Dot couldn't help but smile at her immediate older brother's crooked collar… some things never changed. But she wasn't sure if it was a good idea to tease him about it when she knew he was nervous. Then again, it might at least help him feel normal. So, she readjusted it with a good-humored sigh.

"You really wouldn't be anywhere without me, would you?"

A sheepish smile, small as usual but there all the same, came to Wakko's face as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Heh… yeah. Sorry."

He was trying to sound cheerful, but she could hear the unease in his voice. It made her feel sad; it seemed his confidence was yet another thing damaged by his ordeal. Dot wished there was some switch they could press to make it better again, but all they could do was support him and be patient. She gave him an encouraging smile and patted his arm.

"Relax, you're gonna be great."

Wakko gave her an appreciative look, but his nervousness remained. Dot couldn't really blame him… this was the first big event he'd been cleared to attend after almost two weeks spent resting and recovering. He probably felt pretty out of practice, and Dot was sure he'd be comparing himself to her and Yakko the whole time.

"Ready, sibs?"

Wakko and Dot each turned to see their older brother approaching, his getup just as fancy as theirs.

"Yep," Dot said, then glanced at Wakko. The middle sibling inhaled and exhaled softly before nodding. Yakko moved closer and placed a hand on his shoulder, a gentle look on his face.

"Remember, if ya start feeling tired or anything, just let me know."

Wakko nodded again.

"I will, I promise," he said. Yakko gave him an encouraging grin and patted his shoulder.

"Okay then. C'mon, let's go."

His younger siblings followed along as he headed for the ballroom entrance. Dot heard Wakko practicing one of the breathing techniques Jayna had taught him, clearly trying to calm his nerves. She slipped a hand into his and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"You'll be okay," she whispered. Wakko didn't turn his head, but she felt him squeeze back as his look grew more determined. That brought a smile to Dot's face: discouraged or not, her immediate older brother was never one to back out of something. She knew that better than anyone.

…

Really, Dot thought the evening wasn't going too bad. Wakko had been doing pretty good, though he did seem a little uncertain of what to do with all the attention he was getting. His siblings kept a close eye on him, ready to step in if he began to look too overwhelmed. These events had always been a bit of a challenge for him, but he was always determined to manage it on his own. So Dot wasn't surprised when she looked over to see him politely excusing himself and heading out to his usual spot for alone time.

Dot glanced over at her oldest brother, who was currently caught up in conversation, but he seemed to sense her eyes on him and looked at her as well. She could read his look clearly.

Should I?

Dot gave him a small smile.

I got it.

He nodded, and the Warner sister headed across the room after her other brother. She went out on the balcony to find him leaning against the railing, arms resting on it. He had that distant, brooding look that Dot knew what it meant. As she approached his ears twitched, and he turned to look at her. She gave him a smile but scanned him up and down with concern.

"Hey, you okay? Getting tired?"

Her brother shrugged.

"Not really, just… needed a minute. I'm fine."

Dot raised her brows, looking at him with a skeptical expression. Finally, he lowered his eyes and sighed.

"I had another one of those dreams last night."

Dot frowned at that; she knew his nightmares weren't as frequent or intense as they used to be, but they still left him dejected and scared. So far, he had mainly talked to Yakko about them and asked him not to tell anyone. Dot couldn't help feeling a little miffed at that, but she knew it was just because he wanted to protect her. But maybe he would be willing to open up to her now. Hoping she wasn't about to say the wrong thing, she leaned against the railing too.

"Ya know… you've never really told me what happens in them."

As she expected, Wakko's look immediately grew more troubled as he glanced at her. She could see the reluctance in his eyes and mentally crossed her fingers before reaching out and touching his arm.

"You can tell me," she said softly. "I can take it, trust me."

Wakko shifted on his feet as his eyes moved back to the darkening sky, growing distant again. Finally, he sighed again.

"Sometimes it's just me back in the cave," he said in a quiet voice. "But the rest of the time… it's the memory that guy changed."

Dot bit her lip but kept quiet, waiting patiently. Her brother continued to gaze out before going on, looking and sounding almost detached from reality.

"It's when we're running for the Star. But when they shoot at us, you… you and Yakko…"

It was then that his voice finally broke, and he closed his eyes as he swallowed hard. Dot's eyes widened, then her throat tightened. He hadn't finished, but she could guess the rest. It was a cruel, twisted lie, certainly made all the more real by the fact that it nearly had happened. She felt a combination of sadness and worry for her brother, and anger toward Man'ari. That he would have sunk that low hardly surprised her, but it was infuriating to hear all the same. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Wakko, and he immediately returned the hug, holding her as if afraid she might disappear.

"I really thought…" he whispered in a hoarse voice. "I thought I lost you."

It took a few moments before Dot could speak without her own voice breaking.

"You didn't lose us. And if we've got anything to say about it, you won't, ever. I promise."

She heard Wakko let out a soft, trembling sigh, but he didn't say anything. Dot didn't say anything either but rubbed his back like Yakko did when comforting them. For a little while they just held each other, but then the sound of approaching footsteps made them turn to see their older brother coming toward them.

"Hey, sibs," he said, then directed a concerned look at Wakko. "Wak, you okay?"

The middle sibling took a deep breath, wiping his eyes with his sleeve before giving Yakko a little half-smile.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just needed a few minutes."

He let out another faint sigh.

"Everyone's asking me that… and walking on eggshells around me. You'd think I was about to fall apart or something."

Yakko grinned and patted his shoulder.

"Ah, they're just worried." His brow furrowed in a frown. "They're not asking for details, are they?"

Wakko shook his head.

"No. I can tell they want to, but they're not."

Dot felt a small smile come to her own face. She felt a great deal of gratitude for how considerate people were being of her brother and was glad that he seemed to be doing better, but concern was always in the back of her mind. She knew the block he was experiencing was bothering him a lot, and the worry that he wouldn't get over it. She was sure he would, but it was sad knowing that he doubted himself so much.

"Yeah, well…" she said in a light tone. "Anyone bugs you about it, just point 'em my way."

Wakko directed an amused look at her.

"I can take care of myself, ya know."

Yakko patted his shoulder again, smiling.

"Yeah, but it's okay to let other people take care of you too," he said gently. Dot nodded before wrapping her arms around Wakko again.

"You guys took care of me. I wanna do that for you now."

The middle sibling returned her embrace.

"I know," he said in a soft voice. "And I know I didn't make that too easy for a while…"

"It's okay," Dot replied. Yakko stepped over and hugged them both.

"Things were kinda messed up," he said. "But you shouldn't feel bad about it. it was just a bunch of stuff out of our control."

Dot smiled at that; she remembered how her oldest brother had blamed himself for that, and it was good to hear him acknowledge that there was no need. Wakko wasn't the only one who had needed healing.

"We should probably get back 'fore they come looking for us," Yakko said finally, then drew back to scan the middle sibling up and down. "You okay now, Wak?"

Wakko nodded, giving him that subdued smile in return.

"Yeah, I'll be fine… honest."

"'Kay, then," Yakko said. As they headed back inside, Dot reached over to give Wakko's hand another gentle squeeze. She smiled when he returned it; she still wasn't sure if he was completely fine, but it was getting less and less hard to believe it.

It may be slow progress, but it was progress all the same. Hopefully, it would keep getting better.