Ok, so here you begin to learn a little more about this not-so-mysterious-accident, and you'll learn lots more later… hum… I wonder how many chapters I'll make this into…?

MOVING ON!! R&R YOU!!!

smooches

Oh and for you slash-queasy people, I still think this is more of a friend fic for now. I'm trying to make it as gradual and "real" as possible. I don't think I've had them do anything they wouldn't do as just friends.

And I'll be sure to give everyone a warning before I get into the slashy bits. (I'll say this right now, there wont be any hard core, or probably even soft core, stuff going on. It's going to be more innuendo than anything else, sorry!)


He walked out of the bathroom, inhaling deeply, as the smell of bacon and other goodies caught his nose. His stomach growled loudly in response. He hadn't eaten since lunch yesterday. He came into the kitchen to find Tommy with a phone wedged between his ear and shoulder as he struggled to flip over the four eggs that were cooking on a frying pan.

"I got it." He said, taking the spatula and Tommy smiled at him before going to sit down at the table.

"Yeah, well, thanks Aunt Charlotte." He was saying and then paused, "Nah, he's fine. Yeah, I talked to him the other day." Chuckie listened closely, but caught no hint of what was going on, not even in Tommy's neutral tone. He pulled the pan off the stove as the eggs finished and placed them on to the waiting plate.

"Oh, so what's the room number again?" a pause. "Got it, thanks again Char. We'll see you at the hospital later, alright?" He said, finishing the conversation as Chuckie slid into the seat across from him.

"So?" He asked anxiously as Tommy set the phone on the table.

"He's fine." And Chuckie breathed a sigh of relief, "It was a small heart attack, and they're just keeping him for a couple of tests."

"Tests? For what? If he's fine then why do they need to do tests?"

"Just to be certain everything is okay, and they want to know why it happened." Tommy answered calmly as he stood to gather a few more plates from the counter. He set everything down and Chuckie watched in silence, "He's fine, I promise you." Tommy said firmly, putting a warm hand on his shoulder. Chuckie looked up at him and gave a brief smile, before turning his gaze on the food.

"I know you didn't make all this while I was in the shower." He said as Tommy pulled his hand back and sat down again. The other man gave a sheepish smile.

"Actually the only thing fresh is the eggs and toast. I made the bacon and ham a couple days ago and the fruit was cut up yesterday."

"Hell, I haven't eaten since noon yesterday and I'm starved, so I couldn't care less." Chuckie said, piling food onto the plate in front of him as Tommy poured them both glasses of orange juice. They ate in silence for a couple of minutes.

Chuckie sighed as he thought back to when they were kids, back to when Tommy saved him all the time, from the boogeyman, or the monster in the shed, or any of the imaginary beings they used to face on a daily basis. It was odd, even during the days after the accident, Tommy was still the strong, brave one.

He recalled going to see Tommy when he and Dil still lived at the old house. He had wanted to comfort the other teen, to let Tommy use him as a pillar, but when he got there, all he could do was look at Tommy and cry. Cry for all the things that were now gone from the other teen's life. His parents hadn't seen him graduate. They wouldn't be with him for his 18th birthday and he cried because Tommy and Dil wouldn't experience so much that he had. And because they would never see their parents again. And Tommy held him as the older teen sobbed over two people that might as well have been his aunt and uncle who had left their two sons far too early in their lives.

He ended up sleeping over that night, and many subsequent ones. All three of them splayed out on the living room floor, Dil wedged between the two older boys, one of his legs still in a cast. A Reptar movie played on the television, set on mute as they all talked about nothing, trying to make each other laugh.

Chuckie shook his head. Even now, Tommy tried to be the strong one for everybody. But Chuckie wasn't the same kid he'd been. He didn't need to be led around by the hand and he didn't want to be.

"Did Charlotte say why Kimi hasn't called?" Chuckie finally broke the silence, shoving his thoughts away.

