12 Years Ago.............................

That was the summer that Ty knew for sure he was madly in love with Becky, they were fifteen years old and her parents went on a cruise. Becky had been given permission to stay home alone provided she checked in nightly with his parents, this wasn't a problem since she spent almost every day there anyway.

Zeke was Twenty Two and was convinced he was old enough to be on his own, he was planning on moving in the fall. He had turned down the idea of going to college convinced he could make it on his own some other way. He'd been living in the loft above his parents garage while working downtown at a local mechanic shop, he'd saved up enough money to buy himself a rusty motorcycle that barely got him from point A to point B.

It was hot that year and his father finally broke down and purchased an air conditioner. It was mid-summer and halfway through her parents cruise when Becky came over a night for dinner.

His mom was in the kitchen cooking, his dad was at work at Zeke agreed to play poker with Ty and Becky. So, they were seated around the dining room table with M&Ms for poker chips playing and Zeke was cleaning house as usual, the only thing Zeke loved to do was win. He never let anyone win but him.

"I'm out," Ty said tossing down his worthless cards.

"Pansy," Becky said.

"I got a real good hand," Zeke taunted.

"So do I," She replied.

Ty leaned over to glance at Becky's cards, she was lying. Her cards were shit, not even any pairs.

"I'm all in," She said pushing her M&M's to the middle of the table.

Ty couldn't see Zekes cards but he knew his brother well enough to know he wouldn't back down from Becky and he wouldn't go easy on her. Zeke glanced at his cards and then with a heavy sigh tossed them facedown onto the table.

"I'm out," He said.

"Yes!" Becky tossed her cards and happily pulled on the M&M's to her side of the table.

"What the hell?" Ty asked Zeke.

"What? She beat me,"Zeke said with a shrug.

"I was bluffing," Becky said with a shrug.

"Oh yeah?" Zeke asked.

"Yeah."

"Could someone help me?" Their mother called from the kitchen.

Becky wasted no time in hopping to her feet and hurrying to the kitchen,Ty couldn't help checking out her long bare legs in her shorts.

"It aint polite to stare at women," Zeke said as he stood.

"Where are you going? Supper is almost ready."

"I gotta take a leak, relax."

Zeke wandered out of the dining room and Ty sat alone, he stared at Zekes cards on the table for a minute before he began picking up the M&M's from the table.

"Ty, could you come carry out plates?" His mother called.

"Yes Mom."

He stood and moved around the table, he glanced briefly at the table and then noticed that from where Zeke was sitting he had a perfect view of Becky's cards in the mirror behind her chair. The bastard had cheated, he knew he cards every hand.

Ty paused next to Zeke's chair, if Zeke knew what Becky had in her hand Ty couldn't help but wonder what Zeke had that was worse. He flipped over the cards before he could think about it to reveal a royal flush.

PRESENT DAY...........................

Becky was stretched out on Zeke's couch watching some sappy romance that he couldn't stand. He'd excused himself to start making them dinner and then realized the only thing he knew how to cook was spaghetti, he was boiling noodles when he decided to check on her.

"How are you doing?" He asked, walking into the living room.

"My back...it hurts and my feet are tingly."

"That's a good sign, right?"

"I guess."

"Do you want a pain pill?" He asked.

"No, not yet."

He watched her a minute, the doctors had warned them that as the swelling went down in her back she may experience nerve pain and Zeke didn't want to think about how much worse it could get.

"Becky, maybe you should take something."

"I need a shower," She said flopping her head down onto the couch.

"Oh....."

He stood there in awkward silence and after a few seconds she lifted her had and then laughed out loud at him.

"Look at you, you act like I asked you for a sponge bath."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to push back the images that popped uninvited into his mind.

"I can arrange a bath but....that's about all."

"Really?"

"Sure, I'll fill the tub and then....we'll figure something out."

"That'd be fantastic," She admitted.

He gave a small nod before moving into the bathroom, of course she'd need a bath and shower eventually he knew that but as soon as he had time to process what he'd agreed to he felt sick. How the hell was he supposed to get her into the tub?

