The Bar.
"Fck you!"
Fiona shoved Jimmy away, stumbled back two steps, cursed him with a vicious expression, and practically sprinted toward the exit.
Jimmy was bewildered. He didn't understand what just happened. He hesitated for a second, then decided not to chase her. He just watched her leave.
Just then, Estefania trotted up to Jimmy in her high heels—click-clack-click-clack—looking just as confused. "Jimmy?"
Jimmy heard her and looked at Estefania with glazed eyes. He snapped out of it and gave a faint smile. "Go have fun."
Estefania didn't love Jimmy, and she certainly didn't care who he fooled around with. Hearing this, she smiled and nodded. "Let's go dance."
Jimmy and Estefania rged back into the gyrating crowd.
Estefania twisted her waist, having a blast.
Jimmy's brain, however, was completely out of his control. It was filled to the brim with Fiona. It was as if that kiss had awakened sothing buried deep inside.
Fiona was in the exact sa boat.
Her mind was in chaos. Even after leaving the bar, she kept walking fast, almost running, unable to stop.
After a long ti.
Calming down slightly, Fiona looked back blankly at the bar, which was already out of sight. She smiled bitterly, slowed her pace, and silently walked toward the L train station.
anwhile, mories of her ti with Jimmy flooded her mind.
She loved Jimmy...
In fact, Jimmy was the only man Fiona had ever loved.
The other hundred-plus guys were just fck buddies. It wasn't about love.
Ti flew by.
Fiona thought a lot.
Did she still love Jimmy?
Fiona didn't know.
Probably.
---
Around 10:00 PM.
Outside the Gallagher backyard, hidden in the darkness on the side, a black rcedes sat quietly.
Mickey sat in the car, cigarette dangling from his lips, silently watching the Gallagher house.
During the day, Mickey had beaten around the bush and asked Carl a few tis, fishing for news about Ian. He knew Ian was still at ho.
Right now.
Even though he couldn't see Ian, Mickey was imagining him, piecing together Ian's image in his mind.
Without realizing it, Mickey fell asleep.
Soti later, everything around him was pitch black. It was deep into the night.
Mickey groggily heard so noises and opened his eyes.
Monts later.
Ian, who had quietly slipped out of the Gallagher house and was walking toward the backyard, appeared in Mickey's line of sight.
At first glance.
Mickey perked up instantly. Then, thinking he was dreaming, he blinked hard. Once fully awake and realizing this was real—not a dream—he quickly checked the ti.
It was 1:30 AM.
"What the fck!" Mickey couldn't figure out why Ian would be sneaking out alone this late. He decided to get out and ask.
Mickey moved fast, hopping out of the car and walking briskly toward Ian.
Ian heard the car door open, then saw Mickey. He paused slightly, then looked away, pretending he didn't see him, and kept walking fast.
"Ian!" Mickey got anxious and jogged over.
Ian ignored him.
Frustrated and worried, Mickey sped up, rushed to Ian's side, and grabbed his arm. "It's late. What are you doing?"
"None of your business!" Ian replied coldly, yanking his arm away and continuing to walk.
"Jesus." Seeing Ian up close like this, Mickey was even more worried.
The truth was:
In his entire life, Mickey had never worried about anyone this much.
Mickey quickly caught up. "How about we talk?"
Ian didn't stop, didn't even look at Mickey. "We have nothing to talk about. You and I are done."
Hearing those words.
Thud.
Mickey froze, forced to stop. He felt his heart clench tight. It hurt. It hurt like hell.
That pain showed instantly on his face.
Mickey looked genuinely heartbroken.
Ian kept walking, not looking back.
Mickey watched Ian with sad eyes. As Ian walked further away, Mickey suddenly rembered all the weird sht bipolar people do. He suspected Ian was having an episode. After all, wandering around outside at this hour wasn't normal...
If he was having an episode, then the words he just said shouldn't be taken too seriously...
Mickey, who was actually a die-hard romantic just like Mandy, saw hope. He moved imdiately, chasing after him.
"Ian, I heard from Carl that you're sick. Don't go. Just go back ho first," Mickey said, dropping his usual tough-guy act and speaking softly.
"I'm not sick. I'm normal," Ian replied, still not looking at Mickey.
