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Sunny rifles through her medical supplies on the hull, glancing at the water as two of their divers emerge. She frowns. Top and Briggs, not her brothers.
Sunny tosses her dark curls into a loose braid as she watches out. She knows for a fact Jack called time already, hence why the other divers are out. Something’s wrong, or Tyler is being… well, himself.
“Bastard did it again.”
Sunny joins the others when her brothers exit the water. Her golden brown eyes widen as her brothers clamber on the boat.
Oh yeah, Jack is definitely pissed. For good reason, she doesn’t doubt. Jack never gets upset without a good reason.
“I call time and you surface,” Jack reiterates.
Sunny smiles at Jack as he approaches. Tyler huffs as he strips from his wetsuit. For a grown man, he sure knows how to pout. “Okay?” Sunny checks.
“Of course, Little Sis,” Jack reassures, as usual. He slings an arm over her shoulder and presses a wet kiss to her temple. She squirms away with a laugh.
“Here, let me help,” Top offers, withdrawing from the group around the computer to join them.
“Yeah, thanks Bud,” Jack agrees a bit breathily.
Tops eyes linger more than they should. Jack leans in more than he has to.
Sunny swallows back a knowing quip. Fucking idiots.
——
“That’s great Jack. We’ll see you soon, Caio,” Dr. Nicolai says as he ends the call. Sunny leans her head on Tyler’s shoulder and grins at Charlie. When she glances down, she swears she sees her brother and Top’s hands brushing. They’re certainly standing awful fucking close for casual friends. How stupid do they think they are?
Apparently very.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this one, Mack,” Top says later while they stand on the deck together.
So not subtle.
Jack presses their shoulders together. “Just seasick,” he teases.
The way they are together always amazes her. The way Jack's guard drops around Top, their easy and synchronized movements, the way Top trusts Jack implicitly. Sunny joined the family business after their relationship began, but boy has she seen how it’s grown.
“I’d ask if you’re worried but, you never are,” Top retorts. He knows Jack just as well as she and Tyler do. Sometimes she thinks he might even know him better.
Jack smiles crookedly. “What’s there to worry about? Got my best guy with me, and the rest of the family.”
Sunny chokes on her drink.
Jack glances at her suspiciously. “You good?” He asks as if he wasn’t the whole ass reason she’s struggling. His hand lands on Top’s shoulder. The edges of Tops mouth quirk.
Ugh.
———-
“I understand you have an interest in cave biology.”
Sunny watches as Doctor Kathryn lifts her gaze with interest toward Jack. She and Tyler share an amused glance. Not only had Tyler initially expressed interest in the doctor, but their older brother is far from available.
“I’m starting to,” Jack responds obliviously with a charming smile he always paints on for strangers. “And it’s just Jack, please.”
“Kathryn. How about I show you some samples?” She offers.
The two exit the tent after Jack asks Alex to double check the electronic things that are far above her pay grade.
Kathryn tips a bit too close and Jack sways the other direction.
“How about I show you the man he’s definitely in love with,” Sunny mutters under her breath. Tyler snorts in effort of holding back a laugh.
Alex watches them with confusion. Oh, if only they knew how many longing glances they’ve put up with. How much unintentional intentional touch. Ridiculous.
————-
“Pace yourself now. Turn arounds one third,” Jack instructs patiently.
Sunny can see the tension in Tyler’s shoulders. Jack notices it too. So does Kathryn.
Sunny isn’t sure how to feel about the woman. Something doesn’t feel right. Maybe she’s a bit protective over her brothers and that combined with her apprehension of being here is causing the uncertainty.
Top teases Briggs about his, very legit, lack of personality other than his arrogance and Sunny doesn’t hold back her laugh. She and Strode share an amused glance. Tyler walks away from their group and Jack follows him.
“Uh oh,” Charlie mutters. “Dad’s mad.”
“They’ll be fine,” Top assures.
Sunny considers intervening, but decides against it. They have to have it out a little or it will fester. She hates it, but she gets it. She’s spent their entire lives being in the middle, literally, of the both of them.
As Jack returns to the group, he orbits right to Top’s side. They’re never far away from each other.
