Brother, Let Me Be Your Fortress

brother, let me be your fortress

Genre: Angst, Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Friendship Word Count: 6,129 words  Pairings: Rucas (major), Joshaya (slight) and Smarkle (slight)  Summary: Riley goes into a coma on a Tuesday night, and for the first time, the rest of the group becomes the rock that Lucas can hold on to. (Lucas-centric-ish) A/N: Yeah, this is a pretty long, angsty one. 

Josh

Josh sighs in relief at the sight of her in the Emergency Room, calling out her name in a strangled voice as he makes his way to her. She looks up, eyes glazed and wide as though she has finally realized where she is. Josh watches as she tries to say something but he does not give her a chance to. He wraps his arms around Maya and hugs her tight, not wanting to let go.

Maya is shaking, shock evidently consuming her as she leans into his embrace and buries her face into his chest. He can feel the wetness of her tears seeping through his shirt but he cannot bring himself to care less.

Maya is here. She is safe. That is all that matters.

“Riley,” Josh hears Maya’s muffled call for his niece and his heart sinks.

No. Maya’s safety is not all that matters because Riley is not with them. Riley is not freaking out at the sight of tears in Maya’s eyes. Riley is not here to cry about the patients in pain all around. Riley is not out in the waiting room with them because she is lying in the operating room as the doctors try to save her.

Josh pulls away from Maya gently, grabbing her face in his hands as he regards her. Bile rises in his throat at the blood that stains Maya’s dress. The once white dress is now covered in the dark angry crimson liquid. There is dried blood on Maya’s arms, probably from cradling Riley right after she was hit.

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