Disclaimer: I don't own Chester, Pierre, David, Joel, Benji, or Matt.

~**~

“Hey, who’s that?” a small, dark-haired teen asked, pointing to another teenage-looking boy who was curled up, quietly sleeping, on the couch.

“Huh? Oh, him? That’s Matt.” One of the doctors said.

“I’ve never seen him before.”

“He’s been here a long time, he just hardly ever leaves his room.”

“What’s wrong with him?”

“He won’t talk to anyone. His cousin Tony brought him here. Apparently, Matt had a twin who was killed in a car accident. Tony said Matt wouldn’t talk to anyone after that, and he hasn’t talked since.”

“Oh…I see.”

“I’m guessing you haven’t met very many people here then?” the doctor asked. The dark-haired boy, Pierre, shook his head.

“Well,” the doctor said, pointing to a man in his early twenties with multiple tattoos and piercings, “that's Benji. He’s not far from being mute. He very rarely talks to anyone besides his twin brother Joel, who comes once a week. Joel is pretty much the only one that can get him to eat, too.”

“Who’s the guy that’s always screaming?”

“That would be Chester. He’s basically afraid of most people. He screams partly due to memories of physical and sexual abuse. Sometimes we think he screams just to know he’s still alive.”

“That’s sad.” Pierre said. The doctor nodded.

“He’s always ending up in solitary confinement.”

“When is David coming back?” he asked, looking at his feet.

“He’ll be back tomorrow. He promised he would.”

“I want David.” he whimpered.

“He’s not here.”

“I want David now!” Pierre said a little louder.

“Pierre.” The doctor warned. Pierre pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. He rocked backwards and forwards as he cried. The doctor called for two orderlies. “Bouvier is having another breakdown. Take him back to his room and lock the door so he doesn’t run around looking for David again.” He said. The orderlies nodded and picked up the young man. He struggled weakly before going limp and collapsing against a young man’s chest. He picked Pierre up as if he was a sleeping two-year-old and carried him back to his room. He laid him on the small bed in the corner and walked out, locking the door.

~**~

Pierre woke up in the dark. He looked out the small window and saw stars shining back at him. He buried his face in his pillow, succumbing to the tears.

“David…” he said repeatedly. One of the night nurses came in and tried to calm him down, but he just kept saying his name. Suddenly a loud scream made him sit bolt upright, nearly banging heads with the nurse. She looked worried for a second.

“Bennington.” She said. She got up and dashed out of the room, leaving the door open. Pierre cautiously tiptoed down the hall and looked in the door she had disappeared through. A man who looked to be in his mid-twenties was thrashing around on the bed. He had spiked bleach-blonde hair and was skinny as a rail. His eyes were screwed shut as if in pain, and several orderlies were attempting to hold him still. His scream was one high-pitched, ear piercing, never ending note. One of the nurses took a small needle off the table and injected a vial of clear medicine into his arm. He went limp, and the doctors rolled him onto his back. The nurse turned back and saw Pierre standing in the doorway.

“Come on, you. Back to bed.” She said, placing her hand on the small of his back. She took him back to his room and put him to bed, tucking him in as if he was just a kid.

“I want David.” He said.

“David’s not here.” She said, sitting next to him on the bed.

“David…” he said softly.

“Go to sleep.” She said firmly. He closed his eyes and rolled over, drifting off to sleep, David’s picture in his mind.

~**~

“Please Benji, just come to breakfast. You need to eat. You didn’t eat yesterday, the day before, or the day before that. Just eat something, please?” the doctor pleaded. Benji shook his head.

“Maybe I can help.” A young man said from behind them, smiling. He looked a lot like Benji, who was now smiling too.

“Joel.” Benji said, launching himself at his twin. Joel threw his arms around Benji, pulling him tight against him. He kissed the top of his brother’s head.

“Benj, you gotta eat something. Will you eat for me?” he asked. Benji nodded against his brother’s warm chest. “Can you bring it in here?” Joel asked the doctor.

“As always, Mr. Madden.”

“Joel. How many times do I have to remind you that you can call me Joel?”

“Anyways, I’ll have someone bring some food down here for him in a bit.”

“Thanks Dr. Jacobs.”

“No problem.” He said, walking out the door, muttering something about needing to check on some kid named Pierre.

“Did you miss me?” Joel asked as he moved his brother over to sit on the bed. He sat down and turned so that he was half laying, half sitting, and pulled Benji into his lap so his head was on his chest. Benji nodded and hugged Joel tight. “The guys miss you, Benj. They want you to come home.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. We just need you to get better. Talk to someone! Eat like they want you to!” Joel said exasperatedly. Benji just shook his head.

“C-can you…”

“Can I what.”

“Bring the guys n-next time?”

“Of course I can, Benji.” He said. A young woman walked into the room carrying a tray with a bowl of soup and a glass of water. There was a small cup on the tray that held Benji’s medication.

“Make sure to give him the meds *after* he eats.” She said. Joel nodded. She walked out of the room, smiling.

“Get off for a minute.” He said. Benji got up, sitting on the end of the bed and watching Joel’s every move. Joel sat up and then motioned for Benji to sit on his lap, facing him. When he did this, Joel grabbed up the bowl of soup. He took a spoonful and put it in Benji’s mouth. He swallowed it and Joel took the spoon back down. They followed this routine until all the soup was gone. Then Joel handed Benji the pills and water. Benji knew what to do. He put the pills on his tongue and took a drink of water. He coughed a little as they all went down. He slowly drank all the water before handing the glass back to Joel.

“Good job.” Joel said, pulling his twin against him. Benji put his head on Joel’s chest and drifted off to sleep, listening to Joel’s heartbeat. Joel rubbed Benji’s back soothingly. Benji slept for nearly two hours before Chester woke him up with another screaming fit. “It’s ok, Benj. It’s ok.” Joel said, rubbing Benji’s shoulders. He relaxed again under Joel’s touch. Joel looked at his watch.

“Benj…I gotta go soon.”

“No. Stay.” Benji said quietly.

“Benji, I can’t. I have to work today.”

“No…” he said pulling Joel tight against him. Joel sat Benji up and placed his lips gently on Benji’s. It had been years since they had shared just ‘brotherly’ love. It went so much deeper than that.

~**~

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