Chapter Text
Gabe dumps freshly chopped onions in a bowl and grabs the pepper next to it, phone propped between his shoulder and ear, as his mother rambles on.
“Sí, Mamá,” Gabe says absently during a pause, not really paying attention to what she’s saying. He glances at the still back door again, wondering how late Jack is going to be. The only communication he’s gotten from the man all day was a quick text about a couple of hours ago telling him he was going to be late. No details, no time frame. Just ‘gonna be late’. Gabe’s wondering if that means late enough that he should at least feed Hana before he gets home. Hana’s already been in once complaining she was hungry, grabbing a handful of the mini-muffins Gabe usually shoves at Jack for breakfast, before going back to her computer. Whether she’s doing homework or gaming, Gabe isn’t sure. It seems a little quiet at the moment to be gaming though.
And Jack isn’t typically hours late after he texts. At least not without further texts.
“Gabriel Reyes!” Gabe jerks, narrowly avoiding slicing into his finger with the knife in his hand. “You have not been listening to a word I’ve said, have you?”
“Sorry, Mamá.” Gabe forces his attention back to the phone. “What were you saying?”
“What’s wrong?” Maria asks through the phone, voice growing concerned.
“Nothing.” Gabe sets the knife down, vegetables chopped. “Jack’s just running late tonight.”
“Work?” His mother asks.
“Sí. Just wondering whether to eat without him. Nothing big, I promise. My mind was just wandering.” Gabe makes the decision and grabs a pan to cook the vegetables and meat he was just cutting up for fajitas. “Now, what were you saying?”
“I was talking about Christmas this year. I think we should all go somewhere for the week. We’re always in LA. I think it would be good to go somewhere as a family. When was the last time you had an actual vacation?”
Gabe pauses in the process of dropping the meat into his preheated pan, thinking. He’s not sure he can remember the last time that he took an actual vacation. Days off here and there, sure. He did take Jesse to Mexico to meet the extended family, but that was years and years ago, before even Genji entered their lives. He and Jack take weekends off to go up to the mountains and hike every once in a while, grabbing whichever of the kids have the time to go with them. It lets Jack get out of the city, country boy that he is, after all. But he really can’t remember anything other than that.
And if he hasn’t gone, he’s sure that Jack hasn’t either. The man was basically a hermit before Hana came to live with him. No way would he have gone anywhere. Despite Reinhardt and Ana’s best efforts, he’s sure.
“See? Exactly,” Maria says, taking Gabe’s silence as confirmation that it indeed has been too long. “We can all get away together.”
“That’s great, Mamá,” Gabe says, dumping the rest of the meat into the pan to cook. “Where were you thinking? Mexico? Hawaii?” Christmas on a beach sounds like it could be fun. Although he’s not sure Jack can get away, or if Jesse will really want to go somewhere. They’ve been hosting Hanzo and whichever other of his friends can’t get home over breaks for years now so he may not want to leave them hanging. It’s worth a shot though.
“No, Gabriel. It’s Christmas,” his mother replies.
The back door opens and distracts Gabe from her vaguely ominous tone. Jack walks in looking dead on his feet, dropping his bag on the floor before sitting heavily on the bench by the door to take off his boots. He’s not in uniform, just a pair of scrubs Gabe doesn’t recognize. Gabe’s not sure he wants to know why. He’s not squeamish, but the bloodier details of Jack’s job can get to him at times. He’s pretty sure that it’s Jack’s calm recitation of missing limbs and screaming children and not the details themselves.
“Uh huh, Mamá. Sure. Wherever. We’ll figure out the details later. I’ll call you back,” Gabe says absently before hanging up the phone. Gabe grabs the sandwich sitting in wait on the kitchen island on his way by.
He sits down on the bench next to Jack, still slumped over after removing his boots. Gabe wraps an arm around him and tugs until Jack leans against his shoulder instead. Saying nothing, Gabe hands him the sandwich. Jack takes it automatically and scarfs it in a way that says he’s been starving for hours.
Once finished, Jack slumps more heavily into Gabe’s side for a moment before pulling himself upright with effort.
“You have time to shower before dinner, if you want.” Gabe breaks the silence as Jack drops the plate into the sink. “Hana’s upstairs on the computer.”
Jack nods, dropping onto a stool at the island. “I showered at the station. Kind of had to. But I’ll go say hi. In a minute.”
Gabe rescues the meat from the pan, hoping it isn’t overcooked too badly, and drops the vegetables in before turning back to Jack. “Dinner’ll be done in just a few minutes then, but you know you can always just go to bed.”
Jack shrugs without replying, and Gabe takes a closer look.
“Bad day?” Gabe turns back around, moving the vegetables in the pan so they don’t burn.
