"Beca," Chloe hits her girlfriend, with a floppy hand, "Bec, your phone."

Beca groans and rolls over in the bed. She grabs blindly for her cell phone; desperately wanting the sound to stop. She's been working nearly round the clock in the studio with Theo and tonight is her first full night in her own bed. She finally feels the smooth, glassy finish of the screen on her fingertips.

"Hello?" Her voice is raspy, she's ready to kill whoever is on the other end of the line.

"Hello, is this Beca Mitchell?"

She sits up at the formal tone and the unfamiliar voice. She was expecting Amy, drunk off her ass calling from Australia, or Stacie calling because she's up feeding Bella, or even Emily having a mental breakdown over her psych class, not whatever this is.

"Yes, who is this?"

"My name is Officer Fields with the Atlanta Police Department. I'm so sorry to have to deliver this news, especially over the phone, but there's been an accident."

Every muscle in her body tightens. Her breath hitches and she can feel Chloe's hand on her back; also now wide awake, looking at her with widened eyes.

"What kind of accident?"

"Your father and his wife, were in a car accident."

"Are they okay?"

When there's an extended pause she knows they aren't. She knows exactly what kind of call this is.

"Your father was killed on impact and your step-mother was brought to the hospital but I'm sorry to say she didn't make it."

Beca's mind is spinning, she feels like she's going to throw up. Maybe if she blinks, or pinches herself hard enough, she'll wake up. She'll wake up and find it's just a nightmare. But the longer the conversation goes on, the more awake she becomes, she realizes this is actually happening.

"We have your sister here with us. She's going to be staying with a neighbor until you can arrive."

Arrive? Right, she needs to get to Atlanta, now.

"Um, right, yeah. I, uh, I'm sorry. I'm just a little-"

"It's a lot of information. But I think it best that you get the first flight you can."

"Can I talk to Lucy?"

There's a shuffle on the line. She hears muffled talking and then a small, broken voice.

"Beca?"

"Hey, are you okay? Were you in the car?"

"No. I wasn't with them."

Her words fall into sobs. Beca wishes she was there to wrap her in her arms. She lets a couple of her own tears fall and she knows Chloe is probably going out of her mind trying to figure out what's going on; but to her credit, she doesn't interrupt. She waits patiently in her usual Chloe way, fading into the background until Beca needs her.

"I'm going to be there as soon as I can, alright? Tomorrow. Morning."

"Please hurry." She sounds completely different than she did two days ago when Beca talked to her, "Please."

"I'm coming. I love you."

"Love you too."

Beca hops off of the bed and starts gathering anything she can find.

"Ms. Mitchell," Officer Fields is back on the phone, "I will send you the information for your father's neighbor. Lucy will be with her until you get here. Let me know when you're in Atlanta."

"I will. Thank you."

Beca hangs up the phone and tosses it across the room, already tearing around in circles.

"Beca?"

Chloe. Thank God for Chloe, because if she wasn't here, saying her name, grounding her, she would surely lose it.

"Beca, what's going on?"

"I, uh, I have to go to Atlanta."

"There was an accident? Your dad?"

Beca is half folding, half balling up clothes, and tossing them into a duffel bag. She throws a pair of mismatched shoes and a curling iron, that definitely isn't hers, in too. Chloe gets up and grabs Beca's hands to stop her.

"Baby, talk to me. What's going on?"

Beca looks into her eyes and that's it. She falls into her arms and sobs.

"They're dead."

Chloe sits them both down on the bed. She pushes the hair that's fallen into Beca's face back; some of the pieces stick to the tear tracks. She can feel her shaking, her hands are suddenly cold but clammy.

"My dad and Sheila, they're dead. There was an accident. I don't know. I need to get to Atlanta. I need to go."

"Okay, we'll be on the first flight out. But first you need to take a breath."

