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[dadication]

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[gr1m]

"You wear yours just as well," and would wear these as he had to. As both of them would have to bare their new scars after tonight.

A hand set against Jack's shoulder as he hovered over him, "I can help you. Just.. prop against the foot of the bed for now? We can worry about getting in it later." Didn't know if he had enough to get them both of them in bed, worry about it after maybe. As it was he was pushing himself up to rinse out the cloth so he'd have something clean to start washing off Jack's face, "I'll be back in a minute." Even if he was staggering.

Moving carefully not to tug loose any stitches o bandages on himself before he was coming back and sitting on his knees, a hand already on Jack to help pull him up in to a sit. Position so he was propped against the bed-

"You want more pain killer? Don't think there was any local pain killer for this."

[dadication]

Jack turned his head to look at the bed nearby, measuring the distance and how long it would take him to roll there. The hand helped, offering strength and warmth where there was nothing else at this point. He reached for Gabe when the older man stood and drunkenly staggered away, but he was certain the gesture wasn't seen as Reyes was likely concentrating on keeping a forward momentum.

He rolled slowly onto his side, as careful as he could be with the bandages and the sutures that were holding him together. He actually made it, and his hand reached out to grasp the edge of the bedding, hauling himself forward towards it and then struggling to rise. The bedding was slipping which forced him to wedge a weak elbow into the floor as he made the attempt to sit himself up.

He likely only made it the rest of the way because Gabe had returned and assisted him, but he was up. He was sitting and he swayed his head as vertigo assaulted him. He swallowed hard and let himself have a few seconds to stabilize before he shook his head a little. He was so damn numb right now.

"Just... do it." He trusted Reyes more than anyone and even if the sutures were a mess because both of them were a damn mess, so be it. He reached out to take Gabe's wrist. "If... you've got nothing left in the tank, forget it. I'll just... heal."

[gr1m]

"Need to do this," clean Jack's face and do what he could, not pulling his wrist away, instead resting the warm wet cloth on his thigh so he could rest his other hand lightly against the side of the other's face. Thumb slowly brushing against his jaw. "Just... cleaning you up, heal better then."

Trying to assure them both that Gabriel had more in him to spare, still using the oxygen tank or not. Could push through to clean up those lacerations and get skin fixed back together, painful as it might be.

Both of them were tired, been a long fucking night and there were going to be longer days ahead of them. "When you're ready, Jack. When you're ready."

[dadication]

He tipped his face towards that hand, sighing as he nodded slowly. He understood the pressures that they put each other under for the good of one another, and if Gabe could fix his face, he wouldn't stop the older man. It would probably be better to have it sorted rather than figure it out when the healing had already really begun. "Thank you."

He reached up to cover Gabe's hand with his own, offering the last of his strength in a faint squeeze. He opened his eyes and peered at Reyes before he nodded his head again as slow as the first time.

"I'm ready. Whatever you need to do."

[gr1m]

Was already looking over the wounds he could make out under the blood and dirt the rain hadn't completely washed from Jack's face- "Anything for you, anytime." Didn't doubt for a second he'd go to the same sort of extent for Gabriel himself. Just how it was, just how they were.

"Don't have to thank me, do whatever."

Which he was about to do, making sure that Jack was propped against the bed and at least solid enough that if he dozed off or something he wouldn't fall over. Tipping his head to press a kiss just against his cheek. "Going to hurt when I pull at skin, but keep your eyes closed for me." All the better to wash his face and clean away the blood. Do his damnedest to flush out those lacerations.

"I mean it, keep them closed, got to sew this." So there was going to be a curved needle going in and out of skin. "Let me know if you need me to stop." Pretty glad there was a curved one, just mad it a little easier not to slip and stab in when working so close to his eyes. Christ. Being as careful as he could, laying some butterfly bandages over those stitches just to reinforce the hold; keep skin held together.

[dadication]

"I know..." he murmured and he did. They would give up everything for each other, had proven that many times. Their relative bad blood has spawned out of concern and care rather than because they were fed up with one another. They argued like everyone else, but unlike most, they had no choice but to figure it out. Always seemed to end well for them. This was just... a different situation than either of them were truly used to, but Gabriel remained the one bright spot in his life.

