Stronger Together (bxb) ✔

Chapter 23 - Chase

I wasn't sure if to put a trigger warning for the panic attack near end of the chapter but I'm doing it just in case.

Hope you enjoy the chapter ❤

Chase's POV

I stretch and open my eyes. I actually slept well and didn't have any nightmares! I look over at Jesse and Shawn who are still fast asleep and wrapped up in blankets. I'm really glad they agreed to camp in our backyard last night! I know neither of them are huge fans of camping but I think we all had fun.

Last night was the most I've smiled in what felt like forever. The most free and the least broken I've felt since that night. I enjoyed it so much that Jesse even convinced me to go have another 'outdoor adventure' as he put it at Bryan's house today.

He assured me that there will only be a total of 6 people there, myself included and I agreed to go since I'll know most of the people and I think I want to meet Diego. He has been randomly popping into my head and dreams since I saw him on that video call two weeks ago. Besides, Jesse and Shawn assured me that we could bail at any time if I wanted to.

I very carefully climb over the sleeping boys and very slowly unzip the tent. The noise causes Shawn to stir but doesn't wake him. I quietly exit the tent and walk towards the bathroom, stretching my arms above my head on the way. Once I'm finished, I decide to make breakfast for Jesse and Shawn as a thank you.

I obviously make pancakes! And Shawn loves baked beans so I open a tin and heat up some of those and fry some eggs.

"Good morning," Shawn's still drowsy voice sounds from behind me as I'm turning off the stove.

"Hi Shawn, breakfast is ready," I reply with a smile playing at my lips. "Is Jesse already up?"

"He's in the bathro-" Shawn is cut off by our landline ringing and I frown at the noise. We almost never get calls on our home phone.

"Hel-" I answer but am immediately cut off by Mason screaming in my ear.

"Aerial's going into labour!! We're on our way to Summerdawn Hospital!"

"Ok, we'll meet you there," I say and hang up.

Mason and Aerial got married a year and a half ago and they are such a cute couple! They met at work and Aerial was Mason's boss. Mason had the biggest crush on her but didn't want to jeopardize their working relationship so he never asked her out. It turned out that Aerial was just as infatuated with him and she ended up making the first move.

"Who was that?" Jesse asks, shovelling a whole fried egg into his mouth.

"Mason called, Aerial went into labour." Jesse's eyes widen and he almost chokes on his egg at my statement and Shawn gasps before grinning excitedly.

We quickly finish breakfast and get dressed before saying goodbye to Shawn and promising to keep him updated.

********************

"Hi bros!" Justin greets us as we enter the waiting area in Summerdawn Hospital. Justin holds up his foot and I lift my own and tap it, giving him an amused smile. Justin suggested it a week ago and because there was no skin to skin contact it didn't trigger one of my panic attacks; so this is how we have started greeting each other.

"Hi," I say to Chloe who pops up behind him. Justin pulls Jesse aside, probably to ask him how I've been doing, leaving me standing there with Chloe.

I flinch as Chloe reaches out to hug me and she flashes me a guilty look. Her gaze softens and she asks, "Chase, how are you holding up? I'm so sorry about what happened. I knew-"