Summary:

Things turn bad when Drake ends up in the hospital because of Josh; a mysterious stalker from Drake's past returns, stopping at nothing to get revenge, perhaps even murder. Drake falls for a sweet girl, but is scared to let her in his heart because of old heartbreaks. Read and review it!

Disclaimer:

I am Drake's & Josh's # 0 fan! So let me write this little story, okay, government? I'm a girl who just wants to have fun… and fun equals writing a Drake and Josh fan -- fiction story! I mean, come on, why do I even have to put this disclaimer?-! Don't we ALL know what fan – fiction is for?

Note to Readers:

The story is almost finished! This chapter is really long but I wanted to take my time to get it exactly perfect. Hope you all enjoy.

Story: "Party in a Box"

Chapter: "Breathe Out"; Twenty - Nine

Written By: Ginger

Extras:
Italics in "quotation marks" symbolize thoughts of Drake's.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Drake's heart leapt up in to his burning throat and the figure above him snapped his head up, looking to the door way to see who it was that was facing him. His hand faltered for a minute and disappeared behind his back before he raised both of them above his head and rose from the ground.

"Step forward and keep your hands up."

The man seemed to know that he had no choice but to surrender, and he stood up and walked slowly across the room.

But just as Drake and everyone else in the room laid back and began to breathe a long - awaited sigh of relief, something happened. All at one time, something inside his Father's head seemed to snap. His eyes grew fiery with a disturbed, psychotic look that would make any one's spine shiver, and his form became rigid and dark. Darting forward in a blink of an eye, the man retrieved something from his pocket and before anyone could stop him, he reached out and struck the police man standing closest to him.

With a gasp, Drake tried to struggle up from his place on the floor, but failed and lay back down after he saw that the other officers where already restraining him and had it under control. The police man that had been stricken began to fall backward, but he was caught from hitting the ground and within a few moments he was taken outside.

That commotion was pretty confusing, but somehow most everyone managed to keep the situation almost under control.

It was only perhaps a few seconds before some more police officers and paramedics rushed in and leading the out of control man through the broken door, they began to tend to Anita.

Drake was literally overwhelmed—in every way. He looked on as they transferred the fragile form of his girl to a stretcher, and they quickly hurried toward the emergency vehicle with her.

A medic hurried inside to help with her, but after he was told that he wasn't needed in that capacity, he turned and seeing Drake he made his way toward him: "Are you okay?"

A voice he hardly even recognized as his own spilled out from his parched, dry lips: "I—y-yes. I'm… I'm going to be fine." This was quite a lie, because in reality his ribs hurt a great deal, but he wanted every possible effort put fourth toward helping Anita, and he dared not to waste any bit of it on his own silly little pains. In his mind, his weren't half serious—and hers were.

"Are you sure of that? Because if you aren't, we can easily get you to—"

Drake interrupted him quickly and faked a reassuring, yet still pale nod: "No, really, I'll… I'll be okay in a second."

Without another word, the satisfied physician stood up from the floor and quickly walked out side to attend to other pressing matters.

The feelings that Drake had inside of him could only have been described as "grey". Everything seemed covered in a thick fog, nothing seemed really clear, and everything felt more or less numb to him. His heart felt frozen of any emotions one way or another, and a general dark, empty sensation filled his entire being.

He had begun to feel so mentally removed from reality, that he hardly even remembered what this no - so - foreign pain in his middle was when his ribs began to throb and sting again.

With an exhausted exhale, he sunk back weakly to the floor and was thankful enough that he atleast had some place to lie down that he hardly noticed how hard and cold it was.

"This is weird…" he began to think to himself as he lay staring blankly at the ceiling, realizing how emotionless and void he was. Only a few seconds ago he had been almost dizzy because of the rush of emotions and thoughts whizzing thought his mind, but now it was almost as if he couldn't think. Almost as if he had no emotions left to feel, and no thoughts to think.

Suddenly, something seemed to flash brightly through the thick darkness surrounding him and his throbbing heart almost jumped in to his throat with astonishment.

"…Drake?" an unbelieving, soft voice called his name from the open door way, across the room.

Even though the fog in his head had become so dense that he could hardly think, he immediately struggled to sit up from the floor, in recognition, and turned to let out a helpless whisper: "…Josh?"

Before he knew what was happening, he felt his brother drop to his knees beside him and in only a second, his shivering, thin frame was wrapped deep in his arms.

With a rush that seemed to come from no where, something inside that had been blocking all of his feelings was taken away and it all came crashing down on him at once.

"Josh!" he sobbed vulnerably in to his shoulder, trying to find enough strength to think of something to say, but only being able to whisper his name again.

"Oh, Drake—Oh thank God, Drake." Josh replied, clasping his brother tighter in his grip and beginning to tear up himself: "Thank God that you're here. Bro, I was so afraid that you weren't okay…"

"Josh, I was scared too." came the distant, whimpering reply as Drake let himself lean on his firm shoulder for all support.

