Michelle didn't know what it was like to lose someone. She had lost friends, but she really never thought of them as being "lost". They just weren't there anymore. Because of this lack of experience in loss she didn't know how to help Jack. She sat there with her arms wrapped around him as he stared at the pictures in his hand.

"We met at basic. He was a lot like me, but didn't put up with my crap. He loved to do things just to prove he could," Jack whispered with a small laugh. He glanced up out the window at the setting sun before turning to his sister. "Kind of like you when you grew up and decided to make up for the years you couldn't talk." Michelle smiled. Sometimes that's what it felt like. Illness as a child robbed her of her voice, forcing her to learn to sign to communicate. She and Jack still signed to each other when they wanted to talk without drawing attention.

"He didn't know who I was, I'll admit I wasn't the greatest to him in the beginning. Finally he convinced me being an ass wasn't working and we became friends. Kept each other from going crazy. That time at the mall near the training grounds, that was the first time I kissed him." Michelle smiled at the look of adoration on his face.

"We went everywhere together. Then a man came to the base," Jack's voice hardened with anger. "After that, the David I knew was gone. He got quieter and quieter, didn't come play cards, wouldn't leave the base. It was like he was scared. When we could drag him away from Dr. Simmons'" —he practically spat the name—"office he didn't interact. He was like a little kid needing his father's approval." Jack stopped, face red and tears threatening to fall. Michelle rubbed at his arm but he stood up and began to pace.

"We couldn't figure out what was wrong. It didn't make sense. One day he just disappeared. The entire company pulled that base apart looking for him; I went as high as I could go for information. He hadn't gone home—his stuff was still in his trunk. No one would give us an answer.

"He came back about a week after he disappeared. I was the first one to see him. He didn't—" Jack's voice broke and he suddenly punched the wall closest to him. Michelle jumped in surprise and stood up but Jack waved her off.

"He didn't remember anything. Not a goddamn thing from the last year. He talked about things that he said he remembered, but they never happened. I went to Simmons, I knew he had something to do with it, the way he had practically possessed David. All he would say is 'His destiny has been changed.' We graduated from Basic a short while later and I haven't seen him since," Jack finished heavily. He looked at Michelle like it didn't bother him, but being an older sister gives you certain insights. Michelle stood up and walked towards her brother.

"You miss him a lot, don't you?" she asked quietly. Jack's face went blank and hard, Michelle shook her head frustratedly. "Don't give me that look. Don't shut me out, Jack. We can fix this—"

"How?"

"I don't know, we have connections—"

"I went as high as I could to try and find out what happened and I'm the crown prince! If I can't find out as this nation's next ruler, how can you and I as the King's children find out?" Jack practically shouted at the top his lungs. Michelle opened her mouth to say something but he continued with his tirade.

"And who says I want to see him again? I mean, he's the one who left originally, he's the one who abandoned our friends and brothers. Why would I want him to be
my—"

"Don't even say it."

Michelle glared at her brother with such ferocity that Jack actually gaped at her for a moment. She stalked forward almost like a lioness about to pounce on her prey. A step in front of Jack, Michelle tore the photos he was still unconsciously holding from his grip and shoved it in his face.

"Do you see these pictures?"

"Yes I—"

"No, you really don't seem to," Michelle grabbed his face and turned it down towards hers before putting the photo strip in between their eyes.

"This is the first man you ever kissed, the first man you ever fell in love with." Jack's mask cracked by Michelle plunged on. "This is the only time in my entire life that I've ever seen you look so happy. You were happy. With. This. Man." She shook him with each word.

"And now you're telling me you aren't going to save him from whatever happened to him—because this was obviously not his fault—because of your damn pride? I always knew you were a boy, but I never took you for a coward." Jack shook himself from his sister's grip and glared at her.

"I will never be a coward," he whispered haltingly with anger. Michelle stared into his eyes.

"Then prove it."

And with that she stormed from the room.