Dot sat cross-legged on the hospital bed, clutching the pillow to her chest as tears stung in her eyes. Scratchy said that the operation had been a success, and she was well on the way to a full recovery. But that news didn't bring her any joy. All she could think of Wakko, and how close the means of it had come to killing him.

It still could.

Her throat tightened and she pressed her face into the pillow. Despite her closed eyes, she could see it clearly.

Her little act had cleared the way for Wakko to reach the star, as she had known it would, and she and Yakko watched as the spirit told him to make his wish. He stood still for a few moments, then the star faded. Yakko and Dot exchanged grins, but then looked up just in time to see their brother stagger, then slump forward into the snow.

He didn't get back up.

They exchanged another look, and this time Dot could see her own alarm mirrored in his face. Immediately, both leaped up and ran to where Wakko was laying. Yakko reached him first and turned him onto his back. Out of the corner of her eye, Dot saw two coins slip out of her brother's hand, but her attention was quickly drawn to his face. His eyes were closed, his expression slack.

"Wakko?" Yakko said urgently, shaking his shoulder. His head lolled limply, but there was no response. A sickening feeling started in Dot's stomach, and she looked at Yakko. Looking just as scared as she was, he put an ear to their brother's chest.

"He's breathing!"

Without a second word, Yakko lifted him in his arms and started running. Dot managed to keep enough presence of mind to snatch up the coins before racing after.

A faint little sob escaped Dot as she hugged the pillow. It had turned out that the cannon shot had hurt him, and pretty badly. How he pushed himself to run, no one could say. Most likely, he was moving on pure adrenaline. Dot lifted her head and glanced across the room, feeling her heart fall again at the sight of her brothers.

Wakko was laying in the other bed, where he'd been for the past two days. Yakko was sitting beside him, shoulders slumped and his head in his hands. Dot was almost just as worried about him; he'd been blaming himself ever since they found out what had happened, and she didn't think he'd slept more than two hours a night.

Taking a deep breath, Dot set down her pillow and slid off the bed, padding over to where Yakko was sitting and placing a hand on his arm.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly. Her brother looked up at her, his eyes completely dull. A quiet, bitter laugh escaped him before he lowered his eyes again.

"No. I'm not, he's not." His fists clenched. "How did I not notice something was wrong?"

Dot bit her lip at the anger in his voice.

"I didn't notice either. He just didn't…"

"Didn't tell anyone," Yakko finished. He let out a heavy sigh and slumped in his seat. "He never does."

A sickening feeling of guilt filled Dot. All this time, her brother had never once thought of himself, only her. Everything he did had been for her sake, and he could now very well end up dying for it.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "This is all my fault…"

Yakko immediately stood and pulled her into a gentle hug.

"No, sis. It's not your fault. You're not the one who hurt him."

Dot sniffled, feeling a flare of anger. Salazar had ruined so many lives already, and now because of him, they might lose another of the only family they had left. She looked up at Yakko.

"If I'm not supposed to blame myself, neither are you."

Yakko drew back and sighed, his eyes moving to Wakko again.

"I'm supposed to protect you guys. When we lost Mom and Dad, I promised I would never let anything happen to ya." He dropped back into his seat and let out a sharp scoff. "What a joke."

"It wasn't a joke to us," Dot said firmly. "You did your best. I know that, and Wakko knows too."

Yakko looked at her, then a faint half smile crossed his face.

"Thanks, sis."

Dot smiled back, then looked at the dark circles under her brother's eyes.

"You look like you haven't slept in months. I can watch him."

Yakko bit his lip, and she knew he was going to protest. Immediately, she widened her eyes and gave him her ultimate cute look.

"Pleeease?"

It had the desired effect. Her brother looked at her, and she could see him caving. She continued gazing at him, and finally he sighed.

"Okay. But if anything happens…"

"I know, get you. Go on, I've got this."

Yakko nodded, then stood with a soft grunt. With another look at Wakko, he trudged across the room to his bed. Dot waited until she was sure he was asleep, then turned back to her other brother. She glanced at the empty chair, but the urge to be closer pulled at her. Walking to the bed, she hoisted herself up and settled down beside Wakko. For a few moments she simply listened to his slow, heavy breathing. Then she reached out a hand and gently laid it on his chest, so she could feel the slow beats of his heart. The sensation gave her hope.

Cheer up and never give up hope.

The memory brought a sad smile to her face.

"You always were the positive one," she whispered.

There was no response. A lump rose in Dot's throat, and she swallowed hard before continuing.

"But it's kind of hard without you. So you've gotta pull through this, okay?"

Tears filled her eyes, but she struggled not to let them fall. If she cried, it would be like giving up. Her brother never gave up on her… there was no way she was giving up on him.

()()()()()

Two days. Two days, and nothing had changed. Yakko rubbed his eyes as the discouraging thought kept running through his mind. For just a while, he had thought fate was finally cutting him and his siblings a break… that things might finally be changing for the better.

Now this happens.

With a heavy sigh, the eldest Warner glanced across the room at his sister, whom he had finally convinced to get some sleep. He had always known that there was a chance he might lose one of his siblings, but he never imagined it would happen this way. He shook his head, suddenly angry at himself.

Stop it! It hasn't happened yet. Wakko wouldn't be thinking this way.

Yakko focused his attention back on his unconscious brother. Scratchansniff had told them that the lack of change wasn't good or bad, but that didn't bring either of them any comfort. Yakko had done his best to keep up a brave face the past few days, but it was wearing on him and he didn't know how much longer he could keep it up. Wakko was always the more optimistic one… the one who saw the best in every situation. He was also the most giving, willing to do anything for his family.

But he shouldn't have had to take it this far.

Swallowing hard, Yakko reached out and ran a gentle hand through his brother's hair. After Wakko had left last year, he had constantly worried that something might happen to him. It was only when he finally came home that Yakko had been able to put that fear aside. Nothing could happen to any of them as long as they were together.

Yet it had happened, and it had happened on his watch. And he hadn't even noticed anything was wrong.

As much as it pained Yakko to admit it, over the years he had become so caught up in caring for his sister that he had forgotten to give the same attention to his brother. Wakko had his problems too, but he had learned to keep them quiet. Struggling to push down the sickening guilt he felt, Yakko looked at Dot again. She blamed herself too, he knew. His siblings should never had had to experience the hardship and pain they had seen.

They wouldn't have if Mom and Dad were here.

As his throat tightened, Yakko continued to stroke his brother's head.

"I'm sorry, sib," he said softly. "This never should've happened to you. I know I haven't really been there for ya, and I wish I was. But you did it… Dot's fine now. She needs you, though. We both do."

Yakko took a deep breath. He had never said anything this deeply personal to either of his siblings, but the words seemed to come on their own.

"Please…" His voice broke a little, and he bit his lip before continuing. "We can't lose you too."