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Gr1m

[dadication]

Soulbond, H/C, In The Rain

[dadication]

Jack tasted blood, cement dust, dirt and ash. It filled his mouth, his nose and coated his throat where he lay, jarring his other muted senses that had been stunned in the sheer magnitude of the sounds, sights, feel of the Watchpoint building folding in on itself with him close to ground zero. His lips moved but no sound came out, his eyes were tearing from all the dust and ash but also he felt blinded by the blood that that coated one eye. His body was cold save for the single warm thread that always pulsed between him and the man he had previously been having a screaming match with before everything came apart.

He lay stomach down in the rubble, the rocks and slabs of debris rumbling as it shifted and settled, like at any moment, the small hollow would come down on top of him. The 'floor' was uneven under him, heaved up in places and depressed in others, but it took him time to understand the full weight of what lay over top of and under him. Without thinking about it, his fingers twitched and reached out, fumbling towards that clinging whisper of life nearby instinctively. There was always a sense of safety, an assurance to beating one more bad gamble, but it was a strange comfort to know that if he lived, his partner in life also had to.

He slowly turned his head towards where he sensed the flickering life thread of Gabriel Reyes. It was dark in the little hovel of safety, so he couldn't see where the Blackwatch Commander had ended up, but the uneven walls of cement and rebar were layered in that direction. His lips moved to call out, but there was no sound. His fingers stretched out, seeking with a mounting desperation his jumbled thoughts back to settle back into order and he began to realize what had happened, where he was and the fact that they had to get out of here. He coughed out dust, the only sound aside from the soft 'pit pit' of water that was slowly trickling through the rubble. "...be..."

Someone had destroyed the Watchpoint Base, brought it down upon their heads. His first thought was Talon, how their operatives seemed to slip into places that they reasonably shouldn't. He had been vehemently arguing with Reyes in the garage, the lowest point of the building, new caskets to be sent home. Maybe it had gotten of hand, them yelling at each other, shouting things that friends were supposed to regret later, but the fate of Overwatch was crumbling because Gabe couldn't sit out and Jack couldn't handle the Blackwatch section because it wasn't his world. He'd blamed Reyes, and he had been blamed in turn. Screaming matches like theirs happened rarely, but they always felt good because no matter what they said to each other, all the names they called each other, all the shoving they did would mean nothing in the end because they could never escape one another, were in this life together, two halves to a whole. So they could yell, they could punch, they could accuse, but in the end, they were bonded.

It was also their best kept secret. Soldiers of their own right, they had come together as candidates for the controversial Soldier-Enhancement-Program. His roommate for the program had become gravely ill after the first treatment, and he was shuffled to another room so candidates could mind each other. He'd met Gabriel Reyes that day, his kitpack on his shoulder as he stepped into the room. They made eye contact like they wanted to size each other up and instead it was like he had been struck by lightning. He'd actually fallen down, and the infant bond had established itself.

It had been Gabriel to reasonably suggest they tell no one. The physical signs of their bond would fade - name tattoos on the swell of their hip - in a few days. The only time they would appear was when one or both of them was gravely injured. They couldn't know how unique their bond was compared to others until after the SEP, after the first major conflict with Omnic forces and Gabe took shredding round of bullets to the chest, and it had been Jack to carry him out on his back. He'd been told his Commander wouldn't survive, too much damage, too much blood loss. Gabe survived, the thin tendril of life clinging and safe within him.

As long as Jack lived, Gabriel lived. As long as Gabriel lived, Jack lived. Too many fatal experiences proved that.

No one was supposed to know. They clearly did because it was too precise to level an entire building on top of him and Gabe when their presence was heard by at least two floors above with their yelling. Kill them both at the same time or within minutes of each other, and the bond would be broken and the last visage of the SEP would die with them. More importantly, Overwatch died with them. Who could survive an entire building collapsing on them?

His fingers touched on the cement slab that blocked him from Gabriel, pushing at it. Jack shifted in the rubble, but he was pinned. He made a soft broken sound, the kind of sound that always had brought Gabe to him when it was his turn for a fatal encounter. The cement slab above him had punctured him through with rebar, pinning him in place. Aside from the bomb blast itself shredding his uniform, it was the rebar through shoulder, abdomen and legs that prevented him from moving in search of Reyes.

