Carly Jones sighed fondly as she looked at her sleeping brother. They were staying at a hotel while they waited for their parents to arrive. Nick had stressed out at the hospital, so they'd decided to go elsewhere. Carly smiled. Her little brother had always been wary of doctors and hospitals.

Yes; her 'little' brother. When people found out they were twins, most assumed Nick was the elder. He was in fact, fifteen minutes younger tha her. Nick mumbled and twitched in his sleep and Carly's mind flashed back to Ambrose.

She'd promised herself she wouldn't think about it, about them, not with the memories so fresh but she couldn't help it. Paige, Blake, Dalton and Wade were dead because of two homicidal maniacs and she'd almost lost her brother.

Carly thought about Bo and Vincent's deaths. Their demise didn't bring the expected fear or guilt. She had killed them to protect herself and her brother and she was okay with that.

She shifted in her chair beside Nick's bed. He was out cold because of the painkillers he'd been given at the hospital. She'd been given them too, but the drug-induced haziness did nothing to dispel the nightmares. Seeing Nick die repeatedly in her mind pushed all thoughts of sleep out of her brain. Now she sat watching him sleep to assure herself that he was still breathing.

Carly was lost in thought when Nick startled her with a small noise. She leaned forward to take a closer look at him.

Nick was lying on his back on the bed. His brow was furrowed and his fingers had a tight grip on the blanket. Carly crawled up on the bed and maneuvered them so she was on his left side with her arm around his waist. Nick instinctively wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He whimpered and tightened his grip on her and the blanket. She rested her head on his chest.

"Shh. It's alright, Nicky. Everything's going to be okay." Carly continued to mumble assurances until his grip loosened and he relaxed back into a more peaceful slumber.

Carly dozed listening to his heartbeat. As she drifted off, a thought crossed her mind. She would do anything for her brother and she knew he would do the same. After all, isn't that what family's for?

End.