Connor knocked and pushed open the door to Kevin and Arnold's room. He was greeted with the sight of Arnold bending over Kevin's bed, his back to Connor, and blankets strewn on the ground.

"What's up?" Connor asked warily.

Arnold picked up his glasses from the table to better see who it was.

"Umm-," Arnold turned to Kevin, who had his good arm over his face, and then back to Connor, "Nothing's up…much."

"What?" Connor's frown deepened.

Arnold whispered something to Kevin, who was still hiding behind his arm, and then shrugged at Connor as if to say he's-all-yours, before leaving the room for breakfast.

"How are you feeling today, Kev?" Connor stepped into the room.

"Okay," Kevin croaked.

Connor sat down on the edge of Kevin's bed, "Do you want me to bring some food for you?"

Kevin shook his head, "Just-," his breath hitched, "give me a minute."

Connor gently removed Kevin's arm from his tear-streaked face and gasped, "Kev! Are you in pain?! Why didn't you say anything? I'm going to go get your pills. Hang tight!"

Connor jumped up from the bed.

"No no," Kevin wiped at his eyes, "I'm fine."

"If you're fine, you wouldn't be-"

"My arm's fine. Just a bad dream, is all," Kevin looked out of the window, "It's dumb."

"It's not dumb, Kevin," Connor sat back down on the bed.

Dumb was the last word Connor would use to describe Kevin's struggles.

"Whatever," Kevin sighed.

Connor held Kevin's hand as he took his minute.

"I thought it was real."

"Huh?"

"When I woke up," Kevin fiddled with a loose thread on his sling, "I couldn't move my arm. I thought that I was back with-," He sniffed, "Back with him. They were holding my arms down."

Connor didn't think that he could bear to listen anymore.

"You're safe now."

"No, I'm not," Kevin smiled faintly, "But it's okay. You're here."

Kevin put way too much faith in Connor.

Kevin squeezed his eyes shut, "Shit. I think I may have hit Arnold."

"What?"

"When he tried to help. I may have cuffed him in the face or something. Damn it."

"Knowing Arnold, I'm sure he doesn't mind in the least," Connor assured.

"Mmmm," Kevin carefully stretched, "Still have to apologise though."

"Breakfast?"

—

Connor chuckled as the cereal slipped off Kevin's spoon once again.

Kevin threw a dirty look at Connor, "You're supposed to help me, not laugh at me."

"I mean, unless you want me to spoon feed you..."

Kevin glared.

"So what's the plan for today, Elder McKinley?" Elder Michaels asked.

"Why don't we just lay low for today?" Connor echoed Mafala's advice.

"Oh. How long do we have to lay low for?" Elder Neely looked uncertain.

Elder Church said, "If we're going to be cooped up in here for the rest of the month, we might as well go home now."

"What do you suggest then?" Connor splayed his hands out.

"I don't know?"

Connor pinched the bridge of his nose and suppressed the urge to yell, "How about this: All of you stay here, just for today. I'll go and see what I can find out from Mafala."

—

Connor was putting his shoes on, when Kevin and Arnold appeared next to him, both fully dressed and ready to go.

"What do you think you two are doing?" Connor questioned.

"Going to the Hatimbi's," Kevin announced.

"Uhhhh…No you're not," Connor raised an eyebrow.

Arnold and Kevin both stared at Connor in confusion.

"Why not?" Arnold simply asked.

"Because it's dangerous? The General is still out there."

Kevin scoffed, "That's why we're coming with. You shouldn't be going anywhere by yourself."

"I know how to take care of myself," Connor argued, and then realised that he should actually take his own advice, "Alright, Arnold can come with me," He pointed to Kevin, "But you're staying put. You're hurt."

Kevin rolled his eyes, "I didn't break my legs. Yet. C'mon, let's go." He pulled Arnold out of the door with his good arm, leaving Connor with no choice but to follow.

—

Arnold marched on at a quicker pace than usual, excited at the prospect of seeing Nabulungi. Connor hung back to stroll with Kevin, who seemed to have lost his enthusiasm for the trip.

"You okay?"

Kevin adjusted his sling, "Just tired. Didn't really get to sleep much last night."

