Author's note: Sorry for the delay with this chapter. You know school's just around the corner when teachers are busy getting their classrooms ready. I already miss my summer vacation.

The countdown has started, brace yourselves. There are 3 chapters remaining. Thank you again to everyone who leave reviews and read my story. It has no doubt encouraged me to write some more.

Blah blah blah... I still don't own… blah blah blah Tim Riggins…drool… blah blah blah

Kaze-Chan

Chapter 10

Billy 26, Tim 17

Tim drove faster than he normally would down Main street before finally making it to the hospital as his panic rose to new heights. The parking lot was nearly empty as well as the emergency waiting room inside, causing an eerie silence to did nothing to calm him. Most people were asleep at this hour but not the Riggins brothers, not tonight. Tim quickly spotted his older brother slouched in a chair holding an ice pack to the side of his face.

He made it to his brother in two strides. "Billy, are you alright?" Billy jumped in surprise, his eyes snapping open, scanning the room frantically before finding his younger brother's anxious gaze.

"Jeez kid, not so loud." He closed his eyes again and pinched the bridge of his nose. Though the ice pack was held in place, it did nothing to hide the purple bruises that had started to form. More bruises were forming around a cut on his temple that had already received stitches. Tim waited in silence, his eyes scanning his older brother for any other injuries. He watched his brother a second longer, taking in his older brother's tired frame. Seeing as Billy wasn't moving anytime soon, he sat in the chair next to him, leaning back, a sudden weight lifted knowing his brother was alright.

The two fell into a comfortable silence, Billy not ready to talk and Tim willing to give him the time. The nurse from the reception desk looked over more than once, but didn't say anything, the only sound in the room coming from her endless pile of paper work. "The car's totalled." Billy finally spoke, not bothering to open his eyes or look at his brother.

There was a heavy silence between the two. "Were you drunk?" Tim already knew the answer and Billy didn't bother voicing it. "Alright, so what do we do now?" The two stared straight ahead at the wall opposite them. Billy had no idea. He was still too drunk to put any real though together, coupled with the massive headache and absence of all pain killers due to his high alcohol blood content.

"I think," Billy dropped the ice pack and sat up straighter wincing as the movement was slightly painful, "I just want to go home… and get some sleep." They drove home in silence, the cool air helping to clear Billy's head. Every once in a while, Tim would spare a glance towards his older brother slumped into the passenger seat.

One of the many things Billy appreciated of Tim was that he didn't hover or fuss over you. Tim wasn't one for talking and would rarely ever press any issue for details, but if you wanted to talk he certainly would listen, even if he sometimes pretended he wasn't. In fact Tim didn't really say anything else about the accident that night. He made sure Billy made it to bed alright and when the elder eventually woke up the next day, there was a fresh glass of water and some pain killers on his bedside table.

It was late afternoon by the time Billy made it down to the police station. Detective Clark had told him to go see him today. Billy cringed at the thought of all the legal baggage attached to his accident; he was drinking and driving after all.

"Mr Riggins, please have a seat." Detective Clark waved him in, "How are you feeling this morning, you had quite a ride last night I heard." The older detective leaned back in his chair, surveying the man in front of him.

Billy nervously took the seat offered, glancing around the small office. "Alright I suppose, been better." The detective nodded, before leaning forward on his desk, the atmosphere all business.

"Good to hear. Alright Billy, let's get straight to it shall we." Detective Clark made sure he had the younger man's attention. "No one's pressing charges and we're not going to pursue you legally. However, we are revoking your driver's license for a year." A silence fell between the two.

Billy's tired mind took a few minutes to understand. "What? A whole year? What am I suppose to do now?"

"Do I need to remind you that you wrapped your car around a tree last night while driving under the influence? Not to mention how stupid that was." The detective's face was stern and serious but his eyes were kind and understanding. "Listen, you boys have been through hell, it would just seem a shame for you to throw it all away on something so stupid like this." The detective held out his index finger. "One year. I don't want to see you driving anything. Is that clear?"

Billy nodded, too shocked to say anything else. "Okay, off you go. Make sure you go claim your car at the impound lot." The finality in the tone of voice made it clear the discussion was over. Hesitantly, Billy got to his feet and headed towards the door. "Oh and Billy," Billy turned to face the man once again, "next time you're caught drinking and driving, you might be facing jail time. I'm doing you a favour here son, so consider this a warning." He nodded once again, unsure of what to say. Billy was now more than ever anxious to get out of the police station.

Since he couldn't drive himself and there was no question he was asking Tim, it took three days before Billy found a friend who could drive him out to the impound lot. His jaw dropped when he saw the car. Though he knew it had been totalled, he did not remember the crash being this bad. Standing in front of the wreck, he was happy Tim hadn't come with him to claim the piece of rust. The entire front end of the passenger side was forced in by the tree he had hit and the roof and back end were heavily crushed. The doctors and the paramedic had both told him that night that he had been lucky to escape with minor injuries but he hadn't made the connection. It was only now, three days later, that the gravity of it all sunk it. "Shit." He hardly remembered getting into the car in the first place. The last thing he wanted right now was for Tim to see this and know just how close he came to being an orphan.

A lump suddenly formed in his throat. For years, he had sworn to himself that he would not be like either one of his parents. He would be there for Tim. But three nights ago he had nearly done the opposite; nearly took himself out of his brother's life completely, by doing something so stupid. His fists shook by his side as his anger towards himself grew. He had convinced himself he was mature, that he was someone Tim could look up too. But all that crashed down around him; it was all a lie and this car in front of him was the proof.

Billy leaned forward, pulling a loose bolt free from the wreck. He closed his fist around it before pocketing the small object. If he would have to leave Tim, he vowed it wouldn't be by his own stupidity; the bolt in his pocket would serve as a reminder.