He nodded slightly at the obvious statement that putting his face back together was going to hurt. He stared at Gabe for a long moment before he closed his eyes and kept them that way, not dozing at all, but keeping still and quiet as his face was washed of blood and dirt, revealing the full extent of how much damage had been done in the fall of Overwatch. "Sure thing, boss," he murmured, intent to keep his eyes closed.

He was keenly aware of every prick of the needle, every tug to bring his damaged and parted flesh back together again. It was uncomfortable to say the least, especially as sewing him back up caused blood to flow from the suture line, seeping over his eyes from his forehead and across his cheek. He didn't ask for a break, not even for the most painful parts around his lips, though he made the occasional sound. He didn't want Gabe to stop, wanted this to be over and done with, blood dripping from his chin. The butterfly bandages didn't relieve him any, but they meant that the job was finished.

He reached out and touched Gabe's elbow, assuring himself even as his eyes remained closed. His wounds throbbed, and some of them felt warm. Likely infection would be setting in, but he didn't care right now. He was here with Gabe and that's what mattered.

"Can we get into this bed together when you're done? I need to be close to you tonight," he said, aware he wouldn't be awake long the moment he lay his head down on anything. He knew they should eat something - Ziegler always nagged he and Gabe never ate enough when healing - but he wanted to rest. Food would have to wait; he didn't have the energy to even bother.

[gr1m]

Gabriel did his best to clean up blood as he went, wipe it away with something one he was done with the stitching. Make sure the skin was clean and dry before sticking the butterflies on him, so they'd actually have a chance of sticking better. Touch as light as he could allow with how his hands trembled at times from a mix of cold and trauma.

Clean-up after just as careful as before the sewing started, things set aside to be dealt with later when he was done—

A hand went over Jack's, giving it a little squeeze. "We can, yeah. Want to down a few antibiotic pills I grabbed?" He'd be taking a few of them as well, because hell if there wasn't that worry of infection. Didn't have a med bay to fall back on, just them. Had to get through this damn mess as well as possible.

"After I'm ready to lay down. Bed looked clean enough." All that they could get at the moment, better than nothing.

[dadication]

He peered at Gabe, taking a few moments to process about antibiotic pills and he wrinkled his nose, which turned out to be a mistake as it pulled his brand new sutures. He didn't want to take them, but even now, he knew better than to consider himself strong enough to fight off an infection and heal at the same time. "If I have to..." he mumbled, head dipping towards his chest. He wondered if he should drink some water too, but no, right now all he wanted was to sleep. Next to Gabe.

He mustered himself, fingers flexing against Reyes' elbow as he pulled himself together for one final surge of energy despite having nothing left. He lifted his arms to set them on the bed, wincing in discomfort but then gathering his legs under him and dragging himself up to be able to rise. He actually made it to sitting on the edge of the bed and then even rose to his feet to move around the side so he could pull the blanket back. He left the top sheet, dimly aware of the kind of establishment they were in and then gingerly seated himself again.

Ah right... pills. He was supposed to take some antibiotics.

Instead, he dragged himself into bed, thinking if Gabe would take some, his bond would bring a couple over for him as well. It was a feat just making it to where the pillows were stationed at this point, so he wasn't going to mess up a good track record. After all, he was mostly bandages anyway. Damn his shoulder throbbed where he had been shot.

"Any pain pills in there too? We should both take more." Just dose one another up to sleep.

[gr1m]

It was better safe than not, no matter what all SEP pumped in to them to make it that much harder for them to get sick; or just run longer when so heavily injured. After all of that he doubted either of them were packed with energy, and the boost of antibiotics would give them the greater chance of leaving this place alive. After rest, pulling themselves together, "We both have to," or should at least.

He'd passed enough money from that wallet he'd found that they had several hours. Maybe. Enough to sleep, and knowing this part of town the manager would no doubt knock loud enough to wake either of them to shove more at him if he miscounted in passing over a wad of cash.

Didn't matter right now, though.

A hand kept on Jack as he moved, just there to help catch him if he faltered, or even catch him since Gabriel was still on the ground. Only turning his attention away once he was sure Jack was safely enough on the bed before going for the pill bottles- pausing as he picked up the second bottle and shook out a handful of both in to his hand. "Yeah, getting them."

