(Untitled)

[bitingmybullet]

It's well past dark when they get back

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[rebelw_outclaws]

Russ is leaning heavily on Journey as she guides him over to a booth.

"--Shit, ow." He presses a hand to his side as he sits carefully, stretched out along one bench.

[bitingmybullet]

Gwen turns her head at the sound of his voice.

And figures ... well. Claire's going to be all right. She'll have somebody take a look at her if she doesn't wake up soon.

She sidles over to Russ' booth, slipping her hands into her pockets and trying not to wince at the way he looks.

Soft, "Hey."

[rebelw_outclaws]

Journey glances at Gwen and Russ, gives Russ a quick hug, and leaves.

Russ looks up at Gwen -- and just looks, for a second.

[bitingmybullet]

Gwen ... shifts her weight from one foot to the other.

Runs a hand through her hair.

And looks back, trying not to stare at the black eye and marks on his neck-- she's not sure what's going on, exactly, but if he doesn't want to speak just now she's sure as hell not going to make him.

[bass_line_blues]

"Still alive," Preston calls out, easily enough, as he helps Vanessa into a chair.

"I'm gonna get you some bandages, okay? And some clean clothes, for later, if you want."

[bigdamnboots]

"Bandages would be nice. Don't really care about clothes, though."

Her tone is nonchalant enough, but that last sentence of Vanessa's is an indication that something is very, very wrong.

She sits in her chair, quiet.

[bass_line_blues]

Preston knows enough about teenaged girls to recognize this.

But: "Okay," is all he says, matter-of-factly, and rises. "I'll be right back."

[bigdamnboots]

Vanessa really doesn't want him to leave. But she's kind of stuck where she is for the moment.

Clutches the chair hard and tries not to be afraid.

[rebelw_outclaws]

Russ' head comes up, once he's seated, nostrils flaring.

Quiet -- "Mike."

[rebelw_outclaws]

"I'm okay."

He's lying. Sort of.

But he's alive.

[lesper]

When Les sees them come in, his eyes round and his mouth opens very slightly; not saying a word, he leaps out of his seat, gawky, and hurries to help Gwen support Claire. He goes to the stage with her and sits down with one of her hands in his, looking from her to the others and back again. Claire. Russ. Gwen. Claire. Preston. Claire. Vanessa. Journey. Claire.

Les looks confused and unhappy.

[bitingmybullet]

Gwen frowns.

Runs a hand through her hair.

"Um," she says. "Les."

[lesper]

"Yes," he says. Looks up. "Gwen. I just -- Karla told me, kind of."

[bitingmybullet]

She frowns.

"Okay."

Nods.

"Um. I don't ... her pulse is okay. So she should ... I mean, if she doesn't wake up soon, you should tell me, and I'll ... get someone."

[cheng_hu]

Daniel appears from a back room, arms full of first aid supplies. Mostly glorified bedsheets and rubbing alcohol, but you take what you can get.

[bass_line_blues]

"- bandages. Thanks, man," Preston says, heartfelt snags some, and disappears.

He reappears after a while, though.

[cheng_hu]

"You're welcome," Daniel tells him, belatedly.

"How'd it go? I saw Russ, but I didn't ask. He wasn't in the best of moods."

[bass_line_blues]

Preston considers this for a moment.

"None of ours dead," he says, finally. "Couple of theirs are."

He doesn't sound triumphant, though.