“That was a bit much, Jack,” Sunny says. “I think he’s learned his lesson.”
Jack thins his lips. The weight of their mission rests on his shoulders, as it always does. He’s never been able to separate that elderly brother responsibility.
“Let’s hope so.”
Top cups the back of Jack’s neck. Jack leans into him a fraction more than casual. Sunny glances around to ensure prying eyes aren’t watching too closely.
“You going to get some rest now?” Top asks.
“No,” Jack answers.
Sunny gwuafs. “Hypocrite!”
“She’s right,” Top adds. “Come on. Twenty minutes won’t kill anyone.”
“What, offering to sing me a lullaby or something?” Jack quips with a crooked smile.
Top rolls his eyes. “You wish.”
Sunny glances between them. Her wish goes unspoken, per usual.
—————-
“You okay?” Jack asks Top over the comms.
Sunny swims with Nicolai. For a seasoned professional, he sure is annoying. Respectable, but far too outwardly anxious.
Maybe she’s just too used to Jack's steadfastness, his unshakable stability in signs of danger and adversity. Too used to Tyler’s humor lightened adaption and stubbornness.
“Just thinking about Briggs,” Top responds in a different tone than she’s used to. Too soft. Too… almost vulnerable, but not quite. They dance around that with one another mostly alone, but everyone is on these comms.
Sunny focuses on their surroundings until they make it out of the water. She thinks about how Top had been concerned before the trip. She’s starting to feel the same.
————
Jack helps Top to his feet. Their hands take far longer than necessary to part before Jack reaches to help her. Her heart tightens.
“Briggs?” Top calls out.
Sunny rolls her eyes.
“Briggs!”
“About time you ladies got here!” Briggs shouts as he bounds out. Sunny lifts her brows at him. “Ladies and Sunny, sorry,” he amends with a laugh. “Come see what I’ve found!”
“Sunny?” Jack asks.
Sunny waves them off as she arranges their gear and waits for the others.
The quiet of the cave is unnerving until Charlie and Alex surface. Her brother returns with Top and Brigs shortly after.
“Talk about five star lodging,” Sunny teases.
“Think we’ll be able to manage a hot shower?” Charlie quips with a laugh.
“I’ve had enough water for one day,” Top comments. Jack catches his eyes and smirks. Their bodies circle each other seamlessly as they complete their self assigned tasks.
“Do you think they’re like, actually?” Charlie asks her quietly.
Sunny huffs. “If not, what the fuck are they even doing?”
Charlie laughs. Briggs glances at them with curiosity. Their moment is interrupted by a shaking boom, then Tyler and the scientists resurfacing. Sunny rushes to their sides.
“Bring the J bar,” Her brother says to Top. Sunny bites her lip, clutching to Tyler’s suit. He reaches up and holds her hand.
“He was saying help, like he was being attacked,” Tyler gasps out.
She takes comfort that her elder brother will be with Top as they figure out what’s happening. Top keeps him safe, just like he keeps Top safe. They’re a powerful and competent pair.
Couple. Pair. Tomatoe, tomato.
——-
Sunny rests her head on Tyler’s shoulder. Grief weighs her down, but she does her best to stay focused. Present. A body unprepared on an expedition is a dead body.
Jack turns to them. “Listen up, we have a few realities to face here people.”
Jack explains the situation. Tyler tightens his arm around her waist. They both knew the reality before their brother verbalized it. All of their usual team did.
In short, they’re fucked.
Briggs gets up into Jack's face. “Now wait a minute. You still haven’t told us what happened to Strode. He was special forces for Christ sake Jack! Something got him down there and I’ll bet it was the same goddamn thing that got whoever opened those boots.”
Top tenses. Sunny locks her jaw.
“We’re all hurtin, man. Strode was a friend to all of us. Don’t you forget that,” Jack states, voice impressively level.
Jack continues his speech about their situation. Sunny tunes in when necessary, but mostly watches how Top sways closer when Jack speaks. How his eyes linger on Jack’s mouth, how his hands tighten around his elbows.
If they aren’t fucking, they damn sure should be.