All he kept thinking was how precise it had been. The transport truck he had stormed behind to avoid looking at Reyes for a moment detonating with the distance between them close enough that the blast itself should have killed them. They had survived before, and the catastrophic explosion to the building and brought it down right on top of their stunned and rattled heads. They survived because of how the rubble landed and shifted.

"...Ga..." he tried again, voice harsh and raspy, throat raw. "Ga... be..."

[gr1m]

They had the Devil's own luck when it came to that particular detail of their bond. Survival, enduring every pain that came with what should have killed either of them at a time. It also allowed them to have that small comfort of knowing the other was safe, no matter what they may have been out facing alone.

Of course that was part of their growing tension over the years, going out alone when before they'd always faced dangers together. Things growing more dangerous despite the peace, internal conflicts when places thought safe were infiltrated. Blackwatch down because of a choice he'd made, unable to be out there like he wanted to be. To track down and drag out growing dangers.

Arguments over his choices, how he felt he needed to get things done. It did feel good to yell out their frustrations and let the anger take hold to get it out of them. When they could scream and yell, get it be out there between them and clear to see. To sort through and come back together in private to sooth any wounds made by words.

Hadn't thought today would be any different, even if the argument now had been seeped in things he feared were happening within Overwatch itself. There was no more Blackwatch, only Reyes, to watch out for anything trying to sneak through the cracks or plant itself in the dark, and maybe he was growing more paranoid, especially after the loss of Ana, but there was something so rotten growing right under their noses he needed the ability to pursue it. Even if alone. Angry and frustrated about how things were going, how little power either of them had anymore in this group they'd both had a hand in building together.

His ears were ringing, could only taste blood and every breath was a struggle, and the pain in his head was almost blinding in itself. At least one lung was punctured, felt some lancing, burning pain through his side, but only that much registered at first, pinned back against some solid structure and sitting up. The only thing that had saved him was the fact he'd gotten pinned sitting up, some slab inches away would have crushed his skull otherwise with how he was oriented.

Rebar was skewering his thigh, bleeding actively where he was and his senses were slow to collect—

Until he heard that sound, faint as it was, that nearly hurt more than what was pinning him in place. That tug of life at the end of a bond still so firmly in place. Acting to move and free himself before his mind caught up to the rest of him. Crawling through rubble in that unstable bubble, a hand placed against the slab from the other side.

They survived, the events sinking back in to his skull as he was searching for a way to get through, or around. Coughing, hacking up blood that spattered against cement, but ignoring his pain to try and focus, doing little more than just smearing blood at first.

"Jack," The name burned his throat, sounded harsh even if he could barely hear himself with his focus elsewhere. Refusing to die here, to let either of them die here.

It hurt, forcing himself through some space between the slab and rubble, broken pieces of cement and rebar digging in to already torn flesh from where his own clothing had shredded and burned. Needed to get to him, get to Jack, even if his hand might have gripped that outstretched one too tightly at first. Gloves missing already, burned and torn away.

They didn't have time, felt like they couldn't waste time, thoughts racing on needing to get out. Get them both out.

[dadication]

Before, the bond was thin and distant, but he was aware of the moment that Gabe began to move towards him. The bond strengthened like both of them had somehow become more aware of the link that connected them and with that attention, warmth and comfort flooded down it. He was a bit more aware that he wasn't the only one suffering here, that Gabe was also severely wounded.

He slowly lifted his head from where it rested on cement, spitting out blood clots in his mouth and looking half-blind in the direction of his outstretched hand. There was scratching and small bits of debris shifting, and even with the dust settling around him, he could tell the exact moment that even a small inch of Reyes came into sight. Their hands connected, and he relaxed for a moment into the tight grip, ignoring the fact that he was certain his wrist was broken or maybe just dislocated.

The fact that they were both alive felt like an assurance, that together they could find a way out of this new mess. Everything was so confusing, and his ears were still ringing slightly, but he heard his name and that was enough. He shifted, trying to move towards Gabe but found himself stuck, pinned by thick cords of rebar driving into the cement under him.

His other arm wedged down, allowing him to dig one knee in as well as he pushed up with his back, dragging his flesh up the rebar as he let out cries of pain. No point hiding them, not with so much shit on top of them. He managed to get his leg free but was forced to rest a few moments with his back against the slab of concrete above him, twisted remains of a wall or maybe a pillar. He couldn't tell.

