A/N: I know I'm already knee-deep in the DEH fic, but I figured that I could spare a little time to start a Shameless one, too! I don't see nearly enough of protective big brother Lip, so I thought I'd give this a shot. I'm not exactly sure when this takes place, but it's definitely before Ian gets taken in by the military police. I also really like when Lip was trying to be super dad while Fi was spiraling, and I miss Mandy, so it's just gonna be in some sort of AU where all those things take place at the same time! Anyway, enjoy!

"Go the fuck away!"

Bam.

"I don't want to talk to anyone. Leave me alone, Lip! Fuck you!"

Bam. Bam. Bam. Lip took a couple of steps back from the door to his old room, running a hand through his already-messy hair. He knew that things had been rough between his brother and Mickey, but he didn't know it had gotten this bad.

Liam came up the stairs behind him, tugging lightly on his older brother's jeans. His eyes were wide. Ian usually wasn't one to make him afraid. His dad? Yes. Mickey? Sometimes. Ian? Almost never. He was gentle with his little brother.

Lip turned to the little boy, frowning. "Hey, hey, hey. It's okay, little man. It's okay. Ian... Ian's just having a tantrum. Remember how you got mad when Carl took one of your animal crackers yesterday? It's just like that."

Although he thought it might be a bit more than just a temper tantrum, Lip scooped Liam up and cradled him close to his chest. After one last look at the bedroom door, he carried his brother downstairs and began to tuck him in on the couch. Ian's backpack was half-dumped on the floor, and Lip kicked most of it to the side. His brother's phone, however, he placed safely on the coffee table.

"We're just gonna take our nap down here, okay? Here, we can even watch cartoons while you fall asleep." Lip usually didn't let his baby brother fall asleep to television because the noise distracted him from studying. However, today he just wanted the toddler to forget about the banging and yelling coming from upstairs. Liam already was plagued with too many nightmares; he didn't need more.

When Liam had begun to fall asleep, Lip made his way into the kitchen to sit at the table. For a long minute, he let his head fall into his hands, the world resting on his shoulders. He needed to be studying or maybe checking on Ian again, but he felt too exhausted. Mandy and Fi were at work, the other kids were at school, and by the sounds of it, Ian was destroying the boys' room. He couldn't handle this.

I can't do this. I can't do this. I can't fucking do this! Shoving himself up, he flew out the back door and shut it behind him as gently as he could manage; waking Liam was not his intention.

Lunging at the railing, Lip let it hit him in the gut. At least that was better than just sitting at the table, feeling helpless. Leaning over the side, he let out a pent-up scream that he'd been holding in for weeks.

While he was still hanging over the edge, he heard someone a few houses over yell back, "Shut up!"

Shut up. Yeah, maybe he should just shut up.

Lip let the freezing wind hit him in the face. After a moment, he slid to sit on the wooden panels. He wondered how Fiona had been so damn good at this. He didn't think he could be even half as organized or efficient, despite having watched her for so many years.

A screaming cry came from inside and he bolted back in. Liam was having another one of his nightmares.

Lip picked him up, bouncing him a little. Holding him as tight to his chest as could, he gently shushed the toddler.

"Shh... I'm right here, Liam. It's not real. All of it was just a bad dream. There's nothing to be afraid of; I'll protect you. I'll take care of you."

At some point between picking up Liam and laying him back down, Lip at begun to cry. However, the toddler didn't seem to notice as his big brother settled him in his lap and began humming. He was out in minutes.

Ping.

Lip looked up, blinking a moment. Ian's phone was lit up and a new message had been displayed. Instinctively, he grabbed the phone and swiped it. The phone was password protected, but it only took him three tries to unlock it-and one of those times was because he'd accidentally hit the wrong button.

The message, glowing white, was unsurprisingly from Mickey.

I'm so sorry.. MM

So Lip had been right in suspecting the ex-con. It was his fault that Ian was probably tearing down the room above them.

Pulling out his own phone, Lip transferred Mickey's number and started a new text. He didn't want Ian to see what he had to say and become even more furious.

What the fuck did you do to him, motherfucker? LG

It was a couple of minutes before a reply came in. The entire time, Lip had to keep stiller than he wanted to so he didn't wake Liam. He had the urge to hit things and pace, but instead, he refused to let himself move a muscle.

Lip? The fuck you get my number? MM

It doesn't matter. It probably matters least of all, honestly. Just what did you do to Ian? Why is he dismantling his room with his fists? LG

The reply took even longer to come through, and it was less satisfactory than the last. Lip thought he might go crazy; his job was to fix everything right now, and Mickey was getting in the way of that. If he had to, he'd even bug Mandy about this. He just needed to know how to handle Ian right now.

None of your fuckin business. MM

If Lip could have screamed again without waking Liam, he would have.

Listen, you piece of garbage. My brother- your boyfriend- is losing his shit upstairs right now. Right after that, you text saying you're sorry. You obviously aren't going to come over and clean up the mess you made, so it falls back on me. You got that? Now tell me what you did before Liam and I have to come over and make you tell us. LG

Lip would never put his baby brother in that kind of danger, but he knew that Mickey would probably go easier on him if he mentioned Liam. The thug had a soft spot for the little guy.

It was a moment before anything came back, but when Lip's phone chirped again, it did it twice in rapid succession.

It's a long fuckin story and I don't feel like typing it all out, okay? MM
Look. I can swing by and talk to you about it. Maybe I can help with Ian. MM

Lip chewed on his bottom lip for a long moment, before finally typing out a reply:

As long as you don't make him worse, come over. This doesn't mean I'm not pissed at you, I just need to know what we're dealing with here. LP

Once the message had sent, Lip leaned back and shut his eyes tightly. Who would have thought that he would ever willingly ask Mickey Milkovich to his house?