"Listen… It's okay, Drake. 'Cause I'm here now. Just… just don't worry about anything, okay?" Josh replied, brushing the tears from his own eyes and laying his hand on his brother's back: "Don't worry."

"But—but Josh, Anita—"

The light eyed boy quickly interrupted the weak, tear - filled worries of his beaten brother and hugged him closer: "Look, their all taking really good care of her out there. She's gonn'a be in the best of care, so there's nothing for you to be anxious about. Seriously, Drake—don't freak out. …You're girl's coming back to you sooner than you can even imagine and she's going to be all better. And meanwhile, I'm staying right here with you all the time… okay?"

Drake's heart wrenched in his chest when he realized how patient and caring Josh really was, and his kind words elicited a tiny smile from his lips, making him pull back to look in to his brother's face: "Thank you so much, Josh. I—I couldn't do it with out you."

"Hey, that's what I like to see," Josh replied, letting out a little grin of his own and looking up as the other boy tried to compose himself: "A smile's always a smile. Even if it is only a little one."

A few seconds of silence passed and Drake sat quietly, still leaning against Josh to hold him up and trying to dry his tears, when Josh spoke up in a gentle voice.

"Drake… are you okay?" he asked of the limp form lying against him, his eyes darkening in more worry as he slackened his tight grip on his waist.

"I'm… I'll be fine," he began, still attempting to yield from his highly emotional state, but only revealing the truth of the matter when he winced and bit his lip in obvious pain.

"What?" Josh continued: "…What's the matter?"

Everything was quiet for a moment more and finally Josh asked again: "—Drake?"

"Ah!" a pained murmur escaped Drake's lips when his brother's arm brushed up against his ribs and with that, the other boy became instantly alarmed.

"Drake, what did he do to you?"

"N—nothing. I'm—I'm okay." he replied through his clenched teeth, shaking his head and trying to catch his breath.

"No you're not 'okay'! Look at you," he paused, taking his shoulders and holding him out from himself so he could see him: "You're shaking like a leaf and you're a hysterical mess! Drake, I heard guns going off out there! Now, I gott'a know what he did to you! It's—It's the pain in your ribs again, isn't it?"

By now, both of them where only barely able to restrain the gathering tears in their eyes.

"I'll be all right in a little while, Josh, just… please hold me and don't let go." Drake finally answered, his voice cracking and his hot, scalding tears beginning to fall as he collapsed on to his brother's soft shoulder.

"I'm not gonn'a let you go, brother… That's one thing you don't have to worry about." Josh answered, as he bit his lip and a burning tear raced down his cheek.

Josh felt horrible for his brother. Just looking at him, one could tell how abused and shell - shocked he really was. Drake's thin, battered body was quivering uncontrollably against Josh and his breath sounded sporadic and almost painful. He couldn't imagine what his father had done to him. He knew by the way he was acting and by the bruises beginning to form on his skin that he had beaten him and beaten him pretty severely too, but he still had no idea of to what extent this man had done damage.

"Josh, I… don't know what to do." his broken voice whispered in to his shoulder with a tone no longer really tearful, but full of a shattered spirit.

"My poor brother… Drake, it's only going to go up hill from here, I promise. I promise." he whispered sincerely as he felt his heart wrench in empathetic hurt for him and he stroked a comforting hand over his hair: "You've had to endure stuff that nobody should have to endure, much less only a teen age guy. All of this has happened to you so fast, and I can't even start to imagine how you must feel right now. I'm sorry. …I'm sorry for not really understanding about your Dad until now. If I had only asked more questions and thought more clearly on this, I could have atleast prevented some of—"

"Shh, Josh, please." a strangely stable voice he recognized as his brother's spoke in to his ear as he rose from his shoulder: "You don't even know how much you've done for me. You never will, but thank you anyway."

He had started to say more, but his sentence trailed off in to an obviously pained cough and a deep intake of his breath, and though he tried to hide his tenderness, it was apparent that he was really in pain.

After a few seconds of time and another cough or two, the other boy shook his head in worry and spoke up to him.

"Brother, I really don't think you're as okay as you think you are—please atleast let me get you to a doctor out side who can check you over. Seriously, please." Josh's slightly distressed voice pleaded in Drake's ear, sounding earnestly afraid for him.

Drake seemed to have to think about this and it was a long moment of stark silence before he even began to speak. Then, in a slow, quiet voice, he finally replied: "Oh… Okay, Josh. I'll let the doctor check me out. But, look, I won't go to the hospital unless something is seriously messed up. Is that a deal?"

Josh snapped at the chance with a quick nod and let out a sigh of relief—after all, even though Drake was still as stubborn as he'd always been, he atleast had caved enough to agree to something for his own good.

"Alright. Now… do you think you want to try to stand up?" he began, laying a hand on his shoulder and looking carefully in to his face.

"…Yeah. As long as you help me."

"Sure, no worries, I'm right here." Josh replied, in return as he moved over beside him and grasped his waist gently in his right arm. After a second more, they bother slowly got to their knees and the stronger brother took a breath: "Are you ready?"

"Let's go."

