_The jigsaw puzzle of the mind_

______Billy freezes. They are too far away to see, but what they just heard speaks volumes. He doesn't understand, though, or he doesn't want to understand. He takes one more shaky step but someone holds him by the wrist. The boy pulls him away.

"Let's get out of here!"

Billy frowns. His breathing quickens, fuck, this is it, what he tried to remember in vain is right there. With a sharp, violent jerk, he pushes the boy who falls backwards.

"You have nothing to do here! Leave me alone, get out of here, this is none of your business."

Wally rushes to the boy on the ground, frightened. Billy turns away, walking without hesitation toward the carousel with a confident step.

"My family, Bill...my wife, my little girl, my boy..."

Billy stops short, turning to Frank, shaking with rage. There are so many emotions running through him that he can't even tell them apart. He grits his teeth, his eyes sharp, wide.

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"You don't remember. You don't remember what you did."

"What we just heard..." Billy takes a step toward Frank. "Frank, what we just heard!" Frank doesn't falter, his gaze cold and neutral. He knows what he did to him, he knows why he did it. "WHY?!"

"You let them die."

"No... no, I would never..."

Billy and Frank move closer to each other, each grabbing the other by the collar. Billy is still shaking with rage while Frank remains calm but tough.

"You're not who you think you are."

"You're not who I thought you were!"

"You were part of my family...and you destroyed everything for...money and fame."

Frank pushes Billy away violently and he backs away despite himself.

"Then you should have killed me. But not... THIS! The Punisher? What right do you have, Frank? There's... there's no honor in what you did to me! Look at us, stuck in my smashed head... by YOUR fault!"

Wally steps closer, trying to calm Billy down.

"Mr. Russo, we don't have time..."

No sooner does the doctor finish his sentence than Billy is already back on top of Frank, his fist in his jaw. Frank takes the blow, responding with a more violent one. The men throw themselves on each other, grabbing, punching and dodging. But Billy is already injured and too shaken up to really be in any shape to fight properly. He stumbles, falling backwards, Frank with him. Billy is on the ground, the Punisher on top of him, his fist raised towards his jaw. Suddenly, the ground unravels, all around the two men, rocks, trees, and soil are ripped out of the air before disappearing. Frank looks around frantically, not understanding, until his gaze falls on Billy staring back at him. He's the one. He's the one doing this. He's taken control. Frank frowns.

"I want to know."

Billy closes his eyes letting a tear slide down his cheek.

Frank stays over Billy, clutching his collar, when suddenly, all around him, scenes flash by, like a time-lapse movie. Frank's eyes try to follow but it's as if the tape is scratched, as if everything is not in the right order. He distinguishes some things though, Billy, Anvil, Rawlins, him. He hears Billy's voice making a deal with the devil, William Rawlins. Billy seems to have fallen into the trap and ventures into crime with the simple and only excuse that he deserves better. And then, the descent into hell, Billy loses his family, and he can't do anything about it. He doesn't have the courage to lose more, to lose everything he had left. Frank didn't suspect this but he feels some of what he felt, suddenly he feels Russo's emotions, an intense wave runs through him, guilt, sadness, depression. He was angry at himself, so angry. Yet, he convinced himself that this was all he had left to do, continue now that it was too late. And finally, Madani whom he used but did not want to hurt and finally Frank. Frank who he thought was dead and then, Frank that he accepted that he would not forgive him because he is not able to forgive himself. He did what he does best, he played for the best to win. And the best man won. But Frank couldn't kill him. He hears Billy's weak voice asking him to kill him and finally he sees the bloody skull of his bulletproof vest. Black.

Only the breaths of the two men echo.

The wind brushes Frank's face again. They are back where they were, but maybe they never left. Frank spots Wally a little further away, looking at him. He doesn't seem to have seen what he saw. Billy's hand grips Frank's wrist, his eyes automatically falling back on him.

"Why didn't you kill me?" Billy's voice is not filled with anger, his tone is no longer angry, just... hurt. "I shouldn't have... but neither should you." Frank doesn't know what to say to that. He doesn't know how he should feel anymore, if he should still hate him. Billy has always been Billy and now he understands him a little better.