The smell of blood thickened as they moved together, but he also barely could allow himself to release Gabe's hand. "...Gabe..." he rasped out, shoving his back against the slab but unable to budge it with his strength alone. The rebar still holding him kept his back at an odd angle.

"...you look like shit..." he managed to get out before he growled a sound of pain. "Help me."

[gr1m]

"You look how I feel." They both looked like shit, but there was such a flood of relief at seeing even such a bloodied and wrecked face. He was alive and moving- sort of. That was what mattered, no matter how damn much it hurt to speak or move he was doing both.

Pulling his way the rest of the way through with some difficulties, but he wasn't stopping, wasn't letting go of that hand until he had to. Getting a hold on that slab to help push it up, getting his better leg more under him to help push it up while trying to keep anything more from falling down on top of them.

They both needed to get out of here, but fist they had to get Jack free of so much of this shit. Had to keep push, keep alive. No different than some of the worst messes they'd gotten in during the Crisis. Only it was. This wasn't some attack from an enemy force.

This had to have come from the inside.

"See if you can get out now." Get loose from metal.

[dadication]

"That's mutual," he managed, coughing as he watched Gabe struggle to come to his area of the rubble. His face was a complete mess of blood and dirt, practically unrecognizable at this point; even his hair was matted and more gray with concrete dust than the usual blond. None of that matter though because the comforting link between them was active.

He cried out in pain as Gabe helped him to lift the slab carefully, allow himself to rip his flesh off of the rebar with spatters of blood until there was a tremble to the debris above them, and he knew it was dangerous to move it further. He tore and ripped himself off the twisted metal, cursing a blue streak as he freed himself with a cost, and in the limited space that they occupied, he helped Gabe lower it back down as safely as possible.

Some of the rubble shifted, but they were both free. He was bleeding heavily, but his bare hand reached out to touch Reyes' thigh where the rebar had obviously punctured through. "We need to get you medical," he murmured roughly, turning his head to search for any sign of fresh air. There was a slow trickle of water that he could hear, and he assumed that gravity brought it down their way.

He wiped at his face, trying to smear away the blood, but it only undid any tentative healing. He was a world of pain, but he understood they had to get out of here.

"...Talon...?" He was crawling to a narrower section where he heard water and found a place to take them up through some sandwiched floors. It would be a tight squeeze. "This way."

[gr1m]

Gabriel kept the slab as stead as he could, held up enough that Jack could rip free, teeth gritted not just from the sounds but his own pain. Could ignore it all as much as he needed. Even if he could feel his own blood loss, both of them would be in trouble sooner rather than later with how much both of them were losing. SEP or not, even they had their limits.

Looked like they were going to be pushing those yet again, some low noise made. "No," answering that murmur with something almost a growl. No going to medical. Who the fuck could they trust out there? This was an inside job, someone—

Gabriel was catching his breath for a moment, a hand pressing against his side where blood was flowing. Willing back a dizzy spell with how is head pulsed with pain and the ring still there in his ears. Vision swimming, giving himself that moment while Jack searched for some way out of this smoldering hell they were trapped in. Take the time to get himself braced to start moving again.

"Don't know, could be-" was Talon last time but how? How could they get here of all places, let alone know when—

He was following after Jack, watching for instability and even pushing the man up ahead of him when needed. Get them both moving through the cramped places, had to get out. Had to.

[dadication]

"You're as battered as I am," he countered with, though he had learned not to argue about particular points when it came to Gabriel. He felt and squeezed his way through the rubble, to the next spot, wincing and grunting as he went. "We can't die here. I won't let us... keep up, Reyes."

He knew the longer that they stayed in the rubble, the longer that their injuries would remain open. Already, he was certain that they would burn with infection in a few days, but if they didn't escape, they would die of blood loss or a lack of resources to keep their energy up. "...you're thinking it's them, aren't you?" Brief conversation, assuring himself Gabe was awake.

The hauling through the rubble was slow, frequent stops along the way and even checking on bodies as he passed them. All dead so far. He had to shove and shift rubble, shouldering it just enough to let them pass. A few times he had to stop because a shove caused a tremble and more debris above them shifted and slid, increasing the potential that they would be crushed. He was panted by the time he felt smelled rain, and he knew he would have to follow that smell for escape.

After an hour, he had to pause to catch his breath, turning in the small space to reach out to have his hands on Gabe. Just a moment. That's what he needed now. "We're both slowing down... come here and let me touch you."

