AN: Sorry its been awhile. Life has been crazy. Not sure when I'll get another update done but I hope you'll all be patient.

Zoran- you get to find out what's going on with Charlie in this chapter and I'm glad you enjoyed the Fred/George/Percy part of the last chapter.

Gabwr - you know what they say -better late than never and I really can't complain as you reviewed before this chapte! Glad you're enjoying it.

Hatori Soma - Short and sweet. Thanks for leaving the review!

Charlie stifled a yawn. It was quarter of two in the morning. Percy had fallen asleep shortly after Charlie had relieved Oliver and had been asleep ever since. It had given Charlie time to think. Unfortunately, the time to think hadn't helped anything.

Charlie still wasn't sure what to do. His boss wanted him back. Four of his fellow dragon keepers had been injured in the last couple of days. Nothing too serious but their injuries were severe enough to keep them out of work for the next week. With five keepers gone, the others were struggling to keep things under control. At this point even one more set of hands would be a big help.

He felt a responsibility to his co-workers. He had worked with most of them for a couple years now and was close to them. In a way they were like family, and he felt a responsibility to them. They needed his help.

At the same time though, Percy was his brother. Although the infection itself was clearing up, there still wasn't any improvement in his lung function. He still wasn't well. Charlie was hesitant to leave at this point. What if his leaving had a negative impact on his brother's recovery? If something happened after he left and he didn't get back in time then . . .well Charlie wasn't sure he wanted to even finish that thought.

"Everything okay?"

Charlie jumped at the sound of his father's voice.

"Sorry didn't mean to startle you," Arthur said letting a hand rest briefly on his son's shoulder as he sat down in a chair next to him.

"I thought you would be at the hotel sleeping."

"Couldn't sleep," Arthur said quietly sitting down beside Charlie. "Do you want to talk about the phone call you received this evening?"

"There's been a lot of injuries since I left," Charlie said hoping that maybe talking to his father would help him decide what to do. "The boss wants me to come back. They really do need my help."

"But you feel that Percy needs you too?"

Charlie nodded.

"He's my brother Dad. I want to be here for him but my co-workers, we're so close. Its almost like we're family. They need me now too."

"Maybe even more," Arthur said once again finishing his son's thoughts once again.

"Dad, I don't know what to do. Percy isn't recovering like he should. What if my leaving has a negative effect on his recovery? But what if I stay here and something happens in Romania? They need me there too."

"I can't tell you what to do Charlie," Arthur said. "You're not a little kid anymore but you also need to remember that Percy isn't alone. Bill, your mother, your uncle Will, Oliver and I are all still going to here for him. Your not abandoning him and he's out of immediate danger. Do your co-workers really have anyone else they can count on."

Charlie thought about his father's words. They made sense. His boss had tried to bring in other dragon keepers temporarily and couldn't find anyone available with experience. He had gotten a couple of young wizards that he was going to train but they weren't going to be much use for awhile. Calling Charlie had been a last resort.

He looked over at his brother. He was resting comfortably. Even some of the color had come back into his cheeks. The doctor's said the infection had just about cleared up. He was still on oxygen though and the doctors didn't know how long that would continue. Could he really head back to Romania without knowing how much longer it would be for Percy to make a full recovery? Could he put his life on hold until that happened? What if it never happened?

Charlie covered his mouth as another yawn came on.

"Why don't you get some sleep," Arthur told his son. "No reason for both of us to be up."

"You sure?"

"Yes go," Arthur said. "Good night son."

"Good night Dad," Charlie said standing up and heading for the door. Charlie was reaching for the door knob when his dad spoke up again.

"Whatever you decide Charlie, you know I'll support you."

"Thanks Dad," Charlie said. He pulled open the door and headed out of the room. By the time he reached the hotel he had made a decision.

Percy sat alone in the hospital room, his transfiguration book open in front of him. He had finally been able to convince his parents that there didn't need to be someone with him around the clock this morning although his mother had said she would be back this afternoon. Percy had a feeling it would be sooner rather than later.

He looked up from his book as he heard the door open, fully expecting it to be his mother. Instead, Charlie walked through the door.

