The warm afternoon light streamed in through the makeshift curtains in the boys bunkroom. Henry Brewster lay sprawled on his bunk, cursing the light and his massive hang-over. 'Note to self' he thought, mentally scolding himself over his exploits the previous night. He groaned quietly, but downright hollered as his sister barged in.

"Henry?" His older sister Gertrude called. "Oh," she said, with a malicious grin. "There you are." She walked across the mostly empty room, and plunked down on the bunk across from his. He cursed at her.

"Whaddayawant?" He didn't look up.

"Actually, I came to see if you had any laundry you wanted me to do, but..." She grinned. "I think I'd rather just talk to you, my dear little brother." She got up and opened the curtains of the nearest window. "We don't talk nearly enough." He told her where to go. "Oh, Henry. That's no way to talk..." The grin was still spread across her face.

"Shutthecurtains." He mumbled, angrily. He squirmed a bit. "An'getouddahere."

"You know you shouldn't be drinking," she was enjoying it a bit too much. She opened another set of curtains. "It makes you so cranky." He struggled to sit up, and gave her a look that would shatter glass. She just smiled. "Just be glad I'm not telling Da." He started to retort but she cut him off. "I know you're a 'responsible adult' now, and it's your right, but... You know how he feels about sloth." He scowled. "What would he say to you missing a whole day's work because you went and got stoned?" He seemed to sober up quick.

"And what would he say to you sucking the lips offa some guys face when you should have been studying?" She paled.

"Touchee." She frowned. "I won't say anything if you don't?" He smirked.

"Of course." He rubbed his temples. "You feel like going to make me a coffee?"

Her turn to smirk.

"Now that's testing your luck." She shook her head, but at the pitiful look he gave, she folded. "Okay, okay, I'll do it. You owe me one, chicken boy." He hid a triumphant look.

"Thank you 'Trude." He called as she left. "Now I won't have to tell Ma about you and Se-" She glared at him over her shoulder as she went out the door.

"I hate you, chicken boy." They both laughed. Gert went to make some coffee, and he got up to wash his smarting face. He muttered something unintelligible under his breath. 'I have to get out of this place...', he thought, grumpily. But then he let his mind wander back to the night before. A honey-blond named Elena and... And her jealous boyfriend, Rocko. Yeah, he really needed to get out of there. His eye had started to blacken. He winced. God, he could be stupid sometimes. He wiped off his face with someones towel, and made his way down to the kitchen. He felt like hell and he looked it. But it was worth it. Right? He had to get out of there... His sister was closer to leaving than he was! He grunted, stumbling down the stairs with great caution. Maybe drinking more water in between, yeah... He made his way into the kitchen. Gertrude smirked at his state of decay.

"Coffee's ready." She had two cups set at the table, and motioned for him to sit down. "The world stop spinning yet?" He groaned.

"Just barely." He collapsed into a chair. "Thanks." She shrugged.

"You'd do the same. Right?" She almost threatened, teasing. He just rolled his eyes. "You might wanna put something on that." She motioned to his swelling eye. He shrugged, trying to retain even a little bit of dignity.

"It'll go away on it's own. Besides, Charity would kill me if I wasted her cold food on that." Gert smirked.

"True enough." She continued to stare, disgustedly at his eye. "How'd you manage that one, anyways? Jealous boyfriend?" He winced. She laughed. "It was! Henry, you're a sap ya know that?" He looked down.

"Salting the wounds, 'Trude." She smirked.

"For your own good." She sat down, herself, and took a drink. "So when you gonna find a girl without an accessory with a killer left hook?" He scowled at her.

"Same time you find a guy that treats you decent."

"Hey, Sean treats me decent, whatcha sayi- Wait a minute, we're not talking about me." She kicked him under the table. He winced, and called her something not to be repeated. She laughed lightly. "Plenty of nice girls around here. If ya stuck around long enough to talk to 'em."

"Why would I want to?" He deadpanned. "And why the sudden interest in my love life?" He fought a shudder.

"Just looking out for you." She teased. "Don't want you old and grey and in my living room cuz you have no wife to look after you." She grinned.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that." He started.

"Really, now? Mr. Invisable Man, Mr. People Scare Me?" She was starting to enjoy it. "You can't even talk to a nice girl for a minute without getting all flustered and finding some reason to leave."

"So who says I need a nice girl?"

"Whores don't make good wives." She frowned a bit at him. He shrugged, weakly.

"Ech, I'll find somebody. I've got plenty a time." He took another sip. "Besides, not only am I in the prime of my life and have no desire to be tied down any time soon... There's also no way in hell I'd ever consider courting one of the girl's here." She kicked him again.

"You rat, why not?" He raised an eyebrow.

"What did you just say about wh-" She glared at him.

