They didn’t have a choice.
They watched the healers guide Garrett toward the back of the clinic, and when he made a strangled sound, Franklin started moving forward.Reed stopped him, grabbing his hand, and to his surprise, Franklin didn’t shake his hold off.Instead, he linked their fingers together and squeezed, and Reed squeezed back.
“Let’s sit down,” he suggested.“I’m sure someone is going to come get us as soon as they can.”
“I don’t know what I’ll do with this,” Franklin murmured.
“I have no doubt it’ll take a long time for him to be okay, but hewillbe eventually.You just have to be patient and remember that he’s safe.He’s with you now.No one is ever going to hurt him again.You saved your brother.”
Franklin nodded, but he didn’t move.That meant that Reed had to do the moving for him, and that was fine.He didn’t mind taking care of Franklin when Franklin couldn’t take care of himself.He suspected he would have to do it over the next few months, and that was okay.Franklin would focus on Garrett and on finding his sister, and Reed would focus on Franklin.
The clinic had a tiny waiting area with a few chairs.That was where Reed led them, and he had to push Franklin to get him to sit in one of the chairs.Franklin did so, his entire body leaning in the direction Garrett had been taken.Something told Reed it would be a while before he moved, which meant Reed needed to make him as comfortable as possible.
He left his mate there and went to get something to drink and a snack.He doubted that Franklin would want to eat, but Reed would be ready if he did.He’d thought about what would happen a lot since he’d met Franklin.He prayed that Garrett would be okay, but he wasn’t sure that was the case, and unfortunately, there was nothing he could do about it.He couldn’t help.If Garrett’s problems weren’t physical, nothing Reed could do would help him.His recovery would be quick, at least physically.The healers were all Nix, so Garrett would be bruise-free by the time they were done with him.
But that didn’t mean he would be okay.
* * * *
FRANKLIN SHOULD BEfeeling good, but how could he when he had no idea what was happening with his brother?Garrett was there, so close yet so far away, having to deal with who knew what a few rooms down the hallway.Franklin desperately wanted to go to him, but he forced himself to stay in the chair he was in.That didn’t mean he wasn’t staring at the door through which Garrett had disappeared, though.
He desperately wanted to go back there.Instead, when Reed came back, Franklin reached out to take his hand.Reed looked surprised, but he didn’t move away.He sat back down, apparently ready to spend as much time with Franklin as needed.
Franklin didn’t know how long they stayed there, but when he heard his brother screaming, he regretted not insisting on going with him.He was on his feet in seconds, letting go of Reed’s hand and moving toward the door.He hadn’t even reached it when it flew open, and a panting Garrett appeared, his eyes wide.He looked around the room, maybe for an exit, maybe for someone to help him.Franklin didn’t know, but he moved forward.Whatever Garrett needed, Franklin would give to him.
But Garrett didn’t allow Franklin to touch him.When Franklin reached him, Garrett cringed back, plastering his back against the wall.Franklin felt like his heart was breaking, but he pushed that emotion away.His focus should be on Garrett right now, not his own pain.
But what could he do?If he reached for Garrett again, Garrett would freak out.Franklin had no idea what had happened in the back room that made Garrett feel like he needed to run, but he knew it wasn’t the healers’ fault.They were doing their job.Whatever was going on, it was all in Garrett’s mind.He seemed to be stuck in the lab, which wasn’t a surprise, but Franklin wasn’t sure how to help him out of that mental place.
“Garrett,” Reed said, suddenly appearing next to Franklin.
Garrett blinked at him.Franklin was relieved when his brother relaxed, even though it hurt.Reed was a stranger to Garrett.He shouldn’t be relaxing with him around.He should be doing that for Franklin because they were siblings.
But this was better than nothing.It was better than Garrett freaking out.He probably didn’t know where he was or who the people around him were.He’d seen Reed only six months ago, though.Of course he remembered him.
Reed tentatively moved forward and reached for Garrett.“Hey.Remember me?”
Garrett hesitated, then nodded quickly.He didn’t seem to be afraid of Reed, even after what Reed had done to him.
“I know you’re scared,” Reed continued just as the healers appeared at the door.When they saw what was happening, they stopped moving and waited.If Reed was able to calm Garrett down, everything would be much smoother.
“But I promise that these people are trying to help you,” Reed continued.“They’re not like the doctors at the lab.They want to make sure you’re okay.They’re going to heal your bruises so you won’t feel pain there anymore.”
It was weird to see Garrett so still.He’d never been still, especially not as a child.He was the kind of kid who was always on the move, climbing trees and tumbling down, getting back to his feet without crying and trying again and again until he succeeded.That wasn’t the Garrett standing in front of Franklin.That Garrett might never come back, and Franklin would mourn him if he didn’t, but he didn’t really care about that.He just cared about his brother being okay.
“Let’s go back, all right?”Reed offered.He reached for Franklin and pulled him closer.“And this is your brother Franklin.Remember him?”
Garrett didn’t look like he remembered Franklin, but he still turned toward him.Franklin almost started crying.He didn’t know how to reach Garrett.He didn’t even know if he should try.Would that make things worse?Better?
“Talk to him about your shared past,” one of the healers said.“Even if he doesn’t react, it’s going to help him.The memories are there.He just has to remember them.”
Franklin wanted to scream, but he nodded.No matter how much it hurt him, he would do it.
“Hey, Garrett,” Franklin said, stepping forward as the people around them started trying to steer Garrett back into the room from which he’d run.“I’m sorry Leah couldn’t be here.I know you’ve always preferred her to me, but I guess it makes sense.You’ve always been together, ever since you were conceived.I’d always been jealous of that.Remember when the two of you used to have a language of your own, and I tried to learn it?You guys kept telling me wrong words and giggling when I said them.I can’t even remember that language now.I’m sure it would make you feel better to hear it.”
Garrett was pliant again.The group walked into the room, and Reed gently guided Garrett toward the bed.The healers who’d hovered close by moved forward again, ready to work on Garrett.Garrett didn’t freak out as Franklin half expected him to.He kept watching Franklin.
Franklin went to stand by the bed, choosing to be close to Garrett’s head so that the healers would have the space they needed.He desperately wanted to touch his brother, but he didn’t dare.Instead, he continued speaking like the healers had told him to.“And remember the time that you and Leah decided to cook Mom breakfast?You almost set the house on fire,” Franklin said.“It was a sweet thing that you were trying to do, though.I wished I’d thought about it, you know?I also wished you’d involved me.”
