You Put the Spike in My Heart

They had walked for at least an hour before finding a 24 hour convenience store. It was no grocery store, but would work for the task at hand. Gerard noticed Bailey putting on a pair of dark sunglasses as soon as they entered.

"What are you wearing those for?"

She froze, glancing at Frank fleetingly before looking at Gerard. Now that her eyes were covered, he couldn't tell what she was trying to get through to him.

"You thought you were the only vampire on this tour?"

He shook his head and dropped the question. For the millionth time since he had met her he wondered what exactly her deal was. She surprised him suddenly when she put her arm through his, leading him and Frank to the side of the store.

"Shall we a get a cart, boys?"

She had grabbed his hand more than once and never had it ever felt like this. Whenever she had pulled him along or touched his face to do his makeup it was hesitant, making him feel like touching him was the last thing she wanted to do. Like she didn't like to be touched. This was something entirely different, like she wasn't the same person. Her arm through his was a warm gesture, confident - like an old friend.
He tried to push it from his mind, this girl made his head hurt.
When they reached the carts, Frank ripped away from Bailey causing her to almost topple forward. She caught herself by a grip to Gerard's arm as Frank grabbed a cart and went drifting away down the next aisle. Gerard looked down at Bailey's hand, her nails set deep into his flesh.

"Down kitty."

She let go of him and took off her sunglasses, eyes trained sadly where Frank had disappeared. It was so easy to read her subtle gestures sometimes, like taking off her sunglasses for instance. It was like letting her guard down. He started to wonder why when he noticed something off. She looked unusually tired, like her eyes were going to close any minute. In fact, everything about her was off. Gerard himself was in a t-shirt and felt overly warm. Bailey had a zip-up hoodie on, and he could tell by the flush of her cheeks that she wasn't cold. She wore pajama shorts and sandals...what was wrong with this picture?

"Are you feeling sick?"

"No, why?"

She turned his gaze to him and he stepped back in shock.

"What?" she asked, disgusted by his reaction.

He didn't mean to make it so apparent, but he was caught off guard when he saw her eyes. They were bloodshot and if the color of the bags under her eyes were any darker he would have guessed she had been beaten. But above all of that her pupils were so large that he could hardly see the vibrant green he remembered so well.

"Have you been sleeping okay?"

Bailey almost cursed herself for taking off her sunglasses, why had she done that anyway? As soon as Frank left she had felt comfortable enough to do so. But why? Didn't matter.

"You ask entirely too many questions." she said as she shakily put them back on her face.

"Sorry."

Bailey clenched her jaw and tried not to get angry. She had told him a week before that she was going to try and tolerate everyone's apologies.

"It's fine. Let's just find Frank before he gets us kicked out. Frankenstein!"

It was around 6:30 in the morning so only a few other people were in the store besides them. A couple people in sight turned to look at Bailey as she screamed for Frank. She heard a muffled reply that sounded like it came from the other end of the store.

"Get over here, genius!"

She glared at a particular woman who had been whispering to her husband and pointing at her. The woman grabbed her husband by the arm and shuffled away quickly, bringing a smile to Bailey's lips.
Frank was there a few moments later, gliding toward them with a full cart. Bailey put her face in her hands as soon as he got close enough for her to see what was in it. Gerard felt the need to intervene before she stormed out.

"Frank. Seriously?"

"What?"

He struggled against laughter at the honest confusion on his face.

"Go put that stuff back."

"Why?"

Bailey grabbed a hold of the cart and looked at Frank menacingly.

"Because if I wanted doritos and pixie stix I wouldn't have gone shopping!"

Frank looked down and tried to pull the cart away but Bailey clung to it, immediately regretting what she had said. He looked up at her warily and she smiled, picking up a softer tone.

"Please, Franklin? Put this stuff back and then help me get some real food. Okay?"

He nodded, turning the cart and walking away. Gerard couldn't take it anymore.

"What is wrong with you?"

He expected her to snap back but she smiled at him and grabbed another cart. She shrugged as she started down a side aisle.

"PMS?"

She wasn't going to tell him, that much was for sure. But he had a couple of nasty guesses that were aching to come out if only he could stop biting his tongue. He decided to try another route. He walked up closer to her so he could survey her reaction.

"So why don't you want to be alone with Frank?"

He thought he saw her wince but he couldn't be sure with her sunglasses on.

"I don't know what you mean."

"Come on, Bailey. I - "

He was cut short when a shrill ring came from her pocket. She pulled out her phone and answered it immediately.

"What?"

"Bailey? Where are you?"