"Ok, point taken. But they're certainly not all like that." He raised his other eyebrow.

"Yeah, the ones that aren't are either bitches or taken." His sisters female pride was up.

"Oh, come off it."

"Seriously." He argued. "Just think about it." She did, and frowned deeply.

"Even so, that's a horrible way of thinking about it..."

"Hah, so you agree." She quickly shook her head.

"Hey! No... I mean, I'm not gonna agrue that a lot of them are ill tempered... Or... in need of alternate sources of income..." She stopped. "God, okay, they're not all that bad!" She looked defeated. He threw her a bone.

"Yeah, yeah. The ones with boyfriends are really lovely." He smirked. "Look, I do have -some- pride, okay?" She rolled her eyes.

"If you say so..." She paused. "What about that new girl, Juliet?" He scoffed.

"First of all, one wrong move and she'd *ing shoot me. Literally. And besides, she's already been around." Gert paled.

"You don't know that."

"You'd be suprised what you find out in your sleep."

"You're an ass. God, men are pigs."

"Women are just as bad. Apparentlty." She gave him another kick in the shins.

He grimmaced.

"How about Rabble?"

"Her name is Rabble Rouser. Isn't that enough said? The girl's got the personality of a wolverine." She sighed.

"I'm sure she's swell once you, well, get to know her. And she does have nice hair." Henry smirked.

"Yeah, that's what it's all about." He rolled his eyes. "Give it up, 'Trude."

"Well what about Ryan or Glint? They both seem nice and non-violent enough." She grinned a bit. "Besides, are you saying you're incapable of taming a silly little girl?" His lip curled up.

"Yes, yes I am. Especially ones who wouldn't bat an eye at the thought of driving an inch of steel through my person or at least beating me senseless. Or getting someone else to. Pardon me for living." She laughed. He did not. "I dunno. They both seem... personable." He shrugged.

"Ok, now you're just being difficult."

"Why do you even care? What's with the 'let's find the little brother a girl' trip?" She shrugged.

"It's amusing." She teased. "And I have nothing better to do right now."

"You're sad, you know that?" She was unfazed.

"How about Morning or, what's her name, Aleshanee?" He looked to be growing slightly frustrated.

"Morning's got more issues than a Good Housekeeping magazine. And Aleshanee's a sl-" She cut him off.

"I don't believe that. She's so quiet."

"You'd know it's always the quiet ones." She glared at him.

"What are you saying?"

"Like I said, you learn a lot when you're 'sleeping'." She turned about 50 shades of green.

"Henry!"

"What?" The tables were turned. He smirked. "What are you so worried about?" She looked about ready to die.

"Noh- nothing, just..." She slumped. "God, you men are pigs." He hid a grin.

"You know that first hand, don't you?" She sat up straight.

"Hey!" She cringed violently. "What did you hear?"

"You think I'm gonna tell you?"

"Please," she begged.

"What do I get from it?"

"The satisfaction of knowing that you're a good and honourable brother and a worthwhile human being?" She paused, then added hurriedly. "And I'll do you're laundry for a week and keep quiet to Ma and Da about all of -your- exploits." He attempted a very brusque and stoic nod.

"You've got yourself a deal."

"It better be good."

"Anything but." She winced.

"Hurry up and tell me."

"Sean talks in his sleep. Did you know that?" She blushed.

"No actually." His turn to look sick. He shook off the implications, and muttered something along the lines of 'what an ass...' under his breath. She frowned. "Go on."

"What's there to say?"

"Better be a lot or you're doing your own laundry."

"He's in the next bunk over from mine." He looked ill. "I can hear every time he groans your name in his sleep." She looked like a tomato.

"Oh God..."

"He's a real bastard, you know that?"

"Shut up."

"Don't let him hurt you."

"He doesn't hurt me."

"Look at your hands."

"What about them?" She glanced at the spiderweb of cuts that were finally healed. He rolled his eyes.

"God, Gert..."

"He didn't do that."

"But why did you?" She sighed.

"Just forget about it, okay?"

"No way. If you can be annoyingly concerned about my love life, I can be concerned about yours. I don't want you getting beat up or knocked up or having your future totally *ed up because of some asshole guy." She went cold, but only to stop from an emotional flood.

"Thanks for your concern, but I think I can take care of myself."

"Can you?" He pushed. "You've got a hell of a lot at stake here. You don't wanna loose it all just for one cromagnon."

"What gives you the right to say that?" She remained frozen.

"What do you think?" She sighed.

"Thank you..." He smirked weakly, but had to add.

"If you ever wanna trade bunks with me, I'll do it gladly. I'm sure you'd rather hear his nocturnal noises far more than I." She laughed.

"You wish. Even you with your big fat standards wouldn't pass up the chance to sleep with a bunch of girls." He grinned.

