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Healing The Wounds Of Brotherhood

- Two Hours Later.

Boone was lightly napping in the chair he was sitting in at his brother's bedside when he awoke to the feeling of his hand gently being squeezed.

When he opened his eyes he saw Miguel looking at him through his half closed eyelids. "I - I'm sorry".

"Iggy there's nothing to be sorry about, there's no way you could have seen -". Boone started off.

"No, I - I'm sorry for how I raised you, or didn't raise you". Miguel clarified, his voice just barely above a whisper.

"I don't understand". Boone replied with a confused look at his brother.

"You were grieving over our parents leaving us, that's why you acted out the way you did". Miguel explained tearfully. "And I'm sorry I didn't see it and didn't get you proper help".

"It's not your fault, It's not like you could ever afford to put me in therapy anyways". Boone replied with a shrug, trying to stay neutral even though he was elated that Miguel had finally come to this realization.

"But that's not on you, Our parent's cut us out of their will and left us with nothing". Miguel replied.

"Yeah, but if I had just stayed out of trouble, maybe they wouldn't have left". Boone argued.

"I already told you that them leaving us wasn't your fault, they had issues that they were dealing with way before they ever adopted you". Miguel argued back.

"Makes you wonder how they were ever cleared to adopt in the first place". Boone stated bitterly.

"I mean it though, I'm so sorry that I couldn't give you the life and the support that you deserved". Miguel said after a moment.

Boone nodded and sniffed before speaking again. "Why didn't you do it?".

"Do what?". Miguel asked in confusion.

"Put me in the foster care system". Boone elaborated. "You would have actually had a life instead of working around the clock and taking care of a lazy teenager".

"Our parents left you, I wasn't about to do the same". Miguel replied as he squeezed his little brother's hand.

"Did you ever think about it?". Boone pressed, even though he wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer.

"A few times". Miguel admitted. "There's one time that I even filled out the paperwork and everything".

"I still remember the day my parents dropped me off with my first foster family, I was only two at the time but I can still picture bits and pieces". Boone recalled.

"How many families were you with before my parents adopted you?". Miguel asked, he didn't really know much about Boone's life before his adoption so he was definitely curious.

"Three". Boone replied. "One from age two through three, the second lasted for about six months when I turned four and the other lasted from that point up until your mum and dad started fostering me a year after".

"I can't believe you remember all that". Miguel said after a few seconds of silence.

"Trust me, I wish I didn't". Boone replied with a sigh. "I'd be digging it all up in therapy anyways so I guess it's good that I remember".

"What's wrong?". Miguel asked, seeing the deep frown that had taken over Boone's features when he had fallen silent.

"If everything does go back to normal someday, I'm gonna pay back all the money I owe you for taking care of me". Boone stated.