With one last pause and a tight grip on each other, the two slowly rose from the floor and with a quiet laugh of release, Drake exclaimed through his teary breaths: "Hey, what do you know? I did it!"

"You sure did. But are you alright? I mean, do you feel like you should be standing up?" Josh asked, with a tiny smile in the corner of his mouth as he patted him very carefully on the back.

"Yeah, I'll make it outside, bro. Let's just get out of this house… I don't know why but I can't stay in here anymore at the moment." he said with a shake of the head and weak sigh.

"Right. Come on." came the understanding, reassuring words.

In a few moments, they had made their way to the open front door and stepped carefully down to the solid front porch.

Almost before either had had time to breathe, a man dressed in a dark uniform came running up and glanced at each boy: "Mr. Parker?"

"I am Mister Parker." Drake said, nodding for his brother to let him stand by himself, and slowly stepping forward on his slightly shaky legs.

"I'm Officer Jonathan Becker – FBI." the tall, slim man flipped a badge out for them both to see and he lent Drake a sympathetic and caring look: "I hate to have to bother you with any questions at all, but as an FBI agent, I'm afraid bothering people is what I kind of have to do."

"I'd be happy to answer everything I can, sir, but…" the boy paused and looked around with a bit of an apprehensive gaze: "Maybe if I could just sit down somewhere and—"

"Of course! Come right this way, you can sit down in one of the squad cars." the detective answered, nodding the way and leading them to their destination.

Josh carefully took hold of his brother's lightly quivering arm and helped him slowly across the path lying in front of their house, down to the curb of the street where Officer Becker already stood, holding the door of the police car open for him.

In a moment, Drake took a painful, scattered breath and sat down sideways in the seat, facing the officer and his brother who were standing outside of the car.

Hearing the way had let his breath out so sharply, Josh instantly rushed a step forward in his protection and spoke: "Drake, are you oka—"

"Y—yeah, Josh, I'm good right now. Don't sweat it." came the smooth reply, as he lent his worried brother a timid and tired smile of reassurance and then turned to look at the other figure beside him: "Do I have to answer a lot right now? I'm just so exhausted, and… well, never mind. Ask what ever you need to ask me."

"Oh no, I won't do any questioning now—I would have no right to put you through such things in the very wake of all of this. I just need a few phone numbers and names. We tried to trace Miss Prescott's parents or guardians but we don't know how to reach them."

A relieved look spread over the boy's face and he said softly: "Oh, I see."

"I'm sure we can both answer those questions pretty easily." Josh interjected, noticing how weak his brother suddenly looked: "—And um, thank you for taking it easy on my brother, sir, 'cause… he's been through a lot lately."

Drake felt a little warmth in his heart after hearing the hazel-eyed boy say this in such a quiet manner and he looked over at him, locking glances and relaying his own thanks to him with his eyes.

"No, thank you." the man replied, retrieving a pen and note pad from his pocket: "I know that this is a hard subject for you right now, but do you think either of you boys could give me the number of one of Miss Prescott's parents or guardians or eh…"

"Her parents—I have atleast one of their cell phone numbers on my cellphone list… hold on a minute." Josh interposed, reaching in to his pocket and pulling it out. Every moment or so as he looked for the number, he'd make sure and look up at his quiet brother sitting in the car to make sure he was atleast half okay for a minute.

"Ah—okay, here's the number." He finally spoke up, turning the cell around for the policeman to see so he could copy down the several digits.

"…Alright, thank you. And now for your parent's names and numbers please?"

At this both boys bit their lips and looked at each other. It was then when Drake really started to falter, because he had quite forgotten about his parents. It would be mind-blowing to try to tell them what had conspired since they had been gone. But then, he suddenly realized how very much they would worry getting this call from a police officer unless they could talk directly to him.

"Hey, about that. Um, I kind of want to tell them myself. I—I mean, if that would be okay, because if not, then I could just—" Drake let the rest of his sentence disappear in to the silence.

"Well, I really should call them myself, Drake." the police man began, making his heart sink, but then spoke up again: "But, I guess it would be less traumatic if they talked to you first."

"Oh, thank you so much. It's going to be a lot easier that way." Drake said, resting his head on the edge of the car door.

"It's all I can do. Now, listen, I'll be back in a few minutes, I have to go tie up everything with Miss Prescott and your Father."

And with out another word, the man hurried off to a large crowd on the other side of the lawn and left Drake to cringe at the last two words that he had spoken.

"Drake?" a quiet voice close by asked a moment later, making him snap out of his shivering stare and look look up.

"…Josh?"

"You want to call Mom and Dad now?" he asked, holding out his cell phone and offering a look of understanding sympathy.

"I guess I have to call them sometime. I just don't know what I'm going to say, you know?" Drake said, taking the phone and sighing against the car seat.

"How do you feel? You look so tired." Josh replied gently, sitting down close beside his brother, on the frame of the vehicle's floor.

"I really… I really don't know. I just feel numb. I mean, just feel like almost crying every time I think about her. And… and it still hurts." He mumbled, grasping slowly at his ribs.

