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

[simplepuzzle]

...well at least he spent a full night away from the hospital.

"It's nothing." He washed the dishes and now...

"I'm gonna get going, I'm staying with my dad." He runs his fingers through his hair. "You can call me." And he means it, as weird as it is.

[unbreachable]

"...Okay. I'm gonna dress and...head back to the hospital."

He wishes Chuck wouldn't go, but.

Raleigh can't stop him.

[simplepuzzle]

"Don't spend all your time there. Come back here sometimes. To clean, if nothing else." There's a layer of dust that Chuck's trying to ignore.

He's still going to be in town, available for the next couple weeks if--when Raleigh needs him.

"I mean it about calling me," he says sharply.

[unbreachable]

"Yeah. I'll try."

He just -- can't leave Yancy. Can't leave him like that. What if he goes downhill suddenly?

...His movements suddenly become more hurried.

"How long are you in town?" He's practically chugging his coffee.

[simplepuzzle]

Ah crap. Chuck gets a hand around Raleigh's shoulder to still him.

"You want a ride to the hospital? Your car's still there, right?"
Slow, babe. Slow.

"A few weeks."

[unbreachable]

"Yeah it's still there." He slows but not by much.

"Weeks? Really?"

He didn't take all that time off for Raleigh...right?

[simplepuzzle]

"Finish your coffee and have something real to eat first."

M a y b e?
He had the time saved up shut up.

[unbreachable]

There's hints of a smile tugging at his lips, eyes brightening, just a little.

"Alright."

Cereal. That's good right? He can inhale some cereal.

[simplepuzzle]

No. No it is not.

"I made some grilled cheese earlier, you want some?"

Real food.

[unbreachable]

"That sounds good."

Warm and filling and it'll give sleigh time tongi put some clothes on.

"Thanks."

[simplepuzzle]

"Go put some real pants on."

He'll make him a sandwich. Which is weird and domestic but he's going to do it anyway.

[unbreachable]

He smiles and gets up, then without thinking, reaches and gives Chuck's arm a squeeze before taking his coffee mug and going back to his room so he can put some real pants on.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck doesn't know what to do about that. Like the pet name.

It's why he's staying with Herc and not Raleigh. He wants to help Raleigh, be there for him, but he can't let Raleigh fall into a domesticity that neither of them can keep.

[unbreachable]

He dresses quickly, gets himself together and reminds himself not to touch Chuck like that, because Chuck isn't his to touch.

No matter what he wants anymore.

He comes back out, fully clothed and hair damp - he took the worlds fastest shower ever.

[simplepuzzle]

It's not that it's--

They're so complicated. No matter what they both feel.

The sandwich is about done by time he gets out and Chuck's just sticking the frying pan in the sink to soak.

[unbreachable]

Incredibly so, though Raleigh might still hope, after all this time, that maybe they can uncomplicate things.

He comes back out to a ready made sandwich that he is going to basically inhale, though -- it's damn good and exactly what he needed and wanted.

[simplepuzzle]

Maybe after Raleigh's in a healthier headspace.

It's super basic but sometimes you just need fried bread in butter and melted Swiss. "Let me know when you're ready."

[unbreachable]

He polishes off his lunch and nods, wiping his hands on his pants.

"I'm ready."

He hates that Chuck had to leave, but also gets it.

Doesn't mean he likes it.

[simplepuzzle]

Chuck needs to go hang out at Herc's and see Mako and suss out what he's really doing here. What he can do here.

Obviously he cares about Raleigh, that's why he came, and he never stopped, and when someone you care about is going through something like this you don't just leave them.

He'll drop Raleigh off at the hospital again after making sure he'll call Chuck with anything.

[unbreachable]

When Chuck drops him off, Raleigh leans over and hugs him before getting out if the car and going back inside. He promises to call if he needs anything and one ups the request by telling him if anything changes, he will let him know that, too.

With a fresh shower, a night in his own bed, two good meals in him, he looks and feels much better.

He goes up to Yancy's room, tells him everything that happened, that Chuck showed up, he's here and Raleigh doesn't feel quite so lost at the moment. He still doesn't know what to do without Yancy but he's slightly more grounded.

It's a long day but -- at the end of it, he calls Chuck, casually asks if he wants to grab dinner somewhere, he could use the distraction.

[simplepuzzle]

No but like that's a huge fucking leap, that Raleigh's leaving the hospital and under his own power and choice so of course Chuck's not going to turn him down.

Chuck hasn't been here for more than a weekend or a week since he...left, so he takes the opportunity to walk around a little.

But yeah dinner sounds great, he'd love to.

[unbreachable]

There's a newer place that's on the other side of the small town - Raleigh asks if Chuck wants Raleigh to pick him up or if he wants to meet him there.

It's not a date. Of course it isn't.

[simplepuzzle]

It's not a date because they haven't talked about it and it's not.

It's Chuck spending time with his....former....person. Who they both agreed with they couldn't be friends with again. So they really shouldn't go out for more meals.

.....Chuck picks Raleigh up at seven.

[unbreachable]

Yeah it's probably not the best thing to do but Raleigh can't help but want to lean on him, on the person he's most familiar with and was the closest to the longest after Yancy. Jaz is out of the country on scholarship and can't get back, but calls every day and so Raleigh's just...

Been alone.

Chuck shows up and Raleigh gets in and he looks pretty good; well rested, tired maybe, but still pink cheeked and he's showered and shaved and dressed himself properly in jeans and a navy sweater.

So there's that.

"Hey."

[simplepuzzle]

"You look better."

...that was weird to say. But he does, he looks less tired and he looks less frantic and most importantly he's the one actually asking to leave to hospital.

"Any change?"