Comfort

Summary: Josslyn talks to her brother shortly after Oscar's death.

A/N: Doing little oneshots of some of the moments mentioned in Her Hero.

Josslyn was curled up on her bed when Michael entered the room. She wasn't sleeping but was instead staring blankly at her bedroom wall.

Michael swallowed hard and moved forward. "Josslyn?" He asked, resting a calming hand on her back as he took a seat next to her. "Josslyn, you've got to get up."

She didn't answer him, remaining curled up there on her bed.

"Oscar wouldn't want this for you." He told her with a sad sigh. "He wouldn't want you cutting everyone off like this. You know, Cam and Trina have both called more than once. They're really worried about you. And Avery's just confused. She doesn't understand why you've locked yourself in here. It feels like we lost you the moment you lost Oscar."

Josslyn remained silent.

"You know, when I lost Abby, I was devastated? She was the first girl I was involved with and I lost her. I was so angry and I tried to shut everyone out. But our family didn't let me. And I'm not going to let you shut me out, either."

"I'm just...so angry." Josslyn whispered. "Why didn't he fight harder?"

Michael brushed her hair back from her face. "He tried to, Josslyn. You know he did."

She sat up, pushing away the blonde locks that had escaped the messy braid she'd put it in. "I don't know how I'll ever get over this." She confessed, drawing her knnes up to rest her chin on them. "It all happened so fast. I wanted to believe that the trials would save him." She shrugged helplessly. "I guess that was foolish of me.

Her brother shook his head and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Hope is never foolish. Sometimes it's the best thing to have."

Josslyn chewed on her bottom lip for a moment before raising her head to lock her blue eyes on her brother. "Do you think that Oscar, Morgan, Kiki, Sabrina, Abby, and Jonah are happy up there?"

Michael's breath caught in his throat at the question and his eyes burnt at the mention of all the people they'd lost. "I'm sure they are." He answered, clearing his throat. "But you know what would make Oscar and Morgan happier? If you'd take care of yourself and came out of your room. You've got to live. When I lost Abby and Sabrina, something that kept me going was trying to be the person they wanted me to be. And when my son died...grief counseling really helped. The hospital has that once every week. Maybe you could come with me some time."

She gave a trembling smile and a nod, embracing her brother warmly before she shoved him away. "Let me go get dressed." She told him. Before he left the room though, she grabbed his hand. "And Michael? I'd love to go to counseling with you."

Josslyn walked down the stairs around an hour later, freshly showered and dressed.

Carly immediately came over to hug her daughter, relieved to see her daughter out of her room.

When the two pulled away, Josslyn's gaze went down to Avery who was tugging at the leg of her leggings. With a laugh, Josslyn bent to pick the little girl up, cuddling her.

"I missed you, Josslyn." Avery said in her lisp.

The teen smiled and kissed the little girl on the side of her head. "I missed you, too." She turned her attention to her mother. "I'm sorry for worrying everyone. I promise, I won't lock myself in my room again."

Her mother pushed her hair away face and hugged her to her again gratefully.

Over her mother's shoulder, Josslyn flashed a thankful smile at her older brother who leaned against the couch. She couldn't promise that she wouldn't have her dark days where the pain got to her, but she knew who she could count on.

Next part: Michael takes Josslyn to counseling