[gr1m]

"We'll discuss it when we're out of this," A compromise, not just shutting it all down but there was no time to talk or argue about anything right then. They have to put everything in to concentrating where and how they moved. Crawling or climbing. Pushing, pulling, whatever would help them get out of this alive.

The fact Jack was still talking as he moved ahead was good, easier for Gabriel to be assure he was awake; not so easy in turn for Jack since Gabe was behind him and out of sight. "I don't know who else it could be," even if his tone suggested otherwise. This was- if it was Talon, which he wouldn't doubt, they'd had to have had help getting to them this deep.

Still awake, still moving just behind Jack to follow his path in getting out.

A hand reached forward to catch Jack's own, pulling himself closer with a joyless and tired sort of laugh. More a huff of breath than a laugh, "We're getting tired." Just wanted to stop, curl up with him. Knowing they couldn't linger like that, but Gabe was complying with this much.

[dadication]

"We're going to live and get to the bottom of this," he growled out because what else could he say? They were buried in rubble, the distant sound of the first emergency vehicles muffled even where they were hiding out. If it was the UN, they would want confirmation of their deaths and until that was done, they would be hunted.

Of course, aside from those at the top of the rubble, who could survive? Gabriel Reyes and Jack Morrison apparently. Despite how faint and terrible he felt - and assumed Gabe felt - they had to get out of here, had to be away from this place. If they had been the targets as his rattled brain was fixed on, they were a danger to rescue efforts being here.

His bruised and scraped up fingers curled around Gabe's, pulling the older man in against him as he let his head fall forward on Reyes' chest. His other hand reached out, searching, checking for wounds, feeling where the blood was thickest on Gabe's clothing and sighing heavily. They were a mess.

"We can't risk a nap," he slurred. They might not wake up, not with the damage they had suffered. Why didn't he keep a bionic field on him at all times? Oh right, that's because the Swiss Base was supposed to be safe. "Gabe... when we get out of this, where will we go?"

[gr1m]

The distant sounds did nothing but put Gabriel on edge, no sign of safety or rescue to him where they likely could have been for any other possible survivors that managed to be 'safely' buried in this explosion. Had to be others, even if he and Jack had only had to climb past or crawl over dead bodies so far.

"We are."

An explosion with the device planted where they were, where only dead bodies in coffins were supposed to be, had to have been targeted. Someone knowing they'd both be there- or Jack alone. Even if a part of him wasn't sure that the Strike Commander would be the sole target, likely has it could have been. A bomb planted where no other personnel were going to be when it went off was just too suspicious.

An arm draped around Jack carefully, wincing as hands searched his form, some deep gashes easy enough to find, but there was some deeper wound at his side and near his chest. Likely the reason he kept feeling blood in his mouth, it welling up in one of his lungs. Something punctured through his chest from the back, and for all he knew it was still there, but it would be dealt with later.

Breathing slowly, it hurt. "We can't, no." Could they even afford to rest now, like this? "I- I don't think we can let anyone here find us," so away was the answer, apparently.

[dadication]

Jack imagined that they had a long and complicated way to the surface, to freedom, and he was already exhausted. He also knew that they would have to pass by more dead or maybe people here or there clinging to life, but he and Gabe weren't in a position to help them, only open the way for rescue to come.

Despite the cramped quarters, the feel of Gabe's arm around him was a relief, an assurance that for this single moment, they were safe. They could catch their breath, guarding one another like wolves. He snuggled in once he had an assessment of the injuries on his partner. "Your lung... is it damaged?" He already knew the answer but it was important to keep talking. Also, Gabe's hoodie had survived as well as his uniform, so basically not at all.

He hummed, his eyes closed just listening to the sound of debris still settling or little pebbles falling. "...what if we get up there and emergency crews are there?" If the whole building had been leveled, the area would be huge and hard to navigate. They had a window if they didn't pause too long. "I'll take point. You can't move quickly with that lung of yours. I'm not risking you."

He had already made an assessment that blood loss and a collapsed lung meant Reyes was the worst off out of the two of them. He leaned in to rest his forehead against Gabe's and winced at the pain in his face.

"I'll go when you want to."

[gr1m]

They were going to have enough of an issue hauling themselves out of the rubble, already were as tired as he didn't doubt both of them were getting. Had to keep believing they'd be okay, actually get out of there, because otherwise... They were the only two who could get themselves out of this, helping each other as much as they could.

