He was avoiding the city's transport this time, trusting his instinct that it would be a bad idea. Instead they were walking steadily towards the north end of the city, taking turns seemingly at random and sometimes cutting through backyards and building lots. Once a large dog started barking at them from behind the sliding glass door of its house and his hand twitched towards the gun on his hip before he forced it away. He saw Andraeon look at him and offered an absent smile, trying to calm his own frazzled nerves.
The buildings around them gradually changed from stores and residential homes to big industrial factories surrounded by fences and guarded by cameras and security guards. Jones kept his head down so the outside cameras wouldn't catch his face, then reached out and tipped Andraeon's chin down so his hair fell forward over his face. He let his hand drop and kept a light hold of Andraeon's arm, leading him past the factories until they came to rows of solid-looking warehouses.
Still keeping his head down but walking as though he belonged there, he went to the front door of one of the warehouses and entered a code into the box by the door. There was a click and a whirring noise, and when he reached out to open the door, the knob turned easily under his hand. He pushed the door open with one hand, keeping the other on the butt of his gun, but nothing greeted him except a silent, dark interior. He stepped inside and flicked on the lights, wincing a little as the bright fluorescents caused his sensitive eyes to sting.
The warehouse seemed empty but he still held up a hand to tell Andraeon to wait by the door and, drawing his gun, moved carefully through the aisles, studying the crates and boxes piled up on the wooden skids to either side. Nothing moved and eventually he slid the gun back into its holster and went back to fetch Andraeon, closing and locking the door behind them. He led the way to the stairs along one wall and went up them, entering another code into the box beside the office door at the top. It opened under his hand and he went inside, foregoing the fluorescents in favour of the dimmer lamp on the desk. He tossed the cushions off the couch and pulled it out to make a bed, then sat down on it to catch his breath.
“I did a favour for the guy who owns this place,” he said when he saw Andraeon was watching him. “He's rarely here in the summer so he lets me crash whenever I need to. We should be safe for a little while.”
“You should sleep.” Andraeon came over and pressed the inside of his wrist to Jones's forehead, frowning. “You're still quite hot.”
“Mmm.” He pushed himself up again and went to the small fridge in the corner of the room, opening the door to examine the contents. There was a case of beer on the bottom shelf and he barely paid any attention to what else was in there, his eyes fixed on the case's logo. He saw his hand reach out and take hold of one of the bottles, pulling it free of the case, but it felt as though his hand didn't even belong to him. Before he knew what he was doing, he'd twisted the cap off and taken a long swig.
“Jones?” Andraeon touched his elbow. “Are you sure you should be drinking that?”
“I feel better,” he replied, not sure if he was lying or not. “Want one?” He took another bottle out and offered it to Andraeon.
“I've never...” Andraeon gave him a slightly embarrassed smile. “Never had any alcohol.”
“No time like the present.” He gave the bottle a little shake and after a moment Andraeon took it, twisting the cap off and taking a cautious drink.
“Okay?” Jones asked.
“Kind of bitter.” Andraeon took another sip. “I guess it's okay.”
Something about the way he said it, and the way he smiled, told Jones he was only doing it to please him. “You don't have to finish it.”
“No, it's okay.” Andraeon lifted the bottle and gave him a little salute with it.
“Don't force yourself.” Jones downed the rest of the bottle in his hand and took another with him to sit back down on the bed. The sheets smelled a little musty but they weren't dirty and he didn't think he would have cared much if they were. It felt good to just sit and drink a cold beer, feeling it hit that spot deep inside and silence the quiet but insistent voice that told him he needed a beer, just one beer.
“Jones.” Andraeon shook his shoulder and he looked up in surprise. “You're zoning out. Go to sleep.”
“I was just thinking.” Jones looked at the bottle in his hand and was mildly startled to see that it was empty. He set it aside with the first bottle and stretched, willing himself not to get up and get a third bottle from the fridge. “Come sit,” he told Andraeon, patting the mattress beside him.
Andraeon did as he was told, setting his nearly full beer down on the floor beside his feet. “So now what?”
“We stay here for the night and hope that no one breaks down the door.” Jones found his gaze straying to the fridge and forced himself to look away. “After that I don't know. We can't run forever and I need to find my daughter.”
“I brought a lot of trouble on you, huh?”
“No. The trouble we're in isn't your fault.” Jones looked over at him. “You really think I could've just left you there, chained up in a cage?”
“You wouldn't be hurt if you had.”
“Don't talk nonsense, Drae. I might not be hurt, but I'd definitely be an asshole.” He lost the fight and pushed himself to his feet again to go back to the fridge. He swayed a little with the sudden rise but the dizziness passed after a moment and he was nearly steady as he went to get another beer.
“I'm just sorry you got hurt.”
“Thank you.” He sat back down on the bed and absently reached over to brush a lock of hair out of Andraeon's face. “Whatever happens to me, I don't regret taking you out. And I will fight to keep you out.”
