A/N: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADDIE! :) This story is for you! I hope you like it.

I know there are a lot of "Josh is Done" stories out there, but it's one of my favorite episodes! And this is AU.

"I'm sorry, Josh. I'm sorry."

Josh's mouth remained slightly agape as the chemistry room's door slammed shut behind his stepbrother. He watched in a daze as the musician stumbled away from the door window and disappeared into the hallway.

"Josh, would you like to go talk to Drake?" Mr. Roland asked, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. Josh could feel the judgemental eyes of all of his classmates on him as they waited for him to give an answer. In fear of his voice breaking, Josh only nodded, averting his eyes from his teacher's, with a quiet "yes sir."

He finally reconnected the eye contact when his teacher said, "Okay, I'll write you a pass, c'mere."

After the usually-awkward boy followed Mr. Roland to the teacher's desk, the latter handed him a note and sent him on his way. Surprisingly, the pass that the teacher had written gave both Drake and him an excused absence for the day. He's got me missing school again, Josh thought sardonically as he picked up his brother's backpack along with his own. Josh tried to ignore the sympathetic half-smiles of Craig and Eric, and the derpy expression Clayton wore as he left the classroom.

"Alright, class let's get back to our experiments."

~0~

Josh found that the hallway was empty by the time he left the room. However, there were streaks of water against the marble floor suggesting that Drake had been there. Josh shook his head solemnly as he followed the trail to the front door of the school. When he stepped outside, he was met with a gust of wind that rustled his hair.

Before Audrey and Walter had gotten married, Josh was content with being an only child. Once Drake, and even Megan, came into his life, he had felt whole for the first time. He felt like the biggest jerk in the world for making his brother break down like that; sure Drake screwed up sometimes, but he was not a screw-up.

He wasn't the worst brother ever.

Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, after all.

He didn't deserve to be ignored forever.

The back of a teenage boy in a black T-shirt came into Josh's view.

"Drake." He meant for it to be a shout, he really did, but his throat was too thick with emotion, so it sounded like a soft goodbye. Nevertheless, Drake turned around to face him. "You forgot your backpack." Well, it looked like the old awkward-Josh was back. Drake took it with a trembling arm with an expression as if he'd just been stung by countless bees. His wrist was swollen and looked scabbed from the chemical that got on his skin.

"T-Thanks, Josh." His voice was so empty and lifeless, that Josh's chest stung with guilt. Trying to look into his averted eyes, Josh realized that they were puffy and red, most likely from crying. Thinking back, he couldn't remember a time when his cool, popular, and confident older brother was reduced to tears. Even when he was in so much pain from the dune buggy accident, Drake had remained dry-eyed.

He must be in even more pain.

"Drake, I-you're...you're still my brother!" he shouted, stumbling clumsily over his words.

"M-Man, don't say an-anything you'll regret." It became clear to Josh that his brother was trembling violently. He wasn't sure if it was from the wind against his cold skin, or something else.

"Drake, I was really mad at you before! Okay? I'll admit it. I was hurt, because I thought you didn't respect me." Josh argued, "I don't hate you, I don't think you're the worst brother ever, and I forgive you."

"I d-don't need you to f-feel sorry for me. J-just go back to class." Drake replied stiffly. Josh felt his own eyes brim with tears, but he fought them back.

"Just listen to me!" Josh yelled back, "You were wrong; I need you in my life, too!" When he was met by silence, he continued, "You make my life exciting. You stop me from obsessing over the little things. You helped me get Mindy back! Oh and," Josh chuckled, "you helped me to stop wearing that Miss Nancy dress, remember?"

Drake's lips twitched into a hesitant smile.

"Remember how easily you forgave me even though I broke your guitar?" Josh asked, raising his voice.

"Drake, you're my brother, and I love you. We're not just roommates, or even friends; we're brothers." By now, the tears were flowing out of Drake's eyes, and he didn't even try to hide it.

"J-Josh, I'm sorry."

"I know," Josh closed his eyes in slight frustration, "and I forgive you."

After a brief moment of relief, Josh said, "Hug me brotha'?" The request was quieter than it usually was, and when Drake embraced him, Josh didn't care that his brother was sopping wet. They stayed like that for around ten seconds before they parted.

"Should we go back to class?" It was shocking that Drake would be the one to suggest that, so Josh couldn't help smiling. He pulled out the pass that Mr. Roland had given him. "Oh."

"Let's go home; I think we have to treat your wrists" Josh said, pulling out his car keys.

"Can I drive?" His brother's eyes glinted with their usual mischief.

"No." Josh rolled his eyes.

"Well!" Drake opened his mouth to say more, but was interrupted by his brother.

"If you stop complaining, we can stop at Inside Out Burger."

"Deal." Drake shrugged loosely, obviously happy they were on speaking terms again.

Both brothers knew that they could never truly abandon the other. They were a team; two halves to a whole.

They were Drake and Josh.

A/N: Well, I hoped you enjoyed it. Please read and review! And happy 16th, Maddie! Eat some chocolate and play some howrse! :o