"I think you're in like… shock, Drake. But look, you may feel kind of numb right now but that will go away soon. Especially when this all settles down and you can rest." with this Josh bent his brow and stood up, after hearing something behind them.

All of the sudden, he whispered: "Oh, Drake…"

"What is it?" he feebly spoke these quiet words.

"I think… Anita's leaving, now." came the gentle answer.

"W—Where?" Drake asked, dropping the cell phone in the seat of the car and rising frantically to look over the roof.

"Right there."

A moment or two passed before the boy realized which ambulance it was that carried the girl with in it, but when it started to move slowly back in to the street and the siren began to whirr loudly in their ears, he looked up and restrained new tears.

As Drake watched the vehicle pull in to street and begin to drive off, a soft hand on his back startled him a little bit, but his brother's comforting voice almost made it all better when he spoke in a whisper behind him: "We're going to get though this. I swear."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Josh clasped Drake's hand comfortingly as they rode along the road, together in the back seat of another squad car. Drake hadn't yet called his parents, because the instant Anita's ambulance had left, an officer had thrown them in to the car and in a whirl of confusion, they were now heading to the hospital to meet up with the wounded girl.

Drake felt terrible, but he didn't really know it at the time. Things had happened so fast that he'd become numb to most of his own feelings and pain for a while.

Josh knew that the officer in the next police car was phoning Anita's parents at this very moment, and although he was worried about how they were going to react to the terrible news, he was glad that he the other boy were in a separate car, so they didn't have to listen to it. For Drake, it would have been one stress too many and Josh feared that only one more strain on his brother may have caused an overload.

"Oh…" Drake suddenly whispered quietly, sinking lower in his seat as the sirens blared all around them.

"What is it?" Josh replied at this prompt, snapping out of his thoughts and his face dropping in to a frown.

"I suddenly feel like… like I'm so weak that I'm going to pass out." with this answer, Drake breathed out a shuddering breath and then weakly bent over and laid his head on Josh's shoulder.

"Woah, man, are you really going to pass out?" he asked, resting a worried hand on his shaking knee.

"N—no, I think I'll be good in a second. This feeling comes and goes on and off." he responded, with a deep shudder as he closed his eyes and rested his mind for a minute.

"Drake, what if you aren't 'good', though? I mean, I don't know… what he did to you, but you could even have like a serious concussion!" Josh sounded very flustered and upset and he wrapped a protective arm around his brother's waist to comfort him, though he himself needed more comforting.

"Josh," he began, shaking his head tiredly and offering a little barely - visible smile: "Don't worry so much about me."

"How can I help but worry? I mean, you're my brother and I don't know what I would do if anything were to happen to you." Josh said, hugging him with his arm for a second and then glancing at him to observe his expression.

"Josh, seriously, bro, I'm not going anywhere and nothing's going to happen to me."

"Of course it's not! Nothing could happen to you since I'm so right here to over - protect you." he replied, finally relaxing his arm and his grip on his brother as he let out a last sigh: "Just don't you be worried. 'Cause I will not leave you. I will not, okay?"

The auburn boy sighed too and nodded, feeling thankful for his brother's comfort at this time, because with out it, he didn't want to imagine where he'd be.

A few more quiet minutes went by and Drake could only hug up against the strong, blue - eyed teen ager sitting straight in the seat beside him until a loud voice of a police officer rang over the c.b. radio in the front of the car with the words: "Okay, we're here at the hospital. Lieutenant Terrell and a few of the other boys are talking 'Parker back to head quarters. The paramedics are working on getting the girl inside fast. Copy?"

As the cop in the driver's seat answered, Josh looked to Drake to see how he was. He was staring off out the window of the car at the familiar hospital looming before them and his eyes were almost glazed over in a sort of dead - to - the - world expression.

The vehicle pulled to a stop and Josh spoke his name gently, causing him to stir and look up: "Drake—we're ready to go."

"Right…" was the distant reply, lost in the noise around them as they nearly tumbled from the automobile and began toward the inside of the hospital.

They walked together, led by a policeman until they met up with the FBI man, Officer Becker coming toward them in the emergency lane of the parking lot.

"Drake, Josh—here, come with me, there's no time to waste."

Both boys hurried to trail the man leading them, and thought neither understood the reason why there was "no time to waste" they both believed it and rushed faster, keeping step to the swift beats of their hearts.

The busy lobby of the hospital seemed all a blur as the threesome nearly ran across it, finally reaching the main elevator and only then pausing to catch their breath as they rode to the next floor.

Drake glanced around the small elevator and instantly recognized it as the same one he'd used a few weeks ago to escape the imprisonment of the hospital in. As he leaned feebly against the back wall and watched the counter on the wall tick by each floor, he could only shake his head in disbelief and sigh.

"When I was here before, I never thought I'd be back again—much less almost in as bad a shape as I was then. And now I'm here for Anita! I just can't believe this. It's insane."

Before he or his teen brother even could have time to catch their breaths, the elevator slowed to a stop and the doors slid open. Officer Becker and another policeman prodded the two boys forward, out of the elevator and down the hall as quickly as they could.

