Jack knew when Gabe slept, how the bond was still warm and steady but it was also muted as well. He sighed heavily and settled in to keep watch for the next few hours, listening to the sounds of the woods, keeping an eye out for lights or anything. They were left blissfully alone, Gabe's steady weight in his lap.

His bond needed this rest badly. His paranoia kept him awake, a low burn of adrenaline all the time. It helped that he wasn't exactly comfortable either, but the night hours passed quiet and without incident. He sipped at a sports drink to keep himself hydrated but made no motion to wake Gabe up.


The sun began to rise over the mountains and spread through the forest they were in. They had survived another day. His fingers continued to lightly stroke up and down the back of Gabe's neck, letting the older man wake on his own.