[Although it does take a couple minutes for him to come back, Gene doesn't really dawdle. He takes his time, tries to shake off the last fragments of discomfort and fear from the nightmare, but the food and people helping him out has soothed away a lot of it, leaving him mostly just feeling worn out and overwhelmed.
But that's nothing new, so it's easy enough to finish the cigarette and head back into the infirmary. Putting one foot in front of the other, breathing, blinking, continuing to exist, all of that's totally manageable despite the sense of weight on his shoulders.
Jimmy gets another small smile - and Gene doesn't seem overly concerned by him playing with the knife - before he sits down again.]
Thanks. [Again.] You don't have to stay. [The way he says it, it's absolutely obvious that this isn't a dismissal. Jimmy doesn't have to spend the next couple hours sitting in the infirmary with Gene if he doesn't want to, but Gene also wouldn't turn down the company if he felt like sticking around.
Not that Gene's certain he'll be anything even close to good company right now, but he still doesn't mind the idea of having someone around.]
[action]
But that's nothing new, so it's easy enough to finish the cigarette and head back into the infirmary. Putting one foot in front of the other, breathing, blinking, continuing to exist, all of that's totally manageable despite the sense of weight on his shoulders.
Jimmy gets another small smile - and Gene doesn't seem overly concerned by him playing with the knife - before he sits down again.]
Thanks. [Again.] You don't have to stay. [The way he says it, it's absolutely obvious that this isn't a dismissal. Jimmy doesn't have to spend the next couple hours sitting in the infirmary with Gene if he doesn't want to, but Gene also wouldn't turn down the company if he felt like sticking around.
Not that Gene's certain he'll be anything even close to good company right now, but he still doesn't mind the idea of having someone around.]