Family Emergency

“One hundred and sixty pounds. Not bad, not bad at all.” Roberta Cusack said as she wrote down something on her clipboard. Peter stood anxiously on a scale until it was alright for him to descend.



“You’re eating more, I take it?”



“Yeah, stomach’s settled down since the last visit,” Peter replied, nodding. Several weeks had passed since the fateful day that Cusack had discovered the Petrelli brothers in the park, and now Peter found himself in the eighth month of his pregnancy, well into the third and final trimester. Careful not to be seen by too many people, he had arranged for the doctor to pick him up from his apartment. Nathan would be busy all day in the office and would not know about the outcome of the appointment until later when he visited. Of course the youngest of the Petrelli family wanted to get the appointment over with as soon as possible so that he could return to the safety and comfort of his home, away from prying eyes and off his aching feet once again. Perhaps then he could get another massage from his big brother.



“I was thinking we’d do that colonoscopy today,” Cusack began, closely monitoring Peter’s features to decipher his reaction. “I’d like to see how your anatomy is adjusting.”



The young nurse grimaced at the thought but knew there was no way of avoiding it. He knew the preparations for such an examination and was therefore aware that they included an enema.



The doctor handed Peter a green hospital robe from her supply closet. “Why don’t you slip into that while I go prepare the equipment, alright?” She smiled at his apprehensive little nod. “Don’t you worry, dear. It actually looks much worse than it feels.”



When the doctor was gone, Peter walked into the bathroom adjacent to her office and began to wriggle out of his clothes. Although the makeshift brassiere he had devised from a wife beater had worked, his other clothes were beginning to stretch to the point of discomfort on his growing body. Thank god for panels, he thought as he pulled down the jeans Nathan had bought for him. At least they still fit, unlike the button down shirt he had fished out of a drawer which had become the unofficial place for all of his maternity clothes.



By the time he had pulled on the garish green gown and exited the bathroom, Doctor Cusack had still not returned, and so Peter found himself wandering about, in a half hearted attempt to both exercise and pass the time. Loathe as he was to admit it, his walk had now become more of a waddle, but at his current shape and size, it was hard to walk the way he used to.



Ten minutes passed, then fifteen and finally twenty, and Cusack had still not returned. Peter considered putting his clothes back on, as he was getting pretty chilly wearing just the gown. What could possibly be distracting the doctor? Had she mayhap received an urgent call from one of her other patients? Or was something going on with Hope?



Peter wondered how Cusack would be able to deal with the baby once Hope started walking. A medical clinic was hardly a safe place for a curious toddler to explore.

Trying to pass time, Peter himself started exploring Cusack’s bookcase, but shelves stocked with nothing but medical books quickly turned him off. Instead he directed his attention to a small TV almost hidden in the corner behind her desk. Peter found no remote control, so he walked over to the apparatus and turned it on manually. However, nothing but static appeared, and he gave a disappointed sigh.



He was about to continue wandering about the room when something appeared out of the corner of his eye. Below the television monitor was a VCR and blinking in blue glowing text was the sign of an inserted video cassette. Pressing the eject button curiously, he read the scribbling of marker on the label:



MICHAEL



He knew he should not go any further. This was private and belonging only to Cusack. But she had mentioned during the last visit of a video along with the rest of the information regarding the young man Peter had acquired his newfound ability from. The hospice nurse wondered if she had made several chronicling her short time with Michael, like she had with the photographs. Some were for scientific study, while others had been keepsakes, memories of happier times.



Peter knew what might just be on that tape, what kept Cusack sad about her loss and wondering where she went wrong. He knew he should not risk the worry it might bring, but he could not help but wonder what the inevitable would be like.



Although not sure what to expect, Peter could not in any way have prepared himself – physically or mentally – for what appeared on the TV screen. Only a split second after he’d decided to press the “play” button on the remote, the piercing screams of a young man in indescribable agony and pain cut into his mind, and he reflexively covered his ears with his hands.



The images that followed – Cusack had obviously shot everything on an amateur camcorder, so the image quality was somewhat lacking – did nothing to bring him out of his state of shock. Blood. There was blood everywhere. Could a human body even contain that much vital fluid, let alone lose such an amount and still be conscious? Before this, Peter would have deemed it impossible.