"You... remember?"

The question isn't really a question, the answer being obvious.

Billy's eyes alternate between Frank's right and left eyes, teeth clenched, his hand firm on his wrist before he finally releases it, looking away.

"Why are you on me? Get off of me."

"You're the one who started the fight."

"Yeah well, I'm the one who ended it too!"

Frank complies, letting go of Billy's collar before standing up. He doesn't reach out to him to help him do the same but Billy doesn't want to. Billy struggles to his feet, a fact that is not lost on Castle. Is it the injuries? From the beating he's taken from him? Or the fact that he's regained his memory, or at least part of it? Wally approaches the two men.

"Gentlemen, we may not have much time." The two former soldiers' eyes land on the doctor. "We need to focus on waking up Mr. Russo. You've managed to p-"

Billy cuts him off with a hand in his direction, his gaze back on Frank.

"Wait, two seconds, you have to fucking explain this to me." Billy closes his eyes shaking his head firmly as if his memories are colliding inside and he's trying to put them in the right order. Then he opens his eyes again. "You had to kill me. I... I-I made you hate me! One of us had to die that day! And I had to pay, but NOT like this!"

"You worked for the guy who had my family murdered, you lied to me and told me you knew about it but even if you couldn't do anything about it, you didn't stop, knowing everything."

"I had no hope left! That was all I had left!"

"I had to forgive you maybe?"

"No! You had to kill me!"

"You wanted to die that badly?!"

"Maybe!"

"I couldn't do it! I couldn't cut your throat, okay? I couldn't do it. I wanted to, believe me, I wanted to with all my strength but I couldn't."

"You couldn't? Damn it, Frank, what you did to me is worse."

Frank lifts his chin, his gaze hard and his voice calm again, cold, terrible.

"I don't know what to tell you, Bill. I trusted you. They trusted you. The hatred I felt had no limits. You had to pay for your crimes. I wanted you to suffer as I suffered. But cutting your throat... no, I couldn't. Killing my best friend, the only person I had left, seeing you go too. No. "

Tears well up in both men's eyes, but neither man lets them flow or show. Frank never thought he would ever say the words, but he means them. He has told himself many things about why he didn't kill him that day but the only truth is this. Another member of his family couldn't die again.

Billy can't even think straight anymore, he would like to hate him but he hates himself too much for that. He's too lonely, too damaged, too broken not to cling to Frank. It's fucking unhealthy but that's the way it is. Billy doesn't really know what to think anymore and he doesn't want to think. He doesn't matter to anyone, he only has himself and his own self is turning against him. But Frank couldn't kill him despite what he did, did he matter too much for that? No, surely not, but Frank matters too much to him. It's not a matter of life and death anymore, during his collaboration with Rawlins he had literally left his body because if he listened to his emotions he would have died. But not anymore. And then anyway, with the head trauma he's not able to compartmentalize like he used to.

"Karen... My men were afraid of you, of the Punisher. It all happened very quickly... I don't know where they took Karen but... maybe I can find them..."

Frank releases the pressure from his shoulders.

"So, doc? How do we get him back? Any guesses?"

Wally smiles shyly at Frank. He turns back to Billy, who is looking at his feet, thoughtful.

"Billy, you just took control, didn't you?"

"It felt like it..."

"Maybe you still have it...try."

"How?"

"Same as before."

Billy thinks for a moment before closing his eyes. He tries to change the scenery and then he tries to get back to the way he was but frankly he doesn't want to and he really can't. He opens his eyes again, hoping that it worked but Frank is still in front of him and Wally right next to him and they are still in this shitty park in the middle of the night. Billy turns to the doctor with a raised eyebrow.

"Try again." Wally asks, gently.

Billy takes a deep breath before closing his eyes again. He does his best until out of nowhere, literally out of the sky, a rock falls on his head. Billy immediately opens his eyes, letting out a groan of pain before rubbing his head, sighing.

"It was a fluke... We need to find something else or by struggling it's going to be the apocalypse here."