Andraeon's eyes met his and he felt a sudden surge of dizziness. Blinking rapidly, he looked away and took another swig of his beer, riding it out. If nothing else, the beer had dulled the aches and pains all over his body; even his head had stopped hurting, and the ever-present grief had been drowned out to a dull roar.
He realized Andraeon had said something and looked over, trying to focus. “Sorry, what?”
“I was just saying thanks. For getting me out and taking care of me.” Leaning over, Andraeon lightly kissed his cheek.
“You're welcome.” Feeling oddly unsettled, Jones pushed himself to his feet and went to the full-length window that looked out over the warehouse floor. The crates looked washed out underneath the bright fluorescents and he realized he should have turned the lights off. He took another sip of his beer then left the office to do so.
There was another bank of light switches just down the landing from the office and it only took a few moments to reach it—even with his gait just that slightest bit unsteady—but he stood by it and sipped at his beer instead of just turning the lights off and going back to the office. The windows didn't reach this far but if he stepped out towards the railing and looked back at the office, he could see Andraeon still sitting on the bed. Jones watched him for a minute, then stepped back in towards the wall and leaned his shoulders against it. Reaching out with one hand, he flicked off all the lights and finished his beer in the dark.
When it was empty he made his way back to the office, trailing one hand along the wall both to support himself and to keep on a steady line. Andraeon had curled up on the bed and closed his eyes, but he smiled a little when Jones sat down beside him.
“Go to sleep,” Jones said, reaching out to stroke his hair. He meant to only do it briefly but his hand lingered, brushing the heavy fall of it back behind Andraeon's ear. “It's been a long day.”
“We can both sleep.” Andraeon wriggled over so Jones had more room. “You probably need it more than I do.”
“I'm going to stay up for a bit and keep a watch,” Jones replied, trying to ignore the treacherous little voice inside that added, and have another beer.
“Jones...” Andraeon started then sighed. “Okay. Just promise you'll sleep soon.”
“Yeah.” Guilt pressed in on him but he forced himself to wait, spinning the empty beer bottle in his hands, until Andraeon's deep breathing indicated he had fallen asleep. Only then did he get up and cross to the fridge again, opening it to take another beer out. He couldn't remember how many he'd had now, but the case was already half-empty.
He sat on the floor instead of the bed, to avoid waking Andraeon up by dipping the mattress down with his weight, and twisted the cap off the bottle. He took a swig and looked out the huge windows, letting his eyes go unfocused. Warmth had settled in his belly and was spreading throughout his body, drowning out all thought and emotion. He shifted his body down until he was sprawled out and rested his head against the mattress behind him, closing his eyes, but didn't stop drinking from the bottle.
He lost a little time then and when he came back to himself, there were two more empty bottles neatly lined up by his side, and a third in his hand. The room seemed steady until he got up to use the bathroom, and then it spun so hard to the right that he was on the floor before he realized he had fallen. The impact shook the floor-length windows and sent pain spiking through both his ribs and his head. He rolled over onto his back and closed his eyes, taking deep breaths and letting them out slowly.
“Jones?” He heard the creak of the mattress as Andraeon got to his feet and sensed the other man kneel down beside him. Cool fingers touched his forehead, testing his temperature. “You're too hot. Don't move, I'll get you some cold water.”
Jones didn't think he could move even if he wanted to but he managed a nod and opened his eyes to watch Andraeon cross the room to the bathroom. The bright light Andraeon turned on made him wince and he shut his eyes again until the light went off and Andraeon came back. The damp cloth he brought with him cooled Jones's forehead and eased a little of the spinning sensation inside his head. He reached up and gently caught Andraeon's wrist, tracing the delicate skin lightly with his thumb, and studied Andraeon's face in the dim light from the desk lamp.
“You need to stop, Jones,” Andraeon said. “You're hurting yourself and you're... putting both of us in danger. Okay? If someone attacked us right now, you couldn't do anything. Stop drinking, Jones. You have to. Please.”
The feeling of guilt came back so hard and fast Jones felt it like a physical blow. For a moment he heard Allie's voice underneath Andraeon's, telling him and then begging him to stop drinking. He dropped Andraeon's arm and tried to just concentrate on keeping his breathing calm and even.
“All right,” he managed finally. “You're right. I can't protect you.”
“I didn't mean it like that,” Andraeon protested but Jones ignored him.
“I can't. So I'm going to take you to someone who can.” He forced himself to sit up, wiping his sweaty face with the cold washcloth. “Tomorrow morning. Go back to bed.”
He saw the hurt expression on Andraeon's face and looked away, pushing himself unsteadily to his feet and going into the bathroom. He took his time emptying his bladder and washing his face in the sink before he went back into the office. Andraeon had curled up on the bed again, his back towards the bathroom door, and he didn't move when Jones lay down beside him. Hiding his sigh, Jones turned over onto his side so their backs were together and closed his eyes to try and catch some sleep before dawn.
He was just beginning to drift off when Andraeon moved suddenly, rolling over and wrapping both arms around him. He jumped and started to pull away, then let himself relax back, willing to give Andraeon this much. Gradually he settled, and finally slept.
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