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[dadication]

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[gr1m]

"Of course I see that!" Mind had already raced all of the possible stories, and the only one that fit the most was scapegoating him and Blackwatch as a whole and martyring Jack because of how hard he'd still been fighting for the right thing so very publicly. Trying to ease the fears of the public despite outcries for his head and the end of Overwatch. There was no possible way that he could be painted as some villain of any story.

Gabriel was the one who fit that role better, him and whoever was left of Blackwatch with their existence being public knowledge now. A rebellion from within, an argument likely turned towards physical fighting—

The next words were far more stressed, "The injuries would give you away." There was no way for him to slip in unnoticed, or to hide how injured he was. No one in their right mind would miss any EMT or any other disguise Jack could come up with that badly injured as anything but out of place.

Fingers curled around Jack's wrist once he was close again, but he wasn't fighting him or the placement of the oxygen mask. Eyes locked on to his face again, there on the floor, lung and sides burning from it all. "To catch your attention," knock him out of his train of thought and listen, because it was so very rare that Gabriel ever used his full name, let alone called him John.

Bruising and so very obvious popped stitches with how much blood had soaked through bandages just below there. Had done something stupid, the both of them, but it was just how both of them were in such stressful and high-emotion situations wasn't it.

"In my blood." The dramatics, and a morbid joke all in one right there.

[dadication]

Jack was fuming and still angry, but he couldn't leave Reyes like this, bleeding and coughing fits that could leave the older man in bigger trouble. He gave up the argument and the need to leave for the time being, but in revenge, he reached out and shut off the holovid so he didn't have to see the news cycling through the destruction and all the questions without answers. He couldn't watch that right now when he had a bond to worry about.

He removed his wrist from Reyes' grip, needing both in order to start to unwrap Gabe's side to reveal the pulled stitches on his side which now caused an open bleed all over again. They healed well, but not even they could mend this kind of damage quickly when there was so much of it. He hissed at the sight that greeted him and immediately reached for a cloth to press hard to the wound. "Drop a hand here and apply pressure. You've blown some stitches and they'll have to be replaced." He sounded angry still but mostly at the situation.

He moved away long enough to grab their pack of medical supplies to drag it over, settling in next to Reyes now sucking on oxygen and began to leaf through their supplies until he had what he was looking for. "I hate being called John. You know it's a dumb family tradition to name their first born sons 'John'."

He glared at Reyes for the joke, shaking his head. "Not funny, you jerk. Okay, move your hand. I need to see what I'm doing while I stop your damn bleeding."

[gr1m]

For the better it be turned off at that moment, honestly; they'd have to tune back in at some point later of course, or would see some headline if they never did. Wasn't the best background noise, and Gabriel's own temper was fuming, even if it was multi-directional then and there. The situation, the fact it had happened, and the fact Jack's heart was once more overwhelming his senses to the point of acting so damn rash. Even if t wasn't a surprise it was still so....

Frustrating. More so given just how damn low they were knocked, and the fact in was in both of their interests in sticking together instead of one of them going out on a mission to protect the other's honor.

Of course he hissed, a bit of blood spattering the inside of the mask from what was still in his mouth. "I doubt I'm the only one who has." More so because of the struggling, didn't doubt there'd be some he'd have to replace on Jack. Still, a hand went over the cloth to apply the needed pressure, even if he still had his own metaphorical hackles raised over what had more or less been an argument.

"I know you do, all the more reason to use it. You're thinking more with your heart than your head right now."

The glare was returned, "if I'm a jerk then you're a fucking jackass." Still hissed, but he was doing as told. No sense in fighting on that as well.

[dadication]

He understood the logic of sticking together, but it still chaffed more than it should. Reyes had been out on more than his fair share of dangerous mission while Jack entertaining the political circles. This wasn't the time to prove he could handle himself in combat still, not with Reyes blowing stitches and spitting up blood. He would bide his time; he could be patience and his anger was not one that forgot easily.