For the most part, Drake was clearly weak and quiet in thought, but finally as they continued to walk swiftly through the corridors, he spoke to his brother beside him in an out - of - the - loop whisper: "Where are we going, anyway?"

"I can answer that, I think." came the voice of detective Becker: "We're going to a waiting room to sort out the matter of Miss Prescott and to sign some papers. Also, I think your brother Josh, here, wants a doctor to check you over and I can't say that I don't agree that that's a good idea."

"Oh. Well, um… what kind of papers?" he finally said in a subdued tone, hoping to avoid the subject of his own health.

"Several different kinds, actually. Hold on, we're almost there and then I'll get them to show to you."

Hardly before the policeman's words were spoken, another officer dressed in the mandatory black uniform raced up to them and motioned toward an open door way: "Officer Becker, Officer Keaton—boys, right in here, please."

All five of them walked through the large arched door frame and stepped in to an oversized, white and blue painted waiting room.

Drake was more than glad to sit down when Jonathan offered both teen - agers a seat against the wall, and after Josh sat down beside him, he actually felt almost secure and safe for the first time all day.

Becker made sure to give Drake and Josh enough time to catch their breaths and for their wildly beating hearts to slow down to normal pace before he leaned back in a chair sitting across from them and looked to a police man standing nearby, to speak a request: "Go and tell the doctors that we're ready to sign."

Everything was pretty much confused in Drake's mind, but he still had held on to enough clarity to figure out that the "papers" must have something to do with Anita's care.

Of course all of this scared him a lot, but he didn't quite know how to process the realities going on around him and before he could even realize it, he heard his own tired voice shatter the silence: "This… is so overwhelming."

Josh's comforting hand found a place to rest on his back and Jonathan frowned, presenting a sympathetic query: "I know it is—do you feel like you'll be okay for a while until we tie all of this up?"

"Yeah, I guess I will. …I mean, I've made it this far. I'm just still in a fog."

"Hey, don't sweat it, bro. It's gonn'a get easier." the dark haired brother said in reply, rubbing his shoulder and hoping he could do all that was within his power to soothe him.

"Thanks, Josh." he replied, wrapping a limp arm around his neck and hugging him for a second, telling him that he meant more 'thank you' than he could even say.

Sitting back in his seat again, he rested his throbbing head behind him, against the wall until with a bit a commotion, several medical people and some policemen entered the room and came over to them.

Standing, the head officer began to speak: "Gentlemen, I'm detective Becker—and I think we're ready to sign the papers concerning the surgery of Miss Prescott. Correct?"

"Thank you Detective. I am Doctor Reilly, and I'm the head of emergency surgery. Uh, yes—I believe we're ready; I've brought the paperwork. But if we can let's hurry. There really isn't much time to idle in this case." the man in a white smock - coat replied, speaking of the paper-filled clip board in his hands.

"Of course, let's waste no precious time." Becker nodded, as Drake and his step brother also rose to their feet.

"Alright, then. I'm going to need a signature of a parent or guardian."

Suddenly Drake's heart sank and his eyes began to waver: "But—their away! I—I mean, their not in town. Neither are my own parents!"

"Oh, no… you see I must have explicit granted permission. Are either of you over eighteen, then?" the doctor added, biting his lip in worry.

"No… we're not." came Josh's deeply concerned voice.

"Well then, there is one other way… As long as you're over sixteen, if you manage to get consent directly from her guardians, you can sign a paper of agreement."

"I have that consent, doctor." the detective spoke up, nodding and going on: "We made contact with Miss Prescott's parents over the telephone a moment ago and I can assure you as an agent of the law, the boy has full permission to sign the waver form."

Drake was quite dizzy from the quick pace of changing emotions, and though he was shocked to hear that they had contacted her parents already, his heart was overly relieved when he learned that he could sign the papers anyway.

"Alright, then, Mr.—"

"Parker. Uh—Drake Parker." Josh answered the doctor for his tongue - tied counterpart, nodding toward him.

"Mr. Parker. I'm going to need you to sign on the line right… here."

The clip board and the papers alluding to her clear need for operations staring him in the face was enough to make him nearly cry, but instead he reached for the pen given to him and began to sign with out any hesitation, wanting to indeed not 'waste any precious time'.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

There were a lot of papers to sign, and after they were all finished, Drake felt even more exhausted. He watched the doctors and extra policemen leave, with a sigh, and Detective Becker turned to he and his blue - eyed brother to speak.

"Guys, I can't thank you enough for co-operating so easily. I'm going to go now, but I'm going to send a doctor back here to check you out, Drake, okay?"

"But, I really don't need a—"

Josh knew what Drake was beginning to say and so with a nod, he cut him off: "Thanks to you, sir. If there are any updates or you need us or anything, please come get us—we'll be right here."

"Alright, boys. I'll see you later." He responded, with a smile as he walked out of the room and down the long hall.

After a long moment of silence, Drake finally sighed and shook his head, looking at Josh: "…Why do you want me to get checked out? I don't need a doctor."

