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darker_london2010-10-23 11:13 pm
hail-st-joseph.livejournal.com) wrote in darker_london2010-10-23 11:13 pm
Entry tags:
Today (Joe, Adam)
Joe was supposed to be in Blackpool with his son and granddaughter, but in the end he had opted to stay with Adam. Crystal was still missing and Joe wasn't going to leave his oldest and best friend alone while his love was gone. Especially not after Joe knew exactly how it felt to lose someone you loved. Joe had lost more than anyone ever should. He hated that Adam now stood to lose so much too.
The call had come during dinner, but neither Adam nor Joe had really been eating much anyway. They had both been picking in silence and then Paul was on the other end of a phone, telling Adam that there were bodies that fit Crystal's description and since she was still missing, it might be best if Adam came down to see if any of the bodies were Crystal or not.
The entire trip to the morgue, Joe couldn't stop thinking about his wife. His baby daughter. They had been murdered while Joe was too sick to go to them. Julian had been the one to identify them. His sweet son had had to look at the dead and violated bodies of Jaida Lucille and Jordan Littleton. Joe had never gotten to see them that one last time, but that was probably a blessing in disguise. All except for poor Julian.
They walked towards the morgue and that was when Joe took Adam's hand. Adam didn't refuse the contact. He never had and never would. "Joey," he whispered, sounding desperate. "I can't do this."
Joe had to admit he was wondering if he could do it too. Joe loved Crystal. He already considered her a sister-in-law. She was already a Littleton, even if just in spirit. He didn't want to lose anyone else. He didn't want Adam to lose anyone else. "I'm here, Adam."
"Jesus."
Adam had been a wreck since Crystal had disappeared and it was little wonder. He had gone pale and silent and his eyes had dulled. Now they were filled with fear.
Paul met them at the morgue as he promised, even though it wasn't his job. He knew they would feel better if he was there. He offered no platitudes when they arrived, he just turned and led the pair of brothers into the morgue proper.
A pathologist was waiting for them, clad all in white. And when Joe looked at the man, he couldn't help but think about poor Julian. Had it happened here? Had this been where Julian had last seen Jordan and Jaida's bodies?
"-three of them. Horrible thing. Brace yourself," the pathologist said. Joe gripped Adam's hand as the first sheet was pulled back, just enough to reveal the woman's face.
"That's not Crystal," Adam breathed, his hand over his mouth so his words were muffled. Joe felt like he might be sick because he was sure what was under the rest of the sheet was absolutely gruesome.
On to the second bed. The sheet came up. The pathologist gave them a politely inquiring look. "Jesus-" Adam closed his eyes and he made a choking sound before he said, "that's not her either."
One more. Maybe today wouldn't end in tragedy after all.
On to the third bed. The sheet came up. The pathologist gave them a politely inquiring look. It was as if time froze as Joe stared not at the body on the table, but at Adam's horrified, ghostly white face.
A sound such as Joe had never heard worked its way out of Adam's throat. It was a wail and a sob and a groan all in one. Joe felt Adam release his hand and before Joe could catch a glimpse of what was left of Crystal Janson, he was needed to grab Adam before the man slipped onto the floor.
A moment later, Paul was at Adam's other side. He nodded to the pathologist who covered poor Crystal back up again. They Paul and Joe carried Adam to a private little room where so many others had cried out their broken hearts. A year and a half ago, it had been Julian's time. Today was Adam's.
The call had come during dinner, but neither Adam nor Joe had really been eating much anyway. They had both been picking in silence and then Paul was on the other end of a phone, telling Adam that there were bodies that fit Crystal's description and since she was still missing, it might be best if Adam came down to see if any of the bodies were Crystal or not.
The entire trip to the morgue, Joe couldn't stop thinking about his wife. His baby daughter. They had been murdered while Joe was too sick to go to them. Julian had been the one to identify them. His sweet son had had to look at the dead and violated bodies of Jaida Lucille and Jordan Littleton. Joe had never gotten to see them that one last time, but that was probably a blessing in disguise. All except for poor Julian.
They walked towards the morgue and that was when Joe took Adam's hand. Adam didn't refuse the contact. He never had and never would. "Joey," he whispered, sounding desperate. "I can't do this."
Joe had to admit he was wondering if he could do it too. Joe loved Crystal. He already considered her a sister-in-law. She was already a Littleton, even if just in spirit. He didn't want to lose anyone else. He didn't want Adam to lose anyone else. "I'm here, Adam."
"Jesus."
Adam had been a wreck since Crystal had disappeared and it was little wonder. He had gone pale and silent and his eyes had dulled. Now they were filled with fear.
Paul met them at the morgue as he promised, even though it wasn't his job. He knew they would feel better if he was there. He offered no platitudes when they arrived, he just turned and led the pair of brothers into the morgue proper.
A pathologist was waiting for them, clad all in white. And when Joe looked at the man, he couldn't help but think about poor Julian. Had it happened here? Had this been where Julian had last seen Jordan and Jaida's bodies?
"-three of them. Horrible thing. Brace yourself," the pathologist said. Joe gripped Adam's hand as the first sheet was pulled back, just enough to reveal the woman's face.
"That's not Crystal," Adam breathed, his hand over his mouth so his words were muffled. Joe felt like he might be sick because he was sure what was under the rest of the sheet was absolutely gruesome.
On to the second bed. The sheet came up. The pathologist gave them a politely inquiring look. "Jesus-" Adam closed his eyes and he made a choking sound before he said, "that's not her either."
One more. Maybe today wouldn't end in tragedy after all.
On to the third bed. The sheet came up. The pathologist gave them a politely inquiring look. It was as if time froze as Joe stared not at the body on the table, but at Adam's horrified, ghostly white face.
A sound such as Joe had never heard worked its way out of Adam's throat. It was a wail and a sob and a groan all in one. Joe felt Adam release his hand and before Joe could catch a glimpse of what was left of Crystal Janson, he was needed to grab Adam before the man slipped onto the floor.
A moment later, Paul was at Adam's other side. He nodded to the pathologist who covered poor Crystal back up again. They Paul and Joe carried Adam to a private little room where so many others had cried out their broken hearts. A year and a half ago, it had been Julian's time. Today was Adam's.