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[dadication]

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[dadication]

He shifted in to rest against Gabriel, making himself perfectly comfortable there as they both leaned on the bike as it charged up. The lights of the station overhead were nothing out of the ordinary, but they still sort of hurt his eyes after the dullness of the evening and the cheap room they had rented before then.

He was perfectly content for this moment to continue, sharing the chocolate milk between them until it was gone. It was liquid calories, and it tasted good. He didn't feel nearly as sick on it as he probably should. It was more like a very old comfort food.

"We can leave the bike at a rest stop or some logging road. There has to be one around. Next town I read on the sign was well over a few hours away."

[gr1m]

"We're going to have to camp and try and get there tomorrow," because he couldn't drive any longer, knowing how he already felt he was dragging it out past his own limit with injuries. If Gabriel had felt he was in better condition he'd be more than willing to push it, but not with how he was now. "Need to use the bike as part of a shelter so we can sleep safely enough."

Pull off to where they couldn't be spotted or stumbled across. Take as many precautions as they possible could with what they had.

When the bottle was empty? Reyes only shifted enough to toss it in to the nearby trash that tended to be kept around charging areas. Could make the toss at least.

[dadication]

"I know. You need to rest for a few hours at least," he agreed. They couldn't stay here, couldn't stay where anyone was going to be able to find them. It seemed like Gabe had a plan on how to set up their camp, and he wasn't about to disagree with it, not when he wouldn't be the one having to put it into practice as much. "I can keep watch tonight, yeah?"

He shifted with the roll of Reyes' weight to throw the carton away, content with waiting for the bike to charge like this. He had no where to go and there was also no way he was resting as it was. "Do you want to walk or stay here?"

[gr1m]

A few hours at least was right, already running on fumes. In his condition he just couldn't keep pushing it through the night like he normally would have, and his paranoia wouldn't allow him to rest if he- They needed to be able to be in a secure enough area. Reyes would probably set up a few traps, early warning systems out of what would be around them. Anything to feel safe so he could rest.

"Yeah, you can keep watch- just... just don't feel bad about falling asleep if you get tired. Okay?" Of course he worried, of course he'd fret, but he knew one of them needed to. He was the one driving, so he needed to sleep no matter if both of them could use it.

Rested his chin on top of Jack's head, sort of tucking them there like that as both arms wrapped around him. Quiet for a moment. "Stay here will be okay, don't want to get too far from the bike right now. Quick escape easier like this, if it's needed."

[dadication]

He could do his best to keep watch, exhausted as he was himself. He was running on as much sleep, but he had been doing less work to get them this far. That made him feel obligated to keep them safe for the resting time, aware he could sleep against Gabe's back if only his mind would quiet enough.

"I've kept watch through plenty of nights of exhaustion," he said, forcing a confidence into his voice that he didn't feel. Reyes would worry, always did, especially in situations like these where they are both in a bad way. "I can handle watching over us tonight."

He hummed and leaned in on Gabe, comforted by the closeness. "Okay, as long as you don't need to stretch your legs again. Let's hope we get out of tonight peacefully."

[gr1m]

"I know you can-" He did have faith in Jack after all, "-I just don't want you to be hard on yourself if you do fall asleep. We've both been through the ringer, and honestly I'll be glad if you do manage to get any rest with me." Make sure it was known that he wouldn't be upset with him if sleep happened was all.

Gabriel tilted his head just enough to check on the charging progress before he kept himself tucked there against his bond. A little squeeze around him again. "Yeah, hopefully we will."

[dadication]

Jack couldn't help but soften against Gabriel. He didn't intend to fall asleep, but he had to acknowledge that it was a possibility. They were both exhausted, and while he might not have to function on the same level Gabe did, he was part of their team. "I know. I'll still keep watch because you're more important to have functional tomorrow." So he would do everything he could to assist in that.

It wasn't hard to stand there like that, leaning on the bike, nestled together as comfortably as their wounds would allow. His eyes closed and he actually took a small rest there like that, head resting on Gabe's shoulder and the comfort of being protected. It didn't last long before the bike was fully charged and he was blinking his eyes open again. Felt like seconds but might have been minutes.

"We should get back on the road," he murmured and eased himself away so that they could mount up on the bike again.

[gr1m]

Gabriel carefully moved a hand under Jack's hood, not pushing it back, but allowing fingers to brush through hair under it all the same. That bit more touch while still trying to keep identity hidden all the same. "Can rest while I get back to driving, and I know you'll have my back." He had faith.

Tipped his head and pressed a kiss just against Jack's forehead with a low hum, a little rest better than nothing. "Yeah, we should. Get the stuff you bought in the pack and I'll get the bike unhooked." From the charge station, letting go of Jack so he could move away first, be mindful of the cameras so they could going quickly enough.