The doctor brings his hand up to his chin, stroking his lips mechanically.

"To struggle you say... against whom? You shouldn't 'fight'... it's just you here..."

Frank and Billy exchange a look while Wally thinks aloud as usual. Suddenly, Billy frowns. Frank's fingers are disappearing.

"Frank... Frank, what the hell is wrong with you?" The Punisher frowns. "Your hand, you... y-you're disappearing..."

"Oh..." Wally says.

"Oh?" Billy replies.

"It's time."

"What?"

"Our time is up, Frank is coming back to him., I'm about to come back too."

"What? No, no, but that's not possible, I... I don't know how to come back too." Billy replies, panicking.

"You do have keys now."

"No, n-no, no no no, I don't have anything. I don't get it, I'm stuck, I'm not going to make it without you."

Frank watches his arm fly away, every part of his body disappears little by little but the process is really fast, his right arm is already completely gone. He moves closer to Billy quickly, placing his other hand on his shoulder.

"You're going to make it, Bill."

"You can't leave me alone...I'm not going to make it, Frank, I need help...I can't do it alone..."

"You're not alone. I'm waiting for you in real life. i'll be with you."

"Will you be there when I wake up?"

"You better get your ass in here, I didn't do all this shit for nothing."

Frank's face starts to disappear, Billy panics with one last breath.

"I can tell you quickly what I know about Karen, like this if I don't wake up-"

"You'll wake up."

Frank disappears entirely. Billy would have had time to give him more information but Frank chose to trust Billy instead. All that's left in front of Billy is a huge void.

Wally looks at his hands, which soon are no more.

"It's my turn."

Billy turns to the doctor, his eyes wide.

"I don't know what to do..."

"Billy, listen to me carefully. You're fighting yourself. You're blocking yourself. There's no one stopping you from waking up but yourself. Make peace with yourself. Forgive yourself or at least try." Only Wally's upper body remains floating in the air as he continues to disappear. "Oh and Billy, the boy is part of you. Accept him. Don't push him away. Listen to him."

And then silence. Billy is alone again. The boy? Where is he anyway? Billy turns around, looking for himself as a child, but he doesn't see him. He walks slowly in the direction of the tree he had hidden behind.

"Billy?" He walks around the tree but he's not there. Never the same hiding place twice. "Billy... come here, they're gone... excuse me... I'm sorry for pushing you earlier..."

"You don't mean that..."

Billy almost flinches at the boy's small voice. He turns to the source of the sound, the boy is sitting on the ground a little ways away, knees in his arms, hiding behind a bench, doing something beside him that Billy can't see.

Billy slowly moves closer, sitting down right next to him, the same way.

"Yes, I do." Young Billy shrugs, continuing what he's doing so Billy looks over him before smiling at the sight of a few marbles he's rolling around on the floor and between his fingers. "You still have that? That's cool... I stole them from the kid of the freaks who made me do housework instead of going to school, it's the only thing I had..."

"I know, we're the same person."

"Yeah, that's right..."

Billy rests his head on the bench, looking ahead. Young Billy picks up his marbles, resting his head against the bench, just like the older Billy.

"I don't know how to help you wake up, but I don't want you to go back."

Billy frowns.

"Why is that?"

"Because you don't listen to me anymore...you act like I don't exist, like I never existed."

Billy looks back at the boy in surprise, his eyebrows still furrowed.

"No but... I'm not a kid anymore..."

The boy turns to Billy as well.

"Yeah but before, before you let me come sometimes. When we decided to join the army, we decided it together. You because you wanted to be somebody and me because I thought it was so cool, that we could make friends. And sometimes, with Frank, I was there too...when you decided to fill the sinks with shaving cream or when you were making jokes about the higher ranking guys. And...a-and with Lisa and Frank Jr. too, in the pool or when they wanted you to catch them." Young Billy stands up and Billy follows him with his eyes and a confused look. "I was there too when you felt like you had a family when you spent the day or vacation with them! I was there when Maria held you after a nightmare...and then nothing. You let me down. You forgot about me. You stopped believing in me."