Chloe pulls her into a hug and lets her cry. She feels like she's vibrating. Chloe does her best to keep Beca calm, but it's no use. There's nothing anyone can do, or say, to make this better. She packs for the both of them while Beca checks every site possible for a flight that will get them there before tomorrow morning. She has a hard time typing, she can't get her hands to stop shaking and she can barely see through the tears in her eyes. The only sound in the room is her sniffling and the clinking of clothes hangers.

"I got 'em." Beca says, closing her laptop more aggressively than she ever normally would, "You don't need to come with me. I know you've been crazy busy with school and work and-"

"Beca, you're not going through this alone. I'm coming, everyone at work will understand."

Beca nods. Their flight leaves in four hours so she forces herself into the shower and into normal clothes before they leave for the airport.

Beca is agitated. That much is clear. Since she started working with DJ Khaled, a couple of months ago, the paparazzi have been following her every move. Of course, a spontaneous trip to the airport in the middle of the night caught their attention, and this time, she doesn't have sunglasses to hide behind. She grips the handle of her suitcase and Chloe's hand tighter, keeping her head down to walk through the small group of people trying to get her attention. She's in a trance, her only mission is getting to her sister.

Through the whole security process and while they are waiting to board, her knee is bouncing. She's biting her nails, which she hasn't done in months, and fiddling with her hair tie on her wrist. Chloe doesn't say anything, she doesn't know what to say. Beca's eyes are flitting around the terminal, at every sound, every voice, every single person. She's sent several texts to her sister, all have gone unanswered. She looks like she's about to explode.

"Bec?"

"Hm?"

"You okay?"

She nods, but Chloe hasn't heard her say anything since they booked the flight. Neither of them have slept and Chloe is hoping she's able to convince Beca to take a nap on the plane; but knowing the stress she's under, the devastating grief she must be feeling, and hasn't had time to process, not to mention how much she hates flying, that isn't going to happen.

As soon as they touch down in Atlanta, they get their rental car. Chloe drives toward Barden, a route that is as embedded into her memory as her subway ride home from work. It's quiet; Beca doesn't turn the radio on like she normally would, to groan about the current top 40. There's no GPS repeating directions incessantly; just the whoosh of the cars passing them on the highway and the clicking of the directional. Beca tries to call Lucy but she doesn't answer. She taps her fingers on her knee, feeling the thinning denim under her fingers.

Chloe turns the car into the Mitchells' driveway but Beca walks directly to the neighbor's house. When Officer Fields sent the information over, it was a name she vaguely recognized as the elderly woman next door. She answers the door and Beca knows the face. It's kind and worn, her eyes sparkle against the early morning southern sun.

"Beca."

"Hi Mrs. Reed."

"Come in, dear, please." She stands aside so Beca and Chloe can walk inside the small home, "Lucy, sweetheart, your sister is here."

She calls up the stairs and a few seconds later a small body is launching itself down the stairs into Beca's arms.

"Hi Lou."

She can already feel Lucy's tears dampening her thin t-shirt. She just pulls her in tighter and kisses her temple. They stand, wrapped up in each other, for a few minutes. Mrs. Reed has disappeared to get them water. Chloe is standing off to the side to give them all the time they need. They haven't seen each other in person in close to a year, since before the USO tour.

"Why don't you girls come and sit. I'll give Officer Fields a call." Mrs. Reed says, clearly apprehensive about disrupting the moment, but they do.

Lucy stops and gives Chloe a hug. Chloe pulls her close and whispers into her ear.

"I'm so sorry."

Lucy nods so she knows she heard her, but she doesn't think she could speak right now, even if she wanted to.

When Officer Fields arrives, he is nothing like Beca expected based on the sound of his voice. He's short and very young. He has scruff on his face and his eyes are sad. It looks genuine but Beca can never be sure, she was never good at reading people.

"Ms. Mitchell, I'm so sorry for your loss."

She nods in acknowledgment. He turns to look at Lucy.

"How are you doing this morning?"

She just shrugs. Chloe grabs Beca's hand when they all sit down together.

"So, Ms. Mitchell-"

"Just Beca is fine."