Cusack was slightly annoyed when she finally returned to her office to let Peter know that she was ready to take him in. The reason why the preparations had taken so long was that the fiber optic camera on her endoscope had obviously broken and had to be replaced – a procedure which required a fair amount of time. Hopefully this one would last longer than the older one did.



“Alright, sweetheart, if you’re ready to go, we can…” She trailed off, as she entered the room. Her eyes grew wide when she discovered that the television screen was on, its static snow filling the room with white noise, and that Peter was nowhere to be found.



“Peter?” she called out, uncomfortable with the situation. Peeking through the small opening of the bathroom door, she saw a pair of feet, so she entered the room. The young man was huddled in the far corner of the relatively small room, white and shaking. Trembling arms were wrapped around his knees, though his folded legs could not go incredibly far against his round body. He stared ahead at nothing, the look of a person already dead, though his breath came out hard and labored.



Cusack knew from the start what had distressed him so. She knelt down, carefully reaching for his shoulder.



“Peter? Sweetheart, can you hear me?”



“You were right…” he said, his voice low and soft. “He… he didn’t care… his life meant nothing… kept asking if she was alright…”



“Oh God, Peter…” the doctor said, sounding despondent. “I didn’t intend for you to watch that, especially not in the condition you’re in now.”



“So much… blood…” The young man’s lips kept moving despite the fact that they were no longer forming words. Cusack cupped her hands around his pallid face and tried to catch his gaze.



“Peter, look at me,” she commanded. “I’m not going to let the same thing happen to you. Please have faith in me. You’ll get through this, you have my word.”



A small, clear teardrop appeared in the corner of the nurse’s left eye and slowly trickled down his cheek. Cusack wiped it away with her thumb. She had already realized that they would not be able to go through with the examination today. Her top priority at the moment was to get Peter home and make sure he didn’t do anything foolish.



“I’m going to call your brother, alright?” she softly told him. “If he can’t make it, I’ll drive you home myself.”



Peter glanced at her fully in the eyes, finally focusing on her. He seemed to realize what she was saying, though he still looked incredibly shaken from what he had seen.



“Would you like some water?” she offered as she helped him to his feet. The young man’s legs appeared to be unsteady as he stood.



“Just… I’d like to sit… water would be nice, thanks.”



Once he had made it to a comfortable chair in front of Doctor Cusack’s desk – he insisted he walk there himself without any aid – he took a cup of water in his hands, which were now beginning to still. Cusack began to dial Nathan’s number at her desk.



“Don’t tell him about what happened,” Peter suddenly said. “I don’t want him to be worried.”



“Would you rather I didn’t call him?” Cusack asked, raising an eyebrow questioningly.



“I just… He’s got a lot on his mind right now,” Peter said quietly, as though he was ashamed of something. “This was just me being stupid… I don’t wanna burden him with more shit than I already have to.”



“He’s your brother. He’s supposed to take care of you.”



“Maybe… I should call him myself when I get home,” Peter suggested. “…after he’s left work.”



“Alright,” the doctor agreed, putting the receiver back where it belonged. “Would you like a ride home?”



Peter found himself nodding. He really longed for the security of his own apartment.



When he finally arrived home, Peter went straight to the bathroom and removed his shirt. The idea of rolling up the wife beater had fortunately worked, but he preferred not to change every single time he stained his new invention. Lifting the layers of cloth, he removed two folded sets of toilet paper and replaced them. Satisfied with the adjustment, he went back to his bedroom to take a nap, though he doubted he would be able to get any sleep. Not only did the images and sounds of Michael’s final moments still rush through his mind like a film played on loop, his back and feet were also killing him.



*



When Nathan finally left the office that day, he called Peter’s apartment. Peter’s voice was low and sluggish, so it had been clear he was asleep when he had been called. However, his younger brother asked him to drop by nonetheless, and so Nathan obliged.



