"Pffft, name three characters that you even know?" Kevin snorted.

Kevin, after being tutored by Arnold about all things Star Wars, had been debating with Arnold over something regarding the franchise for the past hour. And Connor had accidentally, blindly taken Arnold's side by nodding to something Arnold had asked.

He wasn't even paying any attention at all, preoccupied with their current dire situation at hand.

"What?"

"Ugh, never mind," Kevin rolled his eyes.

Arnold smirked, "That's two to one, buddy."

"Connor doesn't count! He doesn't even know what we've been talking about. Do you, Connor?"

Connor heard something which made the hair at the back of his neck bristle.

"Shush," He extended his arm and stopped the three of them in their tracks.

"What is it?" Kevin whispered, "Lion?"

"No."

It was much much worse than a lion.

Muffled conversation came from behind the thick foliage, over the faint rumbling of a stationary vehicle. There was no way to pinpoint where or how far away they were. But Connor recognised the gruff baritone voice.

And Kevin did too, his eyes widened with fear and blood drained from his face.

"We got to go," Connor urged softly, and Arnold nodded frantically.

Connor tried to pull Kevin along but he didn't budge, "Kev, c'mon we gotta go."

Kevin just stared at Connor with his terrified eyes, and let out a strangled sob. Connor instinctively covered Kevin's mouth with his hand, but that just made Kevin panic even more.

"No no," Connor didn't dare to remove his hand now that Kevin was making loud, scared noises, "Shhhh."

The voices stopped abruptly, along with Connor's heart. At least Kevin stopped making those gosh-awful noises too.

The silence was broken by the rustling of grass on the other side of the trees.

"Crap. Crap," Connor looked around and gestured for Arnold to help him with Kevin.

The dirt path they were on provided no cover at all.

It was too late to run.

They had to hide.

Connor pointed to a fallen tree in front of them, and Arnold nodded in understanding.

Together, they guided a mostly silently-panicking Kevin to the log. It wasn't easy, with Kevin's sling in the way. More than once, Connor jostled Kevin's injured arm, and his face crumpled in pain.

"Sorry, sorry," Connor murmured as they ducked down behind the log, fervently praying that it was enough to save them.

Kevin was pressed between the two of them, breathing harshly, his own hand over his mouth. Connor put a hand on Kevin's trembling back, which made him flinch.

"Sorry," Connor mouthed and dropped his hand.

They heard footsteps on the dirt path.

Arnold tilted his head up slightly, but neither of them dared to peek over the log.

Connor couldn't remember if the soil was soft enough for them to have left footprints. Did they leave any traces behind?

Watching Kevin struggle to catch his breath while trying to stay quiet was making Connor's lungs seize in sympathy.

Connor's blood turned to ice when he heard the clanking of metal as the men moved.

They were going to be found.

And then they were going to be shot. Or worse. They could die.

They could actually die. Today. In the next few minutes. This could be their last moments on Earth.

"There is no one here. You stupid fuck," the booming voice made all of them jump.

"I swear I heard something. Must be a deer."

The footsteps were getting uncomfortably close.

"Fucking deers," The deep voice of The General was coming from above them.

Connor could only pray.

Heavenly Father, please.

Please.

"Let's go," The General barked.

The footsteps faded away, but the three of them stayed frozen for a few more minutes, just in case.

Connor tried to get Kevin to look at him. He placed his hand on Kevin's back. Kevin flinched again, but Connor didn't remove his hand this time.

Kevin finally swung his eyes up to meet Connor's. Connor purposefully inhaled deeply for Kevin to follow. It was just like the time with the Mac and Cheese, except this time Kevin was much more aware and in control. Kevin had gotten the hang of dealing with it, and Connor wondered if it was actually a good thing.

Arnold craned his neck to look beyond the log.

"Are they gone?" Connor whispered.

Arnold let out a loud exhale of relief and nodded.

"That was a close call," Connor rubbed circles on Kevin's back. His breathing was almost back to normal.

"You don't say," Arnold slumped back against the log, "Phew. That was scary. Kev, bud?"

"You okay?" Connor swept Kevin's hair away from his face.

"I-," Kevin coughed, "I'm okay," he glanced at Connor, "You promised."

"I wasn't going to," Connor pressed their foreheads together, "Gosh, Kevin."

"I'm okay," Kevin repeated.

"We're okay. Oh gosh, we're okay."