"Things got...complicated..."

Young Billy crosses his arms, physically showing that he's angry.

"That's not true! That's not an excuse, it's always been complicated! The truth is that you lost hope, all you thought about was money and your lame adult stuff and me, you drove me away. You're so stupid! And you're just a big loser, because I'm still here whether you don't want me anymore or not!"

Billy frowns.

"Hey! Don't talk to me like that..."

"pff" The boy turns away throwing the marbles in his face. Billy automatically stands up, catching the boy by the arm and spinning him around, perhaps a little too violently. The boy makes a sound of surprise, looking hard but mostly sad. "You gave up everything... what about my dreams ? You forgot them! The promises you made to me, you didn't keep them! We promised we would be happy, look at you, do you feel like you're happy?"

"It's not that easy."

"But you don't even try anymore."

Billy releases his grip. Eyes downcast.

"I screwed up...I didn't want you to see this..."

Billy realizes that the little boy inside of him still exists and he's right in front of him. He has not had an easy life this little boy but he has something that Billy does not have anymore, he believes in it. He still believes in it, in happiness.

"I'm still here and the more you ignore me, the worse things get."

Billy nods slowly, tears stinging his eyes again. Does he still have the right? To hope?

"I'm sorry..."

"You don't mean that..."

Billy sets his eyes on him as a child, surprised. He kneels down to be at his level before wrapping his arms around him. He hugs him tightly.

"I'm so sorry. I wanted to make things right, I wanted to make you proud I swear...I messed up, I messed up and I'm so sorry."

Young Billy snuggles into the arms of the man he has become.

"You did what you thought you had to do... but promise me, promise me you'll try again... listen to me sometimes, let me take control too sometimes..."

"Okay. Yeah, okay, I promise you. We're a team."

"I don't want to be alone anymore..."

"I know." Billy slowly pulls away from the boy, keeping his hands on his shoulders. "We'll make it."

Young Billy nods his head proudly. Billy straightens up, keeping his gaze on the boy. He still doesn't know how to come back, but he feels strangely soothed. A serenity he didn't know he could experience. The little boy smiles at him before extending his closed fist in his direction urging him to do the same so that their two fists would clash. Billy smiles as softly, his eyes shining, before slowly moving his closed fist in his direction and their fingers touching. A kind of light bursts from their joined hands and Billy frowns as his other hand slowly begins to disappear and then his arm. He looks back at the boy who is still smiling at him.

They've done it.

Billy winks at him just before he disappears entirely.

______

An unknown smell fills his nostrils. His eyelids open suddenly as his lungs fill with air. With a sudden movement, Billy tries to move but bonds on his hands, feet and torso hold him in the chair where he is. He instantly feels trapped, his confidence shaken. He slowly lowers his head, breathing deeply, but he feels wires attached to his head, patches stuck to his temples and hair. He wants to pull them off but he can't move. He feels moisture under his nose and on his lips, his tongue tasting before recognizing the familiar taste of blood. After a few seconds, Billy manages to reconnect, where is he? His gaze roams the dark room before meeting Curtis' eyes, who looks surprised.

"Fuck... it worked..."

Billy frowns and lifts his chin, looking at him warily and defiantly. Has he woken up? Or is he still stuck in some twisted place in his mind?
The answer comes when he sees Dr. Wally come out of another room, probably alerted by the noises. At the sight of an open-eyed Billy, the doctor's face lights up with a wide smile.

"You did it! Eureka, Billy! Eureka!"

Billy almost wants to smile, for some reason probably related to the boy, his presence comforts him. Wally rushes toward him but Curtis stops him with one hand.

"What are you doing?"

"Well, I'm going to untie him."

"We're not going to untie him."

He had expected this and yet his words hurt him deeply. Fuck, he wanted to believe they weren't going to treat him like the enemy. Being tied up, immobile, helpless, he can't stand that. Wally seems to particularly understand this as he frowns, pushing Curtis' arm away.

"What are you talking about? I'm going to free this young man, we're in my lab and he's not my prisoner."