“Top,” Jack calls after the scientists chime in about the severity of their situation. As if they couldn’t fucking tell. This time, she’s going to let her bitchiness go. She’s allowed a bit of internal attitude considering the circumstances.
Top responds immediately to Jack, moving to his side without hesitation.
“Ever notice how Top walks behind Jack every time?” Sunny comments offhandedly to Tyler.
“I do my best to never notice when our brother is getting his ass checked out,” Tyler responds wirily.
Sunny scrunches her nose. “I meant that he’s always watching Jack's back, but thanks for that mental image. As if I’m not being traumatized enough right now.”
Tyler drapes a protective arm over her shoulder. “Listen Sis. We’ll be alright.”
“I trust Jack to get us out,” she says. “I just have a bad feeling.”
Tyler kisses the top of her head. She sighs.
————
“Sunny!” Top shouts. “Bring your kit!”
Sunny is upright and bolting toward his voice the moment she hears him. Top has Jack held upright in his arms, worry sharp in his gaze. Jack groans as Top gently sets him on a rock and holds him by the shoulders. Tyler is second to arrive, followed by the rest of their crew.
Sunny immediately assesses the wounds. Fuck. They’re bad. “This’ll pinch,” she warns as she readies the antibiotic.
She remembers Kathryn earlier talking about a parasite. She preps an antifungal along with the antibiotic, just to be sure.
“Compared to?” Jack manages. Top rolls his eyes and tightens his grip on Jack's shoulder. When Sunny pushes the first needle in, Jack's hand flies up to Tops wrist and holds on tightly. He groans.
“Baby,” Sunny taunts to distract him from the second needle.
Jack musters enough energy to flip her off. Tyler laughs. Mission accomplished.
“Here,” Charlie offers as she crouches down with a water cup. Jack takes several sips as Sunny goes about continuing to clean the wound and applying salve.
“Did you get a look at it?” Tyler asks.
“Jumped me too fast,” Jack denies.
Top shifts the hand on Jack's far shoulder until it’s at the back of his neck. He subtly cards through the auburn curls nestled there. Jack leans back into his touch and squeezes his eyes shut.
“Jesus how big was that thing?” Kathryn asks.
“Big,” Jack answers obviously.
Sunny wraps his shoulder, then moves to address the wound on his hand. It doesn’t look good, either. Especially not the cut on his finger. It’s already clotted and started to bruise, so she knows it happened before the attack. Stubborn ass.
“I’m going to take this,” Kathryn states, motioning to the claw that dropped to the ground.
Something about her tone is far too interested. Sunny bites back her comment and focuses on her brother. Top keeps at least one hand on Jack the entire time.
“You gunna tell me when you cut your finger?” She bitches, sitting back on her ankles and glaring up at her brother.
“Looking for Strode,” Top supplies the same time Jack says “no.”
“Jack,” Sunny grouches. “I’m your little sister, yeah, but I’m also your medic. You’ve got to tell me when you get hurt.”
Jack frowns. Sunny takes his hand and presses it to her cheek, eyes expectant. “She’s right,” Top agrees, fingers kneading into the muscles on Jack’s neck.
Jack sighs. Sunny grins. She sure loves having Top around. More people getting on her brother’s ass about letting others take care of him, the better.
———
“You gunna let me or Sunny change that bandage when we get to the top?” Top asks.
Jack flexes his fingers and glances down, but not at her. The fact that he’s holding himself up with one hand is a little unnerving, especially considering his injuries. “I’m alright.”
“Looks like it’s getting infected. You sure?” Top presses.
What, are they taunting her now?
Surely they gotta know everyone is on pins and needles to know if they’re together or not. They sure fucking act like it.
“Could you all at least climb as you flirt?” She grumbles.
“Oh shut up,” Jack retorts. Sunny lifts her hand up high enough to flip him off. Top huffs in what she thinks is amusement.
Despite her bitching, they do not move as they flirt.
“Let’s at least plan a rest up ahead. If not for you then for everyone else,” Top suggests.
“We’ll rest once we get to the water.”
A beat of silence. Sunny shifts her weight on the rocks when her knee starts to ache.
“What water? I don’t hear any.”
“Yeah. I smell it,” Jack expresses as he begins moving again.