"Okay, Beca, the first order of business is probably the most gruesome. We need you to come to the morgue and identify the bodies."

"What?"

Her eyes widen and she looks between the officer and her girlfriend.

"It's standard procedure. We need someone to claim them."

Claim them. It sounds like they're a piece of luggage that got left at the airport.

He goes through the details of the night, what they suspect happened, what they found at the scene, everything. Lucy is curled up in the armchair, her eyes are closed tightly, trying to pretend like she's anywhere else. The skin around her fingernails is picked off and her thumb and middle fingers are bleeding.

"We should have you identify them as soon as possible, that way we can get them transported and you can start on funeral arrangements."

His words feel like a kick in the gut. Of course she has to plan the funeral, but she has no idea how to do that. It seems like such a grown up thing to have to do. The look on her face must give her away because he says,

"I'm sorry if that seems harsh. I'm just doing my job."

"No, I know. I get it. Can we go now?"

He nods and follows them out of the house. He gets into his car while Beca and Chloe walk toward their own. Lucy is right behind them. Beca turns and looks into her eyes.

"You're not coming."

"What?"

"You shouldn't have to see this."

Lucy seems ruffled by this. She crosses her arms and stiffens her jaw.

"I already know they're dead, Beca. I was the one that was here last night, remember?"

She kicks a rock with her sneaker and it patters across the pavement.

"My mom died in front of me but I couldn't claim her because I'm not eighteen."

"What? You were there?"

This time when Lucy looks up into her sister's face, she looks the way she remembers her, young and vulnerable.

"Lucy, I'm so sorry."

"Whatever." She swerves around Beca and gets into the backseat of the car.

The whole process takes much longer than they thought it would. There is paperwork and more interviewing, before the dreaded moment comes. Officer Fields leads Beca and Chloe to a window. There's a woman in a lab coat looking at a computer. He knocks twice to make her look up. Her facial expression isn't overly burdened; it's clear she does this all the time. She moves over to one of the tables. Beca hadn't noticed the body shaped lumps underneath the stark white sheets until her hands falls on the edge of one.

"Are you ready?"

The officer's voice startles her for some reason, even though she knew it would come. She can't speak so she just nods. She doesn't take her eyes off of the sheet. It's smaller than the other so she knows that when it's lifted it will be Sheila's face. She takes a sharp inhale but it all still seems to dissipate when her lifeless form is exposed. Tears drip down her cheeks, her hands are shaking, she feels like she's about to pass out.

"Ms. Mitchell, is that Sheila Mitchell?"

"Y-yes, that's her."

She feels Chloe's hand against her back; steady and warm. She wishes, more than anything, that she wasn't the one that had to do this. He nods again and the sheet is placed gently back over her face. Chloe and Beca both notice how strange it is to know there is someone beneath it and it doesn't move with breath or an itch or a chill.

The medical examiner moves to the table beside it and they follow the same procedure. This time, it's a much longer pause. Beca can't move. She doesn't want to see him, not like this. She would prefer to never see his face again than have to look at it covered in death. But she nods. When the sheet is lifted she affirms that it's her father as quickly as possible. She doesn't want her gaze to linger. She doesn't want this image of her dad to be the one she's left with. The sheet is pulled back over his head.

"Thank you, Ms. Mitch- Beca. You did exceptionally well."

Officer Fields leads them back into the waiting area where Lucy is waiting, curled up into herself on one of the rickety chairs in the corner. She barely looks up when they come into the room. Beca doesn't stop, she rushes out the main doors, in barely enough time to get sick into the bushes. She pushes her hand against the brick wall, the coolness is welcomed against her blazing skin. She takes in deep breaths but it doesn't seem to be enough.

"Beca, are you okay?"

She closes her eyes and tries to push the harshness from her voice, but it's no use.

"No, I'm not okay. How the hell could I be okay after that?"

This time when Chloe tries to touch her, she pushes her away. She hates herself for it later, but in the moment it's the only thing she can think to do.

"Baby, you will be."