"Nah, she didn't, but Kimi's still at the hospital." Tommy said, "We can drove over when we're done eating, if that's fine." Chuckie nodded and they went back to eating in silence. Pretty soon his thoughts drifted to the bottle in the medicine cabinet and Tommy's lie. He wondered why he'd kept it a secret, and for so long? He could understand if it was embarrassing, but to not tell him?? He was the best friend. They'd had their diapers changed next to each other for christ's sake! They knew more about each other than anybody else! Or… at least they had. He cleared his throat and looked up at Tommy who put his fork down at Chuckie's expression.

"Tommy. You know I'm you're best friend right?" He managed uncertainly.

"Of course." Tommy laughed, and again, Chuckie heard that odd undertone.

"And I'm always here for you. No matter how far apart we are, no matter what you need, even if it's just to talk, or anything." He said hurriedly, his heart pounding in his chest, though he wasn't sure why. Maybe talking about things like this was just another one of his phobias. Almost like asking a girl out on a date. Maybe he was just waiting to be rejected.

"I know." Tommy said, now serious, "You said all this before, when you moved."

"I just don't want you to forget."

"I never have."

"So, if anything's bothering you, or if something's wrong, you can talk to me about it."

"I'm fine Chuck." Tommy said and the redhead heard a certain tone reach his voice. Chuckie said nothing more, only went back to eating his breakfast. Tommy joined him after a brief moment.

"How's Dil doing?" Chuckie asked after a couple of minutes of near tense silence.

"He's good. I actually called him day before yesterday. He passed all his midterms with flying colors. He's only got two years before he gets his bachelors." Tommy's voice swelled with pride and Chuckie couldn't help but smile. He wished he and Kimi had the same kind of relationship.

"Psychology still his major?"

"Yeah."

"I just can't really see him as a social worker. He's always been, so, well, nutty."

"He's still a nut. But he's a nut that wants to help people and he has the dedication to do it." Tommy smiled.

"How about Phil and Lil?" Tommy paused at this and Chuckie almost regretted mentioning her name, but it was hard to talk about one twin without mentioning the other. In their junior year of high school, the two had attempted a relationship but it was brief and ended on a sour note when Lil got drunk at a party and made out with another boy. Tommy broke up with her than, the fact that she was drunk playing little part in his decision. Chuckie wasn't sure if he was just looking for an excuse to end it. Both of their families and friends had been pushing for them to hook up and Chuckie suspected that if not that than he never would have said yes when Lil asked him out. Lil didn't entirely share the sentiment and had taken the break up very personally and hadn't really talked to him since, despite Tommy's early attempts. Eventually he became slightly resentful that she would let a few bad weeks ruin a lifetime of friendship.

"Well Phil's parole just ended, that's why were out celebrating." Tommy gave a wry smile and Chuckie just shook his head. Phil had been given a large fine and quite a few hours of community service after he broke into a neighbors home while drunk, thinking it was his. Luckily the woman thought it was funny and decided not to press charges, but because he was publicly intoxicated, he was fined and released on parole.

"He told me Lil's been hired by large marketing firm and she's been making a lot of money. He also told me that she's just been engaged.

"Engaged!? Wow!" Chuckie sputtered on his orange juice, "I didn't even know she had a long term relationship."

"Yeah not like ours huh?" Tommy smirked and Chuckie gave a small uncomfortable chuckle.

"I haven't heard much of Angelica or Susie lately."

"Yeah, it's kind of hard to keep up with people's lives if you never call." Came the smart reply and Chuckie faltered at this and gave Tommy a curious glance. The tone far more bitter than he would've imagined. Tommy looked up after a brief second and sighed, smiling.

"Sorry, guess my hangover has me a little irritable." He managed, "I don't see why you haven't heard much of either of them. Angelica's just received a commemoration for being the most successful music manager of any one star. And as her famous client, Susie's just hit it big with two consecutive #1 singles in 13 different countries." Tommy smiled at Chuckie's expression.

"I've been hearing Susie's name but I had no idea she was so big!"

