crazybeef - thanks for the review! I know its been awhile but I finally gave the story an ending. Hope you like it.

stolendreams - thanks! glad you like the story.

BabyKeepItSurreal - here you go. I finally got around to finshing the story. Hope you like it.

TamakiChiaki - glad to hear you liked it. Sorry about the wait. I got sidetracked with real life and other projects.


"David? What's wrong? Do you realize how late it is?" came Keith's sleepy voice over the phone.

"It's not David, its his brother Nate."

"What's wrong. Is David okay?" Keith asked suddenly coming alert.

"David's hurt. He was beat up tonight. He's refusing to go to the police about it and won't go to the hospital because of the possibility of them calling in the police. Look, I know the two of you aren't seeing each other right now but I didn't know anyone else that could possibly help me out."

"Did you have anything particular in mind?" Keith asked concerned. More and more lately he was thinking that breaking up with David had been a mistake. He glanced down at his current partner. Lord knows that things with Eddie weren't going much better.

"Well I was thinking that if you went with us we can tell them it was already reported to the police. You could keep them from calling anyone else in."

"Where are you now?"

"His place."

"Okay. I'll come over there. Try to reason with him. Hopefully we can at least get him to let us take him to the hospital."

"Thanks."

"I'll be right there."

Nate hung up the phone and went over to his brother's bed. Sinking to the floor he leaned back against the bed to wait for Keith. Waiting in the silence, he listened to his brother's breathing. He could hear it getting more and more labored. Concerned Nate moved from his spot on the floor. He heard his brother moan and saw his eyes fluttering open.

"Relax David," Nate said softly.

"I was hoping it was a bad dream," David said trying to sit up and then laying back down when pain shot through his left side.

Nate stood up and headed into the bathroom. Opening the medicine cabinet he found some ibuprofen. Shaking two out he put the bottle away and left heading for the apartments small kitchen. He grabbed a glass of water and headed back to his brother.

"Here take these," Nate said sitting on the side of his brother's bed. He slipped an arm under his brother's shoulders and helped him sit up. David took the pills his brother handed him and laid back down as there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Nate called out before David could say anything. He had a feeling it would be Keith.

Sure enough, the door opened and Keith walked in.

"Dammit Nate, I told you I didn't want the police involved," David exclaimed struggling to sit up, his breaths starting to come in gasps. Nate slipped a supporting arm behind his brother.

"They don't need to be David," Keith said softly before Nate could say anything. "I'm hoping that even with everything we've been through you see me as more than just another police officer. I've helped you once let me help you again," he continued taking a couple of steps toward the bed.

"I just want to forget this happened," David said. Just like he wanted to forget Vegas had happened. He had called Keith then because he hadn't know who else who could possibly help him.

"I know," Nate said softly. "But its not just going to go away and your hurt. Let us take you to the hospital and get the medical attention you need."

"They'll start asking questions or even call the police."

"Not if they think you've already reported it," Keith told him. He walked over to the bed and knelt down. "I promise I'll keep them from asking questions," he told David looking in his former lover's eyes. "Trust me."

David looked back at Keith. Could see the sincerity and concern in his eyes. He turned to look at his brother to find the same concern in his brother's eyes. As much as he wanted to be mad at Nate, he couldn't be. He knew his brother had only been looking out for him, something David had wished for during the many years Nate had been gone.

David didn't say anything. He just nodded.

With Nate and Keith on either side of him, David slowly got to his feet. He bit his lip to keep from crying out, as pain shot up his side. Slowly, the three of them made their way to the cars.

"Nate Fisher," Dr. Morgan called coming out to the waiting room. Nate stood up and heading toward him. Keith was right behind him

"I'm Nate Fisher," Nate told him approaching the doctor. "How's Dave?" He asked as the doctor led them to an empty corner of the waiting room.

"I'm admitting it him. Your brother suffered four broken ribs on his left side. His right wrist is broken, and a hairline fracture of the cheek bone. I want to keep him under observation for awhile. We'll see how he's doing tomorrow evening and discuss releasing him then." Nate nodded. "I sure hope the police can find the guy that did this to him," Dr. Morgan said glancing over at Keith, who had simply been introduced as the officer assigned to the case.

"We're going to do our best," Keith said calmly without missing a beat.

"Can I see him?"

"He's in room 124," Dr. Morgan replied. "The pain medication on will cause drowsiness, so he might not be awake."

"Okay, thank you."

Dr. Morgan walked back through the double doors to the emergency room and Nate turned to Keith. "You going to come see him?"

