The Lucky Cat was quiet as its usual patrons went about their day. Near the back of the cafe, Hiro and Lucas were quiet, snickering every now and then as they tinkered with something on the bench they were seated on.

It wasn't long before they looked around smirking as Lucas pointed to a tall young man with messy green hair and caramel brown eyes. "Yeah that's him."

"I'm on it." Hiro smirked turning on Megabot's controller as the little robot hurried over to the table before ramming into it making it shake… And knocking his cup of chocolate milk right over.

SPLASH!

"ACK!" the man jumped up, groaning a bit. "Ah great…"

The boys tried to keep from laughing… But Lucas couldn't help himself as he fell right off the bench laughing. "And the victory goes to Lucas!" He pointed to him. "That's what you get for dating my big sister!"

The man looked at the two, growling a bit.

"Haha, very funny Lucas."

Lucas smirked giving a dramatic bow as Hiro tried to catch his breath from laughing.

"I know it was Joshua. Get used to it."

Kathleen sighed as she saw this shaking her head. "Black Jack is not gonna be happy to hear Hiro's causing mayhem…"

"Most likely." Cass chuckled. "Though then again as long as he doesn't take it too far he should be fine."

"True." She giggled before going over to the table cleaning up the mess. "Sorry about that sir, I'll get you a refill right away... Would you like to switch over to a different table?"

"Yeah that'd be great." He gathered his things up giving the two boys a look before going to a different table.

Lucas and Hiro shared a high five before going back to work. "So, this should make mine able to fight too right?"

"Yeah, but you shouldn't be bot fighting. It's illegal and the fighters are jerks… Besides... I thought the reason you wanted this to be able to fit into a box is to scare someone like that guy."

"...Yeah but I wanted to know too." Lucas scoffed a bit wincing every now and then. Hiro frowned.

"You okay?"

"Hm? It's nothing. I'm fine."

Didn't look fine…

Hiro kept showing him the different circuits while he himself worked at it, keeping an eye on Lucas out of the corner of his eye. He didn't look himself today even with his antics… He was paler than he was usually and he kept wincing.

He's breathing kind of hard too…

"Lucas? You sure you're okay?" Hiro put down his equipment. "You don't look well."

"Hm?" Lucas smiled a bit, shaking his head. "It's just a cold… I've been studying a lot more than normal so I haven't been sleeping good. It just snuck up on me-"

Hiro titled his head, eyes a bit narrowed.

"Lucas… you're paler than you usually are and look like you're having a hard time breathing."

The redhead's eyes went a little wide before he frowned, lowering his voice.

"... Okay yeah, I am having a hard time breathing and I don't feel all that great. But I can't worry my folks… They're in the middle of an important case. Worrying about me would just make 'em lose focus."

"Lucas… holding it off will just make whatever it is worse…"

"... You really are Dr. Black Jack's brother."

"We've met, right?"

He chuckled a bit. "Darn right we have… But I'll be fine… Really." He tried to insist. "'Sides I don't wanna get stuck at some doctor's office all day. Can't afford your brother's rates."

"True… just be easy on yourself."

Lucas gave a little salute.

"Will do… You can even smack me upside the head if I'm being stupid."

"Alright." Hiro nodded. I have a bad feeling about this…

"It'll be our secret… Kay?"

"Okay…"

ooooo

Hiro was unusually quiet during the drive back to the cape. Black Jack glanced to him out of the corner of his eye.

"Something wrong Hiro?"

Hiro looked up a nervous look in his eyes.

"Kuro-nii…. Can I ask a question?"

"Of course."

"... What if you were told to keep a secret but you think it might hurt the person?"

"I would tell." He replied without missing a beat. "A person's life is more valuable than one little secret."

Hiro looked to him stunned.

"Even if your friend might not forgive you…?"

"If they're a true friend then they'll stay even if they might get in trouble for having such a secret." Black Jack turned to him after he parked the car in front of the house. "Why?"

Hiro frowned.

"... I… I promised I wouldn't tell…"

The doctor sighed before a thought came to him.

"... It won't count if you tell me." Same tactic Aunt Cass used on me and Fred when we were kids…

"... You promise?"

"I promise."

Hiro sighed.

"I think Lucas is sick… He wasn't himself today… He was really pale, and he kept wincing… He was breathing kinda hard too."

"He was huh?" Never a good sign…

Hiro nodded.

"He said it was just a cold but… I don't believe him and said as much."

Black Jack sighed.

