forKING&COUNTRY: Shoulders

Shoulders: Part Three

      "Hold on love!" Luke flinched as his brother screamed in his sleep again. Joel thrashed against the sheets briefly, cold sweat flecking his cheeks, before his cries settled back into the restless murmur Luke had become attuned to. Luke reached over and ran his thumb across his brother's forehead; he was relieved to see some of the tension fade from the damp skin at his touch.

      Joel moaned again. "No...don't...don't..." His head tossed restlessly beneath Luke's gentle hand. "...turn around...turn...plane...storm..."

      Luke stroked Joel's tangled hair back from his face. "Sh...it's okay...it's over, Joel," he murmured whatever soothing thoughts came into his head, hummed snatches of comforting tunes, anything to keep the screams at bay for as long as he could. "You're stronger than this, big brother. You're gonna be okay."

      Joel shuddered and rolled to one side, his face drawn with delirious fear. "Turn the plane...gonna...die...Moriah..." His grasping hands left smears of blood on the damp sheets. "No...no..."

      A low tap on the door jerked Luke from his exhaustion; he looked up to see Courtney standing in the open doorway, Leo in her arms. "I'm taking the kids to the library," she whispered.

      Luke eased himself off the bed, holding his breath. To his relief Joel didn't stir. Courtney offered him a tired smile as he put his arms around her. "How long do you think you'll be gone?" he asked softly, stooping to plant a gentle kiss on her lips.

      She kissed him back, leaving her sweet taste in his mouth long after she'd pulled away. "A few hours, probably. They're having some author over to do some read-alouds and Jude wanted to listen."

      He kissed her again, let his hands drift down to rest on the curves of her belly. "Don't stay gone too long," he warned. "And keep your phone with you just in case."

      "I promise." She smiled and looked down at his hands. She was bare weeks from her due date. Any day now, Luke realized with a grin of excitement. Any day now and our daughter will be here.

      Joel moaned softly in his sleep and flung an arm out against the pillows. Luke turned to study him worriedly. "He's so...broken," he whispered, more to himself than to his wife. "I don't know what to do for him."

      Courtney wrapped her arms around his and leaned into him comfortingly. "It's still really early. He just needs some time to adjust and figure things out. He'll come around."

      Luke sighed and ran a hand through his curly hair. "I hope you're right."

      Courtney smiled but her eyes were wan. "I hope so too."