"Yes you do. You're just too proud to admit it."

"I am not! I'm fine."

"Then why are you shaking so badly, then? And why are you in so much pain if you're 'fine'? I can see what's going on here. And I'm not going to let your noble habits get in the way of your own health." Josh answered, looking apprehensively in to his brother's face with a bend in his brow as he laid a hand on his arm.

"…Why do you care so much about me, Josh?" Drake's voice asked in earnest astonishment, after a long moment of just staring at him.

"Because you are my brother, Drake. …You'll never know how scared I was of what you were going to look like when you came out of that house, earlier. I didn't know-- I mean, I thought that the next time I saw you, you might be all stabbed or—or shot or bleeding," Josh paused, to compose himself before continuing and letting out a little thankful smile as he brushed Drake's messy bangs from his eyes: "And I was so, so afraid that he was going to really hurt you. But, somehow, you're still here… right beside me. –Gosh, I just am so relieved to be able to say that."

Drake was more than touched by the caring Josh was showing him, and for once, a tiny smile came to his face as he weakly grabbed him in a soft embrace. For a minute, both of them had to fight off threatening tears, but finally they composed themselves, sitting back and letting out a deep sigh.

"So, anyway, please let the doctor check you out, okay? I promise I won't let them pamper you needlessly."

"…Do you swear that you won't let them make me stay here in this hospital for no good reason?" Drake replied, crossing his arms and then uncrossing them again because of the slight ache it caused.

"I swear." Josh nodded.

"Well, alright then, I guess I'll do it. …I mean, it does kind of hurt, and maybe they can give me something to like lessen the pain just a little." he spoke, softly feeling of his tender ribs and biting back a groan as he leaned back in his seat.

A few moments after he finished his sentence, someone appeared in the doorway: "Hi, there. …Mr. Parker?"

"That would be me." Drake said, raising a hand for a second and continuing: "Are you the doctor?"

"That would be me, yes." the tall, young man smiled, walking over and putting his bag on the table.

"This is my brother—"

"I'm Josh." the dark haired boy cut him off, hoping to save Drake as much energy as possible.

"Pleased to meet you both. I'm DoctorThorton." he introduced himself, brushing his short black bangs back and opening his medical bag.

"I'm certainly happy that you've come, sir. Um, did Officer Becker tell all you about what happened?" Josh asked, in genuine question.

"He did. …Now, Drake, how do you feel, honestly? It is 'Drake', right?" came the Doctor's reply.

With a nod, the weak boy sighed: "My ribs kind of hurt… a lot."

"What happened?" he asked, digging around the leather tote for an article, and glancing up at the tired, coffee - eyed boy sitting in the chair against the wall.

"I'm really not exactly sure. I mean, I know we… fought, but everything happened so fast." Drake answered, then going on in a quieter, shakier voice as he recalled the memory in his mind, causing Josh to sit closer to him and place a hand on his arm: "He punched me several times, but the most painful thing I remember, I think was when he kind of… pushed me down and kicked my ribs."

Josh shuddered at this thought and bent a deep frown of heartfelt concern in to his brow as he watched his brother become a little jittery and as he listened to him speak.

"How bad does it hurt on a scale from one to ten? And can you try and describe the sort of pain you're feeling to me?" the physician inquired.

"I guess it's about… a four or so. And it feels kind of throbbing, almost. Like the pain comes in waves. Sometimes pretty bad, sometimes not so much." he answered slowly.

"Okay, now let's see how you heart sounds." the Doctor said, putting his stethoscope to his ears and walking over to where the teen - ager sat. He held the end to Drake's heart and spoke up: "Deep breath."

Drake complied and sucked in a deep breath—but immediately began to cough making Josh start with worry and causing Doctor Thorton to pull back, looking up.

"Hey, hey, there—take it easy. Don't take it in so harshly, you'll hurt yourself."

"I—I know, I'm sorry." he replied.

"Don't be. …Now, just breathe in slowly and don't rush it." Doctor Thorton said, patting his shoulder and placing the stethoscope to his chest again.

This time it all went smoother, and the doctor seemed pretty pleased with the sound of his heart, but he did notice how much Drake had begun to shiver and he set a sympathetic hand on his knee: "You're getting nervous, just relax and settle down. I know you've been through a lot today, but you're brother's really dedicated and ready to take care of you. And so are all the people working in this hospital, so don't feel like you have to do this all alone, okay?"

"…Really?" came his quiet question, as he looked questioningly over and in to Josh's face.

"Of course, Drake. You're all through with the part of being alone. I'm going to be right here to stay with you from now on." he replied back, taking his hand in a re-assuring grip and nodding softly.

"That does help me to know that, Josh. Thanks." he whispered, squeezing his hand for a second and letting out a worn sigh.

"Well, your heart sounds okay. You don't have to worry about that. But… unfortunately I have something to tell you that I don't think you will like very much." Thorton said, biting his lip.

"Oh no. What… is it?" Drake asked in return, sounding very scared to hear the answer.

