The evening air outside the ward was cool, laced with the smell of rain. The fluorescent lights hummed above him as Jamie waited in line at the pharmacy window, Jace's prescriptions in hand.
When it was finally his turn he got the prescribed medication and immediately began to make his way back to Jace's ward. Just when he was half way there, his steps slowed as he noticed the person standing ahead.
It was the same officer from the afternoon. The tall one.
"Hey, kid." the man said, voice low. "Can we talk?"
Jamie's stomach dropped. "What for?"
The man stepped closer, his expression unreadable. "Listen. I'm giving you some advice, drop the case. Tell your brother to say it was self-defense, or better yet, that he started it. Easier that way."
Jamie stared at him. "And let my brother go to jail?" His voice was ice. "I don't think so."
The officer's jaw tightened. "Just do as I say, kid. It's for your own good. You and your brother."
Then his hand shot out, gripping Jamie's wrist hard enough to make him flinch. The pain was sharp, blooming instantly.
"Let go of me." Jamie gritted out.
The man's eyes flicked toward him, colder now. "Be smart."
Jamie yanked his arm free and practically ran, out of the hallway, down the stairs, and back toward the ward, his heart hammering. He didn't look back.
By the time he reached Jace's room again, his wrist was already throbbing.
He shoved it into his pocket before his brother could notice.
He didn't tell anyone, not about the man, not about the warning.
Maybe it meant nothing. Maybe it was just a bitter cop who didn't like being wrong.
Either way, Jamie decided not to dwell on it. He had Jace to worry about, and that was enough.
✧
Two days later, they got the call.
The police had reviewed security footage. The so-called pizza delivery guy had been linked to another break-in across town.
He indeed was part of a gang, but in his interrogation, he claimed that the boy he stabbed was a mistake, it was supposed to be someone else, apparently, they got the address mixed up.
Jace's name was cleared completely.
When the discharge papers were finally signed, Jamie felt something close to peace for the first time in a week.
He helped Jace pack up his things, joked with the nurses, and pretended his wrist didn't throb every time he lifted the bag.
When he was finally done packing, he texted Matt that he was done. He needed the help, though he could manage to do this himself, but it would be hella slow and Jace was a giant, his small frame could never keep up with his weight
✧
Hospitals always smelled the same, sterile, cold, and just a little too clean, like the air itself was trying too hard to scrub out what happened inside.
Jett hated it. Yes, he came with Matt to help take Jace back home, Matt had dragged him along against his will, it wasn't like he wanted to come. Yeah.
He stood near the window, hands in his pockets, watching the late morning light spill across the floor. Jamie moved like a man on a mission, gathering documents, double-checking bags, rearranging Jace's things for the fifth time.
His hair was tied loosely, stray strands falling over his eyes, his pale skin almost blending with the white of the hospital walls.
"Alright, that's everything.' Matt said, walking over. "We can go whenever you're ready."
Jamie didn't look up. "I've been ready."
"You sure?" Matt teased. "You've checked that folder like ten times."
"Eleven," Jett muttered under his breath.
Jamie's head snapped toward him. "You counting now?"
Jett just shrugged, pretending to study the IV stand by the bed.
Matt grinned at the exchange. "Play nice, children."
"I am playing nice." Jamie said, shoving a folder into his bag. Jamie shot him a glare, sharp, irritated, but not quite as sharp as usual. Maybe exhaustion softened it.
Maybe something else. Though they were back to the usual back biting, but it wasn't as cold as before. Maybe it wasn't even cold before, Jett had come to realize that that was actually Jamie's nature, he's mostly irritated by everyone and everything.
Well, except his brother, who wasn't also even completely safe from his mood swings.
On the bed, Jace chuckled weakly. "You two sound like an old married couple."
"Shut up, Jace." Jamie snapped, but his tone lacked bite. It came out more like a sigh.
Jett's lips twitched. He looked away, pretending to check the hallway.
They moved out soon after, Jamie balancing bags and papers, Matt pushing Jace in the wheelchair, and Jett carrying the heavier stuff despite Jamie's protests.
"You don't have to carry everything, you know." Jamie muttered, walking beside him. "You'll pull something."
Jett didn't even glance at him. "I'm fine."
"Why is there so much load anyways?." Matt couldn't help but ask.
"My brother is never comfortable outside, so I had to bring in some pillows, the ones in the hospital weren't comfy, I also had to bring his blanket, the one here smelt like chemicals, I had to bring mine too, also, he wouldn't use the hospital shampoo, I didn't like it too anyways, so I had to bring that one too. It took me a lot of self restraint not to bring in my own bed, that couch was not it."
Jamie exhaled through his nose, clearly irritated.
Jett and Matt made eye contact with each other, but they decided to say nothing. The boy they were talking about was already gone on his phone as Matt steered him forward.
"And the hospital allowed that?." Matt decided to ask instead.
"Yes. It's a private ward anyways, it's not like we're disturbing anyone."
"Wow." Jett exhaled. That earned him a sharp glare from Jamie.
"What do you mean 'wow'?."
"Nothing, it's nothing."
Matt, walking a few steps ahead, stifled a laugh. "Man, you two are something else."
"I know right." Jace interfered.
Jamie glared at his back. 'Don't start."
Outside, the sun hit harder, bright and hot, a sharp contrast to the cool hospital halls.
Jett blinked against it, adjusting his grip on the boxes. His arm brushed Jamie's once, by accident, and Jamie tensed before stepping slightly away.
That made Jett smirk faintly, though he didn't know why.
They reached the car. Matt opened the trunk, and Jett crouched to set the boxes inside carefully. Jamie leaned forward automatically, reaching to help, but Jett's hand brushed his wrist before he could grab the handle.
Jamie flinched.
Jett paused, eyes dropping to where his fingers had grazed bare skin. There was a faint bruise there, small, purple-yellow, like someone had grabbed him too hard.
Not from the incident, Jett realized. The bruised looked hours old, it was recent.