The Nexus

The first few days had gone by in a blur. Cael and Daen took him home after going through the apartment and making sure it was safe. The doors were removed from every room, including the bathroom and his own space had been raided for drugs, alcohol and sharp things. The cutlery and other pointy objects had been taken away or hidden as an extra precaution as well.

Brae was still getting used to his new medications. He was new to prescription drugs all together and what he'd been put on was sort of a 'let's see how this works' combination. Mood stabilizers, anti depressants... He couldn't keep them straight. Not to mention the medication for his weak heart, the tachycardia he'd experienced more than once. He felt off. The nurses had reported his sleeping issues and given him a sleep aid which Cael insisted he take. His brother didn't want him up and about when he needed to sleep so they'd been sharing Cael's room and their old bunk. The sleeping pills didn't agree with Braeden, though. They didn't help him fall asleep faster, he didn't think and he couldn't wake up properly the next day.

The heavy tired, groggy feeling stuck with him for half the day, making his eyes droop and his body lag. It didn't matter though. He wasn't doing anything in that time. He spent his time melting on the couch when Cael was upstairs or looking out the window and sitting behind the cash wrap dozing when Cael was working. He had to go back to get his stitches removed some time soon, he thought but the days had been melting together and he wasn't sure. His hands hurt too. His whole arms, really. The cuts were healing and the skin was tight and angry. Any stretching or flexing was met with pain. He had been recommended a therapist for it, but he hadn't gone yet. He felt weird about it all, down but not because of the meds. And that wasn't the only strange feeling.

Brae had started to feel it his last days in the hospital. The craving. It was hard to tell which vice he wanted first, alcohol or cocaine. He just knew he wanted something. It wasn't going to happen though. Cael had him on house arrest and he'd promised to be better. He had meant it but that was before his body was literally needing the drugs. He had to be good. Cael promised not to make him go to some place for this. Brae didn't imagine it would be so hard.

Withdrawal was clawing at him more and more each day. He was irritable, shaky, cold. He'd break out into a sweat for no reason. Thus far he'd been able to keep himself together but Brae was unraveling more each day.

Cael had done his best to make sure that Brae was comfortable and happy. He was working today, but he kept ducking behind the counter when there were no customers to check on his twin. He was looking flushed and sweaty and Cael set a hand on his forehead. "You feeling okay BraeBear?" He was only concerned and it showed in his voice and expression.

Brae was huddled behind the cashwrap hugging his knees and leaning against the wood. He was shivering hard and shook his head at Cael's question. "No. Not at all. Feel like shit." He managed a wry smile and curled a little tighter as another tremor went through him.

Cael tucked the blanket more around Brae, "I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do? It's almost time to close...I can shut down a little early and we can go upstairs?" He brushed some of Brae's hair from his face, "Would a cool rag help?"

Brae couldn't help but be irritated. He shrugged away from Cael and dropped his head against the cabinet. "No. Don't close for me." He shivered hard and felt his heart beat quicken to an uncomfortable pace.

Cael pulled his hand back, "Are you sure? It's only a few minutes BraeBear...I just want you to be comfortable." He was still kneeling in front of his brother, and he reached out to set a hand on his shoulder. He was so used to touching Brae all the time it just came as second nature to him. He didn't even realize he was annoying his twin.

Brae jerked away again and hunched over his knees. "Just... don't." He normally wouldn't mind Cael touching him at all but he was irritated and jumpy and somewhat disoriented. The comic shop was spinning and Brae's chest hurt. "Close when you're supposed to close."

Cael didn't understand what he'd done wrong and he pulled his hand back. "Okay..." He went about closing as usual and put the money in the safe before kneeling down near Brae again, "Ready to go upstairs bud?" He held out a hand to help Brae up so they could go up the stairs together.

Brae just continued to shake and sweat where he was until Cael was done closing. It seemed like forever that Cael was gone and then his brother was looming in his face and Brae flinched. He was ready to go, but he felt like if he left this spot he was going to tumble away like gravity didn't exist. Slowly, he unlatched his arms from his legs and clung to Cael to help him stand. His body wanted to crumple back to the floor and his heart was crying for freedom from his chest. Getting up the stairs was going to be a chore.

Cael went slowly with Brae, and murmured soothing things to him as they made their way up. Once they were all the way up he settled Brae onto the couch. "Is it time for medicine? Is there anything I can get you?"

Brae fought to get up the stairs and fell against the couch when they got close. He was shivering pretty hard again but he was hot, throwing the blanket off and scratching at his arms. "I don't know," he snapped. He had no idea if it was time for meds, Cael had to keep up on that stuff for him. As for getting him anything, Brae shook his head. Then he froze and nodded. "Garbage, I think I'mgonnabesick." He sat back up, feeling cold sweep over him, his gut twisting.

"Why are you yelling at me?" He sounded hurt and he went to go check the bottles to see if it was time for more medication, only to rush back with a trashcan for Brae to puke in. He tried to rub Brae's back, "It's gonna be okay BraeBear...do you want some water?"

Brae grabbed at the can, wincing from stretching out his arm. Once he got the thing to his face he was sick and stayed hunched over it after. Cael was talking and Brae closed his eyes tightly. "Fine." He didn't want to drink water at all. He wanted a beer or something stronger. Anything. Brae pushed the can away and wobbled to his feet towards the bathroom. He wanted to brush his teeth. Another tremor took hiim and Brae cursed, bracing himself in the bathroom's door frame.

Cael went and got a bottle of water, and would have brought it to Brae but he was in the bathroom. He stopped well away from the door, frozen in place. "Are you okay in there?"

Brae was hunched over the sink, splashing his face and hissing at the cold water. Or maybe his face was cold... Cael asked what he thought was a very stupid question thanks to his current state. "Yes, I'm fucking amazing in here. Having a party." He huffed and left the bathroom, shuffling back to the couch. "I don't want fucking water. I want a god damn real drink."

Cael looked hurt by Brae's words but he followed Brae to the couch and held out the bottle of water, "What do you mean a real drink?" Cael was naive and he honestly didn't know what Brae was trying to get at. "Maybe Daen could bring some soda or something?"

Brae fell back against the couch and held his temples. He glanced at the water bottle and snatched it with his good hand, opening it and chugging some back. It wasn't what he really wanted though and he made a face. "I mean liquor, not soda. Just let me have a beer or something."

Cael wrapped his arms around himself, "Oh..." He felt a little dumb, "You can't have that Brae. Besides, we dumped all your stuff. I know you think it will make you feel better, but it's only going to end up making you feel worse." He tried to sit down next to his brother and he reached for a hand, "Do your bandages need changing?"

Brae shook his leg impatiently and glared at Cael, something he'd probably never seriously done before. "Bullshit. It'll make me feel loads better. And I'm a little fucking pissed at you guys for that." He shifted and continued to shake his leg, scratching at his arms again. "It was my stuff." Cael asked about the bandages and Brae rolled his eyes. "No. They're fine."

Cael quailed under the look that Brae gave him, and his stomach knotted up to the point where he thought he might be ill himself. "You're mad at me?" He asked in a tiny voice, "But you're supposed to be getting clean. Leaving it lay around as a temptation seemed cruel." He clasped his hands in his lap and chewed on his lip, "Okay....want to watch a movie? We could do a Godzilla marathon and make a pillow fort like we did when we were little?" He was only trying to get Brae's mind off things.