It's been a while....

[simplepuzzle]

 It's been five years since Chuck left. Left his home, left his dad, left his dog, left Raleigh. 

And he hasn't looked back.

Because if he looked back he'd have to think about what he's left behind and if he thinks about it he'd have to do something about it. But it didn't work and they tried, they tried so hard. And it didn't make a damn bit of difference, so Chuck...throws himself into school. And he tries. 

Occasionally, he tries to date. A girl here, a guy there. Every time he tries to make an effort at a relationship it ends with a lot of anger. Chuck's not really good at this. Nothing's compared to Raleigh, and Chuck's not sure he'll ever have something like it again. And he refuses to settle. 
Love isn't everything. Chuck focuses on school. It's okay. 

And he's good. He's really good. That and the occasional one night stand satisfies him. 

And then he gets a call from Herc. Yancy's been in an accident. He's broken a few limbs, and he hasn't woken up. Herc isn't saying he should come back, and Chuck's been staring at Raleigh's number when Mako calls him. 
He needs you. 
Come home. 

Comments

[unbreachable]

Yancy laughs, though it sounds strained because -- well. It is. He's been asleep a long time and he's still kind of delisional.

"Ngh. Might be a little."

Raleigh smiles weakly and stays hovering over his brother with shaking hands but in actuality, he's about to faint.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck's by Raleigh's side, gently tugging him aside and holding him up as the doctor comes in to check on Yancy.

"He's gonna be okay," he murmurs in his ear while the doctor's do their thing.

...And the two of them should talk but. Not now.

[unbreachable]

He ends up pushed aside by the doctors and nurses and thank God Chuck is there to help support him, because otherwise he's pretty sure he wouldn't just crumpled to the ground right there on the spot.

"Yeah," he mumbles, roughly fisting at his eyes, he's not crying, of course he's not. Today hasn't been emotionally draining or anything.

"Yeah, I think he is."

[simplepuzzle]

He can cry, Chuck won't judge or even make snide remarks. He's got his hand rubbing Raleigh's back in smooth strokes, mouth pressed to the top of his head.

Hell, he's so relieved he's practically holding onto Raleigh for support. He and Yance had had their arguments sure but the thought of losing him was unbearable.

[unbreachable]

He can't help it. He is crying a little, wrapping his arms around Chuck and sobbing into his shoulder.

It seems surreal-- like a dream. Impossible.

Yancy is awake, Chuck is his again. No wonder he feels like he might faint.

[simplepuzzle]

They have to leave the room for a little while, just while they run some tests, and Chuck takes Raleigh to get some replacement coffee.

The heat and the caffeine ground Chuck, at least, and it gives Raleigh something to focus on.

They don't get to take him home immediately, the doctors want him around to make sure he doesn't slip back into the coma and to start his physical therapy. But it's something.

[unbreachable]

He appreciates everything Chuck is and is doing. He's a godsend, keeping Raleigh in line and well caffeinated through all this.

It's more than something. Yancy is awake and alive and things are going to be fine. Just fine.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck leaves when it's clear the brothers need some time. He presses a kiss to Raleigh's mouth and leaves him to explain to his brother how he ruined himself financially to keep Yancy's life going.

Chuck goes home, because he needs some proper shower and he needs some proper sleep. He manages to hide his left hand from Herc and stares at the ring in the shower.

[unbreachable]

He squeezes Chuck as he leaves, then he's left to fend for himself against his brothers raised brows and questioning eyes.

It's a long talk. A lot of are you sure? He left you. He wasn't coming back. He's only here because of guilt, baby bro. I don't want you hurt.

In the end though, Yancy knows Raleigh has to make his own mistakes, possibly again and again and again before he learns those grand old lessons about life. Yancy knows sleigh is a grown man and it's time to spread his wings and leave, if that's what calls to him. Yancy won't stop him, but he does make him promise to visit.

After, Raleigh's exhausted and takes a can back home, texting Chuck on the way Going home, need shower and rest. Call me.

[simplepuzzle]

It's not that Chuck wants to claim alcohol and pretend it didn't happen. He wants to be with Raleigh as much as Raleigh can't lose him again.

But as he's sobering up he starts panicking on the inside. So Raleigh said yes to following him to California when he was drunk, what if he hates it? What if he resents Chuck for making him move so far from what remains of his family?

He's confused. And hungover. And it's a pretty shitty feeling all around.

Still. He gets the text and calls him, flopping back on his bed and rubbing a hand over Max's head.

[unbreachable]

Raleigh is resting on his back and nursing a headache when Chuck calls. He's running low on sleep and energy, but he figures that talking on the phone will be fine.

Right?

"Hey, babe. How're you feeling?"

They didn't go light on the wine.

[simplepuzzle]

"Awful. Did you wanna talk now?"

If he wants to sleep Chuck more than understands it, he's been up for so long.

They can talk later.

[unbreachable]

He huffs a quiet little laugh.

"Now is fine. Do you wanna...I dunno. Meet for lunch or just...talk on the phone?"

[simplepuzzle]

"I don't wanna move right now and you need to get some fucking sleep."Chuck sounds almost fond but he's also pretty firm.

"What's the word on Yancy, is he in the clear?"

[unbreachable]

Raleigh laughs at that and sprawls on the bed, crossing his legs at the ankles.

"Yeah. The doctors say that he's good. He's gotta stay in the hospital a little while longer, make sure everything ticks right, but he should be out in a week."

[simplepuzzle]

"Great." The relief is evident in his voice.

"...Rals, I don't wanna talk about this over the phone, but--do you think we're rushing this?"

[unbreachable]

He doesn't really want to talk about this over the phone either, but. Alright.

"No. I think that I've waited a long time for this. Do you think we're rushing?"

[simplepuzzle]

"...maybe. I still want it," he adds so Raleigh doesn't start panicking about that instead. "I do--I love you."

And he closes his eyes because it's never not been true but it's still kind of hard to say out loud. "I wanna do this, wanna do this with you, but--I think we gotta talk about stuff. Look but this can wait until after you get some sleep, okay?"

[unbreachable]

"I love you, too."

It's always been easier for Raleigh to say, but there's hesitation in his voice now, because he's not...he's not sure what Chuck's trying to say and he's tired and emotionally drained and worried about his fucking up and down relationship now.

"...Sure. I'll talk to you later."

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck's just not sure he wants exactly what they talked about when they were drunk off their asses.

He takes the ring off around Herc, just because he doesn't want to tell him until there's something to tell him. He brings coffee and lunch over to Raleigh's place after a day or so of giving hims pace.

[unbreachable]

Raleigh's not sure what the whole conversation means and it's ripping him into pieces thinking about it, so he sleeps. He sleeps a lot and visits Yancy and he's home when Chuck shows up, but he looks kind of bleary eyed and defeated.

"Hey."

No babe, and he's wary. Are you here to dump him, Chuck?

[simplepuzzle]

What--no, he said he loves him, he said he still wants to do this.

But Raleigh's wary and he's giving Chuck a weird look so...Chuck doesn't go in for the kiss. "Hey." No babe? Okay. "I brought sandwiches. How's Yancy?"

[unbreachable]

Yeah, but...he didn't sound all that sure.

"Thanks. He's doing good. Ready to go home."

He opens the door wider.

"Do you wanna come in...?"

[simplepuzzle]

"Yeah, I thought we could eat together? Unless you wanna be alone?"

He steps in cautiously, not sure how much of Raleigh's personal space he wants Chuck invading right now.

[unbreachable]

"No, that's fine. What kind did you bring?"

He's moving out of the way and shutting the door behind Chuck, keeping the cold air out.