"Yours are much more serious," he quipped back as he moved to a better position to have light on the wound on Gabe's side that needed attending. "Just breathe. We might have to consider draining your chest again if you keep coughing up blood." Not a prospect he was looking forward to as it could collapse Gabe's lung all over again.

He set to work slipping three sutures back into place on Gabe's side, being as firm but gentle as he can. "I'll always be a jackass to you."

[gr1m]

Even behind a desk Jack was still helping the most he could, Gabriel knowing that if some hiccup occurred during any of his out missions someone he trusted was at his back; even if not physically. It was a different playing field than the one during the war, and he trusted Jack could handle what his new role meant. Hell as it was, the political circles were more cut throat than anything else.

"Yours will still need attention," snorted a bit. Still moving as needed and then holding still as he could for the other man to work. "For all I know my throat's that irritated from all the smoke and ash we were both breathing in," because fuck if he wanted to deal with blood flooding his lung again. Hadn't been fun the first time, even if he knew it was possible with how poorly they'd been treating themselves already.

Gabriel kept still, eyes closed at times rather than letting himself react to any bit of pain in other ways. "You're my jackass."

[dadication]

He wasn't in danger like Gabriel had been, and sometimes it was hard to measure how difficult his job was when it was compared to the sheer amount of danger that Reyes and his teams had been in. Overwatch missions weren't easy affairs either, always a chance for something to go wrong, but he ran his operations from the front when possible and from the back when necessary. He was, overall, in less danger than Reyes had been in his mind.

"Maybe once we tend to you and get you into bed to breathe better with some pillows propped under you," he replied as he set his hands in motion, so much steadier today than the night before when they had been sick with loss, shock and wounds. He applied new sutures to Gabe's wounds, replacing those that had pulled through.

Only three this time, but it could have been worse if their fight had continued. "All the more reason to keep breathing oxygen until it's no longer an option for you." He patted the now re-stitched wound and set about reapplying a belly bandage to it. "There. Now up you get and into bed. I'll bring the oxygen over while you move."

[gr1m]

Was sometimes better for Jack not to know the amount of danger he'd been in at times; the missions where Gabriel had taken out an assassination attempt during one of those times the Strike-Commander had to appear on camera, during a statement or even a conference. Always made sure he was there to have the other's back, even if he never said anything about those times, just passed off as some other mission.

Funny how much only a few popped stitched could bleed, even if not at all surprising with how it needed healing. "You're either going to let me do it after, or let me watch you do it yourself." Stubborn, but because he worried and cared, even if they had been arguing seconds ago.

"You joining me?" Even if he was getting up and moving, didn't look like he was going to get right in to bed without an answer.

[dadication]

Jack knew that Talon had wanted him out of the picture at times or there were other political or corporate individuals that saw his policies as a threat to them. He carried on, aware that even taking a shot wouldn't kill him so long as his bond lived and breathed. He would teeter on the edge of death but always find his way back. One of the reasons he remained behind a desk, to be assured that the same with be true if a mission went wrong for Gabriel.

"You're getting into bed and will make no arguments about my wounds. They're healing just fine, now go." He was still furious that he had been stopped from leaving, but he was calm enough to just be bitterly stubborn at this point. He was putting away supplies and then reaching down to grab the oxygen tank to carry it closer to the bed where Reyes could settle in and start some of the healing process all over again.

"Yes, I'm coming to bed," he growled, aware that for a second time, they had abandoned food rather than eating it. Apparently they were going to manage on reserves for another time. Once the tank was set up, he stiffly walked around the bed to the other side, grabbing the bag of medical supplies to drag it with him. He lay down on his side, keeping his back to Gabriel in his usual you're in the doghouse stature.

[gr1m]

Eyes remained narrowed, and for the moment it looked as if things would simply remain that way, even as Gabriel got himself in to bed. But the fact he was silent should have been a clue to something. The anger of Jack's was one thing, but there was something he wasn't going to sit and take.

Jack acting as if he was the one in the wrong.

Gabriel cut off the connection without a word, not even looking at Jack. Let that dead air hang.