Top and her make eye contact. Sunny blinks. Top lowers his brow.
Well, that’s. Weird. Okay. Lotta weird shit brewing here.
————-
“Where’s Jack?” Briggs asks. Sunny scans the area.
“Scouting the tunnel,” Top responds.
Briggs shuffles in further with an nervous energy Sunny’s never seen from him before. “So why aren’t we helping him?”
“You know the drill, Briggs. Let him get a lay of things,” Top insists as he draws out the cave route. Sunny leans against Tyler.
“Yeah, I know the drill. You don’t gotta tell me about it. The goddamn map guns right here,” Briggs shouts, lifting the mapping gun and aiming it where Jack went. Sunny stiffens.
“Relax,” Top clips as he forced Briggs to lower the gun.
Briggs stares ahead as Jack returns to them. Jack takes one look at everyone’s body language and stiffens. His eyes linger on the way Briggs and Top stand. “What the hell's going on here?”
“Come on Jack, just wanna get out of here,” Briggs cautions.
Jack flashes a grin that’s a bit too wide and a bit too straight. “Then maybe you should follow me, Briggs.” He glares at Briggs, eyes a sharp warning, before turning back to lead the group. Sunny’s chest tightens. Something’s wrong.
—————
“Grab some food. Keep an eye out. We’ll rest for twenty.”
Sunny follows Jack to a pocket of the opening. She shares a solidarity glance with her brother and Top. The outburst earlier more than concerned her.
Jack shudders and grits his teeth. His body shakes. “Jack,” Sunny whispers, hands reaching out for him.
Jack swallows as his body settles down. The transition is starting to witness. “I… I’m fine.”
“You’re fucking not, Jack,” Sunny rebukes. “We’re worried. Top is worried-.”
“Don’t,” Jack warns.
“Listen, if you need him to fuck some sense into you or something I can distract-.”
“Sunny.”
Sunny sighs. She cups her eldest brother's face in her palms. “I’m not blind, Jack,” she murmurs.
Jack matches her gaze, because of course he does. That’s who he is. Strong, sturdy, grounded. Even in obvious pain, he’s solid.
“We aren’t fucking,” Jack deadpans.
Sunny frowns. “Why. Not?”
Jack sighs. Sunny brushes her thumbs along the arches of his cheeks. The sheen of sweat there is concerning. “I’ll let you change my bandage if you let it go,” he offers.
“Won’t be letting it go, will be changing the bandage,” she counters. She glances at Top and Tyler. Top is trying to pretend not to be watching. Tyler has no such decorum.
Sunny snags Jack by the wrist of his injured hand. She works quickly to expose the skin beneath.
Her breath catches.
Jack doesn’t flinch. “I’m infected,” he states.
“Yeah,” she confirms quietly. “When we get to the surface I can treat it properly. Or do my best, anyway,” she adds. The skin of his cuts moves much like the claws tendrils. She cleans and rewraps it with clean bandages, which is not nearly enough, but does for now. She’ll have to study it on the surface to figure out how to treat it. What medications to mix, how to expel it. Something.
“Do you think-.”
“No.”
Jack stares at her. The bags under his eyes are intense and his skin is damn near translucent. Still, she refuses to give up. “No I don’t. You won’t.”
“If I do-.”
“Jack,” she argues. Jack’s expression is flat with acceptance. His fingers touch the side of her face with the faintest tremor.
“If I do, you’ll tell him for me when you’re out,” he asks so steadily her heart breaks.
“You’re going to tell him yourself when we’re all out of here,” she snaps.
They glance up as Tyler approaches, sharing a silent look of agreement not to worry him. Jack straightens himself out and Sunny swallows her upset. Their baby brother can’t be distracted by this.
“Everything okay?” Tyler asks as he crouches down.
“Brigs is going to be a problem,” Jack supplies smoothly. “I need both of your help. I can’t save them if they don’t trust me.”
“Alright,” Tyler agrees. He exchanges a look with Sunny, who nods. He tips his head before standing. “Alright everyone, let’s get in the water.”
“You’re with me. At least on entry,” Sunny decides. Jack rolls his eyes as they drag each other to a stand.