Pulling himself in to that bed he offered the divided mix of pain and antibiotic pills out for Jack, already taking his palmful and swallowing them dry. Just about four or five pills total, enough to get them through this shit.

Settled himself in bed beside Jack with some muffled noise, mix of pain and relief to be laying down. Could just sink in to that bed against the other and sleep. They needed to. Wake up in a few hours no doubt, but by then maybe they'd be a little more... themselves. Not just running on the need to survive.

[dadication]

Jack did his best to track Gabe in the room, thinking that they should check the windows and doors again to be certain they were safe, but any actual caution had faded with exhaustion. At this point, anyone who tracked them down and kicked down the door was welcome to them. He just couldn't muster the energy to do more than tiredly wait for Reyes to join him and what he wanted most of all was the close security blanket that was his bond.

"We'll be safe," he murmured at Gabe, but also to assure himself that a lax in double and triple checking the doors would be fine. It wasn't as if either of them would be caught dead in establishments like this. They were desperate but also out of the usual league they played in.

He took the palmful of pills that Reyes had decided would dose them both and didn't even question it as he threw them back and struggled to swallow them dry. It took him several swallow tries, but he managed to get them down, sagging where he sat before giving in to lay down. He dragged his legs up and shuffled over to the warmth that was Reyes. He managed to toe up the blankets to cover them both, needing the warmth at this both.

He figured they were both likely in some form of shock.

He made a similar sound of mixed relief and pain to be laying down, to be able to give into the urge to just rest that had been doggedly plaguing them both since they had set out in the ambulance. He tucked the blanket around Gabe, making certain there were no cold drafts and carefully cuddled into Reyes' side. Normally, he would guard Gabe's more vulnerable side, but at this point, all angles of them were the most vulnerable.

"You aren't allowed to die in your sleep," he murmured, head carefully settled on the pillow. He would definitely be leaving blood stains. They both would. Beyond the wall where their bed was pressed, he could pick out the sounds of two people fornicating and sighed. "Definitely no one will look for us here." He sighed, eyes closing and so close to dropping off to sleep.

[gr1m]

Double or triple checking the door and windows was the furthest thing from Gabriel's mind, tired as he was getting when the adrenaline was finally drained out of him. Mind slowing with the rest of his movements as the only thing he wanted to do was curl up and pass out. Be figuratively dead to the world for a few hours and gain back some energy that was lost just getting this far in the chaos the night had been turned in to on top of their heads.

He hummed faintly, Jack like a beacon of wanted and needed comfort only partially because of their bond. "Yeah," no one would be looking for them this far- he hoped. Did hope somewhere in the back of his mind.

Felt like the best goddamn bed in the world, even if that was far from true, but after everything for all he cared it was. Hand reaching for Jack the moment he laid down as well, tucking against him for physical contact, careful of both their wounds as he could be in that moment. It soothing like a balm as eyes closed and tenseness just seemed to melt from his form completely.

"Neither are you," made it this far, and like hell after all of that— well. Gabriel settled as close to Jack as he could manage then and there, eyelids too damn heavy to open and so he just tuned out the noise of next door. What this motel was used for in this area. "Good." Didn't want to fight sleep any longer, just letting it take him.

So damn tired.

[dadication]

Jack waited despite himself, despite not even having the energy to lift his head again. No, he waited until he felt Gabe slip off to sleep, assessing the older man's breathing quality and rate, making certain that the partner of his life wouldn't expire the moment that sleep had been found. His fingers stroked numbly along Gabe's arm, assuring himself of the solid presence in the bed next to him. There was peace in Gabe's sleeping expression this time, only pure exhaustion.

They would go no further for some time now, he knew. But they were alive - barely. He would take alive.

Even with his eyes closed, he made certain to listen to Gabe for a few minutes before he couldn't do anything more than follow his bond into sleep. Everything still ached, but he was exhausted beyond reason. He slept deep, cuddling his way closer to Gabe within hours of falling asleep, drugged up enough that his wounds didn't even awaken him as he moved in, having some part of his body in contact with Reyes at all times.

He was so tired he didn't even dream. There were no nightmares, no reliving the shit that they had gone through to get here. He was just unconscious, healing as quickly as his exhausted body could.

