A/N: Thanks for the reviews so far. More is to come from this. Dot's story is up next.

Instinctively Yakko knew that both Constance and his red convertible were gone for good, so with Harpo in tow Yakko spent the night in the police station, doing his best to catch a few hours sleep on the hard, uncomfortable plastic chairs in the lobby, waiting to see his brother. Sunlight started to filter in through the cracked blinds at about six o'clock, and Yakko obtained some breakfast from the vending machines down the hall: a candy bar and hot, strong coffee for him, some doughnuts and apple juice for Harpo.

When he hadn't been fitfully trying to sleep, Yakko had spent a good portion of the night observing Harpo. Harpo, for his part, had spent the night sitting straight up, looking all around him with a curiosity that was familiar to Yakko, because he himself possessed it. Every once in a while Harpo would steal a furtive glance up at his uncle, but would quickly look away when Yakko met his gaze. Yakko could tell that Harpo was taking all this new information in and processing it. He couldn't imagine why Wakko thought that Harpo was stupid; those bright, quick eyes spoke differently.

Yakko laid the doughnuts and the can of apple juice down next to Harpo on the floor, and sat down on the chairs. He noticed that Harpo was watching him, but this time Yakko was careful not to look down at the boy and thereby break the stare. Yakko suddenly realized that Harpo's small hands were clutching the pack of doughnuts, unsure of how to open it, and he was watching his uncle in order to learn. Yakko slowly and deliberately opened his candy wrapper and watched from the corner of his eye as Harpo painstakingly repeated Yakko's action with his doughnut pack. A small smile passed Harpo's face as he watched the doughnuts miraculously appear for his taking as the wrapper slid off from his simple action. Harpo looked up at Yakko once more, and this time their gaze met and held for a few seconds, until Harpo slowly raised the food to his mouth and began to eat.

Of course, Yakko didn't know that these simple actions were entirely new to the little boy, and went along eating and drinking his coffee quickly due to his hunger. Harpo seemed to linger over his meal for a while, but dutifully finished it all, having not spilled a drop or a crumb. Yakko stretched and looked up at the clock: 6:30. When would he be able to see Wakko?

"Stay here," he commanded Harpo gently, lifting him up and placing him on a seat. "I'll be right back."

Yakko made his way over to a pay phone in the lobby, knowing that Babs would be getting up for work about now. He dialed the number quickly and had never been more relieved to hear Babs' cranky, sleepy morning tone.

"What?" she asked flatly as a greeting.

"It's me."

"Yakko! Thank God. Where were you last night?"

"I was in the Alballa police station."

A pause. "Why?"

"Wakko got himself into some trouble, involving a gun, a liquor store, and some demands that the owner didn't take too kindly to. By the way, our convertible is no more."

"Sounds like an exciting day. I guess the meeting didn't go over so well, hm?"

"I guess you could say I've had smoother encounters. Look, Babs…" Yakko glanced over at Harpo, who was absorbed in the wonders of the cloth on the armrest. "My brother's a mess. So is his life. Look, I don't know how this is all going to turn out. I want you to be here." Yakko sighed and said softly, "Babe, I'm scared for him."

There was silence on the other end that lasted so long that Yakko thought the call had been dropped. Finally, Babs said quickly, "Honey, I've already got my coat on. I'll be there in a couple of hours. Sit tight, babe."

Yakko hung up and felt his stomach rumble. It occurred to him that neither he nor Harpo had had any lunch or dinner the previous day. No wonder he was so hungry. A candy bar and a cup of coffee wasn't going to do it for him. "C'mon, little guy," Yakko said gently to Harpo. "Let's go get a real breakfast, hm?"

There was one greasy spoon open on the far corner of the town, and this is where he and Harpo walked to from the police station. Silence met them at the door, as all other occupants turned to stare at the two. Yakko guessed he was probably the only guest in town at the moment, but ignored the stares and sat he and Harpo down at a table in the back of the restaurant. A haggard old woman gave them two menus and a dirty look. Yakko smiled as best he could, but made faces at the lady's back. Much to Yakko's surprise, Harpo giggled softly under his breath. Encouraged, Yakko licked his spoon and placed it on the end of his nose, crossing his eyes and grinning. Harpo giggled again, this time louder. If it hadn't been for the grouchy looks he was getting, Yakko would have continued – it felt good to have someone laugh at his antics again.

Eight o'clock saw Yakko and Harpo entering the police station again, and saw a worried looking Babs catch sight of them.

