Chapter Nine Starts Now, With Jess being in deep trouble.

"Where the hell have you been?" That sounds familiar, doesn't it? A voice in his head asked Jess. Internally, he chuckled dryly. He wondered vaguely if he was insane when he replied:

"Out,'' He said shortly.

"Oh no, no way in hell am I letting you off with that half assed response again!" Luke shouted. Jess kept himself steady, forced himself to not flinch. No weakness.

"Sorry," Jess breathed. He felt his hands shake worse than normal as they gripped his crutches. Mark, who had woken up early to get a glass of water that morning, exploded.

"Sorry doesn't cut it!" Mark growled. "Do you have any idea what it's like to wake up and find you gone?"

"Yeah, I think I have an idea," Jess shot back. "Sorry if I'm not as good at disappearing as you are." Jess regretting the comment instantly, and Mark flinched.

Jess's 'run' instinct came at him in full force. He was being ambushed. He felt guilty and overwhelmed and had no idea what to do next.

Run run run run runrunrunrunrunrunrun--

Jess took off, despite his crutches. He made it to the door before Mark was in front of him, gripping his shoulders, trying to make him meet his eyes. Jess refused to stubbornly. Jess tried to push past him, but Mark's grip held firm. He suddenly wanted to die. Instead, he buried his face in Mark's chest in defeat.

He felt Mark's grip on his shoulders loosen, and instead arms wrapping around his shoulders, bringing Jess into a sudo-hug, and buried his face in Jess's hair. Jess wanted to stay like forever. "I'm sorry, too." Mark whispered before releasing him.

Jess walked to the counter with Mark's arm draped across his shoulder and sat down on a stool. Mark sat next to him. He sighed.

"You won't let me leave. Ever. I need exercise. I won't get better unless I'm allowed out. So I snuck out. For the past two weeks, almost, I've been going out for a walk in the morning." Jess told them. His whole figure was hunched and shaking. Luke sighed.

"From now on, you can leave, if you feel up to it." Luke muttered. "But only on the condition that you tell us, and have someone with you when you go. If you collapse or something.."

Jess's eyes, still downcast, widened. Oh. Luke was worried about him. Oh!

So this was one of those epiphany moments he'd heard so much about. Luke was worried about him. Not just what he was capable of, or what havoc he was wreaking on Luke's life, or how he would get rid of him. Just worried for his, Jess Mariano's, welfare. He looked up at Luke and smiled hesitantly.

"Ok."

"C'mon, let's get you some coffee." Luke made fixed them some drinks, and they drank together. Mark was so quiet. Jess winced mentally.

"Mark. I'm sorry about.. what I said before. I didn't mean it." Jess apologized with a sigh.

"I had it coming. It was all true. I abandoned you, Jess. More than once. How can you stand to look at me?" Mark asked, his voice cracking. Jess hugged him fiercely, and Mark returned the gesture.

End

one more chapter

-an epilogue