Disclaimer: I do not own Artemis Fowl.

Chapter 3

Angelus stared out at the snow that lightly fell on the balcony outside his room. Eric was sitting at his desk looking over some papers quietly mumbling to himself. Angelus was thinking of his little brother. 'Poor little boy.' He thought. He remembered sitting in the study waiting for him to finish the chocolate milk he had given him. Angelus remembered how Artemis loved chocolate milk when he was little especially when he was sick. How frail his little brother had always been. He was so susceptible to the cold.

Angelus sighed and turned around to Eric who wasn't paying any attention to him. Angelus turned back to the windowed door. He wasn't sure why but he felt rather jumpy and fidgety. He thought back to the warm study once again. He had sat across from his brother unlike he would have done when he was little. He had wanted to cradle his little brother to his chest and care for him but he couldn't now. For one his little brother was hardly little and for another he knew what his brother thought of him.

Angelus knew the look in Artemis's eyes. The look that said, "Slut." He had been getting that look for as long as he could remember. Angelus knew that he had had sluttish tendencies but he was hardly a whore. He didn't sleep with just anyone and he certainly didn't sell himself. He didn't mind too much when it was just people on the street staring at him. If it were just strangers he didn't care but when it came to Artemis it hurt. His little brother thought he was some kind of dirty whore and he had no idea how to change his mind.

Angelus felt an arm wrap around his waist and warm lips touch the skin of his neck. "Something wrong Angelus?"

"Eric WHAT do you think you're doing?" Angelus asked.

"Trying to get you to relax." Eric said.

Angelus turned around in Eric's arms and pushed him onto the purple comforter of his bed. Angelus crawled onto the bed and straddled Eric. Angelus began to undo the buttons on Eric's shirt. When that annoying task was done Angelus leaned down and planted kisses on Eric's stomach. Eric raised his arms up and placed one hand in Angelus's hair and the other he ran up and down Angelus's back. Angelus let the kisses flow up to Eric's chest until he came across his neck. Eric stared at the beautiful being above him and enjoyed the feeling of being devoured by it.

Angelus started to lightly bit and nip on Eric's neck. He glanced at the door yet making sure not to let his focus off of Eric's throat. Then more kisses made their way from Eric's neck to his lips. Eric felt Angelus's tongue run across his lips. Eric opened his month obediently for the older man. Eric was become hot and horny quickly with Angelus's teasing. He felt the heat rush to his groin and felt Angelus smirk into the kiss.

"Tell me Eric do you have any idea what you're doing?" Angelus asked ending the kiss.

"Of course I do." Eric said.

"I bet you do." Angelus said planting another soft kiss on Eric's lip. "You know what I don't like Eric?"

"What's that?" Eric asked.

"Idiots who think if they give me a night of pleasure I'll send them straight to the top." Angelus said in pure disgust. "Don't show up tomorrow. Your services are no longer needed. Now get out of my house and don't you dare return." Angelus said getting up and heading into the bathroom and locking the door behind him.

Next morning Artemis woke up with a pain in his chest. He sat up and felt his breathing to be heavy and he started the morning off with a dry cough. He quickly passed this off as usual sickness and decided it was unimportant. He stood up and with aching muscles he started down the stairs. Angelus was sitting at the kitchen table when Artemis walked in. He was deep in thought apparently staring at the table. He was sitting still in his robe with his hair tied back. It hung messily around his face as he stared and Artemis could only wonder what was on his mind. Artemis walked over to the counter where two plates of food sat waiting. It was still warm as Artemis took it back to the table and started to eat.

Artemis noticed that Angelus had not yet eaten that morning. There were no dishes in the sink and Angelus had no plate set in front of him so he must not have been hungry. Artemis mentally shrugged and started on his meal. He wasn't feeling much better than yesterday but he had actually been hungry this morning so he decided to come downstairs and get something. He had not been surprised to see Angelus sitting at the table yet he also had no expected it. He ate for about 10 minutes before being interrupted.

"I know what you saw me last night." Angelus said. Artemis looked up at Angelus. He was sitting staring at him his arms crossed. He had an expressionless face as he stared at his younger brother. Artemis knew this look. He knew it from when they were younger and Artemis got into trouble.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Artemis said coolly and returned to his meal.

"Artemis I know you're smarter than I am but I am no idiot. You saw me on top of Eric last night." Angelus said sighing and closing his eyes. He slouched in his chair and stared at the ceiling.

"Fine I did. It's your private affair. I wasn't going to say anything." Artemis said.

"Oh don't give me that crap Artemis. I've already told you I'm not an idiot. I know what you think of me. I know that you think I'm some kind of whore." Angelus said in what seemed a tired voice.

