He didn't sleep much, and the little sleep he got was haunted. Early in the morning, Michael wheeled back up to the House, and slipped through the front door. He quickly pulled off the cycling shoes he wore all the time, so he wouldn't clack through the halls, and pushed his bike to his room, setting his shoes and all the rest of his stuff on his bed. Then, he padded off down the hall. It was early, the sun not even up yet, but Michael had something to do.

He walked through the quiet house, until he got to Cole's room. He lightly ran his hand over the door, wincing as he remembered the slamming, the yelling. Softly, Michael tapped on the battered door.

"Cole? I know you're upset. I'm sorry, more than I can even say. Can we talk, please?"

Whether Cole was awake, or even alone, Michael didn't know. All he knew was he badly hurt someone he cared about, and he desperately wanted to make it right.

Seeing the tears made Michael feel even worse. The last thing he ever wanted to see was what was in the doorway, Cole hurting like he was. He rest his head on the doorframe, closing his eyes for a moment, then he looked at Cole, his dark brown eyes filled with sorrow.

"I don't want to take him from you. I'm living that, I don't want anyone else to feel that." His hands went through his hair. "What you asked me yesterday, what I said, I meant it. But it doesn't matter now."

He bit his lip, and turned his eyes down to the floor. "I'm going to be honest, Cole. What you two have, I miss it. And I'm not even talkin' about the sex. What I told Dirk came out all wrong. And I'm sorry."

He was afraid it was all coming out wrong again, and he waited for the yelling.

Great. This just went from bad to worse. Of course Dirk would be there, duh. Well, better to get all this out now.

"I said the kiss confused me, hell, it's still confusing me. As for the other thing, I was being honest, you know, like I'm supposed to be." Again his hands went through his hair. "So that was a joke, asking if I liked guys, huh? All the teasing, that was all a joke too. Let's get the pitiful fucker all worked up and confused, yeah, I see it all now."

He turned away, the fire flickering in his eyes. "And how the hell did I mix you up?"

The more Mike spoke, the more Dirk wanted to go through that door and just pound him through the floor. After spending all of that time trying to help out this guy, putting up with the poor pitiful me bull shit, trying to get him out of his self induced depression, he has the nerve to say that it was all a joke to Dirk? And to question Cole's motive after going on about how much he liked the kiss from Cole? For Mike to say this was a joke to Cole, that Cole would deliberately hurt or harm another, it was simply ridiculous. Dirk wanted nothing more than to beat the shit out of Mike.

But then Cole spoke up. Not in a scream, but a whisper. And Mike could consider himself a lucky man. Cole's words calmed Dirk tremendously and he slides his hands from Cole's shoulders to the middle of his chest where they clasp together. Leaning forward, he rests his chin on top of Cole's auburn head.

Hazels rested on Mike. He just wanted Mike to go away. Nobody would ever come between he and Cole, ever again, and he hoped to God that Mike would quit trying. Cole was Dirk's world, his life. Too many times he'd taken for granted the love Cole had. He wasn't going to make the same mistakes all over again.

Mike had pretty much shattered what friendship there was between them. No longer would he be there for Mike to cry to when the demons of the past beset upon him. No more trying to help him exorcise those demons. No more brotherly hugs, no more advice, no more trying to lift his spirits. If all Dirk gets out of trying to help a brother out is nothing but a bunch of accusations, then what is the point of helping?

He kisses the top of Cole's head, and his stare for Mike is still stony. "I don't give a shit what he wants. He can go to hell for all I care." he growls low. With a shake of his head, he turns Cole loose. Walking over to the bed, he lays down. God help Mike if more trash spews from his mouth. If Dirk has to get out of the bed, it won't be good.

Cole held Dirk's hands tightly to his own chest when Dirk put his hands there, but olive greens never wavered from Micheal. He hated to see anyone in pain, no matter who the person is, what they have done, he can't stand to see someone else hurting. And if he thought that Cole had been the cause of it? Well that right there can tear this little boys heart to shreds.

