Tobias was awake. Ferrin could see it as he closed the door, stepping further into the dimly lit room. He stood beside the cot and watched the man was a few silent moments, cocking his head. Finally, Tobias opened his eyes.
"How long have you been awake, then?" Ferrin muttered, grunting as he kneeled and set his bag down.
Tobias didn't reply, and Ferrin saw his eyes close again. Ferrin reached out and ran his thumb across the man's forehead.
Tobias flinched.
Ferrin moved his fingers down to the man's chest, receiving no reaction as he pushed against bruised skin, feeling fractured and unaligned ribs below. He let his hands slip away, and leaned back, still kneeling, his eyes trailing down Tobias' arm.
"Stop holding your breath."
Tobias coughed.
Ferrin glanced down at his bag and began searching through its contents.
"Ferrin?" Tobias asked, and Ferrin looked up.
"Yes?"
Tobias opened his eyes. "Ferrin?"
Ferrin sighed. "Yes?"
"Is Roe dead?" He whispered the question.
Ferrin looked back down and breathed out slowly. "Yes." He didn't care enough to lie.
Tobias nodded, and he shuddered. "Gables-" he took a shaking breath and covered his eyes with his left hand. "Gables is dead, too."
Ferrin said nothing.
Tobias silently sobbed.
Ferrin waited, then reached up and pulled Tobias' hand away from his eyes. The man was too weak to resist. Tobias turned his face slightly away, tensing.
"You are safe, Tobias. You're alright." Ferrin watched the man's wet, unfocused eyes. "It wasn't your fault."
Tobias released a trembling breath, turning his head away completely. Ferrin released his arm and began pulling supplies from the bag.
"Ferrin?" Tobias whispered.
Ferrin continued retrieving supplies. He gave a heavy sigh.
"Ferrin?"
"What, Tobias?"
Tobias turned his head to look up at the damp ceiling. "Is Sol gone?" He moved his hand back over his eyes.
"Sol is waiting for you outside the door."
"Is he dead?" Fresh tears streamed past Tobias' hand.
"He isn't dead." Ferrin clarified.
Tobias calmed.
Ferrin scowled at his own emotions, which Tobias' words had brought out in him. There was a reality to be faced. A reality that didn't pair up well with a delirious man.
Ferrin had known they would lose people. Good people. It had happened to him before. He thought he was ready.
Nothing could have prepared him for the moment when Roe's body hit the floor.
Such a burning rage he had felt. Such a tenacious sense of devastation.
He looked at Tobias, and he relived his time spent with Roe. He realized how hard he had worked to stifle his emotions. He realized how much he missed her.
