Raising Chicago's Next Generation

Chapter 10: Clouds are Grey

Dr. Rhodes stood in the OR doing CPR on JJ. Lacie sat in the waiting room looking like she was going to cry.

"Lace,What's wrong?"

"Chris,I love you. And I want to get married to you. I wanna be in my kids life. Chris,I should've asked you to leave and I didn't. I just left."

"Lace,I don't care about that. You could leave a million more times and I still wouldn't care. Lace,I love you and I love our wonderful kids." Chris leaned in and kissed her.

Mikey sat in the recliner in the hospital rocking his daughter. She started crying and Jessa was sleeping.

"Reese Noelle, I love you. Daddy will always protect you. You are my little girl and whatever you want you can get. Reese,You are mine. 'You are what I never knew I always wanted' Reese,I hope you do the best in everything you do."

Dr. Rhodes sewed JJ back up and started to wheel in out of surgery. He slipped into a coma.

"Mr. Halstead,He's out of surgery." said Dr. Rhodes

Jay and Erin stood up.
"Jay,Go see him." Jay walked towards JJ's room.

"JJ,I need you to wake up. To fight this battle and wake up. JJ, Be Strong Be Brave and Be a Hero. That's what you are. You are Brave,Strong and a Hero. JJ,You need to wake up for me and the family. Son,I love you and I know we may not see eye to eye sometimes. But I did a damn good job of raising you. Don't tell the other's but you are my favorite. JJ,you just wake up."

Lane sat on a bar stool in Molly's drinking. He went to a bar instead of going home.
"Lane,Go home. It's almost 9:00." said Otis

"Otis,I just need some time off. I got stripped and My House note is fairly large and my daughter won't sleep all night."

Otis kept cleaning the bar
"Lane,You can't drink your damn pain away. You gotta face it head on. Maybe you and Brynley can go on a date night. Get out away from the kids."

"Otis,As much as I'd like that. Brynley doesn't wanna leave Cassadee and that's what we've been fighting about. I haven't told anyone because I don't know. Brynley has been slacking. Bills are not getting paid and I'm getting tired of it. I know I shouldn't but We need the money. What I make isn't enough to feed 4 mouths and still be able to get diapers. I need some financial help. We've been fighting a lot about the money deal."

"Lane,Go talk to her." Otis took the beer from him and He walked home.

"Brynley! Can we talk?"

Brynley walked into the living room and saw Lane smelling of beer.
"Lane,Where were you? I had to take care of the kids by myself. Lane, you reak of beer."

"Brynley,Listen. I know I do. Just hear me out. You need to go back to work."

"The hell I do Lane! You don't control me! My life is my decision. I need to stay home with Cass."

"Brynley,We need the money."

"Maybe you should stop drinking the damn beer!"

"The beer is bought with my money not ours. And I still go to work every damn day."

"Whatever Lane! Bye!"

"Momma! Why are you yelling?" asked Liam

"Liam,Go back to bed. We were just disagreeing."

"Lane,You need to go now."

Lane walks out the house and gets into his car. He drives to Lacie and Chris' house.

He knocks on the door.

"Lacie,Can I stay with you?"

"What happened now Lane?"

"Brynley and I had a fight. I know We shouldn't have but I'm sorry Lace."

"Lane! You reak of beer. Why should I let you in my house,since my kids are here?"

"Lacie,You're my sister."

"Mom,Is that Uncle Lane?" asked Greyson

Grey peek and saw his Uncle Lane

"Uncle Lane!" yelled Greyson

"Hey Grey!" Lane hugged

"Lane,You can stay but go take a damn shower." whispered Lacie

"Mommy,why is Uncle Lane here?" asked Emerson

"Because He wanted to come visit you two." Lacie shot Lane a look

"Mom! Can I go to Meredith's house?" yelled Juliet

"Yeah. Call your Aunt Nadia!"

"Aunt Nadia,Can I hang out with Meredith?"

"Sorry Jules,She's out with friends from school."

"Oh okay." Juliet made a pout face.

"Brynley,Lane's staying at my house. I don't know what happened but Lane needs to get his act together." said Lacie

"Lace,I know he does. He's just I don't know. He hasn't slept in bed in weeks. He was stripped of his powers. We shouldn't be fighting in front on the kids. This is our 5th fight this month. I don't know what to do Lace."

"Chill out Bryn. I'll take care of Lane. You take care of the kids. Maybe Chris can take him out for a guy's night."

"I'm just going to file for a divorce. I can't do this Lacie. It's not right."

"Brynley,I'm saying this as your sister in law and as your best friend. Wait and see if you can figure it out."

"Lacie,I can't anymore. I just can't.." Brynley sat down on the couch and started crying.

"Momma,What's wrong?" asked Lane Jr.

"Lane,Nothing."

"Mason,Can you wake up please?" asked Jacie

Mason flinched a bit,then started opening his eyes a little bit.

"Mom!" yelled Jessa

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing really. I love you."

Erin walked into the room and sat next to her.
"Jessa,I love you."

"Isaiah! You wanna know why your name is Isaiah?" asked Jay

"I've always wondered why."

"Will! I'm taking Isaiah out for a little while." both of them got into Jay's truck and Jay drove to the cemetery.

They both walk to where Isaiah is.
"Read what it says."

"Isaiah William Halstead. 1967-1982 Marine,Hero, Brother
'I'd rather fight for something than to live for nothing'."

"Dad,What's this about?" Isaiah looked confused

"My Older brother. His name was Isaiah. He was a Marine and He died a Marine. I named you after him because he was my role model. The person I looked up to for years. Isaiah,You are named after a hero. He saved millions by sacrificing his life. My Parents they didn't want me going into the Army. They were against it because of my Brother."

"JJ,It's your Mom and I know we haven't been at terms but I love you. I need you to wake up for me and your dad and your niece. She wants to meet you. So badly."

JJ's eyes started opening