Disclaimers: I don't own them, I'm not making any money off the story… I'm just trying to play well with others.

~~ I want just a day to make it all OK.  You, could you teach me how to cry. ~~

Just a Day- Reamonn

Chapter 4: A Brother-to-Brother Talk

"Were we too loud for ya, bro?" Blake asked when he came into the room a while later.

"Just couldn't concentrate," Hunter answered, still trying to read.

"Is something wrong, Hunter?"

His reply was merely a shake of the head.  And since his eyes never left the book, he didn't see the look Blake was giving him.  But he couldn't help but notice when Blake ripped the book from his hands and threw it across the room.

"What is going on?" Blake asked, rephrasing.  "This whole hiding thing may work with everyone else, but not me.  I'm your bro, I know you too well."

"I'm tired of having people ripped from me.  So I figure if I don't get close to anyone here, it'll hurt less when we leave."

"We may be here for a long time," Blake replied, sitting on his brother's bed.

"My point, exactly."

"Hunter," Blake sighed.  "I know it's not easy for you.  And just because we'll have to leave them sooner or later doesn't mean they'll be out of our lives forever.  We don't have to be in the same city to still be friends with them."

"Doesn't mean we still won't lose them."

"You have me.  Always have, always will."

Nothing could've prepared Blake for what came next.  Hunter, who had been avoiding eye contact with him by staring at the wall, turned to his brother.  And his bright blue eyes were now shimmering.

"Do I?"

Blake was so shocked he could only stare.  How could his brother doubt that?  And Blake knew neither brother would be sleeping much that night.  When he somewhat recovered from the shock, he threw his arms around his brother's neck.  Blake toppled Hunter over, pinning him to the bed.   Hunter slowly wrapped his arms around his brother's body, returned the embrace.

"I'll take that as a yes," Hunter softly said.  "Uh, bro, I actually like breathing."

Blake reluctantly released his brother, sitting up with his arms folded across his chest.  Hunter took a few deep breaths, partly to get air back into his lungs and partly to calm himself.

"How could you possibly think that you didn't have me?"

"You've just been so busy with other things that most of the time I don't know where you are, what you're up to…if you're ok.  But you seem to be doing fine without me around."

"Hunter, it isn't just the two of us anymore.  And yeah, lately I have been spending a lot of time with Tori and the others.  They are our friends.  But it doesn't mean that I don't need you."

"I guess I'm just used to being the only person you needed, being the one that protected you and cared for you.  I guess I just haven't figured out how to let go."

"Well, that's good.  I don't want you to totally let go.  Like I said, I still need you.  I'm just trying to loosen your grip a little.  Don't worry, if anything happens, you'll be the first to know."

"I better."

"Ya know Hunter, when will you learn that it's easier to just *talk* about what's bothering you instead of hiding and brooding about it?"

"Just what I'm used to doing."

"Well, I'm not going to let you brood anymore tonight."

"Oh?"

Which wasn't what should've come out of Hunter's mouth.  Blake's hands went straight for Hunter's ribcage, knowing exactly what he was doing.  But it didn't take Hunter long to attack Blake, and both crashed to the floor.  They wrestled around for a while, each trying to get the tickling upper hand.  And it wasn't until both brothers needed to catch their breaths that they calmed down.

"What do you say to some ice cream?" Blake asked.

"I don't feel like any of Cam's weird stuff," Hunter answered.  "My idea of good ice cream doesn't involve peanut butter."

"We've got other stuff."

"We do?"

"I just keep it well hidden, or else you'd eat it on me when you can't sleep."

"Ok…" Hunter began.  "I just can't move my legs."

Blake's eyes widened, suddenly afraid that he'd hurt his brother.  "Why not?"

But when he caught the humorous look on Hunter's face, he realized just why not.

"Dude, you're sitting on them."