“Yeah. Probably going to be a court thing eventually, though.” Jack shrugs again, and Gabe gets it. He can’t talk about it, even in vague details. No matter how much he wants to. “Who were you talking to?” Jack asks in a blatant attempt to change the subject that Gabe easily allows.
“Mamá. She wants us all to go somewhere for Christmas this year.” Gabe pulls the vegetables out, adding them to the platter with the meat, and carries it all over to the pre-set table.
“Sounds like fun,” Jack says before pulling himself off the stool, pausing a moment as he sways a bit getting to his feet, and walking over to the stairs to yell for Hana to come down for dinner. “I don’t want to leave Zenyatta stranded over the holidays though.”
“And Jesse probably won’t want to come without Hanzo,” Gabe adds as Hana shoots past Jack and throws herself into her chair. “Which is fine.”
“Finally! I was starving.” Hana quickly begins piling food into the tortilla shells. Gabe picks up the glass of whiskey he’d been nursing while cooking and detours by the kitchen doorway, where Jack is still swaying on his feet. He wraps an arm around Jack’s waist and guides him to the table.
“You’ll live.” Jack reaches over to tussle her hair, causing her to squawk indignantly before elbowing him away. Jack abandons messing with her in order to fill his own plate. “How was school?”
“Eh. It was fine. It was school. Where isn’t Jesse going to want to go?” Hana asks after taking her first bite.
“Wherever Abuela wants us all to go for Christmas this year,” Gabe replies in between bites of his own dinner. “I’ll call her back after we eat and find out where she wants to go. Apparently Mexico and Hawaii are out though.”
“That would be so cool, though.” Hana, at least, seems on board with Christmas on a beach.
Jack rolls his eyes, and Gabe can see the effort he’s putting into acting normal for Hana’s sake. He’s pretty sure Hana can see it is an act too, but pretends to buy it. “I know neither of you understand this, but Christmas means snow. Not beaches.”
Gabe keeps an eye on Jack, who is more pushing food around his plate than eating. Too tired to make the effort now that he is not starving is Gabe’s guess. “Ugh, snow.” Gabe shudders, feeling phantom chills. “Why would you do that willingly?”
“Skiing, ice skating, hockey, snowball fights.” Jack starts listing even as he pushes his plate away, food barely touched, and leans heavily on the table.
Hana hums, swallowing before replying. “That could be fun. I don’t think I’ve ever seen snow. Not like actual proper snow.”
“That is just not right, kid. Why haven’t I taken you skiing yet? You’ll love it.” Jack is definitely fading. His eyes drift close and don’t open again. “I think you’re outvoted, Reyes.”
Gabe sighs. “Maybe I can get Jesse and Sombra on my side.”
“Good luck with that,” Hana replies. “Any idea were Abuela wants to go? You know she’s getting the final say, no matter what we decide.”
Gabe shakes his head. “I didn’t hear. I’ll call her back later and find out. I’m not even sure she’s considered just how big this is likely to get.”
Gabe glances over at Jack and can’t hold in the fond smile when he sees Jack sleeping propped up against the table. He should have just gone to bed.
“We don’t exactly have a small family at this point, do we?” Hana says as she grins.
Gabe laughs. “With Jesse comes Hanzo. And then we’ve got Zen and Genji, who’s going to want to bring Lúcio. And with you and Jack there, Reinhardt’s going to want to come. The real question is whether Ana, Fareeha, and Angela are coming too.”
“And whether Lena and Emily can get back to England this year. And what Satya, Mei, and Zarya decide to do,” Hana adds, pushing her plate away. “But I’m sure she thought about that. It’s Abuela.”
“Can you get the dishes?” Gabe asks Hana as dinner winds down. “I’m going to get your dad in bed and call Mamá back.”
“Sure thing,” Hana says, glancing over at Jack before grabbing their plates without comment on Jack’s still mostly full plate. Or making any attempt to wake him up.
Gabe pushes out of his chair and crouches down next to Jack. “Hey, Sunshine.” He keeps his voice pitched low, not wanting to startle the man. Jack doesn’t stir. Gabe shakes his shoulder lightly. “C’mon, Jack. Time for bed.”
Jack jerks awake anyway at the touch. “What?” His voice is slurred.
“Bed. You’re sleeping at the table, old man.” Gabe helps pull Jack to his feet and keeps him steady when he sways.
“Younger than you,” Jack replies petulantly, leaning into Gabe as he directs them out of the kitchen. “’Night, Hana,” Jack calls when they pass her.
She glances over from her washing. “Night, guys.”
“Don’t stay up all night,” Gabe tells her with a playful glare. She just laughs at him in reply. Oh well. It is Friday night. Not like she has school tomorrow to contend with.