*



Assuming that Peter would still be in bed by the time he arrived, Nathan used his own key to let himself in, not bothering to ring the doorbell. The apartment was dark save for a dim light shining through the door crack to the bedroom. Heading in its direction, Nathan found his brother tangled up in the sheets of his bed, soft snores emanating from his half-open mouth.



Failing to keep a smile from his face, he approached the sleeping young man and knelt by his bedside.



“Hey there, little buddy,” he whispered, caressing Peter’s cheek. A twitchy movement was all he got in response the first time, but after a second attempt, Peter actually stirred.



“Nathan…?”



“Uh huh. How did the appointment go?”



“Uhmm…” Peter said before giving a long yawn. “I guess it went… okay…”



Nathan’s brow knitted at his brother’s answer, particularly the look on his face when he said it. “What happened this time?”



“Nothing, it was fine.”



The older man put a hand on his brother’s shoulder, asking for his full attention. “I meant what did you do with the doctor this time?”



Peter, now fully awake, looked aside, avoiding Nathan’s eyes. “Oh… well, we didn’t do the colonoscopy like we planned.”



“Why not?” Nathan was looking increasingly worried due to his brother’s behavior and Peter hated to see that expression on the stern face.



“… I got upset about something.”



“And what was that?”



Sitting up with some difficulty, Peter stared at his stomach. He would rather look at that ugly thing instead of Nathan’s face, silently demanding answers.





“I saw the video…” he finally said, clarifying when he realized his brother was confused at the answer. “Of Michael giving birth. And… of his death.”



“She showed that to you?!” In just an instant, Nathan’s face went from concerned to something ready to explode.



“No!” Peter immediately exclaimed, alarmed at his brother’s reaction. “That was all my fault. She had… nothing to do with it. I just saw the tape in her VCR player and I played it… Stupid me.”



Now the older man sighed, closing his eyes in defeat. “Did you know what was on the tape before playing it?”



Biting his lip, Peter hesitantly nodded. “I… had my suspicions.”



“God, Pete! Sometimes you really just don’t think, do you?”



“Whatever. If all you came to do was nag on me, you might as well leave again. I’m still tired, anyway.” Peter withdrew from his brother’s touch and turned his back on Nathan.



“I came because you asked me to, and I wanted to see how you were doing,” the lawyer said. “But if you really want me to go, I can leave.”



A moment of silence passed where Peter only lay there silently, and Nathan wondered if he was going to be answered at all.



“Well?”



He was about to rise from the bed, when a hand shot out and grabbed his sleeve, guiding him back down. Peter glanced in his direction.



“I thought it would help… I don’t know… I thought if I could see what I would be expecting, I wouldn’t be so scared…”



“And now you’re worse off,” Nathan finished the sentence for him. Peter turned over, hand on his belly, as his front felt enormously heavy by now. Nathan moved to help him turn, but Peter only shook his head and mumbled a no thanks.



“Don’t leave.” The young nurse said. “I don’t want to be alone right now.”



Nathan nodded, lips turned in a gentle smile. “I won’t.”



Several minutes went by with Peter lying with his back propped up by several large pillows, his brother calmly by his side, stroking his hair. Every so often, the younger Petrelli brother would wriggle and writhe against the sheets, even itching his shoulders as he did so.



Lifting an eyebrow at the behavior, Nathan asked, “problem?”



“My skin’s itching all over…” Peter murmured, suddenly exasperated with how bad he actually felt. “I feel like there are a million ants crawling all over my body. I mean, I can scratch the front, but…”



“Want a hand?” Nathan offered, proceeding by rolling up his sleeves.



Peter’s face actually seemed to light up a bit. “That’d be nice.” He turned onto his side as quickly as his physique would let him, offering his bare back to Nathan. The easiest way to give access would have been to lie on one’s stomach, but Peter was long past being able to do that.



Smiling, Nathan pushed the blankets down, exposing more of his brother’s body. His hand brushed against Peter’s waist and something that felt an awful lot like a waistband. Tugging the blankets down further, he was rewarded with the sight of Peter clad in a pair of maternity panties. A surprised yet pleased sound escaped the older man’s lips.



“So you actually like them enough to wear them to bed? That’s really great.”