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do." Chloe says, much more reassuring this time, "You're the strongest person I've ever met. You just need some time."

"I'm never going to be able to unsee that."

"I know. This whole situation is horrible but it will get easier to stomach in time."

Beca lets the words sink in before speaking. It's something she learned from Chloe, the patience. If this had been a few years ago she would be verbally abusing anyone who dared cross her path, but now she knows that everyone is just trying to help her; no matter how futile it is.

"Where's Lou?"

"She's still inside. I figured you could use a minute. I'll go get her."

When she walks back inside, Lucy and Officer Fields are seated in the corner where Lucy had been waiting. He isn't a big man by any means but in comparison to Lucy he towers over her. He has his elbows on his knees and he is speaking quietly to her. Chloe walks up slowly to hear what he's saying. Lucy catches her eyes for a second before turning her attention back to Officer Fields.

"I know this isn't easy, but you've handled this all very well."

Lucy nods but she doesn't look fully convinced.

"So you're just done with us now?"

"I'll check in from time to time."

Something about him makes Chloe believe it.

"I'll be at the funeral. You're going to be just fine, Lucy. Someday."

Lucy bites her lip, she's trying not to cry. Beca does the same thing. She doesn't say anything else, she just walks out of the room. Officer Fields stands from his chair and looks to Chloe.

"I don't know what it is about that kid, but she got to me."

He shrugs. The same sadness comes across his face as earlier in the day.

"The Mitchell girls have a tendency to do that."

"Tell them again how sorry I am."

He starts to walk away but Chloe stops him gently with a hand on his arm.

"Did you know Daniel and Sheila?" She asks.

"I'm sad to say I didn't."

"It's just you seem very invested in this case."

"This is my first solo case," He admits, "and my first case with a kid. It gets to you in a way nothing else can."

Chloe realizes, the look on his face is the same look Lucy has on her own; vulnerable.

"Well, you've done right by all of us. So thank you."

"Of course, let me know if there's anything else I can do."

When they get back to Mrs. Reed's house, Lucy goes to gather her stuff. The older woman offers them water, tea, coffee, food, anything she can think of to fill the silence. Beca declines everything and Chloe offers her a sympathetic smile.

"I'm ready." Lucy says, a backpack slung over her shoulder. She turns to Mrs. Reed, "Thank you for letting me stay here. It was probably better than some DCFS placement."

"I'll take that as a compliment, dear."

She gives a kind smile and places her hand gently on Lucy's cheek. Beca isn't sure how well Lucy actually knows this woman. she grew up next door to her and everything, but she had never heard much mention of her; by the way she leans into her touch, ever so slightly, she can assume they have spent some time together.

"Let me know if you need help with anything regarding the services. After my Walter died I had to arrange it all. It can get overwhelming."

"Thank you." Chloe says.

They walk out the door and over to Daniel and Sheila's house. Once inside, there's a silence that can't be described by anything other than disturbing. The home that once seemed cozy and welcoming is a reminder of everything they've suddenly lost. All of the lights are off, there's no aroma of food cooking in the kitchen, or classical music playing over the speakers in the living room. It's cold and the echoes tell them they are in fact alone in the house. Lucy disappears to her bedroom, Beca and Chloe take a seat at the kitchen table.

"I didn't even think about the funeral."

"Don't worry about that right now."

"I don't know how to do all that. Chlo, am I expected to like handle all of this now?"

Chloe takes her hand and kisses her knuckles.

"I know you don't have any other family, and I know your mom and dad didn't end things very amicably, but do you think she might-"

"You've met my mom. She isn't willing to do anything for anybody, especially my dad. She probably won't even come, let alone help plan it."

"I can call my mom, she planned my grandfather's funeral. She can help us figure out our next steps, alright?"

Chloe is starting to miss the way she looks into her eyes. Her gaze has barely lifted above the ground since last night.

"Beca, look at me, baby."

She waits until she is sure Beca is actually listening to her.

"You are not doing this alone. We'll get through this, all of us."