It was why he actually took more than a few pounds on the door to groggily come awake. "Wha...?" His mouth was thick and mossy, and he blinked his eyes blurrily as he tried to decide the source of the noise. The early morning light was up enough to announce the day, and he struggled to make sense of things, disoriented and sore.

[gr1m]

A dreamless sleep was better than the other option, which would'be likely been nightmarish on multiple levels. Blackness was better, and at least the oxygen mask didn't budge much while he slept, kept over his face and nose and helping him breath easy while his lung healed.

Was as peaceful as it possible could have been, worn to such a bone deep exhaustion and then dosed with a few pain medications.

Gabriel hissed when he finally jerked awake, pulling something in just the right way that the jolt of pain threw him out of his sleep far more than the knocking had. Breathing a little shallow and mask hanging around his neck from the strap, eyes a little wide and disoriented as hell, fingers gripping in to the bed as he needed a moment to remember where the fuck he was— they were.

That tug of bond the only thing that kept him in the bed rather than darting, looking Jack's way before slowly locking his gaze on the door.

Oh. Right.

[dadication]

His fingers pressed into Gabe when the older man hissed like a scalded cat and came awake faster than he had, but the sharpness of their bond alerted him to that subconscious surge of panic to flee. He rumbled a sound because words escaped him at this point and then lifted shaky fingers to reset the oxygen mask back on Gabe's nose and mouth, fingers then stroking up between the older man's eyes and then forehead in a show of comfort.

He looked towards the door, blinking his eyes slowly to awaken and then actually roused himself because he had a headache enough as it was without having to listen to someone pounding on the door. He struggled his way out of bed where it seemed neither he nor Gabe had moved in the night due to exhaustion. There were blood stains on the pillows and the bedding, but he didn't hazard a care right now. Dried blood was all over him anyway, the suture job holding even as he obtained his feet.

He was sore all over, hunching over in pain as he went to where Gabe had left the wallet and leafed through for more money. Then he approached the door and opened it, not even caring that he was only in underwear and he looked like a walking human disaster. The motel manager didn't even blink at his appearance.

"Time's up. Pay more to stay or get out."

"How much for a full day?" How he managed to talk was beyond him, what with how his tongue felt leaden and his teeth seemed to chatter. The price given wasn't completely outrageous and he handed it over with a nod. Motel paid, the manager immediately moved on to the next room on the list, and he shut and locked the door again, slowly turning to regard the bed and Gabe.

"You look like shit," he rumbled then coughed as he shuffled his way back to bed. He felt sore but numb, like he was in a dream and the previous day's events were a nightmare that he would be able to wake from. He seated himself on the bed and looked over carefully. "Need another O-tank?"

[gr1m]

His breathing slowed not just because of the mask being put back in place, but from Jack's touch. Even if it still hurt to breathe, was a little more shallow than it should have been, he was outwardly relaxing even with the pounding of the door. Gaze back on Jack and softening as memories were crawling back from last night after things had literally exploded.

They were as safe as they could possibly be after all of that, the pain was from healing and not freshly inflicted wounds. Neither of them were buried under so much rubble, not actively losing so much blood despite the bloodied sheets and the smell of it still in his nose; the taste of it in his mouth.

Gabriel slowly slumped back in to that bed after Jack had gotten up, watching him and aware of how hard it was for him to move. Not stopping him, already up, and it would have been pointless to try and drag him back to bed and get up himself to do it. One of them was up, and it looked like Jack was going to take care of the knocking that he could feel in his own skull as well.

Quiet while it was handled, letting his eyes drift closed and listening, hands slowly moving as fingers curled over his head. Trying to breathe slow and deep, but only half managing—

"I feel it, and you look as shit as I feel," eyes opened again, hands moving to sort of prop himself up again, another reaching out to grasp at one of Jack's arms. "Probably, think this one is running dry." But he was still breathing, right?

[dadication]

At least they were paid up for the next morning, which bought them time to heal and figure out their next move. He rubbed his neck since his face was pretty much unavailable at his point. He looked over at Gabe still settled on the bed, wishing he was there and sleeping, but now that he was up, there were more pressing matters that needed to attend to as well.

"Alright, I'll grab you another tank then I'm going to take a leak," he said tiredly, even if pressed his arm back into Gabe's hold momentarily. He regretted being up, but he was also going to make the most of it too, which mean rising to his feet all over again. Taking care of Gabe. Taking care of himself.

