Chapter 19:
Backing out of the wreck, Joseph let the rescuers past to get Carlo out and he headed around the wreck to the other side where Prince Phillippe was tangled and broken.
"Joe!" Phillippe called out in a cracked voice.
One of the rescuers turned upon hearing of Joseph's presence and stood to greet him. Joseph nodded in recognition.
"How does he look?" Joseph asked, his calm voice betraying what he felt inside.
The rescuer shook his head as he ran one of his bloody hands through his hair.
"There's no way…I mean I don't know how he's managed to stay with us this long…" he said, looking at a loss as to what to do next.
"Then let me speak with him," Joseph said, feeling numb all over.
The rescuer nodded before pulling all the others out of the wreck to let Joseph past.
Once they were out of the way, Joseph leaned in and knelt before Phillippe. He lifted his arm and took hold of Phillippe's outstretched bloody hand. Feeling his heart shattering, Joseph looked into the scarred face of a once handsome Prince. An image of Diego all those years came to mind but Joseph pushed it aside, concentrating on the man before him.
"Joe, I have been waiting for you," Phillippe said, his voice a strange bubbling sound; foreign to Joseph's ears.
"You as well?" Joseph replied before thinking and Phillippe smiled sadly before looking over at where Carlo had been. Phillippe's smile made tears spring to Joseph's eyes again as he saw how twisted it had become.
"You must be quite a man, Joe, if you manage to keep two men holding back death as they wait for you to come to them," Phillippe whispered harshly, his voice also beginning to fade.
Joseph smiled as tears began to pour down his face again; this young man can't be ready to leave his life already…
"I want you to know that you would have made a fine King, Phillippe. I am so very proud of what you have already accomplished, and am so pleased to see how well you have made it so far in life," Joseph said, his voice breaking every few words.
"And I have you to thank for most of it," Phillippe replied, attempting a grin.
"Just promise me that you will take care of Mother for me," Phillippe asked seriously.
"When have I not?" Joseph asked, trying to ease the pain of the situation.
Phillippe laughed slightly before he choked on the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"There is something else I need from you, Joe, another promise," Phillippe asked, grabbing desperately to Joseph's arm as he attempted to pull himself closer.
"Anything, my boy," Joseph said passionately.
"Mia…my daughter Mia…she turns sixteen in a few months but has no idea of who or what she really is. You must help her and guide her in my stead when she finds out. She is the only hope Genovia has left…" Phillippe begged, his voice growing fainter by the minute.
Joseph wrapped his hand around the one that Phillippe had glued to his arm.
"I swear, Phillippe, I will always be there for her. Both to protect and to guide, just as I was for you," he promised, knowing in his heart that he would always hold true to his words.
"I'm going now, Joe. I'm leaving you and Mother to go on without me. Tell Mother I love her so much, and that I'm sorry for causing her more pain," Phillippe said, his arms flopping down beside him on the tattered seat.
"I will, I promise," Joseph whispered, smiling comfortingly at the young, broken man before him.
"Look after her Joseph…stay with her…she needs you and you are the only one she listens to now…" Phillippe whispered, closing his eyes.
"I will, Phillippe…" Joseph promised as he grasped Phillippe's hand for the last time.
"Thank you…" he breathed, taking in a slow breath.
Letting the breath go, it hissed out between his teeth before he completely relaxed, his body falling limp.
He never drew breath again.
When his life had passed, Joseph let out an anguished cry as he pulled the Prince's body close. He hugged tightly to him as he cried aloud in his pain, rocking the body of the closest man he ever had for a son back and forth.
The people at the site fell silent in respect, many weeping in silence as Joseph's pain flowed out in wavering cries. He let out all his anguish of losing both dear friends in one night…he let the pain of the sudden events and the loss that all had suffered out in his cries and groans.
It was another painful lesson he was not prepared to take…
OoOoOoOo
Joseph sat in the car for a moment after it had stopped outside the palace. Shades had offered to drive Joseph back and he had not objected; he didn't think driving was possible in his condition.
But now that he was back at the palace, Joseph had the worst job of all that had occurred that night ahead of him. He had to inform Clarisse that her baby, her son, the Crown Prince of Genovia, had passed away. It was going to be the hardest thing he had ever had to do.
