Beep…Beep…Beep…
Joey struggled against the darkness that swarmed his mind. He wanted so badly to open his eyes and see that his sister was ok, but he couldn't. Not that it mattered, Joey had failed as a brother; he had failed as her protector.
"Joey," a voice whispered in his mind. "Wake up Joey." As the voice became clearer, he recognized it as his sister.
"Serenity?" he asked, trying to open his eyes. He struggled to make out the next words, which was barely above a whisper.
"I'm scared Joey, I can't wake up. Help me!"
Joey jerked up and looked around his room. He tried to get up, but was pushed back onto the bed by Tea, who was standing nearby.
"You need to rest. If you aren't careful, you'll rip your IV out."
Joey didn't care. He took one look at his sister's small body and stood again. Noticing the IV for the first time, he pulled the needle out of his arm, ignoring the gash that it caused in his skin. He slowly walked over to where his sister was, at the same time ignoring the protest of his friends. Gently, he sat down on the edge of the hospital bed, and ran his hand across his sister's hair.
"Wake up for me Sis. Me and mom need you, our friends need you. Open your eyes.
Slowly, he watched as Serenity turned her head toward her brother, but didn't open her eyes. He tried again, keeping his voice low.
"When we get out of here, I'll teach you to duel," he whispered. He turned around to hear someone at the door. His mother was there, standing in a plain white hospital gown, and looking exhausted.
"Mom, how long have I been out?" he asked, noticing his voice was shaky.
"Two months," she told him, walking over to his side. "You need to lie down," she told her son.
"I can't Mom. I need to be by her side when she wakes up. It's my fault she's hurt to start with," he said. Everyone tried to tell him differently, but it was a certain white haired boy that had a good point to make.
"Joey, it isn't your fault. I understand the guilt. I blamed myself when my mom and sister died, but it was. The only person you should blame is your father."
"I want to," Joey admitted. "He's my dad. I know he didn't give a damn about me, but he was still my dad." Joey felt weak, and he hated it. SO he decided to put up the tough mask he used when the abuse started.
"Look, it doesn't matter anymore. You guys don't worry about me, I can take care of myself."
"J-Joey," he heard, causing him to nearly jump out of his skin. He turned around to see his sister looking at him, through half closed eyes. "I love you big brother," she whispered.
Joey smiled down at her instantly dropping the mask, and giving Serenity a smile that he only used around her. "I love you too sis, go to sleep."
"Joey, can you stay with us now?"
"Yes, now try to sleep."
"Joey."
"What," he asked, as much as he wanted to order her to go to sleep, he would never tell her to shut up. She was too special, she meant too much to him.
"Don't go."
"I'm not sis," he promised, lying down next to her on the hospital bed. The nurse wouldn't like it when she came in, but as far as Joey was concerned, she'd just have to get over it. There was no way in hell that he was moving from his sister's side. Sighing, he placed his arm across his sister.
"Guys, thanks for being there for me," he said, as Serenity fell asleep.
"No problem bro," Tristan said, standing close to the bed. "Can I ask you something?"
"I'm trying to sleep, so make it quick."
"When Serenity gets to feeling better, where would the best place be for me to take her on a date?" As he said this Tristan took a step away from the bed. Sure enough, Joey was sitting up and glaring daggers at him. Had the boy been within arm's reach, Joey would have gladly wacked him as hard as he could, but for now he had to settle for just glaring at him.
"Tristan if you so much as look at my sister as if you like her or even think about taking her on a date, I will personally destroy you," he said. He hoped that his voice came out menacing, but knew that it wasn't very likely in the state he was in.
The rest of the room started to laugh, glad to see that Joey was almost back to normal. Before long he would be up causing trouble and getting in fights. He would laugh and joke, and try to keep anyone from dating his sister.
The mental scars that the Joey and Serenity had would take time to heal, but they would get through it. They had friends that cared for them, and they had their mother.
Tristan swat down on the edge of the bed to talk to Joey, when suddenly he was slapped in the head. "What the hell, man."
"That's for thinking about being allowed to date my little sister." He said.
"Now Joey, I think Serenity is perfectly able to date," his mother told him. Tristan gave him a grin that turned into a frown when he heard the next part. "You just have to stay around and supervise to make sure nothing goes on at any of the date."
The whole room went silent at the look on the two boys' faces. Joey was imagining having to watch his sister kiss some guy without being allowed to break their neck.
"Guys," Joey began. "I'm going to sleep." It was true that the boy was exhausted. It didn't help him that his friends continued to chatter among themselves.
"Guys," Joey said, keeping his eyes shut, and trying to find that eluding sleep.
"What," they asked at about the same time.
"Shut the hell up," he told them. Then he rolled on his eyes and lay down against his sister's side. Gently he put his arms around her, determined to protect her even in his sleep. He was and would always try to be her savior, her protect.
He would keep danger and Tristan away from her at all cost. Her life was worth so much more than his. As he finally drifted into a dreamless sleep, he smiled. He was with his family, and no one would ever come between them again.
ns 15.158.61.6da2
