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[dadication]

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[gr1m]

A couple of idiots that didn't think twice about pushing themselves, but fretted like hell over the other. Seemed about right, and at times it worked together enough that they at least got enough of a rest that they healed and didn't feel like complete shit- other times not so much.

There was a moment where it looked as if Gabriel was about to say something, but it died somewhere before lips had even parted to speak, head turned to look away and that cracked open eyes simply closing again. Hand dropping a little too easily from Jack's wrist, fingers slipping from too loose of a grip, arm left hanging over the side of the tub. Didn't bother with the blanket, leaving it be as it had been draped over him.

Only thing more he really did was put the oxygen mask in place without needing to look here it had been dropped on him. Giving up far more easily than he ever had whenever he went this route? Very much so, going quiet that much more quickly as well. Usually tried to argue or even make a couple other low-blow attempts but he simply... stopped.

Yet he was going to still stay right where he was, either out of what remained of his stubborn streak or it being too much effort to even bother with trying to get up again.

[dadication]

For a moment there, Jack thought that Gabe was about to fall unconscious, a spike of panic lancing through him as he felt the older man's grip loosen and slip away from his wrist. He made a soft sound of concern, but it became clear a moment later that Reyes had instead just... given up. That as such a rare thing that he peered at the older man in the tub, febrile and probably uncomfortable.

"Gabe..." he murmured softly, looking at the floor to consider sitting down there so he could be with the partner of his life a little more closely than if he ventured to the bed. The floor was questionable at best, and he was worried sitting down there meant he wouldn't be able to get up again.

He shifted his weight on his feet and then moved a step closer so he could rest his hand on the side of the tub. He moved slowly and painfully to lower himself down on the floor next to the tub, ignoring that this small bathroom made it cramped. He didn't care; he would stay near the older man for as long as he could manage it.

A hand reached out to search out one to try to lace their fingers together.

[gr1m]

Being in the tub itself at least helped with some... balance? Something of being too hot and too cold with the blanket there on top of him. Even if he still shivered it meant he wasn't feeling too hot, or at least not enough to budge the blanket. Probably wasn't good for him but it was.. something? Something. Not comfortable, but no worse than the bed in his mind.

Didn't make him look or feel any less like death warmed over, but breathing a little better with the mask back on. Too tired to fight any longer, the entire movement in dragging himself in here having taken more than he thought out of him. That or the pain pills on an empty stomach were doing a number on him finally.

Gabriel jumped a little at initial contact with that hand seeking his own, but fingers did lace with Jack's a little loosely as he let out a slow breath. "You' be more comfortable on the bed than trying to fit on the floor in here." Still enough energy for that, apparently. That bit of worry and concern.

[dadication]

The floor of the bathroom was cold and leaning on the tub wasn't much better, but it was going to have to do for the time being. He lounged there as much as he was physically able, watching Gabe struggle to find that happy medium between too hot and too cold, but it seemed that the oxygen was still helping. Maybe he should consider breaking in somewhere to grab more tanks? It would take some time for that lung and all the surrounding damage to heal.

His eyes closed once he had Reyes' fingers between his own, like they were an insurance policy to knowing the older man would be alright. He made a sound of acknowledgement to the advice, but leaving now meant having to get himself up and he was done for the time being. All this over a refusal to eat.

Instead, he shivered and pillowed his less damaged cheek on a forearm and sighed as he tried to shift into a comfortable spot. "Doesn't matter. I'm taking care of you," he remarked even if he was basically doing no such thing. He was here to offer a sort of moral support, and right now, that's all he could offer. So he'd stay because being near Gabe was as much of a comfort for him as it likely was for his bond.

[gr1m]

"Should be takin' care of you," words just a little slurred, as if he was that much closer to going unconscious. Likely due to the pain medications, and the energy draining as everything was pushed towards healing. Not eating, no extra energy. Was just taking a lot out of him. Didn't doubt that it was taking a lot out of Jack as well since they were very much in the same slowly sinking boat.