[dadication]

Reyes was a vengeful man, always had been and the need for theatrics never helped in that manner. He knew that he would pay for his attitude and pay he did. When the connection between them suddenly shut off, he made a surprised sound of a man choking for a second in the shock of it, jerking in the bed next to Reyes. Then he realized what had happened and growled.

He said nothing but refused to close off his side of their connection, leaving wide and searching. The only thing he knew instinctively was that Gabriel was alive but other than that, he had nothing. It was deeply lonely; it was amazing anyone went their whole lives with this feeling and didn't go mad.

He lay with his back turned, fuming and achingly lonely but said not a word.

[gr1m]

It was also very, very rare that Gabriel went so far as to cut off his end of the bond like that, even if angry with Jack over something. If nothing else it was a testament to just how angry he was over the entire thing, on top of the fact Jack had the nerve to act as he was over the entire thing.

So he kept his back turned to Jack, laying on his side and curled in a way that left him as far away from the other as physically possible. While remaining on the bed. Gabriel wasn't about to compromise his health by pulling another move like going to the bathroom, even if something like that had crossed his mind.

He simply remained like that.

[dadication]

Their anger was potent but boyish, always had been. Usually it was a hissing fight, a punch or two and then they would find common ground again, but with as many injuries as they had, that wasn't possible. Hell, they could still barely stand for more than a few minutes at a time, so rolling around in a fight was not going to happen.

With Gabriel hooked back up to oxygen and them occupying the bed as far away from each other as physically possible, Jack suspected there would be no walking away from him at least. The opposite wouldn't always hold true, though he was wary of going to the bathroom after how frightfully cold he had been once he had woken. His body couldn't cope with another stunt like that.

He lasted about half an hour in the quiet, listening to the distant sound of emergency sirens. It wasn't often that their link was cut and if it was, Gabriel let him know ahead of time for mission security sake. It was stifling, and he was being punished.

After thirty minutes, he made a wounded sound and pushed himself up from the bed, slipping from it to head to the bathroom himself. He grabbed the blanket still in the filthy tub and tossed it out, kicked the door closed and turned on the water to the shower. He shouldn't get his wounds wet, but he was filthy and impotently angry and hurting.

He pulled off his clothing gingerly, some of it sticking to him from dried blood and dirt. He had to remove his bandages just as carefully, ignoring the blown stitches on his abdomen and reached out to touch the water to check for heat. The water was blessedly warm even if the tub made him thank god he was taking antibiotics. He stepped in and shut the shower curtain after him, just standing under the spray and watching dirt, blood and who knew what else streak down his body and swirl down the drain.

[gr1m]

Felt it was apt if Jack wanted to turn his back on him, act as if he wasn't there; may as well step it up and let him feel as alone if he was going to hold up that attitude. Try and punish Gabriel for not letting him run out on some foolish self appointed mission. How he felt at least with his own anger, and it wasn't dying down even as time passed.

A punishment in turn for another, more or less. More so when he felt it was undeserved; there were times he knew he'd earned it, but this damn well wasn't one of them. One unfairness called for another.

He kept shoulders hunched in his own curl, ignoring the fact Jack was there. Gabriel kept arms wrapped around himself in his curl, eyes closed after that half hour rather than boring a hole in to the wall with a stare. Didn't open them when Jack started moving, and didn't move when he heard the door kicked close and the water turn on.

Anger and stubbornness combined, and he wasn't about to move, let alone let the connection fall back in to place. That remained cut off.

[dadication]

Cooler heads were supposed to prevail, but the water wasn't exactly helping with that, not as it poured over him unevenly, the stream not of best quality but it was warm and washed away the filth that covered him slow but sure. His hair might even be back to some odd silvering blond by the time he bothered to step out of it. Maybe.

He knew it was stupid to run off, but he wanted to, needed to. Gabriel was his everything, especially now. If the road was closed for the man in future, he had no idea what the way back was. His only course seemed to be trying to head it off, but it was reckless. He still thought he could do it, could make it, could trick the snipers.