As soon as Peter realized what he was actually wearing in front of his brother, his face went bright red followed by a quiet stream of curses. Frantically struggling to remove the embarrassing underwear, he started to pant from exhaustion.



“Hey, steady…” Nathan said, quick to respond to the state of unrest in his brother. “You don’t want me to see your wearing them, then that’s perfectly fine. Can I help get them off?”



Finally admitting defeat, Peter sighed and settled back down on the mattress, muttering yet another expletive before complying with his brother’s offer. Fingertips gliding softly over the delicate skin, Nathan eased his hands underneath the waistband and pushed the clothing off, still feeling the curves of the younger man’s body as he went lower and lower. Eventually, he reached the feet and even rubbed his thumbs over the soles before fully removing the undergarment and tossing it aside. Peter closed his eyes and sighed as he felt the hands retrace the path they made all the way back up to his waist. He wiggled his shoulders again.



“Scratch my back…?”



“Yeah, I know,” Nathan replied, and he began his task.



Getting massage from Nathan had always been heavenly, and Peter reveled in the sensation of his brother’s large, strong hands working on his tense muscles to loosen up some of the knots in there. However, this time the scraping of fingernails against his skin felt even better.



The young nurse practically cooed with pleasure when the god-awful itch was finally relieved, and Nathan’s hands soothed the red lines they’d made by gently rubbing them. Oddly enough, other parts of his body began responding to the touch as well, and for the first time in months, Peter could feel his cock harden.



A moan sounded from him, halfway between surprise and pleasure. Nathan, of course, noticed and looked down immediately at the erection sprouting between Peter’s legs.



“Wow,” he softly exclaimed, patting his brother’s rump. “Am I that good, little buddy?”



Peter only moaned again, voice muffled by the pillows beneath his face.



Nathan wondered if it would be wise to continue to encourage the hard-on. Peter had not been game for anything sexual since their last escapade under the covers, and that had been months ago. The hospice nurse was far too miserable and constantly uncomfortable to do so. However, Peter had not shown any signs that he wanted the treatment to stop, and it pleased Nathan to see his baby brother so happy.



Hands still rubbing, the older man edged his way down the small of the back where most of the abuse on Peter’s poor spine had been taken. Another sound of satisfaction, this time louder, emerged from the young man’s lips, and his erection twitched. Slowly, ever so carefully, Nathan eased a hand along the hips, and when no refusal was shown, into the groin.



Peter moaned again when he felt his brother’s hand starting to fondle him. Nathan’s touch felt wonderful; there was simply no denying that. He knew exactly what Peter liked and therefore also the best way to please him. The younger man felt a bolt of pleasure, sharp and intense like electricity quickly propregate from his groin when Nathan’s fingers expertly caressed his swollen member.



The lawyer was pleased that Peter was enjoying his ministrations and not even trying to hide this fact. He’d feared that his brother’s self-consciousness of his current body shape would prevent him from receiving any pleasure from any sort of intimate contact, but he was happy to have been proved wrong.



“There you go, baby…” Nathan panted, chest now tightly pressed against Peter’s writing back. He was quickly developing an arousal himself and longed to get out of the constricting clothes he still wore. However, that meant he would have to withdraw from Peter, if only for a minute.



“Oh, Nathan… please…” Peter groaned in reply, trying to create additional stimulation by pushing back against his brother.





“Do you… do you want me to just beat you off? Or do you want something more…?” Nathan asked.



“Mmmmnn…” Peter mewled, skull nuzzling against his brother’s forehead. “More… want you… Nathan… want yoouuu…”



“Okay,” the lawyer replied gently, kissing the back of Peter’s neck as he quickly unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged out of it. Fists clenching the bedcovers, Peter squirmed anxiously, waiting for his brother to return, naked and hard, to take him without mercy.



When he looked back, he could see Nathan removing the lubricant from the bedside drawer, then climbing back into bed.



“Are you sure you want this?” the older brother asked, a tentative look marring his features. “I just don’t want to hurt you.”