————
Sunny screams as she descends down the rapids. She and Alex got separated, and fuck is she a little afraid. “Jack!” She cries out on instinct.
Fuck fuck fuck she wishes she went down with one of her-.
Oh. Fuck.
Sunny shrieks as she plummets off the edge and smacks into a pool below. She flails around blindly, gasping as she surfaces.
“Sunny, I got you!” Top shouts as he drags her into his arms and further into the water.
Sunny glances around frantically as they move. The darkness creeps around her and sends shivers up her spine. “Jack-Tyler, Alex, where’s-.”
“I’m here,” Jack answers as she and Top swim to him. Sunny crashes into his arms, holding him tightly by the neck. Jack pats down the back of her head soothingly until she separates and focuses back on the entry.
“Tyler!” Sunny calls, bobbing in the water as more bodies fall.
“I’ve got Kathryn and Charlie. Dr. Nicolai is caught on some rocks. He’s in bad shape.”
The minutes it’s takes for her brother to swim over are filled with anxiety. Sunny hugs Tyler just as tightly once he’s in arm reach. Kathryn seems taken aback but she could give less of a shit. That’s her little brother.
Their reunion is cut short as Nicolai screams for help and falls.
“Stay here, I’ll go after him,” Jack directs.
Sunny bites back the challenge to his decision. She presses tightly to Tyler as he swims away. Kathryn screams as Nicolai is attacked.
“Stay in the circle!” Top demands.
Sunny clutches to the brother she knows is safe.
————-
“You don’t have a goddamn clue what’s going on,” Jack pauses and glances around. “None of you do. It’s a trap,” he explains. Sunny pinches her lips.
“The walls the safest option,” Top agrees quickly.
Charlie tips her chin. “Jacks right, I’ll go.”
“I said no.” Jack is firm. Charlie seems hurt but doesn’t argue. Sunny touches her shoulder. “Let’s go.”
Tyler and Jack get their things gathered and prepped. Sunny stays close to Jack while Tyler is cornered by Kathryn. “It’s not your fault,” she murmurs.
Jack takes a small breath. “The thing that got him. It had markings. Like tattoos,” he admits.
Sunny nods. So, their suspicions are confirmed.
Kathryn leans close to Tyler. Jack tenses. Sonne frowns. “Can you… hear them?” She asks slowly.
Jack nods. Something in his gaze tells her whatever Kathryn said wasn’t something he cares to repeat to her. Conflict flashes in his expression.
“Promise me, Sunny,” Jack insists.
Sunny follows his gaze to Top. She swallows. “I meant what I said.”
“That’s going to happen to me,” Jack states. His eyes are bright with emotion but resignations weighs down his body.
“No. I’m not going to let it. We’ll get out of here, and we’ll fix it. And you can tell him yourself,” she insists. “Trust me, Jack. Like I trust you.”
“I trust you,” Jack responds quickly. “I don’t trust. This… thing. I don’t want to hurt anyone.”
Sunny takes his hand and squeezes. “You won’t. You wouldn’t.”
“We don’t know that,” Jack disputes calmly.
Sunny scoots closer and nudges their knees together. “Yeah, we do. I know you, Jack. We know you. Just keep fighting. For us, okay? Then we’ll figure everything out on the surface.”
Jack’s response is cut off by the scratching of equipment on rock.
“Charlie!”
——
Jack carries Charlie’s body back and lays her down. Sunny kneels next to her, tears wet in her eyes. Top and Jack pull a tarp over her, then sit next to Sunny in defeat.
“Theres enough secured rope to make it to the top,” Jack states. Top brushes their arms together. The two have long past stepped over respectable distances apart. Sunny is relieved when Jack doesn’t pull away. Everyone needs some comfort right now.
“What’s happening to you man?” Alex asks.
Kathryn stands and steps closer. Sunny tracks her with her eyes, shifting closer to Jack protectively.
“As long as we stay together as a group, we can hold them back,” Jack insists.
Kathryn narrows her eyes. “I think I know now. It’s a parasite. It mutates the host to help it survive down here down here.”
“And that’s going to happen to all of us?” Alex asks. Sunny thins her lips.