All the more reason he wanted Jack to eat so badly, reason he didn't want to eat if the other wouldn't. Juvenile as that entire thought process was, he wasn't firing on all cylinders when it came to thought.

Just enough to keep them both alive and healing at all. "Going to hurt all th'more when you move."

[dadication]

"Mmmmm, you saved me out there, doctored me up here," he murmured, his voice also starting to fade. He nestled his cheek on his arm, allowing his eyes to close again, and taking comfort in the loose grip of their fingers together. His own doses of medications were kicking in and if he had wanted to get back up, it was too little, too late now.

He gave Gabe's fingers a light squeeze. "Hurting now anyway," he mumbled, breathing starting to even out even as he shivered. "Take care of you," he breathed then faded off to sleeping again. It was better for them to rest no matter where that might actually be.

[gr1m]

Felt like he could have done more, even if it was just telling himself that in the back of his mind. Should have been doing more now, but hell if he could get his mind wrapped around it well enough and push himself anymore. Was still early enough in the day, they both needed more sleep and to eat but they were still them and stubborn as hell.

Gabriel squeezed Jack's hand, even if it was a bit weaker could still be felt. "Love you," now that was clear even if it was still mumbled and not really a reply, but it was the truest thing he could have said at the moment and- well. Gabe was tired and they'd both feel how falling asleep in the bathroom would feel soon enough. Some bit of consciousness before being thrown back in to it that wasn't being just rudely shoved awake because of a call of nature.

If anything it'd be a loud call of sirens going by the area, a little fleet of them that were likely ambulances taking a shortcut to one of the medical centers spotted around the area.

[dadication]

He was already asleep when Gabe made the final quiet proclamation, but he had known that they loved each other a long time ago and knew nothing about that would ever change. That assurance was always with him, with or without the words to back it up. It was the same on how he felt about Reyes, the partner of his life who had so easily won him over all those years ago.

Sleeping in a bathroom had never been comfortable even when he was young and healthy. It was cramped and cold and too many odd angles to have to try to fit into. Sleeping in one at the odd angle while older, bigger and far more wounded than he had been the last time he had tried it was a huge mistake. He was shivering harder than ever, his ass was basically asleep and his body was stiff and sore even with the residual pain medication.

Yet, it was the sirens that woke him, sounding like more than one. He lifted his head from where he had pillowed it on his hands and winced as he tried to stretch his shoulders and ended up hitting the pipes under the sink and then turned to look and nearly smoked his head on side of the tub as he pitched thanks to his body not responding. He was freezing to the point where his teeth tried to chatter.

Still, he waited to hear if the sirens passed, too out of it to determine if the pitch and frequency was to which particular emergency type vehicle. If it stopped, he assumed it was police coming for them and they were going to have to bust out of this place in their underwear and abandon any attempt at healing with any manner of comfort in the way of their stolen supplies.

However, the ambulances moved on without even a pause, and he was left struggling to find any sort of comfortable way of sitting.

[gr1m]

Gabriel had jerked awake himself, head hitting the inside of the tub hard enough that he was seeing stars for a moment. Gripping the sides of the tub and breath caught in his throat, stiffened up and the aches screaming in his limbs but he didn't move other than that. Listening to the sirens as well, and only moved when they had passed, catching sight of the state Jack was in.

Didn't think twice before he was forcing himself up, draping that blanket from on top of him on to Jack, leaning over to do it if he needed- "You stubborn asshole," voice a bit rough, "Feel like ice." Even if he was running a temperature.

That oxygen mask was pulled off as Gabriel forced himself out of the tub, and even if Jack tried to struggle he was using what strength he had to bundle the man and lift—

Had Jack bridal-style as he was going to stumble out of the bathroom and head back towards the bed. Didn't care if he might have looked completely ridiculous getting out of that tub, how drowsy he still was after being jerked out of sleep and in to a mental high alert. Jack getting back on that bed was his 'mission' and was damn well going to try and help.

