It was well past midnight when Jay finally made his way to Will's apartment. He had tried calling his brother several times throughout the day, growing increasingly frustrated when Will failed to answer. Jay was determined to work things out with Will and if he was dodging Jay's calls then he would just do this in person.
He let himself in with his spare key, finding Will curled up on the couch, pale and shivering despite the layers of blankets draped over him. Relief washed over Jay as he knelt beside his brother, brushing a clammy hand against Will's forehead. The fever was unmistakable, burning hot against his touch.
"Will," Jay murmured softly, his voice tinged with worry. "Why didn't you call me?"
Will stirred, his eyes fluttering open briefly before closing again. "I... I didn't want to bother you," he managed to mumble, his voice strained and hoarse.
Jay sighed, a mix of frustration and compassion swirling in his chest. "You're not bothering me, Will," he said firmly, gently easing Will into a sitting position. "We're family. We take care of each other."
For the next few days, Jay became Will's lifeline. He stayed by his brother's side, monitoring his fever, administering fluids, and making sure Will took his medication despite his protests. The tension that had hung between them seemed insignificant now, replaced by a shared concern and determination to see Will through his illness.
As Will's fever finally began to break, he looked up at Jay with a mixture of gratitude and guilt. "I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice raspy with exhaustion. "For everything."
Jay shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "We'll talk about it later," he replied gently. "Right now, let's focus on getting you better."
In the quiet moments that followed, as Will drifted in and out of sleep, Jay found himself reflecting on their relationship. Despite their differences and occasional clashes, their bond as brothers was unbreakable. They had been through too much together to let a single argument tear them apart.