With a heavy sigh, he pushed himself up to his feet and shuffled to the bag with the oxygen tanks and dragged one over to Gabe's side of the bed. He figured the older man could switch it over while he hobbled to the bathroom to have relieve himself. "Shit," he muttered, though he wasn't surprised to see blood in his urine. He would be more surprised that his kidneys hadn't taken a beating last night.

Still, there was some relief in not having a bladder that was screaming at him. He shifted to the sink which was filthy and washed his hands then leaned down and began to drank water. It was cold but it would fill the void of his belly where food probably should go. He would grab some from the supplies that they had dragged in, but right now, he hadn't realized he was so parched until he began to drink and then he was sucking some down with his hands.

He grabbed two plastic glasses and filled them up with water then shut the tap off with his elbow. He carefully took himself back to the other room, setting a glass of water down on the table next to Gabe. "Drink that. You'll feel better."

After that, he was off digging through the random bag of supplies, finding protein bars and a few MREs. He threw them onto the bed because they needed to eat and he wasn't going to last long on his feet much longer either. He sipped his water as he returned and sat down before pushing in to lean against the wall. "I could sleep a week."

[gr1m]

"Thanks." Squeezing Jack's arm before he was letting go, mentally taking stock of his own aches and pains. Shifting a bit in bed and wincing a few times, but at least he could still feel things, even if it was a lot of pain that he felt. Could only imagine Jack's own, up and moving like a drunk just as badly as he'd been the night before.

They'd both gone through the wringer, and needed time to recover. Would have to think of food and clothing, shelter since like hell they could stay in this area for long. Still needed to rest—

Sat up enough that he could change tanks, taking in a deep breath just a little easier once he got the nuzzle on the new one turned enough. Tossed the empty one away from the bed and just near a wall. Neither of them would trip on that, because Gabe knew he'd need to get up eventually himself to take care of a few personal needs.

Took the glass of water once he was ready for it, and what started as a sip turned in to him just downing it in one go. Kept the plastic cup turned up before letting out a breath, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand to get some of it out of facial hair, too.

"You holding up alright other than that? Feel like I should redress some of your wounds?" Of course he was firing up right in to that 'help Jack' mode of things, picking up one of the energy bars while eyeing an MRE. That shooter had been stocked to be there for days.

Didn't sit well with him.

[dadication]

Now that they were both not only back in bed but sitting up, Jack watched Gabe move, aware that they were both in a lot of discomfort. It was going to be a rough few days and while they could take the day, they should probably move on by tomorrow. By then, he expected their healing factors to have gone into overdrive in them both, but protein bars and MREs were not going to tide them over well for long. Their energy requirements would be through the roof and the way that they were going to be dosing one another on drugs too... they were such a mess.

He offered his own full cup to Reyes after watching the older man down his that quickly. Yeah, they both were very dehydrated, but it was also easier to offer his cup rather than drag himself back out of bed to refill Gabe's at this point. No, pulling himself from this bed again just wasn't an option until he'd taken a breather.

"Pissing blood, no surprise there," he muttered, his voice deep and gravelly from damage. "My wounds will keep; you need to rest up and suck back more oxygen." This was not the first 'argument' about who needed more treatment than who they would be in, nor would it be the last.

He leaned his head back against the wall, closing his eyes even though he knew he should eat something. Soon, he promised himself. The water was filling the void.

"You need more pills? I'll drag myself out of this bed for you but no one else, okay?" He managed a small smile, but it pulled at the sutures in his lip and caused him to wince.

[gr1m]

Definitely need to be moving by tomorrow, on top of planning on how to keep supplied on food along with money here and there. Nothing in life was free, and they would likely be having to run; get the hell out of Switzerland and as far away as they could. Along with keeping clothed and work on shelter as they went. They were at a disadvantage—

The cup was taken with a rasped thanks, but this time he tried to keep it at slow sips rather than downing it all in one go. Be better for Gabriel in the long run, mostly. Make it last a little, watching Jack all the same.

There was a bit of a frown, but yeah. Pissing blood was no surprise. "You need the rest as much as I do, and I'm next on getting up out of this bed." Not that he wouldn't be returning to it, but other than having his own needs to take care of he needed to see how he was on his feet. Not fighting to do it this very instant, however.

