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[dadication]

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[dadication]

As light filtered through the trees, he was able to look around to better assess their location. Deep in the forest but away from potential game trails. It was a good spot from what he could see, and they had been well left alone aside from maybe a few birds or squirrels, most of whom were also just starting to wake.

With little else to occupy him and exhaustion starting to overtake vigilance, Jack became aware of Gabriel waking, and he tipped his head to observe the older man still laid quiet and warm on his legs. His fingers stroked down further, smoothing between Gabe's shoulders in an attempt to chase away any unpleasantness. Letting his bond know he was there.

[gr1m]

Could have been from aggravated aches and pains due to still sleeping on the ground with his injuries, senses pulling more aware because of the constant little unconscious reminder of their predicament. Body knowing it was tired and hurt, that worrying thought of danger a constant in the back of his mind not wanting to allow him to rest until they were safe. They'd never truly be safe, not like this—

That tightness started to ease, some held breath in Gabriel's sleep let out as he relaxed under those fingers. Even muscles that had tensed relaxed, even if fingers kept curled a little tightly on Jack's pants.

Part of his not yet awake, not wanting to awaken, had his face turn against his bond's stomach with some low noise, curling still. He needed to, but his body was still exhausted, likely would be so long as healing was needed.

[dadication]

He knew from experience and being stationary as long as he had been that aches and pains built up, especially as their limited pain medication had worn off a few hours ago. There was nothing to be done about, but he wanted Gabriel as quiet and asleep for as long as possible. The rest was deeply needed.

Jack held in a sound as Gabe's face pressed into his stomach, hot pain reminding him that yes, he was still wounded. No matter, it was worth every moment of it with his bond asleep and settling down again. His hand continued to stroke up and down Gabe's back leisurely, making it clear that the older man was safe and could rest on.

Exhaustion was going to plague them for days he knew. Their kind of wounded sapped all energy out of them. So the more rest now, the better chance of healing well.

[gr1m]

There was another long day of being on the road ahead of them, no need to stop other then some rest stops to work out any stiffness from being on the bike only to start all over again. No need to stop for food, had enough to drink still on them, and unless they needed another recharge there'd be no stopping for anything else until there was another need for sleep.

They needed to get as much distance and ground as possible, all of those worries and wants going to be there in his mind at a near constant for a need to keep them both safe. A wonder he had slept without it plaguing him then, exhaustion at least giving him respite from his own mind. For a little while at least.

Couldn't remain asleep for that much longer for all of those reasons now, even if he wasn't rising so quickly- "Idea of the time?" Voice a little hoarse, groggy as Gabriel kept down.

[dadication]

A long day on the road, a long haul towards safety, and a long winded conversation about recovery in future. Even for them, their wounding and their travel would make things difficult. They were just too stubborn to actually die at this point. Maybe it was more accurate that they fussed and worried after the other too much to let the other pass away. They would always be tethered in life and in death.

He looked out beyond the walls of their enclosure, estimating how far the sun had risen at this point. It was light enough that they could easily travel without concern, but dark enough that the roads wouldn’t be full of people. Birds were only starting to wake. “I’d say about oh-five-hundred. Maybe closer to oh-five-thirty. Birds are just waking.”

His fingers still didn’t stop stroking Gabe’s back. “Can you sleep more?”

[gr1m]

"Early enough then, huh." The road would be clear, outside of whatever few could be traveling themselves- but given what happened that could be more in-traffic that people leaving this way at the very least. Maybe fortunate for them, or not.

Gabriel tilted his head a bit, all the better to look up at Jack, quiet for a moment as he contemplated the question. Would be easy, to try and let himself get more sleep, especially with the motion against his back.

"Should I?" Or should they try to get going now?

[dadication]

"Yeah. All is quiet," he murmured, hopefully putting the older man at ease against his thighs. He knew the sooner they were aware, the better for their progress, but he didn't have the energy to make any kind of push for it. Gabe looked exhausted but mildly rested and comfortable.

The corner of his lips tried for a little smile of encouragement. "You could use the rest, Gabriel. It's peaceful and quiet, so it seems like a good opportunity to rest."

[gr1m]

"We... should get going before more of the world wakes up," his voice sounded damn terrible, but even as he said it he wasn't pushing up or even away from Jack. No, he was staying right where he was, Gabriel's eyes already half closed from just how soothing that hand on him was. How safe he couldn't help but feel. "Need to give you a chance to rest, too."

