Thanks to hippiechick2112, ladygris, feathered moon wings, ellie, and mexicana for reviewing!

After his much-needed shower, Alex put on clean clothes from his dresser. He looked at the bed. Scott hadn't just taken the sheets Alex had puked on. He had made the bed with clean sheets, corners so tight Alex guessed he could bounce a nickel off them.

He sighed and raked a hand through his hair. He never asked for any of this and couldn't remember the last time someone took care of him. Couldn't remember the last time he had a hangover like that, either. It would be nice, he thought, to do something for Scott, but he wasn't sure what Scott wanted.

Snickers and girlie mags?

Scott had been born first and had the market cornered on maturity, but Alex had more life experience. He realized now that, despite that, he couldn't think of a single kind gesture toward the brother who had probably just taken better care of him than his adoptive mom. (Which wasn't actually difficult, not to belittle the effort.)

But first things first, all he'd had to eat for a day was toast and his stomach was finally not threatening to revolt. It was like a little drunk. Little guys always wanted to show how tough they were: throw something at me, let me throw it back!

He grabbed the last slice of leftover pizza and ate it cold.

"Alex."

He swallowed. "Hey, Ruth."

She stepped around him to wash her hands in the sink. They were muddy like she had just buried a body—although it was probably more to do with gardening than actual murder.

"You are feeling better?"

"Yeah."

"This has been rough days for you."

"Ye—days?"

Ruth nodded. She turned off the water and dried her hands on a tea towel. "Hank and Scott brought you home on Tuesday morning."

Alex groaned. He raked a hand through his too-long hair, trying to make sense of it—trying to work up to asking an embarrassing question. "What's today?"

"Thursday."

Ouch…

"Your car needs to be brought home soon. Are you well enough to drive? I can give you a lift into town."

Alex licked pizza grease off his fingers and nodded. Seemed like the least he should do.

"Okay."

"Wait, now?"

The look Ruth gave him took 'withering' to a new level. Was it possible to be castrated with a glance?

"You are too busy?"

Alex admitted he was not.

He followed her to her car and buckled in for what he knew would be a very bumpy ride. Ruth tended to take the speed limit as a whispered suggestion. Then again, with the threat of a headache behind his eyes, Alex wouldn't mind whispers.

He kept his eyes closed. Normally reckless driving did not bother Alex. Actually, he found rides with Ruth exciting. Not so much as he recovered from the worst hangover he had ever experienced.

When they reached the bar, Ruth got out and slammed her door—on Alex's head, it felt like. Of course she didn't really, but he wasn't sure if she intentionally hurt him. One thing Alex knew about Ruth, don't threaten her babies. Like it was any secret he hadn't been good to Scott lately.

Alex watched her slip bills to a man smoking outside the bar. So that was why his car hadn't been towed yet. He fumbled with his keys as he went to it. In many things, Alex was less than excellent. Not so car care, and it needed some love as soon as possible.

"Ruth?"

He stopped her as she passed by him.

"Yes."

"I, uh, was thinking about doing something nice for my brother."

"It would be a first."

One question answered: Ruth was definitely angry. Alex decided arguing the point was not worth risking the loss of life.

"Maybe that's why I'm having such a hard time figuring out what to so."

Alex expected another cutting remark. Instead, she nodded. "I will think about suggestions."

"Thanks."

Again she nodded. He understood that their conversation was over and finally unlocked his car. There were a few empty beer bottles in the passenger seat footwell, which worried him. Alex always had a close, loving relationship with alcohol, but he didn't forget the things he drank. (Well, not within a few days.) He never drank in the car.

Something needed to change. If the past two days of illness didn't make that clear, this did.

Of course, not everything was going to change. Alex, just like Ruth, drove recklessly, which was a stupid thing to do with a hangover threatening. His mind was on other things and, if he was being totally honest, it was a little fun to take a turn too fast.