They needed to get home before Frank worried. As much as he was sure he had done a good job alienating the oldest brother, William knew his damage was only superficial. If Joe didn’t show up home…soon, then Frank would worry and start checking up.

At first Joe couldn’t move as his whole body seemed to be in shock but once William grabbed him and hauled him unmercifully to his feet, Joe managed to move somehow on his own. He would have cried out at the abrupt treatment if he had anything left to cry out with…but he was spent.

His whole body shook from the shock of the abuse and his back had actually gone numb…which to Joe right now was a good thing.

He sobbed when he discovered he couldn’t get the undershirt on over his shoulders…he just couldn’t. He tried but he couldn’t move his back and arms enough to pull it on over his head.

William watched him with growing disgust.

"What’s wrong with you…you little shit", he growled, "can’t even get yourself dressed? Honestly Joseph I don’t know how you can manage breathing…without help." He reached over and roughly grabbed the undershirt, pulling it over Joe’s shoulders and down over his back.

Joe flinched and tried to keep from crying from the pain and humiliation of it all. And then William picked up the cream sweater and stood there for a few moments looking at Joe. Already he could see crimson coming through the undershirt in a couple of places.

Grumbling he put it down and then slipped off the dark blue one he was wearing.

Joe watched in horrified silence. What game was William playing now?

William deftly pulled the cream one on over his own head and down over his shoulders, realizing that the blood might show through if Joe wore it. Holding up his blue one he beckoned to Joe to put it on before shaking his head as he sneered, "Suppose you need help with this too huh?"

He didn’t wait for Joe to answer as he viciously ‘helped’ Joe into his own…the one he had been wearing while he beat him.

"Honestly", William stated, "I have no idea how Frank has been able to put up with you for so long. I’ve only been back a month…" he didn’t finish his sentiment but left it up to Joe’s imagination.

"Now come on", he said brusquely already halfway out of the back room before he noticed that Joe wasn’t following.

"What’s the matter now?" he asked coldly.

Joe cleared his throat, "I…um" and then he carefully turned back towards the cage, "he needs…to go out." The younger boy actually flinched from the look William threw at him.

And then a moment later, a very angry William stalked over to him and Joe stepped back not sure what to expect. Stopping directly in front of Joe, the older boy said in a lethal tone, "Take him out…if he so much as looks at me. I will kill him. If you try and stop me...I will kill you. Is that understood?" William was fed up and just wanted to get back home. He was tired and looking forward to getting some sleep.

Joe gulped as he leaned over and unlatched the kennel praying that Sherlock didn’t go after William again. William moved to stand by the pool table and picked up the stick again…just in case.

A part of William wanted the dog to try something even if it would complicate things.

"Sherlock", Joe swallowed, "Be a good dog…please."

The large dog slowly pulled himself out of the kennel and felt Joe’s hand on his collar.

His brown eyes turned to look up at the boy whose hands he could feel trembling as they held onto him, "Let’s go outside…to pee."

Dutifully the large dog walked beside the boy. He never even gave William a glance. He was more concerned with what he was sensing from the younger boy. He didn’t pull or try and get away, knowing that the tedious grip the boy had him was all that was keeping the kid on his feet. He could feel him wavering against his solid body from time to time.

Even when they got outside, the dog moved slowly…carefully and kept a steady pace so his master’s best friend wouldn’t fall.

And only when Joe had returned him to his kennel and closed the door, did the dog look at the other boy…the dark boy.

That one would never be forgotten by the dog.

Satisfied that Sherlock would be fine until the morning, Joe moved very carefully towards where William was waiting. The older boy had been watching and when Joe got close enough, he grabbed one of his arms to ‘help’ him.

After all he couldn’t have Joe falling flat on his face when he got to the front door.

* * *

Con saw Frank surreptitiously look at the time and knew he was worried about Joe, regardless of how flippant he pretended to be.

He was just going to offer to drive by Biff’s place and round the delinquent up when they heard the front door open and seconds later Joe came bounding down the stairs, grabbed two pieces of pizza and plopped himself down next to Frank, "What’d I miss?"

"Hi Joe, how you been?" Con asked casting a curious glance at the blond boy. He hadn’t seen Joe in a month and was amazed at how fast the kid was growing.

Joe swallowed the bite he was chewing on and grinned, "Never better Con…never better."

Frank shot him a disbelieving look and then turned back to the movie.

* * *

Joe waited until he heard Will’s voice before heading upstairs. When they got to the house, Will had told him to wait while he scoped the place out.

Miserably, Joe had leaned against the side of the house. The walk home had been hard on him as he felt like the world was spinning and it was often times William’s firm grip that kept him on his feet.

A few moments later, Will was back and told him that both Con and Frank were downstairs.

It was hard and he almost passed out on the stairs, but somehow Joe made it quietly up to their room before collapsing on his own bed. His was out cold before his head hit the pillow.

