Work Text:
Cody took a long drink of caf. "It's good to be planetside."
"Tell me about it," Bly sighed. "I thought that campaign was going to last forever."
"When are you redeployed?" Ponds asked.
"A week and a half," Bly nudged Wolffe. "And the 104th are coming with us."
"Cannot wait," Wolffe said dryly. "Literally all I have been looking forward to. Getting to watch Bly be all mooney-eyed around his General."
"Hey, you don't have to be so sarcastic about it. We know you actually love spending time with me," Bly teased him.
"Speaking of sarcasm, where's Fox? He should have been off shift almost an hour ago." Cody said.
"I dunno. He's always working overtime," Bly said.
Just then, the doors to the officer's break room slid open. Fox walked in, still in full armor with a data pad in hand.
"Well, speak of the devil and he shall appear!"
Cody could practically feel Fox's eyeroll through his helmet. "Where've you been, vod'ika?"
"Working," Fox answered shortly. He took a glass down from the cupboard to fill with caf. Cody could see visible shaking in his hands.
Fox sat down at the table heavily, almost spilling his cup. He took off his helmet and set it on the table, running a hand through his curls.
Cody's eyes widened. Fox looked absolutely haggard. His skin was pale, save for the dark circles under his eyes. His hair lay flat and messy, graying at the roots. Worst of all was the look on his face - he just seemed plain exhausted.
Cody shared a look with Ponds.
"Something ... happen today at work, vod?" Cody asked cautiously.
Fox stared at the table dully. "Prison riot. Every single cell was disrupted. I've been breaking up fights and putting out fires all day. Literally."
"You want to head out to 79's? Unwind a bit?" Wolffe asked.
Fox groaned. "No. I've got a pounding headache already."
Bly pulled Fox over so that his head was resting on Bly's shoulder. "You should sleep, vod'ika."
"No, m'fine," Fox mumbled.
"When was the last time you slept?" Cody asked.
"Or ate?" Ponds added.
"I slept for an hour or two yesterday." Fox dragged a hand over his face.
"Okay, a) that's not enough, and b) what day was yesterday?" Cody challenged Fox.
"Primeday."
"....."
"....."
"....."
"Fox, yesterday was Benduday." Wolffe said.
"You haven't slept in over a week?" Ponds asked worriedly.
"I've been busy," Fox mumbled weakly. "The chancellor keeps giving me more assignments."
"Tell him to kark off," Wolffe suggested.
Fox sighed. "Force, I wish I could do that." He picked up his cup of caf again. "I'll be fine. I just need more energy."
Ponds plucked the caf out of his hands before he could take a sip. "You've probably had enough of that."
"Get some rest." Bly urged, stroking his little brothers hair like he used to when they were cadets.
"I have to look over all the reports from the Guard.." Fox protested halfheartedly.
"We'll take care of it for you," Cody said firmly. "Sleep, ad'ika."
Slowly, lulled into a daze by Bly running his fingers through his hair over and over again, Fox nodded off to sleep.
Bly rested his chin on top of Fox's head. He looked to his other brothers. "He's not gonna stop pushing himself to the brink like this," Bly whispered
Wolffe sighed. "What else can we do?"
Cody stared at his little brother's exhausted form, finally asleep. "Win the war."