The sky was painted a soft orange hue as the first rays of the day fell upon the two restlessly sleeping souls. A sense of serenity was present physically, mentally not as much.

The elder one's eyes flickered open as the warmth of the sun fell upon him, while the younger one clutched onto his elder brother tighter with a disturbed face.

It was a given fact that none of them could sleep peacefully that night and all - unlike normal - were up early. None were left alone that night, for they were scared some nightmare might haunt them. 

Finding that their two soldiers of the previous day were missing, the team was sent into a frenzy. They knew the two of them well enough that they'd keep to themselves blaming themselves for getting them so close yet so far. 

Hence, the Indian Cricket Team was currently running around the hotel playing 'treasure hunt' when Virat and Rohit stumbled onto the terrace finding their 'treasure'.

In any other normal circumstances, the duo would have left no chance to snap a picture of the Ravindra Jadeja letting himself loose and snuggling up to someone. But today was nowhere near normal. 

They were about to say something when MS promptly shushed them not wanting to disturb the sleep of the one in his arms. 

Again in normal circumstances, Virat would've whined about partiality and not able to snuggle with Mahi Bhai. And Rohit would've rolled his eyes at him told him to shut up though feeling the same, but right now they knew that their friend - scrap that their brother needed that support. 

Leaving MS and Jaddu to themselves, Rohit and Virat left to inform the rest of the team about their whereabouts, but not before asking MS to come down and eat aswell making him smile in return. 

"No matter how hurt they are, they'll never stop caring," he thought fondly.

Unwillingly, MS gently tapped on Jaddu's arm causing him to stir in his sleep before waking up fully. As soon as the latter registered where he was he jerked back quickly, unable to look into his elder brother's eyes.

"Jaddu, come downstairs and eat. You can't skip meals," MS said in his usual authority filled yet gentle voice. 

"What if I don't want to eat?" Jadeja questioned back still not looking into Mahi Bhai's eyes. 

"Well, you're going to have to. Or else I'm going to have to feed you like I feed Ziva," MS said in a slight attempt to change the atmosphere. Jad did laugh, only scaring MS more.

It was not a typical hysterical Jaddu like laugh- rather it was plain. A more sarcastic laugh almost and that scared MS deeply.

"Alright, I don't want anyone to see me being fed. I'll come, " Jaddu spoke trying to be his normal over hyper self, but this was MS Dhoni - his Mahi Bhai who could see right through his every façade.

The pair went downstairs to be greeted with a few plain smiles and a couple of nods. The breakfast was done in complete silence, with nobody eating much just as they had all expected. 

Everyone had retired back to their rooms to pack for the return flight back, when MS had remembered that Jaddu had caught a fever. 

Leaving everything behind, he quickly rushed to Jaddu's room. 

"Mahi Bhai!" Jadeja exclaimed upon seeing Mahi Bhai all worked up. "You need anything?" 

"Yes, I do need something. I need you to lie down on that bed and take some rest," MS spoke. 

"But Mahi Bhai I'm completing fine, I don't need rest. I'd rather pack, atleast that will keep me distracted," Jadeja said mumbling the last part but MS heard anyways.

"Mr Ravindra Jadeja, in the bed right now," Mahi Bhai ordered in a no-nonsense tone causing Jad to gulp and lie down. One could never deny MS when he used that tone.

Mahi Bhai handed him the tablets and water while Jaddu made a face at the thought of medicine.

"Jad it's only paracetamol, stop making those faces, " MS said slightly amused.

"Yes, but I'm Sir Ravindra Jadeja. I don't need medicine—" he started to say only to be cut of my Mahi Bhai's glare. Having no other choice he quickly gulped the tablet and lied down.

MS called Virat, Rohit, Bhuvi and Shikhar informing them that Jaddu was ill and just as he expected they rushed into his room to give him a proper telling off.

"Mr Ravindra Jadeja can you not take care of yourself properly!" Shikhar yelled as soon as he entered the room.

"Exactly, what was the need to sleep on the terrace out in the cold?" Rohit questioned angrily while the underlying care was clearly caught by everyone. 

"What were you planning to do?" Bhuvi asked sarcastically.

"And Mr great here wouldn't have even wanted to take medicine," Virat mocked one of his best friends. "He prefers the cold right, let's leave!" Virat proclaimed the other three while MS looked at them fondly remembering how they used to be kids. He did miss those days badly.

While Jadeja on the other hand was trying to escape the glares he was been thrown and sent Mahi Bhai a pleading look.

Sighing, Mahi Bhai said "Let him be guys, even I slept out there." 

"Yeah but you had the common sense to take blankets out with you, this Maahan being obviously wanted to freeze out there," Virat taunted. 

"And obviously didn't have medicines either," Bhuvi spoke this time.

"Guys, he had his medicines I made sure of that. Let him be now, you guys go pack your belongings." Mahi Bhai said in a reassuring tone while shooing them out.

