A/N: Hello again everyone! I'm glad to see that a couple of new readers have hopped on board for this story, your faves and follows mean a lot to me and inspire me to keep writing when things are tough. They also remind me how much I enjoy writing fanfic, when other life priorities (like, you know, getting a PhD) seem to make me forget that fact.

One thing I wanted to say before starting the chapter is that you've probably noticed there is not a lot of dialogue in this story—and I don't intend there to be a lot of dialogue as a whole. Certainly if a scene requires conversation, of course I'll write it, but I sort of like this idea of Tadashi and Hiro communicating on this different level with looks and touches. It seems more real to me because sometimes, things just don't need to be said to be known.

Chapter 4:

The next night, he awoke to screaming.

He jolted out of bed so fast he felt his muscles seize up at the sudden movement, but he ignored the cramp as he turned on the light next to him. His eyes widened in alarm as he saw Hiro scrambling up out of bed himself, looking like he didn't know where he was, eyes those of a wild animal about to be caught, and Tadashi stumbled, he was moving so quickly to get to him, wrapping his arms around him as the screams lessened and turned into heavy, body wracking sobs, so forceful they almost took Tadashi down with them as Hiro hunched over at the intensity of the feeling.

It was really a scream and a sob all at once.

Tadashi's heart was working itself into a staccato frenzy when their door flew open and Aunt Cass came in, disheveled, breathing hard, adrenaline clearly pumping through her veins. She was holding a bat threateningly. "What's going on?" she asked, a little hysterically, "Are you okay? What happened?"

Tadashi took a deep breath, trying to calm his heart, still hammering loudly in his chest. He was sure Hiro could hear it pounding from where his cheek rested against his chest. Aunt Cass was coming over to them now, having taken in Hiro's state, and her eyes were wide with fear. Hiro was crying so forcefully that he was almost falling out of Tadashi's arms, so forcefully that Tadashi couldn't keep a grip on him. He tightened his grip and felt Hiro's nails dig into his forearms, still panicked, frantic.

"He had a nightmare," he said finally, and Aunt Cass nodded, not satisfied but at least feeling reassured that there wasn't an ax murderer in the house, or something similar. The bat fell to the ground beside her as she shifted into her role as mom, and Tadashi felt real love for her then. She was a wonderful woman in every way, and while she would never replace his mother, she always did her best.

Together, the two of them comforted Hiro. It took a long, long time to calm him down, the two of them rubbing his arms, embracing him, touching his face, his hair, Aunt Cass whispering sweet nothings into his ear while Tadashi just repeated, "It's okay, I'm here, we're here," so many times the words started to sound foreign to his own ears, like they weren't words at all.

After what seemed like forever, Tadashi said, "I think I can get him back into bed."

Aunt Cass looked uncertain, but nodded her head. She knew Tadashi would take of Hiro, just like he always had. Tadashi was touched, although it was hard not to feel unsteady when he rose to his feet.

Hiro was like a ragdoll in his arms now, he was so tired from the emotional episode. Tadashi was exhausted too—there was no easy going back to sleep for him tonight. "Hey, let's get back in bed," he said in a low voice to Hiro after Aunt Cass had left.

At this, Hiro grabbed him fiercely, but he had expected this and said quickly, "Don't worry, don't worry, I've got you, not going anywhere," and he lifted Hiro into his arms, bridal style, as he made their way over to his bed, where his one light was still casting a soft glow over the room. While some nights the glow was comforting and warm, tonight it seemed ominous and dark. Tadashi shook the thoughts from his head, knowing they wouldn't help him, or more important help Hiro—right now.

He placed Hiro down on his bed and followed closely behind, pulling Hiro towards him instinctively. Over the last couple of nights, he had gotten very used to this sensation of Hiro lying next to him, and it was obvious that Hiro still needed his physical presence to get the emotional comfort he needed. Tadashi pulled him close for both their benefit tonight, Hiro's solid body a consolation to his still frazzled nerves. Every protective instinct in his body was screaming at him to do something because the situation just didn't feel resolved. Tadashi felt like something big, something perilous was coming, but he didn't know what. He felt like his brother was in danger, although it could have just been Hiro's screams reverberating in his ears. He knew he wouldn't forget that sound for a long time.

When Tadashi turned off the light, Hiro had already succumbed. Tadashi didn't sleep.