“I don’t know. I’d say it’s already entered your bloodstream. It’s affecting your nervous system now,” Kathryn observes. Jack meets her gaze head on, because of course he does.
“That must’ve happened to the other cavers,” Tyler assumes.
“So what, it just ate them?” Briggs shouts.
Kathryn shakes her head and sharpens her gaze. “They weren’t eaten by the creatures. They are the creatures, isn’t that right Jack? Now there’s nothing human left.”
“Watch yourself,” Sunny snaps. Kathryn watches her wearily. “Jack is right here. He’s led us all this way, done his best to keep us safe. He’s not a fucking monster.”
“Tyler. Sunny, look at him. He’s not human.”
“Fuck off, Briggs,” Sunny warns. Brigs raises his shoulders, but backs off.
“Jack, you’re going to be fine,” Tyler insists.
Kathryn reaches a hand out.
“Tyler,” she insists. “Come with us.”
“Kathryn,” Sunny hisses. “Stop trying to turn my brother against his family. Do whatever you have to do, but shut the fuck up otherwise. You don’t know my brother. Either of them.”
“I’m just trying to help,” Kathryn insists. “He’s infected. There’s nothing to be done.”
Jack grabs her hand when she goes to jump to her feet. He shakes his head. Communicates with his eyes she isn’t worth it. Sunny sits back on her haunches, but refuses to entirely back down.
“Try selling that shit to someone who also isn’t a fucking doctor,” she snaps as she bares her teeth at Kathryn. “You might give up on people, but we don’t. Jack will be fine as soon as we get to the surface and I can treat him.”
Tyler watches her with something final in his gaze. Kathryn looks back at him hopefully. “Good luck,” he offers.
————
“Don’t stop trusting him, now,” Top says to Tyler as they continue to climb.
Sunny and Jack pause at the entrance. Sunny takes Jack's hand in her own and tugs him to her side. There’s conflict in his expression, but also that same grounded assurance he always has.
They enter the ice.
“Where to?” Tyler asks.
Jack glances around decisively. “Down.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, down.”
Creatures click near them. Sunny and Top exchange a glance.
“My lead, let’s go,” Top decides. Jack helps him hook into his gear. His touch lingers along the lines of his stomach for the barest of too long moments. Sunny nudges Tyler. They pretend to look away when Top takes Jack’s hand and squeezes.
Top descends down the ice. Jack watches his every move, shoulders loosening some when Top lands and yells up that it’s solid. Sunny sighs in relief. Finally, a fucking break.
Or not.
Jack is helping Sunny tack up when Tyler shouts. The older siblings jerk over the edge with wild eyes.
“Tyler!” Sunny cries out.
“Top! Cover!”
Equipment shoots down the chasm.
“Top!” Jack shouts.
Top crashes down to the ground with the equipment, shouting the whole way down. She and Jack are on ropes and descending faster than they ever have before. Jack's hands shake.
“Top!” Jack exclaims, slipping down until he’s able to reach him. Top grabs Jack’s arm as soon as he’s in reach. Jack steadies him. Sunny throws herself into Tyler’s arms and hugs him tightly. Goddamn idiot little brother of hers.
“Can you walk?” Tyler asks once Sunny releases him.
“I don’t know,” Top answers wearily.
Jack slides under Tops arm and holds him upright. His arm wraps around Tops waist and pulls him close. Top relaxes against him as much as possible in this hellscape.
“I’ve got you,” Jack assures.
“Yeah. Always do,” Top manages with a lifted tone.
Sunny and Tyler exchange a glance.
———-
“Jack!”
Jack crumples to the ground. Sunny holds him by the shoulders up as his body fails. Top rubs his back seemingly without thinking. Jack tips against Top as he rides out the shudders wracking through him.
Jack sucks in an unsteady breath. “You three are getting out of here. I’m going back for them.”
“Yeah fucking right,” Sunny snorts.
Tyler damn near bulldozes over her with his response. “What are you talking about? You’re in no condition and Top can barely walk.”
“Put your gear on and get in the water,” Jack insists tightly.
“I’m not getting in the water, I’m going back.”