"Oh," Connor frowned, "Was it because of your arm?"

"Partly," Kevin winced and rubbed at his shoulder.

"Did you take your pills?"

Kevin chewed on his bottom lip, "No."

"What? Why not?"

"Because they make me feel better."

Connor must have heard wrongly, "That is what they're supposed to do, right?"

"I don't just mean physically, Connor," Kevin pulled Connor to a stop with another wince, "I don't wanna- you know, become too reliant on them," He gestured with his free hand.

"You're not going to become addicted, Kevin," Connor found it hard to reconcile the image of a junkie with Kevin.

Kevin's nothing like the people Connor had seen on the news. Kevin's smart, snd he's stronger than anyone Connor has ever seen.

"Guys! C'mon!" Arnold yelled somewhere ahead of them.

"I'm not," Kevin resumed walking, "And I want to keep it that way."

"This is unnecessary. You know that, right? People take painkillers all the time, and nothing bad happens. Besides, you need it."

Kevin remained unconvinced.

Connor spent the next few minutes pondering over how he could convince Kevin that he didn't need to be in pain. There was nothing to worry about at all.

"After the surgery," Kevin's voice was soft, "I kept taking them. Even when I didn't need to anymore."

Connor was stunned by Kevin's admission.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I don't know. You had enough on your plate," Kevin sighed, "I was really messed up after the thing with my parents."

"But you stopped," Connor seemed to recall Kevin donating his leftover medications to Gotswana's inventory.

"I did," Kevin proclaimed proudly, "Because of you."

"Me?" Connor wasn't aware that he had done anything to help.

"I didn't want to let you down I guess."

Let him down? Connor felt like he was the one who had let Kevin down. Kevin had been suffering and Connor hadn't even noticed how bad off he had been.

"And now, with everything that's going on, the- him coming back," Kevin continued, "I'm afraid that I won't be able to stop."

They have arrived at Mafala's hut before Connor could respond.

Mafala greeted them at the door, "Ah! Elders! Come on in! I was just about to make lunch."

"Is Nabu in?" Arnold asked eagerly.

"Ah yes, Arnold. She's in her room."

Arnold took off in the direction of Nabulungi's bedroom without a backward glance.

"Elder Price! I heard that you help to save Joan's boy! She is very grateful," Mafala placed a gentle hand on Kevin's shoulder.

"Oh," Kevin shook his head, "It's nothing."

"It is not nothing, Elder Price. You are very brave," Mafala insisted, "Now, you two just sit and wait for a bit. Lunch will be done soon."

"Thanks," they replied in unison.

Connor hovered as Kevin slowly lowered himself down onto the couch with a grimace. He laid his head back and closed his eyes. His forehead was glistening with sweat, even though it was a particularly cool day.

"Did you take anything at all? We should still have some aspirin in our first aid kit."

"We're out. Of everything."

"We are?" Connor shouldn't be surprised, it has been a while since they had returned from Kitgum.

Why couldn't Kevin have it easy for once?

Maybe Mafala would have something in his hut.

"Will you stop pacing and sit down."

"I'm so sorry, Kev."

Kevin cracked opened an eye, "Why are you apologising?"

Connor sat down beside Kevin, "I haven't been a very helpful boyfriend."

"Don't worry 'bout it. It's fine," Kevin patted at Connor's knee.

"How is this fine?! Why do you keep saying that? Nothing's fine!" Connor tried to keep his voice down.

"Not again, Connor. Well, what do you want me to say then?"

Connor retorted, "I just want you to tell me the truth!"

"I just did," Kevin closed his eyes and sighed, "You know, we need to find something new to fight about."

"This isn't a joke."

"I didn't say it was," Kevin turned away from Connor, "I'm trying, okay? I'm sorry if it's not good enough for you, but I'm trying my best. I don't know what else you want from me."

Connor realised that he was being a jerk. Kevin had opened up to Connor, like he had asked him to, and Connor had all but thrown it back at Kevin's face. Why couldn't he just be more patient with Kevin? It used to be one of his strongest traits. Poptarts was right, Kevin did bring out the worst in Connor.

Connor blurted out, "I'm sorry."