"You want me to list the crimes he has committed? He is a criminal, wanted."

"Nice to know what you think of me, Curt."

Billy looks away, defeated. But to his surprise, Wally doesn't let go.

"I have to examine him. He's bleeding and he's still hooked up to the machine. You said his nose started to bleed profusely and he went into convulsions, right?I need to check that everything is okay."

"All right, untie him from the machine but not from the chair."

Wally isn't satisfied but is already content with that. He maintains a hard look at Curtis before changing it entirely as he sets his eyes on Billy. He walks over to him, focusing on the wires on his head.

"Mr. Castle wanted to be here when you woke up, you know, he's just in the next room but our awakening shook us up a bit, he'll be here any minute and he'll untie you."

Billy decides to ignore what he says about Frank, hope, he decided he would feel it again but you can't ask too much of him all at once. He needs a little more time.

"Are you... are you okay?"

Wally suddenly stops, surprised before smiling tenderly at Billy.

"Yes, I'm fine, thank you."

Billy returns a shy smile. Wally removes the last of the wires, disconnecting him from the machine entirely.

"So, how did you do?"

Before Billy has time to answer his gaze is drawn to Frank's broad frame appearing just behind Curtis. His face does not hide a certain relief before giving way again to a cold look. He walks over to Billy and Wally.

"Untie him. You need to examine him, doc."

Wally immediately nods, throwing himself at the bonds on his wrists. Curtis takes another step forward.

"Frank...what are you doing?"

Frank turns away moving closer to Curtis.

"We need him to save Karen, right? That's what I'm doing."

Curtis holds the look on the Punisher's face that clearly means 'we're not arguing.' Finally, Curtis nods his head, trusting Frank. Wally releases Billy, who is quick to move and try to stand up.

"Easy..." Wally catches Billy who wobbles. Curtis clutches his gun in his pocket. "Can you walk?"

"Yeah..."

"Good, come this way."

Wally walks Billy into the next room, it's a small room with a bed and some drugstore stuff. Billy sits on the bed, feeling nauseous. Wally comes closer, a compress in his hand, approaching Billy too quickly for his liking. He moves back, wary.

"I just want to clean your nose... You've had a lot of nosebleeds, I want to make sure the bleeding has stopped." Billy relaxes slightly, saying nothing but approvingly with his eyes. Wally grips his face gently, cleaning the blood away with surprising gentleness. Billy allows himself to do so, slightly tense but remembering the promise he made. "Can I ask you some questions?"

"Yeah...go ahead..."

"Obviously you remember me but do you remember what happened?"

Billy nods as Wally pulls away slightly, his nose having stopped bleeding.

"I remember. Everything."

"Everything?"

"I feel like I've had several strange dreams...like I know it wasn't real and at the same time I feel like I really experienced it..."

Billy suddenly straightens his head. He throws himself towards the sink before vomiting in it several times. Wally moves closer, concerned.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah..."

Billy wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, his hands slightly shaking, he feels fucking weak. Billy turns on the faucet to clean and run water over his face. Usually he can't stand feeling the cracks of the scars under his fingers but this time he doesn't pay attention.

"It's okay that you're shaken up, feeling weak and nauseous is normal."

Billy remains silent for a moment in front of the sink before slowly turning away.

"I'm remembering stuff... weird... like... dreams..."

"Like what?"

"Me playing... baseball? Or Frank and me in a black and white movie... or... you... you and me... drinking a milkshake..."

Wally smiles somehow reassured that he remembered that.

"I hope you enjoyed it, it's my favorite recipe."

"So it really happened?"

"Well, in your mind, yes."

"How about you? Do you remember?"

"Yes. Our minds were not directly alternated so we experienced it as something real."

"I feel... a little lost... everything is getting mixed up in my head..."

Billy places a slightly shaky hand on his skull, rubbing violently. Wally moves closer without touching him but putting his hands in his direction.

"Billy, take it easy, it's normal to feel confused. But you remember, it's a very good sign."

Billy moves his hand away from his head, resting his gaze on the man.

"I remember... some... things that I had forgotten..."

