Author's Note: This is the first story in a series of stories that will follow Joan and friends after the events of the Series Finale(in fact this story picks up moments after the show ended.)
The Mourning Grace
Chapter 1: The Crumbling Barriers.
As the sudden chill wind passed, her ears tuned back into the conversation. Luke and Friedman were debating some theory of physics Grace couldn't begin to understand. They were sitting outside on the quad. Grace was sitting at the top of a group of steps, while the dweebs debated on toward the bottom.
"Dude, Can you please speak English for once?" Grace asked, the two of them looked at her with blank expressions as if they could not compute her statement.
"She has a point," Glenice chirped, "This impromptu study group is for her, not us."
"Thanks," Grace said daring her boyfriend to say anything with her stare. Luke caught the meaning and quickly broke down his defense into layman's terms. He spoke slowly and left nothing he could explain unexplained. Friedman was less then happy to do the same, but after a few hard nudges by Glenice he finished. Grace still only grasped half of what they told her, but it was a start. She knew she shouldn't complain, she had made her bed.
"Why do you even care?" Friedman asked, "Arn't there rules that say anarchists can't study or something?
"First, there is nothing wrong with studying." Grace said resisting her urge to smack him, "secondly, I am doing this for my parents. The last few days have been brutal." Grace ignored Friedman's and Glenice's disturbed and pained looks. Instead she focused on Luke. He was by no means a religious man, and certainly he wasn't Jewish. But for some reason, perhaps because of love, his pained expression nearly brought her to tears. She had built a complex set of barriers around that part of herself. But Luke always managed to waltz right through them with ease. She wasn't sure whether to love or hate him for this.
""They better catch the bastard" Glenice said angrily. They stared at her for a moment, all except Luke. It was a rare occasion to hear Glenice use such language, but Luke who had dated her last year had probably heard her say worse. She had spoken what was all on their minds.
"Hey where is Adam?" Joan asked sitting next to Grace on the top step.
"Dude, he bailed when you did." Grace said," Said something about working on a project for that Ryan guy." Grace turned her attention to her notes. She thought of asking Joan where she had gone off so suddenly. She decided against it, she learned long ago to not question some of Joan's more eccentric quirks. Grace wasn't sure why, but she never considered them a result of her Lyme Disease. Grace would often notice her talking to strangers as if she had known them personally. If Joan was crazy, then so was she.
"Oh" Joan mumbled.
"What do you have against this Hunter person?" Friedman asked. Before Joan got up and left she was trying to convince Adam to not take the job from Ryan Hunter and that he was a bad man. "He saved your boyfriends life! You should be down on knees and fellating him" His last word was never finished. All three of them smacked Friedman. "I'm just saying."
"We arn't together anymore," Joan mumbled into her lap. Grace felt a pang of pity for her. What Adam did to her was down right wrong. If Luke had done something like that to her, Hell would look like heaven.
"So Grace, what do you know about String Theory?" Luke said changing the topic.
"Hey!" Joan shouted sounding furious, "I had to buy your help on something unrelated to physics. You said 'every physicist for themselves.' Grace shot Luke a glance that made Luke look nervous. \
"Yeah-" Luke began. "Fine deals off." Luke mumbled. For the next hour or so they continued studying. Grace walked way from the study session with a slightly better understanding of physics. At least she had a chance against the Finals. Still she wished she had paid more attention to Ms. Lishack's lectures. On the walk home she reflected on the study session and noticed Joan wasn't paying attention. She had a nervous and almost pained expression. At first Grace thought it was about Adam, but that look was completely different. What ever was on Joan's mind Grace hoped she knew she could ask for her help.
When Grace walked into her house she could tell something was wrong. She pulled the knapsack from around her neck and tossed the bag into a corner. She then found her way into the kitchen. Her mother was slumped over, an opened bottle of red wine had been knocked over. The dark red liquid covered the counter and was slowly dripping onto the clean tiled floor.
"Mom!" Grace shouted. Her mother gave a soft groan and stirred for a moment. Grace wished her limbs would work, but she just stood there. A mixture of anger, betrayal, and fear began to bubble violently within her. She wanted to cry, but her iron barriers, the ones Luke so casually bypassed, kept her eyes dry.
