"Frank?"

Frank rolled over, startled; he hadn't heard the door to the bathroom open. Joe was hovering nervously in the doorway. "I didn't wake you, did I?"

"No. I couldn't sleep. What's wrong?"

"Can I come in?"

"Sure."

Joe hesitantly stepped over the threshold, shutting the door behind him. Frank scooted over to make a spot for his brother to sit.

"What's wrong?" he asked as Joe lowered himself to the mattress.

"I couldn't sleep either. I feel terrible."

"What? Physically? Is it your chest? Your stomach? Your throat? Does your abdomen hurt at all…"

"Frank! Not physically. Emotionally. I mean…I feel awful about what I said earlier."

"Oh."

"I'm not even going to ask you to forgive me. What I said was awful. You've been unbelievable through all of this, and all I end up doing is being more and more of an asshole."

Joe's voice cracked, and Frank saw him clench his hands trembling hands into fists.

"All I can say is I'm sorry, which I am. God, Frank, I'm so sorry. You don't have to forgive me. I'd understand if you didn't. But…"

"Joe," he said softly, touching his brother's arm. "Look at me."

Joe did.

"I said I'd always be there for you, right? Well, that includes when this thing gets the better of you and you lose it a little. Trust me, bro, I am never going to take you for granted again after this thing. Promise. All right?"

The younger Hardy's eyes filled.

"I don't deserve you," he whispered.

"Hey, don't go back there. We've been through that. Just reverse the situation. If this thing had gotten me you would have fought like a madman through all of it. And you'd forgive me. Right?"

Joe nodded.

"Then no more of this deserving crap. You promised. Remember?"

Joe shut his eyes. Frank felt him shake.

"Shhh, it's okay. You want to sleep with me?"

Joe nodded again and lay down beside his brother. Frank put an arm around him, shushing him again.

"Frank?"

"Yeah?"

An awkward pause. Then:

"I love you. You said it all the time, but I never did. I just…wanted you to know that."

"I do," Frank murmured, ruffling Joe's hair. "Get some sleep, buddy."

Joe was quiet for a moment, then turned to watch his brother in the dark. "Did you decide about school yet?"

The elder Hardy took a deep breath. "I'm going to go to Penn. If I get in."

Joe nodded. "We have to separate."

"But there are conditions."

"Oh?"

"I'm going to call you every night, and you're going to tell me what you ate for all three meals and a snack."

"All right."

"And you have to visit me. Often."

"Gotcha."

"No mysteries without me either. And you have to do whatever the doctors tell you."

"Promise."

Frank smiled. "I'll miss you too, you know."

Joe smiled back. "I know," he answered, for the first time in months, confidence behind his words.