Set in the Bunker. Post 4x12
"Everyone's meeting in the centre." Abby had gone straight from medical to the assembly, but Jackson wanted to change. He'd found Nate lying on his bunk, his eyes staring at the ceiling.
"I heard the announcement," Nate replied tonelessly.
"Listen, you have to be there. You know how ugly this can get," said Jackson.
Nate's reply was to throw his gun to Jackson without looking at him. Jackson caught it out of instinct but he held it away from his body gingerly. Nate must have seen the movement because he turned to look at Jackson incredulously.
"It's just a gun, what's it going to do?"
Jackson gritted his teeth against a number of replies. He put it down and took a step back.
"You really hate it?"
"Look at the damage we've done with them." Nate looked about to reply scathingly but must have seen something in Jackson's face that stopped him. He got to his feet and put his hands on Jackson's shoulders bracingly.
"Hey," he said softly, "it's alright." Jackson looked down. He didn't want to be weak in front of Nate; he'd been putting all his effort into being strong for him since the cull.
Nate, on the other hand, just pulled him into a hug. He was remembering Brian, who had adapted to using a gun in the months between Farm Station landing on Earth and reuniting with him. By the time they'd reunited, it had been like he'd been born using one; no hesitation.
Jackson had survived on Earth for the same length of time and still hadn't given up on his pacifism. While Nate felt like he'd been hardened beyond repair, Jackson wouldn't even use violence to defend himself. It made Nate feel ashamed. But he would pick up and use that gun if it meant protecting Jackson.
He released Jackson slowly but kept one hand on his shoulder as he reached for the gun with the other. When it was nestled in the crook of his arm, he grabbed Jackson's hand.
"Let's go," he said. Jackson smiled wryly. It was the first time Nate had sounded like himself since the death wave.