* * *

It was almost an hour and a half later before Frank "PAUSED" the movie for a bathroom break and to get more drinks.

Con hadn’t said much but he couldn’t help but keep glancing over at Joe. There was just something bothering him but he couldn’t put his finger on it…yet.

"What’s wrong?" Joe finally asked as he noticed Con looking at him. Inwardly he was becoming quite concerned and was just deciding that it was time for "Joe" to head to bed when Con finally spoke, "I was just wondering when I’d get a chance to meet this famous twin brother of yours. I’ve heard so much about how much you guys look alike."

"Oh that", Joe gave a nervous little laugh, "well it’s not that special. If you seen one…you’ve seen the other!"

Con laughed but wasn’t going to give up that easily, "Well I can’t really say that…can I?"

Frank was just heading back down the stairs when the police officer called over to him, "Hey Frank, can you go and see if William is awake? I’d really like to meet him."

"Okay", Frank said and started to turn around when Joe’s voice stopped him. He wasn’t too enthusiastic about going up to their room so he waited to see what his youngest brother was going to say.

"NO!" cried out Joe much more harshly then he intended as he didn’t trust his twin to not give something away. His mind flashed back to finding Joe shirtless in Biff’s room…if he’d taken off his sweater again…"He’s feeling really bad", Joe continued lowering his voice and imploring them to believe him, "he called me at Biff’s just before I got home to ask me to be quiet when I came in…he’s sleeping."

Frank was still standing on the stairs and he looked from Con to his brother and back again waiting for Con to say something.

The police officer was skeptical and even more convinced that something was out of sorts and this time when he spoke his tone brooked no argument, "Frank I want to meet William. When I talk to your father tomorrow, he’s going to ask how you boys are doing…all of you. Now I need to see William with my own eyes before I can answer that. And I am sure your Dad will want to know how William looked since he’s sick and all…" Con locked eyes with the blond boy and for a few moments no one said anything until the boy looked away and then Con spoke to Frank, "go get William, please."

Nodding, Frank quickly turned and went back into the kitchen, through the swinging door into the living room, and up the main stairs to the room Joe and Will were sharing.

* * *

William waited nervously for Joe to come downstairs. He hoped the kid was able to pull this off or it would cost him dearly…much worst then what happened with the dog.

Con just watched Joe carefully.

* * *

Frank knocked on the door quietly as he called out "Will?" he hadn’t been in this room for a couple of days now and he was in no particular hurry to go in now. But Con was right, besides William should at least come downstairs to meet him that would’ve only been polite.

That actually struck Frank as being odd. Every other time, William always turned on the charm and wowed everyone. The idea that he didn’t’ want to come down and meet Con was a bit strange.

Not hearing any sound coming from within the room, Frank slowly pushed the door open, "William? You awake?" and then stepped inside.

The light was on in the room and Frank was surprised to see William just draped across a bed…and not his own bed but Joe’s!

"William?" Frank said a bit more loudly this time as he glanced around the room before approaching the bed. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for but he was awfully glad when he didn’t’ see it.

He stopped by the bed and looked down at Joe’s twin.

Joe had been right about one thing, if appearances gave any indication then Will wasn’t feeling too great. He looked terrible.

Hesitantly, he reached out and shook Will’s arm and then jumped back in alarm when the kid hissed and pulled away so violently he almost fell off the bed.

* * *

"F-Frank?" Joe fought to clear his vision but he was sure it was his big brother who was watching him with a startled look on his face.

"What’s wrong with you Will?" Frank demanded recovering from William’s abrupt wake up.

"h-huh?" Joe stammered as he tried to clear his head. Frank called him "William"?

Frank watched him for a few moments as the kid seemed to be confused. Sighing heavily because he really did not want to deal with William in any way, but realizing he was still responsible for him, Frank went into the bathroom and Joe could hear the sound of the tap being turned on.

His eyes looked large in his face as he warily watched Frank come back out of the bathroom with a small disposable cup. He passed two white pills to Will, "here take these." When the kid just continued looking at him, Frank continued, "it’s just aspirin. You look like you could use them."

With a nod, Joe put the tablets in his mouth and then gratefully took the cup Frank was offering.

"T-thanks", he managed hoping that the medicine would make the world slow down.

"Now come on Con wants to meet you", Frank was already heading to the door.

"Meet…m-me?" Joe was confused and then he heard William’s voice in his head… You’re me. You’re Will…Do you think you can do this without screwing up… and Joe slowly pulled himself up off the bed, biting his lip to keep from crying out, "Okay…I’ll be down."

Frank said something but Joe didn’t catch it as he made his way to the bathroom and splashed some water on his face. Staring at the reflection he couldn’t believe what he was about to do.

He was going to pretend to be William.