"So, Mom sent you to check up on me huh?"

Charlie smiled. Their mother could be overprotective, especially when it came to Percy. Charlie had found it annoying at times and he was sure Percy was sick of it by now, so he didn't take offense to the question.

"No, Mom didn't send me," he told his brother closing the door behind him and walking over to the bed. Charlie sat down on the edge of the bed facing Percy as Percy closed his school book and let it rest on his lap.

"Is something wrong?" he asked noticing the serious look that had come across Charlie's face.

"I'm heading back to Romania. My boss called last night and they need me back," Charlie said quickly wanting to get the words out before he changed his mind. "I don't want to leave you and if they didn't need me so much I wouldn't go, but I feel a responsibility to them. If you weren't . . ."

"Charlie its okay," Percy said interrupting his brother. "Its not like I'm going to be alone and your going to have to go back at some point."

"I know, I was just hoping it would be when you were well and heading back to Hogwarts."

"That might be awhile," Percy said dejectedly. He was sick of being sick. Of not knowing what was going on. The doctor's always talked to his parents out in the hallway and his parents wouldn't tell them what they had said.

"The doctors are doing everything they can," Charlie said hearing the defeat in his brother's voice. He reached out and laid his hand over top of Percy's.

"I'll be fine," Percy said trying to smile. He didn't want Charlie feeling bad about leaving. Charlie had his own life. It wasn't fair for Charlie to be stuck here just because he wasn't well. It wasn't fair to nay of his family for that matter. "Don't worry."

"If you need anything, or want me to come back don't hesitate to ask. I'd do anything for you Percy," Charlie said wrapping his arms around his brother.

"I know," Percy said hugging his brother back.

As much as he didn't want to, Charlie eventually broke away. He had to get going. They were expecting him back in Romania. Standing up, Charlie headed for the door. Before leaving though he glanced back over his shoulder. Percy had his school book opened again.

Charlie just hoped his brother returned to school again. That he wasn't hurrying back here again because Percy had a relapse.

The Next Evening:

Everyone had gathered in the living room of the hotel suite, except for Molly who was at the hospital with Percy. Will, Bill and Oliver pretty much knew what was going on. Ron, Fred, George and Ginny however didn't.

Arthur looked at his youngest kid's expectant faces. They obviously wanted to know what was going on. Were tired of being kept in the dark.

"You kids are going back to school tomorrow," Arthur told them. "Percy is out of immediate danger."

"I'm not going back while he's still in the hospital," Fred said, George echoing his twin's sentiments.

"We're taking your brother home tomorrow. The infection has cleared up and the doctor's have done all they can. They think your brother will be more comfortable at home and your Mother and I agree."

"Is he going to get better?" Ginny asked.

"We all hope so," Arthur told his little girl knowing how close she was to Percy, but knowing he couldn't lie to her either.

The truth was, there had been little improvement in lung function despite the infection clearing up. His oxygen levels were fine when he was on oxygen but it didn't take long for them to drop once he was off the oxygen. Healer Black had been taking him off oxygen for short periods of time all day though in the hopes that the extra work on the lungs would help improve them over time. He had given Molly and Arthur instructions to continue doing so at home. Percy's care would be turned over to the Weasley's family healer, Lance Marks.

"Right now, the most important thing is to get things back to as normal as possible. That means you all returning to school. As soon as Percy is strong enough, he'll join you," Arthur told them hoping those words would be true. Hoping that his third son got strong enough to return to school. "I'll send you guys a letter daily letting you know how things are going."

Fred, George, Ginny and Ron nodded knowing that arguing would get them no where.

"Ron!," Hermione exclaimed as she spotted him as she and Harry walked out of the Great Hall after breakfast the next morning. She rushed over to him and gave him a quick hug. Harry was right behind her and he put a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"I'm glad your back. Does that mean Percy's well?" Hermione asked as she took a step back from him.

"Well enough to leave the hospital," Ron replied. "Mum and Dad took him home this morning. We're not sure when he'll be strong enough to return to school," Ron told them. 'Or if he'll return to Hogwarts,' Ron added silently to himself.