A turn of his head as Dirk talks then walks off to the bed, then he turns his olive greens back to Micheal and he watches every little movement carefully. Not two years ago, he was just like this. He starved for attention and did whatever it took to get it, even coming between Gage and Dirk to have it. He fully admits that he took Dirk from Gage, and how fair would it be for anyone else to come and do the same to him? He shakes his head at this thought and puts his hand on the door frame next to Micheal as he moves just a bit closer to him.

"It's okay Micheal. It's okay to want affection and for someone to care about you, I really do understand. I've had things happen where I thought nobody could possibly love me after it. But, if you stop looking, it comes to you. Love always finds you." He whispers and reaches out that same hand that was on the door frame and places it on Micheal's arm.

And after so long Cole finally says something that only he, Dirk and Gage had known, of course he wouldn't get into vivid detail about what exactly what was done to him, imagination is good enough for that. "One time I had some very bad men, do something awful to me. And I thought that Dirk would never want to touch me again after that, I thought that nobody could love me, that I was dirt. That I was even less then dirt, but he did, he loved me and he took care of me. And someday you will find someone just like that." His voice continues as just a whisper.

"I love you Micheal, you're my brother. But if you ever touch Dirk again, I'll have to twist your nose, or..Mmm, twist a nipple." He smiles. "Okay?"

Out of the bed he came. To the door in record time, he goes past Cole and towers over Michael. "You know, I was only trying to help you and all you do is cause trouble. I don't know who you think you are, but the pity party does not work on me. As far as I'm concerned, you don't get another chance to even look at me, Michael."

He glared down at him, his eyes turbulent and his lips a thin white line. Poking Mike in the chest he lays it out. "You come near me or Cole again, you'll be crying out of the other side of your face. You stay away from us, is that clear?"

Of course, he wanted to do so much more than poke him, but for Cole's sake he just turns his back. "Then leave." he looks to Cole and gently touches his face. "We were fine before you came and we'll be fine when you're gone." he smiles a bit, his gaze gentle for Cole.

Then he turns and looks back at Mike. "You are in no position to tell me what to do. I'm not going to lower myself to strike you." with a smirk.

Back into the bedroom he goes.

He had been pacing in the room. Just wanting the door to be closed so they can get over this crap and move on. His hands running through his hair, he is getting more and more angry as the moments pass.

Once more to the door he goes. "What was going on was Mike here telling me how he has had feelings for me since he came back. Now whether you choose to believe that or not, that's up to you. I am sick and tired of his poor pitiful me bullshit. You want to play into that and be an enabler, that's fine. Don't count me in.'

He turns and looks at Michael. "What happened to my friend who didn't take shit from anybody? Does he fucking exist anymore? Because I've not seen hide nor hair of him in years."

Brushing past Mike, he heads down the hall and outside. It's time to take a run to calm down.

He heard Cole calling out for him and he stops at the front door of the house. His hand on the knob, he looks down at the knob, then back to Cole. "Listen, Cole, I'm sorry that I snapped like that. But that's not how Mike was when he left. Since he's been back he's been nothing but a whiney ass punk. We've all had bad things happen to us. And we all deal with it together. But he pushes me away everytime I've tried to help. And then when I'm not trying to help, he tells me he has feelings for me? What the hell is that? The man just needs to get a fucking grip." he sighs and shakes his head.

Hand comes off of the door knob and he turns to look at Cole, those fresh tears, he knew caused by himself. "I'm sorry, Cole." he whispers and walks up to him, placing his hands on Cole's shoulders.

When Mike blew by them, he didn't even think to try to stop him. Instead, he watched him go. Shaking his head, his mouth goes to a set white line, once more. He thought about how Mike had been before he left for San Francisco and he wondered where that person was.

Walking to the front door, he grabs it with one hand and pushing against the door frame with another. Leaning forward he yells out at the top of his lungs, "Good bye to bad rubbish!" leaning back, he slams the door. He's breathing heavily and shaking with anger.

He avoids eye contact with everybody as he makes his way towards the room he shared with Cole. Stepping inside, he slams that door too.