Disclaimer: not mine.

Collins sat in the hospital’s plastic chair, a phone next to him. His head was in his hands, and he was not blinking.

Hands trembling, he dialed Roger and Mark’s number. One ring. Two. Three--They were screening their calls. Bastards.

Speak.

For a moment, he could not speak, just concentrated on not sobbing. Taking a shaky breath, he pressed the phone even tighter to his mouth.

“Guys… I-I…. Angel…. Angel… Fuck. Angel died.” Collins begins to close his eyes. “Last night. I know…” He closed his eyes tighter as the tears flowed faster. “You all have your shit to deal with…” A sob. “…Just please, man. It’s… I can’t…”

He struggles to gain control.

“…I love you guys okay? Okay? It’s gonna be alright… It’s gonna be ok… ” (he was saying this to himself now, quietly, quietly as ever through his tears.) “Love you man. Alright. I-I… I gotta call Maureen. Call me, okay? Love you. Bye.”

Collins lets himself go for a moment before remembering to hang up. His head is pounding so hard it’s hard to think again. He faintly dials Maureen’s number; gets the machine again.

“Maureen… Angel’s… left. G-gone. Call me back, ok? I-I love you, sweetie. Stay safe, okay? Don’t get fucked up in this disease like me an’… and just be careful, okay? I love you too much to think about you…. Having… Just… Call me back, okay? When you get the time? Thanks.” Collins hung up, eyes shut tightly together though the tears kept flowing.

Joanne, Mimi… and Benny. Would Benny even care? Collins’ brain shut down again. Who wouldn’t care? The best person to ever happen to Collins just died. Everyone should care.

Joanne picks up; As if she’d miss a call.

“Joanne Jefferson’s residence.” It’s Joanne, sure enough. A shell of Joanne, anyway.

“Jo! Oh god, Jo… “ He couldn’t finish. Damned tears.

“Hello? Maureen?”

“Collins. It’s Collins,” He chokes out. “Joanne, she’s gone.”

Joanne is silent. Collins is crying.

“Oh-Oh my god. You’re serious? No. Oh my lord. Oh my god. No. Oh, baby, I’m so sorry.” She already knew it; Her surprise is sadly faked.

Collins is shaking his head even though she can’t see. “I-I’ll be alright. Jus-Just c-calling to tell you.”

“Oh, Collins…” Now Joanne starts to cry.

“I miss her already,” He chokes out. “Why’d this have to happen? Fuckin’ AIDS. Fucking… Fucking… “ He breaks down again. “Fucking everything!”

“Hold on, baby, let me come down there, ok? Where are you?” Joanne said gently, though he could tell she was crying too. Collins tried to breathe normally again.

“H-hospital.”

“I’ll be there in three minutes.”

“Jo?”

Silence.

“Thank you.”

“Love you, Collins.”

“Love you so much, Jo.”