"And she never would've got there without Angelica."

"Or her daddy's money." Chuckie gave an almost smirk. Tommy laughed.

"Angelica actually just paid her parents back and bought a house for them. A nice one too, for 1.5 million dollars." Chuckie almost choked on his own spit.

"Holy shit." He managed.

"Yeah. It's mainly because she has bunch of artists scrambling to get her as their manager." Chuckie shook his had amazed. Tommy finished his meal and started clearing the table. Chuckie downed his orange juice and stood to help him. Tommy started to rinse and load the dishes but Chuckie bumped him aside.

"I've got it. Remember, the cook doesn't do the dishes." He said when Tommy looked at him startled. The younger man's face broke into a small smile as he remembered their last couple of years together when Chuckie spent most of his time over at his best friends house.

"Kay, so who does the dishes when we order pizza?" He asked, as if testing him ,a mischievous smile on his face.

"Easy. Whoever doesn't pay for it." Chuckie said and cut Tommy off before he could speak, "And if the cost is split than we rock, paper, scissors for it."

"Good to know you've still got it, buddy." Tommy said, patting him on the back.

"ME?" Chuckie said, in mock surprise, "I was worried about YOU not having it." They laughed then and it was the first time that Chuckie felt it was natural for Tommy and he swelled a little bit at the thought.

"Well, since you've got it covered, I'm going to get dressed." He gave a wave as he left the room, leaving Chuckie to the dishes and his thoughts. Tommy had been right to snap at him. He should've called more often. He should've visited. He hadn't even realized how much he'd missed everyone, his family, friends and especially Tommy. He knew though, deep down, why he didn't. When they were younger, since grade school and all through high school, he knew everyone was destined for greatness. Everyone except himself. Tommy was going to be famous movie producer. Susie was going to be a famous singer. Angelica would succeed in whatever she did, she was too tenacious to fail. Lil was going to be a news anchor, before she got interested in marketing and ads anyway. Dil was just a flat out genius. Kimi was involving herself in politics and her aim was to be a U.S. Ambassador for Japan. His thoughts faltered on Phil… he'd had promise, back then. He'd been interested in entomology but then he'd gotten a little too attached to alcohol and partying in their junior and senior years and barely scrapped by, even graduating late. Himself, he didn't have any real interests and he wasn't especially bright or talented and he knew, felt it in his bones, that he was going to be left behind in this small town, stuck doing something he hated for the rest of his life while everyone gained a name for themselves. He could clearly imagine them all being interviewed, or writing their autobiographies, and remembering that one kid. The one with the red hair and freckles and glasses, that one nerd, and whatever happened to him, anyway?

"Hey Earth to Chuck." Chuckie jumped and dropped the glass he was holding back into the sink. Luckily, it didn't break and so he turned to look at Tommy who was smiling, amused by his reaction, "Unless, you've developed some form of telekinesis, staring doesn't get the dishes done."

"Ha ha." He said sarcastically going back to loading the dishwasher. Tommy had changed into a pair of ragged fitted jeans and black wife beater, over that was a flame colored open button up. He'd also slid several earrings into place, "You got your ears pierced again?"

"Yeah." Tommy reached up and tugged at them, shrugging.

"You look like a freakin wannabe rock star."

"At least I don't look like a yuppie. I saw your clothes." Tommy said smirking.

"I'd just gotten off of work when I drove over here!" he said defensively.

"I dress like this when I go to all my jobs." Tommy said and Chuckie splashed some water at him hearing the smugness in his voice. Tommy laughed again, blocking his face.

"Come on, you can finish later. I'm sure you want to see your dad." Tommy said and Chuckie nodded, smiling. He wiped his hands off and followed Tommy out of the kitchen. Tommy was grabbing his keys when he turned and smiled at Chuckie, before pulling the other man into a surprise, firm hug.

"I really missed ya, bud." He said and Chuckie returned the hug.

"Missed you too." They parted with that and walked out of the house, Tommy locking the door behind them.