After a long few minutes he came up with what he thought was the best idea, he'd let her undress herself and wrap in a towel he could then place her in the water and when he was gone she could toss the towel out of the tub. When he told her this plan she had only one reply.

"What about when I need to get out?" She asked.

"We'll figure it out."

He pushed her chair into the bathroom and then left her alone with a towel nearby for her to cover with then he paced outside the door until he was sure he wore down the carpet.

"Zeke?" She called softly,

"Yeah?"

"Can you come here?"

He took a deep breath opened the door and stepped into the suddenly cramped bathroom. She was sitting in her wheel chair without a shirt of bra, her back was too him and he'd be lying if he said he didn't admire the soft pale skin, the length of her neck and her dark hair fanning over her shoulder blades.

"I can't reach the towel," She said softly.

Without a word he reached around her, trying to be an adult and not admire the way her tiny waste curved inward or she soft sides of her breast. He dropped the towel onto her lap and she instantly covered herself but it was too late the damage was done now.

"You didn't look did you?" She asked, looking over her shoulder.

"No," He lied.

"Okay, I'm ready." She said.

He moved to the front of the chair realizing how damn dumb this idea was as he slid his hands under her bare legs. Her skin was just as smooth and soft as he thought it would be and he clenched his jaw as he lifted her in his arms, hoping she didn't get a clue about the situation he was having down south.

He eased her into the warm water and she tensed at first, he carefully eased his arms from around her body, his fingers grazing against the soft skin on the back of her thighs.

"How's that?" He asked, realizing his voice had also changed in the passed few seconds.

"Nice, thank you."

"I'll just....go wait for you to finish," He said.

She gave a small nod, still holding the now soaked towel to her body. He backed out of the bathroom, bumping into her wheel chair and probably bruising his leg. He stumbled away from the offending object and slammed the door behind him.

He leaned against the door taking a deep breath, that was his brothers girlfriend, the love of his life. Zeke had known her when she was in a diaper, could remember he losing her first tooth, he shouldn't be thinking about her the way he was.

"You're killing me here,"He said, glancing down at the front of his pants.

He walked back to the kitchen to finish dinner and to let Becky take her bath, hoping that by the time he returned a miracle would have allowed her the use of her legs.

He didn't get a miracle and twenty minutes later was standing outside his bathroom, he hadn't opened the door yet but the plan was for Becky to drain the water, he would then without looking toss her another towel to cover with.

"Okay," She called.

He hesitated before pushing open the door and stepping inside, he strode quickly to the closet tossing a towel at her without even a glance and was remotely proud of himself for keeping his eyes on the ugly green wallpaper.

"Okay," She said again.

He took a deep breath walking towards the tub like an inmate heading to death row. He bent down, trying to look anywhere but at her and with her help lifted her into his arms. She was hard to hold onto this time and he had no choice but to pull her closer against his chest.

She slipped a little in his arms and she gripped his shoulder tighter.

"I've got you," He said softly.

He eased her down into the waiting wheel chair, glad to be putting her down. He pulled his arms away too quick and the towel was ripped from her hands. She let out a small squeak and tried to recover her but the damage was done. He jerked away, turning his head so fast he was almost dizzy.

"Holy shit," He said under his breath.

"I'm sorry!"

"No, it's fine....I didn't see...anything," He lied.

"You're a terrible liar," She said re-adjusting the towel.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to look at her so he wouldn't appear as guilty as he was.

"It's not that big of a deal," She said with a shrug.

"Don't go there."

"It's not.....not after..."

"I'm going to fix dinner," He interrupted.

He pushed passed her leaving her to get herself dressed and whatever the hell else she wanted to do. She followed him into the hall way.

"You can't hold it against me forever, it wasn't my fault! You were there too!" She yelled.

He didn't reply as he began setting the table, it was easier to pretend he didn't hear her. It was easier to keep her at arms length, to hate her, to be cruel. It was easier to hold a grudge than it was to forgive her.

Author Note: So I know everyone wants to know what happened and I promise we're going to find out very soon! in the meantime I'd love to know what you guys think Becky did that made Zeke turn against her? let me know your theories and I'll try to give you an answer soon.