It didn't matter in the end, did it? Cut off from his bond, life honestly lost most of its meaning. Unprepared for it as he had been, injured and broken, nauseous and worn thin... it weighed on him more than usual. Yet another loss, even if it wasn't permanent.

He reached up, slowly rubbing a hand through his hair and wincing, the broken knuckles lighting fire down his fingers. He punched the tiles in the bathroom hard, undoing all of his previous work resetting them. Just to feel anything at all.

He slowly washed one handed, letting the broken one hang by his side. He didn't end up staying too long in the shower, not about to stand under cold water so when it was heading that way, he finished up and shut off the tap. He stood silent and miserable, letting himself drip dry for a few minutes before deciding on an off-white towel and had dubious stains that had been unsuccessfully removed. He basically threw the towel on his head and another around his waist.

[gr1m]

Gabriel didn't stay in place for the amount of time that it took Jack to shower, the anger still sizzling under his skin, keeping it all to himself. Isolating in keeping the bond disconnected; a punishment and letting it be very clear that Jack had apparently crossed a line, a sort of anger that wasn't to be taken lightly.

He moved off the bed, throwing down the oxygen mask and nearly let the thoughts to just leave himself filter across his mind. Knew better than to act on them, even as he eyed the sniper on the floor, picked it up and just set it out of sight, inside the poor excuse of a closet. Hell, even had the temptation to just go outside the door and pay for another few hours. Anything to get out of the room rather than dwell.

Instead he picked up the MRE that had been knocked to the floor, the packet still warm to the touch and seated himself on the floor, back against the bed and facing the entrance door to the room itself. Tearing open the packet and using a spork that came with the pack to very, very slowly eat the still warm macaroni and cheese.

Fuck going another day without eating more than a few bites of an energy bar.

[dadication]

With the link closed off from Gabe's side, he didn't know the location of his bond mate. He didn't know what he was doing, his state of health beyond 'alive', anger or comfort coming down the link. He stepped out of the shower, but didn't even bother with the mirror which was steam covered at this point.

No, he decided to pick through his damaged clothing to see if any of it was salvageable. He washed what he could one-handed in the sink, removing filth and blood from the dark material. Then he hung it to dry, though there was nothing to be done with all the holes and tears in the material as he had no replacements aside from a jacket they had stolen from the EMTs.

After that, he emerged from the bathroom still dripping water but also curling tendrils of blood from his side. Clean made all the deep purple bruises stand out stark on his pale skin, and his knuckles were heavily discoloured but he was grasping the towel that hung on either side of his head. Anxiously, he picked out where Gabriel was immediately, assuring himself his bond hadn't just left for air and space.

He stood quiet and morose for a long moment by the bathroom then glanced aside. "...I'm sorry..." he murmured, his anger having turned to ash and burnt itself out for the most part.

[gr1m]

If he hadn't been keeping the link closed off Gabriel would have left, even if not going far, for space and air. As it was he wasn't going to be more cruel as to up and leave with it cut off. No matter the fact it had crossed his mind a few times; he wasn't aiming to cause panic or worry in the act that could already be seen as cruel on its own.

Wasn't tasting any of what he ate, it was just warm. Little at a time was already an effort on it's own, more some mindless act that was needed than anything more. Done so very slowly it was like he wasn't even making a dent in the amount in the bag itself, more or less eating one noodle at a time.

He didn't turn his head when the door opened didn't move other than the same slow chewing, but at the very least when Jack spoke the bond re-linked slowly. As if that was all it would have taken in the first place-

"Do you know why." Sounded dead and hollow.

[dadication]

Well, Reyes was eating, so that was something. Better than they had managed otherwise, so he could at least take that as some kind of consolation prize. He still was waiting for the older man to simply rise and leave the room now that he could watch it happen rather than find it out while in the bathroom. He likely wouldn't panic given how long they had been bonded, but it would have made him deeply unhappy.

He lingered where he had come to a stop, and he was ever thankful the holovid was still off. He felt the first prickle of the link reopening and twitched visibly, shutting down his side enough that his emotions wouldn't bleed down it. Stress and negative emotions were things he had learned to hide so as not to worry Gabe and distract the man, particularly on missions.