"It's none of my business but... there is... this woman's life that is apparently in danger and... you can help her."

"You know what I learned as an orphan? To each his own shit."

"You don't mean that."

"We've known each other for two minutes."

"I had a conversation with a little boy. A little boy who had the same look in his eyes as you and I can tell you that this one, he's the bravest boy I've ever had the honor of meeting and he'd save an innocent woman if he had the power to."

Billy lifts his chin, flashing a slight smile.

"Maybe if that little prick had minded his own business more than anyone else's, he wouldn't have gotten so many beatings." It doesn't have the desired effect, Wally looks more like he's trying to comfort Billy than being scared or disgusted by him. Billy finally puts his head down, shaking it slowly. "And without him, I never would have woken up, right? Of course I'll help..."

Wally stirs again, almost jumping up and down, which makes Billy smile subtly.

"Eureka! Mr. Russo, eureka!"

______

Billy and the doctor exit the room, joining Frank and Curtis in the one next door. For some reason, Billy stays slightly behind Wally, the only one who really tolerates his presence here. Curtis remains mute but disapproving, arms crossed as Frank moves closer to them.

"Well?" Frank asks.

A 'Well' that asks a lot: 'What's next? Is he okay? Does he remember? Is he going to help us?'.

Billy takes a deep breath, moving closer to Frank with determination.

"After the robbery, I lost control. They think, the guys, that you're after them and they're freaking out. Apparently they were aware that you and Miss Page were close. I don't know where they've taken her, or what they're planning to do. But I can go undercover."

"And then?"

"Once I know where they are and where she is. I don't know, I guess you... you do your thing."

Billy and Frank scrutinize each other with their eyes, not sure if they should trust each other and at the same time, both of them deeply desire it. But Curtis doesn't see it that way.

"This plan relies solely on Billy's trustworthiness. Which is ridiculous."

"Why would he betray us?" Frank argues.

"Are you serious? You're the one asking that?"

"I understand. I... I don't remember everything in great detail but... I understand, Curt. That said, I have no reason to betray you on this one. If it makes you feel any better. They betrayed me by leaving me unconscious, so I might as well return the favor. But the question is... are you going to take the opportunity to finish the job?"

Frank smiles.

"If I wanted to kill you, Bill, I wouldn't have bothered to wake you up."

______

______That's how Billy finds himself leaning against a bar, his hood covering his face, Frank and Curtis in a car on the parallel street. A man enters. He sits down right next to Billy.

Frank looks out the window, they can't hear what they are saying to each other but it is obvious they are talking. He is brought out of his thoughts by Curtis' voice.

"So...are you going to tell me what happened? In Russo's head?"

Frank takes a deep breath before taking his eyes off the bar.

"It would take a really long time to tell and you wouldn't believe it anyway."

"Why?"

"It was all a big mess... I swear, it was delusional, Billy is really twisted, it's exhausting to be in his head." Frank masks a smile as he thinks about it. "But... Bill lied to me."

Curtis frowns.

"And that surprises you? He's been doing just that, lying, maybe even lying to us since we met him."

"No, Curt, he lied to me about knowing...I mean...he knew but...too late."

"About Maria and the kids?" Frank nods slowly, leaving Curtis thinking. "So what? The fact remains that he worked with the son of a bitch, that even knowing it he continued and-"

"I can't explain... at one point, everything was so intense that I was feeling what he felt and... I'm not saying he was right to do what he did but... I don't know..."

"Are you telling me you could... forgive him?"

Frank looks at Curtis, surprised. Is that what he's saying? Suddenly someone enters the car and sits in the back.

"Did you miss me?"

Frank turns to Billy, a slight smile on his face.

"Don't take your dreams for granted."

Russo raises his eyebrows, smiling in the same way. Before leaning over to hand them a piece of paper.

"This is the address. According to him, Karen is in a building, bound and gagged, but they haven't done anything to her... yet. Him, he's retired, he doesn't want to be part of this mess."

"Does he suspect anything?"

"No. I don't think so. I told him I'd take over...that I had a nice surprise for them."

