Okay, I know this has only a little Jarbie in it but I still love all the Joe/Barbie, Norrie/Julia conversations. It has a nice insight for Jarbie relationship I guess. (:

knuckles99heidi, Guest, yas-m, Romantic in Denial: thank you guys for the reviews! Hope you are gona like this one too!

Circle of life

(S01x08 – Part1/2)

Barbie woke from a light sleep. It wasn't the best sleep he had ever had and it definitely wasn't the longest. The couch was way too small for two people and too short for his long legs but Julia wanted him there with her on the sofa. She needed reassurance that after everything, after yesterday, they were okay and alive. And honestly he needed it to. He was ready to give up a good sleep anytime for her. For being able to feel her soft body against his, to feel her even breathing, the strong beat of her heart against his chest, to know she was all right. So he had spent most of the night awake with watching her, wrapping the blanket around her to keep her warm, caressing her back and arm. Occasionally he fell asleep for a few minutes but he did not sleep more than 1 hour all together on that night. But he didn't mind. As long as she had some sleep and he could be the one holding her and keeping her safe.

When the first ray of sunshine found its way into the house he eased out from under her careful not to wake her. She stirred momentarily and murmured a sleepy protest until he wrapped the blankets back around her and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. Once he made sure she was comfortable and warm underneath the blanket he ran his fingers gently down her check. She frowned a bit and rolled over to where he'd been seconds before, relishing in the warmth he left behind but eventually she took a deep breath and fell back to sleep.

Her face was peaceful, as usual, in her sleep and he couldn't resist the urge to lean down and place a soft kiss on her forehead. Finally he stood up to make his way to the kitchen. His eyes met with Joe's. The young boy was standing in the door watching him with shy eyes.

Barbie made his way into the kitchen to make some sandwiches and much needed coffee. Joe followed him silently.

"We have some eggs left." He pointed out as he sat down on one of the chairs his eyes never leaving him. Barbie threw a glance at the teenager from above his shoulder. He seemed confused, lost and curious. In some way he reminded him of himself when he was a teenager. Raging hormones, confusing feelings, lot of unanswered questions. He hoped the poor boy had some father like figure in his life and under the dome he could talk to.

"Do you want one?" He asked finally as he took the pan and opened the fridge to look for the eggs.

"You can make one?" Joe asked surprised looking at him with raised eyebrows.

"Kid, once in the military you learn to make some easy food to survive. Scrambled eggs are one of them." He said smirking at him.

Joe grinned back and nodded eagerly. Barbie busied himself with making breakfast and Joe sat in silence on the seat staring at his hands resting on the table in front of him.

As the eggs were already in the pan on the stove Barbie turned around to look for coffee. After two nights sleeping only a few hours his body was demanding caffeine and knowing Julia she will go crazy without them.

"Did you learn all the fights in military too?" Joe asked watching him carefully. "You know, unarming people, knocking them out and all."

"Some of them." Barbie said throwing a glance at the young boy uncertain where he was going with the conversation. "Do you have coffee?" He asked closing the last cupboard and leaning back against the sink.

"No, sorry. We ran out of it a few days ago." Joe shook his head.

That was bad news. He needed coffee too but Julia was an addict. She wouldn't be happy about this. He threw an unconscious glance towards the living room. Joe followed his gaze then turned back toward Barbie with a grin.

His eyebrow twitched at the teasing look in Joe's eyes and he turned back to the stove putting the eggs into two plates.

"How are they doing? Norrie and Carolyn?" Barbie asked as he placed the two plates on the table and they started to dig into it.

"Still sleeping." Joe murmured dropping his head. "Norrie is a mess." He said playing around with his food, his lips pressed into a tight line.

"It is understandable." Barbie nodded. "Any idea when they want to burry Alice?" He asked.

Joe shook his head. They ate in silence for a while. "I wish it would work as well as it does for you." The young boy said suddenly letting out a deep sigh.

"It?" Barbie lifted an eyebrow in surprise as he frown at Joe.

"Yeah. This whole…. relationship thing. With Norrie. I wish it would work so easy and well as it is working for you and Julia." Joe said down casting his eyes, his food momentary forgotten on his plate.

Barbie cleared his throat as he stood up to put his dishes into the sink. Nothing about his relationship with Julia was easy. They had a long way to go to get where they were now and an even longer one to make it work. He could feel Joe's honest and curious eyes on his back and Julia's words about how the young boy saw him as a hero ran through his mind.

He wished he could somehow help him but he had no idea how. "Give her some time. She is going through a difficult time. Women can be hard to understand times like this but she will come around." He said with his back to Joe.

"Do you think so?" The younger boy asked hopefully.

"Yeah." Barbie gave him a small smile and stepped closer to clap his shoulder. "I will go start digging the grave. It would take some time and it is not something they should see. It would just make it more difficult for them." He said finally.

Joe nodded his shoulders dropping yet again. It had been a sad day yesterday and this was a morning full with sorrow and grief.

Barbie made his way out of the house, grabbed the shovel and started one long, physically and emotionally tiring process. It was some time later when he heard her coming out of the house. It was rather sensing her. His body reacting the way it always did when she was nearby. By the time she reached him he was almost ready with the grave. Unfortunately he had experience with it. In the military they had to bury the bodies of their comrades. It was a hard task and you could not really ever get used to it but you could learn how to do it, how to emotionally survive it.

"You are pretty good at that." Her voice drifted to him causing him to throw a glance at her above his shoulders. "Nice military corners." She added offering a glass of water to him.

"I am pretty sure you are thinking about a bed." He said taking the water from her, his eyes running carefully over her. She seemed to be okay, well rested.

"Same shape." She shrugged giving him a small smile.

"Yeah." He said as he sat down at the edge of the hole taking a long sip from the fresh water. "Any idea when Carolyn and Norrie want to bury her?" He asked and they both turned to throw a glance at the house.

"They haven't come downstairs yet." She said her hand resting on her hip as she turned back to him. "Can't imagine losing a spouse like that." She added shaking her head. A bitter thought ran through his mind and he bit down on his tongue. Quickly, he pushed it aside. Now was not the time to handle the skeletons in the closet.

"Yeah." He murmured finally and putting the glass down turned back to finish his work.

"It is strange huh?" She asked her eyes still on him.

"What is that?" He asked back.

"Alice dies. Harriet has a baby. Same house… same day. Circle of life." She said with a shrug as she walked back toward the house. She was right. It was strange. But what was not nowadays under the dome. With a heavy sigh he grabbed the shovel again.

As always, please leave me reviews! I am already working on the next chapter!