Jack shoots to a stand, but Sunny and Top are faster. Sunny holds Tyler, while Top grabs onto Jack. He steers Jack to look at him, expression firm. “He’s right, Mac.”
Jack’s shoulders tense. He glances at Sunny and Tyler. Tyler’s expression folds with sympathy.
“You lead us here. Jack, you were right. It’s okay. I’m going back now.”
“I’m going to stay here and tend to Top’s leg. Come on, Big bro, stay with me here so I know at least one of you is safe,” Sunny adds.
Jack's expression clears. He glances at Top, then back at them and nods.
Sunny gives Tyler a quick hug before he leaves. She watches him all the way, heart tight in her chest. Her gaze returns to Jack and Top.
“Okay, sit down,” she instructs.
Jack helps Top settle on the ground and sits next to him, allowing him to lean in for support. Sunny shucks up his pants, sighing in relief. “Just a strain.”
“In that case,” Top says as he turns to face Jack fully. Jack lifts his brow but before he can say anything, Top cups his jaw and pulls him in for a kiss.
Sunny’s jaw drops.
Jack stares blankly at Top as he pulls back just enough to breathe. His hands tremble just the slightest bit. Sunny snaps her mouth shut.
“Don’t you dare pull some martyr shit, you got it?” Top asks quietly. “I’ll drag you out if I have to. Busted leg and all.”
“Top,” Jack murmurs regretfully. “I-.”
“Tell me when we’re topside,” Top cuts in firmly. He hesitates, but Jack, in a burst of movement, bridges the distance before Top can. Tops hand slides back until his fingers card through Jack’s curls as they kiss again.
Sunny coughs. “Still here guys.”
Jack tilts their foreheads together and glares at her. “You literally suggested that we f-.”
“Iiiiiiiigure it out and get together already,” she rushes to express.
Top definitely isn’t buying it. He doesn’t express himself aloud, but his expression does it all. Sunny can’t help but laugh. What the fuck is even happening?
—————
They split up. Jack goes for the rebreather.
“Let’s go!”
Top, Kathryn, Tyler, and herself scramble to the water. Alex falls to the ground. Sunny turns away as a creature lands, eyes squeezed shut when Alex screams. Tyler didn’t make it back in time.
A creature approaches them. They drop into the water. Top bludgeons it away until Tyler rejoins them and slits its throat. The mapping gun falls to the water.
Sunny scans the area for her brother. Fear grips her when she sees him perched on top of the stalagmite. His body language sends off warning bells in her mind.
He’s made a decision.
“Jack!” Top shouts in warning as a creature approaches from below.
Jack locks eyes with Top and offers a mournful smile. His hands grip the oxygen tank. “Tyler!”
Sunny scoops up the gun and bolts toward the pillar as the tank lands. Jack burns a flare and tosses it in the bucket.
“Jack no!”
“Go!”
BOOM.
Sonne slides under the pillar, aiming the mapping gun when Jack leaps. The creature screams and flails as it lands into the pillar, missing Jack instead of colliding into him after being thrown off by the mapping gun.
“Jack!” Sonne screams.
Jack's body smacks into the water.
The explosion erupts around them. Sunny drags her brother by the shoulder until he’s away from the fire. Tyler appears by her side, and together, they get him to the exit hole.
Jack groans and tries to push her away. “Leave me,” he gasps out.
“Take a deep breath Jack. Because the only way I’m letting you stay here is if I stay with you,” Sunny warns as they dive.
Between herself and Tyler, they manage to get Jack above water. Jack gasps for air, eyes squinting in the light. Kathryn swims too close to Tyler for her comfort.
“Mack!”
Jack blinks his eyes open wide enough to see Top. His mouth quirks upright as Top hauls him against his chest. “Hey, Babe,” Jack manages. “We’re topside.”
Sunny blinks. Tyler damn near stops swimming.
“Don’t. I’m pissed with you,” Top says with a narrowed gaze. Despite his words, he keeps a firm grip on Jack's shoulders.
“Well, I’m in love with you,” Jack says before pulling Top in for a kiss. Tyler chokes. Kathryn furrows her brow.
