Arguing voices brought him to. The voices were rough, like... Ah. Dor and Dera. Rob pried his eyes open one at a time, memories coming back to him.

He was home.

After much, um, ahem, discussion between Galen and Mike, Mike had finally released Rob. That had been about, well, Rob had no idea how long in fact - all he remembered was being helped inside the shop, then healing sleep.

And now.

He woke to a distant ache nestled into his heart. His throat was sore from the ventilator, his body going through withdrawal from lack of coffee... Coffee. He'd heard what Mike had said about cutting back on the caffeine. Rob groaned, picking his head up only to let it drop back down onto the pillow.

He moaned again, a long complaint. "Galen?" he tried, his voice a squeaky cracking sound. "Galen?"

Galen's head popped around the open door. He'd been in and out of the shop, checking on Rob, then going to help customers. He had Rhiannon helping, so he didn't have to be there every moment.

"Hey," he said quietly as he walked in, crossing the room and sitting at the edge of the bed. He looked tired, and worried, and irritated. He was irritated. But he figured he'd keep that bit back... for a while. "You've been out for almost twenty-four hours straight, Brat."

"That's because I haven't had coffee." Rob's voice held more complaint. He threw an arm over his eyes. "I feel like I was trampled on by elephants. Can I just have one? One cup? Please?" Rob gave his best attempt at puppy-eyes.

Galen knew his younger sibling was suffering without coffee-after all, it really was addicting. But Rob shouldn't have become so addicted in the first place. Still, with that expression, Rob almost had him giving in.

Finally, Galen pulled a face and rolled his eyes. "Unbelievable." He took a moment to keep himself from saying something he didn't mean, then spoke. "No. No. NO. You know, coffee got you sent to the HOSPITAL. Coffee almost got you-US-killed. AND did I mention that you nearly killed Flash with worry? No. Not. Even. One. Heart Arrhythmia, Rob. You know what that means... or do I have to explain it? Because I can, and I will." He stared, waiting for Rob's response.

Rob sighed, and grew serious. "Galen - I'm sorry." Rob frowned, "I've never felt something like that, I..." he trailed off. "It's always been 'things that the night fears that tend to get me," he tried for a grin.

Galen rolled his eyes again. "Yeah, normally. Or guys with baseball bats." He winced at the mention of what had brought them back together after ten years of him being "dead". Rob had almost been killed, and... needless to say, it hadn't been a "normal" family reunion.

"Really, I don't even remember that, I just remember waking up." Rob sighed contentedly as he sank into the bed, managing to fight away some of the pressure in his head.

"When you were attacked, there was this dream... Never mind." Galen waved one hand dismissively, then slowly sneaked it over Rob's heart, letting more Healing flow to him, as he'd been doing the past day on and off.

Rob moved closer to the touch, "Thank you." A sudden thought hit him. He pried open one of his eyes once more. "Is Flash here?"

Galen nodded. "Couldn't make him leave if I tried."

Rob nodded, and uncomfortably started shifting. He managed to get his hands underneath him, and pushed his upper body upwards - yet his arms were trembling horribly and threatening to dump him back down. "Help me up?" he asked, sounding like the thirteen-year-old again.

Galen considered denying this request as well, but decided against it. He put his right arm under Rob's left, and pulled him up, then waited for his brother to stabilize, as he hadn't been upright in a while.

Dizziness washed over Rob, and he ignored it. After what felt like an eternity of wobbly-walking, they were in the main part of the shop. "Flash?"

Galen walked with him, making sure he didn't fall and kill them both in the process. When they reached the shop, Rhiannon crossed the room, hugged Rob, and stated, "You gave us all quite a scare. It's good to see you up again." Before she could get a reply, the shop door opened, and a customer came in. Rhiannon mumbled something under her breath and rushed back to the counter to deal with the person.

Flash heard the commotion and came trundling around a shelf. "You!" he stated, pointing an accusing finger at Rob. "You!" He tried again with the same result as he headed toward him.

Galen hushed Flash, and pointed at the customer. Flash waved a hand at Galen and frowned, then smiled, and nodded.

Rob grinned. "Yeah, me. Tell me you're not siding with Galen, all I'm asking for is one coffee," he shared his burdens, and gave Galen a half-hearted glare that ended in another wide smile.

"Oh yeam I'm siding with Galen. No coffee, even if it means tying you down," Flash stated.

Galen for his part, glared at Rob for even asking, though he knew that Flash was with him on this.

Rob looked indignant. After a moment, he moved his arm from around Galen's shoulders - tried not to topple over - and hugged Flash, adding in a back-pat.

"Ooomph..." Flash "complained" but even as he muttered how he hated hugs, he grinned and returned the gesture. He pulled back and looked into slate-blue eyes. "Told you you'd live."

"I knew I would - I was crying for the nurses that were going to have to deal with you." Rob was beaming impishly.

"Yup, I know. Or was it for those B. S. stories I was telling?" Flash grinned brightly.

Galen only groaned. "What did he tell you?"

"All the good ones!" Flash grinned, knowing he'd actually missed a few.

Rob quirked an eyebrow. "You still never finished the story about Galen vs. Greg vs. Truck."

He winced at discomfort inching into his chest, and fought to catch his breath.

Galen moved to Rob's side, and put a hand on his shoulder, letting the Healing flow to Rob. He stayed there. "You will NOT tell him about the Truck Vs. Greg. Vs. Me incident. In fact, you will forget it ever happened." Galen gave Flash a death glare.

Flash grinned. "What? It's not like he SHOULDN'T know... He's your brother. Besides, he already heard Galen Vs. Bass." Flash chuckled. Galen didn't.

Rob laughed softly. "You nearly killed me with that story, I hope you know that."

Flash smirked. "But at least I was amusing."

"One of these days, you'll amuse yourself into a corner, and there won't be any witnesses, Flash," Galen stated.

"Yikes." Flash grimaced.

Rob grimaced for different reasons. He leaned against his brother.

"Okay, back upstairs." Galen's announcement had Flash nodding in agreement.

"Need anything?"

"No, go home. Sleep," Galen stated, giving Flash a tired smile.

"Okay, right on. I'll be back in a few hours."

Galen nodded, then turned, walking with Rob, back up to the apartment over the shop.

Rob was deposited on the bed again. "Thank you." The younger brother let his head fall onto the pillow.

He knew how close it had been. He had felt it - death. He had died. Again.

"Galen?" he whispered, voice dead, headache back full force.

"Hmm?" He held a hand over Rob's heart and looked into tired blue eyes.

"Will you stay?"

Galen nodded. "Yeah, Brat."

Rob smiled. Then there was nothing - nothing and calming silver light.

Thank y ou for reading! God bless.