Charlie looked at Liam and wondered if this was his lowest point. Lying in hospital, eyes lit up from the promise of being allowed access to drugs. Charlie was already regretting telling Liam that he would give him the heroin back but he had to keep reminding himself, it was for the greater good.

He had lost count of how many lows that he had gone through, from life before the band, to realising that Liam was an addict, to becoming one himself and he had never understood how Liam was so calm through everything. Charlie envied him sometimes, if he didn't want to quit then all the stumbles meant nothing.

Charlie was different, he wanted to quit. He wanted to be able to go a day without getting withdrawal symptoms but he couldn't. He was too scared to try without Liam alongside him. Sometimes he wondered if that was pathetic but he had always been the younger brother, and Liam was the one who guided him through life. Liam had been Charlie's support system and had always been there. If he failed with Liam it was alright, but if he failed by himself… Charlie knew he wouldn't be able to cope.

"It's about time. Don't know why you took it in the first place. You're a bloody junkie as well you know."

There was venom in Liam's voice and Charlie fought the urge to recoil. Was that really what his own brother thought of him now; not as family, but as another addict? The words cut deep inside but he tried not to let the emotion show on his face, he had to pretend to be strong to try and give Liam strength.

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

Liam scoffed, "I wanna get back out onto the road. What use is being in a damn hospital – even the nurses are ugly!"

"You'll be let out soon."

"Not soon enough," he groaned, turning over, "I need a fix Charlie."

"I know. But the heroin's back on the bus."

"Mr Pace?"

"What the bloody hell do you want?"

Charlie turned around to see a young doctor standing in the doorway, looking perturbed at Liam's reaction. He shot a glance at Charlie.

"I'm Charlie, his brother."

"Oh. I'm Doctor Frank Metta; your brother is my patient."

Charlie felt his stomach clench, what if Doctor Metta had heard him telling Liam about the drugs being on the bus? He suddenly felt helpless, what if they took Liam away from him?

"Can I speak to you outside Mr Pace?"

"Oh, I'm actually allowed out of bed now am I?"

"Not you Liam, I meant your brother."

Charlie nodded and joined Doctor Metta on the other side of the door. He leaned against the wall, watching as Metta surveyed the files he was holding.

"Liam had a very serious overdose…"

"I know."

"I shouldn't have to tell you that he has been very lucky. If you hadn't brought him in so quickly then he wouldn't have stood a chance at survival."

The praise brought Charlie little comfort, he was still blaming himself for Liam taking the cocaine in the first place, but he didn't want the Doctors to know why so he just nodded pleasantly, forcing a smile.

"Did you know that your brother was taking drugs?"

"No, I had no idea. He'd been acting strange recently, getting more distant, agitated but I didn't put two and two together."

"Understandable. You shouldn't blame yourself if you didn't know. I would recommend that you work on convincing him to join a rehabilitation program to help him deal with his addiction. He'll be eligible for discharge in an hour." Metta shone a reassuring smile, "I know that the situation seems bleak but people do make it through to the other side. You just need to have some faith."

Faith. The advice seemed idiotic. Charlie had abandoned his faith to continue with the band, believing that it would lead to the better life. He wished that he had never listened to Liam when he told him that they had got a record deal. Wished that he had kept his promise to quit the band. Then there may have been a chance to save him, to save both of them. But Charlie was finding it harder and harder to believe in salvation. The more he thought about Liam's situation, the more his brother seemed damned.

"Mr. Pace?" Charlie was drawn out of his thoughts by Doctor Metta looking at him, worried. "Are you okay?"

He nodded; "I'm fine, thank you for looking after my brother. I'll try to take better care of him from now on."

Doctor Metta smiled again before walking away, leaving Charlie to work out how exactly he was going to take better care of him.