Arnold suddenly sat up rod straight, "We need to tell Mafala! He's still here! Why is he so near to the mission hut? Oh no, what if he's coming for us?!"

The image of them returning to a scene of a grisly massacre at the mission hut flashed passed Connor's mind.

No!

The other Elders had to be fine.

It was just a coincidence, after all. It had to be.

The General had probably forgotten about them altogether.

"It's too dangerous to go back to the village," Connor shook his head, "Let's just head back first," He wrapped his arm around Kevin's waist and hoisted him upright. Connor helped to brush the leaves and dirt off both their pants.

Arnold lifted himself off the ground using the log as leverage, "Do you need help, Kev?"

"I'm okay."

—

Arnold was right.

The General had come for them.

Connor's lungs burned as his feet pounded on the hard soil. Occasionally, he would stumble, or Kevin would stumble, but they never let go of each other. He didn't know where they were headed, it had been 'run or get shot'. So they had taken off into the woods they had wondered into the night of their lion encounter.

"Connor, Connor, stop," Kevin panted and started to slow down, "Stop. Hurts."

No no no, they can't stop! The General's goons were closing in on them with their guns.

"You can do it, Kev," Connor pulled on Kevin's hand, but he remained doubled over, "Kevin, please! We have to go!"

"I- I can't. Just go without me," Kevin tried to dis-entangle his fingers from Connor's.

Connor held on tighter, "You must be crazy to think that I'll ever leave you behind like that."

From the corner of his eye, Connor could see the man catching up with them.

The man raised an arm and took aim at them.

No no no nonononono.

"Connor."

No no no.

Was he dead?

"Connor, hey," Kevin's voice was coming beside his head.

Were they both dead?

"No we're not."

Connor rolled his head to the side, and came to face with Kevin, who was staring up at the ceiling.

"Right," Connor yawned.

Neither of them have a lot of wiggle room on the small bed, and Connor already couldn't feel his right leg, which was trapped under Kevin's left. As he became more awake, all Connor could hear was the loud snoring coming from Arnold's side of the room.

"Sorry I woke you up," Connor dragged a hand down his face, "Maybe I should go back to my room." Connor said without the intention of moving.

Kevin turned to look at Connor, "It's okay. I wasn't asleep. What were you dreaming about?"

"The usual. Death and destruction," Connor brought his wristwatch up to his face, "It's three thirty, Kev. Are you sure you're comfortable like this? I could go-"

"Don't," Kevin moved to lay his head on Connor's chest, "I'm good."

"Then why aren't you sleeping? You must be tired."

"Very," Kevin sighed.

Connor kissed the top of Kevin's head, "What can I do?"

There was nothing much Connor could do. All they had in the hut was a bottle of pills which Kevin refused to take. Even Connor's Chamomile tea has been finished.

"Just- do nothing," Kevin spoke into Connor's shirt.

Connor gave him a gentle massage on the head, "What's stopping you from sleeping?"

"This, for one," Kevin pointed at his sling, "It's scratchy."

"Do you want to take it off?"

"Nah, it hurts less this way."

Connor frowned, "That sounds really uncomfortable, Kevin. Are you sure you don't want to take something for it?"

"Maybe."

"I'll just go grab-"

"No no, I- It's fine. Ignore what I said. I'm too tired to think," Kevin mumbled, "I can do this."

"But you need to sleep, Kev. Just try and sleep, alright?"

"What do you think I've been trying to do for the past four hours?" Kevin groaned, "My stupid brain's not letting me go the fuck to sleep."

Connor just listened.

"Every damn time I closed my eyes. I see- I see him. And I can't breathe. I feel like-," Kevin's voice was quiet, "I feel like I'm going crazy."

"You're not going crazy," Connor wrapped his arms around Kevin, "You've just…been through a lot."

"Those two things are not mutually exclusive," Kevin pointed out.

"You're just-,"Connor wanted to say 'traumatised'.

"Tired. I'm just tired," Kevin blew out a long breath, which dissolved into sobs.

Connor suddenly had a crying Kevin Price in his arms. He wasn't sure if these mood swings were just because of sleep deprivation, or the pain, or the stress, or the undiagnosed PTSD that Kevin probably had. Maybe all of the above.

Kevin just needed to let it all out. Hopefully, he would finally be exhausted enough to sleep.

"Connor."

"I'm here."

"I want to go home," Kevin wept.

Connor's heart broke.

"Jesus, Kev."

Kevin looked up at Connor, "Fuck Jesus."

Yes. That.