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[dadication]

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[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.

[gr1m]

True to his word, Gabriel didn't take long. Even just nudged a few things to fall more naturally across paths anyone coming down would use to come their way. Even if just walking, more animals trails than walking paths for people; comforting in a strange way to not see trace of human sign around here.

Walked back carefully all the same, covering up their own trail in to look more like some natural animal trail than him leading a hoverbike down where they'd settled. Letting out a breath once he caught sight of Jack again-

"You think it's cold enough to try for a fire, or will us huddled together under a blanket work for you?" Already carefully settling himself down beside Jack as he spoke. Made sure his approach was clear it was him, not wanting to set off some alarm in his bond. Already on high alert as it was.

[dadication]

At this point, nothing felt like it could make him as cold as when they had fallen asleep in the bathroom of the hotel. He shrugged his shoulders a little as Gabe seemed to slip from the deep darkness back to where he could pick out his bond in a more physical sense compared to a just a distance in their bond.

"I think we can risk huddling in the bedding you made. I'm not cold right now," he murmured and slipped his good arm around Gabe's waist and leaned on the older man's side. "Might need to be a little on the cold side for guard duty anyway. As long as you're warm enough to settle in for sleep once we eat."

[gr1m]

"Going to get colder the longer in to the night it gets," settled in against Jack's side, an arm wrapped around him in turn. Keeping close, letting his breathing slow to something so much more calm. More restful. "Just worry about either of us getting sick on top of all this other shit," because right now their bodies were weaker, still needing to heal and recover.

Anything more would just make this entire trip a deeper hell than it already was, and Gabriel was allowed to worry. "Think I'll be fine."

[dadication]

"We have body heat. If we are wearing these warm clothes, we should be fine," he murmured, still uncertain when it came to starting a fire. He understood that they could start a fire if they were cold, but he would prefer to be cautious. They weren't that far away from the city and Gabe was warm against him.

He lightly patted his lap, giving Reyes the opportunity to use his legs as pillows for any kind of sleep. It might keep him awake too. "Getting sick will always be a risk right now. We have so much stacked against us."

First they should eat, then pills, then rest. That's what mattered.

[gr1m]

"Got a few other blankets still in the bag, too." Building a fire would be a last resort, but he still wanted to have the option be there if it was actually needed at any point. It was just a good idea, to have the option there and be able to have one safely enough. Ease some of his worry just enough, honestly. No matter what his paranoia might go on about the risk, it was their health it would be more for; all the same, a last resort as things were now.

Hell, he was taking that invitation, curling up on his side so he could still eat like that. Arm rested against Jack all the same. Seeking some comfort as well as giving it. "You're not wrong, still worry," and he was sure Jack understood that, too-

"Think the MRE is ready?"

[dadication]

"I'm warm enough right now," he murmured, though who knew now that they weren't moving around, it might change as the night deepened. His priority was keeping Gabe warm enough to be able to sleep, not that he found that to be difficult given how tired his bond must have been. "We'll stay as we are and see out the night if we can."

He hummed and stroked his hand over Gabe's head as it settled on his thighs. He shifted to make himself comfortable, fingers tracing and massaging Gabe's scalp. Then he paused to reach out to pick up the heating MRE and investigated the contents.

"Seems like it's warm. Might not be completely up to temperature." He offered it to Gabe to start on so he could dig in the pack for their pain medication and antibiotic pills to add them to the fact they had to take them.

[gr1m]

Gabriel was exhausted, sore from keeping a single position from the ride, and he needed to actually rest. Hell, knew how bad off he was and all the more reason he wanted Jack to get some rest if it could be managed as well. "Just keep in mind I did grab extra blankets," if they were needed at some point in the night, "keep us both warm through the night, Jack." Drape it over them both.

Relaxed against that touch, and for a moment Reyes allowed his eyes to drift closed. Not to try and sleep, but to... try and relax that much more. Sink in to the warmth and sturdy feeling of Jack there. Already reaching out to take the pack.

He pulled out the stew pack, just massaging the contents in his hand to try and get it all warmed up throughout it at least. Maybe just tear off a corner so they could just squeeze it into their mouths rather than worry about anything else. "It'll be palatable at least." Already working to tear a corner off to see if eating it like that would work.

[dadication]

Jack needed to know that Gabriel would rest well, after his bond had done much of the heavy lifting today. He had wounded himself, and while he would push it tomorrow regarding his wrist and hand, he would leave off tonight. No, that arm was kept protecting around his belly and he was pulling pill bottles closer while Gabe worked on the MRE. "If you start shivering, I'll drape a big blanket over you to keep you warm."

He managed to struggle the bottle of antibiotics open, tapping Gabe's cheek with them. "Here, take your share and get them down." He even managed to get the other bottle open, giving Gabe the last of their ambulance pain medications. "These too. I'll start on the fuel up station ones."

He never minded MREs, and they did what they were set out to do. "You eat and you sleep. That's all that's required of you tonight."

[gr1m]

He lifted a hand up just to carefully brush along part of Jack's jaw, making sure it wasn't the side that had stitching on it. "I know you'll take good care while I rest, sunshine." Had completely faith in that, but hell if it would stop him worrying about Jack's own health. No energy to argue, let alone want to start an argument over it. Last thing he wanted.

Took the pills, going ahead and popping them in to his mouth and swallowing them dry, expression twisting just a moment. Hated doing that, but hell he could still get them down. "Eat a bit to help get them down. Don't want to get sick just from taking all this on an empty stomach, right? Neither of us."

"I will, doesn't even have to be an order. Just want to make sure you take your pills and eat a bit, too."

[dadication]

He tipped his face to that hand, eyes closing as he enjoyed the touch. "I will. You'll be able to sleep with me here, promise." He didn't plan on sleeping tonight, not even dozing because they were not out of danger just yet. It was his duty to keep Gabe safe tonight because his bond kept them safe during the day.

He took out some pills for himself once Gabe was done and also swallowed his dry before he forced open a sports drink bottle and drank some down. He would need it to keep awake tonight. He offered the drink to Gabe. "I have a cast-iron stomach, so I should be fine. But you with your big city tummy needs something on it."

He hummed, agreeing that he would eat whatever Gabe left behind little-by-little. "Yes, sir."

[gr1m]

"I believe you," and that was what mattered the most, wasn't it? Believing that despite their injuries he had faith that Jack would watch over him, and if something happened he wouldn't be left vulnerable. Keeping that trust whole.

Gabriel tucked himself a little closer to Jack, even having his head rested in his bond's lap already, craving that closeness and touch in his exhausted state. "May be a big city boy stomach, but it's one that's built to stand spices better than anyone." Had gotten the packet open, squeezing it a bit so some of the beef stew came out and, well. Sort of half drank, half chewed what came out; warm, not as bad as it could have been.

Nose wrinkled just a bit- "What sort of treat do you think they packed with this?

[dadication]

It was nice to have Gabe's faith like that, so easily given and something that he took very seriously. He needed it, and it gave him strength to keep watch for the night he knew. They kept each other safe, always had, but they were both in such a bad way this time around. They made it work, protective of each other.

He leaned back to give Gabe more room to be in his lap, fingers still stroking over the older man's scalp. "I can do spices!" He can't, not like Gabe can. He isn't as bad as some honestly, but he knew he stood no chance against many other cultures. He stroked his fingers down Gabe's neck, humming low in his throat.

"I don't even know. The treats are like playing Russian Roulette."