Even if it was just something not restful against his bike as they continued down the road.

[dadication]

"Maybe, but the world will keep for now. Everyone is looking elsewhere, not at two people on the road right now." His hand continued to stroke, aware that it was helping to keep Gabriel settled and hopefully feeling safe and secure. As much as he agreed they should leave, he was hesitant with how well the older man had slept. "I'm managing."

He couldn't exactly lie, not to his bond. He was exhausted, but he could watch over Gabriel for longer. The more rested, the better the older man healed. "Sleep more if you can. I'll keep watch."

[gr1m]

Gabriel rested a hand against the side of Jack's face carefully, cupping his cheek and just... giving that much touch and turn. "Mi único amor," voice soft even if hoarse. Could tell how tired the other man was, wished he could do more, that they had more to work with then and there, but they wouldn't until they managed to get to that bunker that felt too far away as it was.

"You need sleep, too." They needed to move, couldn't linger. Hell he wanted to, though. Wanted to stay and sleep as long as he could, sore and tired as he felt.

[dadication]

Tipping his face carefully into that hand, he allowed his eyes to close for a few moments to relish the moment. His ears were still pricked for foreign sound, but it was still quiet where they had set up camp. He hummed roughly in return to the words, enjoying them as he could.

"Probably," he agreed, sounding tired. "But I'm not driving, so my lack of sleep won't be detrimental on our travels later," he pointed out logically. All the while, his hand never stopped stroking up and down Gabe's back. "Take another hour or two."

[gr1m]

Jack was going to burn himself out and end up just passing out from sheer exhaustion at some point, and that wouldn't be good. Stubborn as the man was, not worrying about his own health; not that Gabriel was surprised no. Had been like this ever since the hell of what happened started, hadn't it? Jut had to work through it all.

His head rested back against Jack's thigh all the same, looking up at him. "Just a little longer, then both of us need to try and eat something before we set off," break down what little camp they had. Take what they could of meds to try and make the trip a little more... easy on their bodies, at least.

[dadication]

He knew that was true, that he was pushing it harder than he had any right to, but Gabriel was his priority. He needed to worry, even if he might collapse and pass out at some point. Hopefully when that happened, they would be hidden away and safe where both of them could recover and the heal.

"Yes, alright," he agreed softly. "Let me take care of you a little longer. You know that you'll do the same for me soon enough." He stroked his fingers between Gabe's shoulders, affectionate. "Rest, lover boy."

[gr1m]

Gabriel was far more worried it would happen while they were still on the road, much as he hoped that Jack could make it to the bunker. That he'd have whatever they needed on hand rather than having to struggle through it with them both only having a stolen bike and bag at their disposal. His own worry would remain until they were safe somewhere solid that he knew was off the grid enough to make finding them almost impossible.

"Okay," relenting softly, taking in a slow and deep breath and letting it out all the same. "Just... just a little while longer, then we have to get ready and go." Repeating himself almost as he couldn't help but let himself be lulled, even some soft amused noise at the pet name. "Hard not to with you."

[dadication]

Jack honestly couldn't fathom how much longer they had to go. He had slept yesterday, and they had both hit the point of exhaustion. He knew that they would continue to suffer as they tracked their way to where Gabriel was taking them, but he took some solace knowing that his bond was resting. He needed that to convince himself to keep his eyes open right now and hopefully for the rest of the day.

Paranoia was a powerful thing, and the idea of failure here and now was unacceptable.

His hand continued to stroke Gabe's shoulders and then moved up to cup and stroke the back of his bond's head, watching his damaged fingers slide over equally damaged flesh. He sighed heavily and shifted slightly to find a bit more of a comfortable position where he sat. He made no effort at all to wake his bond either, letting Gabe sleep as long as physically possible.

[gr1m]

Large part of him didn't want to try and get more sleep in, antsy and needing to get them both out of there quickly and back on the road. Keep as far ahead as possible, of what he couldn't even say exactly other than fear of them somehow being found. Needed to escape, get them both as far away as possible.

Rest of him knew the more rest he got, the longer he could drive and the further they would get. Needed that rest after pushing himself, but there was further to push. Reason to continue doing so.