Dragging himself out of the car, Joseph looked down at his clothing. The white shirt he had hastily put on upon leaving the palace was now stained red with the blood of the two men he had just said goodbye to. His hands were also covered in blood, and no doubt his face also.
"I have to clean up before I go to inform Her Majesty," Joseph said automatically, looking over to where Shades stood on the other side of the car.
"Shades, I want to leave you in charge of everything else. Can you do that?" Joseph asked, not really caring if Shades agreed or not.
"I will be with Her Majesty, so can not be disturbed."
"Of course, Joe. I'll just inform the staff of what's going on and what to do now, before heading back out to the crash site," he informed Joseph, slamming the car door as he spoke.
There were many people gathered in the foyer of the palace, awaiting further orders or information on what had happened. No one had been back yet to inform them, so Joseph was the first one they saw when he pushed open the door and walked in.
Everyone fell silent when they first noticed him. He came in, covered in blood and walked through them all silently not making eye contact with anyone but just staring dead ahead. They all parted to let him through, choking back tears when they realized what it could mean. Once he had passed them, they all looked to Shades who had entered shortly after, and he proceeded to tell them of the disastrous events that night.
Joseph ignored them all, went to his room and threw all his clothes in the trash before quickly scrubbing his skin clean from the top of his head to the tip of his toes.
He worked quickly and methodically so was soon heading back out of his suite and towards the one place he both longed and dreaded to be; Her Majesties suite.
Joseph stopped outside Clarisse's living room door as he took several deep breaths, calming himself the best he could before facing the inevitable.
Knocking softly, and then pushing the door open gently, Joseph entered the warm, quiet room to find Clarisse standing before the glowing fire with Charlotte and Olivia seated before her.
They all turned to face him when he entered, but Joseph avoided their gazes. Slowly lifting his eyes, he met those of Clarisse's as his eyes filled with more tears.
"Olivia, Charlotte, go on downstairs and Shades will give you further instructions. You will no longer be needed here," Joseph said quietly, holding Clarisse's gaze as her face paled dramatically and she wavered on her feet.
As the two younger women left the room and closed the door behind them, Joseph stood where he was, holding the gaze with Clarisse. They stood in silence for a moment before she finally spoke.
"No…not my baby…not my…Phillippe!" Clarisse gasped before her legs finally gave out beneath her.
Joseph dove towards her and caught her as she fell and wrapped his arms tight around the woman. They sat together upon the floor before the dying embers of the fire, and held to each other as if holding to the only life that either of them had left.
Clarisse was gasping for breath but not taking in any air; she was having a panic attack.
"Breathe Clarisse, take a deep breath!" Joseph urged as he rubbed large circles on her back.
She took in a sudden deep breath, choked on it, and then took another deep, calmer breath. She began breathing normally, but the oxygen also brought her to her senses.
"No Joseph, tell me he is all right…please," Clarisse begged, grasping his arms tightly and looking deep into his eyes for him to deny it.
"He held on for as long as he could, Clarisse. He tried but it was too late," Joseph croaked, tears falling down his cheeks in earnest as his face crumpled in the pain they were both feeling.
"No…" Clarisse cried, tears also pouring down her face as she lifted her hands and covered her face.
"He wanted me to tell you that he loves you so much, and that – "here Joseph choked on his own words, causing Clarisse to drop her hands and look to him for the rest of what he was saying.
"And that he is sorry for causing you more pain," Joseph finished hoarsely.
He watched as Clarisse's face crumbled, and the light fled her eyes before she let out a wild anguish filled cry, just as Joseph had done at the crash site. She collapsed against him, gripping the front of his clean shirt tightly in both hands as she pressed her face as hard as she could into his chest. Joseph wrapped his arms around her as tightly as they could both handle, before he pressed his cheek to the top of her head, letting their tears flow onto each other and mingle.
And that's where they remained, sitting on the hard floor, clinging to each other with all they had left, with Joseph's now silent tears and Clarisse's loud weeping. They held onto each other, sharing the little strength and hope they had left between them, and not wanting to let go.
They held to each other, sharing a common loss that they had not yet before felt together. They were united that night, in such a way that could never be severed for all eternity; they were united in their sorrow.
A.N: Sob I'm so sorry! tears pouring down as heart breaks even more I can't believe the pain I have put Joseph through! And now Clarisse…oh my dear sweet Clarisse…please send me a review…I need to be motivated to move on…