Chapter Text
The news showed riots, people throwing molotovs and rocks at buildings, and a reporter standing in the corner of the screen trying to explain what was going on.
“The disease does not have a name just yet, but many are calling it a hoax. Not only are clinics being attacked, but so is the testing site at the fairgrounds, where they are trying to make a cure. Communities around Evansburg and Finelyville are being told to stay in their homes and only leave if absolutely necessary, schools are shut down until further notice, and please follow the news channels and news radio stations for updates.”
The TV turned off and Chris turned around, frowning at her friend, “I was watching that.”
“You’re just torturing yourself, Chris,” Doc sat down on the couch and pulled Chris into a side hug, “You aren’t going to learn anything new from watching the same program over and over again.”
“He’s at the testing site, Doc. So is Walker. They’re under attack by people who can’t sit still for a few weeks to just wait until there’s some sort of news.”
“And they won’t release new information. Sitting here and listening to them report the same thing over and over isn’t going to help.”
Chris looked at her, taking in the dark circles under Doc's eyes and the paleness she still had. It was the only reason Chris believed without a doubt that the illness existed, was the fact Doc had caught it while treating patients and was just now recovering.
Doc looked at her imploringly, causing Chris to sigh, “I know, I should go to bed. But I’m worried, I don’t want Jason to lose his father and brother, Karlee told me Holly will be here in a couple of days, and-” Chris shook her head, “Come on, you need to go to bed.”
“No, tell me everything you’re worried about. Please, Chris, please don’t hide from me.”
“Karlee and Ren are moving near us and I’m worried about them. They seem to be struggling with the process but they won’t come to me for help, I almost don’t know what to do.”
“You just have to let them know you’ll be there if they need you,” Doc tried to smile at her girlfriend, “I remember how stubborn Karlee was, especially when she didn’t want to talk, but she always spoke eventually.”
“But what if she doesn’t this time?”
“Then we’ll have Jason talk to her, you know he has his ways. We’ll figure it out together, alright?”
Chris tangled her fingers in Doc’s hair, smiling gently at her, “What would I do without you?”
“You’ll always have me, Chris,” Doc leaned forward and kissed Chris’ cheek, “Come on, let’s go to bed. Have to be rested to deal with everything going on.”
“Without a proper kiss?”
“You can give me a proper kiss when we are upstairs, in bed. Now let’s go.”
Chris couldn’t hold on to the mock outrage, just snickering as Doc rolled her eyes and led her upstairs. The bed was still unmade with clothes on top of it and Chris laughed at Doc’s look, “What?”
“You are supposed to fold your laundry and make your bed Chris. You know this.”
“But it’s so much easier to just sleep on them!”
“You are impossible.”
“You love me,” Chris pulled Doc down and gave her a kiss, “Now let me hold you, and you get some rest.”
“You need rest too.”
“I rest when you are with me,” Doc blushed as Chris pulled her to lay down, “Just let me hold you.”
“Always,” Doc muttered as she closed her eyes and snuggled as close as she could.
Chris just smiled, pulling the blankets over them as she closed her eyes, breathing in the smell of mint as she fell asleep.
—---------
Karlee rolled over, blinking sleepily as she registered the form standing in the doorway, “Holly?”
The redheaded fourteen-year-old was close to tears, sniffing as she whispered, “I think there’s someone outside.”
She got out of bed, shaking Ren’s shoulder as she turned on her phone, “Ren, wake up.”
“What?”
“Holly thinks there’s someone outside.”
Ren sat up, giving them both a confused look before getting out of bed and walking to the apartment door while Karlee pulled Holly to her. Holly gripped Karlee’s arm while trying to calm down, “It sounded like someone was talking to themselves, and when I looked out the window it looked like someone was standing there.”
“It’s alright. Ren’s checking and we won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“What if it’s a rioter?”
“Then we’ll take care of it alright? You do what we say and no harm will come to you.”
Holly looked up at her normally stoic sister, still afraid but no longer close to tears, “Promise?”
“Promise.”
They heard Ren open the door, Holly tensing as Karlee looked out of the bedroom door and down the hall. Ren was looking outside, but when he turned Karlee saw the confusion on his face.
