I don't even lift my head from the pillow at the footsteps. "I thought I told you to leave me alone," I spit.

"That's no way to talk to your older brother."

I perk up and swing my head a bit too quickly. "Sam?" I ask, squinting through the spinning room.

"Hey, Nathan." He smiles and sits on the edge of my bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Better."

"Yeah, I'm sure." He pats my hand and peers up at me shamefaced. "I'm sorry, Nathan. I'm really, really sorry."

"Don't be. It was my fault," I sigh. "I'm the one that pulled on the wheel. I hope you're not hurt."

"What? No, I'm fine." He waves his hand dismissively. "Nathan, it was my fault. I was the drunk driver. I am responsible. And I promise I will never put you in harm's way again."

"Oh, Sam..."

"No, I'm serious. You deserve a better life than mine. You're too smart for all of this. You should be in school using that big brain of yours."

I crinkle my nose in distaste. "You haven't been talking to Sully, have you?"

"No, I haven't. I truly believe you're meant to do something more with your life. And I know you and that old guy are going through something, but he can take better care of you than I can."

That was not what I was expecting. "But... I thought you wanted me to stay with you."

"Well, I do. I just think it's better this way."

"Say I don't agree with you. Can I still come home with you after they let me out of here?"

Sam says, "Of course." But he looks disappointed.

"I'll... think about it."

He smiles and pats my uninjured shoulder softly. "I bet you've been doing a lot of that these past few days."

"Tell me about it," I groan. "They won't let me do anything! No reading, no drawing, not even TV!"

"Aw, poor baby brother."

"Shut up."


A few minutes after Sam leaves, I hear more trespassing footsteps. "Nate?" asks a gruff voice. I'm surprised he waited this long to talk to me. He actually respected my request for once.

I quickly weight the pros and cons of conversing with him. Eventually, I decide on: "Come in."

Sully draws a chair closer to my bed and says, "I heard you talking with Sam, so I figured I'd come talk to you, too."

"What, you wanted to check that he's not turning me against you?"

"Oh, come on, Nate. That's not fair. I'm just checking in on you. I can't imagine the pain you must be in."

"I'm fine. Obviously. Have you seen the nurses frantically running in and out of here? No. I'm fine."

There's a heavy silence where Sully sighs tiredly. "Nate, I'm begging you. Please give me a shot. I'll do anything."

I quirk an eyebrow and glance at him out of the corner of my eye. "Anything?"

"...Yes," Sully says in a hesitant manner, almost as if he suddenly realized the danger of the word "anything".

"So you're prepared to my follow my every command? Take every order?"

"You want me to be your butler for the rest of your stay in the hospital?"

"Yes." Sully opens his mouth with a rebuttal, but I interrupt. "You got a problem with that?"

"Well-"

"I thought you said anything."

His lips press into a thin line, extenuating his well groomed mustache. "You're right. I said anything, so anything it is. Your wish is my command."

I know my smirk is smug and condescending, but I can't help myself. Sam did a really good job convincing me to hang with Sully a little longer, even if it means mandatory public schooling. But I know they're both right about it being good for me. I just won't tell Sully yet. I mean, why ruin a perfectly good opportunity to have a personal servant for a few days?

"Your first job will be to bring me a dozen donuts. And not the crap ones from the hospital cafeteria. I want the frosted ones from the bakery."

"Is that all?" Sully rolls his eyes.

"I will not take sass from my employees, Mr. Sullivan. One more infraction and you're out."

He raises an eyebrow, but straightens in his chair. He quickly salutes me and heads for the door. "Yes, sir. I'll be back in twenty minutes."

"Make it fifteen," I call after him, snickering at his groans. This is going to be so much fun.