One of the other energy bars was practically tossed in to Jack's lap, because like hell they weren't going to try and keep some of this to go. Could work on very little, and at worse they'd just split an energy bar, get a look at all the MREs there were to offer, split those if they needed, too.

His nose wrinkled a bit. "Take a breather, the we'll likely both need to take something more," pain pills most likely. Probably needed to take more antibiotics-

"That shooter was prepared to sit out there for days," It was heavy on his mind. "You think they had already been there a few days and waiting or...?" Coincidence? They were prepared to wait for days to see if either of them crawled out alive? What?

[dadication]

The idea of actually getting up and being in motion to escape and leave everything even more behind them was not one he could focus on right now. He was barely keeping himself in the game as it was, especially now that his bladder wasn't screaming at him and he'd actually wet his mouth and lips with water. The idea of packing up or even going through to assess their supplies was sickening, and he'd rather sit here pretending he had something to give than actually give it. He was hurting and tired still, fatigue from blood loss dragging at him.

He hummed at Gabe's claim, but he would have liked to point out that he wasn't currently sucking on oxygen to help promote breathing. "I imagine you have to freshen up at some point," he remarked, aware that bodily needs and maybe obtaining more water would be helpful for them both. He'd consider helping to shove Gabe out of bed in a little while, not now.

He glanced down at the energy bar, aware he should eat but delaying for no other reason than he figured biting and chewing was going to hurt his stitched up face a lot. It was already a mess with old dried blood which had thankfully stopped in the night. His wounds and him had come to an unhappy truce, and he was too sore to really want to put in the effort to eat when he had already managed to walk. He needed the calories though. It was a dilemma.

"Yeah... we are going to finish out those drugs in no time," he muttered, shaking his head a little. That was a mistake because it reminded him that his head hurt. He closed his eyes.

And then abruptly opened them again at Gabe's observation, even if he had known it too. It was the importance that fatigue had masked for him, but now that it was pointed out, it was glaringly obvious. "Shit..." he muttered, looking over at Reyes next to him and then shifting over so he could lay down again but this time rest his face in Gabe's lap. "I think whoever planned and executed this deemed it possible we would survive and try to dig out and they wanted to make certain we were dead no matter the condition we crawled out from. His position was perfect, so I suspect... there might have been others. Someone really wants us dead."

He doubted it would be the first time, but they had almost succeeded. His shoulder throbbed in reminder of that bullet he had taken.

[gr1m]

"Can't live on just rinsing of wounds," It was said lightly of course, even if he likely would want to step in to whatever passed for a shower in the bathroom. Just more quick rinses with a cloth than being ready to go all in. Maybe in a more secure location, but as it was- well, yeah. Didn't feel safe enough to do more than that. Couldn't be blamed as far as he was concerned on the matter.

That and he could feel the dried blood on his skin starting to itch a little in places where he was stitched. Just how it was with fresh wounds, wasn't it?

Picked up another energy bar and peeled it open slowly, breaking off a small piece before.. he was offering it between his fingers to Jack there in his lap, finger tapping his cheek to alert him to the bit of food. He hoped it would be easier on his face to chew a little piece, along with not having to bite it.

Leave the discussion of what drugs they had left another time; worst came to worst they'd raid a drug store.

"Let's hope that for the moment they believe we're dead," give them breathing room of a few days at the very least. Maybe? Hopefully. "Didn't care about collateral damage either, that's for sure," all of the others inside of the building that likely died... Glancing up and squinting at the tv at the wall opposite of the bed. "Should probably see if that thing gets the local news channel." To see the extent of the damage, as much as it would be nice to avoid it, but it could help them.

As much as it'd hurt, too. "You're right though, someone really wants us dead."

[dadication]

"I don't have the stamina for a shower." Having been in the bathroom, he wasn't certain they wouldn't just contract a new and rare infection if they tried as well. Right now, he was willing to tolerate dried blood and some extra muck, though they likely couldn't stay on dirty sheets much longer. He wasn't looking to drag himself out of bed until he had slept a bit longer; he was so damn tired.