He huffed a breath, and even that was painful, but nevertheless- "Punctured at worst. Blood filling my mouth every time I cough," lying wouldn't help either of them, but his tone was more stating the fact than anything. "Deal with it when we're out of here, can't do anything for it now." Nothing to help with it now.

Still kept his arm around Jack, huddled close to him and holding him like that. Gain strength from each other like that, gather themselves to push onward sooner rather than later. "Steal shit from any emergency vehicles left unattended," completely serious, "Go as unseen as possible and just-" Take anything they needed and keep moving. "Bunker down somewhere, grab clothing from anywhere." Whatever they could. "I'll keep up well enough."

He'd survive, just like he had survived everything else. The both of them had, push through pain and weakness until they could both rest. Nudged their noses together, some brief and easy bit of affection.

"We can't stop for long."

Not with everything still shifting an settling around them.

[dadication]

"Shit," he muttered at the fact that Gabe had potentially punctured a lung. His hand smoothed to that area, where he had previously felt the puncture of before, but now he touched with more care. "Don't bleed out on me, okay?" They were both at risk of that honestly. "You're too heavy to carry into the sunset if you try to, and I don't have supplies to transfuse you." He also probably didn't have the blood volume.

Of course, he realized that he had made a mistake in stopping to catch his breath. All of his wounds took the quietness to make themselves known and his muscles were stiffening up. Now that he wasn't moving and in the protective circle of Gabe's arms, he wanted to stay just like this. It was impossible. He reasonably knew and was being reminded they had to move on, but this was safe and he felt like he'd been crushed under a building... which he had. A nice heating blanket would make his day.

"Steal an emergency vehicle, dump it after we raid for supplies," he agreed. "What do you think of the chances that there will be people up there waiting to kill us up there? It should be all rescue personnel..." He sounded uncertain though, but maybe it was a paranoia brought on by the fact that someone had tried to kill them both. He had no doubt both of them were the target here.

Despite everything going on, the nudge to his nose brought him back, and he kissed Gabe right on the mouth. He didn't even care that his lips were bleeding, that it was not the time or place. He was done caring about that shit.

"I don't want to move, Gabe." But he would. But he was.

Despite the words, the pressing need to find his partner in life medical attention, to get Gabe safe would always overtake his needs to just lay around and hope for medical intervention. So he shifted, slow at first and then more aggressively as he got himself into motion. yes, he would take point and he began to crawl carefully over Gabe to continue to long, torturous claustrophobic venture to the surface that was full of all the right complications. How they had to travel around, shove things, slide over dead comrades, haul themselves up breaks in the debris. The rain began to become clear the higher they went though. Soon, he thought, his fingers bleeding and raw from scratching, digging, shoving and shouldering debris.

[gr1m]

He laughed, the sound a little pained, but it was a genuine sound, a little blood spilling over his lips. "So long as you promise not to bleed out on me in turn," knew they were both fucked. Had managed to see enough with how Jack had been trapped and pinned, punctured. Both of them were in trouble, but hell if he knew where they could go for help; the very things they both trusted screamed danger in his brain now. They only had each other.

Someone, or a group of someones, had literally dropped a building on top of them both and everything hurt. Bruises and bones, couldn't tell what was broken and what was just radiating pain from impact. Christ. Fuck. Could take some comfort from the fact Jack was there and close, that they were both still breathing.

Mind still racing, a pile-up of thoughts and fears, paranoia and the more rational all a jumbled mix he had to sort through. Nodding to just stealing a whole vehicle. Easier. "Not hard to kill the injured under the guise of rescue personnel. Air injection, syringes aren't suspicious to carry," wouldn't look like a murder if they were found alive and someone was actually up there to make sure they were dead.

Kiss was returned, didn't care about the taste of blood or how sensitive his skin felt, it was Jack. His warmth, his weight. Alive, both still alive. Their link strong and enough to draw strength, or even gather it between them to move.

Honestly? Neither did he, "I know."

Both of them had to push through, put their own survival above anything and everything else; they wouldn't be able to help if they had come across any survivor. Using his own body to boost Jack ahead if he needed, keep something held stable before he moved to follow after. While Jack worried about him, Gabriel was damn well making sure Jack was going to make it out, even if blood slicked skin made some of his gripping to climb and pull himself more difficult.

Rain slick rubble making it that much more treacherous in some areas, but hell if the cool rain didn't soothe when it was more felt, but also stung in other ways.

