withtheoldbreed | d-day + 52 ✯ video

[It's relatively early in the morning when Sledge clicks on his video feed, and he looks tired, maybe even exhausted. It's also obvious he's not in his own cabin - the room behind him looks more like a shack, and although it might not be as clear, he's sitting on the floor, half leaning against the legs of a cot. One of Snafu's arms is visible, hanging limply off the side of the cot like he's just asleep.]

... Snafu's in a coma. [The word sits uncomfortably in his mouth, and it kind of shows in his face. He's read about barge comas obviously, thanks to Chromie's welcome packet, but it's one thing to read about it, another to try shaking your buddy awake and not be able to, no matter how hard you try.

He takes a breath and steels himself, trying to push it back and get what needs to get done, done.

(Except his eyes still look pretty dead, but that's not really anything new.)]

I'm gonna need a hand getting him to the infirmary.

[Private to Kieren]

I thought it'd be better than just leavin' him here. [It's what the pamphlet suggested, anyway, and he sort of feels more comfortable leaving his friend with people who can monitor him and make sure he doesn't get worse (if that's even possible?), but he still sounds uncertain. Like maybe this - making decisions about his friend's well being - is overstepping.

Which is weird to think about someone you've pretty much been physically stuck with for over a month, but here we are.]

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[When Gene returns he slips the knife back into his left boot, but he otherwise doesn't react until Gene's back in his seat.]

Sure. It's not a big thing. [He looks Gene over, trying to get an impression of how his Warden is doing. He's mostly satisfied-- Gene looks fed, less haunted, less tired, at least by a small amount. So he gets up, albeit with some difficulty, thanks to his leg. The long hours on his feet making breakfast haven't exactly agreed with the nerve damage, and it's like he can feel the screws in his bones, sometimes.]

I'm gonna take a shower, drop by the library. Want me to bring you anything?

[He somehow feels like he can, and should help out, here. But he's not going to do it by staying here.]

[Gene's smile gets a little dopey, maybe even shy.] Wouldn't mind a book. [If Jimmy doesn't mind, anyway.

And he'd leave it at that, except obviously he noticed that the old injury's still giving Jimmy issues and it makes him think of the conversation they'd had on deck.]

You talk to anyone about your leg?

[It's a casual question with zero expectation: if Jimmy wants to, he can and should, if he doesn't, Gene isn't going to force him to. He's just curious.]

[He nods, starting to move out of the infirmary when Gene asks him about his leg. He shakes his head, the fingers of his right hand twitching against his thigh, like touching his leg would make a difference.]

Not yet. I will. [He says it to at least reassure Gene of this: he doesn't have to worry about Jimmy right now. He knows that's what Gene does, sees it in his face. The kid's got enough on his plate right now, and his leg's low priority right now, even for Jimmy.]

[That's good to hear. Gene's not sure if the doctors here can fix what's been done, but honestly, they might be able to. Whether or not Jimmy wants that fixed - like how Gene hadn't wanted Dillon to fix his Bible, because it's a reminder of where he was and what he's been through - is another story, although a leg's a lot different from a battered little New Testament.

Either way, Jimmy gets another smile before he turns away to leave, and then he just settles in to keep watch until he feels comfortable leaving his buddy in here unconscious and unresponsive.]

d-day + 52 ✯ video

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