“I want it,” Peter whispered longingly. “I need it so much… just one last time…”



“This isn’t going to be our last time, little buddy,” Nathan said tenderly, brushing his broad palm against Peter’s flushed, heated cheek.



Peter’s lower lip twitched, as if he was close to tears. “It might be. If I die giving birth…”



“You won’t,” Nathan broke off, kissing him. “I promise you won’t.” His tongue caught one of the salty teardrops that leaked from Peter’s eyes.



Even though he was weeping, Peter was still rock-hard and rubbing wantonly against his brother; a sign that he really wanted this. Nathan removed a condom from its wrapper and pulled it over his erection with just one hand, the other busy touching Peter. Knowing that his brother did not enjoy having attention paid to his stomach or chest area, Nathan limited his touches to the genital zone. Wetting his fingers with some lubricant, he sought out Peter’s entrance and pushed carefully inside.



The elder brother was rewarded with a sharp cry as Peter threw his head back, eyes shut. Searching hands found the back of Nathan’s head, fingers brushing against the once neatly combed hair. Smiling at the positive response, Nathan withdrew his fingers and spread out the halves of his brother’s rump. However, the movement of fingers against his hair stopped, grasp tight for only a second.



“Na… thannn… it won’t work…”



Brow wrinkled, Nathan asked, “what won’t?”



Peter’s expression, eyes still closed, twisted in frustration. “Too… big… I’m too big…”





The older man looked down in disappointment and realized what his brother was saying was true. Peter was not able to receive any penetration based on the size of his stomach alone.



Unless he was a contortionist…



“Well, damn…” the lawyer stated, brow furrowed as his brain worked frantically to come up with a solution. The missionary style position was out of question for obvious reasons… but there were a number of other positions they could try. Hell, he used to enjoy the sight of Peter riding his cock…



“Maybe it would work with you on top,” Nathan suggested, and Peter’s face immediately displayed confusion. “I mean you riding me,” he clarified, stroking his brother’s erection so that it would not flag. “What do you think…?”



Peter just shook his head morosely. “Wouldn’t work,” he said. “My legs are already giving up on me. If I try to squat, I’ll be a cripple afterwards.”



Nathan sighed, disappointed, but he didn’t argue, since he knew Peter was right. “Perhaps I could take you from behind? You know, with you on all fours…”



“I’m not sure about that, but we can try.”



After about a full minute of floundering about and struggling to get Peter turned over, Nathan finally had him right where he wanted him. Making sure his throbbing member was still slick, he prepared to enter the inviting passageway before him. Unfortunately, Peter’s front half finally collapsed and a muffled cry escaped from the pillow he had landed on.



“Nathan, we can’t do this!”



The surprised older man hurried to place his brother on his side and demanded to know what the problem was.



“My fucking back, that’s the problem!” Peter’s expression was of pain, but also great annoyance. “I can’t stay up like that for more than a minute. I’m sorry. I want this as much as you do, but I just can’t do it.”



“No, no… there is always a solution,” Nathan replied, and for a moment he thought he was quoting their own mother. “There are plenty of positions to try.”



“Well, you’d better find one that doesn’t hurt me soon, or else I will ask you to give me a hand job.”





Nathan pondered the dilemma for another thirty seconds, trying to think of a position that would not put too much strain on Peter’s body. His brother seemed most comfortable as he was now, on his side. Could they perhaps…?



An image appeared in the older man’s head; Peter lying on his side, body comfortably supported by the mattress and pillows and he himself spooning behind the rounded form, sliding into him while helping him hold his leg up for better access.



“How about…” He lay down behind Peter, pressing the length of their bodies flush together, as though they were about to cuddle instead of having sex. Nathan’s hand sought out Peter’s already slick orifice and rubbed against it. “…this?”



“Hmmm… well, you won’t be able to go very deep,” Peter’s somewhat muffled voice said. “But that won’t really matter, since you’re so big.”



“I’ve never heard you complain before,” Nathan grinned as he guided his member toward the spot where it belonged.



“We’ll see—OH!” Peter was interrupted by the sudden invasion of his snug channel as he was penetrated from behind. “Ohhhhhh, god! Nathan!”



