forKING&COUNTRY: Shoulders

Shoulders: Part 11

************************note to reader: if you haven't watched the video recently you might want to now bcause it ties in to the story at this point :)*****************************************

      Luke's spirit drifted back into his body, still singing the angel's song: My help is from You. He opened his eyes and smiled. "Everything's gonna be okay." He whispered to himself.

      He rose and checked on Courtney, who didn't stir at his gentle touch. He bent to plant a kiss on her forehead, then walked out into the hall to check on his daughter.

      Emergency lights flashed in the street below a nearby window, catching his eye. He peered down into the tangle of dark shapes, frowning. "Wonder what--"

      A familiar SUV was sprawled upside down, shattered glass sprayed across the pavement. "Joel?"

      He dashed to the elevator, his hand fumbling in his pockets for his phone; he groaned in frustration as he realized he'd left it in Courtney's room. Doesn't matter, he thought abruptly, he lost his anyway. And if he's down there in that car—He swallowed back tears of panic as the elevator doors slid open.

      The lobby was mostly deserted as he all but ran for the doors. I look up to the mountain. Does my strength come from the mountain?

      He squinted against the swarm of flashing lights. "No." He murmured aloud. He strained on his roes, trying to catch a glimpse of a familiar face but desperate not to--

      "Luke?"

      My strength comes from God, who make heaven and earth and the mountain.

      He whirled on his heels and saw his brother standing not five feet away, blood spattered on his face and shirt, disorientation and relief playing across his exhausted features. "Oh dear lord," Luke cried out, tears snarling his words into a near incomprehensible mess. He staggered forward and seized his brother in a crushing hug. "I was so afraid...I thought you..." The end of his terrible sentence was lost in sobs as he held his brother close.
Joel hugged him back tentatively. "I'm okay, Luke. Really."

      "No you're not!" Luke shouted through his tears. He pulled back to hold his brother at arm's length. "You're not okay! I should never have let you go home by yourself! You...you can't..."

      Joel's eyes softened; Luke was startled to realize that they no longer carried that hollow look of pain he'd come to despise. "Luke..." Joel sighed and shook his head, a small smile playing across his lips. "I can't explain it, but...I'm okay now. About...about Moriah."

      "...what?" Luke trembled against his brother, hope springing in his chest.

      "I'm okay." Joel repeated patiently. "I know where she is."

      "Say it again."

      "Luke--" Joel broke off and shook his head, a crooked grin touching his face. Luke laughed and hugged him close.

      The next second he was catching Joel as his older brother suddenly collapsed against him. "Joel? Joel, what's wrong?"

     Joel moaned, his face ashen. "My head..."

      Luke nearly slapped his own forehead in disgust. "Of course. You were just in an accident--" He lifted Joel in his arms with a grunt of effort. "--and I stand here and talk to you while you need a doctor. Help!" He shouted in the direction of the emergency lights. "Somebody help!"

      Joel clung to him weakly, his eyes rolling back in their sockets. "My help comes...from...You..."

      Luke looked down at him sharply. "What'd you say?"

      But Joel had already slipped away.