[dadication]

He jerked a bit to peer at Gabe trying to obtain more of a head injury than they had in the fall of Overwatch. He almost reached out in sympathy, to check for blood but his fingers weren't working right from where they had been curled to fists. It mostly frustrated him than anything, and he made a noise of concern when Reyes was jumping up and out of the tub so quickly.

Instinctively, he lifted his head and strained to hear for sounds that would lead towards a forced entry into their room, thinking he had missed something over the way his teeth had tried to chatter. He had his jaw clenched tightly by that point, and he didn't hear anything. He gawked at Reyes suddenly throwing that blanket over him, and then he couldn't help the squawk that managed to slip passed his lips as he was bundled up and hauled right off the floor.

"M'okay," he managed, but by then, he was already in Gabe's grip. He struggled feebly, more concerned for the older man's injuries than his own state of freezing. "Put me down. I can walk, and you need your oxygen," he protested far too late to do anything about the fact he was being carried from the bathroom and settled on the bed all over again.

He seemed to blink his eyes and was suddenly back on the bed, but his shaking hadn't abated any in the process. He shifted to make room for Reyes, but he was tangled up in the blanket and unable to easily find his way back out. "You have to lay down with me."

[gr1m]

"I'll get it when I got you set down," the oxygen mask. Right now it would have just gotten in the way of getting Jack somewhere better than the cold bathroom floor, keeping a good hold -or good enough hold- to at least not fail against weak struggling.

Only place Gabriel was going to be putting him down would be on that bed- which he did, hunched over and hands braced on the mattress as he tried to catch his breath, had lifted enough to look back at Jack. Blinking a few times. "Got you down. Happy?" Just a light sort of tease before he was moving to straighten up.

Lay down wit him- "Let me get the tank and mask and I will. Okay?" Let Jack know he was going to be right back then, staggering his way back to retrieve it. Soon enough sinking on to that bed and moving close against Jack, mask pulled over his mouth and nose as he finally took a deeper breath.

"You okay?"

Goddammit, Gabe.

[dadication]

He made a noise that was clearly not happy, but he wasn't about to protest the fact that he was back in the bed and off the freezing floor. He was stretching out and trying to work out the kinks from sleeping in such an odd position, but he ended up just more tangled in the blankets, kicking his legs futilely. He shouldn't be this weak and this out of it; he needed to be on alert! They should be taking turns on watch.

Instead, the very need to be paranoid left him the moment that Gabe returned to the bed, slipping in under the blanket next to him. The older man felt like a blast furnace compared to how deeply cold he was, and there wasn't a single thought for how cold his skin might be as he immediately pressed back into the warmth and stability of Gabe's body. He shivered and shook where he lay, seeking out an arm to wrap around himself like a far more secure blanket than the one covering them.

"So cold," he mumbled, having to clench his teeth from them chattering. "Did we forget to turn up the heat?"

[gr1m]

Kept that arm wrapped around Jack and pressed close, all the better to share his body heat and help re-adjust Jack's own, try and get him warmer. Cuddled in close as possible while still being careful of healing injuries, almost tucking the other against his chest. Protective.

"Dunno, worry about this right now. Check it later," if there was even a thermostat in the room they could use to turn up the heat. Or on. Whichever. "Also eat later, even if I have to force feed you an energy bar," but not right now.

Tucked his chin against the top of Jack's head, Gabriel slowly relaxing once a comfortable enough position was found. "Gonna be okay," as if the reminder was needed.

[dadication]

Shivering up against Gabe was alarming, aware that the other was wounded and needed to rest as much as he did. He hadn't the energy to pull away though, instead tucking into the safety and warmth of Gabe's reach around him. His eyes were open, peering the way of the door and single window of the room, waiting to see if shadows moved beyond it as if to indicate they were going to have to move.

