"Joe…" She murmured his name.

"Shhh. Go back to sleep." He whispered, smoothing her hair and kissing her lightly.

Making his way down the hall, Joe pushed the door open and entered Frank’s room, his eyes filling with tears almost immediately. Lost. Joe had never felt so lost and alone in his entire life. He stared at his older brother, an emptiness filling his heart. Frank wasn’t supposed to be like this. Frank was the strong one. The one who had always protected Joe and looked out for him for as far back as Joe could remember.

Joe recalled his first day of kindergarten. He’d been so excited to be starting school with his big brother, not understanding they would be separated as soon as they arrived. When Joe had been taken by the hand and led away, he’d been terrified and cried most of the morning, wanting desperately to be back in his older brother’s shadow where he felt safe. His tears had resulted in merciless teasing from a few of the other boys, making Joe feel even worse. When the horrible day was finally over, Joe was flooded with relief to find his brother waiting just outside the classroom for him.

Seeing Joe’s sad, tearstained face, Frank immediately demanded to know why his little brother was so upset. As Joe poured his heart out, the boys who had teased him stood a few feet away, snickering. Frank had sent Joe back into the classroom to wait, telling Joe he would take care of it. Several moments later, Frank returned and the two brothers made their way home. To this day, Joe still didn’t know exactly what had happened, but he was never bothered by the pint-sized bullies, or anyone else, ever again.

Standing there, Joe couldn’t even imagine life without the brother he worshipped. The one he admired, looked up to and emulated. The one he aspired to be like. The one he never wanted to let down. The one who had never let him down when it really mattered. In the past six months alone, Frank had been by Joe’s side in the absolute worst moments of his life.

When Vanessa had been raped, when Joe had been on trial for murder, when childhood trauma had come flooding back, sending Joe spinning into darkness as he tried to flee from reality, and again when Vanessa had been kidnapped Frank was there through it all. When Joe had been abducted and tortured by Keith Rashman, Frank never slept and barely ate until Joe had been found and was receiving the medical care he needed.

Only a week later, as Carlos Sanchez questioned Joe for hours and hours, forcing him to relive the painful ordeal, Frank sat right next to him. When Joe thought briefly of turning to drugs in an effort to escape the physical pain and mental anguish he was in, it was Frank who had used a little "tough love" to get Joe to understand the dangers of what he was doing. Frank had never let Joe take on anything alone. Frank had always pulled him back to safety whenever Joe found himself wandering down the wrong path after making a rash decision.

Thinking back to the night in the park, Joe subconsciously clutched his left arm, pulling it close to his body. Memories of the painful abuse he’d suffered through at the hands of Keith Rashman flooded back to him.

"You said you’d help me." Joe whispered, looking at his brother’s pale, drawn features. "You told me you’d be there for me; you’d listen when I needed to talk."

Joe suddenly thought of the upcoming trial when he would have to return to Chicago and relive the torture and abuse in agonizing detail, not once but twice. Frank had promised to be by Joe’s side through it all. He promised Joe would not have to endure it alone.

"You promised. You said you’d be right there with me." Joe’s voice rose slightly, as he began to tremble.

"You told me I wouldn’t have to do it alone!" Joe cried out, unable to stop the irrational anger that quickly took hold of him.

"You lied to me!" Joe yelled, squeezing his eyes shut, as if it could block out the nightmare. "You lied!!"

Lost in his own grief, certain he would never again see the brother he depended on to bail him out no matter what, Joe didn’t notice the rhythm of the heart monitor increase. He didn’t see the slight movement of Frank’s head or his eyes open and close several times, before finally opening and focusing on Joe.

"Joe…" Frank barely whispered.

Joe gasped. Looking up, he found himself staring into Frank’s deep brown eyes, now looking at Joe with confusion.

"Frank! You’re awake!!" Joe scrambled to his brother’s side.

"Joe." Frank repeated a little bit louder.

"What?" Joe asked excitedly.

"I…I want…" Frank grimaced.

"What is it? What do want?" Joe said, eager to do anything to help his brother.

"I want you…to…shut up." Frank scowled. "You’re giving me a headache."

Collapsing in the chair next to the bed, Joe broke out into laughter that quickly gave way to a flood of tears as he bowed his head and rested it on the bed rail, unable to stop crying.

Ever the protective older brother, Frank reached out gingerly, resting his hand on top of Joe’s head. Extremely confused, he wasn’t quite sure what had his younger brother so upset but he knew, instinctively, that he could make it better, just as he always did.

"It’s ok, Joe. Everything will be ok." Having exhausted what little strength he had, Frank closed his eyes.

Sniffling, Joe raised his head. "Frank?" He asked, tentatively. "Frank!" Joe shook his brother’s shoulder violently, terrified he had imagined everything.

"What?" Frank mumbled, irritated. "I’m tired, Joe. Let me sleep." He requested as his head lolled to the side.