#combxtpulse

Elias says it like he knows something. Like he thinks Robby needs to hear such a thing. As if not telling him such a thing will be a mistake. Robby doesn’t quite know how to respond to such a thing. Has he figured him out? Has he figured his plan out? Or is this simply a friend offering a olive branch to a friend? 

It’s not as if Robby is being subtle, even if he doesn’t realize it. He’s spiraling and he’s spiraling hard. Anyone who actually pays attention can see that. Robby doesn’t want them to see it – or does he? He’s overwhelmed and not sure of a lot of things right now. 

He takes a step away from the other man as if that will help him, arms crossing over his chest in a self-hug. This words make him feel vulnerable, make him want to just walk away without a word, but he’s not looking to spit in the face of a friend offering him a ear to listen to him, should he choose to speak. 

Yeah, maybe he will always have a place here but he’s tired of having a place here. He wants to walk out of those sliding doors and never come back. Kiss this place and everything and everyone in it goodbye. He loves them all, he does, but he can’t take much more of this. 

Even now, he feels like he’s going to lose his fucking mind. There’s too much to worry about, too much to do, and the only thing keeping him from snapping that final thread he’s barely hanging on to is the fact that Jack comes in and takes control when he needs it. Jack is the only thing stopping him from going into a full breakdown.  

“I know.” Robby says but he doesn’t quite sound like he normally does. Instead, he sounds tired, run down. He won’t meet Eli’s gaze and tries to find comfort in the self hug, fingers curling against his sides in an attempt to distract himself from the thoughts floating around in his head with the pressure into his sides. 

She fucking hates that he said that, she didn't need him of all fucking people being able to read her. He'd known her the longest, she'd kept a lot of her shit to herself. The others had their own things going on, she didn't need to add to it.

"Yeah, I fucking know there's a difference..." She snapped a little harsher than she meant too, fuck she was so short with everyone today. People had made a comment or several about it and now he's here trying to talk to her. Being a burden was not something she was comfortable with.

Confirmation that he knew she could hold her own was fine, but that didn't take the weight off her chest. Her arms crossed in front, her face stay flat and cold, that face she gave other people. They didn't usually talk like this, talk about something outright, usually it was hidden behind sarcastic comments side comments. Not direct, not telling her outright she was being a stubborn bitch.

Not in those words, he was nicer about it, people worrying about her.

It felt sharp and cold despite the fact that he's saying things that she should be feeling warm about. It was a knife trying to cut through the Vault that she kept the rest of her feelings tucked in. He was just as bad as her if not worse about letting people in.

She looked up at him the tension still set in her jaw, "What about you, huh? What about when we worry about you and you go and disappear for fucking days and come back busted up and bruised?"

Dylan gently poked him in his sternum right above where his heart should be. "You know I give a damn about you, you don't have to be a damn telepath to know that..."

Her arms returned to being that brace between herself and him. She shook her head and looked the floor between them, she couldn't get the right words out. The ones that told him that she fucking hated him calling her out but did the same shit. The one that could tell him that the care had shifted that something had shifted. Not that she knew what it was in all the right terms. Words were... difficult. He was better with them.

it'd taken a bit to find a night they were both off considering they seemed to have opposite schedules most of the time. a breakfast date might have been easier since they were both on nights but there was something more relaxing about a simple drinks meet up. they didn't have to get a full meal and suffer through it if it wasn't a good fit. they could settle on one drink and simply part ways if things weren't working. no hard feelings.

drinks was safer.

so that's what they'd settled on. or rather jack had settled on. the two datees had not exchanged numbers yet. everything had been organized through their mutual friend. so to say brianna was nervous there would be no one waiting in the bar was an understatement. she was used to having a way to contact her dates. what if he'd been called in for an emergency? how would she know? but she trusted jack. so she'd pushed any worries aside in the hour before the date as she got ready.

that didn't mean she didn't still get there early. walking into the bar brianna let her eyes adjust as she went from the lighter evening air to the inside of the darkened building. looking around the room she saw a few people scattered about. there was a group already gathered at one of the tables. the bar had a few people dotted around it.

then she spotted him in the corner. it seemed her date had the same idea in arriving early. and he had a drink already it seemed. heading to the bar she ordered a drink. paying for it straight instead of putting a card on file ( who knew how the date was going to go. might be one drink after all ) she scooped it up and headed for the back corner where he sat watching the room.

She was on a mission , find better coffee and avoid Doctor Abbot until she had a cup in her hand . Papers in hand and a stronger will than was needed she marched through the corners of the trauma center until she rounded the corner and collided with something solid . Papers flew out of her hands .

❝ Shit , I am so sorry . I was marching toward coffee filters and did not expect someone over here during shift change . Did you come through the front of the hospital - actually that doesn't matter . . . I'm just rude regardless for running into you . ❞

She dropped to one knee and gathered the papers before looking up . ❝ Doctor Hale , but you can just call me Igraine . This is my first time on night shift .❞

@combxtpulse paged: "You look like you could use a hug."

evvie's been standing in one spot in the breakroom for who knows how long, stirring a coffee that's long since gone cold. she takes a sip of her coffee, making a face when she realizes it's cold and sets it on the counter letting out a sigh. her day has been nothing short of eventful, and around two hours ago, the weight feeling like it's crushing her. she doesn't even notice elias walk into the breakroom at first.

truthfully she's registered at least a few people coming in and out of the breakroom but no one has said anything to her, at least not that she's registered. it isn't until she hears elias' voice that she snaps out of her thoughts. she hasn't even realized that she has tears slipping down her cheeks until she blinks and her vision blurs. she wipes her cheeks, turning her head away from him for a moment.

You noticed, only because you knew. Jack had seen Elias vanish into that supply closet. He had a feeling he knew why. Probably because he had done the same. Occupied with a patient he finished handling his file and passed it to a nurse. He took his gloves off, and walked calmly towards the closet. On his way, he stopped at a fountain and put some water in a cup.

He approached that closet as it were a no man's land. No reason for alarm, but anything could greet him at the door. He opened it slowly and peaked inside. A saddened expression painted itself on his face. That was what they had signed for. He spoke up, mostly to make Cross notice him, also assess if he could. How severe this was for him to know how to help him.

Jack remained perfectly still, not the enemy, let Elias flinch, notice him, realize. Only when he spoke did he fully enter the room, closed the door behind him. "It's rarely a private show for people like us. " He helped himself with the shelves to sit down , close but giving enough space for Elias. On the floor, there are just brothers in arms. Medics. Jack handed him the cup of water, so he could focus on the coolness of it, the texture of it, hold something in his hands to ground himself.

Sebastian exhaled through his nose; a wheezing sound that falls somewhere between an actual chuckle and a punctured tyre giving up at last.

“Both, apparently,” he rasps, “Though if we’re being technical? near-death is more of a professional courtesy than a hobby. Keeps the reflexes honest and my ego in check.”

He shifts, winces, then decides the wince isn’t worth the effort and lets himself flop back into an awkward lounging position with a resounding 'thud'.

“Besides,” he continues, deadpan, “if I didn’t collect a few extra holes now and then, you’d be out of a job. Think of me as job security with a pulse. You’re welcome.”

He can already feel the disapproving glare burning a hole through the back of his skull; sarcasm may be a good distraction from his own pain but it didn't always leave him in good standing with whatever poor sod was tasked with dealing with him. Especially when the poor sod had already had to put up with his dismissive antics before.

“Now - either stitch me closed or pass the morphine and a cigarette. Your call, doc. I’m not fussy on the prescription.”