She heard the door open and slam shut. The noise sent her limbs into action. Grace was trying to stand her mother up so she could take her into the living room when she heard Joan gasp. Grace looked up and with her eyes she begged for help. She didn't trust her mouth to work, she felt it would betray her. Joan took her own knapsack and mirrored Grace's actions. They struggled to keep the barely conscious women from falling over as they guided her to the couch. Whens he was tucked in and a large bucket placed in reach, Grace slowly walked her way into the kitchen to clean. She had done this so many times it was like going into auto pilot. While her body went through the motions, her mind was trying to fight the urge to cry. Joan, who had little experience with dealing with people like Grace's mother. Grace knew her mother would be fine, but Joan wasn't so sure.
Just as grace finished mopping up the mess she heard Joan shout her name. Grace's heart doubled its pace as she flung the dishcloth into the sink. She ran into the living room where she found Joan standing over her mother.
"Dude, whats wrong?" Grace asked, wishing she didn't sound scared.
"I don't think she is breathing." Joan also sounded scared. Grace quickly whipped out her cellphone and quickly dialed 911.
"My mom, she isn't breathing." Grace said, her voice shaking, she felt the barriers crumble. ""She had to much tot drink, please send help." Grace repeated her address. All they could do now was wait.
The waiting room was full of people, each with their own story of why they were there. Grace wondered how many of them were in her position? Grace and Joan sat quietly towards the front of the room. Neither one of them knew what to say or do. Grace's dad was filling out forms on the other side of the room.
"Grace," Luke said almost running to her. Grace's eyes were red, and tears were gently sliding down her cheeks. Luke's eyes went wide at the sight. He had never seen her like this before, not even when she confessed her mother's drinking problem. "is there anything I can do?" Luke said, repeating that old tired expression. The one that everyone says, but only so few seem to mean it.
"Unless you got a connection with the big guy upstairs," Grace said closing her eyes, regretting her snarky comment. Grace and Luke were to preoccupied with each other that they failed to see Joan go rigid, and then began to cry. "Just hold me?" If this had been before Luke, she would have slapped herself for the idea of needing a man like this. But it wasn't like that. She didn't need any man. She needed Luke, the man she loved. Luke sat on Graces other side, and allowed her to cry into her.
An hour passed before there was any news of Mrs. Polonski's Condition. When the doctor came her father stood up, spilling the papers that were resting in his lap and onto the floor. When Grace heard her father sigh in relief she stood up.
"Dad-" Grace began but couldn't get the words past the lump in her throat.
"She is in critical condition. But she is stable." her father said placing his hands on her daughters shoulders. "They are obviously keeping her over night, and she isn't permitted any visitors." Grace caught his meaning and nodded. There was nothing she could do, she was useless here. She went over to Luke and tugged on his sleeve. He had fallen asleep. Grace considered slugging him in the arm, but she realized it was starting to get late and the whole thing was draining them of all their strength.
Like woke with a jerk and a loud snort. Joan, who was drifting to sleep herself, giggled. Luke began mumbling something about the Mars Rover and being naked.
"Take me home?" Grace said patiently.
"Yeah sure." Luke said standing up, "Joan you need a ride?"
"Sure" Joan said, likewise standing up. Then her eyes grew large and angry. Her sleepy face was transformed into a mad women desiring blood.
"Dude, you alright?: Grace asked noting her expression.
"Yeah... I'll" Joan paused, "I think I saw someone and I need to ask them something." Luke and Grace exchanged Looks and shrug. "Go on, I'll walk or something."
"Alright." Grace said. Joan walked off and Grace followed her with her eyes. The person she saw was a tall African American bald doctor dressed in green scrubs. Somehow the doctor looked familiar, but she couldn't place him.
"you coming?" Luke said sleepily, tugging at her sleeve.
The car ride was long and awkward. Luke, who could go on for days about science, couldn't think of a single thing to say. His expression was set into something crossed with worry and anger. Grace was fine with the silence though, she needed time to think. Needed time to sort out the events of the day. When Luke parked in front of her house, grace just sat there. Luke understood her reluctance and didn't push her. He would sit there with her as long as it took.\
"Drive," Grace said. Without asking why, Luke pulled away from the curb and away from her house. Grace was thankful for his obedience, but later she would have to remind him to grow a back bone. She was lucky though. Not to many guys would be this considerate of her. Grace would occasionally give directions, and each time Luke obeyed. He didn't know where they were going, and Grace was only vaguely aware of their destiny.