Frank nods, taking the paper in his hands.

"Then, let's go."

______

______Billy walks toward the warehouse, alone, his mask over his face, a gun in his pants. When he takes his first step into the building, no one comes to him.

"Hey! It's Russo!"

Several men emerge from their hideout, pointing their guns in his direction, surrounding Billy as he scans them with his dark eyes. He raises his hands in the air, in a sign of appeasement.

"I've got good news for you guys... You were afraid of the Punisher? Right? That's the point, right?" The men look at each other, unsure. Billy puts his hands down. "Is this how you want to take back control of your lives? By hiding out like rats?"

"Do we need to remind you that you're out of the equation, man? After your little panic attack."

Billy smiles through his mask even though they can't see it.

"But the difference between you and me. What makes me a real leader and not you. Is that I didn't kidnap my enemy's innocent girlfriend... no, I went straight for the guy himself." At these words, Curtis enters, a mask on his face that prevents the men who know him from recognizing him, pushing Frank bound and gagged. Of course, the ties are fake and the wounds on Frank's face just as artificial. All the men take a step back. "Let's cut the crap. Now you're going to listen to me. Is that clear?"

Several whispers follow and then the men lower their weapons slowly.

They lead them into the room where Karen is at Billy's command and then leave the room, leaving them alone. Karen becomes agitated at the sight of Frank tied up but when it is just the four of them, her eyebrows furrow as Frank unties himself and Billy proceeds to free her.

Russo takes the gag from Karen's mouth in his hands.

"Do you promise not to make a sound?"

Karen nods, giving Billy the signal to release her fully. She stands up quickly, looking at them, eyes wide.

"What the hell is going on?"

Frank moves closer to her, watching her closely.

"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"

"No... no, they didn't do anything to me..."

"Frank, we need to get out of here and fast."

"We're following the plan. I'll create a diversion and you guys leave." Billy concludes.

Everyone nods, watching Billy walk out of the room.

"Bill, wait..."

Billy turns back to Frank. Suddenly, he doesn't know what he wanted to say to him. Well, yes, he would like to tell him to be careful, but strangely, nothing comes out of his mouth. As if he understood the intention, Billy smiles at him before repositioning his mask on his face and walking out the door.

______

Slowly and quietly, Curtis, Frank and Karen exit the building, while Billy has gathered all the men in another room to give them one of his well-practiced speeches. Finally, in front of the car, they wait several minutes but Russo doesn't join them.

"We have to go, Frank. Billy will be fine. We can't risk being spotted."

Frank hesitates for a moment before moving closer to the car to grab the open door and then after a few seconds in suspension, close it.

"I'll make sure he's okay."

"Frank..."

"Go ahead. Get Karen to safety. Trust me, Curt. I can't let him down... things have changed..."

Despite himself, Curtis starts up. Leaving the Punisher dressed in his white skull vest and armed.

Frank silently enters the building, following the sounds.

______

Billy's mask falls to the ground as one of the men prevents him from falling backwards, catching him by locking his arms.

"You betrayed us? Where are they?"

"Frank doesn't give a shit about you guys, what a self-centered, pretentious bunch you are."

Two punches to his stomach make him bend in half, the man holding him drops him to the ground. Billy raises his head slowly, smiling. He gets up in one swift motion, first sending his elbow into the face of the man behind him before hitting the one in front of him. They all throw themselves at him. Billy lands several blows but dodges many more. A punch to the windpipe knocked one down and a well-placed kick knocked another down. A moment's respite gives him just enough time to pick up his gun in his hands.

The sound of a gun deploying froze Billy in place. The tip of the gun pressed against his temple.

"Not fast enough, Russo."

Billy's shoulders drop. He's going to die. Is he supposed to see his whole life flash by? All he can think about is the little boy and Frank. Of the family he lost and the moments that warmed his hard, cold heart. 'I would have tried.' He thinks. He doesn't want to die. Not like this. Not alone. He will have failed to keep his promise.

The sound of a bullet rings out.

Billy flinches.

