This story begins roughly were season five would have, it also exempts most of the plot following season four episode "The Bermuda triangle." Here is a gist of how for this story, the final half of season four went.

Shortly after everyone returned from Bermuda, Cal and Matt Hartley fired Willamena. Hating her replacements, Marc came up with a plan to get her back at Mode, which involved framing the Hartley's for crimes around the office. Meanwhile Daniel was loathing having them around. He hated Cal for having a month long affair with his mother, and Matt for the way he treated Betty since the two broke up. So when a thousand dollars worth of clothing vanished, and the news showed a leaked video of them talking smack about the Meades, Daniel was more then happy to fire them with the help of his mother. He quickly, though reluctantly hired back Willamena as creative director. While Willamena was setting back up her office she praised Marc saying that she was proud of him and that he was becoming more like her everyday. With the Hartley's gone Betty requested her old job back telling Daniel that being an editor was more work then she was cut out for. Though the truth was she was worried about him since the whole joining a cult thing and wanted to keep an eye on him. Daniel agreed but asked if Betty would like some more responsibility then she would other wise receive as an assistant. He was answered with an enthusiastic "Yes".

Other notable changes includ, in this story the charictors do not live in NYC but a simieler city on anouther planet. I have also changed some of the charictors backgrounds, including reducing Marc's age and possably Daniel's as well.

"That's my brother, he's my brother" Was all Daniel Meade could think as he gazed at the unconscious 18 year old through the window in the hospital room. Watching his mother lean over the cot weeping, he did his best to work out his own emotions.

Less then a week ago this boy had just been a family employee, working at Mode. He was the brat who seemed only to live to make the other workers' lives miserable, the work place diva, the evil minion that aided schemes to bring the Meade's to their knees. And now, almost in the blink of an eye he was one of them. He was family.

Daniel knew how he should be feeling right now. He knew he should be happy that his family had just gotten bigger, sad that a relative was in critical condition, and remorseful for all the lost years with this special person he would never be able to make up. But he didn't feel any of that, he didn't actually feel anything. It was like his heart had completely frozen over.

"Mr. Meade?"

A feminine voice pulled him from he's thoughts. Looking up he saw a nurse coming down the hall towered him.

"Yes, that's my name" he said sounding almost as though he was telling himself almost as much as the nurse.

She gave him an understanding smile as if she was used to bereaved family members forgetting their own identities. "Your mother told us to be expecting you"

"Right…Um how….Um"

"How bad is he?" The nurse finished kindly

"Yah" Daniel confirmed

Some of the nurse's sweetness was slowly replaced by sadness as she answered Daniel's unasked question "I sorry Mr. Meade, but it's pretty bad, he took some serous brain damage, we're not sure how long he'll be out, and we won't know for sure how bad the damage is until… he regains consciousness."

Sensing some doubt in the Nurses voice Daniel pressed his forehead against to cool glass of the window. "You wanted to say "IF" didn't you" he whispered.

"There is a chance," he felt the Nurse move closer and put a hand on his shoulder. "Just a chance that he won't ever wake up"

"It's not fair" Daniel choked as the reality of the past few hours started to sink in a little. "I already lost one brother I don't want to lose a brother I never even had."

"You might not" the Nurse said sweetly "He's pretty stable right now if you would like you can go in and be with him. I'm sure he would appreciate it."

"I don't know about that."

The nurse gave him skeptical look. "Sure he will, even in a coma he is still aware of people around him."

Daniel shook his head. "I know, it's not the first till I had someone in a coma. That's why I think it's best I stay away." Then at her confused look. "We're not really close, kinda the opposite"

"Well regardless of your relationship before you're brothers now." The nurse said giving him a little push to the door. "There's no better time to start building that bond. Trust me if you don't even try you'll probable regret it for the rest of your life."

"I guess your right." Daniel relented as he begun walking to the door. Walking past her he realized she had never given her name so he stole a quick peek at her name tag. "Lizflor" sound of healing; her parents must have really wanted her to become a doctor he thought.

Inside the room he pulled up a second chair to sit next to Clara. "Mom" he whispered as he put his hand on her back. "You do know he is aware of what's going on right?"

Clara slowly sat up to look at who had been yesterday her youngest child. "So?" she asked.

"So, he's probably thinking "Why the heck is Clara Meade bailing over me like a crazy lady""

Clara couldn't help but to give her son a small smile. He always could make her laugh. "Oh Danny, he saw me throw a wine bottle at Willamena's office door the other day, he already knows I'm crazy."

"True" Daniel smiled back, he was glad to see him mom could still be happy even in this dark hour. Even though they had there ups and downs over the years he still felt dedicated to her. She was his mother after all.

"I'm glad you're here Daniel I really am. I had started to worry you wouldn't show up." Daniel could sense where this was going. "I don't know how you feel about him, about all the things he's done to Mode over the years."

Daniel looked away, finding a spot on the wall to keep his attention while he worked around with his thoughts and feelings. "I'm not sure I know how I feel about it either." After brief pause Daniel made his decision, "No I'm willing to let that rest in the past if he quits. He is just a kid after all, and he was following orders most of the time."

For the first time since entering the room Daniel looked down at the younger boy. Reaching out a timid hand he brushed a lock of wavy brown hair from his closed eyes. In that moment Daniel remembered a conversation his parents once had. Clara had just asked Brad why he felt so responsible for Willamena's new intern. Brad simply responded "Because when ever I look at that kid, I don't see some scrawny kid from the street, I see Daniel at his age." That answer must have satisfied Clara because she never brought it up again. For years though Daniel wondered what his father saw in the brat that made him think of him. Right then looking down at him almost all grown up Daniel

Saw it too.

"Welcome to the family Marc Saint-James, No Marc Meade.