[dadication]

"Yeah, I'll try to find some rest while you're driving," he murmured, leaning into the hand on his head, stroking fingers through his short hair. He hadn't been successful today so far, but now that it was dark, maybe he could manage it.

He stood from leaning on the hoverbike and went to their pack, pulling it open and stuffing the limited space with what he had bought from the convenience store. He put the extra money back as well, knowing they were going to need it. He was zipping up the bike and moving to settle in the back spot again by the time it seemed they were ready to hit the road again.

He made himself as comfortable as possible, difficult considering they had sat in the same position almost all day. He was stiff, but he would make it. They both would.

[gr1m]

Was walking the bike away from the charger before starting it up, already sitting on it with Jack tucked against his back- "Let me know if you need me to pull over before we find a place we can stop. Okay?" Before he was cranking the hoverbike up and getting the fuck out of that service station parking lot.

Right back on the road, heading in the same direction they'd already been set on. He knew exactly where they were going, but he was taking a little used route just to make it that much harder for them to possibly be found. let alone someone catch a sight of them on the road. Meant the trip would be longer, but it would be better for them in the long run.

That much less of a chance of them being discovered. Even if the longer trip meant longer ride times for them, they'd be pulling off somewhere in a few hours if Jack didn't tap him. Somewhere much like the abandoned stop from before but- well. Less an abandoned stop and more like a place he could find a way to pull off the road and get them in to the woods.

[dadication]

"I'll be fine. Stretched a bit and that milk topped me up," he murmured as he settled in his spot at Gabriel's back. He turned his head enough to watch behind them as the charging station disappeared from view, looking to see any signs that the teller would be making any calls. All was quiet.

He shifted forward as they hit the highway again, resting against Gabe's broad back carefully and closing his eyes. He needed to quiet his mind, but it was difficult with the continued prickle of paranoia. However, he tucked his arm around Gabe's weight and managed to doze with the night wind rustling his hair. It wasn't a deep sleep, but he was resting which was more than he had in the other legs of the trip.

He lifted his head up when it seemed they were slipping off road, peering through the dark over Gabe's shoulder. Clearly they were going to camp.

[gr1m]

Had the headlights of the bike turned off, had for a little while, all the better for their pulling off not to be seen. Using what moonlight there was to see where he was going, puttering a bit before he had to stop-

"You awake, Jack?" Couldn't move in further without getting off the bite itself. "Think you can take my spot and help steer this thing while I pull it further in with us?" Would only need one hand since Gabriel would also have a hand on the bike. Meant he'd be the one walking the most while Jack kept on the hover bike, but it was the easiest way he could figure to maneuver it all deeper in to the trees, be that much more under cover.

[dadication]

"Yeah, m'awake," he agreed and pushed himself from leaning against Gabe's back so his bond could slip from the bike, and he could shuffle forward to take the handlebars with one hand. He tried and failed to stifle a yawn, and he ended up shuddering in pain as all the sutures pulled on his lips and face in the process.

"Got it. You direct me," he murmured as he was able to steer carefully one-handed. "We're making camp, I take it?"

[gr1m]

Was already making their way deeper, keeping a hand on the bike so it was that much easier for Jack to help steer it one handed.

"Yeah, we are. Need to get far enough away from the road we won't be spotted, and can make easy enough cover." While not going so deep they'd possibly get turned around. Had it all worked out in his head, winding their way down through the thicker brush, trees closer together. "Far enough in we can make a fire safely if needed, too." Didn't expect they would, but it was habit at that point to keep it in mind.

[dadication]

He helped direct where he could, calling out obstacles if he saw them first to allow them to avoid it. His eyes were adjusting to the dark quickly, and he knew they needed to find a safe spot but also knew that Reyes had one picked out mentally already. He simply helped to get them there any way that he could.

"We should avoid a fire unless necessary. I don't want to risk discovery," he murmured, that same prickle of paranoia. A fire would dampen his night vision too and he would be on watch for the remaining night hours once they were set up.

[gr1m]

"Still need to camp out at the same distance as if we were," a practice that needed to be kept. Go in deep enough that if it was needed they could do so safely without it being spotted. Even without, greater chance of them going undetected. "It's not getting cold enough to require one, we'll get away with what we've managed to get to help keep warm clothing wise." Along with the bag of blankets he'd gone through and just took after leaving a few within the donation bin.

They needed the best chance they could to keep warm if the weather did turn on them, and it did still get colder at night all the same.

After a while, once they had gone deep enough, Gabriel directed and helped Jack off the bike so he could turn it off completely. Moving to start unpacking what they needed, pulling the bag itself off the bike. Time to start setting p a makeshift tent using the bike as one side.

