It has been a few weeks after Sebastian confessed his love to Joseph. Joseph felt that Castellanos was taking it nicely and they were back to good relations. But something was troubling him, Castellanos could have moments were he acted like his heart ripped out again. When Castellanos was in these 'episodes', Joseph knew talking with Castellanos was going to be a struggle. Castellanos was already difficult to speak to when he had good days. Joseph knew that today was a good day, and didn't mind speaking to Castellanos on other subjects besides work.
Joseph sat in the lunchroom eating a homemade sandwich as the other officers started to file into the room. Joseph took a few bites out of his sandwich and continued to watch his co-workers. They greeted him with a wave or a hey as they took their seats at the table. Castellanos came in with another flow of people. He had a bagged lunch this time. It was rare to see Castellanos eat a homemade meal. Joseph smirked as Castellanos came over to sit down next to him.
"Hey," Castellanos said softly, "Joseph, are you okay because you been out of it the whole day." He pulled out a tuna sandwich from the bag. "Is there something clouding your mind? It isn't what we discussed a few weeks ago. Is it?" Joseph looked away from Castellanos for a moment.
"No, Suzy's sick." Joseph said biting into his sandwich. "We asked the old lady down the street to watch over her, but…"
"You're still worried." Castellanos said popping open a coke can. "Why didn't you take the day off?"
"I can't do that. Besides she was fine when Anna and I left." Joseph said sipping his cold tea. Castellanos sipped his coke and looked around the room to the other people sitting.
Joseph's phone started to ring and he saw that it was his home phone. "Sorry, I have to take this." He put down his sandwich as he stood up. He swiftly left the room to answer the phone. "Hello?" Joseph whispered.
"Hi, Joey. I'm sorry to have phoned you at work, but Suzy really wants you. I told her that you would be coming back home in a few hours."
"No need to apology. I should have stayed at home. She's my responsibility." Joseph said as he placed his hand on the right side of his forehead. "Just tell her to rest and I'll be right over." He said, "Thank, Lucy."
"See you soon." Lucy said.
"Bye." Joseph turned his phone off and sighed. Castellanos was right he should have stayed at home to take care of Suzy. Joseph pocketed his phone and walked into the room. "I have to leave. Suzy just… she's not feeling well and wants me home." He said collected his lunch off the table. "I'll make up for lost time tomorrow." Joseph said looking at Castellanos. "We still have to finish that case."
"No need. Just go." Castellanos said, "Say hi to Suzy for me."
"Thanks, will do." Joseph said as he left the room.
"Suzy? Lucy?" He quietly called out as he opened his front door.
"Upstairs." Old lady Lucy answered. Joseph walk up the stairs to Suzy's room. He opened the jarred door.
"Hi," Joseph whispered as he walking into the room. Suzy laid in bed trying to say hi. "How are you?" He knelt next to her.
"I don't feel so well." Susy said tried to open he eyes. Joseph switched positions and sat down on her bed. He raised his hand to her forehead. "Daddy."
"Yes,"
"Thank you."
"Rest, I'll be back." Joseph said and looked at old lady Lucy. She nodded as she started to walk out of the room. Joseph followed her out. Joseph closed the door slightly.
"Thanks for taking care of Suzy." Joseph said paying her.
"No need to pay me. I'll just have Anna make me some cookies for my church meeting." She said handing the money back.
"Okay I'll tell her." Joseph said putting the money back into his wallet.
"I'm sorry you had to leave work." She said with a frown as they walked down the stairs.
"It's fine. I was worried about Suzy anyway. I couldn't do my work properly." Joseph said with a small smile.
"I'll leave. I do hope Suzy feels better, " She said.
"I'll call you if we need you to babysit again."
"Of course." They walked to the door and Joseph opened it for her. "Well bye." She whispered as she walked through.
"Thank you, good bye." Joseph closed the door behind her.
Joseph climbed back up the stairs to Suzy's room and sat on the side of the bed. He stroked Suzy's hair as she breathed heavily. "Have you eaten lunch yet?" Suzy lightly shook her head. " Did you not want to eat at the time?" Suzy nodded. "Are you up to eating now?" She nodded again.
