NOTE* Alright guys, as promised, here is the new chapter! I might even have time for another one tonight! Yay! We will have to see though. For now, enjoy!

Chapter Eight:

Regrets and Resolutions

Arthur sat in the dark, his eyes unblinking as he stared at the hospital's white-washed walls. In the bed beside him was Alfred. Little, innocent, strong Alfred who was now laying there, unmoving, a breathing mask on his face and several different types of wires hooked to his body. As the rhythmic beeping continued on through the too silent room, only one thought remained in his mind.

'I should never have let him go'

The words ate at Arthur, tearing into him with guilt and frustration. How could he of ever let the boy go to a family that led to this. How could he have not fought for the child when he noticed the fear in his eyes? The answer was a simple one. Money. All of his life, he had been raised, the youngest of four children to believe that money was the thing that mattered most in the world. His eldest brother Scott, along with his two middle brothers Ian and Dan were that way as well, especially the twins. Scott wasn't quite as bad. Overly rebellious, Scott had broken away from the family at the young age of seventeen. Still he wasn't completely numb to the teaching of his family and money remained an important factor in all he did.

Well not anymore. Arthur would be the one to change this stupid family value, he swore it as he stared at young Alfred's shallowly rising chest.

"I swear to you", he ground out as he clenched his hand into a fist.

"Arthur?" a voice called.

He turned to see Matthew standing in the doorway. The boy was well enough now he was going to be released tomorrow, but until something was decided concerning the two brothers future, he would remain in the hospital, compliments of the staff who were charmed by their presence and had come to love the boys and sympathize with their current situation. The staff especially felt for poor Arthur who felt guilty about everything that presently occurred.

"Matthew, lad, come on in", he replied as he watched the small boy step inside, his small body shooting for his brother as soon as he noticed the boy on the bed.

Matthew had heard his brother had been found and rescued from their home, but he hadn't been informed of his condition and he definitely didn't know he had been admitted to the hospital. That was another thing Arthur felt guilty about…he had forgotten to check up on Matthew and let him know about his brother.

"H-How is he?" the boy asked as he shook, gripping his little brothers hand desperately with his own.

"Not well", Arthur admitted, "but better than he could have been had he not been found when he was."

Matthew didn't reply to that statement as he gently rubbed his fingers over the small palm in his hands. In that moment, no one else mattered but Matt and his brother. His strong, defiant, annoying, precious little brother!

The tears slipped freely down his cheeks, not even noticing them or the shaking of his small, thin body until Arthur wrapped a protective and comforting arm around him.

"Easy lad, I got you", he replied as he shushed the boy's cries, soothingly rubbing his hand up and down his small back, "I know it looks scary, but he honestly is doing rather well, generally speaking."

Matthew just nodded as he sobbed, his shoulders continuing to shake with each one that came. He took comfort in Arthur's touch and his words, but he couldn't express properly the feelings he had at the moment. He should have told Arthur sooner, then perhaps his brother would still be smiling like he almost always was.

"W-W-What exactly is w-wrong with h-him?" Matthew said through hiccups.

"Well", started Arthur, not sure how to explain it to the young, grief stricken eleven year old, "He has a stab wound in his right hand, he has five broken ribs, one of which puncture his lung. He has a broken left arm and a badly sprained right ankle. He also has a major concussion, but I am confident he should be waking up from his medically induced coma within the next two days."

Matthew nodded as he wiped his snotty nose across the sleeve of his hospital gown. Arthur wrinkled his nose as he timidly grabbed a Kleenex and wiped off the child's nose, placing it in front of him.

"Blow" he instructed, so Matthew did. It didn't change the fact he was grossed out by it, but resolved himself not to show it. Now was not the time to upset the boy further.

Taking the eleven year old into his arms, he pulled him onto his lap as he rocked him back and forth comfortingly. Neither one really remembered when they fell asleep in that position.

H~H

Tania walked into the room of Alfred F. Jones and froze, smiling at the scene she saw before her. Dr. Arthur Kirkland sat there in one of the hospital chairs sound asleep, cuddling a deeply asleep Matthew A. Williams in his arms. Being silent, she placed her briefcase on the ground and slowly walked further into the room. Gently she shook the doctor's shoulder. His reaction was almost instantaneous.

Arthur bolted awake at the touch of the social worker and blinked when he noticed her calm and smiling face. In his arms, Matthew only groaned a bit before silently falling back to sleep. He smiled as he clutched the child closer to his chest.