She held the phone away from her ear and grimaced. Gerard could tell the loud voice was Bert's.

"I was kidnapped by two guys with dark hair. They've tortured me. They're making me shop. One even gave me a piggy-back ride half way to the store. Horrible I tell you."

Gerard couldn't help but chuckle at the serious tone in her voice and Bailey couldn't help but smirk in his direction.

"Yeah, I went over to their bus and they said they didn't know where Frank and Gerard were."

"Way to wake them up, Bert."

"I was worried!"

She rolled her eyes and brought her free hand to her temple.

"Bert, I'm a completely capable adult. I'm fine and I'll see you in a couple of hours."

She snapped the phone shut and shoved it into her pocket with obvious irritation. Gerard put a hand on her shoulder.

"He's your brother, he's just concerned about you. I mean, you did kinda just disappear."

She shrugged him off and started throwing some cans into the cart.

"Who asked you?"

She said it with a sad, dull tone - not enough strength behind it for it to be insulting. So why did he suddenly feel so angry?

"What is your problem? You wanted me to come along and now you're acting like a total bitch. I'm trying to be nice to you, but you're making it rather difficult for me."

She tried to keep going, ignoring the fact that he was even talking. He stepped in front of the cart, placing his hands firmly to the bars so she couldn't go anywhere. She shook her head, leaning over the cart toward him, as if she needed a sudden leverage for her come-back.

"Spare me, then. I never said you had to be nice to me."

"Why in the hell did you want me to come along so badly?"

She swung back as if struck but he couldn't tell what she was thinking.

"You're delirious."

Gerard walked away, through with the conversation. She was obviously in denial of her true thoughts and actions and he didn't need the bullshit that sprang from it. Neither did he need her constant mood swings to bring him down. He decided to stay outside until the two were done shopping, maybe smoke a few until he calmed down. He kept telling himself that all he had to do was put up with her until they got back to the buses and then he would ignore her for the rest of the tour.
Frank came around the corner as soon as Gerard was out of sight and looked at her contemptuously.

"What?"

"You know what, Bailey."

~*~

Gerard stood when he saw them come out of the store. Frank had his arm around Bailey, her sunglasses were no where to be seen and her eyes were closed. They were also red and puffy like she had been crying. She looked up at him when they got close enough and she gave him a weak, wary smile.

"Hey. Ready to go?"

Her voice was soft, gentle and barely above a whisper. His feelings toward her were again conflicted, but all anger had left him. He nodded, unsure of how to react. She nodded back and walked ahead of the boys with the cart so they could talk. Gerard started immediately, he couldn't help it anymore.

"Does she have multiple personalities or something?"

"No, dude."

Frank shook his head as he looked at her retreating form in thought. She looked back at him and nodded before walking a bit faster so she didn't have to hear.

"The anniversary of her mother's death is coming up. You're not the only person she's acting like that to. She can't help it and she feels awful. She's trying, she really is."

Gerard didn't say anything, lost in thought.

"She hasn't slept almost all week. Every time I go and see her she's wide awake, staring at the TV...but not really watching it, you know? She's cut herself off from people and hardly says a word because she doesn't want to hurt anyone."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

Gerard nodded but didn't elaborate.
He walked to catch up with Bailey and Frank did the same shortly after. Frank looked at him skeptically but Gerard didn't say a word almost the whole walk home.
About 5 minutes away from the buses, Bailey couldn't take anymore of Gerard's staring. She almost snapped at him but forced out a more civil tone as she met his gaze.

"What?"

"Isn't that Frank's hat?"

She couldn't help but laugh. It wasn't really funny, but it was completely unexpected. Frank grinned but didn't say a word.

"I'm a klepto, what can I say?"

Gerard checked his pockets and Bailey slapped him playfully. This made Gerard smile, mainly because he found he was beginning to tell the difference between her moods...like an aura about her, but it was mainly in her touch. Again, it felt warm and familiar when she hit him. Maybe this was something he could work around. Maybe...
They finally arrived back at the buses and Bailey started handing bags to the boys who stood outside the bus. Bert squealed.

"You stole us a cart!"

Frank kissed Bailey on the forehead.

"I'm going to try and get more sleep."

"'Night, Frankfurter."

Gerard watched as Bert took off in the empty cart, Jeph pushing him across the pavement towards a pole. Bailey handed one of the grocery bags to Gerard and he raised an eyebrow in question.

"Payment for coming with me..."

He looked in the bag and saw donuts and a bag of starbucks coffee. When he looked back up, her expression was a little pained.

"...and for putting up with me. Goodnight Gerard."

Before he could even think, she was back inside the bus.