Cut Deep (Klance)

She's what? (Chapter 18)

It's unedited and short :/

KEITH POV

My ass hurts so fucking bad. I guess going three rounds was a little too much. Anyways, afterwards I took the best nap of my life. The nap might of been better than the... never mind, the sex was otherworldly, the nap can't even compare.

Okay, onto more important matters. We finally told Ronnie, Sophia, and Abuela the bad news and, as a group, decided not to tell the boys for right now. The boys are having fun and have been through so much lately that a child that age simply shouldn't have to deal with.

"Lance!" I whisper yell as to not wake the boys in the other side of the room. Lance's phone as been ringing and he won't wake the fuck up. "Lance!"

...Nothing

Well if he isn't gonna wake up then I suppose I'll answer.

I flip his phone over just to be blinded by the light. It's an unknown caller. I click the green button and bring it up to my ear, "Hello?"

"Hello, is this Lance McClain speaking?"

Who is this lady? "No, ma'am. I'm his mate, Lance isn't able to come to the phone right now."

"Alright, well... I've been trying to reach Mariah McClain's next of kin for some time now and you're the closest we could get on the phone. Are you within driving distance, dear?"

"No, ma'am, we're pretty far." Did something bad happen to Mariah? Like, something worse?

"Okay then I'll just have to tell you now. There was minor brain damage that we were able to control but one of her vertebrae was also broken, which was the main cause for concern. She went into surgery a couple of hours ago and, I'm sorry to inform you that she didn't make it out... she was a real fighter but she just couldn't make i-"

"She's what? She's- she's, like- is she-"

"She's gone, dear. I'm so sorry for your loss. She's being sent to the morgue where next of kin should claim it within the next seventy-two hours. I hope your day gets better, hon, goodbye."

That's it? She's just gone? What? How? Lance is gonna be so-

"Babe? What's wrong? Why are you crying?" Lance groggily sits up and hugs me from behind.

"Lance..."

"Baby, it's okay. Was it a bad dream?"

"No... Mariah... th-the hospital called..." I feel more tears leak from my eyes, sliding down my face as J attempt to tell Lance what happened. How do I even say this?

"What'd they say? Is she out of the ICU?"

"Sorta, um... they took her into surgery a couple hours ago because she had a br-broken vertebrae and... she- she- she's gone. She didn't make it through surgery, Lance." I turn to face him better so I can comfort him but he doesn't say anything. "Lance?"

"Let's go tell Abuela."

"Lance, it's okay to cry. Why aren't y-"

"I'm gonna go tell Abuela." He moves to get out of bed and I follow him because I don't know what else to do. He might be in shock since this is such big news? Maybe he just hasn't had enough water so he can't cry?

We find Abuela on the couch watching a telenovela with the twins and Lance grabs my hand as we walk into the living room. The three of them look up at us.

"I know we're up late," Veronica starts, "but we couldn't sleep. We were just so worried about Mama a-"

Lance squeezes my hand. "Mamá está muerta, Ronnie."

"What?!" Sophia immediately jumps up, tears already pouring. "I don't believe you... she isn't! She can't be!"

"She is, Soph, the hospital called," Lance glares at his younger sister, "Keith answered and they told him."

"He's a liar then! Mama isn't dead! That- she must isn't!" Sophia shakes her head and sinks down to the floor when he knees seemingly buckle. "You're lying!"

"Keith and I aren't liars, we wouldn't lie to you about this. We- it's the truth, Soph." My mates voice is now softer, his scent finally turning just as sour as the twins' and Abuela's. "She's gone..." And he's finally crying.

"You're all welcome to stay as long as you need, mis nietos." Abuela helps Sophia back onto the couch and hugs her close along with rubbing Veronica's back.

"No, we've missed a lot of school as it is," Lance sniffles, "we need to go back tomorrow."

"We also need to claim her body..." I trail off, rushing to embrace Lance when he lets out a soft sob.

"Keith..." He grabs my shirt in fistfuls and sobs into my chest.

I press a kiss to his head. "I know, I've got you. It'll be okay." I help him to the empty loveseat and hold him close, whispering sweet words into his ear in the softest voice I have, "I love you."

That only makes him sob harder, "I love you too," he mumbles between cries.

Nobody, except the boys, got much rest last night. God, what're we going to tell the boys?