“Hey Karlee, were you smoking earlier today?”
“No, why?”
“There’s no one out there,” Ren came back inside and wrapped his arms around her and Holly, “But it does smell like weed. Someone probably just got high and stopped at the wrong apartment.”
Karlee raised an eyebrow and Holly nodded, “I’m sorry for waking you up.”
“Don’t be,” Karlee spoke gently, “Now we know to keep a lookout okay?” Holly nodded, “Want to stay with me and Ren tonight?”
“Can I?”
“Of course, you can,” Ren squeezed them both tighter despite their protests, “I love cuddling with the both of you. Then Karlee can’t complain about being cold.”
“Hey, it’s not my fault I have poor blood circulation!”
Holly laughed, laying down on the mattress with them and closing her eyes, feeling safe as Karlee whispered, “Go to sleep Holly-Berry. We’ll keep you safe.”
—-----------
Jason coughed, sitting at his desk as his girlfriend sneaked in through the window, “Hey Isa.”
“Hey,” sometimes he wondered if his mom knew that he and Isabella could just jump across the roof to get to each other, “Why’d you call me over?”
“You know why.”
Isabella looked at him, kneeling down when she reached the chair and taking his hands, “You can’t hide from your emotions forever Jason.”
“I know. But right now I want to forget, I need to forget.”
“Only for tonight, then you have to talk about it,” Isabella took off her jacket, “I don’t care who you talk about it with, just talk to someone. Please.”
“I will,” Jason pulled her into a deep kiss and pulled her closer, “Thank you, Isa.”
—---------
Jim closed the door, making sure it was locked before stepping into the living room. Freya and Angus, his two dogs, lifted their heads from where they sat near the bedroom door.
“Hey there, guarding Lily for me?” Jim knelt down and scratched behind their ears, “Come on. Let’s go to bed.”
Lily was sitting on the bed with a book in front of her, their third dog Jaskier was beside her, giving him a teasing grin when he entered, “Took you a long time today, deer outrun you?”
“No, just took me a while to drag the thing home and skin it. What did you do today?”
“Hung out with Karlee. Though I do have a question.”
“What is it?”
“Can I have a kiss?”
“You never have to ask,” Jim pulled off his boots and leaned to kiss her, “Did Karlee come here or did you two go somewhere?”
“We met up at the store. She wanted to get groceries for her new house, and I figured I could grab some canned food while I was there. Everything’s running out fast at the stores so I wanted to grab it while I could.”
“Did you take the dogs with you?”
“No, you know the store wouldn’t allow them in with me.”
He sat down behind her on the bed, frowning at her shaking, “There were a lot of people.”
It was a statement, not a question, but still Lily nodded, “Some of them were violent. Karlee kept me away from them but…”
“I’m sorry baby. You don’t have to go to the store, I can do it for you, okay?” Lily nodded and Jim motioned for the dogs to get on the bed, “You cuddle with them while I take a shower. Then we’ll go to sleep, alright?”
Lily hummed, grabbing his hand as he tried to pull away, “Stay.”
“I won’t be long Lily. Cuddle with the dogs, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
He watched her sigh and lay down next to Jaskier, running her fingers through the dog's fur. He just smiled and went to the bathroom, already planning the next day's events.
—---------
Evangelo connected the wires, leaning back to flip the tiny switch. The lights came on in the dollhouse kitchen, illuminating the handmade doll furniture, and he smiled.
Each room lit up when he flipped different switches and Evangelo couldn’t stop himself from cheering quietly. Carlos looked up from his desk, “What is it?”
“The lights. I got them connected to a different switch for each room, so Ria has light switches in her dollhouse.”
“You’re beating me and her mother for her birthday.”
“I don’t mean to.”
Carlos moved to sit next to his brother, looking over the dollhouse, “It’s nothing bad, hermanito. Me and Colly don’t mind, we love that you make things like this for Ria. It’s something she’ll remember forever.”
“She needs a bit of happiness right now.”
“Everything will turn out fine,” Carlos wrapped an arm around Evangelo and grinned at him, “Maybe we’ll have a few bumps along the way, but everything will turn out fine.”
Evangelo smiled, looking at the dollhouse as his brother's words rang in his head.
Everything will turn out fine