Disclaimer: None of them, but Michael belong to me.
Note: This takes place in the second season. I do plan on working on more of this story line, but don't have time to do it right now. Please send feedback!!

THIS IS A SHORT STORY SO IT HAS NOT BEEN BETA READ. IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT DON'T READ ANY FURTHER.

Synopsis: Just a family secret revealed to us. Anymore would give it away.

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Family Secrets
by Cynthia

Blair looked at the gates in front of him and sighed. He did this every year on his birthday, but this year he was a day late. Jim had set up a surprise party for him and Blair wasn't given a chance to disappear like he had last year. It had been fun and a chance of routine, but he still had to do this.

The gates that surrounded Jordan Psychiatric Institution about two and half hours outside of Cascade. It was a nice place, but Blair cringed each time he saw it. And he had good reasons too. For the last eight years Michael had called this place home. Before that, he had been in an institution in Vermont.

Sandburg shook his head as if that would ride him of the memories that coming to his place dredged up. Even as he drove through the gates and parked flashes of him and his brother when they were younger placed like a movie. They had been inseparable. That was until one of Naomi's boyfriends had gotten drunk and gone after them.

Signing his name on the sign in sheet, Blair let himself be lead through the facility as he though about that night. They had been five years old. He didn't remember the guy's name or even what he looked like, but he did remember the look in the guys eyes. Michael had been trying to protect his. Blair fought down the nausea as he remembered the sickening sound of the baseball bate colliding with Michael's head time after time. Later after Blair had recovered from his own injuries he listened as the doctor told his
mother that Michael would never recover. "Permeate brain damage," was what the doctor had said.

"Here you go Blair," Ms. Jones, one of the nurses here said. She had known Blair since Michael had been first transferred. "He's doing pretty go. He will respond to our voices some times." A small improvement, but to Blair it broke his heart.

"Thank you. I won't be long."

"Take all the time you need," she said before leaving.

Taking a hold of the door handle, Blair took a deep breath and walked in. Michael was in front of a barred window looking out. Not for the first time Blair cursed the man that had caused this, fate, and even his own mother. He had different response for cursing Naomi though. Since Michael had been institutionalized, he had become no existent. Michael's name was never to be spoken. All the pictures with Michael in them had been destroyed or lost. Even the picture Blair had kept secret had been found by her and then
burned. 'You didn't care about him an more. He was just something that would slow you down,' Blair thought to himself. But blame did solve anything.

"Michael," Blair said as he knelt down next to Michael. Michael's head slowly turned to look at Blair for a few seconds before turning back. The blue eyes that had held Blair's for a second were dull and lifeless. "I came to say Happy Birthday. I know I'm late, but something came up. I talked about Jim last time didn't I. Well I know I did. He through me a birthday party. Everyone was there." 'Every one but you' Blair finished silently.

Taking his eyes of Michael, Blair starred out the window hoping to catch a glance at what Michael was seeing. "I'm thinking that I should tell Jim about you. I think he would really like you. I know mom said to never say anything about you, but I know Jim would understand. Then maybe you could come visit. Would you like that?" Blair asked turning to look once more at Michael.

There was no response from the silent figure beside him, but he wasn't expecting any. He was going to tell Jim and just maybe the trips up here wouldn't be so lonely. Yea next time he came up here he was bringing Jim with him. He figured that if Jim could get along with Blair, he should have no troubles with Michael. They were twin brothers after all.

The End