every night
Spinning and spinning
A flick of the wrist and a smile
And in the morning so early
Deep conversations are spoken
In tongues by sunlight
Tonight, you can dream you're a star
You can walk on the clouds
And float to the ground
And I'm with you
We stare out the window
And look to the sky every night
The stars are the beacons of heaven
And maybe one day you'll go up for a ride
Oh, you are the sunshine
You are your mother's religion
Down on her knees as she
Kisses your heartache away
Tonight, you can dream you're a star
You can walk on the clouds
And float to the ground
And I'm with you
Tonight, you can get very far
The calm and the storm
Are forever yours
And I'm with you
I've thrown coins in the fountain
I've been to the mountain
I've lived through the violence
I've seen what man can do to man
But I promise to be the best man I can
Hold on to something
Cause your life's about to begin
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oho, ooh
Aah, hey, aah, oho, oh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Whoa hoah, oh
Oh oh, oh, oh
Oho, oho, oho, aah
Tonight, you can dream you're a star
You can walk on the clouds
And float to the ground
And I'm with you
Tonight, you can dream you're a star
You can walk on the clouds
And float to the ground
And I'm with you
When the song was done Sara fell asleep in Mark's arms. Fifteen minutes later a gentle hand on his shoulder ceased his crying
"Mark, she's just sleeping," Collins who had just came in said.
"I know that," Mark replied, "but every time she closes her eyes I'm terrified she won't open them again"
Collins sighed inwardly and pulled his friend into a hug.
"Who's watching Christine"
"April's got her," he said
***
April had taken Christina to the mall. There was a puppet show going on there. She thought Christina would love that. She was right. Christina loved it.
"April"
"Yeah sweetie"
"Thanks for taking me to see this. I had so much fun"
"Christine, I had a lot of fun too. You're like the little sister I never had but always wished I did"
"So does that mean you love me?"
"I love you with rainbow sprinkles," April said making the little girl giggle. That was a line in the puppet show.
After the puppet show April took her and got her a bunch of things she would need and want.
They had lunch afterwards and headed back. It was only a short walk to the apartment, but on the way back they passed a park.
"Wow, this looks like so much fun."
"Sweetie haven't you ever gone to a park before"
Christine shook her head.
"Well it's time to change that"
Meanwhile back at the building, Roger and Collins were talking
"Hey Col, have you seen April"
"Many times"
"Colins I'm serious"
Collins laughed.
"She's with Christine."
Roger sighed.
"What's wrong"
"I just wish she would have told me"
"You were asleep"
"I know. I understand that... but she could have left a note. I'm going to have to talk to her about this"
"I told her I'd tell you," Collins said, "and I forgot. So if anyone is responsible it's me"
Roger smiled.
"I'm still going to talk to her about it. I'm just going to let her know that I was worried and I want her to let me know from now on. After all, I can't expect her to do it if she doesn't know I want her to do it"
Collins nodded.
"So what's the story with Christine?"
Collins sighed and began.
"Her mother died when she was born. Her father couldn't handle it. At first he just ignored her. He thought of her as a nuisance. Soon when she began to demand his attention he started hitting her. Like when she was two and accidentally broke a statue he slapped her across the face. It got worse and worse as she got older."
"Oh my GOD. Poor kid. That reminds me of a song I wrote one time"
"Oh, what's it called"
"It's called Concrete Angel"
"Concrete Angel huh? Can I hear it?"
"Sure"
Roger picked up his guitar and started to play.
She walks to school with the lunch she packed
Nobody knows what she's holdin' back
Wearin' the same dress she wore yesterday
She hides the bruises with linen and lace
The teacher wonders but she doesn't ask
It's hard to see the pain behind the mask
Bearing the burden of a secret storm
Sometimes she wishes she was never born
Through the wind and the rain
She stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings
And she flies to a place where she's loved
Concrete angel
Somebody cries in the middle of the night
The neighbor hear but they turn out the light
A fragile soul caught in the hands of fate
When morning comes it'll be too late
Through the wind and the rain
She stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings
And she flies to a place where she's loved
Concrete angel
A statue stands in a shaded place
An angel girl with an upturned face
A name is written on a polished rock
A broken heart that the world forgot
Through the wind and the rain
She stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings
And she flies to a place where she's loved
Concrete angel
Just then the phone rang
"SPEAK!"
"Hey Rog, it's me," April's voice came from the answering machine, "I took Christine to see a puppet show and-"
"Hello?"
"Hey Rog, did you get my note?"
"No, you left a note?"
"Yeah...I left it on the kitchen table"
Roger sighed inwardly.
"Mark must have thrown it out before he left. Thank's for calling sweetie. I love you"
"I love you. We're in the park now. Want to join us"
"I'm there"
He hung up.
"Bye Col," he said and left to go to the park.
TBC….