There was some more rest gotten at least? Could have been better, and could have certainly been worse, but there was a hand lifted to cup the side of Jack's face when Gabriel did stir again. They needed to eat, both of them. Even if a little, slowly get moving. Couldn't make himself sleep longer than that.

[dadication]

The birds were coming awake, the sun was rising to lighten the sky and the forest, and it seemed as if the day tried to start without them. His vigilance wavered slightly now that it was light, causing his head to droop and his shoulders to twitch as he fought off exhaustion while Gabe rested.

It wasn't as long as either of them probably wanted, but it was more than Gabriel had before trying again. His eyes slowly focused when a warm hand pressed to his cheek, and he managed a small smile at the corner of his lips. His hand stroked the older man's head affectionately.

"As attractive as the first day I laid eyes on you," he murmured, voice slurred and heavy.

[gr1m]

Jack looked beyond exhausted, and he wished that he could do anything for his bond to ease him in to some sleep himself. Be better for him, give him that little chance to heal a little better and recharge. Trying so hard just to watch over Gabriel himself despite his condition, and knew the man would try if he were even worse off.

Couldn't hide the twitch at the corner of his mouth, keeping that hand there and giving affection as well as he could with that one hand. Christ, just as sappy and sentimental as always-

"Flatterer."

[dadication]

He would have leaned down to steal a kiss, but he knew for a fact that his wounds wouldn't tolerate it. No, he closed his eyes and turned his head to kiss Gabe's palm. That warm hand was welcomed, and he knew he could stay that way for a good while. They didn't have time for that, but he could savour it all the same.

"One of the reasons you love and put up with me," he murmured softly, then coughed a few times. Just small, probably removing some of the junk still in his lungs from the building fall.

"I guess this is us having to pack up and go?"

[gr1m]

"Just one of them, there are a few others on top of that." Hiding the worry from his face at least from that coughing, knowing exactly why he was but it didn't stop the feeling. Gabriel pushed himself up slowly just so he was eye-level with Jack then, pressing a light kiss against the corner of his mouth once up there.

They would be okay. With time.

Shaking his head, just a little. "We're going to try and eat a little first, take what medication we can, and then pack up and go. Okay?"

[dadication]

"Now who is the flatterer?" He was reluctant to let Gabe sit up, but he also knew better than to stop his bond too. They needed to get a move on, get on the road and further away from the wreckage of their lives. His brain felt fuzzy and sluggish as well, which limited how quickly he could react. Hence why he tried and missed kissing Gabe in return.

He made a sound, tilting his head a little. "Still have those m&ms and protein bars. Feel full from the stuff we ate last night." He ached a lot, so medication would be easily accepted.

They couldn't risk an infection at this point.

[gr1m]

"Not flattery when it's true." Seating himself beside and tucked a bit against Jack all at the same time, still within their makeshift tent. Offering his bond the chance to lean against him if he needed, already tugging their bag closer to himself, going through it as he nodded.

"We do, yeah. Which do you want to start with, first? Can open one of the sports drinks, too." Wash it all down, why not.

[dadication]

"Hush, you're going to make me blush, and I can't spare the blood for that," he replied with a faint tired smile. He shifted and stretched his legs and arms now that he had more freedom to do so and then he was leaning against Gabe's side, enough that he settled down enough to lay his head on the older man's shoulder.

"Maybe I'll start with sport's drink. Hydrate first," he murmured. His face was still sore and eating aggravated that. "Pills and drink first then... see about food."

[gr1m]

At least he bit his tongue on a 'all the more reason not to keep my head in your lap' comment, it far too easy to keep going in some effort to keep the mood light. Comfortable. Ignore the horror still surrounding them, that they weren't far away enough from yet. Soon they would be.

There was a bottle pulled out of the bag, already snapping it open so the lid would unscrew easily, holding it for Jack to take with his good hand. "Here. I'll get the pill bottles and other things while you tell me if that's any good." Still a light tease.

[dadication]

He thankfully managed to prevent himself falling asleep then and there by not closing his eyes while his head rested on Gabe's shoulder. He took the sport's drink and sipped from it, so tired he barely even tasted anything. It was sugar and water and that was enough to keep him from fading away completely to sleep.

"Tastes fine, I guess," he murmured and had to yawn, which cracked his jaw but more stretched the sutures to their limits and causing him to make a sound of pain. He touched his own face hurriedly but felt not blood. It just felt like he was ripping them out, not that they were out. "I need to turn off my yawn button."