Aside from the distant sound of sirens and the occasional sound of a sex worker at their trade, he heard nothing alarming. "You're so warm," he said, sounding like it was a compliment. "'m still not hungry." Food was currently the last thing on his mind; his brain was hard-pressed to keep up the list of bad decisions they liked to make when too worried about each other.

He closed his eyes, just willing himself to be warm. He even tucked his cold bare feet against Gabe's far warmer feeling calves, not even ashamed of the cheap move. His toes felt like ice. "I know. Someone has to nag your stubborn ass into healing up."

[gr1m]

The aches and pains felt so very unimportant as Gabriel focused himself on just helping Jack warm up. Be fine after that, just re-check if something tore again later once both of them had a little more to them to go on. Wasn't about to let go of Jack either, curled around him almost under that blanket, free hand making sure it was tucked snugly enough around them both.

His nose wrinkled a little, "Mm, and you're cold." Which he was going to fix. "You're going to eat because I'm going to eat and you can't stop it," because he would literally force feed Jack something and then eat himself if it ha to go that way. Even if he'd rather it be more of a taking turns sort of thing.

At least the sirens were growing distant, and it wasn't hard to guess exactly where they were going still. Gabriel growled a little at the cold feet, but didn't move to get them away. "You're no better, so going to get your ass nagged at right back."

[dadication]

"I don't know why I am. I've never had problems regulating my temperature since SEP," he remarked as if he couldn't understand why his body was suddenly betraying him in this way. Never mind the fact that he and Gabe were in a bad way, their supplies limited and their damage extreme at this point. There was only so much his body was willing to take, but on his mind, it should be handling sleeping in a cold bathroom just fine. How dare it betray him like this! "I'm just so damn cold."

He was still shivering violently, letting the warmth of Gabe's body soak into him, but he had become chilled and at his core, he was cold. He made a noise of protest to the idea of eating, but it seemed to him that refusing had gotten them both into this mess to begin with. This was clearly where being stubborn was a detriment to them both, since he suspected Gabe had not woken up comfortable sleeping in a bathtub of all places.

And this point, he had no doubt that Gabe would actually force feed him; there was just that edge in the older man's voice. "I'm not hungry," he said softly. "Just cold." But if he was forced to, he would try to chew something small. "You could just eat and feel better and leave me out of it."

He lifted his head a little from where it was resting on the mattress, listening for the sirens and then trying to snuggle back more firmly against Gabe, if that was at all possible. "You're the worst at nagging. You just get all stubborn and storm off." Case in point.

[gr1m]

"You're close to getting sick and every bit of energy is going towards healing wounds," Not much, if anything, to spare for anything else than what the body felt was more important. Like stopping all the bleeding and closing wounds to stop further infection. Probably, anyway. Could feel just how cold Jack had gotten and hell if it didn't worry him, no matter how bad he felt himself he still and always would feel the need to take care of the other first.

Hands rubbed against the skin of his back as the other kept to an arm, very mindful ad staying away from places he remembered tending to. Didn't want to tear stitching or roll bandages. Worst Gabriel felt was stiff and sore, the blanket had kept him from getting too cold and the tub itself at least let him keep it on and not feel like he had gotten too hot. Or he was too tired to get rid of the blanket.

"Reason right now we're just warming you up," and right now Gabriel still felt like if he ate even a crumb it wouldn't stay down, but he wasn't saying that. He knew it was because of all the pills take on an empty stomach. "You need to eat as much as I do, and so we're both going to. Later."

His nose wrinkled a bit, "And you end up following me after a little while." Which he had, but right then Gabriel was just holding Jack closer, and at least that fever was good for something then and there.

[dadication]

"I've been in worse spots before," he murmured unconvincingly. He had been in a few worst spots, but they had been less obnoxiously stubborn back then. He figured they were falling back onto their roots of digging in and trying to overwhelmingly take care of the other rather than taking care of each other equally. Now he was here with Gabe surrounding him, blanket tucked in and still trying to shiver his way right out of the bed. He figured his body would kick-start soon. It had better.

