Chapter Title: Heartache

Series Title: Unlikely Brothers

Ages in this chapter: Tanner (11) Dashen (17)

Chapter Summary: Colton helps a struggling Dashen. A dialogue-only story.


"Dashen. What are you doing up? And on the floor no less. It's the middle of the night."

"Hmm?"

"Another migraine?"

"Yeah."

"You wake up with it?"

"Yeah."

"You know he's okay, right? Quin said there's no need to worry now that the worst has passed."

"Yeah."

"Your headaches act up when you're overly stressed and tired. Did you take the pain killer Quin gave you last time?"

"Yeah. Made me throw up."

"Probably not the drug."

"No."

"Did you sleep at all?"

"Kossi was in my dreams. He died."

"I know, kid."

"A good brother. The best ever. In the entire galaxy. And he's dead. Always dead. I want him back."

"I know that too."

"M'head hurts. Heart too. Thinking of him. Remembering."

"You can remember the past, Dashen. But don't forget the present. That small boy in that hospital bed, he needs you. He'll look for you once he comes around."

"Tanner's a good brother too."

"He is."

"Lost a brother, got another. S'at make me lucky or un?"

"For you, both. For those little brothers, maybe they are the lucky ones."

"Kossi's dead. How's that lucky?"

"Because for those eight years of his life, he had you. You'd have given up the galaxy for him if you could have. Same with Tanner."

"Never thought of it that way."

"You want to go see him? He's past the contagious stage. You can sit with him. Talk to him."

"He's still unconscious."

"Doesn't matter. He'll know. Probably, you can even talk to him about Kossi. He'll listen. Always does."

"He does. Always. No matter what."

"No matter what."

"I should see him."

"I'll help you up. Easy. You're a bit unstable."

"Dizzy."

"I'll get you there."

"Why?"

"Because you can't get to the hospital on your own, much less navigate to his isolated room once there."

"No, why...why do you always help me?"

"Under that idiotic exterior, you're a good person, Dashen. You may not always think so, but it's true. You stayed with Kossi until his last breath, making sure he knew you were there. You took that Jedi boy in when any other would have thought him worthless and left him to die. You don't have much, but you give what you have."

"I help them, you help me?"

"You could say that."

"Even when I'm all wobbly and m'head hurts?"

"Especially then."

"I need to see Tanner."

"You do."

"Stay with him."

"That too. We'll have Quin try you with another painkiller hypo while we're there."

"You gonna stay?"

"For a while. Until I'm sure you're all right."

"Thank you for helping me, Colt."

"You're welcome, kid."


END