Jack is mostly moving under his own power by the time he hits the stairs. Gabe shadows him up and into their bedroom. Jack strips the unfamiliar scrubs off mechanically, leaving them where they land on the floor, before dropping onto the bed without bothering to put anything else on.
Gabe sighs and starts wrestling the covers out from underneath him. Jack shifts around a bit to help him but in reality it just makes the entire process harder, until he finally makes an uncoordinated grab at Gabe that somehow connects.
Gabe follows Jack’s pull and falls onto the bed on top of Jack. Jack grunts when he hits, but wraps his arms around Gabe to hold him there.
“Hi,” Jack says, pulling Gabe down for a kiss. “I think I forgot to say that earlier.”
Gabe chuckles and kisses him again, drawing it out this time. “You were pretty distracted. And mostly asleep.” Gabe rolls them both over to lay beside him, keeping hold of Jack even as he ducks in for another kiss, and tangles their legs together.
Jack drops his head to the pillow with a sigh. Gabe places another gentle kiss on Jack’s cheek before running a hand through his short hair. Jack leans into it even as his eyes close.
“You falling asleep on me, Sunshine?” Gabe asks. He starts pulling Jack’s glasses off slowly, giving the man enough time to protest. Some days Jack can’t handle someone else removing his sight. Jack makes no sign of protest so he removes them completely and reaches over Jack to set them on the bedside table.
“Unfortunately,” Jack grumbles into the pillow, pulling Gabe back down on top of him.
Gabe snorts but keeps shifting until he’s alongside Jack once again. He doesn’t want Jack falling asleep with his weight on top of him. They’ve learned the hard way that leads to nightmares for either of them. Gabe doesn’t tend to waste much time thinking about it, but it makes sense. They both have nightmares about that final mission and the crushing pressure of the building that came down on top of them. So he just makes sure Jack falls asleep without any added weight.
And deals with his own nightmares when they come. Besides, if it wasn’t the building collapse, he’d just be dreaming about something else anyway.
Jack clings to Gabe with his head pillowed on his shoulder, and Gabe laughs quietly. He remembers a night years and years ago, back when they were different people, when Jack held him hostage in his sleep forcing them both to address their feelings the next morning.
“C’mon, Sunshine. Let me up. I’ve got to call Mamá back.”
“Do it from here,” Jack mumbles, not letting go.
Gabe stays quiet, wondering if Jack has more to say. Outside of sleep, Jack isn’t really clingy these days. Jack doesn’t say anything though, just tightens his hold on Gabe. Must have been a really bad day.
“Okay.” Gabe says into the growing silence. “Just let me up long enough to change and lock up. I’ll come right back.”
Jack grumbles, but releases his hold and rolls onto his back. Gabe takes advantage and slides out of the bed. He quickly changes, making sure his phone makes it onto the bedside table in easy reach. He walks back downstairs and checks all the door and windows, sets the security system, and makes sure the house is secure for the night.
He pokes his head into Hana’s room on his way by. She pauses in her gaming just long enough to say goodnight, but immediately turns back.
“Fuck, guys, I’m dead,” Hana sighs as she looks back to the screen. “Lúcio, hang back. We’ll come in as a second wave in a second.”
Gabe shakes his head and closes her door to keep the noise contained. He hears a groan muffled by the door as he walks back down the short hallway and smiles. Sounds like the second wave in didn’t go so well either.
He shuts their bedroom door as another noise buffer before opening the window to let in the cool night air and climbing back into bed. He grabs his phone and leans back against the headboard.
He thinks Jack fell asleep while he was gone, until the man rolls back over. Gabe runs a hand through his hair as Jack wraps an arm around his hips and presses his face into his side.
“Sure this isn’t going to bother you?” Gabe asks as he unlocks his phone.
“It’s fine. I don’t remember much Spanish now anyway. Never was any good with languages unless I was constantly using them. It’ll sound like white noise.” Jack sounds more awake than he has all evening. There’s still something missing from his voice though. Like the life has been drained out of him.
Gabe runs a hand up and down his back hoping to soothe him back to sleep, while his listens to his phone ring.
“Holá, Mamá,” Gabe greets his mother.
“Everything okay? You hung up too quickly.” Gabe hears concern in his Mamá’s voice. She’s taken Jack and Hana in as her own from the very first time Gabe mentioned them. Back when things were still so very tenuous between them. Back when they were still trying to work through their shared past and unsure if they would be able to.
“Yeah. Jack got home. Bad day.”
“Hmmm. And where is he now?” Maria sounds stern, and Gabe is sure he’d be getting an earful if he left the man alone.
“Falling asleep on top of me,” Gabe answers truthfully.