"Damn right."

"Pig." He laughed. "It's really not that bad in there, is it?" She couldn't imagine anyone, even boys, being that swineish. He smirked.

"You don't believe me?"

"I have a hard time believing you, yes."

"You mean it's not like that with you girls?" She shrugged.

"No, I don't get the full colour commentary of their ehem lives when I'm trying to sleep." She paused. "Not often, anyways." She teased. "And usually they're not so... Open." She shuddered. "But hey, you didn't finish telling me what you've heard." He grinned a bit.

"I'd rather not think about it, actually..." She glared at him viciously.

"Just spit it out."

"Ooh, getting worried, huh? What could you possibly be worried about, you with your 'no touch' policy?" His grin was malicious. "Would Da shoot him if he knew what he's done?" Gertrude was about ready to just leave, but she hid it well. "Sorry, sorry. Not like I believe half of it, anyways. I know you're way too tense for most of that stuff..."

"What has he said?" She looked scared to death.

"God, calm down, Trudy." He sighed. "Look, it doesn't matter, you know. Whatever you may or may not have done. Not like anyone's gonna tell Ma. Not like it makes you a horrible person." He shrugged. "Slutty, and ultimately disgusting to me, but.." She smacked him across the table.

"Just shut the hell up. I'm no more a slut than you are. At least I don't have to pay for it." He winced.

"Sorry, sorry..." He looked like a spoiled little child who'd just been scorned. Though... He was just trying to look out for her. Returning the favour after all those times. He took another drink of coffee. His head throbbed. His sister sighed.

"I just want to know if he said anything. If anyone said anything. About me."

"No one defamed your character, if that's what you're worried about. You're name rarely gets mentioned at all." He smirked. "Is that worse?" She pouted comically.

"Better to be talked about than have no one know you exist."

"I disagree," Henry poked. "Invisibility is a beautiful thing."

"Wells would be proud." She smirked weakly. "You're a monkey." She paused.

"But... He- he didn't... say anything? Right?" If he did or if he didn't, she'd never find out from him. He glanced at his sister's spiderwebbed hands, clasped around her coffee cup. As tough as she tried to be, he knew she wouldn't be able to take any more. She looked so broken.

"No. Don't worry. Just your name in his sleep." He looked about ready to vomit. "Almost every night." She couldn't help but grin.

"Thank you, Henry." She ment it. He just shook his head. He was grateful, at least, that Sean was so preoccupied with work. In a sense, anyways. Didn't give him time to brag about, or harp about his exploits with Gert. She looked incredibly relieved; he wondered what could be so bad, then thought better of it. "So Henry," she gladly removed the spotlight from herself, "how's work?" He shrugged.

"Good as can be expected. God, do I ever need to get a real job..." He got up, rather shakily, to pour himself another, stronger cup. "You have no idea how lucky you are."

"Yeah, I do." She shook her head. "I can hardly believe it, really. But I'm willing to bet that I get fired within a week."

"Such an optimist, you." He rolled his eyes, and slid back into his chair. She smirked.

"So when you gonna find a job? Doesn't seem like you've been looking too hard."

"Hey, what do you know? I've been looking..." He trailled off. "I think I'll try and get me a job at the docks." Gertrude laughed outright.

"Good luck, chicken boy. I think you lack a few, uh, requirements?" Henry feigned offence.

"Like what?"

"You really want me to answer that?" He scowled at her.

"Ok, so I'm not the buffest guy in the world, so what?" She just shook her head.

"What about at the plant or something? Or..." She paused, then continued teasingly. "I'm trying to think of something that doesn't require any particular skill."

"Oh, like you're so much better."

"I'm the one with a job, here, huh. Ya just have to take some initiative." She'd long since gotten his feathers ruffled. The thought of being stuck in the sort of life he was currently in did not appeal to him. No one likes the thought of having no futer, and Henry was no different. But... No one likes to think of those things, either, although it's necessary. He didn't. Therefor, he made no progress. He knew his sister was right, but he didn't want to admit it.

"I know, I know..." He sighed somewhat, and tried to change the subject. "How is working at the good doctor's? No one giving you any grief?" She shook her head.

"It's been okay, so far. It's mostly 'women's work', anyways. No one minds, so long as I'm doing paperwork, or scrubbing floors." She gave a rather jaded look. "But I can handle that. It's really not so bad."

"How's that other fellow taking it? The one that got the real job?"

"I think he's just glad he doesn't have to do the busywork. I dunno. He's not said much to me at all. No complaints, though. Seems to be of the arrogant variety." She laughed quietly. "Rather not have to deal with an arrogant one -and- a crazy one."

"Doctor Gray's really crazy as all that?" She paused, trying to think of the best answer.

