Chapter 14 - "We'll take care of you, Lu."

Jules looked around the funeral service.

It was a very small private funeral, with only a few people from their outside circle. It hadn't been broadcasted nor was there an obituary online, or else the police force would look into her death and that was the number one thing to prevent when apart of a troop. Thus, the few other faces were only people that had been apart of the troop.

The service was in the forest around the base, in a path where they would never stumble across the body. The location was very secluded and isolated, hence they were able to privately bury the casket without anyone being seen. But Jules was surprised by the missing faces that were supposed to be there, and it made him worry.

Lucius was staring at the open casket with narrowed eyes; he did not cry once the entire service, not even during his speech. It was almost as though he had wept too much that there was no tears left. He had a cigarette at the edge of his lips, examining the resting Natalia, and beside him was his younger child, Asher, who had his hat low enough to hide his tearful face.

Jake and Sarah were missing, and Jules mentioned it to Bronsted, who said he would ask them about it later. The reception was going to be at the base anyway, so they would be able to chat there.

Nate arrived very late, while they had already lowered the casket, but Dante and Charles were not with him. He stood in the back all on his own, and it was evident he had been crying already from how swollen his real eye had been. Cesar was present as well, but he kept his distance, hiding his face behind large sunglasses and a wide hat, even though they were hidden under ample amount of shade since they were in the forest.

After one of their troop members completed the ceremony and the burial was done, they all returned to the base where there had been snacks and a few drinks and glass prepared for the guests. There weren't many though, only a handful, and Lucius stayed beside Asher the entire time, not letting him leave his side for one second. Even when he asked to head to the bathroom, Lucius went with him, and waited outside the door for him. He had smoked the entire time, one cigarette after another, and had kept his chin held high with an angry stare the entire afternoon.

During the reception, it was then that Jules and Bronsted approached Lucius. It was Bronsted that reached around him for an embrace first, to which Lucius returned with one hand, but kept glancing over his shoulder to ensure that Asher hadn't gone anywhere.

"We'll get through this together, you know that," Bronsted sighed, sending a small saddened smile towards his older brother who didn't reach to his statement. "I didn't see Jake and Sarah; are they doing alright?"

"Sarah's suicidal." That caused Bronsted's eyes to widen, to which Lucius admitted blankly, "Bedridden and depressed that they started her on anti-depressants. Jake's better than she is but since she can't leave her room, he wants to keep an eye and make sure she doesn't do anything to herself."

Both Bronsted and Jules sighed; neither had any idea what to say. The gloom across Lucius' face had stayed there ever since that day, and there was nothing they could say to make him feel better, as they themselves had felt their heart crack from the sudden passing of their niece.

Still, Bronsted swallowed hard before he asked hesitantly, "And you...how have you been?"

Lucius exhaled from his cigarette before he said, his brows furrowing as he growled, "I'm still looking for leads on Kane, but everything has been coming up blank and it—"

"No, I'm not talking about leads, Lucius," Bronsted sighed, stepping forward. "I mean you; how have you been handling everything?"

Lucius, who had forgotten about his own emotions, was taken aback by that question. He had completely disregarded his own feelings that even being asked that question, he hadn't really thought about how he felt. He himself wasn't clear on it either; he wasn't necessarily enraged as he was on the first day they received the news, but neither was he saddened.

In general, he simply felt...empty...

But he couldn't say that, especially not in front of Asher. He didn't want Asher to lose hope, and he was the only one that had remained levelheaded ever since the news; Sarah had been destroyed and Jake barely even ate. He had to stay put-together, or else, who knew what would come of their family.

Thankfully, he didn't have to respond since Jules, who noticed the blank stare in Lucius' gaze, cleared his throat and said, "We can spend the night here if you'd like; maybe you could have a break and we can watch Asher."

Lucius eyebrows raised; he hadn't thought of that, but he did need some time for himself. "That would be nice," he mumbled quietly, but his voice had sounded ghostly that both Bronsted and Jules weren't even sure he truly wanted their company.

But Bronsted forced a smile and patted his shoulder. "We'll take care of you, Lu, that way you can focus on yourself and your family, without needing to worry about anything else."

Lucius was seconds from responding when they heard someone clear their throat nearby, causing all three of them to turn and glance in that direction.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have to leave. I just wanted to say my goodbyes."

The moment Lucius realized who stood there, he instantly gripped Asher by the front of his shirt and dragged him away, forcing him to follow him. Nate tried to smile, but it vanished when Lucius completely ignored him.

They hadn't spoken since that night; Lucius hadn't even shared details of the funeral service.

The only reason they had been aware was because Bronsted and Jules mentioned it to Dante, and even then, they advised not to bring Nate or else it might cause an issue. Dante was not going to let his husband stay back on a funeral of their niece, hence he invited Nate.

Nate couldn't help but exhale a long saddened sigh as he watched Lucius walk away, another cigarette hanging on the edge of his lip.

Even though he didn't agree with what Lucius had said, it was still his Lucy, his best friend. They had gone through hell and back together, and he could have never imagined that this was how their lengthy friendship would have not only ended, but acted as though it never existed. He wished he could be there for him, but when Lucius threatened to kill him, Nate truly believed that in this mindset, Lucius would.