"Will you stop?!" Kevin snapped.

"Umm, guys?" Arnold appeared in the living room, Nabulungi in tow, "Everything okay?"

Kevin just scowled at Connor.

Nabulungi eyed the both of them, "What is wrong?"

"Why don't you ask him?" Kevin replied, "He's the one with a bone to pick."

Neither Arnold or Nabulungi knew what to say to that. Connor knew he had fudge up big time.

"Come!" Mafala yelled from the kitchen, "Lunch is ready."

Arnold and Nabulungi took that as their cue to escape.

"Kevin, I'm-"

"I swear to god, Connor. If you say 'sorry' one more time, I'm going to lose it."

Connor gulped and nodded, "I- I shouldn't have said what I said. I'm-," Connor shook his head.

It was hard to apologise without actually saying the word, "I know that you are trying, and- Uh, will you forgive me for being a jerk?"

"Connor, I'm really tired of you being upset with me every time I- you know what? Forget it," Kevin waved his hand, "You're forgiven."

"I'm not mad at you, Kev."

"It sure sounded like it to me."

Connor scratched at the back of his neck, "I think I was more mad at myself than anything. I just hate to see you hurting. I'm so- Uh, I promise this won't happen again. If you say that you're fine, then I'm going to trust you on that," Connor nodded with conviction.

"You promise?" Kevin frowned.

Connor took Kevin's free hand in his and brought it up to his lips, "Promise."

—

"Ghali and Mutumbo has gathered a few of the villagers to form a team, of sorts," Mafala clasped his hands together, with his elbows resting on the dining table, "They have some guns. Some of them were in the army way back. We will be prepared for when Butt-fucking-naked comes back."

Connor nodded tentatively, "I see."

Mafala pointed to Connor, "And you should already know what advice I would give to you boys."

"Lay low, don't attract attention, stay out of trouble," Connor recited.

"Good, good! You learn! Yes, stay the fuck out of it, Elder McKinley. Things could get ugly real quick. You do not want to be in the middle of that," Mafala beckoned his finger at them.

"Baba," Nabulungi groaned.

"You too, Nabulungi. You are not to go anywhere on your own. Until Butt-fucking-naked is dead," Mafala's tone turned serious.

"Don't you worry, Mafala!" Arnold pat on his chest, "I will protect Nabulungi with my life!"

Nabulungi snorted, "I could drop you on your butt just like that, Arnold," She snapped her fingers.

"Oh yeah, I forgot. You could," Arnold looked at Nabulungi with awe.

Connor was still uncomfortable with the casual mention of murder, even if it was the murder of someone as awful as The General. But if it was what they had to do to survive, it was a no-brainer.

"Elder Price," Mafala frowned, "Why are you not eating? Eat. You have to eat to heal."

"Oh umm," Kevin cleared his throat, "Yeah, I will."

Connor watched as Kevin continued to push food around on his plate without putting any of it in his mouth.

Later, when Connor was helping Mafala to do the dishes, he asked, "Hey, uh, Mafala?"

"Yes, Elder McKinley?"

"Do you have any aspirin or ibuprofen?"

"I am afraid we do not. Why? Are you feeling sick?"

"Oh no," Connor shook his head, "It's not for me. It's for Kevin."

"Ah I see, I could help you to ask Gotswana for advice later?" Mafala supplied helpfully.

"Oh no, it's okay, Mafala. Gotswana already gave him something yesterday," Connor wouldn't be able to answer the inevitable questions from the doctor, and he wasn't sure if Kevin wanted anyone else to know, "He just forgot to take them in the morning."

Connor was missing the simple conveniences he had taken for granted back in America. If they were home, he could just pop right down to the store and grab a box, heck, ten boxes of medicine.

Kevin yelled out from the living room, and Connor's heart stopped, until it was followed by boisterous laughter.

Connor resumed with the washing up.

"You look tired," Mafala noted.

"I am," Connor huffed and muttered under his breath, "I can't wait for this to be over."

"I know the feeling all too well, Elder McKinley," Mafala sighed.

Connor spoke slowly, "Do you actually think that we'll be able to be rid of The General? For good?"

"It is the only way we can get our lives back."