“Good. You’ve both spent too much time alone dealing with that shit by yourselves.”
“Sí, Mamá,” Gabe says, knowing that arguing with her never gets him anywhere. He was fine during the years on his own. He had the kids to raise. “Now, what did you want to do about Christmas?”
“I was thinking Europe,” Maria answers right away, and Gabe almost groans. He starts trying to add up the cost of the flight alone for them and the kids, even just their three or four, in his head but gives up with a shudder. “But then I talked to Jesse.”
“When did you call Jesse?” Gabe asks. He’d been hoping to get to Jesse and Sombra first, and get them on his side for a beach vacation.
“When you hung up on me, mijo.”
“Sorry, Mamá. I wouldn’t have, but–”
“I know,” Maria interrupts him. “It’s fine. But I wanted to talk to the kids about it too, so I called him. I had the time and so did he.” She sighs. Gabe can picture her shaking her head. “Hanzo is working late again. That boy. He’s doing too much too fast.”
Jack twitches against him and Gabe runs his hand through Jack’s hair. The motion typically soothes Jack back to sleep after nightmares, but Jack shudders again and comes awake with a cut off gasp. Gabe pulls the phone away for a second. “Shh, Sunshine. You’re okay. You’re safe.” Jack settles right back down without a word. Gabe waits a few seconds for his breathing to even out again before he asks, “What did Jesse have to say?”
“He didn’t think Europe would work with schedules. Too far. Too much time. Breaks not being long enough.” Gabe nods even though Maria can’t see him. “I agree, so now I’m thinking Colorado. We can rent some cabins. Everyone can show up when they have time. We don’t have to organize flights.”
“That makes sense,” Gabe agrees. They can make that drive pretty easily. More affordable too. Even if it is going to be damn cold.
“I’ll start finding options,” Maria offers. “I’m back with my sister in Tampico, so I have time right now.”
“That’s great.” Gabe pauses and thinks about Jack’s comment earlier, not wanting to abandon Zenyatta at work. Gabe doesn’t really want to strand the man over the holidays either. “Who all are you thinking about?”
“Everyone!” Maria answers immediately. “It’s not Christmas otherwise.” She pauses. “It might take a few cabins.”
Gabe chuckles. “Definitely a few. Or at least lots of space in one. I’m not getting crowded in with everyone.” Gabe shudders to think about sharing a small space their whole crowd. It can get bad enough for a few days around the holidays here, and that’s with everyone coming and going. And it being generally warm enough that kicking any rowdy kids outside is an option.
Gabe can sense Maria’s hand wave. “It’ll be fine. I’ll make sure.” Gabe calms his racing heart. He knows she will. She knows both him and Jack don’t handle being crowded well, not to mention Sombra’s typical reaction to overpopulation. “Now, who all is going to come?”
Gabe tries to add up the numbers. “Me, you, Jack, Hana. Maybe Reinhardt. And with him generally comes Ana, Fareeha, and Angela unless they’ve made plans already or Fareeha is stationed too far away to make it home this year. Zenyatta and Genji. Lúcio if he’s not on tour somewhere, but Genji hasn’t said anything about him being gone over this break. Jesse and Hanzo. Sombra. Lena if she can get leave and Emily if she’s not going back to England. I don’t think Baptiste is making it home this year, but Amélie might be able to come.” Gabe pauses as Jack twitches again. “We’ll have to see if Zenyatta and Jack can get time off together. I’m not sure how realistic that will be.”
“So eight bedrooms at least. Probably more,” Maria says after listening to the list. “I’ll see what I can find.”
Jack comes awake again with a start. Gabe tightens the arm around him as Jack blinks in the darkness of the room. Jack settles back down, but Gabe’s pretty sure he’s still awake this time.
“I’ve got one question though, Mamá. Why are we going somewhere cold and snowy?” Gabe lets himself shudder since Jack is awake now.
“Because it’s Christmas, Gabriel Reyes. You won’t freeze. Just bring some warm clothes. And Jack.” Gabe pulls the phone away from his ear at her volume. Jack snorts and reaches up to grab the phone away. Obviously he understood that with his rusty Spanish.
“Don’t listen to him, Ms—sorry, Mamá,” Jack says as he laughs. “He’ll survive.” Jack pauses, listening to Maria’s reply, but her volume is lower this time so Gabe can’t hear it. “Buenas noches,” he replies before ending the call.
Jack sits up and reaches over Gabe, tossing his phone on the bedside table before shifting around to settle on Gabe’s lap. Gabe lets himself to be pulled in for a kiss.
“I won’t let you freeze. Promise,” Jack says before ducking his head to work his way around Gabe’s neck.
Gabe tilts his head to give him better access. “Thought you were tired.”