Bronsted leaned in for an embrace, wrapping his arms around the gloomy Nate as he breathed, "He'll come around. I'm sure he's glad that you came."

As Bronsted pulled apart, Jules also reached around for an embrace around Nate's shoulders as he asked, "Where's Dante and Charles?"

Jules felt Nate's spine suddenly get rigid, before he cleared his throat awkwardly and claimed, "Oh...uuhh...they both decided to stay home."

As Jules pulled apart from Nate, he glanced towards Bronsted who was sending him the exact same look, before both returning their gazes onto the obviously lying Nate. They didn't even have to say anything, since Nate sent his metallic hand through his disheveled hair as he exhaled a lengthy sigh. Before even speaking about it, his eyes were already growing teary, which he really didn't want to happen since he had been crying his entire way here. He felt as though his mind was going in every single direction and seconds from exploding in his brain.

"Charles had a mental breakdown in the car, so Dante brought him to the hospital."

Jules inhaled a sharp breath, as Bronsted gasped, "Is he alright?"

They saw Nate bit his bottom lip. Then, his eyes filled with more tears, his fingers began to quiver even more as he slowly shook his head. "Dante just called me," he sniffle. His eyebrows curling upwards as he breathed shakily, "T-They're keeping him...sniffle...in the psych ward for a week."

"Oh Nate." Bronsted was forcing himself not to tear up as he leaned forward again and held Nate in another embrace. This time, it was much tighter, with both his arms around Nate's shoulders and holding him dearly. "I'm sure it'll make him much better."

Jules patted Nate's back, observing the way Nate's shoulders began to quiver as he leaned his forehead against Bronsted's shoulder. Seeing everyone in such a depressive state was heartbreaking, and the worst part was that there was nothing they could do to alleviate the hurt.

"I know, but it's all my fault."

"It's not your fault," Bronsted rapidly corrected, pulling apart but keeping a hold on Nate's shoulders.

Nate rapidly shook his head as he admitted, "I said some mean things that made him have a panic attack, and that's why we had to drive him to the hospital and I—"

"You've made a mistake, Nate," Bronsted comforted, speaking softly as Nate continued to wipe his tears. "In the time we're all in the now, you're bound to let your emotions win at least once and make your mistake, that's okay. That doesn't mean it's your fault, Nathan. Regardless, I know you and I know you love him so much, and I'm sure Charles knows that too."

"Don't be too hard on yourself, Nathan," Jules spoke next, planting a palm on the back of Nate's neck. "We'll come visit tomorrow so you can take your mind off of things."

When Nate finally nodded his head, both Jules and Bronsted glanced at one another with hopeful looks. It was harsh that everyone around them was losing hope, but they had to make sure to spend as much time with them, to get through this together.

After a few minutes, Nate finally lifted his head, having calmed down and met their gazes again. He forced a smile—his red eyes not harmonizing with it—and he exhaled sharply for a bit of strength before he said, "I should get going before visiting hours are over."

Bronsted and Jules both nodded, waving their hands as Nate made his way to the exits and disappeared.

"Everyone's hurting right now," Jules uttered after a sigh.

Bronsted nodded his head. "I hope nobody does anything irreversible."

"What'd he say?"

They both hadn't heard his footsteps, but once they turned, Lucius was behind them, eyeing down the path Nate had taken to exit the base. Asher was back as well, standing beside his father with his head still down. Their presence had startled both Bronsted and Jules, who glanced at once another before finally responding to Lucius. "He has to leave."

"Why did he have to leave?"

Bronsted and Jules weren't certain if they were meant to share it, but at the end of the day, they considered one another family, and as much as they fought and distanced themselves from one another, Nate and Lucius would always be family to one another.

That was why Bronsted admitted the truth. "Charles' is in the psych ward for a week."

Lucius raised an eyebrow; there was no shift in his tone or expression as he asked coldly, "Why?"

Jules continued, "He had a mental breakdown."

It was no surprise to them when Lucius scoffed, "We all have, he'll be fine. At least he's alive."

"Lucius," Bronsted sighed, disappointed that the entire family seemed to have completely dissipated after that night. "You and I both know it wasn't Nate's fault, and neither was it Charles."

"It was their fucking fault," Lucius snapped instantly. It was the first time throughout the entire evening that he had any ounce of emotion, and unfortunately, it was anger. "The only reason I allowed that idiot to be here is because I'm keeping an eye on Asher at all times. Otherwise, I would've killed him that instant and you better never fucking bring that up to me again."

"Alright," Jules intervened immediately, noticing that Lucius had gotten a bit too close to Bronsted for his liking, especially since his posture was a bit too menacing for Jules to allow this to continue. He wrapped an arm around Bronsted's shoulders from behind and forced a step backwards as he said, "We don't mean to get in the middle between the two of you, Lucius."

Lucius' brows furrowed even more, but all he did was scoff and twist around on his heels. "I'm going to lie down for a bit; keep an eye on Asher for me." And with that, he left and headed to his bedroom, and Lucius was not seen for the rest of the night.