Keith shook his head. "Nah, you go. David said the guy he met tonight was Travis right?"

"Yeah," Nate said.

"No last name?"

"No. Keith, you promised to keep this unofficial?"

"Yeah, and I will. However, I do plan on making sure this guy stays away from David from now own, unofficially of course."

"Don't do anything stupid."

"Who me?" Keith said "Keep me updated on how David's doing will you?"

"Yeah sure," Nate told him.

As Keith headed for the exit, Nate headed down the hallway to the elevator. Taking the elevator to the first floor, Nate made his way to the first floor. Following the signs on the walls he eventually found room 124. Nate knocked softly and then walked in.

David was sleeping, but Nate could still see the pain on his brothers face. The bruising on his face had gotten even worse. His right wrist was in a cast. Nate walked over to the bed. He was thankful he had finally gotten David to come to the hospital. Now, he just had to figure out how and what to tell their mother in the morning.

His phone rang. Nate quickly answered it, not even looking at who it was. He didn't want the ringing to disturb David. "Hello?" he said into the phone as he walked toward the window.

"Nate, its Brenda. Is David okay?"

Keith walked into the bar and let his eyes adjust to the light. Once they were adjusted, he looked around. Word had it the guy he was looking for had come here. Keith finally spotted him in a corner booth with a sandy haired, blonde guy. He walked over to the two them.

"Are you Travis?" he asked the guy.

"Who's asking?" the guy said looking up.

"Name is Keith. You were with a friend of mine earlier in the night."

"And," Travis said not looking away though Keith could see a trace of fear in his eyes. Keith knew he could easily take the guy.

"I'm here to tell you to stay away from him, or next time you'll answer to me," Keith told him taking out his badge and letting the guy see it.

"Ah, yeah sure,"Travis said sliding backwards toward the wall a little bit.

Resisting the urge to punch the guy, Keith put his badge away and headed toward the exit. At the very least, he didn't think David would have to deal with Travis coming anywhere near him again. Problem was, there were other guys out there like Travis. He couldn't protect David from them.

Nate woke up to see the grey light of early morning coming through the window. He stood up from the chair he had fallen asleep in and stretched, trying to get the kinks out of his body. The chair had definitely had not been the most comfortable choices of places to sleep.

"Nate?" a sleepy voice said. Nate looked toward his brother to see that David was waking up.

"Hey, Dave," Nate said taking the last few steps toward the bed. He reached out and took a hold of his brother's left hand. "How you feeling."

"Not good," David answered. He glanced down at his wrist and saw the cast. "Guess I was hurt worse than I thought," he commented leaning his head back against the pillow.

"Yeah, and that's not the only broken bone either," Nate told him.

"Mom can't know the truth," David said looking at his brother with pleading eyes.

Nate nodded. David had a point. Their mother was going to be upset enough when she heard David was in the hospital. If she found out he had been beat up she'd insist on informing the police. Would probably not want David to go out alone.

"What do you want me to tell her then?"

"Tell her I slipped getting out of the shower."

Nate nodded. It was simple enough and believable. There was no reason she shouldn't believe it.

"How long am I going to be here?"

"At least the day. They may release you tonight. Either way, I don't want to see you back to work for a couple of days."

"You can't keep me from working."

"Sure I can. Not only am I your big brother, but I'm also your partner. Federico and I can handle things for a few days and if something does need to be ran by you, I know where you're at."

"There's already three funerals schedule for this week. One's tonight. I'm not even sure the body . . ."

"Relax, We'll handle it. You just concentrate on getting well," Nate told him. David nodded. "I'm going to head home. Let Mom know what happened and figure out what needs to be done. I have no doubt Mom will be here in a little bit."

David nodded again. Giving his brother's hand a quick squeeze, Nate headed toward the door. He reached out for the knob when Dave called out, "Nate."

Nate looked back at his brother.

"Thanks for coming tonight. For being there for me."

"Its no problem, David. I know we've had our differences, but you're my brother, I'm always going to be there for you, no matter what."

David nodded.

"Now, get some rest," Nate told him. "You're going to need it to deal with Mom when she gets here."

David started to smile but the movement hurt, and he winced in pain.

"Looks like I'll have to remember not to make you laugh anytime soon," Nate told him. "I'll be back later. Take it easy."

Nate turned and left the room. Walking down the hallway, he knew he had made the right decision to stay. His siblings needed him. It was about time he started being the big brother he should've been all these years.

The End!