"Well at least he's at home resting now. That's a good thing," Hermione said seeing that Ron was still worried about his brother.

"He'll be back giving all of us a hard time about obeying school rules in no time," Harry piped up, trying to reassure his friend.

"Meanwhile, we better get going or we're going to be late for Herbology," Hermione reminded them.

"Well, at least I don't have to see Snape my first class back," Ron said as he and Harry fell in step beside Hermione as they all headed to the greenhouses outside of the castle.

"So just how far behind in your schoolwork are you, Ron?" Hermione asked.

"With the exception of Potions I'm actually right with everyone else," Ron said puffing up his chest a little bit. He knew Hermione would expect him to be behind in all his classes. He was happy he could prove her wrong, although if he hadn't been for Bill, Charlie and Oliver nagging him to do the work a lot of it probably wouldn't have gotten done. Hermione didn't need to know that though.

"We'll have a study session this evening. Harry is have a little trouble himself."

"Like that's really a surprise," Harry muttered under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing," Harry told her, exchanging a look with Ron.

The trio kept walking as Hermione started planning out their evening for them.

As nice as it was to be out of the hospital, Percy still wanted to be better. To be at school instead of at home in bed. His mother was still fussing over him. If it weren't for Bill dragging her out of his room this evening, she probably still be hovering over him.

Percy looked down at his Potions book and the paper he was trying to write. His eyes drifted from the Potions work to the list of assignments. Very few of them had been crossed off. He felt like he would never get through the list. Never get caught up.

With a sigh, he went back to work. Before long he felt his eye lids growing heavy. Percy forced his eyes back open. He just wanted to finish the report.

Someone removing his glasses, woke Percy from the sleep he had falling into. Opening his eyes, Percy found Bill hovering over him.

"Didn't mean to wake you," Bill told him quietly.

"What time is it?" Percy asked groggily.

"Ten o'clock," Bill told him as he sat the glasses on the bedside table. "I'm sleeping in Ron's bed so if you need anything just wake me," Bill told him.

Percy nodded.

Bill turned out the lights. Percy listened as his brother climbed into the bed across the room. Closing his eyes sleep soon came to him but he was soon dreaming about school. About going back and being so far behind that he had no clue what he was doing. That everyone was laughing at him while he was in the front of Snape's classroom unable to breath.

Percy opened his eyes to find that he wasn't at Hogwarts but at home in his room. He still couldn't cath his breath though. He tried to get some air in by taking a deep breath. It didn't help.

The light came on and Bill was soon hovering over him, putting the oxygen cannula that had fallen out back in his nose.

"Shh, Percy calm down," Bill said softly as he sat down on the bed next to his brother. He reached out and touched his brother's cheek. Bill could see the fear in his brother's eyes. "Take deep breaths," Bill instructed.

"I-I-I can't," Percy said gasping for air. He was scared. It felt like he was suffocating.

"Shh, Relax," Bill said soothingly. "Deep breaths. You'll be fine," Bill told him again.

"There's too much... work to catch ... up on. I'll never ... get caught up. I'm going to ... make a fool of ... myself when I go back ..."

"Shh, don't," Bill said smoothing hair back off Percy's forehead. "Don't think about the work. You just need to relax right now."

Percy nodded. He knew Bill was right. Panicking wasn't going to get him anywhere. He closed his eyes and tried not to think about the long lists of assignments. About never being able to catch up.

"It's going to be okay," Bill said as he saw his brother start to relax. Saw that Percy wasn't gasping anymore.

Before long, Percy's breathing had returned to normal. Some color had returned to his face. His eyes were still closed. Bill wasn't sure if Percy was sleeping or not. Slowly he started to stand up.

"Please stay," Percy said grabbing Bill's hand.

Bill looked down to see Percy's eyes open now and the pleading look on his face.

"I'll stay as long as you want me to," Bill told him sitting back on the edge of the bed. He could tell his brother was scared to be left alone.

Ducking under the tube for the oxygen, Bill laid down beside Percy, putting his arm under Percy's shoulders. Pecy let his head rest on his brother's chest.

"Now get some sleep," Bill said softly as he reached out to turn off the lamp beside him.