third ( video ) late day 38

[gleans]

[ To anyone who has seen Galen over the course of this insanity, it's worth noting that when he appears on the feed, he looks more... present, and more like himself, than he has in days. He also looks exhausted, but that's a little, tired smile on his face. ]

Hey, uh... I hope everybody's okay. [ His nose scrunches a little, edging his glasses back up. ] I, uh. I wanted to apologize in case I like... you know, weirded anyone out while I was... gassed up? Is that what happened? Uh -- and is anyone else... coming down, I guess? I feel like shit, but I don't like... see anything. Anymore.

[ He clears his throat, scratches his head. ]

And hey, Anna, can we talk?

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[gleans]

I won't, I promise. [ He is standing up, though. ] Just -- be careful, Jess.

[rigging]

[ He will be there soon, unlike the other times he's promised.

He's there and the second he finds Galen, he pretty much... throws himself at the singer, gripping at him like Galen's going to vanish if he doesn't. He doesn't say anything yet, just clings. Maybe shakes a little. Okay. Okay, he's home. ]

[gleans]

[ A tiny sob escapes when Jesse embraces him - don't think he didn't see those bloodstains or the exhaustion on that face - and Galen holds him tight, eyes squeezing shut. ]

Shit, baby, I'm so glad you're okay. S'okay, you're okay.

[rigging]

[ All of the air huffs out of him like deflating a balloon, and with that noise comes a sort of whine. He's not entirely sure he can trust anything right now, the paranoia lingering even though it's tapered off, but he doesn't exactly care. It's been a long week, and for the first time in a while, the shadows around the room are still.

So he slides his hands up Galen's sides, grips loosely at the back of his hair with one hand and at the back of his shirt with the other, face buried against Galen's neck. ] Sorry. [ He says, and it comes out as more of a whimper than he intends. ] M'sorry, Galen.

[gleans]

[ Galen focuses on Jesse, on his smell - not the blood, he thinks; don't think about the blood - , on holding him close and safe like he'll be pulled away again at any second. His voice is hushed: ]

It's okay. It's okay, don't apologize.

[rigging]

[ He just needs to compose himself a little. He'll be fine, and Galen will be fine, and when Jesse can stop shaking, he pulls away just enough to take Galen's face in his hands. There's blood all over them, the bandage around his hand thoroughly stained with it, but it's dry, at least. Galen looks better. ]

You're okay. [ Jesse breathes, kissing Galen once and then resting his forehead against Galen's. ] I thought it - got you again, but I was wrong. I couldn't think, I.

[gleans]

I know. [ His hand comes up against Jesse's chest, fingers hitching in his shirt. ] I thought some -- angry ghost of my mom was here, but it turned into the nightmare, and -- I know.

I'm sorry. For what I said.

[rigging]

S'okay, baby. I know. [ Jesse murmurs, tucking Galen's hair behind his ear, fixing his glasses for him. His eyes close. ] I ain't seen the shadows moving for a while now, s-so. So, maybe - maybe we could sleep a bit? Just for a bit. [ Please. ]

[gleans]

Yeah, of course. [ He quickly kisses Jesse, then pulls away enough that they can walk back to their room together, but he does take Jesse's hand. ] ... What happened with your dad? Or -- y'know. What you were seeing.

[rigging]

[ And maybe Jesse clings to it like a kid lost at the mall. His expression falters slightly, and he looks down at his feet. ] Nothing outta the usual. [ Which Galen should know about, the usual - he's seen Jesse's dad, he's heard the stories. ] Gave me the glass idea though, guess I can't fuckin' fault him for that.

[gleans]

[ Galen peers at him as they head up the stairs, looks down at Jesse's bandaged hand. ] Glass idea? [ He reaches for the bandaged hand, carefully brings it up. ] ... What, did he tell you to hurt yourself? Jesus, you should clean this.

[rigging]

Not - ow - entirely. [ Jesse sighs. ] Said something like I needed t'stop being a pussy, blah blah blah, be a real man and keep myself up the real way, pinches weren't gonna work. [ He fidgets in Galen's grasp. ] I cleaned it, it's fine.

[gleans]

Christ. [ He peers at the bandage, though, then gently tries to tug it so he can see the wound. Cleaned it up in the lighthouse? Jesse please. ] What the hell is the 'real way', slicing your fucking hand open?

[rigging]

Uh. [ He flinches when the bandage pulls at the wound a little, and when Galen looks at it, it's not terrible! But it is prime for getting infected, because Jesse wasn't thinking about germs when he inflicted it. ] Yeah. Pain's the way to keep yourself awake, so. I broke a window. [ He sort of shrinks a little. ]

[gleans]

[ When they get to the top of the stairs, Galen frowns at the hand. ]

Can we just put something on it first? It'll make me feel better. [ He smiles at Jesse, gives him a kiss -- then briefly drops his head on his shoulder. ] Then we can sleep.

[rigging]

Y'don't -- [ But Galen kisses him and sticks close, and there's no way Jesse can say no to that. He sighs, burying his face in Galen's hair for a moment. ] ... Alright. Just, quick, alright? Can't even stand up straight. [ He wobbles slightly, arms around Galen's waist. ]

[gleans]

Yeah. C'mon.

[ He helps Jesse to the bathroom and explains the broken mirror, then gets to the bandages and the antiseptic left on the counter from Kenzi's cuts to clean up Jesse's hands. Once they're done with that, and once Galen has bandaged Jesse's hand back up, they head back out to their bedroom. ]

Shit, it's a mess in here.

[rigging]

[ Jesse hisses and grumbles through the process, but he lets Galen do it. He listens rather than talks, smiling softly and sort of dazed at Galen. He's just so tired, and he missed Galen.

When they get back, he sighs and curls up against Galen's side, nudging him toward the bed. ] Should see the lighthouse. [ He murmurs, eyes already closed. ] Can we get Kenz in here too, sometime? I feel bad, shoulda... listened. T'her. She needed help and I didn't...

[gleans]

Jess. [ Galen sits down on the bed and tugs Jesse down down with him, giving him space to crawl over to his side, but not before kissing the back of his bandaged hand. ] It's okay. And -- yeah, I'm gonna call her in a bit.

[rigging]

Mmkay. [ Jesse pretty much just burrows. He just needs to recharge, and then he can talk, or - whatever. Whatever Galen wants. Just, for right now, he has to pass out. He pulls the blanket up around him and clings to Galen's side with a little sniff. ] ... Love you.

[gleans]

[ Galen takes off his glasses and tucks them next to his pillow, then burrows under the blanket and curls up on his side, facing Jesse, fingers catching loosely in his shirt. ] Love you too. Good sleep.