“Mmm. Wasn’t working,” Jack says, capturing Gabe’s lips again. “Got a better idea now.”
Gabe grins and allows himself to be manhandled further down the bed.
--
Thanksgiving has come and gone with its usual chaos, complete with traditional war over who got the honor of cooking. Gabe’d won this year by default of kicking everyone else out of his kitchen and not listening to any arguments against the idea. Most of them were half-hearted at best anyway once he’d put his foot down.
But it definitely means that the holiday chaos is full swing.
Gabe pulls into his driveway late after work at the beginning of December. The day had gone to hell quickly and stayed there. Abuse and sexual assault cases are the worst. And this one came with a group of three siblings, the youngest just four years old, who clung to each other and watched every adult with fear in their eyes.
Gabe shuts off the car. He looks over at the house, brightly lit with multiple silhouettes moving through the windows. He sighs, not ready to face the chaos of home. And from the number of cars around, they have a full house.
His phone vibrates in the cup holder with an incoming email. Gabe grabs it, thankful for the excuse to sit in the dark and quiet for an extra few minutes.
From: [email protected]
To: Group (Gabi’s Circus)
Subject: Christmas VacationHello all,
Cabin, if you can call something that big a cabin, is rented. The link is below. And I know you all know how to use a map or a GPS, so you can figure out your own directions there. I’ve booked it for the two weeks surrounding Christmas and New Year’s. I know you all can’t get away for that long, but come when you can and stay as long as you like. Bedrooms are first come first serve though so no complaining if you’re the last one there and you are stuck on the couch.
Your presence is REQUIRED on Christmas Eve and Day, so plan accordingly. And yes, that does mean all of you.
There’s a ski resort nearby, plenty of trails, and an outdoor ice rink, so we should have plenty of things to do according to the people I talked to when I rented the place. There’s more information on the website.
Happy Holidays,
MamáP.S. It is apparently quite the drive to the nearest town, so come prepared. Bring groceries and we’ll split the cooking. Yes, that means I expect you all to share the kitchen nicely.
Gabe clicks the link to pull up the pictures. The place is enormous. Four full suites, two other bedrooms, and a loft that could easily sleep twelve. All of it covered it snow. He shivers just at the sight of it, pulling the sleeves of his sweatshirt down farther and tighter to ward against the phantom cold. It is going to be a long, cold few weeks. At least there looks to be a gigantic kitchen and a bunch of fireplaces.
A knock on his window startles Gabe out of the grocery list he automatically started for the trip. Jack is standing outside with a sheepish grin. Gabe puts his phone down, cracking the door open in invitation before pushing himself up and over the center console to the passenger seat.
“Not ready to come in?” Jack asks, sliding into the car and closing the door.
Gabe shakes his head and twists around in the seat to be facing Jack, but not reaching out at all. The anger that’s been building through the day is still simmering just beneath the surface, waiting for a reason to be unleashed. Some days, a simple touch is all it takes.
Jack looks at him for a minute and Gabe knows he’s looking for clues to his day. Gabe’s unsure if it is written all over his face right now. And that thought should worry him, but it’s Jack. It’s fine if it is.
Jack finally nods like he has his answers. He leans back and gets as comfortable in the driver’s seat as possible while still twisted to be looking at Gabe. He takes a deep breath and begins what sounds like a debrief. “It’s a full house right now. Sombra showed up and says she’s staying until at least January this time. The girls are currently fighting over who gets their bedroom. Jesse and Peacekeeper are here. Said he can’t study at home. Hanzo’s been working late and bringing work home on top of it, so we’ve probably got him until finals are over and they can cohabitate again without bloodshed over the radio or TV or whatever.
“Genji and Lúcio showed up earlier this afternoon, but they’re supposed to be leaving tonight. Genji had the night off and Lúcio was going stir crazy in their apartment with the countdown to finals. Genji made dinner, because he apparently doesn’t cook enough at work. We saved you a plate. So far no one else has invaded, but Amélie called me when she couldn’t get ahold of you.”
Gabe frowns and Jack holds up one hand, looking a bit grim. “Baptiste was shot. They’re medevacking to Walter Reed later this week from wherever the hell in the world he was. She’s not sure how long they’re going to keep him or if he’s going to come this way to finish recovering. So we might have him for an indefinite period at some point too. She wasn’t sure who he’s going to want to stay with once she can fly him home.”
Gabe nods, filing away each piece of information. He wants to know more about Baptiste, but Jack made it sound like it’s no longer an emergency. He decides to call Amélie in the morning, when he himself has evened out. If she hasn’t flown out already, then it can’t be too bad. And if it is, he’ll find out then, and they’ll deal with it.
