"Stay here," Next coaxed the twins, gently. "We'll be just outside if Near wakes up or you need us, okay?"

At their nod, he moved over and slowly maneuvered Matt out from beneath Near, covering the sleeping boy before he pulled the redhead out into the hall and swept him up into a gentle hug.

Matt wrapped around Next and leaned on him with an exhausted sigh.

"...He finally conked out again." Matt mumbled. "It's bad Next...real bad."

Treat looked up at Near and blinked.

"...He looks soft like Next, but it's different." He murmured aloud to himself.

"You think they're brothers?" Trick hummed, tilting his head and watching Near sleep.

"How bad?" Next pressed, gently rocking Matt back and forth on his feet.

"I don't know, but they could be." Treat looked at Near closely. "...They don't have the same shaped eyes or nose...and Next's hair is long and wavy while Near's is all curly...makes me dizzy to look at."

"...It's Mello." Matt sighed. "He...he apparently...was...He and Naveen...were an item."

Next jerked back, looking at Matt in shock... and a little bit of hurt.

He hadn't known... Mello was supposed to be his best friend, but he had never said anything...

"He's so white," Trick breathed in awe. "Next wears dark colors but... Near's in all white! And on these bed sheets... He looks like a polar bear in the snow! Cute and cuddly..."

"...Yeah...I know." Matt said weakly- looking back at the room. "Near's a wreck...and Mello's gone. I don't know where to, either."

"I'm not going to cuddle him." Treat shook his head. "He'll get all over me."

Huffing at his brother, Trick climbed onto the bed, struggling to get up onto it.

He carefully lifted the blankets and snuggled up against Near, gasping in surprise. "He's... warm!"

Treat watched in surprise as Near curled up to his brother, his shoulders shaking.

"I'll find him," Next whispered. "I can talk to him... but I don't want to leave you... You're a wreck, Matt..."

"I'm fine, I just need a smoke and some Dew." Matt waved it off.

Treat frowned and climbed up.

"Trick, don't get so close, he's sick." Treat pleaded.

"He's not sick," Trick frowned at him. "They brought him in here because he was cold... I gotsta warm him up! Look at him, he's shaking!"

Next reached up and touched Matt's face, forcing the other to look at him through his dark lenses.

"I know you, Mister," He whispered. "A smoke and some dew is not going to fix how much it hurts to watch your best friend fall apart... again. I remember how painful it was when Naveen died... and yes, Near is in pain, but you need to remember that you matter, too..."

"Trick!" Treat whined as he crawled over and looked down at Near and his sibling.

"If you go to find Mels, who's watching the kids and Near?" Matt asked.

"We'll find someone," Next sighed. "Roger's still around and so is Indigo..."

Near whimpered and curled up to Tricks side, crying softly in his sleep.

"They weren't around when the shit went down." Matt muttered bitterly.

Treat blinked.

"...Hey, he's crying." He leaned over to look at Near's face.

"But they can at least watch them," Next pressed. "Near will probably sleep for a while... and if anything, Linda is still around here. You know she's good at comforting him when he's upset... Well, not as good at you, but good."

He ran his fingers through Matt's hair, gently.

"Just get some rest... an hour? Please?" The younger boy stared up at his love with pleading eyes... a look Matt had never really been able to resist.

"I wonder what's wrong..." Trick whispered, hugging Near closer to himself. "Do you think he's having a nightmare like I do...? He doesn't look scared... just sad..."

"N...Na...veen..." Near mumbled into Trick's shoulder, making the boy jump in alarm and look toward his brother.

"No, no!" Treat reached over and shook Near's shoulder. "No way!"

Matt sighed heavily and leaned back against the wall.

"I don't even know if they have someplace to put me." He grumbled.

Near mumbled and slowly opened his eyes, looking up at Treat with clouded eyes.

"They'll find room," Next whispered, leaning in to kiss Matt's cheek. "Please, Matt..."

"I'm going, I'm going." Matt sighed before leaning in and kissing the ivory-haired boy. "You be back soon and save me, okay?"

"...You're gonna stop crying now...right?" Treat blinked down at Near.