"There you are!" she said, throwing her arms around Yakko. "I was worried when you weren't here."

"How the heck did you get all the way from Toontown to Alballa in an hour and a half?" asked a dumbfounded Yakko.

"Baby, when someone I love needs me, speed limits cease to matter." Babs finally saw Harpo standing silently at Yakko's feet. She smiled. "Is this Charles?"

"Harpo," Yakko corrected her. "He doesn't speak."

"Hi Harpo," Babs said, kneeling before him. "Nice to meet you. I'm Babs."

A door on the side of the room suddenly flew open to reveal a stout officer who immediately shot Yakko an incriminating look. "You Warner's brother?" the officer said gruffly. Yakko nodded. "Come on, you can see him now."

Yakko and Harpo, leaving Babs in the lobby, followed the stocky officer to a viewing room and left them there. A moment later, Wakko was lead through a door by two officers. He was wearing something similar to his factory uniform, but instead of 'Alballa Manufacturing' stamped on the back, this one read 'Alballa Prison.' Yakko did his best at a weak smile.

"Hey buddy. Long night?" he said to his handcuffed brother standing before him.

"I've had worse," Wakko said, shifting uncomfortably. He looked away. "Look…I'm going to be here for a while. They've got me on a lot." He sighed. "I'm sorry, Yakko."

"For what?" Yakko asked softly.

"For everything. I'm sorry I wasn't the brother you wanted. I'm sorry I got you into this. You were right. About not taking responsibility for myself or my actions. This is my fault."

"But I shouldn't have turned my back on you," Yakko said. "No matter what you've done, you're still my little brother. I still love you."

Wakko smiled but didn't meet his brother's gaze. "Thanks," he said simply.

"If you want, I could try to pull some strings. I could get you out of here by tomorrow. Look buddy, we can pull through this, I can – "

"Don't," Wakko said sharply, looking up. "I got myself into this. I have a feeling its all for the best. I can't keep relying on other people to get me out of trouble that I've created for myself. Maybe its time I had a wake up call." Wakko looked down at Harpo. "I'm sorry I dragged him into this too," he said, nodding down to his son. "He's innocent. Look Yakko, you probably think I'm a horrible father…and maybe I am…but I only want the best for him. I didn't realize it until yesterday, but he means a lot to me. I hate myself for the life I've given him so far."

"So let me get you out of here! I know some good lawyers who work in this county, I promise, I'll work night and day – "

"No!" Wakko growled. "I need to teach my son this lesson. I need to own up to the things I've done; I wouldn't be able to look Harpo in the eye if I didn't. I want to show him that even though his father has done bad things, he wants to make up for them. I need to show him how to do what's right. This is the right thing to do. Understand?"

Yakko was speechless at the fact that the same person standing in front of him now was the same person who only sixteen hours ago had been holding a gun to his son's head and risking all of their lives in a robbery. He suddenly felt very proud of his brother; finally, Wakko was doing the right thing. "All right, little bro. You do what you need to do."

They both simultaneously looked down at Harpo, who continued to stare up at his father. Wakko looked up at Yakko, and an unspoken agreement passed between them. Yakko put his hand on Harpo's shoulder. Wakko smiled in relief.

"Thank you, Yakko," he said quietly.

"Two minutes!" an officer called gruffly from the corner.

Wakko sighed and sank to his knees in front of Harpo. "I've got to go away for a while, ok Harpo? Your uncle Yakko will take good care of you. For once you'll be in a place where you'll always be warm and always get plenty to eat. Be good. Make me proud." He bit his lip, and struggled to maintain eye contact with the serious little boy still looking him deep in the eye. "Goodbye son," he whispered. Wakko planted a kiss on Harpo's forehead. "I love you, buddy, and I'll come back for you," he whispered.

Harpo took his small hand and laid it on his father's cheek. "Love you too, Daddy," he said softly, in a perfectly articulated voice.

A guard pulled an awestruck Wakko to his feet. "All right, you've said your goodbyes. Let's go," the guard said in a gravely voice. Wakko soon disappeared behind the steel door he'd come in, leaving Yakko and Harpo alone in the room. Both were silent and still for a good minute before Yakko felt his hand being gently entwined with Harpo's fingers. He looked down at the little boy, who smiled back up at him.

"Ready to go," he said in a matter-of-fact voice. Yakko smiled as they made their way out to the lobby to catch a ride back home.