Gabe blinks and sees flashes of burns and bruising on flesh young and old, haunted eyes in too young of faces, and eyes that will never open again.
“Hey,” Jack says softly for what likely isn’t the first time.
Gabe forces himself to open his eyes, trying to chase away the memories. Maybe he’ll bake tonight. If it’s finals, he’s sure everyone will appreciate some cookies. Maybe some brownies. And cinnamon rolls for breakfast.
“You want dinner? I can bring it out.” Jack’s hand rests on the center console. An aborted movement towards Gabe that left his hand stranded in between them.
“No.” Gabe shakes his head, his voice gruff.
“Want to get out of the car at least? I can keep everyone out of the yard or clear the way upstairs.”
Gabe turns and looks at the brightly lit house, a beacon on the dark street. He can just imagine the noise level inside. He doesn’t want to go in there now. He can’t lash out at any of the kids. And now that they’re grown, he has no built in guarantee that he won’t. He doesn’t trust himself enough right now to go inside the house.
“C’mon.” Jack gets out of the car and walks to the passenger side, opening the door. “Let’s at least go to the yard. It’s cold enough—” Gabe can hear the air quotes in Jack’s voice, “—that the kids won’t come outside. Most you’ll have to deal with is the dog.”
Surprising both himself and Jack, Gabe reaches out and grabs the offered hand to pull himself out of the car. He doesn’t drop it, either. He follows as Jack leads him into the backyard to the hammock. Only then does he pull his hand free and lay down on it, staring at the dark sky before impulsively reaching out and pulling Jack in with him.
Startled, Jack collapses on top of him. Gabe grunts in pain from an elbow in the side before working to rearrange them both comfortably.
“This okay?” Jack asks, body still a little stiff in a losing effort to keep himself off of Gabe.
“Yeah. Relax, Sunshine.” Gabe pulls Jack in tighter, breathing deeply in the cool night air. “This way I won’t freeze.”
Jack huffs a laugh, breath warming Gabe’s neck. “Just tell me if I’m too much.”
Gabe bites back the “never” that tries to escape. It’s sappy as hell. And also untrue, depending on his mood that day. Even if he wishes otherwise.
They lay together in the quiet, wrapped in each other’s arms. Jack’s breathing eventually evens out in sleep, once again proving that he can now sleep anywhere at almost any time. Gabe drifts, never quite falling asleep in the cold night air, but enough that nightmarish images play across his subconscious. It’s nothing new after days like today.
He hears the back door creak open and close a couple of times throughout the evening. Peacekeeper comes nosing at them once briefly before Jesse calls him back inside. The second time is followed by the gate squeaking shut, likely Genji and Lúcio leaving for the night. The third time the door opens, Gabe hears footsteps accompanying the dog outside. He turns his head and opens his eyes to see Jesse walking over the lawn, carrying the blanket from the back of the couch.
“Everyone’s in bed,” Jesse says, shaking the blanket out over the two of them in the hammock. Gabe reaches out and grabs the corner, tucking it in around Jack’s shoulders. The man is just in a t-shirt and Gabe can feel the goosebumps forming on his skin. ”Didn’t want you to freeze.” Jesse leaves them be without another word, calling Peacekeeper inside with him, but Gabe knows that Jesse’ll be cornering him first thing in the morning for a check in.
The house quiets and the lights shut off inside. Gabe thinks about waking Jack and heading in. He thinks about spending the rest of the night in the kitchen alone. Instead, he just wraps the blanket a little tighter around them, breathes deeply in the night air, and revels in the silence around them.
--
Baptiste waits for the plane to clear completely before maneuvering himself into the aisle way. He swings his backpack up over his shoulder, stifling a grunt of pain when it hits the stitches in his left side, before getting his crutches underneath him.
Amélie had insisted on upgrading his ticket to first class for the flight across the country. As much as he protested the cost, he is grateful for it now. He’s in enough pain from the long flight and uncomfortable seats as it is. He doesn’t want to imagine what being cramped in coach would have been like.
He waves off the worker with a wheelchair waiting for him at the end of the skyway. He may have been shot three times and had four surgeries, but he can make it out to Amélie‘s car on his crutches. At least he knows his entire squad is on stand down over this Christmas, so he doesn’t have to worry about them running missions with a back-up medic on top of healing from a stupid mistake.
It takes him longer than he expected, but he eventually makes his way out of the terminal to baggage claim. He stops against a wall to dig out his phone, out of the way of the gathering hoard of people when he hears, “Baptiste!” yelled from across the cavernous area.
His head snaps up and he spots green hair bobbing through the crowd across the terminal. Baptiste steels himself. He was expecting Amélie to pick him up, not Genji. And, unless Genji has broken down and bought a real car, likely Lúcio too. He wonders when plans changed.