He made low sounds of pain here and there as Gabe's stroking hands passed over a particularly deep bruise and came a touch too close to an injury. Many were bandaged, but his bruises were numerous and none of them simple. Still, he appreciated knowing the older man was taking such care of him in his time of need. He had to beat down the impulse to turn over and try to take care of Gabe too, aware the older man would ask or show signs if Reyes was in trouble.

"I hate being cold," he complained, like he hadn't done it to himself. He knew it was his own fault, but he had wanted to be close to Gabe at all times and bathrooms were just not great for allowing closeness. "Are you still feeling nauseous? Think you can even eat? Maybe sipping some water will help."

He couldn't deny that. He had followed Gabe and he generally would nag when the situation merited his doing so. "You'll take huge risks if I don't."

[gr1m]

"Have even less supplies to go on now than we did then," and there was no medical team for them to fall back on or coming to get them. It was just the two of them and what was in the bag of supplies Gabriel had managed to grab. They'd make do, always could and always would when it came down to it, but it wouldn't stop him from fretting. Somewhere maybe chill and fever would cancel each other out.

Gabriel was still as careful as he could be, hand moving to tuck that blanket around Jack the best he could before arms settled around him again. Wanting to keep him close, breathing calming as he let himself settled a bit then.

He hummed, "Yeah, so do I." He did grimace a little bit at the question because wasn't that something, "Yeah. Staying still like this helps a bit, and like I said I'll try to eat later." While force feeding Jack if he had to? Yes. "In a bit."

A few fingers did brush through Jack's hair slowly, "Very true. We're both assholes like that."

[dadication]

"We'll make it through somehow. Always do," he replied, though his confidence wasn't quite on point as it usually was. They both were able to treat non-life threatening injuries in the past, even patch up those that were life-threatening, but they'd always had a team eventually. It was the first time in a very long while that h came to realize how much they were on their own. He shivered from both cold and that fact; they were alone. "We're... going to be okay, Gabe."

While his skin was warming, it would take longer for his core body temperature to rise with all of Reyes' efforts, and he was content to stay bundled up and touched until that happened. He could feel how Gabe made all the preparations for yet another few hour stay into one spot, of them cuddled up and leeching heat and comfort from each other.

"Did you grab any antacids?" He had a feeling that was 'no', that Reyes priority had definitely been pain medication and antibiotics back in the ambulance. He considered how close a pharmacy would be, but he also knew there was no way either of them would be making that trip any time soon. Still, the impulse was to protect and care for Reyes. "Maybe a small amount of food will help, but... later. Don't leave me," he murmured as he had completely settled in against Gabe.

He hummed in agreement. Assholes was a good word to describe them. "We have to be to put up with each other as long as we have. You're the other half of the asshole I am."

[gr1m]

They did always make it through somehow, he could acknowledge and remember that, but it was such new territory in that they would have to be doing to so very alone. Wasn't even safe for either of them to go to some doctor, let alone some hospitable or ER. Have to make do with whatever all Gabriel had shoved in to that bag in that pained frantic state he'd been in. "Still got each other, we will be," okay. Even if it might take a little longer than normal. They were going to be okay.

If only they had something warm to drink, to try and help warm him a little from the inside, but that would mean having to move yet again. Gabriel wasn't ready for that, even if they did have anything. Could just run warm water but again, didn't think he could move again that soon. Didn't want to. Was fine right where he was.

"No," hell, he didn't even know what all he grabbed outside of pain killers, antibiotics, and everything needed to take care of dressing and closing wounds. Maybe a few blood-bags they'd definitely have to dump or something. "Little food and water, later." When they'd have to check over stitches and the like as well with how much they have moved around. "Settles while I'm still, like this," didn't have to worry about him going anywhere right then and there.

"Glad I have you."

