Mark wandered the cold, dark streets of Alphabet City. He had not been down here since he started living with Jaric and he couldn't figure out why his feet and lead him to his old neighborhood.

But perhaps it was best. He couldn't face Jaric. Mark was racked with guilt, sinking deeper into the depression that plagued him since the day he had received the letter from his doctor.

Perhaps he deserved to die. He felt as if he did. After everything, he just wanted to give up. He wanted to stop everything; the treatments, the pills, and just spend the rest of his days home...if he still had a home after what he had done.

Snow began to fall and Mark shivered, coughing. It was much to cold for his frail body, but he didn't care. Perhaps the cold would take his last breath and no one would have to suffer him anymore...

Mark stumbled into the apartment, dazed. He slipped off his shoes and dumped his coat on the floor. He made his way to the living room, landing face first on the couch. He felt like more crap then he did when he left.

He curled up on the couch, sniffling. His stomach was swimmy as what his head. Mark laid there, shivering. He was cold as usual. His clothes were baggy on him now and it made him look even smaller and pathetic then he was.

He would have normally have called for Jaric, but he was just so tired. Maybe a nap would be good...

Mark came into the apartment, a bag of ice cream in his hand. "Honey, I'm home." He takes his coat off and dumps it in an unceremonial heap on the floor as he did every night. It was always hung up in the morning. Coat fairys.

He heads into the kitchen, getting out two bowls and the ice cream toppings Mark had been keeping in stock. "I'm in the kitchen and I got ice cream! I need to talk to you." He doled out the ice cream, putting the toppings Jaric liked on his.

Mark knocked on the door. It was kind of silly really, seeing as he'd been basically living with Jaric for almost a month. He had a dozen roses and had rented a car for the night. He figured just driving would be easier than catching a cab.

He adjusted his scarf and waited for Jaric to open the door.

Mark rubbed his eyes as he came out of Jaric's bathroom. He was tired, having spent most of the day before with Jaric down in the shop. He scratched the back of his head and walked into the kitchen like a zombie and made a b-line for the coffee pot. By now Jaric had figured out Mark wasn't coherent until he had a cup of coffee.

He leaned against the counter and sipped his coffee. He was shirtless, not having bothered to wear a shirt to bed anymore. He eyed the fridge, wondering if breakfast was on the menu for today.

Mark looked down at the scrap of paper with Jaric's address on it. He sighed and wiped the tears from his eyes. He tires in vain to fix his hair so he doesn't look like he's spent the last two days hiding in his room and crying.

He goes to the door and rings the doorbell, waiting nervously.