A/N: Here's chapter two. Warning: Pretty angsty. It's a bit short and not what I had planned for the second one-shot, but my uncle died last night and this just kind of happened. I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi
Grief
Thursday, November 8th, 2018
Goldsworthy Apartment (Master Bedroom)
10:15 A.M.
Eli's mission scared him: he had to get his wife out of bed. She refused to get out from under the covers for anything; not for work, not to eat, and certainly not to deal with her grief. Since the funeral two days ago, Clare seemed satisfied to wallow in pain and allow suffocating emotions to consume her. Eli tried to coax her; he even called reinforcements in (Darcy, Adam, and Alli). Still, Clare refused to budge. Alarmed at her disinterest in everything, Eli sent Charlotte and Holden to his mother's; they didn't need to see their mother like this.
They didn't need to see their mother in a zombie-like state, refusing to cry.
Still in the jeans and t-shirt he wore to his mother's when he dropped the kids off, Eli crawled into bed and snaked an arm around Clare's torso. He spoke softly into her hair: "I took Holden and Char to my mom's."
She didn't make a noise.
"Clare, Baby, you've got to get out of bed."
"It kills me to see you like this," he whispered.
Nothing.
Thursday, November 8th, 2018
Goldsworthy Residence (Living Room)
1:19 PM
"Mom, I just don't know what to do," Eli spoke into the phone. His mother called to check on Clare and report that the kids were fine; Eli couldn't hold in his frustrations.
"She just needs time, Eli," Leah responded.
"I know that, I know she's going to be hurting for a while." Eli sighed and ran a hand through his unkempt hair. "But she won't even speak. Seriously, Mom, she just stares at the wall, barely blinking. I can't just watch her lie helplessly, lifelessly in the fetal position." Quiet tears fell down Eli's cheeks. "She's scaring me."
"Has she taken a shower?"
"No."
"Try to get her in the bath. Feeling clean will help more than you'd think."
"I guess."
"And for God's sake, make the girl eat something. She looked far too pale at the service."
"I will."
"I have to go, Son. Holden is getting cranky and Grandma here thinks he needs a nap."
"Alright. Thanks so much, Mom. I really just didn't want the kids to be around Clare right now."
"It's no problem; you know I love taking them. Bye Sweets."
"Goodbye." Eli hung up the phone, resolve face suddenly in place. He marched through his room to the big bathroom in the apartment and drew a warm bath with those lavender salts Clare loved; she always soaked with her spa stuff after a rough day. Eli hoped they would help with despair as much as they did stress.
"Clare, it's time to take a bath." Eli spoke with tender authority. His tone caused Clare's dull eyes to shift towards him, but she did not move. Sighing, Eli leaned over to pick her up. While her face showed alarm, Clare still refused to stir.
Once in the bathroom, Eli sat Clare gently on the toilet. Kneeling before her, he caressed her cheek with a soft, wet hand and gazed at her with utmost love and concern. He began to undress her: first he lifted her pajama top with mild difficulty; Clare didn't help him by raising her hands. His eyes pleaded with her to cooperate, and she complied by lifting her hips to ease his process of pulling off the pants falling off them. Following his removal of her underpants, Clare allowed Eli to lift her naked body and place it in the water.
Shivering despite the warm temperature, Clare hugged her knees to her chest. Eli stripped and entered the tub, sitting across from Clare.
He took her hands and coated his tone with care. "Baby, please, meet me half-way. Just…just talk to me, Clare. Please. I love you so damn much."
Her gaze remained downcast.
"Clare," Eli's voice intertwined with desperation. "Remember on our wedding day, when I swore to protect you and take care of you?"
He waited for a response he knew wouldn't come.
"I don't know how to do that right now, and it's tearing me apart." He grabbed her face and forced her to look at him. "For the love of God, help me help you."
"He's-he's dead," Clare finally spoke, her voice fainter than a whisper.
Eli frowned. "Yes," he confirmed.
"Daddy's gone," Clare's eyes began to (finally) fill with tears. "He's-he's not coming back." She choked back a sob.
"No, Clare, he's not, and Baby, I'm so, SO sorry." Eli couldn't keep himself from embracing her.
"I-I'm so sorry." Eli could tell Clare was trying not to cry.
He pulled away to look at her, still holding her at arm's length. "Stop that," Eli demanded. "Stop trying to keep it all in; you don't have to be strong in front of me, Clare. You don't have to be the mold that holds us together. I'm here for you. I'll always be here."
The floodgates finally opened.
"Oh, God, Eli…" hiccups and sobs physically wracked Clare's body; Eli pressed their naked chests together and stroked her back. "Why-he was barely fifty. Why did God stop his heart? Why?"
"I don't know, Clare," Eli soothed. "It's not fair."
"IT'S REALLY NOT!" She squeezed him tighter, digging her nails into his flesh. "It's really, really not…"
Clare wailed for a good hour until her cries reduced to nothing but shaky breaths, and the water they sat in chilled their bones.
Friday, November 9th, 2018
Goldsworthy Apartment (Kitchen)
7:22 AM
Clare breathed in the glorious smell of freshly brewed coffee as she cracked eggs into a frying pan. Up before Eli (and at all, really) for the first time in days, she decided to make breakfast in bed for her loving husband.
"You're up," Eli mumbled, padding towards the coffee pot in black slippers.
"Yeah, I am," Clare stated before tip-toeing up to Eli's cheek, where she placed a kiss.
Eli sipped his coffee then put his arms around Clare. "And you're cooking."
"I like how you keep stating the obvious, Love," Clare remarked. Eli smirked; that was the first snarky thing Clare had said since the accident. "I was going to surprise you with breakfast in bed."
"I think we've spent enough time in bed, Clare," Eli noted. Clare looked down, ashamed.
"I know; I'm sorry, Eli, I just didn't know how to deal…" Eli cut her off mid-sentence with a kiss.
"Clare, you're fine. Grief overwhelms us all." He pulled her into his arms and held her close.
"Thank you," Clare whispered.
"For what?"
"For taking care of me…for helping me." She ran her fingers up and down his back.
"Anytime, Baby." He kissed the top of her head. "I love you."
"I love you too." Clare looked up, hope apparent in her eyes. "Can we pick the kids up after we eat? I miss them so much."
Eli nodded, a real smile apparent on his face for the first time in days. "I'd like that."
A/N: Sorry for the short length and angst, but like I said, I had to write it. Please review.