"It's nothing too horrible. But I have to feel your ribs to make sure their not broken."

At that, Drake gasped in a hissing breath and spoke in query: "Oh, man… that's going to hurt really badly, isn't it?"

"I really don't know exactly how bad it will hurt. But I really have to unless you would rather go get lengthy x - rays." the man said, frowning in consideration.

"I don't want x - rays. They would cost my parents, and anyway—I don't have that much time. So," with a sigh he continued: "Go ahead. –But hey! …Just try to be as gentle as you can."

With a nod, the doctor spoke to Josh before he finally proceeded: "Keep holding his hand."

At first Drake seemed atleast somewhat able to control his pain, but as the young doctor continued to run his hand roughly over his beaten flesh, he bit his lip hard and finally let out a weak whimper and said: "Oh—oh, please stop."

"Are you okay?" Josh asked, feeling his stomach knot at his brother's pain and letting him grip his hand as tightly as he wanted.

"…No—no," at last he replied: "I feel like I can't breathe well… oh, it hurts bad, now."

Immediately upon hearing the urgent tone in the teen - ager's voice, the physician pulled back and motioned for Josh to move over: "Woah, it's okay, just lie down. I won't bother you anymore."

Josh took his brother's shivering shoulders and in his hands and laid him carefully down across the few chairs, and sat on his needs on the floor beside Doctor Thorton.

"Just take long, deep breaths and let them out as slowly as you can, Drake. You're alright, don't freak out." his smooth, comforting voice spoke, as Josh brushed away the troublesome strands of his deep amber hair which had strayed in to his eyes.

After a moment, Drake seemed to have gained back his breath and lying tiredly over the seats, he looked up and asked: "My ribs are broken, aren't they?"

"No, their not broken." Thorton began, but Drake cut him off.

"But… why did I–?"

"You have bruised lungs and ribs. That's why you felt like you couldn't breathe. I know it may feel like their broken, but their not. Actually, broken ribs have a very distinctive pain." he finished, looking back at the boy.

"Actually, I know… see, about a month and a week or two ago I got in to a car accident and broke a rib." Drake replied, shrugging and letting out a shuddery sigh.

"Really? That's terrible! No wonder why you feel so bad—your bone is probably only just now healed up from the break and with all of this trauma I'm quite surprised you're not much worse off."

"Is he going to be okay, doc?" Josh asked, putting a gentle hand on Drake's shoulder.

"Drake, you should be fine. You may feel kind of dizzy at times or have trouble getting a deep breath, but if you lay down and take it easy when that happens, you'll be fine. As for the pain…" the tall medic leaned over to his bag and pulled out a plastic bottle of pills: "I can give you something for that."

"How many of these do I take?" he asked, looking up tiredly.

"Only two every six to eight hours—according to which - ever time you need them." came the answer as the tall man stood up and turned to close up his bag: "Other than you ribs, do you have much more pain anywhere else?"

After a moment of deliberation, Drake finally sighed and spoke: "Not much. Just bruises and soreness, but it's not really any big deal."

"Well alright then, I think I'm pretty much finished here. Now listen, you take it as easy as possible—and Josh, you make sure he does. I know you're anxious to get up and run around and do a lot of things, but you're going to have to ease off a little bit. Now, I wish you both well and I'll see you soon. I'm pretty sure Detective Becker with return shortly." reaching out a hand and kindly shaking Josh's, Thorton patted Drake on the knee before picking up his baggage and turning to walk from the room.

After a second, Josh noticed that Drake had begun to try and sit up, so he promptly sat close beside him and offered a supporting shoulder to lean up against: "How do you feel?"

"I dunno… upset. I mean, I'm alive, but otherwise… Ah, I just don't know what to do. It's all so crazy! I never imagined it all would happen this way in a million years."

"I know. I really feel for you, brother. I hope you know that." Josh sighed, reaching a hand up from the boy's shoulder and running it across the back of his head, smoothing down his tousled amber hair, hoping he could make him feel safe and atleast like he wasn't going to be left alone.

"I do. And thank you, Josh."

As he watched him make this sincere reply made, it Josh really think about how glad he was to have his sweet brother here at his side, and that fact alone brought thankful tears to mist in his eyes.

With a sigh, a moment later, Drake began to struggle up from his spot: "Ah—I gott'a take these pills, I guess."

"Need help?"

"No, thanks, I think I can make it. Don't bother." he reassured him, standing up with the pill bottle, trying to shake off his lingering numbness and walking over to the water fountain. He took the pills both at once and leaned down to drink some of the clear, cold water, but was amazed at how thirsty he was when it ran over his parched lips.

After a minute of drinking from the fountain, Drake noticed someone standing in the door way from the corner of his eye and jumping involuntarily, he stood straight up to see that it was a nurse.

"Excuse me—Mister Parker, Mister Nichols?"

"That's us." Josh nodded, sitting up and looking that way.

"Doctor Reilly sent me to inform you that Miss Prescott's operation has begun now." she replied, looking down at a clipboard.