By now, Mickey could clearly see that sothing was wrong with Ian. He thought for a mont. "Okay, you're not sick... So where are you going? I'll go with you."
"I'm going to find God," Ian replied very seriously.
Mickey heard this and just stood there dumbfounded: "????"
Fck!
Is bipolar disorder really this scary?
Reading about it online was one thing. Experiencing it firsthand was another.
In this mont, Mickey felt that bipolar disorder was way more terrifying than he had imagined.
Then.
Since he was sure Ian was having an episode, Mickey rembered what the internet said: don't agitate the patient, or they might freak out...
"Where is God?" Mickey used his limited brainpower and decided that in this situation, it was better to play along.
"I don't know. That's why I have to find him," Ian responded.
Mickey: "..."
Damn, that actually makes sense!
"Then I'll help you look," Mickey said, not knowing what else to do.
"Whatever," Ian didn't care.
So the two of them walked together.
Mickey lit a cigarette, smoking as he walked, secretly observing Ian.
To be honest, Mickey had no clue how to handle this. He wanted help. First, he thought of Dexter, then Fiona...
Thinking it over, Mickey felt Fiona was probably the better choice. After all, she was Ian's sister and knew him best.
Decision made, Mickey wanted to call Fiona imdiately. But... Ian was right there. If Ian knew he was calling Fiona, it probably wouldn't go well.
Weighing his options, Mickey chose to wait for an opportunity.
About half an hour later.
The opportunity ca.
While Ian stood in front of a church, eyes closed, head tilted back as if trying to sense God's presence, Mickey—who was worried sick—stepped aside and dialed Fiona's number.
---
The Gallagher House.
You dream about what you think about.
Fiona was dreaming.
Jimmy was in the dream, and they were fcking.
As a sex addict who hadn't gotten any in a few days, Fiona missed the feeling. She was twisting around in bed, thoroughly enjoying herself.
Just as she was enjoying it.
Bzzzt, bzzzt, bzzzt...
Her phone started vibrating, and it wouldn't stop.
Finally, Fiona was jolted awake.
Dream ruined, Fiona was pissed. She glared at the unknown number on the screen, answered it, and roared angrily, "Jesus Christ! Do you know what ti it is?"
"I don't know!" Mickey was anxious and annoyed that it took several tries to get through. He wasn't about to pamper Fiona and snapped right back. Then, not giving her a chance to speak, he got straight to the point. "This is Mickey. Ian is at [XX] Church looking for God. I think he's having an episode. Get your ass over here!"
Hearing those words clearly.
Boom!
Fiona's brain exploded. She was instantly wide awake. She jumped out of bed like she'd been electrocuted and rushed to Ian's room.
It wasn't far; she was there in a second.
And the fact that Ian's bed was empty was staring her right in the face.
Fiona couldn't accept it. Her mind exploded again.
Mickey couldn't wait. "Is he there?"
"He's..." Fiona answered purely on instinct. "I'm coming."
Mickey didn't waste words. He hung up, frowned at Ian—who was still communing with God—breathed a sigh of relief, and lit a cigarette.
Fiona was practically soulless. She stood there clutching her phone, staring at Ian's empty bed for a mont before her rationality returned.
Monts later.
The lights flipped on, and a soundly sleeping Lip was shaken awake by Fiona.
Fiona didn't dare waste ti. She quickly explained the situation to Lip.
Lip listened, completely bewildered. "????"
"At this hour? Mickey is with Ian?" Lip blinked, a thought crossing his mind that seed almost inconceivable.
Fiona had actually thought of it too, but she didn't care right now. "That's not the point!"
Lip couldn't help but chuckle as he looked at Fiona. "Do you know what's going on with Ian?"
"Gay? I'm not an idiot. I figured that out ages ago!" Fiona snapped.
Lip chuckled again. "I really didn't expect Mickey to be gay... Anyway, let's focus. Calm down. Ian has bipolar disorder. We've seen Monica have episodes plenty of tis. This isn't unusual."
"Do you want to co with you?"
Lip's words helped. Fiona, who currently had zero capacity to make decisions in a crisis, needed to hear that. She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down a little.
"No, I'll go myself. Your leg is bad," Fiona said.