He opens his eyes, eyebrows furrowed as the man next to him falls to the ground. Frank. Standing in front of the skull of his nightmares, Billy freezes for a moment, unsure if he is in hell. Everything happens very quickly, Billy eventually reconnects, clutches the gun in his hands, shooting another man before ducking out. Quickly, Billy and Frank take control of the situation.

After a few minutes, the two men stand in front of each other, all the other men down or having fled. Billy doesn't move as Frank walks toward him. He stops, bending down to grab his mask from the ground. Billy watches, his breathing quickening. Frank walks over to him before handing him the mask. Billy frowns.
He's come to save him.

The two men look at each other, they are the only ones who understand what they are saying to each other in a stunned silence. A shy smile spreads across Frank's face as Billy retrieves the mask. Frank places a hand on Billy's shoulder, pulling him closer. Within seconds, Billy wraps his arms around his best friend, holding him close, resting his head on his shoulder. Frank closes his eyes. Hugging him tightly.

"I'm sorry, Frankie..." A tear rolls down Billy's cheek. "I'm so fucking sorry..."

"Yeah, I know...I'm sorry too, Bill..."

Billy clutches his sweater, containing his emotion. Is this the end of the nightmare? Will he finally be able to breathe again? At this very moment, in the arms of the only person who can calm his heartbeat. He starts to believe it.

Frank smiles, in addition to Billy's strong arms, he feels a phantom sensation of young Billy squeezing him too. And all the other Billys. The one who is a baseball player, the one who wanted to make him laugh and the one who thinks he is a great detective.

______

______Billy looks out the window. It's dark. He takes a deep breath, turning his head toward the man approaching him.

"So it's true? You're not a wanted man anymore?"

"No, not really... Karen knows some people who helped me. And I helped the police stop the gang that the guys had formed."

"That's worth celebrating!"

Billy smiles at the milkshake Wally slides in front of his eyes.

"Thanks." Wally sits down across from him, smiling as usual. Looking at Billy expectantly as he takes his first sip. Finally, Billy lifts his head, looking serious before giving way to a wide smile. "This is delicious."

"Eureka!" Billy laughs. Wally sips at his own milkshake. "What are you going to do now?"

Billy shrugs.

"We'll see." Billy smiles again. "Frank and I have some plans." Wally returns his smile before sadly lowering his eyes to his drink. "How about you? How are you doing with the machine?"

"It could be used for medical purposes... but right now, the risks are considered too high."

Billy nods before taking another sip.

"I don't think I ever thanked you for what you did for me...without you, I probably never would have woken up..."

Wally finally smiles his broad smile.

"You don't have to thank me, come on. Maybe I should be the one thanking you, after all you are my patient zero." Billy frowns, not sure that's a good thing. "But I'm sure you would have woken up eventually on your own. You're a remarkable man, Billy."

Billy takes a deep breath before looking down at his empty glass. He stands up, Wally following him with his eyes.

"I have to go, Frank is waiting for me. It was my pleasure."

"Oh yes, me too."

"Will I get another milkshake next time?"

"Of course, my boy! If the next time isn't too long from now..."

Billy smiles warmly at Wally before giving him a hug.

"I'll be back on Saturday, like I do every week."

"Take care of yourself, Billy and give Frank my best." Billy walks toward the exit, putting on his jacket, stopping when Wally calls out to him. "Billy? You know, right now I'm thinking about inventing a time machine."

Billy smiles.

"That's crazy...It's impossible... but you are the only person who can do it."

"That's sweet, son."

Billy opens the door before turning to Wally one last time.

"If you can do it...think of me...try to find a way to adopt me."

"And why else would I want to travel through time?"

Billy lifts his chin, rather surprised. He will never get used to this man's kindness to him. For some reason he has taken a liking to him and Billy likes him too. Maybe in another universe or when he finds a way to travel through time, things will be different. Maybe Wally will be Billy's adoptive father, maybe young Billy will get milkshakes from time to time. And maybe Maria, Frank, the kids, and him will still be together and happy.
They found each other in their loneliness and this strange and unusual experience. As he found Frank again.

"Eureka."