I Love My Brother's Best Friend

Chapter 3 ~ Losing More

*Eight Years Ago*

The rain kept pelting down on the Earth as eight-year-old Isabelle clung to her big brother as if he would disappear into thin air, although in about five minutes, he would disappear into the cab and leave to the airport. Isabelle had already gone through this with her father, as he left for his fifth tour, but this one was for two years, at least.

Now here she was again, two weeks later in the same exact position, just different family members leaving. She didn't want him to leave, because then, who would she talk to about anything and everything, who would let her crawl into their bed at night because she couldn't fall asleep and wanted to cuddle. Who would make her a healthy breakfast and hold her while she cried because she had a bad rehearsal? 

Joe was the one who had not only raised Isabelle, her brother's and Matt for the past two years, but practically their whole lives. Through their father's deployments, their parent's divorce, and their mother leaving, Joe was the main caretaker.

And here he was, leaving to not only continue to protect and love them but to protect their whole country. 

"Joey please don't leave! You can't! I won't let you! Please come back inside and just stay!" cried Isabelle. His heart shattered as he watched his little vulnerable sister beg and cling onto his side. But he knew that he had to do this, for his country, his family, his little sister.

"Bella baby, please, calm down, I'll be home before you even know it," he gently pulled her up into his arms, "You are so strong, and just like Daddy said, just keep hoping, have faith. Remember, I'll always be a letter away. I love you, baby girl." he kissed her head as she clung to him.

Bobby and Scott were too busy trying to stay strong for Isabelle that they hadn't noticed that Joe needed someone to take her.

She was sobbing so much that she hadn't seen who took her into their arms as she watched the cab drive down the road but she didn't care, she just grabbed onto the person and cried into their shoulder. 

Matt had brought her upstairs to her room to put her on her bed seeing as she cried herself to sleep. As he went to walk away, Isabelle's small hand grabbed his.

"Can you stay with me?" Isabelle shyly asked. Her voice sounded so broken and his heart cracked. As Matt silently agreed and crawled into bed, she had automatically cuddled into his side and fell asleep again. Matt held her and took a tissue from her nightstand and wiped away the fallen tears. 

He hated seeing her this upset and despite his teasing, he loved her as much as her brothers did. He would have no hesitation to jump in front of a bullet for her which made him understand why Joe left for war and it reminded him of why he and Scott wanted to as well. 

That day, he made a vow to protect Isabelle from everything and to be there for her no matter what.

Simply because

He loved her.