"Well you are. You slept with your assistant last night. If that doesn't spell slut I don't know what does." Artemis said.

"You really think I'm desperate enough to sleep with my assistant? Little brother I assure you I did not sleep with him. Eric was fired last night because he thought he could sleep with me and I would end up playing favorites. He's not the first. I'm sure he's not the last. Artemis I have had over 23 different assistants both male and female and each and every single one of them have done exactly the same thing." Angelus stood up. "It hurts to know you would think of me as so shallow." Angelus left the room.

Angelus walked up the staircase heading for his room. He grasped the railing. He wanted to cry but he couldn't at least not until he got to his room. 'I've always was too sensitive.' He thought with a mental bark of laughter. He finished climbing the stair and started the long trudge to his bedroom. He felt so lonely. He had never been able to find anyone who really cared for him. At least not after he'd made all this money. Before he became rich he had had people who cared. Now? Now all he had were backstabbers.

That's why he didn't have a lover. Because he knew that all they wanted was his money. That's why he had taken this large house with no one around except for himself and the gardener. That's why it hurt so much to have his brother think that he was so shallow and dirty. Because he was supposed to be able to trust his brother. Because his brother was the only person he was supposed to know was going to be there. Angelus found himself in front of his bedroom door. He opened it, walked in, and locked the door behind him. Falling onto the bed he fought back tears. 'How pathetic.'

Artemis sat staring at his barely eaten plate. His stomach was tied in knots right now and he felt like shit. 'I'm some kind of horrible.' He thought to himself. His appetite was gone and what little he had made him feel sick. Last night Artemis had woken up in the night. He had felt rather sick and after vomiting he decided he should go ask his brother where some medicine was to stop the headache and nausea he was having. He had walked down the halls. He wasn't sure exactly where his brother's room was but was too disoriented to really think that out.

He had been in luck to hear commotion in a room and found his brother atop his assistant. He thought he had not been noticed and decided to just not say anything. Artemis thought it just proved his thoughts of Angelus and headed back to his bedroom. He had crawled into his own bed and closed his eyes and returned to sleep still feeling sick. Now he felt sicker than ever.

Suddenly Artemis jumped as he felt a light weight on his shoulder. He turned in his seat to Riley standing there a big grin on his face.

"Good morning to ya." He said and if possible his grin got bigger.

"Good morning." Artemis said as Riley walked over to the kitchen counter and poured a mug of coffee.

"Ran out of coffee at my place so I'm sure Angelus wouldn't mind if I took a little of his." He said sitting down at the table and taking a good look at Artemis. "Well don't you look like something the cat spit up." Riley said.

"Oh thank you." Artemis said sarcastically.

"Your welcome. So what might be troubling you?"

"What are you a shrink in a gardener's disguise?"

"No, just a concerned bystander." Riley said setting down his coffee mug.

"Well if you really want to know I just accused my brother of having no self dignity and I really think I hurt him." Artemis said.

Riley nodded. "Well I think the best thing to do is what's called apologizing. I know it sounds very unbecoming but, you may not know this Artemis, your brother is very sensitive. He loves you a lot and he's always held you in high regard. For such a rich man he has very little. Well I need to get back to work." Riley said standing up. Artemis nodded and sat there thinking as Riley left.

"Damn it I hate it when I have to do this." He said and stood up. He suddenly felt dizzy but decided that it would soon pass and headed for the stairs. He walked up feeling sicker with each step but he had to get upstairs. No matter how much he hated to do it he had to go and apologize to his brother. His headache increased as well as a feeling of fatigue. His head began to swim and the scenery around him began to become something out of a surrealism painting.

He reached the top of the steps and had a sudden wave of nausea and began to gag. He fell to his knees on the landing and vile vomit mixed with blood landed on the floor. "What's wrong with me?" He asked. He heard an oddly drowned voice. He looked to his right and saw Butler walking towards him. He was saying something but the voice was so far away and the sound of blood running made it impossible to hear him. His head ached even more as he fell onto his side. He closed his eyes and let fatigue take over. He was so drained.

Angelus heard someone try to open his door. He had been resting seeing as he had got little sleep last night. Angelus sat up his hair even more messy than before. He stood up as said person starting banging on his door. "Angelus!" he heard from outside the door. It was the tall Eurasian Angelus gathered from listening to the voice. He sighed and fixed his disarrayed robe. Opening the door he found Butler staring wide-eyed at him. This was a curious predicament.

"Is there something you needed Butler?" Angelus asked.

