Nick, my Nick was in danger of dying if he didn't get a kidney, and I knew how long transplant lists were, many people that needed organs never got them. "We'll put him on dialysis," the doctor said. "But it won't keep him alive forever."

"I have two kidneys," Joe said. "He can have one of mine!"

"Joseph, we don't know if you're a match…we'd have to run a test…"

"Then do it!" Joe said, his voice filled with determination. "He's my brother, I want to help him."

"Me too," I cut in. "I'll do anything that I can to help him."

"Alright." The doctor nodded. "Boys, come with me, we'll do this now…the sooner that Nick gets the kidney the better." I gulped. What if neither of us were a match? What if no one was? What if Nick couldn't get a kidney in time? What if I lost him? My eyes began to well up with tears just thinking about it as I followed Joe and the doctor down the hallway. The actual running of the tests was a blur. I was silent unless it was mandatory that I speak, and soon enough we were back with Nick.

"What do you know?" Nick asked. He looked pale and scared, but at least he was alive…for now.

"Nothing yet," I gulped, shaking my head solemnly. It's gonna take some time, they won't know until tomorrow morning…but don't worry Nick-o, I'm not going to leave your side." I took his hand and held it tight. I needed him more than anything and I just hoped that he knew that, because I couldn't tell him how I felt with Joe, mom and dad in the room. Our parents had dropped Frankie off at our Aunt's house and they had arrived while Joe and I were being tested. If we were both negative for a match, they would be tested as well, but Frankie was far too young.

"Kevin…" Nick looked at me with his dark eyes, which, despite his condition, were still beautiful…at least to me. I always thought that Nick looked perfect, no matter was wrong with him. I couldn't stop my mind from thinking back to making love to him…it had been amazing, and not long ago at all. It was hard to imagine that things could change so drastically in such a short amount of time. I was scared, no terrified. Terrified of losing Nick, the love of my life. I knew that I wouldn't be able to go on living happily if he died. "Don't cry…it's going to be fine." Nick's hand squeezed mine weakly and I felt horrible. He looked so miserable, yet he was staying so strong.

"Nicky, I'm so scared…"

"I know, I am too…" Nick looked at me and I could tell that he was truly as scared as I was. God, I knew that this was possibility, I just didn't think that it was going to happen, not to him, it wasn't fair. This kid had never done anything to hurt anyone and here he was, lying in a hospital bed, risking death unless somebody helped him…I just hope that I could be the person that he needed. We all stayed with him through the night except for Frankie, who stayed where he had been dropped off. One by one, everyone else fell asleep, and once they had, I crawled up on to the bed beside Nick, pulling my arms carefully around him to avoid pulling out his IV. His body curled in to mine and I held him until I too drifted off in to an uneasy sleep.

I woke up the next morning to Joe shaking me gently. At first, in a moment of blissful ignorance, I forgot where I was, what had happened, but seeing Nick sitting up next to me in that bed brought me right back down to Earth. "Sorry to wake you," Joe said. "But the doctor got our tests back, he's gonna be in here in a minute to tell us if there's a match." That woke me up completely. I sat up and put my arm around Nick's shoulder, waiting with my family for the doctor. The news that he carried could save Nick's life or possibly condemn it.

"Nick," I whispered in to his ear. "Whatever happens, you're gonna be ok."

"I hope you're right." Nick gulped and I rubbed his back, trying to comfort him. A few seconds later the doctor returned.

"Nick, you're a very lucky boy indeed…both Kevin and Joe are matches…so if for some reason, your body rejects the kidney, you have a second chance…as long as both of your brothers are willing to make the sacrifice." The doctor smiled warmly at our family. "As for deciding which kidney Nick should take…well I looked over both of your medical records and Kevin's are significantly better, but none of Joe's incidents were harmful to his kidneys…he's just accident prone…so either would be fine…I want you to chose as a family and get back to me, you don't have to decide today, but I'm scheduling the surgery for a week from tomorrow…so it would be best if you knew by tomorrow."