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[ It didn't take much. Anthony was already moving to stand up but was easily unbalanced by the tug. The glass tumbled from his hand but fortunately it bounced to a safe landing on the couch cushions as his head came to rest on Alec's shoulder. Alec would hate it... but being the only family member that knew and that could support him right now, Anthony clung to him in a death grip like hug, willing everything he said to be true as the tears dampened his poor cousin's shirt. He had been keeping this all in, trying to ignore it that once the dam was weakened it all flowed out. ]

Bastards...

[if he hated it, it was only because Anthony had been driven to such an action. That he'd been broken so much. He would find a way to break them in turn, but for now he let his cousin cling where he liked and rubbed between Anthony's shoulder blades in a way he hoped was comforting]

They are. Try not to let it get to you, alright? Remember that no matter what happens, this is the truth.

[ He nodded, but tried not to pull away until he had rubbed his eyes with the back of a hand and pulled himself together. If when he later sat back on the sofa his eyes were red, it was only from the drink... nothing else. ]

Yeah... you're right. Have to be.

[ Though there were doubts. ]

I like kids, I wouldn't even think to suggest... Urf, maybe I need some coffee.

What you need is some sleep. Come on. [he stood, tugging Anthony's wrist to get him up]

Take the bed. Linens are fresh and I've got too much to grade to think much about sleeping anyway.

[ In better times Alec constantly tugging his wrist would warrant his being pushed down a hill or back onto the couch they had just stood up from. Right now it resulted in Anthony waddling after him like some child's duck pull toy. ]

I don't want to sleeppp... That's when the memories return.

[he knew the feeling]

They're just dreams.

[when they reached the bed he pulled back the covers and then shoved Anthony down without preamble, taking the time to get off his shoes before knocking his legs in and pulling the blankets firmly over him]

Do you need me to read you a fairy story before you go? Or are you good?

[ Or a lullaby? Anthony frowned up at him, that would be a 'no'. ]

I'm good.

[ Almost. Anthony called after him before that slippery cousin of his could get to far away. ]

Th-thanks.

[Alec paused on the way out the door and gave his cousin a slight smile]

That's what family is for.

Goodnight.

[and he made his way back to the sofa. It was badly sprung but he managed to find some comfortable position out of effort. He would just rest his eyes for a mome...n..

[ Family. That was nice. It was such a nice thought that he actually drifted off to sleep with a smile.

And he happened to forget to set an alarm... He wouldn't be awake until that darn sun caught him in the eye or Alec shook him. ]

[if he's waking with the sun then it's far earlier than Alec does as the living room doesn't get any. Though it might be going on noon]

[ Thick curtains and being on the lee-side of the building... yeah it was way after noon by the time he finally stirred. There was that fleeting moment of panic as he found himself in an unfamiliar bed but he soon remembered this was Alec's place and not a reversion to his wilder youth. His head pounded so he rolled over and buried his head under a pillow until it dawned it was morning. One would have thought the sun might have been an indication of that. ]

Shit. Shit!

[ He sat up far too quickly and threw on his shoes while typing out some lame excuse to his staff on his cell. ]

Alec! You never woke me up!

Ngh. [he didn't know what Anthony was yammering about but his back was killing him. He turned on his side and tried to curl into a more comfortable position away from the light]

[ The returned text said it was way past noon and that Janet his main gardener had called Grace looking for him. Bless her. It seemed he was in for another conversation later. But if he rushed he could make it to work with just about enough time to... suffer from one Hell of a hangover!

Anthony tumbled out of the bedroom and sagged onto the sofa. Fuck it. It wasn't worth the trouble.

Instead he looked to Alec whose feet he was practically sitting on. ]

You don't work on Mondays?

G'off my feet.

[it took a while for Anthony's words to even register.
Then they did and he sat bolt upright, wincing at the sudden pain everywhere.]

Bloody. What time is it even-- [he checked his mobile and the seventeen missed calls]

Oh for fuck's sake! Aahhhhhhggghh. [he scrubbed a hand through his hair and then got up from the sofa to call the school. One very nasty conversation with the principal later where she rightfully upbraided him up one side and down the other for putting undue strain on their already understaffed school, he sat at the table and rested his head on it amidst all the ungraded papers, quietly wishing for death.

It might happen too the way his heart was jamming at his ribs, sending wincing pain all through him and dark spots in front of his eyes, but if he laid here long enough maybe it would go away.]

[ It was quite the floor show watching while Alec paced around. And that conversation, yikes! If it had been half as heated on the other side as it was on this one he didn't think a Principal really ought to be using language like that.

He meanwhile took care of his problems through text. A quick note to Janet apologizing for not calling in and asking her to cover. He was her boss so what was she going to say about it? No sir, be more responsible? And a second to Grace saying he wasn't dead but that he had stayed up too later drinking with dear cousin Alec, more to be explained later, though he planned to keep the memories out of it.

By the Anthony looked up Alec had collapsed on the table. ]

You end up drinking too much too?

[ This was the initial thought as he stood and teetered over to the table himself. Alec looked so pale and out of breath that his own heart sank... This was so much like before. ]

You are still sick! How bad? Do you have any pills or anything...?

I'm fine. Don't be a ninny. [the fact that he wheezed it probably didn't help]

Medicine cabinet. Top shelf.

[ The ninny was the one relying on pills and stubbornness! This thought could wait until after he had run to the indicated cabinet and returned with those pills. Those and a glass of water were placed in front of him on the table.

There would be questions but only after it looked like Alec wasn't going to keel over. ]

Here, got it? I could loosen the cap?

Shut up and give them here. [he got his own damn cap off thank you and downed his pills before settling back and waiting for his breathing to come back to normal]

Don't you have somewhere to be?

No. I missed work and like Hell I'm going anywhere when you are sick.

[ If he hadn't had missed work already he would have called off for this! Why would Alec suggest he do anything less? ]

What happened? Couldn't they do the surgery right away? Were there complications? What is the name of the heart specialist you are seeing?

I'm not sick. It's just ... nothing. It's nothing.

[Christ he wanted to lay down on something not designed to murder his spine, but knew better than to ask]

I've got it taken care of. [he capped the pill bottle and set it to the side]

And if you don't plan on leaving, at least you could get lunch. There's a deli just down the block.

Thisss... collapsing and nearly dying is not nothing. Needing pills to make your heart function isn't nothing! Christ!

[ He spat the name at the ceiling as he flapped his arms in frustration. ]

You came here to look after me?? You are the one who needs a keeper! I thought you were going to start looking after yourself?

I am. Look I've got meds, haven't I? It'll be fine. Just a rough start this morning. Will you stop worrying?

[ Will you stop worrying... was there any phrase in the universe designed to cause more worry than that one?! ]

NO, I won't stop worrying!

[ But he would at least sit down and stop flapping around the kitchen like an angry rooster. ]

What does your Doctor say?

[He rubbed the bridge of his nose. He did not want to have this conversation and all it entailed. Why couldn't Anthony just leave well enough alone?]

What do you think I have these for? [he poked the meds again]

How I am supposed to know, you haven't said anything about this!

[ Sitting in this chair giving Alec a glare. ]

I'm not leaving until you tell me.