"It's Artemis. He's very ill. You must hurry." Butler said desperately. Angelus stared for a moment then walked out of his room calmly and followed the impatient man. He followed Butler to the other part of this house. Passing by the stairs he noticed the vomit and thought that he must clean that later. He stood in front of Artemis's door. Angelus walked in and saw a shivering Artemis curled up in the sheets. Angelus walked over and laid a hand on the boy's forehead. It was far too warm and the flush on Artemis's pale cheek caused Angelus to shake his head.

"I think he has pneumonia." Angelus said. Butler stared at him.

"How can you gather that from just checking for a fever?"

"Because he's had it before, Butler. I'm going to call for a doctor. If we has to we'll take him to a hospital even thought I'd rather not." Angelus said leaving the room.

Later that evening the doctor had come and gone. He had claimed that Artemis had a mild pneumonia and should be fine if properly cared for. He had prescribed medication and Angelus had promised to make sure Artemis took it. The day had progressed with Angelus and Butler waiting beside Artemis to wake up. Angelus had made some dinner in hopes that at some point they could all eat but Artemis was had still been asleep and the other two couldn't seem to stand to swallow so all the dinner became was leftovers. Butler had decided to stay by Artemis's side through the night in case he woke up. Angelus had nodded and retired to his bedroom. He had yet to even change into any clothes or comb his hair.

Angelus sat as his computer. He was trying to finish work on something but instead he just ended up sitting and staring. He was very tired but could not seem to sleep. He was too worried for his brother's safety. For you see as Angelus said his little brother had had pneumonia before. He had barely survived. Course he had been 8 or so and the sickness had been much more serious but there was still the possibility. Artemis had spent a good while in the hospital being poked and prodded. It had left a permanent effect on him.

Artemis had then since hated hospitals. He had since always screamed and cursed when he was brought to one. Part of the reason he avoided the people and the outside so much. Less likely to come in contact with certain germs and in staying away from them he stayed away for any chance of having to go to the hospital. Angelus sighed and then started to close out his programs. Turning off the computer he stood up and walked over to his bed and wondered if he should go to bed. Artemis didn't seem to be waking up any time soon so he should probably just get his rest for now.

But he was wrong. He heard the door to his bedroom open and there stood Artemis. He looked extremely exhausted and very sick but somehow he had made it from his own bedroom here. He walked into the bedroom and Angelus stared at him unsure of what to say or to do. Then for some reason he became very angry.

"Angelus I........."

"Damn it Artemis what the hell are you doing out of bed?" Angelus asked and Artemis stared at him clearly confused. Artemis stared up at Angelus and realized that he was clearly angry. 'Is he still upset about earlier?' Artemis asked himself. Angelus walked over to him and grabbed his arm and started to pull Artemis to his bedroom.

"Angelus stop it!" Artemis cried. "Angelus let go! Please you're hurting me!" Artemis cried again but Angelus didn't seem to be listening to him. Angelus found Artemis's door and pushed him inside. Artemis stumbled then fell to the ground his body being to disoriented to really keep balance. "Angelus please I'm sorry! Please Angelus I don't want you angry with me!"

Angelus stared at him a little longer his face turned from anger to sadness. He sat down on the ground beside Artemis. "I'm sorry Artemis." He gently took Artemis's arm and pushed up his pajama sleeve. Artemis watched him looked over the impending bruise. It was only red for now but Artemis and Angelus knew it would be a bruise soon enough. Angelus had always had a strong grip for such a small man and had more than on one occasion given Artemis a bruise without intending too.

"I'm sorry Artemis." He said again. "I didn't mean to it's just.........I'm so worried about your health and when I saw you out of bed I just let that fear take over." He shook his head. "Come on let's get you into bed." Artemis nodded and let his brother help him up and put him into bed. Artemis noticed the care his brother was taking to make sure he didn't leave another bruise. Angelus sat on the bed beside Artemis. "What was it that you wanted little brother?"

"I was coming to tell you.........that I'm sorry for what I said this morning. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I should have never said those things."

"It's alright. I've become accustom to it. I'm going to go downstairs and make you something to eat. I'll be back in a little while." Angelus said and headed for the door.

Artemis stared after him. It wasn't alright and he knew it. Angelus had always been like that. Angelus loved Artemis so much that whenever he had a problem with his little brother he may be angry or sad at first but after awhile he'd just say it's alright and try to sweep it under the rug. Angelus seemed to worry so much that Artemis felt bad that he didn't really care how he felt. It annoyed Artemis greatly because his apologies were few and far between. Not to mention his brother was still greatly depressed by that morning's events. He just wasn't really sure how to fix this.

YAY! It's a wonderfully finished chapter and I love it very much. I hope you like it too. *looks at digi clock* Oh goodness look it's 4 o'clock. It's amazing what I'll do for you people lol. Well I hope you liked reading it as much as I didn't writing it. Love ya,

Screamarie