"I'd say let's go and get him but can't exactly force him into the office. It's not like when you wound up here."

"Yeah… I told him to take it easy on himself but… I'm still worried."

"Hopefully he'll realize he can't hide it for long."

"Right."

oooooo

Hiro for the next couple of days kept an eye out for his friend. Stopping him when he was starting to be reckless. Helping him calm down and trying to get him to admit something was wrong.

"Come on Lucas this is getting ridiculous even for you!"

"I'll live." Lucas covered his mouth, coughing hard as they made their way out of the school.

"Where's your mom?" Hiro asked looking around deciding he would not put up with this another day.

"Work. I'm walking home today." Lucas replied giving him a look.

Hiro gave it right back. "New management."

".. What-"

Hiro grabbed his arm dragging him to where Black Jack's car was. "C'MON KNUCKLEHEAD!"

Lucas coughed as he was forced to go along with the boy. "S-Stop! Hiro cool your jets-"

"Shut up!"

Where does he get this strength from!?

Black Jack was waiting by the car, arms crossed.

"I wouldn't fight him if I were you… and I came prepared as well."

He opened the passenger door by the driver, showing a young teenage girl sitting there who had her arms crossed.

"Lucas."

Lucas stopped struggling as his eyes widened. "C-Crap… Uh… Hey Alyssa… F-Fancy meeting you here…" I am DEAD...

"Indeed… now I suggest doing as the doctor says." Alyssa narrowed her eyes. "Or I can guarantee no access to your video games."

Lucas gasped a little. "You really know how to hurt a guy." He muttered before sighing. "Alright… I give up!"

Hiro sighed in relief. "Phew…"

"Come on then."

It was straight to the cape without any questions. Black Jack kept his focus as he was examining x-rays in his office, the others waiting in the OR. Black Jack came in, concern in his eyes.

"Well?" Alyssa asked. "What's the diagnosis, Doctor?"

"Pneumonia… There's a buildup of fluid collecting in the lungs… It's a large one…" He sighed. "He's been hiding this for a long time."

Alyssa narrowed her eyes, giving Lucas a bit of a look.

"Why didn't you tell any of us?"

Lucas lowered his head stifling another cough.

"I didn't wanna worry you guys… Mom and Dad have been so busy… I know them… They'd drop everything if either of us were sick and I know they can't just do that this time… I don't want the guy they're chasing to hurt anyone else…"

"Lucas…" Alyssa placed a hand on his shoulder, looking to Black Jack. "Doctor… What do we do now?"

"The build up is rather severe… an operation would be required to drain the fluid."

Lucas gulped giving his sister a nervous look. She squeezed his shoulder.

"Then please… He's suffered long enough… And he's punished himself enough." She sighed. "How much?"

Black Jack closed his eyes… seeming to ponder a bit before opening them again, looking at Hiro, smiling softly.

"... The payment was already made awhile back. I ask for nothing else."

The siblings looked confused. "Awhile back?"

"You protected me Lucas… And you helped me from those bullies… It's our turn to help you." Hiro smiled.

"Okay…. I'm ready then… I wanna get well." Lucas smiled a bit. "Can't be out of commission for too long. Ikeda gets any idea's I wanna be able to punch him."

Black Jack nodded.

"We'll make an arrangement for an operation then."

Alyssa sighed in relief.

"Thank you Doctor."

oooooo

"He'll be just fine." Black Jack explained to Lucas' mother, looking at the boy.

He was currently resting, smiling a bit in his sleep as he curled under the covers a little, his breathing steady.

"Just be sure to not overwork his lungs for a few months."

She nodded giving him a grateful look. "I will. He's going to be spending a lot of time resting and reading quietly for awhile.." She ran a hand through her hair. "I just can't believe we missed this…"

"He was hiding it the whole time… He didn't want to worry you." Black Jack frowned a bit. "Didn't want to distract you from a big case if I heard correctly."

"That is what was going on… We caught him earlier today finally…" She frowned looking back to where her son was. "He's a good kid… Just sometimes doesn't know when to remember he's important too."

"He's a good one… he's been taking care of my brother when I couldn't… this was my way of thanking him for that."

She smiled giving a nod.

"Thank you for that.. He really is fond of your brother, I hear about their antics every day after I get home from work. They're good friends from what I understand… And he's been showing him things too… I'm glad he met him."

"You and me both… Take good care of him now."

"I will. I promise."

Hiro moved past them joining Lucas on the bed soon conking out as well.

I'm glad he's got friends he can depend on…