"We need to talk, and I don't want to do it over the phone."

"Doesn't that sound cheerful."

"I know. Its not the most wonderful news, but, like I said, I don't want to tell you over the phone."

"All right. I think I can get the weekend off."

"Good. There's a ticket waiting for you at the airport. Lonnie will pick you up when your plane lands."

"Justin, are you all right?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. Just have a lot on my mind."

"And you don't want to talk about it over the phone."

"No, I don't. Look, Sylla, its important or I wouldn't drag you halfway across the country just to talk to me."

"I know, Justin. If I've learned anything in the past few months, its you don't dramatize anything."

"Well, I wouldn't go that far."

"Whatever. Is there anything you can talk about?"

"Not really. I think I might actually get some sleep. Been a long day and all."

"I hear that. I guess I'll see you tomorrow, then."

"Yeah. Sleep well, Sylla."

"You, too, Justin."

Justin sighed heavily, hanging up the phone, his heart filled with foreboding dread and his stomach clenched tightly. He hadn't been able to eat anything all day because stress and worry had taken a firm hold of him.

"Did you tell her?" JC inquired, glancing over at his younger friend.

"I couldn't. How would you feel if you learned of something like this over the phone when you were alone?" Justin shook his head, resting back against the headboard.

"I see your point." JC nodded understandingly.

"God, Jace. How am I going to tell her?" Justin groaned, rubbing his hand over his face, heart constricting painfully in his chest.

"I don't know, J." JC shook his head. Justin sighed, closing his eyes tightly, wondering how in the world he could deliver the news he had received earlier that afternoon.

Justin sighed, raking a hand through the curls atop his head, glancing from his watch to the hotel room door for the tenth time in as many minutes. Drusylla's flight had landed nearly an hour before and he was impatiently awaiting her arrival at the hotel. There were things he needed to tell her that were weighing heavily on his heart, things he knew would upset her more than anything else. He sighed, closing his eyes, temporarily taking refuge in the knowledge he was helping her in some small way. He snorted, shaking his head. What would really happen, he knew, was she'd find him the bearer of bad news. And bad news always had a way of affecting women in the worst possible way. Justin took a deep breath, his eyes returning to the watch encasing his left wrist. She would she up any minute and he was far from prepared to give her the news he'd been holding onto for nearly thirty-seven hours. He hadn't been able to sleep well, worried over her reaction, worried over how he would react to her reaction. He pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger.

"You have to be a man about this. Be strong for her because, Lord knows, she'll probably flip out. What you have to tell her is really bad news. She's not going to appreciate you for doing this. More than likely, she'll be so pissed off she'll take it out on you. You have to just stand there and take it. And if she cries…," Justin sighed, head hanging forward. He had never been good in dealing with crying women. He always inevitably ended up saying the wrong thing, which resulted in more crying. The little pep talk he was giving himself wasn't working. If anything, it was making him more nervous by the second. He dropped down onto the mattress, resting his hands on his knees, silently berating himself for getting this worked up. Justin surged to his feet moments later to resume pacing the room. He glanced up when a soft knock sounded at the door. He quickly strode over to the door, pulling it open. He breath stalled in his throat, heart lurching when Drusylla turned to him with a tired smile.

"How was your flight?" Justin questioned softly as he held the door open for her while reaching for the small duffel bag she held.

"All right, I guess." Drusylla shrugged a shoulder, stepping inside, nervously glancing around the small room. It looked like any other hotel room, housing two beds, a bedside table holding a clock and a telephone, a small circular table near the window where a laptop computer rested, two chairs, a chest of drawers and a television, which was on but muted. Clothes and duffel bags lined one wall, books and magazines lay in small piles next to the beds. The curtains were drawn over the windows, keeping out the light and the room cool.

"Why don't you have a seat?" he suggested, gesturing to one of the beds as he set her duffel bag down on the chest of drawers.

"Why don't you tell me why you needed to talk to me in person?" she countered as she took a seat. He sighed, shoving his hands into the pockets of his pants, head bowed forward.

"There's no easy way to say this, Sylla." Justin mumbled, shaking his head slowly. Dru lifted an eyebrow, folding her arms across her chest.

"You've been trying to find out where your brothers are. I decided to help with as much as I could and found a few things out." he started, taking a step closer to the bed. Drusylla sat back, shock washing over her face quickly before the protective wall went up, making her eyes and face emotionless.

"I have some bad news, and I don't quite know how to prepare you for it." he muttered truthfully, taking a seat next to her on the mattress.

"Just say it, Justin." she mumbled tonelessly, refusing to meet his gaze.

"Your brother, Keith - he died last year." Justin sighed, rubbing a hand over his face, the words he spoke muffled slightly. Dru's eyes widened as she reared back, digesting the information. She quickly climbed to her feet, shaking her head slowly.

"How?" the word tore from her on a half sob, half sigh.

"Car accident. No one was at fault. It just happened. He died a few days later at the hospital." he sighed, his heart constricting painfully in his chest as he watched her pace throughout the room.

"No. You have to have the wrong person." she shook her head, tossing a mild glare in his general direction.

"I triple checked on this, Sylla. It's true." he climbed to his feet, wrapping his hands around her upper arms, forcing her to look at him.

"No. No, it can't. I don't believe you." she whispered, lower lip trembling slightly.

"I'm sorry, Sylla. I'm so sorry." he consoled gently.

"Who asked you to do this? Who asked you to help me? I never wanted you to help me. I didn't even want anything other than return the money I borrowed from you. Why did you have to do this? Why?" Drusylla demanded loudly, pushing him away from her. Justin took a stumbling step backward, shoring up his reserves. She turned on her heel, heading to the door, needing some time alone to deal with everything running through her mind. Keith, who had always been the soft spoken one in their family, was gone and he was never coming back. This was permanent, not just another foster home. She reached for the doorknob just as her knees weakened under her weight. She slowly slid down to a sitting position. Justin sighed, sitting down next to her, silently offering what comfort he could give. She turned, pressing her face into his shirtfront, tears becoming a reality. His arms quickly came around her, holding her against his chest.

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