hostage | MASK OR MENACE

[This little plan of theirs is exactly what Jesse's been dreaming about ever since he started cooking here. All by himself for nearly every cook, sometimes he'd have his earphones on and he'd be working on mixing or something and he'd imagine Walt somewhere in the lab behind him or hanging over his shoulder. It took some of the loneliness away, pretending his partner was there.

So it's strange he's got a sinking feeling about this, the fantasy becoming reality. Maybe it's because he's an afterthought, now that Walt's cooked without him. Or maybe it's because he'd kind of believed they could find something good to do with their lives, instead of ending right back where they started.

Jesse busies himself with fetching the first aid kit from a cabinet. Walt might not want healing, but he still needs cleaning up.]

You're taking the bed.

[Which is not a request. He insists. When he returns to Walt's side, he immediately sets to work. Looks like someone's actually been trained as a nurse. It's not all just a powers thing.]

[ Walt doesn't put up a fuss when Jesse's pulling out the first aid kit. Jesse feels best when he's being helpful, and at least this way he's not taking the injuries onto himself. Walt offers him an appreciative smile and then winces a few times over some of the larger cuts being cleaned. ]

We can share it.

[ He teases. Everything's better if they're teasing each other, right? ]

[Jesse wrinkles his nose in response.]

Gross.

[Nevermind that the bed's a mile wider than whatever cot situation they had going on back in the Crystal Ship.]

I'll be fine. I don't really need sleep anymore, anyway. It's kinda just a habit more than anything else.

As far as habits go, not sleeping because you don't "have to" is a bad one. I wouldn't recommend getting into it.

Well, I mean, it's really boring. It's just I don't get tired anymore. Unless I'm regenerating, in which case all I wanna do is sleep but then it's a pain in the ass 'cause it goes so slow.

I'm not going to condone it. Even in spite of your power, I still think your body probably needs rest.

[ A beat. ]

But in light of the things that happened tonight, I might feel better if one of us can keep watch. Just as a precaution. I know you said it's unlikely he can get in here...

[ But Chilton is crafty. Jesse could be his next move. ]

[Jesse allows himself one moment to think of Kara. He didn't have to worry about things like this before she left him. She was always somewhere nearby, close enough to find him if he called out to her. He'd taken the comfort of that for granted.

But Jesse chose Walt, so he chose this, too.]

I can do it. I'll keep watch.

Thank you, Jesse. For everything.

[ He puts his hand on one of Jesse's as Jesse is finishing his nurse duty. ]

Everything.

[ Including the cancer. Walt's not entirely grateful about it, but because of it he knew that Jesse didn't heal him because of owed favors. He did it out of love and concern. He did it out of fierce loyalty -- the way a dog would die for its owner. He did it to manipulate Walt's hand, to keep him around. And, well, Walt can understand that sentiment -- loathe as he is to fall into his own type of tricks.

Right now, more than any time before, he needs Jesse on his side. The situation is comparable to Gus, if not a bit worse. Gus did what he did to further the business and remove a threat. Chilton did what he did just for the hell of it. ]

[Abandoning Mr. White hasn't been an idea Jesse's even entertained, not when Saul was trying to persuade him and not when Kara was, either, and not even now that Jesse knows Walt's been toying with his brain chemistry just to get information out of him. Chilton is certainly not going to be the one to scare him away. Jesse's more afraid of what they'll have to do to him than whatever he might have in store for them.

He turns his hand, clasping Walt's.]

Let's get you to bed.

[ Walt nods and then drops his arm around Jesse's shoulders for support. ]

I really could've just slept on the couch. It's no big deal.

[ Jesse's bed is probably gross anyway. Does he even wash those sheets? ]

Don't be stupid.

[It is not gross, thank you. Actually, everything is really immaculate because he has no one in his life and housework is one of his only hobbies lately. (Also having a pet wolf really requires regular washing of things to get the fur situation under control.)]

I'm not. I'm being lazy. I don't really want to move.

It's like two steps away, geezer.

What? It's been a long day.

[ But he grunts and gets up regardless. The prospect of sleeping is better than putting up a fight against it. ]

Whine more, I'll get you a walker.

[Of course, Jesse makes a pretty good substitute for one right now. He keeps his arms around Walt, shuffling along at his pace.]

Hilarious.

[ Walt rests most of his weight on Jesse. He's weak. Even with the sedative out of his system, the natural fatigue is pretty strong. ]

You think I'm kidding.

[Once they've reached the bed, Jesse lets go and makes to remove Walt's jacket for him.]

I'll tell you where you can shove your walker...

[ Walt assists by pulling his arms free, sinking onto the bed wearily. ]

[Once the jacket's off, Jesse drapes it over his arm and kneels to pull off Walt's shoes.]

All I'm hearing is more whining.

Kids these days only hear what they wanna hear.

[Jesse smacks Walt's knee in response. He arranges the shoes beside the bed before getting up to grab a gun from the nightstand drawer. He doesn't think Chilton will be stupid enough to come here, but it's a precaution. He tucks it into the waistband of his jeans.]

Need anything else?

Some water and some aspirin? If you have any, that is. If not, I'll just take a glass of your strongest alcohol.

[ Because painkillers don't really work on Jesse, so why would he bother keeping them around? ]

I gotta run all the way down to the office if you want aspirin, but...

[He ducks out of the room and returns a moment later with a bottle of whiskey and a tumbler. He sets the glass down on the nightstand and starts pouring.]

It's weird you can't use your powers on yourself for shit like that.

It would be nice.

[ But the powers are kind of reflective of them, aren't they? Jesse can take on others burdens while Walt can only push burdens onto others. ]

I've tried, though. The most I was able to do was push some of the sedative out of my system and into his. I vaguely remember that.

[ It was right before the butt of the gun hit him and then the memories got jumbled again. ]

I hope that knocked him the fuck out.

[Jesse brings the glass of whiskey over to Walt. It'll probably do the job better than aspirin, anyway.]

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