Sorry about making changes so early. It works better this way. We think...

How can people go through life without a brother? Peyton Wagner

"Joe!" The name escaped from his lips as Chet lowered the young blond boy to the floor, his chest heaving as he leaned against the doorframe, his compassionate brown eyes worried as he too examined Joe.

Frank quickly checked his brother over. Bruises covered most of his exposed body and several cuts looked deep enough to need stitches, but there was no broken bones. Carefully prying open one of his brother's eyelids, he breathed out a sigh of relief. No concussion. He should be waking up soon.

Trying to convince himself that Joe would be alright, Frank turned to Chet. "Where...?" he asked, unable to get more out before he turned back to Joe. He beat back his emotions, surprising himself at how strong they were. Joe had been hurt before. Why was this any different?

Chet spoke quickly, his face flushed red as he tried to convey what had happened. "I was on my way over here when I nearly ran him over. He was just lying in the middle of the street about two blocks away. I think he was trying to come home, but if I hadn't been watching I could have run him over."

Frank shuddered, feeling suddenly very cold. He had nearly lost the only family he had left. He could have, very easily, lost his little brother.

"Do you know what happened?" A brief glance back at his brother's wounds told him that another person, or probably more like two or three, had been involved, beating every inch of skin they could.

Chet shook his head 'no', his eyes widening slightly as Joe stirred with a feeble groan. Frank bent over his brother anxiously, letting out a small shout of relief when he opened his eyes blearily and began to sit up.

"Not yet, bro. You're pretty hurt there." He tried to keep his voice light, but even he could hear the anxiety in it as Joe's eyes closed in sudden pain. "What happened?" he couldn't' keep the anger out of his voice. He wanted to kill whoever had done this.

Joe shook his head slightly, frowning slightly as he tried to remember. Chet, who had left momentarily, came back with antibiotics and gauze. He started to wrap up the bigger of Joe's cuts as he tried to explain, his voice high.

"I know I'm late, Frank. I'm sorry..." Frank waved that away. It didn't matter at all now. "What happened?" he said again, more firmly, as he helped Joe sit all the way up.

"I was just about to start walking home. Actually, I was alone today." Joe's eyebrows came together. "I shouldn't have been, but everyone I usually get rides with were out. So I walked." Frank nodded, urging his brother to keep going.

Trying to piece together his story as he talked, Joe said, slowly, "I was only about a block away from the school when I saw these...guys. I only stopped because a couple looked like they were my age, or maybe a little younger. And these other guys were older, mostly. Like, maybe twenty. I must have been standing there for about two minutes when one of them saw me and..." he closed his eyes again, his breathing becoming more rapid as he remembered what had happened.

"It's okay, Buddy. I know what happened after that." Frank kept his voice soothing, even though inside he was boiling with anger. It must have been three or four against one. Helping his brother stand up, he supported him to the couch. Even the small trip left him shaking and sweaty.

Chet was by his side, looking at Joe for a long moment before saying, loud enough for them both to hear. "I think you have a new case."

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