He automatically lifted his leg higher, though he had his doubts about how long he could keep that position before another cramp intruded on their fun. As though reading his thoughts, Nathan lifted one of his own legs and soon his knee widened the space between Peter’s thighs, extending until his legs were intersected by one of Nathan’s own. Now with the small problem rectified, Nathan could concentrate of plunging deeper into the tight passage, and Peter found himself not caring whatsoever about any further hindrances.



“Is that good?” Nathan asked between grunts and thrusts.



“OHHHYESyesyesyesgodNathanyes…”



Peter was so beyond focusing on anything save his own pleasure that he didn’t even mind Nathan’s hand brushing over the swell of his stomach as his older brother proceeded to pump into him. Peter’s cock, engorged and leaking, left a wet trail of pre-come on the skin below his navel, and he felt Nathan spreading it out much as he’d done many times before with the stretch mark cream.



Though the sensation was pleasurable, Peter craved to feel his brother’s hand somewhere else.



“Nat-than… Stroke me…” he moaned, trying his best to sound imploring. When nothing happened right away, he even tried to push Nathan’s hand lower.



“You impetuous little brat…” the older man whispered playfully between kisses to Peter’s neck.



“Pleeeease…”



“Alright, alright…” And the hand proceeded to travel downward, over stretched, fragile skin, closer and closer to the stiff limb, which was absolutely pulsating now.



As he gently squeezed and tugged, he could practically feel the long, passionate moan which rolled throughout Peter’s chest and up through his throat. The younger brother’s thighs even rubbed against Nathan’s leg as they both writhed together, as though they were not two bodies but one, knowing how to pleasure itself like no other.



Reaching behind himself, Peter groped desperately at his big brother’s waist in a gesture of encouragement and Nathan proceeded to pound harder, faster until…



“Ohh, oh yes… OHHHHYESYESFUCKYESFUCKFUUUUCCCKKKK…”



Many times Nathan had remained silent during his sexual activities with his wife. Somehow his pride always made him shy to be vocal in the throes of lust. He never needed to worry about his own noises though, whenever he got it exactly right with Peter.



Nathan wasn’t sure if it had to do with their being so closely related, or something else that could not be explained, but almost every time they made love, their orgasms were almost perfectly synchronized. This time was no exception; Peter’s throbbing cock gave one last twitch and erupted in his fist only seconds before Nathan squirted his own impending release into Peter.



It did not feel quite as mind-blowing now that they were forced to use protection, but it was still a powerful and shuddering experience, especially since it had been so long since their last time.



Nathan finally lowered the leg he’d used to hold Peter’s thighs open; his muscles were getting tired, anyway.



Peter at first turned over onto his back, but soon pushed himself back into the usual position against the stack of pillows. Otherwise his body weight would soon make it hard to breathe. Even now he gave out shallow breaths, though thankfully Nathan could not hear them over his own heavy exhales of tired satisfaction. They both lay side by side waiting for their hearts to slow down, simply enjoying the glow of the orgasm they both virtually shared together.



Grinning, Nathan turned his head to mention how wonderful the sex had been, but the look on his brother’s face kept him silent. Peter seemed sad or troubled, which was a little strange after he had apparently been in such pleasure only minutes before.



“You okay?”



“I’m fine,” Peter managed to say. “Really, I’m good.” Slowly and in an awkward fashion, he shambled himself off of the bed and stood up, though he looked like he might lose his balance for a moment. “I just need a drink.”



Nathan said nothing as he watched Peter’s slow gait out of the bedroom, but in his mind he wondered if there was something wrong with his brother again. Nausea, maybe? Was Peter off to throw up and did not want Nathan to know?



He figured that asking if that was the case would not be the wisest thing to do, all things considered, so he let Peter leave despite his budding concern.



Peter had to lean against the wall twice on his way to the kitchen, and by the time he got there, his head was spinning pretty badly. There was also a progressing numbing of his extremities, which concerned him even more.



A drink… a drink would help… he told himself, staggering toward the kitchen sink.

Peter managed to get a glass out of his kitchen cabinet, but when he was about to fill it with water from the tap, it slipped from his trembling hand and broke against the metal of the sink.



