Dot hesitated at the doorway, listening to her brothers' voices.

"You got it, Wak?"

"Yeah, I got it."

Wakko sounded just a little irritated, and Dot couldn't help smiling a bit. She remembered well the days her oldest brother constantly hovered over her. She peeked inside, and the amusement quickly faded.

The middle sibling was standing between two parallel bars, his grip tight. Yakko, who was standing beside him, stepped back.

"Okay, give it a try."

Dot watched hopefully as Wakko began to move forward, his steps slow and unsteady. But when he was nearly at the halfway point, she saw his legs beginning to tremble. He clenched his teeth and tried to keep going, but only got in two more steps before they gave out.

"Whoa, careful!"

Yakko barely caught him before he hit the floor, then smiled at him.

"Nice going, sib! Little further than yesterday."

Wakko didn't meet his eyes but stared at the floor with a dejected look.

"Yeah…" he mumbled. "Little."

His older brother's smile faltered, and he sighed.

"Wak, I know you're frustrated, but…"

Wakko immediately glared at him.

"Of course I'm frustrated!" he snapped, making Dot blink in surprise. "Some wanker shot me with a cannon, and now I can't remember my own life or do anything myself!"

His shoulders slumped, and the anger turned to sadness.

"We've been at this a week, and I still can't even take a few steps without collapsing."

Dot bit her lip and turned away, struggling to suppress her tears as Yakko's encouraging voice came from inside. She couldn't stand seeing her optimistic brother this way; so discouraged and doubt-filled. At first she had felt better knowing that they hadn't lost him completely, and of course she would always be grateful for that. But it seemed so much of him had been lost, and with every day that passed her hope that his memory would return, that he would ever be himself again, grew thinner.

The sound of approaching footsteps broke into her thoughts, and she quickly wiped her eyes before turning around just as her brothers emerged, the younger on the older's back. Both looked surprised to see her, which gave her a sharp pang of guilt, but she made herself smile at Wakko.

"Hey, I saw you… you were great!"

Her brother blinked, still looking surprised, then she saw his eyes lighten just a little.

"Thanks," he said softly. Yakko smiled and hoisted him a little higher.

"Told ya it was good."

Dot followed along as he headed back to their shared room but hesitated again at the doorway. She saw Yakko give her a sideways look and recognized his 'I know something's wrong and we're gonna talk about it' look. She bit her lip and stayed where she was, watching as Wakko climbed off his back onto his bed. Yakko said something she couldn't hear and ruffled his cap and hair; Wakko leaned into it, but still didn't smile. Dot let out a quiet sigh, only looking away when her oldest brother headed back to her. As soon as they were out of earshot, he gave her a searching look. All at once, her supressed emotions broke free and she was struggling not to cry. Yakko sighed and knelt down to her level.

"C'mere."

Dot nestled into his shoulder, sniffling as he rubbed her back. After a few moments, he spoke up again in a gentle but firm tone.

"I know this is tough, sis… believe me, I know. But is avoiding it really gonna make it any better?"

She knew he was right, but all her vexation at the situation seemed to rush to the surface and she couldn't stop it from bursting out.

"It's just all so wrong! This never should've happened to him in the first place! And everyone says at least he didn't die, but the way things are now he might as well have!"

As soon as the words were out, her eyes went wide. After a few stunned moments her throat closed up, and she pressed her face into her hands.

"Th-that came out wrong…"

To her surprise, she was pulled into another hug.

"I know you're frustrated, Dot… we all are," Yakko said. "And I know it's really hard to see him like this. But can you imagine how Wakko feels? On top of everything else he's going through, he's got no one but a family he doesn't remember, and thinks he's letting them down because he can't."

Dot bit her lip as she returned the hug, feeling even more guilty than before.

"That must be awful," she whispered.

"Yeah… but whether he remembers us or not, he's still our brother, and he really needs us right now. You don't love him any less, right?"

"No!" Dot exclaimed. Was that what Wakko thought? The thought made her want to cry all over again. Yakko drew back and gave her a small smile.

"Well, there ya go."

Dot gazed down at the floor for a moment, then looked up with brimming eyes.

"But what if he never remembers?"

"Then we'll just have t' live with it," Yakko replied. "But even if he doesn't, he's still himself, so when he knows we still love him, he'll eventually feel the same way about us. I'm positive."

Seeing the sincerity on his face, Dot smiled a little and nodded. Deep down, she knew that too. Her smile faltered as guilt filled her again.

"I'm sorry I didn't help more," she said softly. Her oldest brother just smiled and pecked her on the forehead.

"It's okay, sis. But from now on we do this together, deal?"

Dot hugged him again.

"Deal."

Yakko drew back and touched noses with her before standing.

"Then how about we go cheer our brother sib up, huh? Food still works."

Dot giggled, then thought for a moment before a slow smile spread across her face.

"I've got another idea."

Yakko cocked his head but didn't ask any questions. When they returned to their room, Wakko was sitting up with his hat in his hands, the usual solemn expression on his face as he turned it over like he sometimes did when he was sad. Despite the dejection the sight brought, there was a little encouragement too. Even if he didn't realize it, he still remembered his old habits. Dot walked over and hopped up on the bed, pushing down her guilt when Wakko looked at her with slight surprise.

"I'm really sorry," she said. "I haven't been helping much and I…"

"No, it's okay," her brother interrupted. He sighed and looked down again. "Can't say I blame you… I know I'm not exactly a joy to be around right now."

Dot reached over and patted his hand, then smiled when he looked up.

"I know something that might make ya feel better. When we were little, whenever either of us was sad, Yakko would sing this song that Mom used to. Wanna hear it?"

Wakko hesitated a moment, then nodded.

"Okay."

Dot's smile widened.

"Okay then," she said in a cheerful tone, then moved to sit with her back against the headboard and looked at him expectantly. When he looked at her with confusion, she raised a brow.

"You wanna hear it, we gotta do it right." She patted the spot beside her. "C'mon, scootch in."

After another moment of hesitation, the middle sibling did as she said, and she placed an arm around him as he leaned against her. She cleared her throat and started to sing in the same soft, soothing voice their older brother always used.

Golden slumbers

Fill your eyes

Smiles await you when you rise

Sleep, pretty darling

Do not cry

And I will sing a lullaby

As she sang, she began gently running her finger down the bridge of his nose. His eyelids flickered, and after a few more times they closed. Then the corners of his mouth twitched up into a smile for the first time in days, tongue sticking out just a little. By the time Dot reached the end of the song, he was asleep. Smiling herself, she looked at Yakko, who had been standing nearby listening.

"Do you think he remembered?" she whispered. He grinned and walked over, giving their sleeping brother a gentle pat on the head.

"Don't think it would've worked if he didn't." He looked at her, still grinning. "Great job, sister sibling."

"Yeah, well…" She directed a tender look at Wakko. "It's my turn to take care of him."