Genji comes into view as he darts around a large family with ease, and Baptiste’s heart rate quickens despite himself. He gives himself a ten second internal lecture about crushing on very good friends that are very, very taken before Genji skids to a stop in front of him.
Genji reaches out tentatively but doesn’t make contact, his arms hovering in invitation. Baptiste shuffles the necessary step forward on his crutches to give the man a hug. “Just watch the left side,” Baptiste says, stepping into the embrace.
Genji wraps his arms gently around him and Baptiste scoffs, pulling Genji in tighter. “I’m not dead, man.”
Genji’s hug doesn’t tighten and Baptiste steps back far faster than he wants, warring with emotions that he refuses to name.
“No, but you are broken,” Genji replies, letting him go. His expression is warm but his brows are creased, something lingering in his eyes that Baptiste can’t pinpoint. “Amélie just told us you were hurt. Nothing else.” Genji reaches out and tugs on the strap of Baptiste’s bag.
Baptiste sighs and hands it over. “A couple of bullet wounds, a broken leg, and a few surgeries. I’ll be fine.”
“Yes, you will.” Genji swings the bag over one shoulder and starts walking towards the pickup line of cars at a quarter of his previous exuberant pace. Baptiste would protest, but most of the time he can’t keep up with Genji even when he’s at full health. “But you are not fine now, and I do not know where you are sensitive. I will not be responsible for breaking you further.”
“Fine.” Baptiste gives up his argument; it’s taking more of his concentration than he wants to admit maneuvering around the gathered masses on crutches. “We lookin’ for Lúcio or did you bring your bike?”
The line-up of cars outside the airport is impressively long, even for LAX. Holiday travel is ramping up with only seven days until Christmas. The sea of cars before them all blend together in a mass of light and color. Baptiste looks around, trying to see anything he recognizes.
“Lúcio,” Genji confirms with a laugh as he walks confidently down the line. “As I said, I will not be responsible—”
“Oh, fine,” Baptiste cuts him off with a theatrical sigh even as his heart jumps again. He can see Lúcio waving from the driver’s seat of his converted Subaru. He pauses his hobble for a second to wave back and reiterate his silent self-lecture about good friends that are taken. Especially with each other.
“In.” Genji holds the passenger door open and waves him in with a bow.
“I can—” Baptiste starts to protest before Lúcio cuts him off.
“Just get in, man.” Lúcio’s grin is infectious and Baptiste feels himself returning it automatically. “With you in front, Genji can’t mess with the music.”
“Don’t let it be said that I ever got between you and music. I value my life much more than that.” Baptiste slides into the SUV and hands his crutches off to Genji, gratefully stretching his leg out in the front seat. Genji stows his bag and crutches before wedging himself into the back seat behind Lúcio.
Lúcio pulls away from the curb, swerving just out of the way as another car careens into the spot he vacates. Baptiste catches a glimpse of the driver gesturing furiously, likely yelling obscenities at them for the indecency of saying hello before leaving, and snickers as Genji flips him off. Baptiste leans back in the seat, sore and tired but feeling better than he has in weeks. He drifts off despite his best efforts before they ever make it to the expressway, forgetting to even ask about Amélie.
He startles awake when the car stops. He blinks a few times to clear the sleep from his eyes and looks around, not recognizing the building.
“Where are we?” Baptiste asks, stretching carefully before pulling himself out of the car.
“Our apartment,” Lúcio replies, pulling Baptiste’s backpack into his lap as Genji hands over the crutches.
Genji gives him another very careful hug that Baptiste hates before bouncing over to kiss Lúcio. “I have to work,” he explains, backing towards the motorcycle parked nearby. “Lúcio can get you settled. He even moved some of his equipment to make room.”
Baptiste gives up even trying to question as Genji pulls on a helmet and is gone with a wave to both of them.
“C’mon. Let’s get you inside and off your feet,” Lúcio says, leading the way into the building. The flat access and ground floor apartment are a step up from what Baptiste vaguely knows about student housing. He’s guessing they’re a little ways off of Lúcio’s campus. “We should be fully stocked on food and things for a few days, I think. Finals fried my brain this year, but Genji usually keeps us pretty well supplied.” Lúcio unlocks the apartment and scoots back, gesturing Baptiste in first.
Baptiste hobbles inside, taking in the open floorplan living room and kitchen. The living room is dominated by a large couch that looks incredibly comfortable, a wall mounted TV with the cords run through what looks like a piece of PVC tubing, and a closed shelving unit. The kitchen is immaculately clean with wide countertops at two separate levels, one that appears at the perfect height for Lúcio’s chair and the others a little bit higher than standard height. Off the living room are three doors. Two stand open, showing an accessible bathroom and what Baptiste guesses is Genji and Lúcio’s room based on the sparse clutter and large cage alongside a bed heaped high with pillows and blankets. When Baptiste tilts his head, he can just see the dozing ferret curled up in one of the cage’s hammocks.
