and we are beginning

“Am I? Hm. If I’m honest, Goodneighbor may be the safest place for me for a while… relatively speaking.” Jack stared up into the ceiling in thought. “Don’t bother with that. I will find my way out when I am well enough- some things really can’t wait. But if I do a poor job of it, please let Dianne know I appreciate all she’s done for me. I would like to speak with her when I am feeling better.”

“No luck? Where did he go off to? I kind of want to check it out myself.” He seemed to consider something. “Are you doing alright? I know you two are close.”

Jack took a moment to consider it. “I… mmm. Sorry. I couldn’t put you in that much danger. It’s my home, I worry that people have gotten to it… it has always been the… holy grail to some with low ambition.” He rubbed his temple slowly. “I’m afraid I’ll be without a home at all.”

“Yeah, I get it.” Morgan vaguely nodded. “I hope it’s still all there. If it ain’t then, well, you’re more than welcome to lay low here for a while if you need. Know it’s not your cuppa, but It’s mostly safe. If you want I could beg an estimate of how long you’re stuck here for.” 

“What...? Really... Did he come here at all?” Morgan sounded as worried as he’d admitted. “He just up and left Sanctuary out of no where, think he felt out of sorts around there. I didn’t think...” He ran a hand through his hair, ruffling it up in different directions. “Do you have any idea where he could be...?”

“Yeah, I figured you’d have somewhere to be. You were shot, though. I’m sure people will understand why you’ve been laying low for so long,” Morgan commented, huffing out a sigh at the end. His voice was warm and relaxed. “If there’s anything I could go out and do for you to make you more comfortable, I’d be happy to. Unless my mother bans me from going out and makes me put ice on my face again. Ever thought you’d hear a thirty-plus man say that? Hgh.”

“Oh, her… yes, we… ran.” Jack’s eyes were glassy as he stared at the floor, entering a somber kind of silence. He shook his head tersely. “I’m afraid I made my situation no better by getting out… I will have to deal with the consequences eventually. It was violent, if you must know. As though there is much more to expect from mutants or raiders…” He leaned his head back against the wall. “But thank you. I am sure it was the right thing. I would be in a better mood if I could leave this room…”

“Stuck in here, huh?” Morgan’s demeanor immediately lightened. He crossed his arms over his broad chest. “I thought Mom would guilt trip you into sitting in here for a while, but you gotta understand she knows what’s she’s doing. S’long as nothing’s broken, she’ll probably let you out with a slap on the wrist.” He paused for a second. “Say, what would you even be doing if you were outta here? You seem pretty roughed up.”

“Yeah, I made it there with the boy -- he’s fine. Shaken up,” Morgan explained. His fingers wrapped around the edge of the wood and his head fell slightly askew. “I heard rumors, alright. Direct rumors. From my mother. She told me you saved that woman. No one knows how you got outta there, Jack, but... it seems like you did the right thing.”