"Tania, good to see you", he muttered sleepily.

She smiled.

"Good to see you too Arthur, too bad it's because of such circumstance" she replied as her gaze rested on the unconscious child within the hospital bed.

Arthur could only nod in agreement. Solemnly he picked Matthew up and began carrying him out of the room to his own hospital bed. Placing him gently down on the mattress, he covered him with a blanket. Once more running his hand through the soft, long blonde hair, he smiled and flipped out the light.

"I have your report on the surgery. We have more than enough evidence with Matthew's testimony and the pictures to arrest the entire family. Even as we speak, police are searching for the whereabouts of Allen and Melina Jones, as well as Ivan Ashdod and…" she sighed, "my partner, Ross Branson. Seems he was on the family's payroll."

"You couldn't have known", Arthur said, recognizing the guilt in her eyes.

"Doesn't change the fact that it happened though, does it?" she asked knowing he understood how she felt.

"No", he agreed, "It doesn't change a thing."

Sympathetically she rubbed his arm before stepping away and back into her professional manner. Pulling out her case file, she opened it up on her lap before sitting in the chair of the nearest hospital lobby. Arthur took a seat across from her.

"So, what do I have to do?"

"Well", she started, "because of you involvement both as their doctor and as the man who found Alfred, you will have to be called onto the witness stand. Matthew and Alfred also, if they can, will be asked to speak against their family. With their testimony, your eye witness account and the police evidence, along with several different statements from past doctors who have attended to the boys, there is almost no doubt that we can take them down for good on Child Abuse and Child Neglect. It will depend on what Alfred can tell us whether we can arrest them and convict them of attempted murder."

Arthur nodded as he listened and viewed the different files showing the different types of evidence and listings of witness testimonies.

A small knock on the door brought their attention to Francis who was standing there watching them.

"What's up?" Arthur asked as he yawned.

"Found this little guy wandering around. He was looking for you."

Matthew peeked from behind Francis' leg and he smiled in relief when he saw Arthur and Tania. Walking in, he slowed however the closer he got.

"What's wrong?" Arthur asked, noticing the growing frown on the young boys face.

"Is…Is she going to take us away?"

Tania looked up, realizing he was speaking about her.

"No sweetie, not yet", she replied, "right now this place is probably the safest for you and the hospital has agreed to keep you until Alfred is well enough to leave."

"Are you…" he paused and took a breath, obviously nervous, "are you going to split us up?"

Tania was silent. Honestly, she couldn't say yay or nay to that question. Arthur noticed her silence and the growing fear in the child's eyes. Memory of Alfred's own fear came back with a crushing weight as he stood up and knelt in front of Matthew.

"I promise you", he said as he looked into the kid's eyes, "I will make sure you and your brother are kept together. Understand?"

Matthew stared into the doctor's green eyes, but he saw no deceit there, only understanding and desperate determination. He believed him.

"I understand", he replied.

Arthur smiled as he pulled the boy into his arms. He turned his head to peer at the dumbstruck people watching him.

"Arthur", Tania started with the shake of her head.

"I will take them in", he replied and her eyes widened, as did Francis'.

"Y-You?" she asked stunned.

"Me. What do I need to do to foster them?" he asked her as he stood, a hand on Matthew's back as the child clutched his waist.

Tania gaped, completely taken by surprise at the question and bold statement. However she saw the determination and the fierce protectiveness in his eyes. She didn't question his sincerity.

"It will take some time and paperwork, but we can do it" she replied nodding as she began pulling several papers out.

While Tania threw herself into the paperwork, Francis stepped forward.

"Are you sure about this, Arthur?" he asked.

Arthur looked down at Matthew who peered back at him. "Positive", he whispered with a gentle smile.

Francis could only smile back. He had never seen such a compassionate, loving expression on his friend's face before and he had known him for many years. Then again, he thought as he looked at the young boy clinging to his friend's leg, he didn't blame him at all for the bold decision.

"Well then my little friend", he said kneeling in front of the boy, "my name is Francis, Arthur's roommate. Welcome to the household."

Matthew beamed with pleasure as he threw himself into the shocked arms of the long blonde haired doctor. Arthur could only grin widely at the scene before he turned to look out the door thinking of the other little boy still sleeping the day away. Alfred would finally have his request answered. He would make sure that the boys stayed together. Permanently.

"In Place of Security, is Faith…"