Daniel had eventually moved back over to his laptop, sending messages, making sure things were in place. Joel was watching both the brothers. He eyed Jack suspiciously, he knew they were brothers but had no idea why Daniel seemed so protective and worried about him. From what he had herd, he had left Jack for dead long ago, so why was he bothered now? As he thought this he noticed Jack's eyes open as he began to look around the room, slowly surveying his surroundings.
"Daniel he's up." He informed as he patted Daniel on the shoulder, making sure he had herd. "I'll be in the living room." With that he turned and left the two alone.
Jack was still looking around, and he had noticed he wasn't restrained in any way. This was either good or bad. Either he was he going to escape or he was too badly injured to get out. He pondered this thought as he saw a figure approach him. He instantly recognised him, and slowly said;
"So I didn't dream it..... you really are here." He looked up at his brother, not sure how he should feel. His features were mixed with pain, and not just psychical, Daniel thought.
"I had a doctor check you out. He left some pills for you, take away some of the pain." Daniel danced around the real subject he wanted to confront, but didn't have a clue as to where to begin.
"Gee thanks." Was all Jack said, angry at his brother.
"Jack don't do this." Daniel said, pleading evident in his voice. He gave Jack two of the pills and helped him lean forward to sip from the glass of water he had already poured, helping the pills go down.
Jack said thanks naturally, before realising what he'd done. He silently cursed himself, he had no reason to say thanks to Daniel, none at all.
Daniel sat back down in the grey chair and paused, not knowing what to say.
"So... long time no see, I guess." It was all Jack could think to say, inside part of him wanted to cry whilst another part wanted to throw a fit, his emotions were all over the place. He was being smart to Daniel, trying to make it look as though he didn't care, but deep down, he did.
"Jack...." Was all he said in response, still unable to compose his thoughts.
"It's been over twenty years Danny, and you can't think of anything to say. Or should I be grateful you remembered my name?" He said, acting clever. He didn't know why he was acting so rash, it really wasn't him, but he needed to let some of his feelings out. They had been hidden away for so long.
"I'm sorry Jack.... I .... I .... I didn't mean to leave you... I had no other choice... I would've gone to jail...." He said, sadly.
"Well it is good to see you had your priorities in order."
"It wasn't like that!" He began, trying to defend himself.
"What! You are responsible for your action Danny, you should have paid the consequences."
"It wasn't my fault!"
"Bullshit!" Jack roared. He actually realised how angry he was, as his chest shrieked in pain as he shouted, yet he continued. "You shouldn't have set up the deal if you didn't have the goods!"
Daniel tried to calm himself so he could explain it to Jack. "I know that Jack. It was stupid to think I could even pull it off. But if you hadn't have interfered, you wouldn't have been hurt." He said it simply, but it enraged Jack.
"Interfered?! I come downstairs to find you and Craig getting your ass' kicked by some smack heads, and I'm not supposed to help you? What should I have done Danny, huh? Stood by and watched? What would you have done if it was me?"
Daniel's anger matching Jack's, he replied. "All I am saying is that if you hadn't tried to stop them, they would have left you alone."
Jack didn't reply, he was going dizzy from the shouting. He calmed himself and looked up at Daniel, "Do not try to put the blame on me. You were stupid enough to set up a drug deal, when the stuff was fake. They would have never fallen for it, and they didn't. But you didn't suffer the consequences, I did."
"You unappreciative little st! You had your life back, I have been on the run for over twenty years Jack, I'm a fugitive, I'd say I've paid, wouldn't you?" He said.
"You left me for dead! I was your responsibility, and you left me to die.... to save your own ass."
Both fell silent at this; and Daniel knew he was right.
"Look, I didn't come here to argue, I just... I ....." Again he couldn't find his words.
Jack just stared at him. Anger raging through his eyes.
"I'm sorry." He said, lowering his head in shame, but for Jack, it wasn't good enough.
"Your sorry, for what? For leaving me to die? For turning my whole life upside down? The only reason I ended up in the army was because there was no other relatives I could live with; and I had to wait 9 months before I was old enough to look after myself, I was 17! I was not going in a foster home, so the army was my only other option. I didn't even care for it, but what other choice did I have? If I hadn't enrolled, who knows? Maybe I wouldn't have ended up at C.T.U.? Maybe, just maybe I'd be a whole lot better off if you hadn't fd everything up with your little stunt."
"Jack you can't blame me for everything that's gone wrong in your life." He said.
Jack looked up at him, seething with hate. "Like you would know what Ive been through since you left."
"Look, Jack. I know I should never had left, I know, and I'm sorry. That's why I came here, to see you, to apologise, to make things right."
"You wait over twenty years, and now you want to make things right?" Jack repeated, in shock.
"Yes."
"Its been too long Dan, you never should have left."
"I know, I know! I wish to hell I didn't. It tore me up, leaving you their! I didn't know if you were going to make it or not. I called the ambulance, the police sirens were getting louder, Craig dragged me away. I swear to God Jack; if I, if I could change things, I never would have made the deal, and I never would have left you. I'm sorry. I just wanted you to understand, theirs not a day gone by that I haven't thought of you, of my mistake ."
Jack looked at him, saw the pain and the regret in his eyes. Something inside told him he was telling the truth, and something stronger told him he needed to give his forgiveness. He looked up to him, and nodded his head. It wasn't much, but Daniel understood. The smallest of movements meant all of the world to Daniel. He held his hand out, and after a slight hesitation Jack took it in his good hand and gave it a firm shake, like they used to do when they were younger.
For the first time, in over twenty years, Daniel cried. The small clear tears began to snake down his cheeks, as he pulled his hand away.
"God I've missed you Jack," He said as the tears of happiness continued to fall steadily..