"Juliette, you still with me?" Greg's voice was laced with concern.
Smiling at him through the webcam she realised she had zoned out, "Yeah, still with you,"
"Sure, you are," Greg snorted, "Where were you?"
"I've been here the whole time," she said in jest, eye rolling completing the scene.
"I've just spent the last couple of minutes telling you that I now have a purple unicorn at my disposal and you didn't ask any questions," he gave a small smile.
"It's been a tough week," she sighed.
"Halsteads will do that to you," he quipped.
Juliette couldn't help the laughter that escaped, it felt good to talk to someone who knew the Halsteads.
"Which one was it this time?" he asked, the concern back in his voice.
"Are they ever sperate?" she asked.
Now it was Greg's turn to laugh.
"He misses you," both knowing exactly who she was talking about, "We both do,"
"Same here," he smiled.
"How are you doing Greg?" the implication not going unheard.
"I'm doing good," he got a raised eyebrow in return, "You can tell Jay that I'm doing real good"
"I'll put him out of his misery," she smirked, of course Mouse would have known who was really asking.
"You know you're the only person to call me Greg," he was trying to lighten the mood.
"It's the name your mother gave you," she appreciated what he was trying to do, "I refuse to call you Mouse,"
"I know," he chuckled, "It's grounds me,"
He only got a small smile in return.
Greg could tell something else was on her mind, "Where's your head?"
"I haven't heard from my brother in a while. I usually hear from him once a fortnight or so, unless he's out on an op," she sighed, "Last time I spoke to him, he didn't mention anything long term. I'm trying so hard not to worry, but you know what it's like,"
"Want me to try and find out?" Greg offered.
"I can't ask you to do that," she tried to smile but the worry was eating at her.
"You didn't," he shook his head slightly, "Let me help you,"
"Thanks," her voice was soft, but he still heard it.
Will's voice from her kitchen interrupted the moment.
"Will's over?" he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"It's family night," she dismissed his suggestion, "Jay should be over soon too,"
"He seems to be over a lot," he couldn't help teasing her further.
"He has a girlfriend," she pointed out, like he had forgotten the most important detail.
"They'll never be you," he said honestly.
She had no comeback for that, the huff and arm crossing telling him as much.
Will's head appearing in Mouse's view made him grin a little, "Hey Will,"
"Hey Mouse," Will waved at the webcam, "Mind if I steal her back? Dinner's ready and Jay's almost here,"
"She's all yours," he smirked as Will disappeared, "I'll get back to you when I know something Juliette,"
"Come home to us Greg," her silent thanks.
"Always," and with that, their skype session ended.
As she entered the dining area, she was met with an incredible smell.
"That smells delicious!" she exclaimed, "Which restaurant?"
"You wound me," Will placed a hand over his heart in fake hurt, "I cooked this,"
Sitting down at the table, she raised an eyebrow at him, "Is it going to kill me?"
"You know I wouldn't survive without you," Will half-jested, half-honest as he took a seat next to her.
"Amen to that," came Jay's voice as he entered the apartment.
Both Juliette and Will laughed, as Jay took a seat.
"Spoke to Greg earlier," Juliette told Jay as she dished them all out servings.
"How's Mouse doing?" she could hear the slight concern in Jay's question.
"He's doing good," her voice full of pride, "Real good Jay,"
"Good," Jay nodded as he took a mouthful, "This is really good Will,"
Will had a mouthful of food, so he just smiled in thanks.
As they ate, both brothers couldn't help but notice Juliette's mood.
She wasn't really eating, just sort of pushing the food around her plate, with a zoned out look on her face.
"Etta?" Jay asked, reaching out to touch her arm.
He cringed a little when she flinched, her startlement confirming something was bothering her.
Will noticed too and placed a hand to the small of her back, "Talk to us Etta,"
When she remained silent, Will spoke again and kept his voice soft, "Still haven't heard from Marcus?"
"I can't shake the feeling that something's happened to him," her voice betraying to the boys how badly she wanted to cry.
"Mouse looking into it?" Jay asked as he shared concerned looks with Will.
Juliette just nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
Will tilted his head towards the couch, silently asking Jay to take her into the lounge.
"Come sit with me, and let Will clean up," Jay acquiescing to his brother's request.
When Juliette allowed herself to be moved to the lounge room with no jokes and no complaints, both brothers knew this was weighing on her.
