Chuck grumbled from the passenger seat, "Of course. We decide to go out for dinner and of course Kane's got an army waiting for us."

Mike chuckles weakly, causing Chuck to whip his head away from his screens and towards him, "Mikey? Are you okay?" Chuck is starting to panic, because Mike can't be hurt, he can't be, they're in this, in everything together. That's how it's been. He can't—

"Fuck Mikey. Shit. Oh god are you okay—"

His arm looks completely destroyed. Blood covers the entirety of it and shit it looks like he's coughed up blood at some point.

"Chill out, I'm good," Lies Chuck wants to hiss, but he doesn't because he wouldn't—"It's not your fault, plus I can still drive. That's a plus yeah? And—" Shit, yes, shit, he is coughing up blood.

Kane had built upgraded hounds. They were faster more vicious and only had one order which was to target Motorcity. Chuck wasn't so oblivious due to his single minded focus on trying to jam their signals not to hear a few of them crash through the windows – he had injuries to show for it. He wasn't sure if he could move his left leg for one. But apparently he'd missed one crushing Mike's arm and sinking its teeth into him.

"Chuckle's it's fine, just—just work your magic, yeah?"

God Mikey how are you even talking.

"Y-yeah."

Chuck diverts all of his attention to jamming the signal on these hounds that are suddenly gaining and there are dozens more than before, oh god you can't locate the other Burners. They can't be all- You spare a quick glance to your left and you scream because Mike is, he's , he can't be, he's not dead impossible thing can't happen—

"CHUCK!"

You scream as you shoot up from your nap, sweating, looking up at Julie and Mike's worried faces.

"A-are you okay?"

Your eyes are unfocused as you blink and reply. You reply something but apparently it's not reassuring enough because they're still looking down at you worriedly.

Mike had asked that, oh god Mike – he was dead—

You almost start crying at that and you vaguely think, wow that would be embarrassing if you started crying in the middle of the workshop. So you settle for biting your lips, sitting up sharply and dragging both Mike and Julie into a hug. They're both muttering reassuring things to you, but Mike saying "It's okay, I'm here," is what breaks you and suddenly you're burrowing your face into Mikey's neck and sobbing.

Jules slips away at that point and you feel the loss immensely as you shiver and cry harder and try to get as much of yourself around Mike as possible, but she's back in seconds that seem like hours and wraps her soft yellow blanket that she never lets anyone touch ever around the three of you and rubs your back comfortingly, resting her cheek on your head.

Mike has his arms wrapped around you and is still talking to you. Though you can't process the words, the tone of it is what eventually calms you and you feel embarrassed and like never moving again because these people are your best friends – your only friends.

Nevermind you are still crying, and Julie has resorted to carding her hands through your hair, and Mikey to singing to you.
It's another few long minutes until you're calm enough to release your vice grip on Mikey, but you don't look up, you just mumble apologies into his shoulder. He keeps replying, "It's okay," and you wonder what Julie is thinking of all this.

You haven't had an episode like this since way back when you first met Mike and Julie and you'd been saved from your cage, almost died trying to get out of that shithole you'd been forced to call home, but here you are now and never more grateful for anything in your life.

Mike grabs you by the shoulders, and his eyes are fierce and angry, and you're scared because Mikey's never angry at you, "No you aren't!"

You don't realize you've been talking the entire time until Mike rests a hand on your cheek and strokes it, "You're very important to us, all of us, so shut your dirty mouth right now Charles."

You're not quite sure what you said, but at least you've stopped talking and honestly, you're kind of embarrassed more than anything else right now so you nod and move to get off of Mike and Julie.

They hold you in place, both of their faces stern.

"What?" you question. You're really not sure what is going on anymore. Also you kind of have to pee. Emotional distress does that to you sometimes.

They're still looking at you with the same slightly angry look on their faces.

"What? You called me Charles. That doesn't sound very good."

Julie and Mike share a look and sometimes you wonder if they're siblings because no two people have that sort of telepathy without being born into it. Your expression is appropriately wary as you try to wiggle out of their embrace before suddenly Mikey's fingers are digging into your sides and Jules' under your arms and you can't help but laugh.

"Oh god—no, you guys cut it out!"

"Never! This is punishment! Unless you want us to wash your mouth out with soap!"

"Ahhh! I didn't mean it I swear! Mikey! Julie!"

Texas and Dutch walk back in to find the three of you collapsed in a lightly giggling pile of limbs on the floor. Texas takes it upon himself to toss himself on top of all of you and Dutch doesn't even question it before pushing all four of you over thereby starting a new round of play fighting and laughter.

Today is the anniversary of your meeting Mike and Julie and you've never been quite as happy as you are today.

You still have to pee.