Pain. Dalton can barely move, his entire body feeling like it's on fire from the tips of his fingers to the top of his toes. He groans and tries to look up, spot where his Boys are, but he can barely find the strength to lift his head even a few inches, much less look around. He can hear fighting behind him, but he's not sure who or what might be the cause of it. His fingers clench, digging through dirt, and he exhales shakily, feeling something ghost against his shoulders.

"Dalton," Brent's voice startles him out of his fugue.

"Dalton, we're here," Brandon says. "Mox and the others arrived, we're going to be ok." The brothers work together to help him sit up and Dalton exhales shakily, forcing his eyes open in time to see Plesiomon blast water through the massive digimon opposite him, killing his fire attack easily. "That digimon apparently is Chimaeramon," Brandon explains, noticing Dalton tracking the battle.

"Mox, Bill, and Malakai arrived and were able to distract him before he could attack us again," Brent continues. "It... it was close though." He's careful where he touches Dalton, fingers light and gentle against his shoulderblades. "We should get out of here."

Dalton groans, gritting his teeth as the Boys get on either side of him, pulling him up and away from the battle. "Thank you," he says, breathless from pain. They squeeze him gently and lead him even further away, Poromon hanging gingerly from the top of his head.

"Mox has this," Brandon says. "You protected us, let us protect you now."

It's never easy leaning on his Boys, he's supposed to take care of them, but right now, all of his nerve endings feel like they're on fire, so he nods and allows them to guide him the rest of the way.

"We'll get you to Luke's as soon as we can, he'll be able to help," Brent says, picking gingerly at the singed fabric tattered around his shoulders. "Do you think you can hold on that long?"

"Don't have much choice," Dalton breathes out, squeezing the Boys' hands. "I'll be ok. As long as you both stay with me."

"We're not going anywhere," Brandon promises him, leaning in to rest his forehead against Dalton's.

"Never," Brent agrees, leaning against him on the other side. "You're stuck with us."

Dalton chuckles and exhales slowly, their presence somehow helping him to forget just how much pain he's in. "Sounds perfect, my Boys."