All to Save a Brother

Author Notes: Here is the next chapter. Nothing to say here, but a more in depth look into the brothers' lives.

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Anon: Thank you so much. I've been toying with this idea for awhile, and I thought nanowrimo was a perfect
opportunity. I hope this chapter pleases.

A year has passed, and Marcus is now a sophomore in college. He kept his word and called his little brother every day, even if it was just to say hello. It seemed his Jamie always had something to tell him. He visited during the holidays and spent the whole time with his little brother. Even if he wanted to see some other friends, he always took Jamie with him, much to the delight of the young boy.

Marcus’ study group was meeting in his dorm room, when he received a frantic call from James, exclaiming that their parents were gone. When they were gone this morning, James had thought nothing of it. It was now pass seven pm, and he still had not eaten anything, and they were nowhere in sight.

Marcus kept a calm voice, but inside he was fuming. He could not believe that their parents had actually left an eleven year old boy all by himself. “James, listen to me. I want you to go to the neighbors, and ask to spend the night. Simply say that your parents had an emergency and needed to leave town. I will be home tomorrow night at the latest, okay? Do you understand?”

James was still sniffling, but he knew his big brother would take care of him. He would be brave, just like his Markie would. “Okay, but what if they want to talk to mom and dad?”

Marcus was breathing deeply. “Call me and I will talk to them, and answer any supposed questions.”

Jamie hung up, and hurriedly set to work doing what his big brother told him to do. On Marcus' side, he told his friends in his study group what had happened, and they all showed their sympathy. He asked them to please leave, so he could get things together. Marcus packed an overnight bag. He was not sure what he was going to do just yet, but he knew he had to get to his brother tomorrow.

The next morning, Marcus got up at the crack of dawn. He called a cab, and directed the driver to the nearest airport. He bought a ticket to his hometown that left in three hours. There was a little food store inside, and he got himself some breakfast. As he was eating, he thought of his little Jamie that he would not be able to be called little for much longer. He hoped Jamie slept okay throughout the night, but he knew realistically that there was a good chance that he had not. The time seemed to move slowly, but at last, Marcus’ flight was called. He quickly made his way to the gate. He found his seat and promptly fell asleep. You have to cut him a break. He was after all up late packing, and then he woke up at the crack of dawn to get to the airport. Never mind all of the emotional stress of worrying about James.

He was woken up by his neighbor when the destination was reached. As he was exiting the plane, Marcus took out his cell phone and dialed a cab.

With the incentive of triple the payment, the driver got to the destination a lot faster than it would have normally taken otherwise.

At the destination, the driver was given the extra payment as promised, and Marcus sprinted over to the neighbor’s house. It was already almost two pm. Thankfully, it was a Saturday so James did not need to worry about school.

Marcus knocked persistently on the door, before finally it was opened by the homemaker wife. She smiled warmly. He was shown in, and the sight warmed him. His little brother was laying on the spotless carpet, curled up against the couple’s shaggy golden retriever. The golden retriever looked very content, cuddled against the small body. The last thing Marcus wanted to do was to wake up the picture of cuteness, but he had come for a reason. He reluctantly reached out a hand, and shook the young boy awake.

His Jamie yawned cutely, and stretched with cat-like flexibility with an arched back. His eyes blinked as he stared at his role model. When the sleepiness cleared from his vision completely, he scurried up into his brother’s waiting arms, already feeling the tears coming to his eyes.

“Everything will be okay, little one.” At those words said by the most important person in his life, James knew it to be the truth.

After saying ‘thank you’ to the couple for allowing James to stay overnight, they made their way back to their own house. Once they were in the safety of the house and out of prying eyes, James broke down in heart wrenching sobs, not needing to hold them in any longer. He knew his big brother would not judge him for a supposed weakness.

Marcus simply held him, and let him cry it out to his heart’s content. When James’ energy was sapped, the two brothers had a very calm conversation.

James looked up with his extraordinary eyes, which were grey with specks of green. “Why did mommy and daddy hate me so much that they would actually leave me?”

Marcus’ own eyes, which were technically the polar opposite to his brothers, being green with specks of grey, were filling with tears at the soft spoken words. He held the younger boy closer, attempting to convey strength. “I truly do not know little one. What I do know is that you did not deserve to be treated like you did not exist. You deserve to be loved.”

James looked up at his brother. “I am loved though; by you.”

Marcus chuckled softly at the statement. “Yes, my little brother. I love you very much, but many kids are loved by the parents as well. No matter how heartless our parents have treated you, I need you to know that I will never abandon you. I will raise you.”

