Anatomy • Eddie's daughter

My Idea

22

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"This is the end,
Hold your breath
and count to ten."
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When Eddie woke up that morning, he was in slight shock that he woke up at 8 instead of his usual 6 am. Even with the extra two hours of sleep, he was still exhausted. The house was quiet and cold, with all doors closed, making the house seem smaller than it was. Even though it was morning the sun was barely up and the shades were closed making the house dark.

When Eddie stood up from the couch he laid the blanket to the side and rubbed his eyes with the back of his palms. The warmth of his hands brought some color back to his face. When his hands dropped he looked around the house, stopping at one of the closed doors that had a small white light peeking out of it.

Curious, the father softly padded over the door. He gave it a small knock before pushing it open, revealing his young daughter who had a stack of books next to her and a book in her hand.

"What are you doing?" He questioned while trying to use his hand from the bright flashlight that was now blaring in his face.

Jo looked up at him and chuckled, bringing the flashlight out of his face. Eddie flicked on the light making both of them squint. "I'm reading"

When Eddie's eyes adjusted to the light, he racked his daughter's body up and down. "Did you sleep at all?" he asked since her clothes from yesterday still fit her body.

Josie's eyes dropped from her father's in embarrassment, which made Eddie's chest fill with frustration. "Josephine?"

"Yeah, I did."

"You're lying"

"I'm lying, yeah."

Eddie rubbed his hand down his face in frustration. "I love that you're reading but you need sleep, Mija, that's not good for you."

All Josie did was shrug and sit up, reaching her hands out so her father could pull her up.  Eddie scoffed with an eye roll and reached his hands out. Interlocking his with her and tugging on her. When she was fully standing up he pulled her closer, into his chest. Wrapping his arms above her shoulders. Jo was slightly shocked at first and it took everything in her to not pull away, but she resisted the urge.

Instead, she found comfort in his warm chest.

"You know I love you, right?" Eddie asked as he looked around her room.

Josie shut her eyes as the sleepiness slowly started to creep up on her. "I love you too, Dad."

Eddie nodded his head in satisfaction.

All he wanted was for his daughter to be okay.

Almost like Jo read his mind. She tightened her grip on his waist, turning her head closer to his chest. "I'm okay Dad, we're okay."

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The next couple of weeks were hard on not just Buck but also Josie. Buck wasn't really talking to anyone on the team, except the occasional text to Eddie.

Which upset Jo even more.

Josie and Buck have a routine, and Buck breaking that leaves a lot of empty feelings in Jo.

She missed him.

"I thought you two could go over to Bucks today while I'm at work. Maybe go down to the movies." Eddie speaks to his two kids who eat their breakfast.