Fear Will Lose // twenty one pilots // Joshler

Chapter 24

Josh didn't get a chance to thank Tatum for her 4am counsel as she was caring for Ben when the time came for him to go, but he left a message with Zack.

They agreed that Chris and Kelly would visit Tyler, and Zack would go with them in the car and wait to see whether Tyler was up to seeing him too.

Josh couldn't stay around for breakfast as he had to go home and get changed, then head straight to work, but he left on a promise of coming back for dinner that evening.

As to be expected, he got a few unusual looks as he arrived at the office with a swollen and split lip, and wasn't overly surprised when he was called into Mr Parker's office. The older man sat him down across a desk and stared at him for a moment before beginning to speak.

"Go on then, which was it. Bar fight, domestic abuse or a tumble down the stairs?"
"None, sir."
"Are you going to tell me the truth?"
"No," Josh said honestly.
"Okay I respect that. Couple of ground rules. No talking to the clients till it's healed. No talking to the media till it's healed. No associating yourself publicly with the firm until it's healed. And don't let it happen again Josh."
"Yes sir, and I apologise."
"Good."

"Was there anything else?" Josh asked as Mr Parker continued to stare at him.
"The Harper case." He eventually said.
"What about it?"
"How long have you been working it?"
"Since day 1. Almost 8 months now sir,"
"Would be a shame if you didn't get to see it through to its fruition."
"Yes."
"Do you understand what I'm saying Mr Dun-Joseph?"
"Yes sir, I'll clean my act up."
"I should have taken you off weeks ago, but I'm taking a gamble. You're a good lawyer, stop making life hard for yourself and start doing the job I hired you to do."
"I'm very grateful for the opportunity, and I'll show you I'm worth it."
"Good. Last chance Dun-Joseph. Now get out."

At the end of the day Josh drove straight from the office to Zack and Tatum's house, and on the journey had to use a lot of willpower to not take the exit which lead to Campbell hospital.

Once he pulled up at their home, Tatum answered the door. She held Ben against her shoulder and bounced as she burped him.

"How was work?"
"Other than getting passive aggressively threatened by my boss, it was good thanks."
"What a jackass."
"Nah it's fine, how was your day?" Josh asked as they walked into the living room.

"This house is driving me nuts, but Ben's been pretty good today."
"You two home alone?"
"Yup. Daddy, Grandad and Granny are visiting Uncle Tyler." She said as she repositioned Ben and cooed at him.

"Have you heard from them?"
"They left just after lunch and Zack called about an hour later, but I haven't since then."
"What did he say?"
"He was just checking in on us, but it sounded like he was sat in the car so I don't know whether Tyler decided he didn't feel up to seeing him or what."
"Tyler wouldn't let him use the phone in his room." Josh told her.
"Well they should be back soon, so we can ask them."

"Yeah. Can I hold the little man?"
"Yeah yeah of course." She said with a smile, then gently passed him Ben.

Josh couldn't help but grin as the small baby waved his arms around excitedly and smiled happily.

"Hiya Ben, I'm your Uncle Josh." He told him softly.
"Aw he likes you," Tatum said as Josh moved his spare hand towards Ben's chest and the baby grabbed his little finger and wrapped his hand around it.

"He's so cute," Josh grinned. "Aren't you little man?"
"Such a smiley boy today."
"Happy chappy."
"Is it weird?" Tatum asked.
"Is what weird?"
"Well you were almost a dad twice. Almost adopted, then almost used a surrogate," she expanded.
"Three times. Almost got Debby pregnant."
"Oh did you now?" Tatum joked whilst smiling at Ben.
"Hey we were kids, accidents happen."
"I'm not judging bro, I'm not judging." Tatum said lightheartedly.
"Haha, well yeah, it is weird in a way I guess."
"Yeah,"