Sisters In Distress

Strong For Her

"Maybe we should stay. I-I shouldn't leave Stephanie." Danny said about to head out the door, but he turned.

"Dad, Steph will be okay. She still can't leave her bed and if she needs anything I will be right across the hall studying. Plus Uncle Jesse and Aunt Becky are here. Go." DJ reasoned.

"Yeah. Come on, Danny, we'll be back in time to say goodnight to her and make sure she is doing okay, but we really got to go." Joey said practically pushing Danny out the front door.

DJ closed the door behind them and her fake smile she threw on faded. She walked over to the couch and sat down putting her head in her hands.

There was knocking at that front door awhile later that broke her out of her thoughts so she got up to answer it.

"Deej? Why are you crying? What's wrong? I rushed right over when I heard your voice crack on the phone."

"Steve." She said then she threw her arms around him and cried into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on hers.

"Deej, talk to me babe. What is it?"

"St-Stephanie."

"Is she okay? Did something happen? I-I thought she was on bed rest." He started to worry. Knowing how important family was to DJ, especially her sisters, especially Stephanie, made him care about them and love them like his own little sisters. "Deej?"

"She's hurting herself, Steve. We found out at the hospital, but I don't understand why. Is it my fault?"

"Hey, no. Don't think like that." He pulled away slightly and pulled her over to the couch with him. When he sat down he moved them so he could wrap his arms around her again. "It is not your fault, baby. It's something personal Stephanie is going through. You can't blame yourself and you can't fall apart. She needs you to stay strong for her, but if you need to fall apart just do it in my arms so I can hold you together and do it away from her. Let Stephanie see you strong and let me be strong for you when you need to be weak. I'm right here for you, Deej."

"Thank you, Steve. I love you." She even though they were broken up.

"I love you too." Steve didn't care, they could talk about them some other day. Right now the most important thing to DJ and even to Steve was Stephanie.

DJ pulled away and sniffed. "Steph wants to tell Uncle Jesse and Aunt Becky, but she wants me there. Can you watch the little kids?" She asked.

He gave her a smile. "Anything you need. I'm here for ya babe."

She chuckled a little. "Thanks. I need to go make it look like I haven't just been crying." She stood up and left.

"You still look beautiful to me." Steve whispered as she walked through the swinging door to the kitchen.