"You just getting in?" he asked in a voice still hoarse from sleep.
"Yeah. What are you doing sleeping down here?"
"I was waiting up for Gene to get home from Greg's party. You know even though he's nineteen I guess I still feel the need to make sure he gets home okay."
"Well, I'm not sleepy yet. You go on to bed. I'll wait for him," Heath offered.
Nick rose. "Sounds good to me." He kissed Heath's cheek. "Goodnight."
Heath kissed him simultaneously. "Goodnight, Nick. Love you."
"Love you, too."
Heath watched Nick ascend the stairs then settled himself in the chair his brother had occupied and picked up a book that lay on the table beside him. He thumbed through it: "The Owner of The Castle." Ordinarily, Heath was not much for non-fiction but this had been written by their cousin Michelle. He settled in and read contently for about a half an hour until a scuffle near the front door caused him to abandon the book.
When he opened the door there was Gene being supported on either side by Greg and Clay. Gene was falling over and still insisting to his friends that he could walk on his own.
"Heath, I'm real sorry about this," Greg started to explain over Gene's slurred rendition of 'Simple Gifts.' "I didn't know how much he'd had to drink until it was too late."
"Well, I'm sure you didn't pour it in him," Heath said as he assumed the burden of his brother's body.
"Still.."
"Don't worry about it," Heath assured. "Go on home."
"Bye, Heath," they chorused and closed the door behind them.
"Boy howdy, you smell like a distillery," Heath told Gene as he lifted him in his arms and carried him up the stairs.
He got Gene to his room and laid him gently on the bed. As he started to remove his brother's boots Gene moaned, made a gagging sound and threw up all over himself. Silently Heath went through the process of cleaning him up, a task made more difficult by Gene's still drunken behavior. He removed the clothes now reeking of alcohol and vomit and discarded them. Then he began to sponge Gene off with water he had brought in a basin. Gene laughed loudly every time Heath touched him. Finally he had no choice. He slapped Gene sharply across the face. "Quiet down. You're gonna wake the whole house. If Mother and Jarrod see you like this you'll be in plenty trouble."
"Heath, I love you," Gene said in his stupor.
Heath sighed. Any other time he would have been thrilled to hear Gene say that. He was usually uncomfortable saying 'I love you' He had only recently gotten himself to say it to Nick and Gene had not yet said it to him. Having it come out now Heath wasn't sure he even knew what he was saying. So Heath said nothing. He just finished his ministrations, covered Gene with the blankets and ordered him to go to sleep. He leaned over and placed a kiss on his brother's forehead before leaving the room.
Gene awoke to intense discomfort. The sunlight streaming through the window seemed magnified. His brain felt too large for his skull and his stomach was in his throat. If he survived this he would never even look at alcohol again.
"Good morning, little brother." Heath entered the room carrying a tray.
"What's so good about it?" Gene groaned.
Heath set the tray on the dresser and began mixing a concoction, the cure for the morning after." Here, drink this," he said offering Gene the glass.
Gene accepted the glass. "What's in it?"
"If I told you you wouldn't drink it." There was a pause. "Drink it."
Gene put the glass to his lips, took a deep breath and downed the contents. It wasn't quite as bad as he expected. He returned the glass to Heath who set it on the tray. "Feel better?" Heath asked as he sat on the bed facing him.
"A little. I really did a stupid thing. Are you going to tell Mother and Jarrod?"
"Do you think I should?"
"I don't know. You know even at my age Jarrod's likely to tan my hide if he finds out."
Heath nodded. "Let me ask you this. Are you going to do this again?"
"Not on bet."
"Then we don't have to mention it. But I hope this has at least taught you something."
Gene's mind played back the events of the previous night. "Being drunk makes you act really stupid. Sometimes you even say things you don't mean."
Heath looked down remembering what Gene had had the courage to say while under the influence.
Gene continued. "But sometimes your brother is taking care of you even though you're acting stupid and you tell him you love him...and even though you're drunk you mean it with all your heart."
Heath looked Gene in the eye. "You still drunk?"
Gene gave him a puzzled look. "No."
"Then tell me now."
Gene smirked. Even though they grew up apart Heath could be so much like Nick. Why was it so hard. It literally fell out of his mouth when he as drunk. "I love you, Heath," he said meekly.
Heath tapped his cheek with his forefinger. "You owe me one from last night," he told Gene.
Gene sat up and kissed Heath's cheek.
"I'm glad to see you decided to come home." Nick entered the room. "And just what made you so late?"
Heath turned to Nick. "Let's just say our little brother had a sobering experience."
THE END