Emily and Hank have gone to bed soon, but they didn't sleep. No, by all means – they didn't. It has been amazing. Hank grinned satisfied, man, he was satisfied! Now they were laying by each other, naked and exhausted, but happy. It was a nice feeling. To be with someone like this.. close, breathing together, gentle touches and calmness.

I promised Evan to call him. Not exactly the perfect moment to think about his baby brother. He wanted to stay here with Emily, enjoy the peace and quiet. On the other hand, he knew his brother wasn't good, when he left. Because he was drinking too much the night before. Really? I'm sure there is more to it.

"What's on your mind, baby?"

Emily's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Oh, sorry, it's nothing."

She got on her side, her head on her hand. "Now, tell me. I know you won't stop thinking about it before you've talked about it."

"It's just Evan."

"Why is it, that I'm not surprised?" She sighed.

"He was doing so bad all day long. I'm not sure it was a good idea to leave him all by himself in his condition."

"A condition that he probably caused with his careless drinking habit."

"I wouldn't say it's a habit. More a phase. I guess he has some trouble and doesn't know how to solve them."

"Well, Hank, you should know that as a doctor, but drinker usually start drinking because of unsolved problems. So, I'm sure Evan is not different."

He wondered about her harsh tone. It's still his brother she was talking about. She talked about Evan like he was an ordinary drunk on the streets. An image of his brother frightened him: Evan laying in a dark dirty street in dirty, ragged clothes, not shaved, not washed for weeks, starving, sleeping under newspapers, empty bottles around him and a new bottle in his arms, ready to protect it with his meaningless life.

He tried to push that thought away. "Yeah maybe, but he didn't look good, he was vomiting and he was dizzy. I'd say he was close to unconsciousness more than once. And I.."

"Hank, please stop it." Her hand touched his. "Don't do this to yourself. You're talking yourself into sorrow and guilt. He's old enough to take responsibility for his deeds. You're his brother, not his father. Start living your own life."

"Well, yes, maybe, but..." He looked in her eyes, knowing she wouldn't like it. I guess she's already pissed or annoyed anyway. "I know, but I promised to call him before I go to bed and I hate breaking promises."

"Good talk to him, but promise me something, too..."

"What?"

"I want you to take some days off and come with me. I have a vacation home that my granny bought many years ago. And I mean really off, from your job and your brother."

"Well, as much as I liked to, but ..."

"But your patients need you? Please, most of them aren't even in the Hamptons. It's the best time of the year to be off. At least admit that it is because of that idiotic brother you have."

"I don't know what to say, Em."

"It's Emily and say 'yes'. Why is it that you let him interrupt every time we spend? There is no togetherness anymore, without talking about him. Do you think I have no feelings? Have you ever realized how he's talking to me? Well, maybe just half of it. He saves the worst things for the times you can't hear him throwing them at me."

"Emily, I know Evan's not easy, but I don't think that he's so mean. Don't listen to him, I do that all the time and it works for me." He smiled a little, but her face didn't change. "Okay, give me a few days to find out what's going on with him and then we go on vacation."

"Sounds good. I hope you keep this promise as well. And now go and call your brother, but leave the room. I try to get some sleep."

He kissed her and went to the living room. He called Evans number and let it ring till the machine answered: "Evan, it's me, Hank. I promised to call you, but your probably asleep. I'm worried, so please just call me back and let me know you're ok. Don't worry about the time. You know me, I don't rest well, if I don't know that everything is fine." He hesitated for a moment. A sudden fear let him swallow hard. He cleared his throat. "Don't forget I love you, Evan."

There was a strange feeling after he hung up. He didn't know why he has felt the urgent need to tell Evan that he loved him. He did, of course – Evan was the most important person in his life, but it's not like he told him daily. Fact was that Evan was more of a family type than he would ever be.

Hank sat down on the couch. No need to wake Emily. Just watching some TV until Evan calls and then bed is waiting. I hope he calls soon. Please be okay! I hope nothing happened. I shouldn't have left him. Try to think about something else, Hank! This worrying leads nowhere and Evan is probably asleep.

Emily. He was longing for the woman's body. A feeling he had missed for a while. Life in the Hamptons was good to him. He was successful, his own boss, work wasn't as stressful as the ER job and he had a woman that cared a lot for him; maybe even loved him. Do I love her? He didn't know the answer to that. All he knew, was that he liked her and the fact that she was a doctor too. The more he thought about Emily the more the worry about his brother disappeared. He relaxed and fell asleep on the couch.

I know it's a short one, but the next one will be on tomorrow or sunday.