[dadication]

Gabe was right, of course. If there were moles in Overwatch, if someone had been waiting for the right time to drop the building on them, surely those same people would at least estimate there was a sliver of chance that they might survive and either dig out or be rescued from the debris. Someone somewhere could hurt them the moment they were found, could try to end what was started. Killing one of them was only effective enough to sometimes stun the other. Only a few seconds to finish the second of their pair, maybe. If they were so lucky.

"We'll steal an emergency vehicle then," he agreed as they climbed. He coughed as he shifted dust in his efforts up to the surface, following the flow of water, the occasional scent of fresh air.

The closer they came, the more difficult the climb was. There were times where only Gabe literally shouldering him up was the only reason he made it. He hauled the older man up after him, and the debris became slick. Occasionally, he could hear the faint cry of someone calling for help, announcing themselves, but he moved in opposite direction instead, letting their survival be priority for once in his life.

The rain also spattered on him, washing away some of the caked on blood, but it made him cold as well. He was shivering by the time he shouldered the last piece of wall out of the way and saw night sky above them. He blinked at it and then shoved other pieces of concrete out of the way so he could pull himself up to the top level of the ruined Watchpoint base, and the devastation was in all directions. The whole building had been brought down.

Slowly, he moved back to help pull Gabe out and the rain was pouring down on them. Maybe he had his first good look at the state of them both, their ruined torn up clothing, the blood spots that were being diluted with the rain and the haggard haunted looks on their faces. He took a brief second to press his forehead to Gabe's and then scrambled up to stand to locate the area that was quickest off the debris.

Flashing lights were to their left where the vehicle garage had once been, where the main road leading away was. He moved away from that direction, scattering debris as he stumbled and slipped to the torn up and twisted wooded area that happened to be closer. There were supply roads in that direction, but it would soon be bustling with emergency vehicles and personnel. Sirens rattled his head, fogged as it was already.

He stood higher and turned to regard Gabe, taking a moment for the older man to catch up from his scouting ahead. He figured a collapsed lung would make his partner slower. He offered over a weapon he found near his feet; it seemed in working order.

"We'll have to circle or wait," he muttered coughing out concrete dust. "Come on, Gabe."

The moment the name left his lips a shot rang out, slamming into his shoulder and twisting him around with the force of it. The shooter was in the treeline, clearly having been unable to determine their identity until he had spoken Reyes' first name. He hit the ground with a sharp breath, clasping desperately at the new wound as he thrashed about for a few seconds then stilled to not draw more attention to himself.

[gr1m]

Felt like that part of whatever makeshift plan was settled, anything and nearly everything else would have to be come up with on the fly, ever changing just to help keep from going unfollowed. As undetected as possible. Be enough chaos going around to give them cover and get off the property at least.

Fresh air was a relief, as much as it burned, as hard as it was getting to breath the longer it all took. Had a coughing fit shortly after he was pulled out, hand over his mouth firmly to both muffle and try and contain what he knew had to be blood sputtering out with every harsh exhale. Hanging back in the hole before he was being pulled out.

Was holding on to Jack while looking him over, hand resting over one of the places a thick coil of rebar had gone through the other carefully. Both likely felt as bad as they looked, still scanning him over for anything missed in the dark. Taking that moment of touch after, before he was trying to follow after.

Shivering, trying to keep himself from coughing up whatever was left of a lung, scanning the area at the sort of forced slower pace. Already so many people around, hopefully occupied with finding others who survived, wouldn't see them making their way in the opposite direction. Damn well prayed that was so.

Weapon was taken, looked over just briefly to take note of the model and how to better hold it, "We can't afford to wait—"

He was on high alert the moment the shot rang out, snarling as he saw Jack go down, only seconds passing before he was bringing up the weapon and firing a few rounds towards the treeline were he thought the shot had come from. Didn't waste a second moving between where Jack had fallen and where the shooter had to be, keeping himself from running in the direction out of fear what leaving Jack there could mean.

Couldn't chance there being someone else waiting to swoop in if he went after a shooter.

[dadication]

Jack lay on the rubble, his head turned to regard Reyes as the older man fired in return, which was likely a terrible idea all around for everyone involved. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to roll from his back to his side to crowd in behind Reyes' legs, aware that they were the most protective aspect of this entire place. God, now his jacket was entirely destroyed!

