Wormie

"Bathroom," Court mumbled as he kept leading his team leader through the house. He had Zack's arm hooked over his shoulders, holding the larger man tightly to keep him upright. "Almost there."

Zack didn't reply like Court thought he would, so he glanced up. Zack looked tired, but focused. He squeezed Court's arm weakly, catching the worried look but not having the energy to reply.

Court sat Zack down on the closed toilet seat and steadied him with a gentle hand when the man leaned forward, dizzy from the sudden movement. Court moved quickly, grabbing everything he needed as he directed Zack to take off his gear.

Zack didn't follow his order, instead, he stared off into space with almost distant eyes. Court was… concerned. Zack had bled many times before, but this kind of quiet following the blood loss wasn't right.

He figured something was on Zack's mind, but Court doubted he could get Zack to open up. The man was just too damn good at compartmentalizing— and Court was saying that.

"Zack," Court called quietly, setting his supplies down on the sink. "Gear off."

Zack blinked and brought his hands up to his gear. He took off everything he could himself and then looked down, sighing softly. Court figured he'd need to help get some gear off Zack, but seeing the man seemingly defeated was strange.

Court took the rest of the gear off Zack and laid it on the floor. He grabbed the hem of Zack's battered shirt and slowly pulled it off. Zack could only raise his arms so much, leaving Court to awkwardly navigate the sleeves over his battered torso.

Zack sat back after the shirt was off him, letting Court scan the array of bruises that were beginning to bloom on his chest and arms. Court took what he needed out of the medkit, having Zack sit as upright as he could after.

Zack didn't speak the whole time Court patched him up. He didn't blink as far as Court could tell, but he did swallow a few times.

This was just fucking weird. Nothing was right. Zack not being himself… This couldn't just be because of blood loss. There's no way.

Court finished cleaning and bandaging all the wounds on Zack; his shoulders, arms, and chest were covered in them. "Come on, let's get you some ice," Court said, putting away the medkit and patting Zack's leg.

Zack didn't react to the touch. Court crouched in front of the man, trying to force eye contact. Zack's eyes locked onto his but held zero emotion. It wasn't the strangest sight— Zack being 'emotionless'— but it made Court's chest tighten a bit.

"Let's get some ice," Court repeated in a whisper.

"I'll get it," Zack finally spoke.

Court's brows furrowed. "Zack…" He trailed off, unsure of what to say.

Instead of continuing this conversation, Court stood up and left the bathroom, handing Zack's shirt back to the man before leaving. He grabbed ice packs from the freezer in the kitchen, wrapping them in towels so Zack wouldn't freeze his skin, and returned to the bathroom.

Zack hadn't moved. Sure, Court hadn't been gone long, but he'd figured the man would do something. "Wanna lie down?" Court asked, already knowing that Zack wouldn't like the question. It was rare for Sierra One to ever need to rely on others outside of combat after all.

Zack huffed, clenched his shirt in his hands a moment, then slipped the fabric back on with some difficulty. He stood from the toilet, taking a second to orient himself as a wave of dizziness crashed over him.

Court waited in the doorframe, ready to lunge forward and catch the man if he began to fall. Zack left the bathroom, pushing past Court without looking at him, and headed for the bedroom.

Court followed and closed the bedroom door behind them as Zack sat down stiffly on the very edge of the bed. Court walked over and pressed one of the ice packs he'd grabbed to Zack's chest.

Zack finally reacted to something— He winced. Court felt somehow better and worse knowing Zack was aware of his pain now. Court set the other ice packs down on the bed, grabbed one of Zack's hands, and raised it to hold the ice pack in place on his chest.

Court removed his hand after knowing with certainty that Zack wouldn't let go of the ice pack. "Lie down," He both asked and told Zack.

"Hmm," Zack hummed back, simply acknowledging what Court had said but not giving any indication of whether or not he was going to listen.

Court was ready to just push him down and force him to rest, but Zack kicked off his boots and lay down on the bed. Court breathed a sigh of relief. He did not want to fight Zack right now, especially over rest.

Court placed the ice packs on the worst of Zack's bruises, and sat down sideways on the bed, facing Zack's face. He held one of the ice packs down, scanning Zack for anything that could give away his distress. Zack had always been surprisingly hard to read, even now that Court had worked with him for years. Even with all of Court's training.

Zack blinked at the ceiling a few times before closing his eyes. His body was still laced with tension, so Court knew as a fact he wouldn't be falling asleep any time soon. Court was lost on what to do. Something had clearly happened in the field and Zack wasn't going to tell Court about it.

Court stood from the bed, making sure the ice packs remained where they should be, and strode over to a closet. He rummaged for a moment, grabbed a thick, heavy blanket, and returned to the bed. Zack wouldn't talk, sure, but maybe Court could get him to sleep. It might be easier than making him talk at this rate.

Court draped the blanket over Zack's body, ignoring the man's eyes cracking open to watch what he was doing. He adjusted the edges of the blanket before sitting back down on the side of the bed, facing away from Zack.

Zack readjusted under the blanket, sighed, and shut his eyes again. One of his hands maneuvered out from under the blanket and Court felt a couple of fingers tug on one of his belt loops.

"Hmm?" Court asked, shifting his head away from the door to look at Zack.

Zack didn't say anything, just blinked slowly before shutting his eyes again. He didn't let go of Court's belt loop, his two fingers hanging onto Court loosely. Guess that was his way of saying thank you… and maybe don't leave.

Court didn't respond, but he readjusted on the bed, slipping his shoes off as he went back to watching the door. He'll sleep later, Zack needed the rest right now.