"I want something warm." She said quietly.
"Of course." Joseph said brushing the hair out of her eyes. "I still have that chicken noddle soup that I made yesterday. I'll warm it up." He said standing up from her bed. "Rest." He said getting up. "I'll be back." He went downstairs and started reheating the soup. Also he put the kettle on to make tea. He set everything on the table. Joseph walked back to Suzy's room. "How are you feeling?"
"A little better." She said looking up at her dad. "I could eat downstairs." She said reaching out her arms to have Joseph pick her up out of her bed. He held her in his arms as they went down the stairs. Joseph put Suzy down to sit at the table. She picked up her spoon and started eating. Her cheek were pink as roses.
"How is it?" Joseph said sitting down across from her eating his own soup.
"It's good. Thank you." Suzy gave her dad a small smile. When they were both done, Joseph stood up to take the plates way. "I'll get you something for that fever of yours." Joseph said putting the plates into the sink. He walked pass his daughter and patter her head. "I'll be back." He walked up the stairs to the bathroom and went to look for the medication. After he found it, Joseph's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled out as he shut the cabinet. It was a text message from Castellanos.
"How is Suzy?"
"She's fine. She just finished eating lunch." Joseph typed in and sent it off.
He came back down to see Suzy sipped her drink. "Here you go." Joseph said measuring out the liquid into the little plastic cup and handing it to her. "Take it." He hand it to her. She looked at and frowned at it. "I'll make your favourite drink. Honey lemon tea." Suzy drank it as Joseph started to pour the hot water into the cup. He picked Suzy up from her seat and brought to the living room. He wrapped a blanket around her. "I'll be back with your drink." He said swiftly walking out of the room.
"Careful it a little hot." Joseph said handing the mug to her.
"Thank you." She said sipping it.
"How is it?" Joseph sat next to her and placed his right arm on the back of the couch to lean over her.
"Yeh, it's good." She continued to drink.
"How are you feeling now?"
"A lot better." She said giving the mug to her dad which he placed on the coffee table.
"I'm glad." She leaned against her dad as she tried to close her eyes.
"I'm tired."
"Then sleep little astronaut." Joseph said pulling up the blanket up to her shoulder.
She took her dad arm and wrapped it around her. "I'm your little astronaut."
Extra
"Who was at the door?" Suzy said sitting up in her bed as her dad came back into her room.
"Castellanos, he wanted to wish you 'get well soon.'"
"Is he still here?" Joseph sat next to her.
"He's downstairs. Would you like to see him?" Suzy nodded as she stretched her arms out to her dad. Joseph picked her up from her bed.
"I want to thank him." She said pressing her face into her dad's shoulder.
"Okay," Joseph said as he began to walk toward the bedroom door.
They made it down the stairs to the living room. Castellanos was sit on the couch waiting. Joseph walked in and Castellanos stood up and turned around.
"How is she?" As Joseph placed Suzy on the couch.
"She's fine. Just a little tired." Joseph smirked as Suzy nodded. "What did you want to tell Castellanos?" She moved the covers away from her face.
"Thank you." She said
"You're very welcome. I was a bit worried when your dad left work." Castellanos took a knee so she wouldn't have to look up at him. "How are you feeling?"
"I feel fine. Daddy takes good care of me." Suzy reached her hand out as Castellanos took it. She smiled as her dad placed a his hand on her head.
"Why don't you get more rest? Mom will be back soon." Suzy nodded and pulled her hand away from Castellanos.
"I'll see you around." Castellanos said standing up. Suzy nodded again as her dad showed Castellanos the door.
"Thanks for coming by." Joseph said opening the door and Castellanos walked through.
"No worries." Castellanos said putting his hands into his pockets.
"You live on the other side of town too."
"Joseph, it's alright. When I heard Suzy was sick, I..."
"It was a parental reaction." Joseph whispered. "It's okay. I would have done the same thing."
"Thanks," Castellanos rubbed the back of this neck.
"No problem. I'll see you at work on Monday."
"Yeah." Castellanos waved. "See you." Joseph waved as Castellanos got back into his car.
-Side note- Sorry there haven't been every much Joseb. It does pick up. I just wanted to establish a few characters.