When Zach asked me about Project Onyx it sparked something in me. I could swear I had heard it at some point when I was younger, but I couldn't remember anything about it. Even if he hadn't asked me to look into it I probably would have anyway.

That's how I found myself in my office well passed work hours. I kept getting insufficient security clearance everywhere I turned. It wasn't a surprise. I was a test analyst for his company, but that didn't mean he was about to give me full security access. Department Omega was well out of my clearance and that's where Project Onyx kept bringing me to.

And the fact that Sam knew something about it didn't set right with me. I loved Sam despite his unreasonable hatred for Zach, but at the same time I knew there was something going on with him. I knew he was working for our father, but neither of them would even give me hints about the extent of his duties. I knew he tested some of father's weapons and such, but I also knew he did more than that.

I was in the process of attempting another method of finding information when the door to my office opened. I looked up, annoyed that someone had entered without knocking, and froze. The man standing in the doorway smirked at me and sauntered in despite the heated glare I threw at him.

"What do you want Kevin?" I demanded.

Kevin's smirk grew. "You're snooping where you shouldn't, Andrew."

"Don't call me that," I snapped. "What do you mean anyway? I've just been--."

"Trying to look at Department Omega files," Kevin cut me off. "It's not a good idea, Andrew. Department Omega is none of your business."

I continued to glare at him. "I don't know what you're talking about, but I don't appreciate you waltzing into my office without knocking."

Kevin sneered at me, turned around and walked back out of my office, shutting the door behind him. I rolled my eyes as he knocked on the door, louder than need be, and then entered once again. I really wanted to smack the smirk off his ugly face, but he was the Director of Department Omega and that made him untouchable. My father wouldn't hesitate to fire me if I laid a finger on one of his most important scientists.

"Happy?"

"Smart ass," I snapped. "Don't you have something more important to do?"

"Maybe, but it's not nearly as fun as winding you up, pretty boy." Kevin retorted. "Besides, I don't want to see you get into trouble and poking around Department Omega is a kind of trouble you don't want."

"I don't appreciate you threatening me," I told him angrily.

The Director smiled that oh so fake smile that I saw on Sam's face all the time. "It's a friendly warning, Andrew. You'd be wise to listen."

With that Kevin sauntered out of my office and shut the door with a soft click. I'm not usually short tempered, I've had to take care of two younger brothers since we were kids, but Kevin Anderson always managed to set me off. The guy just knew which buttons to push. And I always got a feeling he knew more than he was letting on.

And something about Project Onyx was important enough to trigger some kind of alert in Department Omega. It was something my father and apparently Director Anderson didn't want me to know. The fact that Sam knew about it just made me worry more. Whatever Project Onyx was, it was big. And I had to find answers.

xxxx

My first reaction was shock. I knew my brother was going to move quickly, but seeing him kissing Shark…I was just frozen. I knew he was doing it on purpose. He made sure to kiss Shark right outside the surfer's room so I would see it. Sam knew right where to hit to hurt me.

And my shock was quickly replaced by a burning fury. How dare he touch what was mine even though I had hardly laid claim. What I failed to remind myself was that Shark was free to be with whoever he wanted, that he wasn't mine to be protective of anyway. That fact was lost to the parts of my brain being swallowed by blazing red anger.

I followed Sam as he went and at the first opening I pounced. My brother planted his feet in my stomach and flipped me over and I landed on my back with an audible ooff.

"What's the matter Zach? Jealous?" Sam taunted softly. "This is only the beginning."

"You bastard," I hissed and got to my feet, trying to keep pressure off of my still aching ankle.

I charged him again, swinging wildly, and my brother smoothly blocked and dodged all my angry moves. Then with devastating accuracy he countered and sent me sprawling to the ground wheezing for breath. Sam kicked me once and went for a second, but I rolled away and into a half crouching position. Sam waited for me to get up and I saw his eyes flick to look at my ankle before a wide smirk spread across his face. He came at me with a speed I couldn't match and could barely block, forcing me to back up. He then lashed out and kicked my ankle as I tried to take a step back. I cried out in agony and crumpled to the floor holding my ankle.

"Oh, that looked like it hurt," Sam sneered. "You should remember to keep your weaknesses hidden, Zach. I thought you would have at least learned that from our father."

I growled and stumbled to my feet. With a roar of pure rage I pounced at him using all the strength I could with only one leg. Sam actually laughed as he side stepped me and I saw my mistake with frightening realization. In my anger I hadn't paid attention to where we were. I only managed a terrified gasp before something connected with the back of my head and everything went black.

xxxx

I was half asleep when I heard somebody shouting. I jerked awake and went to see what was going on. What I found was a scene I'll forever remember. Sam was dragging Hawk's limp body out of the pool. My heart nearly stopped at how still my friend was and from a distance I couldn't see if he was breathing or not. Sam was crying for his brother to wake up, but to my utter confusion wasn't doing anything he was supposed when saving a drowning victim. I rushed forward as I heard my other three friends arrive.

