When JD opened the door to his apartment, he didn't see his brother anywhere. He made his way to the bathroom, carefully poking at his aching face.
As soon as he walked in, Dan jumped out from behind the shower curtain.
"Hey, hey little brother!"
JD shouted in surprise and sprang backward. "What's the matter with you!"
"No, no, no! What's right with me! We're going out for a beer, c'mon."
"Dan, I'm really not in the m--"
But his brother was already out the door and humming "100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall."
When they got to the bar and ordered, Dan finally turned to JD and sighed.
"You know everything I said was bull, right?"
JD scoffed and tipped back his bottle.
"No, I'm serious, Johnny. Dad knew you cared, that's why he wanted me to be more like you. I was just being a jerk 'cause I didn't want to, you know…be me."
"Listen, Dan --"
"No, hear me out, lil' bro. I envy you. You've got good friends and a good job and people like you."
"People like you, Dan."
"Only the people I give free beer to."
"Who doesn't like free beer?"
"True…"
They sat in comfortable silence, drinking a few more bottles before paying and heading for the door.
Turk and Carla walked in as they were pulling on their coats.
"Hey guys -- Whoa! What happened to you two?"
JD and Dan exchanged a look. "Us?" Dan asked. JD grinned. "You should see the other guys."
Turk shook his head. "'You want a beer? It's on me."
"Nah, we're good. I think it's time for us to go home and call our mom, anyways."
Carla nodded understandingly. "How are you guys holding up? I know it must be hard on you."
Dan punched JD in the arm and was promptly hit back. "You know," JD shrugged.
"We're fighting through it."
Dan rolled his eyes, "Last one to the apartment gets to tell Ma why we didn't stop by at grandma's after you got off work today."
"Hey!"
Turk watched them run out the door. He put his arm around Carla. "I think they're gonna pull through."
End