He looked around Reyes' legs, trying to pick out any sign of the shooter. There was a single returned shot which ricochet off some of the debris nearby. There was a flash of the muzzle in the tree line, someone clearly trying to take a higher position to be able to see through the rain and line up a better shot. They also gave away their position.

"...you need to kill 'em, Gabe," he growled, as if it wasn't obvious already. "I'll follow you." Slower, dragging himself if he had to. They were getting out of here and if that involved shooting their way out, so be it. "Maybe also bring me that weapon as a souvenir, yeah?"

He spit blood on the ground, breathing hard and trying to apply pressure to his newest wound. The last thing that he needed right now was a new place to bleed from, but there was no helping that either. He was already exhausted, and both of them had suffered heavy blood loss. The sooner they got themselves out of here, the safer that they would likely be.

[gr1m]

"Keep low," Nearly snarled in a mix of pain and anger, zeroing in on that flash of muzzle as his body tensed as if trying to decide between running in and leaving Jack to catch up or—

He knew he had to kill them! Didn't need anyone going to run off and tell people they were alive, especially if they were already trying to kill them after dragging themselves out of the debris. "Be careful, Jack. Going to bring you back a present," As if he needed to say it, because he was about to take away that cover and protection of his body as he took off through the field of debris between them and the shooter.

Far faster than a man with a collapsed lung had any right to, but all of that shit they went through during the SEP had to be good for something. Running on adrenaline now meant he'd have to heavily rely on Jack later, this was going to take a hell of a lot out of him. Launching himself upwards as he used some stacked debris as stepping stones even as he fired directly on the spot the shooter at to be in.

Trusting that Jack would still be there when he could turn back, rather than hunting down someone in the trees to kill them.

[dadication]

"Uh huh... better be shiny," he grunted back, aware that Gabe was going to have to leave him because a gunman was targeting them. He knew that he would be vulnerable, but he wouldn't consider himself entirely helpless either. So he had a new hole in his body... it was back to the Omnic Crisis all over again in that regard.

He twisted as Gabe took off, fast and swift over the rubble, far more sure-footed than anyone who had crawled their way out of a fallen building and with a collapsed lung had any right to. He knew the older man would pay for that push, but it was to survival now, so they were both going to have to give everything they could. The gunman shot and missed twice on Gabe's suicide run, and that's when Jack knew he had to act as well. As the distance closed, the shots would be easier.

Jack began to move, squirming his way over debris and performing the elaborate 'wounded bird' dance across the rubble. He crawled and rose up then fell down, rolling down the slopes of debris with grunts of pain.

The decision was probably interesting. Shoot Gabe who was like a furious charging bull, or shoot Jack who couldn't readily defend himself and if he died, caused a potential ripple effect stun on Gabe who could then be killed. It depended on how much the shooter was pissing their pants right about now, he figured. Fifty-fifty, but he made a good scene of it.

A single shot grazed his scalp as he slipped down the next hill of debris. He acted like he had been mortally wounded, twisting and writhing on the ground, keeping attention on him so Gabe could get in close, could find and kill the single shooter. Between them, their link burned with life.

[gr1m]

Shiny, possibly covered in the blood of the previous owner. That would make a fine present once he made his way back, wouldn't it? Would also at least give Jack something to defend himself with if they came across someone else with a gun. Hell, some hope in the back of his head this was not drawing any attention their way with all the noise. Let it be drowned out by panic and rescue vehicles and the rain. His ears were still ringing but he hoped there was thunder roaring.

Anything to drown out all of this over a distance and keep this a three man battle with two against one. Anything to give them that edge of survival from any back-up coming to hunt them down just yet.

The only time Gabriel lowered the gun was to haul himself up in to a tree once he hit the tree line, practically vaulting up it as pain lanced through him from the movement. Compartmentalizing it all, every pain and weakness, so he could keep himself push forward. Only taking shots when he saw glances of the gunman in the trees.

Hell, as soon as he was close enough Reyes was bodily launching himself at them, using the weapon as a blunt instrument rather than wasting anymore ammunition. Couldn't afford to look back, just relying on that link to know Jack was still alive no matter the distraction he was putting on.

Gabriel Reyes was going to cave a goddamn skull in with everything he was riding on to keep him going.