Lúcio opens the third door, revealing a mess of music and recording equipment everywhere. The bed shoved in the corner of the room looks almost like an afterthought, crowded in against an oversized desk.
“Sorry you have to share with my equipment. But keeping it in a separate room is the only way to keep Haku out of it.” Lúcio tosses the backpack on the bed and gives Baptiste a sunny smile. “Make yourself at home. Just keep this door shut, please. I do not want have to replace all my power cords. Again.”
“Of course,” Baptiste agrees automatically, still not quite sure what is going on.
Lúcio backs out of the room and shuts the door again, skirting around where Baptiste still stands frozen in the middle of the room. “I need to let Haku out for some play time. But then, I’m thinking food. I’m starving. And airport food is horrible, you must be hungry too.” Lúcio stops in the doorway to his room, shooting a look back over his shoulder. “Do you have meds you need to take? Anything I should have grabbed out of the bag?”
“Lúcio.” Baptiste takes two careful steps back and eases himself down onto the couch, tired enough that he’s afraid he won’t be able to stay standing much longer. “Not that I don’t appreciate all of this, but why am I here? Where’s Amélie? I thought I was going to the townhouse.”
Lúcio wheels over to the couch and shifts onto it to sit beside him. “Man, I thought Amélie talked to you about this. If you want, I can take you over there,” he says, brows furrowed with genuine concern in his eyes. “But she’s got a huge court case going right now. Three abused kids or something. So she asked us to get you. Once we talked to her, we thought it would be easier on you here anyway.”
Lúcio reaches out and lays a hand gently on his arm. Baptiste’s full attention is drawn to it, the warmth of his fingers through his sleeve, and he has to jump start his brain when he keeps talking.
“She told us a little of what was going on,” Lúcio continues. “Mainly that you were hurt and had some surgeries and were on crutches for the moment. We offered to have you stay. I mean, we would have anyway. We like having you around, you know?” Lúcio gives him a fond smile that sends a jolt through Baptiste’s heart. “You’re always welcome here. But we thought this might be the easiest on you. No stairs. The bathroom’s already accessible with grab bars everywhere and a bench built into the shower. And I’m off of classes for the moment with only one gig after the New Year, so you don’t have to be alone. Unless you want to. Then I can either take you to the townhouse or you can hang out with my equipment.”
Baptiste shakes his head, pulling out his phone. There’s one missed text message. He opens it, mainly to confirm it’s Amélie letting him know that Genji and Lúcio were to pick him up from the airport and offered to have him stay since she’s going to be busy. Baptiste is tempted to wonder if she’s scheming somehow, since he’d confided his crush on his friends to her. But he also knows she’s very aware of his well-founded worries about it driving a wedge between the three of them with his stupid crush.
“Sorry, I’m being ungrateful.” Baptiste shoves his phone back into his pocket. “I didn’t see her message before.”
“You’re fine.” Lúcio gives his arm a gentle squeeze. “No need to stand on ceremony here. We’re friends. This is what we do. So, you staying here or am I driving you over there? I’d offer Gabe’s place too, but they’re already gone. And I would worry about you being alone when everything is upstairs there.”
“No. I’m happy here. Thank you.” Baptiste leans slightly into the touch before he can help himself. Lúcio must feel it because he reaches up and wraps his arm around Baptiste, pulling him into his side. Baptiste lets himself be pulled and soaks up Lúcio’s calm comfort. It intoxicating. And exactly what he’s wanted, alone in the hospital for the past few weeks.
Baptiste loses track of time half, asleep with his head on Lúcio’s shoulder before Lúcio squeezes him tightly once. He starts to gently pull away, supporting Baptiste until he can get himself back upright. “Sorry, didn’t mean to fall asleep on you.”
“No big deal,” Lúcio replies and looks completely unconcerned. “But I didn’t want you to sleep for real without eating something. And you never answered me about the meds. You look like you’re in some pain.”
Baptiste rubs his hands across his face, trying to wake himself up before looking around for his crutches. “Yeah, I’ve got pain meds and antibiotics in my bag. I’m sure I’m due for both. The travel and time change threw me off a bit more than I expected.”
“I’ve got it. Either stay put or go see if anything looks appetizing in the fridge. Genji probably made us something this morning.” Lúcio transfers back to his chair.
“Small pocket on the side,” Baptiste calls after Lúcio and lets himself sink further into the couch instead of getting up. He’ll take the help for now. He just hopes he doesn’t screw everything up in the process.