The sound of Juliette's skype ringtone coming from her bedroom stopped everyone in their tracks.
Juliette shot up and raced into her room, leaving both Halstead boys staring at each other, unsure of what they should do.
"Greg?" Juliette asked tentatively as she leant over the desk, she still had that sinking feeling.
"Juliette," the softness of Greg's voice caused her eyes to water, "Juliette, I'm so sorry,"
He didn't get a chance to say anything else before Juliette moved backwards, only stopping when she hit the wall.
Sliding down it, the tears fell in silent sobs.
Will was about to go after her, when both boys head the thud against her bedroom wall.
They raced in, their hearts breaking when they saw Juliette sobbing against the wall, and Greg's face on the screen calling Juliette's name.
Will walked over to her, slid down next to her, and wrapped his arms around her.
She buried her head in his shirt, clutching the first bit of fabric she could feel.
Her sobs remained silent, but her tears quickly began soaking through Will's shirt.
"Mouse?" Jay appeared in Greg's view.
"Jay!" Greg said a bit louder than anticipated.
"Tell me you've got it wrong," Jay asked, but he knew there was no way Greg would give Juliette false information.
"I wish I was," Greg sighed, "Take care of her,"
"We will," Jay wanted to talk with Greg more, but Juliette was their priority right now.
"I call later once I know more," the commotion Jay could hear behind Greg telling him he had to go.
"Take care of yourself," Jay echoing Juliette's earlier request.
"Always," Greg echoing his earlier response, and once again the skype call ended.
Jay turned to face Will, not knowing what to do or say.
Will looked as lost as Jay did, neither one knew what to do.
Wanting to feel useful, Jay headed out to the kitchen and began making cups of tea, leaving Juliette still clutching Will.
After a while, Juliette's sobbing stopped, and she lifted her head up.
Her eyes met Will's and they began to water again.
Not wanting to cry any more, she wriggled out of Will's embrace and stood.
Will watched her carefully, not sure of what she was going to do.
Clearly, she had no clue either, because she just stood there.
Will stood and led her to the bed, "Get in,"
Juliette said nothing, but she did climb into bed.
Will was pulling the covers over her when Jay came back in, cup of tea in hand.
He placed it on the bedside table, then crouched down next to her.
"Sleep," he said when he saw the exhaustion on her face, "We'll be here when you wake up,"
Juliette tried to smile, but couldn't quite muster the energy. Instead she closed her eyes and tried to take Jay's advice.
Jay got up and pushed Will out of the room, turning the light off but leaving the door open as he went.
They sat on the couch with the tv on, sound low, but neither one was watching.
Both were too busy worrying about Juliette.
"How are supposed to handle this?" Will asked timidly.
"We just need to be there," Jay had dealt with things like this before, "Whatever she needs,"
Jay looked at him when he got no response, "She's going to need you Will, and she's not going to ask,"
"I know," Will said sadly, "She never asks,"
"But you what she needs when she needs it," Jay reached an arm out and gripped Will's shoulder.
He felt Will shrug, "She does it for me,"
Jay simply smiled sadly, when would those two just get their act together and finally date?
The sound of whimpering coming from Juliette's room broke the tender moment between the brothers.
When Will didn't stand, Jay went to.
He was stopped by Will, "I got this,"
Sitting back down, Jay tried to watch the tv.
In the end he gave up and turned it off.
Lying down on the couch, Jay closed his eyes in search of some sleep, trusting his brother to take care of Juliette.
She was still sleeping as he entered the room, but it definitely wasn't a peaceful sleep.
He tried to keep his movements as quiet as possible, so as not to wake her.
She had lost her brother, the only blood family she had left.
He didn't know how she was going to handle this.
He didn't know how he was going to handle this.
It was usually Juliette taking care of him, it wasn't often she needed to be taken care of.
She had always been stronger then him, stronger than Jay.
Moving around the room with ninja-like stealth, he slipped into bed beside her.
Almost instantly, she rolled over and nestled into his side, her whimpering immediately stopping.
They seemed to fit together as if they were two pieces of a jigsaw.
He brought her closer to him, and relished in the feel of her against him.
It felt normal. Having her in his arms felt natural.
He lay awake for a few moments before allowing the sound of her breathing to send him off to sleep.
They could deal with everything in the morning.
Right now they just needed to get some sleep.