[dadication]

"Sonuvabi...!" Their shooter tried to scramble away from the rampaging super soldier, but ended up taking a few point blank shots that could be little more than grazes or limb shots. The man in question nearly fell out of the tree he was using to assess the rubble, but ended up taking the weapon in Gabe's hands to the head. There was a sickening crack at the impact, and the gunman gave a few twitches and body slumped backwards to fall out of the tree.

There were no insignia to announce his association, just black combat gear. He carried no identification, and he had an older style walkie-talkie rather than an integrated comm unit. He was clearly outfitted to wait as long as he needed to, a pack of supplies at the bottom of the tree hidden in bushes, and he knew his business with plenty of extra ammo.

Jack had no idea that the fight had come to an end, crawling his way towards the treeline and listening for signs that others were in the area lining up shots on them. He expected the cover would be good, but then again, what was really the point with the sound of gunfire ceased. Instead, the rain took the opportunity to pick up the pace and soak everything within minutes.

He crested a larger mound of rubble and slid the long way to the bottom into a few crumpled trees. There was supposed to be a nice walking trail around here, but it was buried. However, the distant sound of sirens was starting on their side of the building. He moved to pick himself up, dazed and weak but heading into the treeline.

"...Gabe...?"

[gr1m]

Reyes came tumbling down out of the tree with him, half to make damn sure he was dead, and the rest was momentum and the fading ability to keep up in the tree himself. Landed hard, winded himself for a moment, but he was damn sure the man was dead, wheezing as he tried to catch his breath. All it earned him with coughing up a lot of blood, barely sitting on his knees as he spit out a few mouthfuls of it.

Fuck. If he were a normal man all of this would have been fatal for the both of them, but thank the good old US Government for pumping him full of who the hell knew what. Meant he could bleed out longer and still have a chance to survive.

"Fuck," spitting out blood, glancing over and noticing the supplies. Forcing himself up enough to get in a quick investigation while shouldering the weapon he'd had along with pulling the weapon off the shooter. Shivering as he moved—

He went still and quiet at the sound of movement, relaxing only once he heard Jack despite the sound of sirens, "Over here."

Was trying his best to meet Jack half-way at most, even if he was staggering as adrenaline faded in his system, the cold and pain making itself present. Had the pack hauled up with him, because this was going to be one Hell of a 'present' wasn't it? "Got something for you, Jack."

[dadication]

Jack paused to listen beyond the rain falling and the distant sirens, and there was relief as Reyes called back to him. He knew logically that Gabe wasn't dead, as it would come immediately through their bond, but the fear was there. The sheer notion of losing the partner of his life was just a black hole of madness, so he just plain avoided thinking about it as much as possible. Only shit situations like these made him clam up with panic, even if logically nothing had defeated them yet.

He was slow to drag himself to his feet, but he managed it now that the direct threat to them was over. He hobbled his way over to where Gabe was, and his arms immediately curled around the other man's waist, holding Reyes against him and resting his bloody forehead and cheek against the other man. Just... taking a moment to exist in the sphere of one another.

His eyes flicked to the pack, and he let out a low chuckle that hurt way too much. "Look at you getting all fancy on me. You always bring me the best gifts," he remarked before he was tucking his arm more tightly and hauling Reyes up. "We're going to have to hit the service road, hope we can get transport there."

He shuffled, staggered and half-carried Reyes with him through the woods. It was damn slow, the two of them flagging their energy, weak from blood loss and also the new rising cold of being wet. "You half dead or three-quarters at this point, Reyes?"

[gr1m]

Took that moment to try and once more pull whatever was left of him enough to... try and draw something from the warmth Jack provided with his presence. An arm wrapped around him loosely, head rested against his as he took in a pained breath. Just glad he was up still, even if Gabriel damn well would try and carry Jack along with everything else if he had to.

No matter how his strength was fading the longer they were out in this rain. Would do whatever the hell he had to, make sure they both got out of here.

"Of course, for you after all." Biting back the noise as he was pulled, because he needed to keep standing yes. "Hopefully, didn't look through the pack much but there's extra ammo for the gun. Good for you?" Because Gabe was going to be handing it over to him, even if his own weapon was going to be running low if there was another gun fight soon.

He glanced up ahead of them before working with Morrison to keep walking, one hand gripping hold of him tightly. "I don't know at this point, check again later and I might have something more accurate." Damn well hoped they'd still be able to snatch a rescue vehicle, hopefully one packed with the right medical supplies.

Who else might they have to shoot- or at least threaten to shoot?