James frowned. “How can you do that? You go to college in Georgia?”

Marcus had an answer for that. “I’ll transfer to a college here.”

James had that all knowing look in his eyes again, that made him seem way too smart for his age. “That would not do. It would be best for everyone if I was just sent to foster care.”

Marcus roughly grabbed James shoulder. “I am never going to send you away. Do not every think that I will. Why can I not go to college here?”

James had a guilty look on his face. “I do not want to sound selfish, but I kind of need food and basic necessities to live. I am too young to work, otherwise…”

Marcus cut him off. “First of all, it is not selfish to ask for things a person needs. Since you have been able to talk, you have never asked for superfluous things. Do not feel guilty. Second of all, even if you were old enough, I would want you to focus on school, instead of a job. Third of all, I did not even consider that. Getting a part time job would not be a problem for me, but it would not be enough. Technically, I could probably be eligible for welfare since you would be a dependent on me. That would probably be the best course of action.”

James shook his head. “I would just get in the way. I do not want to be a problem.”

Marcus pulled James into another bone crushing hug. “You would never be a problem little brother. Never think that you would. I would do anything so we would not have to be split up. I love you Jamie.”

James smiled tenderly. “I love you too Markie.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After that conversation, Marcus asked the kind couple who were their neighbors if James could stay for the weekend. With their agreement, Marcus got back to Georgia Tech. He had already applied to a nearby college, about fifteen minutes from the house. It was not as good as Georgia Tech, but it would do. He made sure everything was clear with his previous university. He packed up his car, and said quick, distracted goodbyes to the couple of people that he could actually call friends. He had a lot on his mind. He made his drive back home to take care of his little brother.

Once he was made sure everything was set up correctly at the university, he searched for a part time job. He found a job that was relatively close to his brother’s middle school as well as the house. That meant that if his brother happened to get sick or needed him in the case of an emergency, it would be a piece of cake to get to him. The manager already knew about him raising his little Jamie, and was cool about him leaving if James needed him. He also contacted the government service about welfare, and they approved him relatively fast, considering the situation. The worker who helped him asked if he was going to file charges with the police, as their parents were eligible to be arrested for child abandonment. Marcus had every intention to, but James’ statement of “I don’t want them to go to jail. It is not their fault that they did not want me” halted him. He wanted their bastards of parents to suffer, but he would not go against James’ wishes. Considering, he was the one who was hurt; he had every right to be the one to make the decision.

After all of the moving and shuffling was taken care of, the two brothers settled into a routine of sorts. In the mornings, Marcus would wake James up and make him a quick breakfast of eggs and toast. Now that their parents were gone, they did not have to share a bathroom, so they would both go to take a shower and get dressed at the same time. Marcus than dropped James off at school. While James went to school, Marcus had his own classes. Marcus actually finished classes a couple of hours before James did, and would go to the house to make dinner for James. At the end of the school day, James would be picked up ON TIME, and be dropped off at home. Their neighbors have agreed to check up on James every couple of hours. James would work on his homework while Marcus went to work. During breaks or when it was slow, Marcus would do any homework that he had. When hungry, James would heat up the food at the microwave. Before Marcus got back, James has his teeth brushed and is already in his pajamas. When Marcus finally got home, if James had any questions or needed help with any homework; that would be the time to do it. Afterwards, Marcus tied up any loose ends for the day and got ready for bed. The brothers went to sleep, and the cycle would repeat the next morning.

Since they were getting welfare checks, and the mortgage was already paid off, Marcus could take the weekends off. He tried to spend those weekends with James as much as possible.

One day, while he was mopping the floor, an old friend from high school, Shawn, called. He put it on speaker phone so he could continue to clean. “Hey dude, long time no see. I heard you were back in town. Should I be hurt that you did not try to get in touch with me man?”

Marcus chuckled into the phone. “Nah, do not take it personally. I have been really busy. My waste of skin parents actually abandoned my brother with no one to take care of him. I transferred here so I can be with him. Since then, I am usually going to classes, working, or spending time with him.”

Marcus could hear the smirk in Shawn’s voice when he answered, “I feel bad for you dude.”

Marcus smiled. “It is not that bad. Jamie and I have always been really closed. This will just bring us closer.”

Shawn chuckled. “I am not sure how you do it. I love my little sister and all, but I cannot see myself raising her all by myself. I think I would actually go crazy.”