Did he really have to be treated like a child all over again? He chewed his lower lip, ignoring the pain that brought on to the sutures there. "Because I turned my anger on you unfairly."

[gr1m]

If he wanted to think of communication as being treated like a child- "You feeling better, or did it just burn up while you punched a wall and showered." Same dead tone, because with how long they'd been bonded it wasn't difficult to guess what that noise had been..

There wasn't a trace of much on his end of the bond, open as it was, no feeling of why his voice sounded so dead. Easy to guess it was how tired his own anger burning quietly had left him, or easy enough to guess. Just the feeling of him there was open again.

"Food's still warm if you want a go at trying to eat."

[dadication]

"No, not better," he said softly, but he eased forward to head over to the bed slowly. The shower had eased some stiff muscles, but he still moved gingerly for the sake of not tensing up all over again. "Burnt itself out, I guess." He eyed Reyes with the continual dead tone. That was never a good sign.

He seated himself on the edge of the bed, noting the discarded mask and oxygen tank. It seemed that they tired very easily once they weren't high on their emotions, but he also suspected they were hiding some of their emotions from each other. He reached up and carefully rubbed the towel over his hair, but he ended up stopping when he worried he'd dislodge scabs there.

"...I'll pass. You finish it up."

[gr1m]

"Figures." Never a good sign, but he just didn't feel like putting in the effort to change how he sounded. "Were in there long enough," for it to burn out.

The tank was on empty, hadn't really been a whole lot of it left, but it had lasted well over half an hour at the very least. Been no reason to keep it on when it wasn't helping any, and Gabriel just... hadn't felt like hooking up the last one there. Why bother? If his lung was re-filling with blood it would have been wasting air.

That plastic spork was tapped against the package, "Can't." Finish it up.

[dadication]

He grunted softly at the comment about being in the shower long enough. He probably should have kept it brief for the sake of his wounds, but the water had only run clear at the end. He had to wash slowly with one hand anyway. "Probably a bit of hot water if you want it," he murmured back.

Maybe Reyes should sleep instead, if that dead tone of voice was any indication. He pulled himself up on the bed and made his way over to the opposite side to where he had sat, taking up the spot he had slept in, except sitting there and leaning his toweled head against the wall.

"...still nauseous or just exhausted?"

[gr1m]

"Don't trust me in a shower just yet," at least it was some admittance to how he felt? Even if that wasn't great on it's own, but he knew himself. Worried he'd be out of it if he got too hot even i only in a slightly heated shower. With how exhausted he was all over again.

Gabriel fell silent for a moment, listening to Jack move and partially just thinking over an answer.

He ended up holding the packet of still warm mac and the spork in one hand as if just silently asking it to be taken. "Mix of both."

[dadication]

"You'd probably topple," he agreed. It didn't look like Reyes was about to get up and wander around. Hell, he wasn't certain the older man would make it back to the bed without assistance and he had no idea if he had the ability to actually be useful in helping either. They were such a mess. "We can clean you up tomorrow morning before we leave."

He was exhausted all over again crawling back into bed. He also ached, but that was the new normal too.

It took him a moment to recognize the gesture of holding up the package, and he struggled to lean forward to take it from Gabriel's fingers, setting it on the bedside table next to him instead. Best not to leave such items on the floor. "Come back to bed and rest?"

[gr1m]

There was a slight sound of agreement there,because really, "And I doubt you're in any condition to deal with me if I get another concussion from falling in the shower." Not at the moment anyway. "Yeah, be more rested and you can probably help me keep my footing better," so at the very least he wasn't refusing help. That apology had gone a long way it seemed.

He let his hand fall back down on to his lap, legs stretched out in front of him, still sitting on the floor, back rested against the side of the bed.

"Give me a minute- and we still have to check you over and redo any of your stitches that popped." Of course he was going to be sticking to that. "Did you fuck up your knuckles again?"