He curled a hand securely around Gabe's thigh, savouring the contact and the usual sensation of life from their bond. His eyes closed, he was perfectly willing to slip back into sleep while Gabe guarded them a little while. Instead, he made a sound and opened his eyes when a piece of protein bar was offered, obediently opening his mouth to eat the morsel. He chewed slowly and gingerly, feeling every little pull on the sutures holding his face together.

It tasted good. It made him realize that he was hungry. Slow and steady.

He sighed heavily after swallowing the bit of protein bar in his mouth. "Someone has put a lot of effort into killing us and eliminating Overwatch," he agreed. "All those colleagues..." he trailed off, the full impact of how many people had probably died in that collapse was staggering. His fingers tightened on Gabe's thigh, seeking what little comfort there was. "What if... " he trailed off, turning his head to glance up at Gabe. "What if whoever did this knew about what we are to each other, Gabe? It was too perfectly timed, both of us on the lowest level, disarmed and then snipers covering the rubble to pick us off?"

The more he thought about it, the more he was convinced. "They almost succeeded...."

[gr1m]

"Can do washcloth baths at least," once either of them felt like they could move, but there was nothing urgent pushing Gabriel in to getting up just yet. "Even if it's just cleaning skin around stitches and shit, feel a little less grimy. Later, though." A good while later.

Didn't feel like moving, propped up in a sitting position so he was at least a little comfortable like that, had stolen the other pillow to prop against his back. A little relieved that Jack had taken that bit of food from him as well, taking a small piece for himself to at least get something himself. Easier to share one for the moment.

Give them a little more energy to heal, even if it wasn't a whole lot.

His tongue clicked after he swallowed his bit of energy bar, almost absently holding a second piece down for Jack as he spoke. "Someone really did, and it had to be someone who had access to that area to get that bomb down there," wasn't an all access area. "Overwatch has been compromised, and I'm afraid to think how deep that might run." How much had everything rotted? Glancing down at Jack then, "I don't know. We've done everything we could to keep that just between us. How the hell could they find out? What could we have missed, or let slip?" He wasn't expecting real answers.

A hand rested against Jack's head, fingers curled loosely in to hair, "But they didn't. We're alive."

[dadication]

"Later... just rest now," he requested, mostly because he didn't want to have to lift his head off of the comfort of Gabe's thigh. It was one of his favourite places to doze on, and if Reyes wasn't eager to get up, he was going to stay exactly where he had laid his head down here. "I'll wash you after a nap. Promise."

He stretched his legs down the bed, feeling the pull of the blankets on his wounds and bandages but more all the aches of his body awakened. He settled though, able to ignore most of it because he was safe and sound here. He could tell that Gabe was as comfortable as the older man was going to get as well, which allowed him time to stop fussing at the partner of his life.

"You've been warning me something hasn't been right," he murmured, eyes back to being closed. He took the second piece into his mouth and chewed carefully again, pausing in talking while he finished that next piece off. "How did we not see this coming? We've been hunting down rogue elements for years." But then Gerard. Then Ana. And then and then... the body count was growing. He sighed heavily. "We've had a few... you know, near death experiences apiece. Times when the doctors reasonably thought there was no way one of us would survive the damage, but we did." Was it someone in medical? Putting the pieces together?

They hadn't succeeded. It didn't stop the shock that they had tried very hard. "We need to stay that way. I won't lose you."

[gr1m]

He snorted a bit, ruffling Jack's hair a little. "Want to save me the trouble of washing myself?" Just a light, light little sort of tease and a movement of fingertips against his scalp. Gabriel was more than content to rest, the pain easing a little as he didn't budge much after that. "Rest sounds good right now, all the same."

Take the day and then move out before the manager of the motel could come demanding more money again- or take that as their cue to move on. So much to worry about after that, clothing and cash, transportation and so many other things that was giving him a headache to think about.

The current subject was the one that had his heart sinking.

Gabriel hummed in reply at first, because he had been warning, even if he couldn't give any real concrete evidence- reason the warnings were not followed up on. "Been looking in the wrong direction," more outside than in among their own ranks. No telling just how deeply it could have gone. "At most medical would have seen our names on each other-" With how dark the letters became in those moments, they'd have been stripped completely after all. "-would know were were bonded." At the very least.

"From that they'd damn well know we were involved with each other," which was a whole other can of worms, wasn't it?

Slowly he brushed fingers through Jack's hair, "Not loosing me anytime soon."