A part of the young nurse was busy just fighting to keep him upright, but despite this a seemingly infinite amount of chaotic thoughts and images filled his mind, causing a sensory overload.



The sudden sound of glass breaking caused Nathan to sit straight up, eyes wide and heart racing. Instantly he feared the worst.



“Peter?” he called out as he got up and hurried to the kitchen. There on the floor by the sink he found his baby brother on his knees, huddled up and gasping sharply, arms around himself. Nathan all but fell to his side, arms framing shaking shoulders.



“Peter! Are you okay? Is it time?” Hardly patient enough for any form of answer, he only stared at the unwavering behavior and general state of his brother for a moment before he was on his feet again and reaching for the phone.



“P-please…” Peter managed to say, but Nathan hardly paid attention.



“I know, buddy. I’m calling the doctor right now…”



Desperate to steady his breathing, Peter stuttered a few more times before finally screaming out at his brother. “Nathan PLEASE, just come back and don’t leave me…!”



Nathan wavered for a moment between dialing Cusack’s number and returning to his brother’s side. Finally his protective instincts took over and he knelt beside Peter again, his brother now lying almost prostrate on the kitchen floor.



“Oh God, baby, is it coming?” Nathan asked once more, terrified by Peter’s livid, sweaty complexion. “Are you having contractions?”



Peter weakly managed to shake his head. His lips were halfway parted and he was gasping for air, almost as though he was drowning.



“No? You sure?” Nathan cradled the younger man’s head on his lap, brushing back the sweat-slick bangs from Peter’s face.



“No… I just… got dizzy, and…”



“Did you hurt yourself?”



“Lost feeling… in my fingers and toes…”



Under Nathan’s palm, he could feel the hammering of his brother’s heart. He took one of Peter’s hands in his own and rubbed as though putting warmth back into it.



“Sounds like a panic attack. Can you feel them now?”



“Yeah…” Peter managed to say. “If I don’t… move too much… I… I… god, Nathan. I’m gonna die. It’s going to tear me open and I’m going to fucking bleed to death.”



“Shhh…” the older man whispered, watching the fearful eyes quietly weep. “I won’t let you die. Neither will the doctor. I’ll never let it happen. Never…”



Peter did not respond. He only lay there, naked on the cold floor, shivering from the cold and from his own nearly shattered nerves.



“You wanna go back to bed?” Nathan offered. “I’ll carry you.”



“Not yet… still kind of dizzy…” Peter answered, tears falling into his brother’s lap. “Cold you just rub my head… until the feeling’s gone?”



“Of course, baby brother.”



Peter did not stop crying as Nathan’s fingers combed through his hair and caressed the scalp underneath, but his heart rate eventually slowed down and the tingling numbness in his hands and feet gradually abated. His mind remained muddled, though, and he doubted his ability to walk.



Nathan realized after a while of trying to soothe his brother that Peter had started trembling from the cold instead. In fact, he was getting rather chilly himself, as they were both in an equal state of undress. Very slowly he eased Peter into a sitting position, supporting him with a hand to his back.



“Put your arms around my neck,” the lawyer advised, and his younger brother shakily complied. Making sure he had a thorough hold before lifting Peter, he started to rise.



At first, he was surprised at how heavy Peter had become, but he kept his thoughts to himself rather than give any signs of difficulty. With enough effort, he could lift his brother perfectly well and he carried him back to the bedroom. Peter clung to him distraughtly, hiding his face against a well-toned nude chest. The young man had almost forgotten what it was like to be thin, let alone in good shape, and his brother’s well kept physique only made those feeling all the more worse.



By routine, Nathan set Peter down on the stack of cushions, making sure some were under his feet in addition to supporting his back. Joining the young man on the mattress, he covered the both of them in blankets before taking a seat next to him. Peter instantly rested his head against Nathan’s shoulder.



“It’ll all be alright,” the lawyer said quietly.



“I hope so.”



“Just look on the bright side for now. Your condition could be going a lot worse.” Peter frowned unhappily at that statement. “I sure as hell don’t know how.”