[dadication]

Jack knew that staying here even the entire day was dangerous, that they would have no support, but at the same time, it was very clear even now that they didn't have the capacity to be able to move far or as smartly as they might otherwise. This risk was less than if they roused themselves and stumbled out the door. They had developed some medical skills over the years, and he never more appreciated it then now while he shivered in Reyes' hold willing himself to be warmer. "We're too stubborn to die," he added, a small smile managing to briefly turn his lips.

He was content to be in Reyes' hold, and if he had the energy to move, he would have turned over so they could hold each other. He never had a problem being the smaller spoon though, tucking in and feeling protected and safe despite the situation.

"You need less of a city slicker stomach," he managed to tease, slipping an arm back to curl around the small of Reyes' back. He decided not to complain about being forced to eat anything; he had already drank his share of water and felt a bit better for it. "As long as you aren't going to puke bile on the back of my head. I'm already filthy enough."

He sighed and turned his head slightly, clenching his teeth so they didn't chatter lightly. He nodded. "Partner of my life," he murmured softly.

[gr1m]

This place would have to do, and it wasn't the worst place they could have ducked in to when all out of sorts. "Far too stubborn," and able to take care of each other even while being stubborn assholes about themselves. That stubbornness had gotten them this far already, even if it was taken them bit of a step back when it came to needing time to heal. They'd settle in to something sooner than later.

So long as he could still manage to provide some sort of comfort there'd be a part of him soothed in turn, even with his nose buried in Jack's hair somewhat- but with the oxygen mask he could do that. Reason Gabriel had his chin tucked on top of Jack's head instead.

His nose wrinkled a bit, "Says the farm boy who could barely manage my abuela's recipe for chicken soup." Teasing right back. With how his head spun from what had no doubt been a concussion he hadn't felt like eating, which only got worse the more pills downed. The moment he got more water or any food down he'd likely feel better. "You're safe for the moment."

A hand rested against Jack's chest, just over his heart as Gabriel's fingers curled loosely. "One and only," no one better.

[dadication]

He had always thought that he and Reyes would do everything together and that included dying. Their final end would be a group effort he knew, and now with their world crumbled apart, they had to be more vigilant then ever to stick together. No more missions where one remained safe behind. Even laying here shivering within the comforting fold of Gabe's arms, he knew that no more than ever they would do everything together, including getting to the bottom of who had dropped Overwatch on them.

He closed his eyes at the feel of warm breath in his hair, expecting that probably smelled terrible. However, it was the comfort that he couldn't take for granted, shivering and pressing back into the warmth of Reyes and even reaching up to pull the blanket tighter around them both.

And that provoked a laugh too, small and grainy, even if it ended with a brief coughing fit. "Look, I said I would try anything, but that didn't mean I would be able to take it," he replied, fondness in his damaged voice. "I learned and adapted over time, so don't hold that one time against me forever." He hummed at the assurance of being safe, though he only half believed it. He was still waiting for the door to be kicked in and them thrown back into fight or flight mode. "We're going to feel better in a few days. That's just what I keep telling myself."

He turned his head to be able to catch sight of Gabe out of the corner of his eye. That whole shift caused pain to flare through him, but he was assured by the sight all the same. "Stuck with me forever. I hope that comforts you."

[gr1m]

Even if things changed once Overwatch became some official group, and Blackwatch was created, they still tried to be there for each other when it was needed. Two different positions keeping them apart only so much, no matter how either of them felt about missions where the other couldn't be there with them like during the Crisis. Having the other to come back to was still something.

Smell didn't matter a damn bit at the moment, just one more thing pushed in to the 'worry about later' that was steadily stacking up in the back of his mind. What mattered was that Jack was there in his arms, and that they were both alive and... somewhat okay.

"Bring it up whenever you mention my city slicker stomach," A light and fond tease all the same, because it was all it was between them there. "They enjoyed whenever both of us could turn up there," his family, the Reyes crowd. Easy to be paranoid here, so little shelter and cover that any minute someone could barge in and they were still so low- "We just gotta help that along a little," medication and food, water too.

Corner of his mouth twitched, an arm held only a little tighter around Jack for it. "More than you can imagine."