Okay, so I know it's been a while since I've posted but I'm still here. This November, I participated and completed, NaNoWriMo. If you've never heard of it, it's where you have to write 50,000 words in just 30days. It was a lot of fun but after it was over, I found myself struggling to write plus with Christmas, I've been busy. I have been working on a lot of updates for my current fics but haven't seem to be getting anywhere. This is a series fic that I've been working on for a while and have a few chapter already finished. I'm hoping by posting this and getting some reviews (if there is anyone out there still reading) might motivate me and getting me writing more. So please let know what you think of this. Thanks!

Enjoy!

Memories of a Childhood Forgotten

Marshall frowned when he pulled into his driveway and saw a dark figure sat on his porch steps. Mary and he had left the office together so knew it couldn't be her and he struggled to think of anyone else that would turn up at his house unannounced. Whoever it was, looked up but didn't get to their feet and Marshall kept one hand on his glock as he exited the car.

"Don't shoot…I come in peace."Came a jokingly call.

Marshall's hand dropped away from the gun. "Tommy?"

His older brother got to his feet and met Marshall halfway down the driveway. Tom pulled him in for a manly hug, slapping him on back before stepping back.

"I've been sat here for almost an hour waiting for you to turn up."

"I had to work late….You should have called, I would have left a key for you." Marshall told him as they both made their way to the front door.

"I didn't know I was coming until I got here…" He shrugged. "I figured you were bound to come home sometime, so decided to wait."

He looked at him curiously. "What do you mean you didn't know you were coming here?"

"Can we get inside and have a drink before we get into that?" Tom sighed, grabbing his bag once they reached the porch.

Marshall studied him while he got his keys out. "Okay, sure…"

Tom followed him inside, looking around as Marshall led him to the kitchen. It was the first time he had ever been to visit his younger brother in New Mexico and he was starting to feel pretty guilty about it when he realized it had been almost two years since they last saw each other.

"Are you hungry?" Marshall asked, pulling open the fridge and grabbing two bottles of beers. "I haven't got much food in…I was going to order takeout."

"Whatever is fine." Tom told him, accepting the beer. "I'm sorry to drop in on you like this…"

"You're okay though, right?" Marshall asked, leaning back against the counter. "I mean, I guessing you're not here because you happen to be working in the area…"

"I'm taking some time off work." He admitted.

"You are?" Marshall's eyebrows rose in surprised. Tom was a US Marshal too, just like their older brother Nick.

"Yeah, I just need a break." Tom looked down at the floor. "Just need to get my head straight."

Marshall frowned a little, unused to seeing his brother like this. "Did something happen?"

"You know how it is…" Tom forced a small smile. "Long hours and hard work…"

"What about Connie and the kids?" Marshall questioned. "You didn't want to spend some time with them?"

"I'm kinda of taking a break from them too…"

"What? Tom?"

"It's complicated." He insisted.

"They're your family." Marshall stated. "You can't just walk away from them."

"I didn't walk away." He claimed firmly but then sighed. "Connie…She asked me go."

"Why? What happened?"

"Nothing…"

"A 15 year old marriage just doesn't break up…" Marshall pointed out. "Is there someone else?"

"No…it's nothing like that…I've just been having a hard time lately and she thought it would be best if I got away for a while."

"What do you mean a hard time?"

"There was a case at work…" He started and then ran his hand over his face. "I don't really want to talk about it but I let it get to me….I got to close to the people involved."

"Are you talking to anyone about it?"

"They department assigned a shrink to me but I refused."

"Tom…" Marshall sighed.

"Don't bother…I've heard it all before…" Tom cut him off. "I got my boss refusing to let me back to work until this doctor signs that I'm fit…I got Connie telling me I need to deal with my issues…Mom wants to fix everything and Dad just goes on about how it will look on my record."

Marshall suddenly felt sympathy for his brother and fell silent.

"I was hoping we could hang out." Tom continued after taking a deep breath. "Let me get my head on straight so I can deal with everything when I go back."

"Sure…If that's what you want."

"Great." He finished the rest of his beer in one more mouthful and opened the fridge and helped himself to another. "So, what you thinking of ordering for dinner?"

Marshall followed his lead, finish off his own beer, musing how quickly he fell back into the role of copying his big brother at everything.

"Pizza?"

"Sounds good…"

"I'll order if you want to take a shower or something." Marshall pulled out his cell phone. "Guest room is to the left at the top of the stair…I'm sure you'll be able to find anything else you need."

"Thanks, kid." Tom slapped his shoulder as he moved passed him. "I really appreciate this."

"Of course…any time." Marshall answered, giving him a small smile and watched him walking out of the kitchen, down the hall and up the stairs before he sighed. Something was not right with his brother and if it was anyone else, Marshall would probably know how to deal with it but he never could with either of his brothers. They took care of him…always have done but now Marshall was wondering whether it was time to step up to the plate and reverse the roles or if Tom just needed somewhere to hide out for a while. He shook his head a little to clear it as he dialed the number for the local pizza delivery, deciding that he would see how the rest of the night went.

XxXxX

"Shhh, Marshall…Don't cry."

Three year old Marshall looking up at his older brother and wanted to do what he said but his lip kept trembling and his eyes kept watering.

"Want Mama…" He sobbed.

"Come on, it's just a little scrapped knee." Nicky smiled at him, running his fingers gently over the wound. "No big deal…You don't need Mom…you got me and Tommy."

He looked doubtful at the older boy as his other brother came back with a Band-Aid. "Look, Marshall…I got a green one…Your favorite color."

He frowned and wiped his eyes with his sleeve. "It hurts."

"I know but we'll make it better." Nicky promised as he covered the graze then moved his fingers behind his brother's knee, knowing it was ticklish spot.

Marshall squirmed trying to get away from him but finally gave in and started laughing. Nicky and Tommy looked at each other and grinned before each grabbing one of Marshall's hands, pulling to his feet.

"Come on…let's get to bed."

Marshall looked up at his older brother with sad eyes. "Can I sleep in your bed?"

Nicky put an arm around his shoulder and guided him over to the bunk bed he shared with Tommy. "Only if you promise not to steal all the covers this time."

Marshall giggled. "Okay, I promise."

Marshall woke up with a start, his heart racing as his mind want over the dream he had. It quickly came back to him and wondered why it had such an effect on him. He wondered why his mind was making him relive something so forgettable that had happened over 35 years ago. As far as dreams go, that was nowhere near as terrifying as one he had previously. It hadn't been that long ago he had been shot and the nightmares he suffered after that as well as Mary's kidnapping would be enough to put someone off sleep for life. This was nothing, he told himself, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath but after five minutes, he was still thinking about it. He forced him up and out of bed with a groan to make his way out the bedroom but once he reached the top of the stairs he stopped. He could hear the TV on downstairs and a quick look at the open guest bedroom door told him his brother wasn't in bed. He sighed and turned around, heading back to bed, wondering whether his dream was just a reminder of how much his brothers took care of him when younger and how he had no idea what to do now it was Tom's turn for help.

TBC

So, that's the start. Anyone interested in some more? Please review!