Regular disclaimer applies! Enjoy!

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What was I thinking?

A cold sweat broke over his face as he stood in front of the looming healer's ward. He'd been dreading this moment since he first did what he'd done. But as someone once told him, he was a man of truth no matter how distasteful. Though he always forgot how badly it tasted until it was leaving a rancid aftertaste in his mouth.

With a pounding heart he knocked softly on the invalid's door. Hearing a faint noise he took for admittance, he entered.

Lying on the bed was his sweaty, puffed up beyond recognition-who was currently glaring- blond-headed older brother. He approached with a heavy heart and sweaty palms knowing he had done this to him.

'How you bucking up?'

'Better, no thanks to you.'

'Peter! How was I supposed to know you'd turn out like this?'

'Well, if you hadn't decided to prank me by pulling some childish stunt, just because I had Phillip help wake you up? He was just being a friend Edmund!'

'That's a lie and you know it brother. Look at it this way: at least we found out now you're allergic to hot peppers now instead of when you're abroad. It's very gauche to swell up from a foreign cuisine, I hope you know.'

'Still, hot sauce in my cup? Could you come up with nothing better?' Peter hoarsely replied, his voice starting to go again.

Edmund blushed, chagrined and still ashamed he really hadn't come up with something better. Reaching for the pitcher on his brothers' bed side he poured a cup of water. 'You thirsty?' He held the cup out beseechingly.

'You'd think after all this I'd accept a drink from you?'

'Come off it! I just came in and trying to help if you haven't noticed!'

'I hadn't. You drink it then.'

'Pe-'

'Drink!'

'Fine! If it will make you happy!'

He took a swig under his brother's watchful eye.

'Happy now?' he demanded, handing the glass to him.

With a glint in his eye and a hidden smile he took the cup. 'Very. Feeling alright there Ed?'

A THUNK! was the only response he received as his brother dropped to the floor in a deep slumber. With a dry laugh Peter set the glass back on the counter and settled down for a rest of his own.

'Payback brother, payback.'

-------end

Again, special thanks for Elecktrum for always doing my beta work! Any mistakes are mine and mine alone! Also, another thanks to her for letting me steal some bits from her fantastic stories! If you haven't read them, do so, NOW! Also inspried from an episode of Super Natural. (yeah...I'm hooked!)