Title: Brotherly Love

Rating: K+, for swearing- This is the Boscorelli brothers we're talking about!

Spoilers: Up to and including the fourth season. This fiction does not extend past that point in the series.

Summary: Bosco and his brother get into a heated argument, Bos is seriously injured shortly afterwards, leaving his younger brother guilt ridden.

Special Note: Here's chapter five, and wow I can't believe how short this one is!

Brotherly Love

Chapter Five: Making Up

Faith looked at Mikey pointedly, her eyes encouraging him to say something. When he made no move, she turned to Angela and said, "Rose, how about we go down the hall and grab some coffee? I need to phone Fred and the kids anyhow."

Rose saw the look Faith was giving her and instantly clued in. "We'll be back in a few minutes, Maurice." She kissed her sons forehead gently and walked out of the room with Faith leading the way.

Mikey watched them leave and broke out into a nervous sweat when he realized that this was it. His chance to talk to Mo and apologize for the things he had said. He looked down at his brother, who stared back up at him.

"You look like you're looking at a ghost or something." Bosco rasped, feeling awkward. It felt weird being all weak and pale in front of his little brother, especially with the oxygen mask and all the machines surrounding his bed.

Mikey let out a small chuckle and pulled his chair closer to Bosco's bed, blushing furiously as he did so.

"Man, you change colors faster than those mood rings you use to buy." Bosco cracked, not being able to contain himself when he noticed how Mikey's face went from white to red in a matter of seconds. A bit of color returned to his pale face as he laughed painfully.

"What? I was only eight, and…they DID work." Mikey defended himself, remembering the collection of mood rings he had owned as a kid. "Besides…at least they did SOMETHING, unlike your bottle cap collection…."

"It was a BEER cap collection and I'll have you know that I had every single one in America. Hell, we had a life time supply of 'em around the house." Bosco said quickly, not realizing what he had said until after it had slipped out.

The brothers went silent, what Bosco had said was true, painfully true.

"Listen Mo, I'm really sorry about last night. I-I didn't mean any of it, I swear." Mikey forced himself to look straight at his brother as he spoke.

Bosco held his gaze and said quietly, "I didn't mean to interfere with your life, Mikey. I'm sorry that I did, and I'm sorry that I arrested you that night…I-I just didn't know what to do…" His voice faded and was replaced with a violent cough attack. He coughed into his balled up fist and sat up awkwardly, his throat burned painfully.

Mikey didn't even think about what he did next, he quickly brought up his hand and helped his brother by supporting his back. When he was done, he helped him lay back down and withdrew his hand quickly.

Nonetheless, Bosco smiled at him weakly and croaked, "Thanks."

Mikey smiled broadly and nodded his head. "I know now that you were just doing what you thought best, hell, I'm clean now aren't I?" He said, his voice held some pride.

"Damn straight you are. You have no idea how proud I am of you, I'm just glad that I'm still here to say it to your face." Bosco croaked, his throat was still burning. He suddenly had complete trust regarding what his little brother told him.

Mikey felt like a boy who had just won first prize in the science fair, and he liked the feeling. "It's a great feeling, knowing that you're thinking that Mo."

There were a few minutes of comfortable silence, then Bosco asked in a quiet, hesitant voice, "Do you really think that dad has enough problems to deal with…like you said a while time ago?"

Mikey looked down at him and said firmly, "No, that son of a bitch caused more pain in our lives than is imaginable, and I'm just starting to realize it."

"Glad that you're finally taking my side." Bosco said seriously.

"God Mo, I'm so sorry that I was such a coward. I-I should of helped you when he hurt you…man, you stepped in the way when he even came near me and I can't thank you enough. I just wish that I had done the same for you. You know, that's one thing that has stayed with me since forever…" Mikey faltered and his brother was stunned to see the tears forming in his eyes.

"Don't you ever blame yourself for what that son of a bitch did to us. You were only around eight years old, Mikey. You're not a coward, I remember you pulling me out of that car last night, and that was incredibly brave." Bosco spoke at once, forgetting about his sore throat.

Mikey wiped his eyes furiously and nodded.

Bosco's eyelids drooped tiredly.

"Go to sleep, Mo. You must be exhausted, I don't think that you should of talked that much." Mikey said firmly.

"Faith and ma…" Bosco mumbled, his voice thick with drowsiness.

"They'll come by after you've rested up a bit, I'm sure they can wait." Mikey felt uncomfortable speaking for his brother's partner and their mother, but figured that they would want Maurice to rest if he needed it.

Bosco sighed and let his eyes shut.

Meanwhile…

"Don't worry sweetie, Uncle Bosco just woke up and the doctors are almost positive that he'll be okay." Faith reassured her son for the second time.

"When can we go and see him, mom? I know! Christmas is in two days, we can have Christmas with Uncle Bosco!!" Charlie exclaimed, his voice bubbling with excitement at the very thought.

"I don't know if tha--"

Faith was cut off, Emily had grabbed the phone away from Charlie and had said hurriedly, "Oh puh-leeeease, mom?! It'll be so much fun! We'll be quiet for the other patients and we won't make a mess! Dad thinks that it's okay!!"

Faith had to chuckle at her daughters voice, she sounded very much like Charlie, not like the 13 year old she was. Sighing, she said, "I'll have to ask the doctor permission first and of course, we'll have to make sure that it's okay with Bosco's brother and mom. They may want to have something where it's just the family. IF we do, it'll just be you two, dad, Bosco's mother and his brother, okay? Oh, and we'll open our presents at home and come over in the afternoon, where you guys can give Bosco his gifts. We wouldn't want to have wrapping paper everywhere, now would we?"

"Ya! Oh, I got to go, Amy's at the door waiting to be let in. Bye mom, tell Uncle Bosco that we say hi." Emily said hurriedly.

Faith hung up with her family and shook her head; Amy was one of Emily's friends from school.

"You are family."

Faith let out a startled yell and she wheeled around. Rose stood before her with a small grin on her face.

"Did you hear everything I was saying?" Faith asked curiously.

Rose nodded and said, "I couldn't help it, you talk loud."

Faith smirked at her comment and said, "Does that mean you don't mind if they kids come over later on Christmas day?"

"Of course not! I'm actually going to go down to the gift shop now to pick out a little something for them…" Rose smiled happily and started to head towards the elevator.

"Oh! You don't have to!" Faith exclaimed, trailing after her.

"Faith, I want to. I've never got to buy for a girl before…" Rose's face was alit with the chance to shop for someone of the same gender. "You're not going to change my mind, so you may as well come with me and help me choose what they'd most like." She continued.

Faith continued to protest but followed her towards the elevator anyways.

TBC

On to chapter six!