Private to John Mcclane for H&M

[island_juliet]

When Juliet shows up at John and Erica's, Jonah is asleep over her shoulder and she's carrying his portable crib with two bags over her shoulder. She's mostly in a daze, just needing to get somewhere she knows the baby will be looked after if she has a melt down. But she also knows she can't let it get to the point it was last year

Comments

[yippiekiyaymf]

John answers the door, and practically pulls her inside. He wraps her, both of them, up in a big hug.

"I'm so sorry." He squeezes gently, then steps back, and takes the bags from her shoulder.

"Have a seat.Erica will be home soon."

[island_juliet]

Juliet just holds up three fingers, because she counts the island.

Erica stands up and nods at John to follow her. "Since we're gonna be sharing I'm going to go put new sheets on."

[yippiekiyaymf]

"Back in a bit," he says to Juliet, and follows Erica. "And I need to get the stuff for the couch."

He begins stripping the bed, but looking at Erica as he does, because he figures she wants to talk to him too.

[island_juliet]

"You know I don't ever have any problems helping a friend," she says, voice low. "But it's not just us here. And the living situation, John. Not exactly perfect for long term. I want to help her any way we can but this isn't great."

[yippiekiyaymf]

"I know, Honey. I didn't think it would be great, just necessary. We've gotta talk to Puck, see if he has any ideas, or someplace he can go to get some sanity."

[island_juliet]

"Ask him to leave his own space? And I'm not crazy about spending however long not with you. I know I'm not sounding very supportive, but I'm trying to be. I really am."

[yippiekiyaymf]

"I know what the problems are honey. You got any ideas for fixes?"

[island_juliet]

She doesn't say anything, just goes to get the new sheets to start putting them on.

"I don't want to be the bad guy here, so let's just...it's fine. I'm here for her. But maybe we can let her other good friends know, too."

[yippiekiyaymf]

"That's Laura, and Hot Lips. Who else?"

[yippiekiyaymf]

He nods, that's a good idea.

"That's Laura, and Hot Lips. Who else?"

[island_juliet]

"I think that's it. But maybe at the very least we can all do different things for her. She's going to have to be okay eventually. It hurts, I know, God I know it hurts. And I'm not in the best place right now, but she has to be okay."

[yippiekiyaymf]

"Laura and her guy have the most room, I think. It's gotta be controlled chaos at Hot Lips's place, but if we need something organized, she's the one. " John bundles the dirty sheets into the hamper, letting Erica get the clean ones.

[island_juliet]

"Am I being insensitive?" she asks, looking at him as she holds the new sheets.

[yippiekiyaymf]

He gives her a little half-smile, and goes to her, taking her arms in his hands, and leaning over the piled sheets to kiss her.

"You are the one who makes sure that everyone else doesn't fall out of the family wagon when I do a U-turn to pick someone up." And she did it without yelling at him, questioning why he always had to be the one to help. There weren't words for how much John appreciated that.

[island_juliet]

"I'm sorry I haven't been okay lately," she says softly as she looks at him. "I'm trying."

[yippiekiyaymf]

"How the hell are you supposed to be okay, Honey? If my getting shot, or blown up, or cut or whatever would save you or Juliet, or anyone from having to go through this kind of pain -- but I can't do shit...except be here. So I'm going to do the hell out of it." He realizes he's not making sense, so he grabs the bottom sheet and begins to spread it on the bed.