Nathan laughed without humor.
"Everybody protecting Captain Cole."
Daniel said quietly, "Maybe badly."
Nathan looked at him.
"But they were protecting you."
Nathan's face hardened.
"I didn't ask to be protected."
"No."
Daniel nodded.
"That's usually how it works."
For the first time, Nathan saw something familiar in Daniel's face.
Not Matt.
Grief.
"How old were you when Matt died?"
Daniel gave a sad smile.
"Thirty-two."
"Close?"
"Very."
Nathan nodded.
Daniel looked toward the living room.
"When the hospital called and said some kid was connected to my brother's tissue registry, I thought it was a clerical error."
Nathan listened.
"Then I met Eli."
Daniel smiled faintly.
"First thing he did was tell me my truck was ugly."
Nathan almost smiled.
"He hates blue trucks."
"I learned."
Daniel looked at Nathan.
"Then I found out."
"That Matt was his biological father."
"Yeah."
"What did that feel like?"
Daniel took time answering.
"Like getting my brother back and losing him again at the same time."
Nathan understood more than he wanted to.
He sat on the porch step.
Daniel remained standing, then sat several feet away.
Nathan looked at his bleeding knuckles.
"Did Matt ever talk about Claire?"
Daniel shook his head.
"Never."
"Me?"
"Yes."
Nathan looked over.
Daniel continued.
"He respected you."
"Apparently."
Daniel frowned.
"Don't do that either."
Nathan laughed bitterly.
"Your brother slept with my wife."
"Yeah."
"And you're defending him?"
"No."
Daniel looked directly at Nathan.
"I'm saying a terrible thing he did doesn't mean everything he felt about you was fake."
Nathan looked away.
Daniel continued.
"Matt was ashamed of plenty of things."
"Did he ever tell you he slept with someone's wife?"
"No."
"Then maybe he wasn't ashamed enough."
Daniel didn't argue.
After a while Nathan asked, "How did Matt die?"
He knew the official version.
IED.
Convoy.
But he had not been present that day.
Daniel looked surprised.
"You know."
"Tell me."
Daniel took a slow breath.
"His vehicle took the blast."
Nathan nodded.
Daniel continued.
"Two men survived because Matt pulled them out after he was already wounded."
Nathan looked down.
Typical Matt.
Stupidly brave.
Complicated.
Human.
Nathan hated him.
Nathan missed him.
Both emotions existed at once.
That was almost unbearable.
The front door opened.
Eli stood there.
Claire was behind him.
"Dad?"
Nathan looked up.
Eli was frightened again.
Nathan stood.
"What is it?"
The boy held his plastic spaceship.
"Are you leaving?"
Nathan's anger disappeared.
"No."
"Daniel has a bag."
Nathan looked toward the truck.
Daniel's backpack was there.
Nathan understood.
Daniel had been preparing to leave.
Eli looked between the men.
"Did you make him leave?"
Nathan hesitated.
Eli's face tightened.
"He didn't do anything."
Nathan glanced at Daniel.
Then back at his son.
"No."
"So he's staying?"
Daniel spoke.
"I should probably give your family some time."
Eli looked upset.
Nathan knew what the boy was really hearing.