[dadication]

Jack followed Gabe's lead on this, fatigued and ready to get things set up so they could safely rest. He assisted in getting them to their destination, and he eased off of the hoverbike once is was properly parked. "As long as we are safe and warm and you get some sleep, that's what matters to me."

He eased away once Gabriel began to pull out their supplies, heading into the woods to look for rocks that they could use to hold down their makeshift 'tent' at the edges but also for any fire that they might have to build. He brought them back one by one in an single hand or arm, dropping them and off he'd go again.

Only once he had a pile that he thought was good enough did he stop to listen for sounds. An owl hooted in the distance. A few crickets sounded. It was peaceful, though the foliage overhead meant they couldn't see the stars.

[gr1m]

"We will be."

It wasn't a hard set-up to get going, not with using the bike itself as one side along with a tree to better lean it against. There'd be room underneath the tarp he was stretching out over it, enough height to slip in and sit up comfortably enough. There was something of a divot they could lay in, padding it out with something soft. Using rocks to help pin down the edges. Coming together slowly but nicely enough.

He sat back a little while after he was done, taking a bit of a breather- "How're you feeling?"

[dadication]

While he was out gathering stones, he found a fresh source of water in a small stream, something they could wash up with and boil if they decided to make a fire. The sound of it was nice, put him somewhat at peace as he came back and forth with stones and then wood for any fire they might build. Each was piled so Reyes could grab it for use in their shelter.

He was just dropping off an armful of wood when he noted Reyes had almost finished with their shelter and asked him that question. He shifted his shoulders, flexed his fingers and tipped his head as he considered himself. "Tired. Sore. The usual, I think. How are you holding up?"

[gr1m]

It was a good spot to settle down for the night, felt they were far enough in they couldn't be spotted from air or road. One of them would be alerted if someone came into the trees themselves, he was going to be sure of it. A few simple alarm systems that wouldn't be easily spotted. He'd get to doing that after the 'tent' was fully set up to where he was satisfied with the state of it.

Quiet for just a moment. "I'm holding up okay other than the same. Feel like you can stomach to eat a bit? Before we both take more meds." They both needed to, there was no doubt about it. "Dip into another MRE, your pick. Can let it heat up while I do a quick round of the area."

[dadication]

It was a good spot, deep enough to be secure. The night was quiet and easy to hear things if they were disturbed. Lights from the road coming down this way would be easily seen, so he considered it a good protected area. "Chocolate milk filled me up, but probably should try to get something more on the stomach, shouldn't we?" And the meds. Yeah, those would be better with some food. "Just grab a random MRE out of the bad. I'm not fussed."

He nodded in the dark and stepped closer to Reyes. "I didn't find anything out there, but if you want to set traps, close to the stream would be good."

[gr1m]

"There's a beef stew one that might be mild enough to get down." He remembered grabbing it when he'd pulled out the taco one when giving a multiple choice. They also still had the 'tortillas' from the taco MRE, maybe could nibble on those a bit like bread. Who knows. Just knew they needed some actual food before taking anything and that would have to do.

He moved an arm around Jack carefully, tucking close against him- "Thinking less traps and more like.. an alarm system. Branches that would snap loudly and couldn't avoid being stepped on. Little things to alert us if someone comes down here on foot."

[dadication]

"We can try it. Eaten more today than we have the previous one," he said, knowing they needed the energy, especially if they would be on the move, especially if they were going to heal. It just seemed like so much work, and he was tired, not that he planned on sleeping. "We eat and you sleep after that, okay?"

He leaned in on Reyes, comforted by his weight and presence. "I don't think anyone will, but let's be safe. Do you want me to try to get a fire started while you're making rounds?"

[gr1m]

They had eaten more, but it wasn't enough. No where near enough to actually benefit their bodies the way it was needed in order to heal properly, and he didn't doubt Jack knew that, too. "Yeah, okay." Wasn't about to argue that either, more so if he was still going to be the one to drive them both out of there. He needed all of the rest he could get-

He rested hi head against Jack's, just for the moment. "Just get the MRE out if you can. Shouldn't take me that long to do the set-ups I'm thinking about." Wouldn't be easily spotted, look like things that had just fallen about due to how thick the trees were together out here.

[dadication]

He rested on Gabe in return, nodding his head. "Alright, you finish up with you need to do and I'll see what I can do then," he murmured and moved away to their bag of supplies. It wasn't terrible to get in one handed, the zipper nice enough for that and his knee helped. He dug around until he found the MRE in question and set it to warm while Gabe was gone.

With nothing else to do but wait, he fussed around camp, setting up the stones for a potential fire, listening to the sounds beyond their small camp. He even eased his arm out of the sling to give it a break. His shoulder was stiff and sore, and his arm just as much because it was healing.

He carefully piled wood closer to the new firepit, tired but also keyed up with nervous energy, waiting for his bond to come back.