𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚 [E.Diaz]

Keep It Together

Keep It Together 

IT WAS LIKE SHE was fifteen again, things were moving slower. It was as if she was trying to walk in an Olympic pool with nothing but heavy clothes. She was surprised that no one from the 118 asked her if she was okay or noticed how quiet she had been. 

She didn't sleep much, getting flashes of that night in the street.  Josie was sure she had gotten over it, and that everything was fine. Therapy was supposed to be helping her, and it was mostly. 

"Hey, Chim," Bobby spoke up. "You mind if I take some of this birthday cake home for Harry and May?" He asked. Chimney shrugged. 

"Sure, know yourself out." He deadpanned, his tone flat. Josie noticed he was also in a sour mood.  

"How are they doing? How's Micheal?" Buck wondered. Bobby took a deep breath. "He's upbeat, he's fighting," Bobby answered. 

"Radiation is supposed to be his best shot, now we are all grappling with hitting our hopes on his second best shot surgery." He tells them. 

"Cancer is...not pretty." Alex exhaled, pushing around the crumbs on her plate.  "I've witnessed it." She admitted.  Josie wished she was sitting next to her best friend to comfort her. 

"How are the kids handling it?" Eddie wondered. Bobby sat the box down "Think Harry's okay, It's May I'm worried about." He says. 

"She's got a better understanding of what's going on." He stated. Chimney sighed. "That's because older siblings don't have the luxury of blissful ignorance." He explained. 

"They understand truth even if they don't want to." He tells them grimly. Josie snapped out of her thoughts, offended at his bold statement. 

"The youngest is the peacemaker and doesn't want to rock the boat." Josie crossed her arms, leaning on the table and staring her friend down. "So they stay ignorant." She tells. 

"I'm guessing it's not going too well with Albert," Buck spoke up. She raised a brow at the new person.  "Maddie told you?" Chimney asked. The young firefighter stammered. 

"Sorry was she not supposed to." He says. Eddie cleared his throat.  "Who Albert?" He wondered. 

"He's my younger half-brother from Korea." He tells them.  "Show up at my doorstep, not quite the birthday surprise I was expecting." He shook his head. 

"That's awesome, I didn't know you had a kid brother," Eddie says excitedly.  Josie knitted her brows.  "Dont think any of us did." She pointed out, he shrugged. 

"When do we get to meet him?" Bobby wondered.  "Well, that doesn't seem necessary, I mean he will be leaving soon anyway, my dad insisted" He reminded them.  

"It is too necessary." Josie chuckled, perking up. "One of my favorite people has a mini-me." She smiled softly. 

"I thought I was your favorite person?" Alex asked her. Josie shrugged her shoulders. "I said one of my favorites, you are my roommate I have to like you." She teased her. The blonde's jaw slacked.