“Love you too, jackass,” Top mutters into their kiss. It’s not subtle or chaste by any means. Sunny is too exhausted to feel uncomfortable.
“When did that happen?” Tyler asks in awe.
Sunny smirks. “Tell you when we’re out of the water.”
————-
Sunny peers through the cracked bedroom door. The sight she’s greeted with is endearing. Sweet, even. For the first time in months, she feels relieved.
Jack and Top are tangled up in the bedsheets. Top is on his back, and Jack is sprawled on top of him. Tops hand is splayed between Jack’s shoulder blades.
Sunny enters when she’s able to confirm they’re both wearing boxers under the sheets. What a relief. She walked in on… that, a few weeks ago and despite urging them to just fuck already, she really didn’t mean in front of her.
“That coffee better be for us,” Jack grumbles.
Sunny perches on the edge of the bed with mugs in hand. “If you ever get up it will be,” she confirms.
Jack groans. He drops a kiss to Top’s collarbone before rolling and scooting until he’s sitting up with his back against the headboard. Top blinks his eyes open and lazily waves at Sunny.
Sunny hands Jack both of the mugs. Jack smiles at Top, star shaped irises gentle as Top pulls himself upright. His body is recovering well. His muscle tone is solid and his skin glows with life.
The past few months have been filled with different trials and tests, but finally, she found a treatment. A mix of radio wave therapy and different antifungals have expelled the parasite. Some affects remain, like the heightened senses and his pupils, but he at least doesn’t look like walking death anymore. At least
“Thanks,” Top says as he settles next to Jack. Jack gives him one of the mugs and accepts the sleepy kiss Top gives him in thanks. Their bodies naturally curve into each other.
“Tyler called,” Sunny offers. Jack lifts his brow in interest as he takes a sip of his coffee. “They found Kathryn. Bringing her back for treatment, should be here in a week.”
“Are you okay with treating her?” Jack checks.
Sunny huffs. “I am a doctor.”
“I didn’t see that do no harm oath you took when you almost jumped her in the cave,” Top comments. Jack hides a snicker in Top’s shoulder.
Sunny flips them both off. “I’m also a sister. Obviously I’m going to set in when my brother's being attacked.”
“I had it handled. Some of what she said wasn’t wrong,” Jack says. Top presses his lips together in dissent. Jack takes Tops hand and thumbs over the ridges of his knuckles. “I said some. Not all.”
Sunny scoffs. “All she got right was about the parasite and its purpose to help the host survive down there,” she argues. “I think that she infected herself on purpose. Wanted to discover something new.” Kathryn had been far too casual when she unveiled her eyes to Tyler and herself before fleeing. Her tone was off. Too sure, too confident. Maybe that was for the parasite, or maybe, it was from her.
“You don’t think she would’ve had the same effects I did?” Jack asks.
Sunny shakes her head. “You fought it. She didn’t. I think if she was right, and the parasite has will and desire, her change would have been easier since it was a willing one.”
Top leans his and Jack's heads together in silent support. Sunny cracks a smile. Jack rolls his eyes.
“Well, thank you for the update and the coffee. But now that we’re up, I’m going to request that you excuse yourself for at least an hour. I’ve got some important business to attend to with my partner here,” Jack requests, eyes languidly tracing a line down Top’s abs. Top touches his forehead as if exasperated, but Sunny is no idiot. They’ve barely been able to keep their hands off each other, and Top is just as bad as Jack has been. Ever since he’s been on the mend, no room has been safe to enter without knocking first.
“Oh fuck you. Business partner my ass. Just call him your boyfriend like a grown man,” Sunny retorts.
“I am trying to get fucked by my boyfriend. Hence why I asked you to remove yourself. I was just trying to be considerate of scarring you, but I won’t make that mistake again,” Jack comments mildly as he hands her their empty mugs.
Sunny flips them off. Jack smirks, then rolls onto Top's lap with a pointed look back at her. Tops hands mold into his hips and sighs in real exasperation. Sunny gags.
“Downstairs for your meds by noon, you goddamn deviant,” she reminds over her shoulder. “Not you Top. You’re an angel who can do no wrong and I love you.”
“Love you too, sis.”