Marcus rolled his eyes, but of course Shawn could not see that. “Is there a specific reason called, otherwise to annoy me?”

Shawn chuckled once again, which seemed to be a habit of his. “I was wondering if you had time off, if you would be interested in getting together with some of the old gang.”

Marcus thought about it. “I am getting welfare checks, so I do have weekends off.”

“Wonderful!” Shawn exclaimed.

“But…” Marcus spoke up, “I do not think I want to leave Jamie alone. He is by himself all afternoon after school while I am at work. I do not want him becoming a hermit.

Shawn groaned. “Come on Marcus; he is a big boy. I am sure he can take care of himself for one afternoon.”

Marcus shook his head, but then remembered that they were talking on the phone. Shawn would not be able to see it. “I am sorry. I can’t. It would not be any fun for me anyways. I would be worried about Jamie all the time.”

Marcus heard the audible sign on the other end, before Shawn gave “If you say so man. Catch you later.”

As he heard the line click, Marcus turned off the speaker. He gave a sad sigh. He would have loved to hang out with some of his old buds, but Jamie can first.

What Marcus did not realize was that James had overheard the entire conversation, and felt tears welling up in eyes. It was his entire fault that his big brother could never have any fun anymore. He would not let the most important person in life suffer because of him.

With resolve, James walked into the living room. Forgetting the fact the Marcus was mopping, he slid and ended up on his butt. Marcus looked up shocked at the thump, and mistook James’ tears for tears of pain. He carefully made his way over to the fallen boy, and lifted him up carefully, making sure he was steady before letting go.

James took a deep breath. “Big brother, I want you to go out and have some fun with your friends.”

Marcus looked astounded. “Jamie?”

James gave a grim smile that should never be placed on the face of an eleven year old. “If you use speaker phone, you should make sure no one is actually within ear shot.” Marcus gave a sigh. “I do not want you giving up your life for me. You do not even have to technically take care of me; you could simply ship me off. I have been feeling terrible because I can tell you are losing sleep over worry for me. I hate feeling like this, and hearing that conversation was just icing on the cake. I want you to have fun. Please, if not for yourself, then for me. Go out with your friends and enjoy yourself.”

Marcus maneuvered the two of them to the nearby chair. Marcus sat down and pulled James onto his lap. He started to stroke James’ hair in the way he knew James liked it to put him in ease. “I love you very much Jamie.’

“I love you too Markie, but that is why I want you to have fun. You are only nineteen, but you are taking on the responsibilities of a parent.” James eyes were downcast.

Marcus lifted his chin up in a gentle manner. “This is not your fault. If anyone is to blame, it is our good for nothing parents. I know I have told you this many times before, but you have yet to believe me. I need you to believe me right now when I say it is not your fault, and I want to be with you. I want to take care of you, and under no circumstance will I ship you off. Now, do you understand?”

James’ before eyes looked misty. “I want to believe you, but I do not want you to hate me later on. How do you know that you will not resent me eventually for forcing you to give up your life?”

Marcus gave James a hug so tight that it made James let out a squeak of surprise. “I will never resent you. I did not give up my life. You are part of my life. As for hanging out with friends, we have only been in this new routine for a couple of weeks. I am sure that once I get used to the schedule, I will have more time to do other things. You need to promise me something though”?

James blinked cutely up at him. “What is it big brother?”

Marcus petted his head like it was his habit. “If you ever start feeling like this, I want you to tell me. Do not hold it in until it becomes unbearable. Do you understand?” Marcus received a nod. “Good, I will hold you to that.” They shared another hug before parting.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Things got relatively well in the schedule department. James made new friends in school. He would sometimes hang out with them on the weekends, and that gave Marcus the chance to go out with HIS friends.

Almost a year later, Marcus began to get sick a lot though. For one thing, he got a terrible fever that lasted for three weeks. He thought it was because of a cold or something else similar because it was during winter. The idea was not that out of the ordinary. As a result, he was not too worried about it at first. Then other things started to go wrong with him. He had always been tired before due to his busy schedule, but now he was way passed exhaustion at all times of the day, even when he just woke up. He was eating normally, like he has always eaten; and yet, he kept dropping weight as if he was dieting. He had been the perfect weight before, but now he was at the unhealthy weight of 117 pounds for a height of 6 foot 1.

He still did not think he needed to go to a doctor though. He was sure whatever was wrong with him would go away on his own. He did not want to spend the money on some trifling thing.


Author Notes: Word count: 5,232
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