I shoved Sam out of the way and checked for a heartbeat and breathing. He had a pulse, but he wasn't breathing. I tilted Hawk's head back and pulled on his chin to open his jaw. I briefly wished for a CPR mask just in case, but I wasn't willing to wait long enough to grab one from the first aid kit. I pinched his nose closed and sealed my mouth over his, not even thinking about how much I wanted this to be a completely different circumstance, and gave two long, slow breaths. Thankfully that seemed to be enough and Hawk started cough up water. I carefully rolled him onto his side and breathed a sigh of relief that it had been a lot better than it could have been.

"What happened?" Axel demanded.

"He was so mad about something. He punched me in the face and I fought back in self defense. I don't know how we got so close to the pool, Zach's always been scared of water. The last thing I remember is him hitting me and when I came to he was underwater," Sam explained with perfect confusion and worry in his voice. I knew the snake was lying, but the others seemed to buy his story. "Is he going to be okay?"

"He'll be fine," I replied with a hint of no-thanks-to-you in my voice.

Hawk slowly moved so that he was laying on his back and stared up at the ceiling vacantly. Fear flashed through me. Just how long had he not been breathing? The horrible thought of brain damage rattled my cage, but was dispelled the moment Hawk sat up and glared at his brother. He didn't say a word, but he shakily got to his feet and hissed the moment he put pressure on one leg.

"Hawk? What happened to your ankle?" I asked.

Hawk never stopped glaring at Sam. "I must have twisted it."

"Do you remember how you ended up in the pool?" King asked. I watched him shoot Sam a suspicious look, but no one else noticed. I knew right then I had to talk to him privately as soon as I could.

"I fell," Hawk retorted shortly. I glanced at Sam just in time to see him flash the barest hint of a smirk at Hawk. "And we're done with this damn inquisition. I'm sure you can learn everything you want from my dear brother."

With that Hawk limped away and we were left standing there with questions unanswered. I for one wanted to know what really happened. Hawk has had a temper in the past, but what would Sam have said to set his brother off? Or did Hawk really make the first move? I needed answers.

xxxx

I slammed the door to my room and sank to the floor. I knew Sam had just used that little stunt to win brownie points with my friends. It made him look like a hero for pulling me out of the water. Hearing him tell them his twisted version of what happened and them accepting it twisted the knife. They probably thought I was some temperamental asshole who attacked my twin brother for no reason. And I couldn't bring myself to tell them that it was partially true. I attacked Sam first, but that bastard was aware of our surroundings. He knew we were by the pool. He let me almost drown just so he could play the hero.

He said it, he told me, but I didn't want to believe it. He really did hate me. If he cared even a little about me he wouldn't have let me fall into the pool. He was there when our father pushed me into the water so I would learn to swim. He knew how close I came to drowning that day. For him to let me fall into the water like that especially when he knocked me out first…

I jumped as someone knocked on my door. "Hawk?"

"Go away Axel."

"I just want to talk."

"I don't," I snapped.

"You need to," Axel prodded.

I snorted. "Oh bite me, Axel. When have you really cared about me?"

"What? Hawk, of course I care," Axel retorted instantly.

"Sure, when I swoop in to save your ass. Or when I'm the distraction or decoy. Or how about when I get hurt saving your asses," I snapped. I was still leaning back against the door and perfectly happy telling him off with a barrier between us. "Otherwise, you like to laugh at my misfortunes and single me out for ridicule. And you're completely blind."

There was silence on the other side of the door. I wondered if maybe I had managed to piss Axel off enough for him to go away. It was what I was going for, but everything I said was the truth. Sam being around made me look more closely at how my friends had treated me in the past. I shouldn't have been surprised since it was really pretty much what I was going for anyway. But for some reason it hurt that it took my sadistic twin showing up for them to even start suspecting anything was wrong in my life.

"Blind to what?" Axel asked, surprising me somewhat.

I sighed. I had said a little more than I should have. "Go away Axel."

"Hawk--."

Axel cut himself off and I could hear soft talking, but couldn't understand what was being said. I heard Axel give a sigh of defeat and then he and whoever he was talking to walked away. After a moment I used the door to get to my feet and limped further into my room. I carefully stripped out of my soaking clothes and threw them into the hamper then just as carefully limped into my bathroom where I dried off. I changed into dry boxers and a shirt then climbed into bed. I knew sleep wouldn't come to me for a while, but I didn't have the energy to do anything else. I just wanted the day to be over even though I was scared to think what the next day would bring.

xxxx

AN: First and foremost, I'd like to thank Encrypted Pseudonym for helping me with the rescue procedure. Also, big thanks to my wonderful beta Zort who has no idea about ATOM but still does an awesome job. As always I want to thnak everyone who's reviewed. Everyone should be thankful I didn't do my usual evil cliffhanger and leave it right where Hawk got knocked out. Anyone who's read my other stuff knows how eeeeevil my cliffhangers can be. Also, I've been watching some of the episodes over again and I've realized I don't really have the friendship thing down right, which irks me, but it's a little too late to change. And lastly, if anyone wants some muses who lack attention span and like to go after random plot bunnies I'd be glad to share. Mine are driving me nuts.