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Jack doesn't have to check the time to know it's almost four or five in the morning, he can feel how early it is.
He resists the urge to groan aloud, and even more so the urge to toss over. Not when Dennis's arm was slung over his stomach, slow puffs of air coasting over back of his neck and broken up audibly by the sound of Robby's deep snores on the other side of the bed.
He should be comfortable enough to sleep. His leg doesn't ache right now, even if his hip is protesting laying in the same spot for so long. He is comfortable enough to sleep, he fucking swears- only, his chest..hurts. The feeling of anxiety making the skin and sinew over his sternum feel stretched thin and at it's limit.
Something is wrong.
Nothing is wrong.
Something is wrong.
Nothing is wrong.
Something is wron-
He can't fucking take it anymore.
Jack does his best to be gentle, moving Den's arm from him and onto the bed. Taking the chance to sit up and scrubbing a hand over his face and nine o'clock shadow. He knows for a damn fact he isn't sleeping anytime soon, even if he can feel the ache of it already building behind his eyes.
Reaching for the side of the bed, he stands up on his crutches and makes his way out of their bedroom. Down the hall towards the living room and passed it into the kitchen, where he opened the fridge and grabbed the first can he saw before unceremoniously plopping down at the kitchen table.
Looking down to see one of the half sizes of Arizona tea's they'd been buying for Dennis recently, all after Santos had been frankly appalled their boyfriend had never had an arnold palmer. Much like the avocado situation, Dennis very suddenly discovered a new favorite and had practically been living off them recently.
The sight and sound of the can popping open makes something loosen ever so slightly in his chest, just enough for a more full breath.
He brought the can up to his lips and took a quick sip.
Huh, maybe Santos and Den were onto something here, even if Robby was somewhat right to think they were too sweet.
Jack sits with the silence and a slightly growing frustration for several minutes, his jaw ever so slowly clenching harder and harder. His therapist had prompted him over and over a hundred times at this point to try and narrow down what might make him feel so unsafe like this, had pointed out how broad just unsafe could be.
But that was exactly it.
It was broad. It was all, fucking encompassing. He could sit in his kitchen as a grown man and feel ridiculous for his fear all he liked, but he knew it was the PTSD talking and he knew his partners would want him to wake them up, especially when it was this bad.
He just-
He just-
His lip trembled slightly, god he's so fucking tired.
He heard Robby before he saw him, a product of his husband being 6 feet tall. It was such a welcome comfort, knowing he was being walked up on. He didn't comment on Robby letting his feet drag a tiny bit to make a little more noise, far too thankful for his presence to be anything except grateful.
"Jack, brother?" Robby's sleep rough voice shattered the silence "what's up honey?"
He came to a stop in front of him, clad in the old college shirt and boxers he often wore to bed, if Dennis didn't get to the shirt first.
Jack let himself fall face first into his stomach, fighting to inhale fully and letting the exhale be as shakey as he really felt.
"I can't sleep man" He whispered, his arms coming up and wrapping around Michael's waist.
The same hands that had saved several people yesterday, that had held a knife at home and helped Dennis in cutting up veggies for their pasta, those same hands came up to do what they'd done best for a long time now.
After brushing his curls back from his face, his hands slid down to craddle his face in calloused, warm palms that he loved so much.
Robby didn't say anything for a bit, only really moving to run his hand through Jacks hair gently.
"Why don't we go curl back up with Den?" He murmured, giving those grey curls a little tug. Watching as Jack looked up at him and frowned, opening his mouth to protest "I don't want to wake hi-"
"I think someone needs our emotional support dog," Robby joked quietly, smiling down at Jack as he cotninued on "and I happen to know that said puppy would really like to help in any way he can. Especially when the three of us are off today. So what do you say? I'll put die hard on even"
That pulled a soft snort from Jack before he huffed "Die hard is a damn classic Michael"
Helping his husband up onto his crutches, Robby just rolled his eyes and trailed alongside him back to their bedroom. Silently telling himself he'd take care of the can left on the table later today, far more focused on Jack right now.
They both crawled back into bed on either side of Dennis, who half roused from sleep over the movement. Comfort warmed strength wrapped around his waist once Den had sat up, followed by their boyfriend's cheek pressing against his shoulder with a small hum.
"Y'okay love?" Dennis murmured
Tipping his head to lean against the other man's, Jack replied back quietly "Just..got a little scared baby, but it's better now"
"I'd totally bite someone f'r you, y'know?"
"Noted puppy" He huffed a soft laugh, just before the opening of Die hard began on the tv.
After a few beats of the opening music, Dennis spoke up between them "..It's not christmas yet?"
Robby snorted, and nudged the both of them as he said "come on, everyone back to sleep now"
Jack didn't see the credits of the movie this time.