018

[worldentire]

[This is about a day after the event ends. He'd left his feeds and such on, watching/listening what's going on about the mansion, without much thought - he doesn't really care about it, honestly. The video stays on/turns on intermittently throughout the day, showing a whole string of activity throughout the day

Comments

[video]

[kindly_done]

[Jack discovers that he's finally feeling awake and recovered enough to do something other than sleep like the dead for days at a time. Unfortunately he discovers this around three-fifteen in the morning, so he's just going to go ahead and watch Sinclair's entry. There's some fast-forwarding, and then his bored expression shifts to one of concern.]

Mister Sinclair?

Re: [video|locked the FUCK down, since what the hell, he unbandaged already]

[kindly_done]

Lamb.

[Jack doesn't sound pleased in the slightest.]

What did she do to you?

[video|locked, not that he has control over it, haha]

[worldentire]

She- [But he can't remember what she really truly did to him. He can just remember the little "checkup".] ... She told me t'move down here. For my health. T'try and get better. That's why no one's supposed t'find me- [but the words sound fake, and he knows it. He's trying so hard to push past the control but even in a weakened state it's overwhelming his tired, worn body.]

[video|locked, and Jack goes MAD WITH POWER AHAHA]

[kindly_done]

[Jack's is shadowed--he's looking down at the communicator, his face growing tight with pain as his fingers fly over the keys, willing them to work properly, just for now, just long enough to...

He forces himself to speak, against all instinct, trying to keep Sinclair talking long enough to trace his location.]

Down?

[That's something. He grins, but it's more like a grimace. The situation is too precarious for real joy to creep in.]

Why isn't anyone supposed to find you?

[video|locked, and OH GOD I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN GDI RYAN]

[worldentire]

Up, [he chokes, getting a hold on himself long enough to,] up. Up. [And then he shakes his head.]

... J-just for me t'get better, that's all. That's all. [He touches the syringe again, as he'd left it on the desk when he'd stumbled over.] ... I can't deal with this, Jack. I can't.

[video|locked, CAN'T HELP IT, IT'S IN THE BLOOD]

[kindly_done]

Okay, up.

[But he's not scanning the upper floors. Sinclair said down first, but Jack has a feeling he'll hang up if he realizes that Jack is getting closer.]

Get better from what?

[video|locked, CURSE YOU ANDREW RYAAAAAAAAAN]

[worldentire]

Fr... from feelin' like this. Headaches, nausea - my bones feel like they're fallin' apart, my skin doesn't feel right, I'm forgettin' things... The doc seems t'think bein' alone will.. will help... [He's fingering the syringe very pointedly, as if he's trying to decide how to use it without Jack noticing.]

[video|locked-->action]

[kindly_done]

[Jack glances up briefly. And, yeah, that's an EVE hypo. Great.]

You know what? Maybe she's right.

[And he hangs up.

And then not too long after, there is a very loud crash as he kicks down the door of room 008.]

[action]

[worldentire]

[He almost blasts Jack with ice. Almost. But not because he want to - you did startle him, bursting in like that. Up close he looks horrible, like his skin is sagging off his bones.]

...H-how'd you find me? [He lowers his icy hand, and he still doesn't seem to notice the tears that have not yet stopped rolling down his cheeks. He's a desperate, broken man, and it's obvious.]

[action]

[kindly_done]

[Jack stares for a moment, feeling for a boundary he doesn't understand between respect and helping a desperate friend.]

I learned four things in the labs, when they were making me: I can read, write, shoot, and hack.

You look...

[Like you're dying, he doesn't say, though once he thinks it, there's a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach that it may be true.]

You need to see a doctor. A real doctor. Can you come with me?"

[action]

[worldentire]

[He shakes his head.] Can't leave. Please don't make me.

[He knows something's up. He knows he's not okay.] ...Just...

Find Delta. Tell him I'm sorry. [This is one of the most honest things he's ever said.] He tried t'help. I ... hung up on him. [He shakes his head, like he doesn't understand, and the syringe is back in his hand.] I've gotta do this, Jack. None'a this feels right.

[action]

[kindly_done]

[Jack sets his jaw, but it's not stubbornness; he's trying not to cry.]

Well...I could...I could call Dr. Tam and he could come here. Right?

[action]

[worldentire]

[Sinclair shakes his head sadly.]

C-can't have it, Jack.

[There's a certain odd gleam to his eyes.]

You need t'go. I-If the doc sees you here...

[action]

[kindly_done]

[To some things, there is a simple solution: Jack simply turns Sinclair's communicator face down.]

I'm not leaving you like this. We had a deal.

[To some things there isn't a simple solution, but Jack sets to work anyway. A few trips to the closet, and he makes the bed.]

Sit. She's right about you needing rest, at least.

[And he offers Sinclair a handkerchief--and isn't this familiar? Except this time, Jack's face is oddly blank.]

[action]

[worldentire]

[He simply nods and follows Jack's instructions, slumping down on the bed.]

I'm just so damn tired, son. I thought I'd paid for my sins, but I ...

[He shakes his head, takes the handkerchief, wipes his face up.] God, I guess not.

[action]

[kindly_done]

It doesn't matter. She has no right to be your judge, or to punish you.

[He feels as if his hands should be shaking, but they're perfectly steady as he bends slightly to look into Sinclair's face, using his good hand to brush the older man's hair back into an approximation of its usual neatness, straightening his tie, brushing a few of the wrinkles from his shirt.]

Just rest, okay?