"Oh—t—thank you, nurse." Drake managed, clenching his throat to hold in the gathering need for tears.

The nurse offered back a little smile ad after glancing briefly at both boys, she turned to disappear down the corridor.

Josh sighed, looking over at him and softly spoke: "Drake, are you going to be okay with all this going on?"

After a swift swallow, Drake's answer came in a very weak whisper: "Y—yep. I will be… I just have to trust that it will all come out all right."

Suddenly before Josh could speak, something in his pocket began t ring and made both of them jerk in surprise. Reaching in and opening his cell phone, an awed voice spoke in his place: "Drake… it's—Mom and Dad."

"What, really?"

"Yeah. Come on, we gott'a answer it." the light eyed boy said, holding the ringing phone to him.

"But—but what will I tell them?" Drake exclaimed.

"You'll know when you hear their voices. …Now answer it, okay? I'm right here." his brother said, with a deep air of support.

Taking the cell phone in his quivering hand and slowly answering the call, he let out an almost stable, hoarse whisper: "…Hello?"

"Drake? Hey, sweetie—why didn't you guys pick up at the house? Where are you?" Audrey's content voice calmly came over the ear speaker.

"Mom—Josh and I are out. We—"

"Out where? And where is your little sister?" she cut in.

"Oh, don't worry about her, Mom, she's staying at a friend's house. But Josh and I are… um…" biting his lip, he frowned in frustration at himself for not being able to find the words to go on.

"Drake, what's wrong? You're voice is so shaky. Is everything okay?" his mother asked, after his slow sentence trailed off.

"Actually, Mom…" he finally sighed: "No, it's—it's… not all okay."

"What do you mean, Drake? What is it?" she questioned in a deep voice, making his heart pump.

"Gosh, Mom, I… don't know if I can tell you!" his voice broke, and he wiped a hot tear from his cheek as Josh came up behind him and held on to his arm.

"Please, Drake—what's going on?" came the desperate whisper from the other end of the phone.

"Alright… look, Josh and I are actually at—the hospital." he slowly replied, trying to compose himself enough to talk to her.

"What?-!" his mother gasped, in a completely shocked voice: "Oh my God, Drake you two really aren't okay, are you?"

"N—no, we're fine—Josh is fine and I'm okay, I just have some bruised ribs. But it's Anita who we're here for."

"W—Walter…" Audrey gasped, holding the phone away from her ear for a moment: "Drake—Drake and Josh are at the hospital!"

With a muffled exclamation of "What?-!", Walter grabbed the phone from his nearly hysterical wife and asked: "Drake, is everything okay—do you need us to come home?"

"Y—yeah, Dad. Come home fast. Anita's hurt bad, they have got her in emergency surgery now. We're okay and Megan doesn't know about any of this. But… please come home as fast as you can. It's a crazy mess with police—and—and everything." Drake's fragile, failing voice whispered and his step Father was struck quite silent with alarm.

"…Are you at St. Schneider's hospital?"

"Yeah, Dad." Josh spoke, taking Drake's place on the phone and trying to get his brother to calm down.

"Josh—we'll be there in two or three hours, we're going to catch a plane immediately."

"But…" a hushed whisper spoke in the background and Audrey took back the telephone: "What happened? Was it an accident or… or what?"

"It wasn't another car accident, Mom. But I can't talk about it on the phone." Josh sighed, wishing he could only relieve his step-Mom's confusion and pain.

"Josh, we're coming right away. Just… take care of your brother." Walter finally replied in a truly worried tone.

"Alright, Dad, I will—I swear." Josh responded truthfully and with that, both of their distraught parents hung up the phone and the boy shut his cellphone, stepping over to where Drake was.

He stood leaning softly against the wall with his forehead in his hand, struggling to settle down and rid himself of the feelings that were rushing through his head, and to stop his incessant shaking.

"They'll never believe me when they get back her and I tell them that he did all of this…" he said, closing his eyes and taking in a sharp breath of obvious mental anguish.

Josh thought long and hard, but he felt as if he couldn't possibly muster up any more words that would give him comfort, and after a drawn out pause of silence, he stepped close and simply wrapped his arms around him and hugged him tightly, with out a word.

"Argh…" Drake finally gasped, in a helpless whimper and he fell limply loose in his brother's strong grip.

"Drake—" Josh said quietly, realizing that he was literally incapable of standing up anymore from the ups and downs of emotions, and perhaps was at last showing normal reactions, instead of denial and withdrawal.

Nearly picking him completely up, Josh drew him carefully back to the chairs near the wall and sat with him, all the while gently stroking his back and whispering repeatedly that he was going to be okay.

All at once, Josh felt glad that Drake was atleast now acting like a normal person would after what had happened, but he also felt horrible about it and wished only that he could make everything go away for him:

"Listen, Drake, just sit here and relax. Mom and Dad will be here soon, and they'll take care of everything. …Mean while, I'm just going to do what Dad said and take care of you."

"Thanks, Josh," the shivering voice replied after a long moment: "Now I know it's going to turn out okay, anyway."