"I'm really not sure yet. Something about him, though. I mean, he seems more than decent, heck, he'd have to be to hire me on, but... There's definately something off about him. I plan on finding out what, too."

"Hopefully without getting yourself killed." She smirked.

"Through the files. Just through research, not... anything excessively dangerous." She shrugged. "And I'm not too worried about getting killed. Just fired. I think that might just be a fate worse than death."

"Yeah, if Ma has anything to do with it." He grinned. "She really would make your life a living hell." Gert grimmaced. It was true, indeed. Lovely a woman as their mother was, she could be a tyrant.

"Well, I don't plan on getting fired, so..." She paused for a moment. "Hey! Maybe you could help me, huh? Be my Watson? Just think of the headlines- "Brother and Sister crimesolvers uncover medical scandle!" She laughed. He rolled his eyes as he downed the rest of his drink.

"Such a dreamer. But what the hell? If you come up with something credible, of course I'll come and bail your sorry ass." He grinned. She shook her head, amused.

"So I take it you're feeling somewhat better?"

"No, actually."

"Think you'd know better by now." She teased. His grin faded. For some reason, it bothered him. What gave her the right?

"Think you'd know better than to go with a guy who values money more than you. Or even his own blood." He felt bad for Grace, though he barely knew her. She reminded him of himself, at least in the fact that she was so withdrawn. Good kid, he thought. Smart. Gert frowned.

"God, Henry, you don't have two clues what you're talking about. And if that's the best you can do... Gah, you get so petty when you're hung over." Henry frowned right back. She'd never realize, that much he knew. For someone so bitter, his sister could be one hell of an idealist. So he let it slide. No use kicking a dead horse.

"Yeah.. Sorry." She shrugged.

"Want any more coffee?" When in doubt, offer food. Food can smooth over anything. He shook his head.

"Nah, any more liquid and I'll burst." She shot him a slightly disgusted look.

"Henry..." He smirked.

"Thank you, though." She rolled her eyes a little, not in annoyment, but... Like 'go figure'. "God, though, it was worth the headache."

"And the.." She motioned around her eye. He chuckled, almost.

"Oh, definately."

"What was her name?"

"Elena."

"I'm surprised you actually took the time to find out." She grinned slyly at him. He smirked.

"Hey, I do have some class."

"Did she?" His sister could be terrible sometimes.

"Actually, yeah. But her taste in men did leave something to be desired." Gert laughed.

"Apparently." He winced.

"Walked right into that one, didn't I?"

"Happens to the best of us." She shrugged. "So you came back here-" she carefully avoided the word home, he noted, "with a black eye and a killer headache, and it was still worth it? I'll never understand you, chicken boy." He bit his tongue. No different from her.

"I guess I'll never understand me, either. I don't know. It makes me feel alive, you know? Even the getting beat the shit out of part. It's all an experience, part of life. Adds some much needed excitement and interest to this frigging dreary life. What's so hard to understand about that?"

"You scare me sometimes, Henry." And she looked like she ment it. "I guess I can understand that, but... Doesn't the risks outweigh the benifits?"

"You tell me." Her shoulders slumped. She knew he was right. She was guilty of the same crime. He watched her face. Was she begining to see?

"I really don't know. But... Frig, every time you talk to me you warn me to be careful. What about you? You really worry me."

"You don't have to worry. Really. I have my whole life ahead of me. I just want to live it. I think you understand that, no? Not wanting to be stuck in the rigid little mold you were born into, and expected to remain in the rest of your life? I don't want to spend the rest of my life working in the factories like Da, wasting away physically and mentally. Your soul dies." He cut her off before she could refute. "Maybe it was different for him, it's like... He had a reason for living. But look at the guys he works with." She sighed.

"Yeah, I know what you mean, I guess..." Maybe a little too well. "So... do you have something worth living for?"

"I'm still looking for it. But... I've got time. Don't worry, I'm not about to do anything rash." He glanced off. "I want to live, that's all. But not the life I was born into. Just like you. I want to go places, you know? Do things. I just wish I knew how."

"I wish I knew, too." She sighed. After a pause, she almost laughed. "God, we're bonding. Will wonders never cease?" He smirked.

"Pretty scary..." He grinned. "Well, I think that's about enough brother-sister bonding I can handle, how about you?"

"Yeah, that's more than enough, I think." But she was still worried about him. They were a lot alike, sometimes. But only with the bad things, it seemed. They were both trapped in a world where they felt like they did not belong. But they were both willing, in different ways, to fight to get out of there, and both were not about to back down. Henry wanted to travel. Wanted to see the world, have adventures, get the girls. He wanted to make the headlines. He wanted to be somebody special. His sister would settle with just being somebody. And Bay Ridge, New York was not the place to do that for either of them. Neither was sure what to say next.

more to come...