"They haven't changed one bit," Jaddu groaned sulkily.

"Neither have you," Mahi Bhai drawled out knowing exactly what Jaddu was referencing.

                                                                    ******

London 2013 

It was another win for Team India and the entire team was in a merry mood but one soul. Sir Ravindra Jadeja. It wasn't that he was having a bad season, infact he was doing quite well actually. He picked up a fifer and was doing decently with the bat.  It was just his worries playing around in his mind. And yes, no matter how much he denied it, he had his own worries too.

His chirpy smile was somewhere lost, and the rest seemed to overlook it. But nothing ever missed the eye of the great MS Dhoni.

Jadeja had put himself out in the cold London weather, and since it was his first time in England he wasn't so used to weather.

Leaning on the balcony, he dazed out into space as if looking for a lost someone. When he felt a tap on his shoulder.  He turned around to find Mahi Bhai giving him the brightest smile while gesturing him to sit down.

Jaddu sat down next to Mahi Bhai returning a slightly weary smile.

"Hi Mahi Bhai, you're here all of a sudden?" Jad asked curiously.

"Why am I not allowed to come meet my kiddo?" MS questioned back causing Jad to quickly nod no. 

"No, I was just surprised. I'm not Cheeku or Ro," Jaddu drawled out quietly.  

"That doesn't make you any less special to me you know," MS said looking at him fondly."What's wrong kiddo?" Mahi Bhai asked in a care filled voice.

"What's wrong? Nothing is wrong," Jaddu mumbled slightly worried.

"Don't try that on me Jad, I can see straight through that cheerful demeanor of yours," Mahi Bhai. 

"But—" Jaddu started only to be cut of by Mahi Bhai's glare.

"Don't look at me like that. It kinda scares me," Jad whined childishly much unlike himself causing MS to burst out into a hearty laughter.

"Then tell me what's up with you," MS said comfortingly.

"Well, I find it silly," Jad spoke slightly embarrassed.

"What do you not find silly?" Mahi Bhai counter questioned.

"It's about my mother," Jad drawled out quietly.

"Oh," MS said in response. It was obviously a sensitive topic and he didn't want to hurt Jaddu more. 

"It was my mother's last wish for me to be playing for India and here I am doing that today but nothing feels complete," Jaddu mumbled in a small voice looking crestfallen. 

"She would be so happy today, but she's not here. I miss here," Jaddu sobbed silently in MS' arms. 

MS ran his hand through Jaddu's hair in an attempt to console him but he knew that he needed to get this out of him.

"Jaddu, listen. It's alright to miss your mother, I know you were the closest to her. She's always watching over you and trust me every time you play well she'll be the happiest," MS spoke comfortingly looking at his kid who always masked his feelings. 

"And don't forget, she's never left you. She's always with you right here," MS finished pointing at Jaddu's heart making him sob a little bit more before stopping entirely.

They sat in a peaceful silence staring at the night sky, lost in their own thoughts. Jaddu not wanting to breakdown ever again and MS keen to make Jaddu open up to him more.

Just then, Jaddu sneezed followed by a coughing fit making Mahi Bhai panic immediately.

"Oh God no! Don't tell me you've caught a fever! Let's go down right now!" Mahi Bhai spoke hastily and Jaddu was compelled to go down with him.

Mahi Bhai handed him the paracetamol and Jaddu nodded a no. And unfortunately for him Virat and Rohit happened to be passing by and saw this scene.

Panicking the two of them rushed into the room only to find Jaddu not taking medicines. They immediately called Shikhar, Bhuvi and Ash. 

"Mr Ravindra Jadeja can you not take care of yourself properly!" Shikhar yelled as soon as he entered the room.

"Exactly, what was the need to sleep on the terrace out in the cold?" Rohit questioned angrily while the underlying care was clearly caught by everyone. 

"What were you planning to do?" Bhuvi asked sarcastically.

"And Mr great here doesn't even want to take medicine," Virat mocked one of his best friends. "He prefers the cold right, let's leave!" Virat proclaimed.

The five of them wanted to tell him off more when MS interfered saving Jaddu from the murderous glares a certain Kohli was throwing him.

MS promptly shooed them out, saying that Jaddu needed rest and none of them could deny.

Once all of them had left in meek voice Jaddu murmured "Thanks for everything Mahi Bhai." 

And Mahi Bhai just ruffled his hair in response with his usual bright smile.

                                                                    ******

The duo gave each other small smiles remembering that incident. The first proper smile since the dreadful day before as Jaddu was compelled to sleep while his Mahi Bhai took care of him.

A/N  Happy Birthday Vashi @SomebodyOutThere005 ❤❤, since you are our Rajput and since this book was long pending this chapter seemed the best. Have a great day!!

Also I really don't know how this turned out, did rush it a bit and do vote and comment!