Lip hesitated. "At this hour, it might not be safe for you to go alone. I'll co with you. A little delay won't matter. We'll take the van."
It was the middle of the night, and this was the South Side.
God knows what could happen out there.
Fiona thought for a second and nodded.
Lip started to move. "Go put so clothes on. You planning to go out in your underwear?"
Fiona only then realized she was just in her bra and panties.
Funny thing.
At ho, Fiona never paid attention to what she wore. She often ran around in her underwear in front of Lip, Ian, Carl, and the others without thinking it was an issue...
Did Lip's life getting ruined by won have anything to do with Fiona's behavior in this regard? Who knows?
---
Ten minutes later.
Fiona and Lip left the house.
Fiona drove Lip's van, speeding toward the church Mickey ntioned.
Mickey and Ian weren't at the church entrance anymore; they were walking down the street.
Naturally, Mickey was furious that Fiona still hadn't arrived.
Fck!
It's such a short distance, and she's still not here!
What the fck is she doing?
Mickey was anxious as hell.
Luckily, they were walking, and Fiona was driving...
About ten minutes later.
Fiona and Lip spotted Mickey and Ian walking in the distance.
Shortly after.
The van pulled up beside them. Fiona and Lip scrambled out and rushed to Ian.
Seeing Fiona and Lip, Ian was startled. Then, realizing what happened, he glared at Mickey furiously. "You called them? What the fck!!"
Mickey didn't talk back. His expression was unnatural; he couldn't even look at Fiona and Lip.
Mickey wasn't stupid. Before he decided to call Fiona, he guessed that doing so might out him as gay to them... But for Ian's sake, he did it anyway.
However...
Doing it didn't an he could face it calmly.
Fiona and Lip both glanced at Mickey.
Lip didn't have any strong negative feelings toward Mickey... mostly because they barely interacted.
Fiona was different.
Before tonight, Fiona had always looked down on Milkoviches like Mickey and Mandy.
Now, guessing the relationship between Mickey and Ian, Fiona's opinion shifted slightly—but only slightly. Overall, she still looked down on him.
Fiona quickly looked away and turned to Ian. "Ian, let's go ho..."
Ian glared at Mickey for a few more seconds before answering Fiona seriously, "I still have things to do. I know what you guys are thinking. I'm not having an episode. I'm normal..."
Lip stepped in to persuade him.
In the dead of night, on a dirty street.
The three Gallaghers talked for a long ti.
Finally, Ian surrendered. He glared at Mickey one last ti, then got into the van.
Seeing this.
"Thanks. Get in, we'll drive you back," Lip said to Mickey.
Mickey hesitated for a mont, then shook his head. "No thanks. I'll walk. If... if there's any update, let know."
Lip exhaled a puff of smoke. Even though he still found the idea of Mickey being gay completely mind-blowing, he nodded. "Okay."
Fiona said nothing. No thank you, no nothing.
Soon.
The van drove away.
Mickey plopped down on the curb. His eyes turned red instantly, filling with mist.
---
The Gallagher House.
After settling Ian in and watching him fall asleep.
Fiona and Lip moved to the back porch steps.
In another two hours or so, the sun would be up.
The sky already had a faint hint of light.
The siblings each lit a cigarette and smoked silently for a mont.
"We can't watch him 24/7. He needs to see a doctor. He needs ds," Fiona said heavily, blowing out smoke.
"Force him to go?" Lip asked.
Fiona felt helpless. "I don't want to do that, but if we don't, what else can we do?"
Lip looked up at the sky and was silent for a while. "The Gallaghers... it's always sothing. It never ends."
Fiona smiled bitterly, speechless.
"I'll have a serious talk with him tomorrow. He listens to more. I'll try to make a deal with him. If that doesn't work, then we force him to see a doctor," Lip said. "You stay out of it. Don't say anything to him."
Fiona raised an eyebrow, turned to Lip, and asked, confused, "Why?"
Because you're a control freak. You like telling people what to do and what not to do.
"Because you play the role of the parent. No kid likes listening to their parents," Lip didn't tell the truth, opting for a different explanation.
Fiona wasn't exactly sharp; she accepted the explanation. "Okay."
They didn't say much more. They finished their cigarettes and went back inside.
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