Afterglow • Gideon Emery

16

Gideon took a early run at the training area with Joker that morning since Jack still seemed to be M.I.A. Chloe slept peacefully on the couch and she seemed safe enough for him to go and take a breather and a nice workout. The training area wasn't far from the apartments, just a couple minuet jog too and from. 

During the workout something felt off on Gideons end. He wasn't pumped to work out like he used too, he's filled with many thoughts and worries. He's worried for his friend, Jack, and his wife hurt and sleeping at home.

He couldn't keep his head cleared out while with Joker, and Joker could see this as he wasn't saying much to him. Joker stood beside Gideon while he was lifting heavy weights building up his arm muscles.

"Hey! Boss! What's up with you man, talk to me!"

".....hm?" Gideon escaped from his head back into reality, he seen Joker look at him with great concern. "Oh sorry..."

".....that's all you had to say???"

"Listen, I'm worried about Chloe"

"Why Buddy?" Joker asked concerned again, he grabbed the handle to the heavy weights for his boss and he set it down so Gideon could sit up and drink water.

"Mother- because she's in pain, she's pregnant, AND she's been sorta depressed lately cause she's been worrying about Hannah and Mitchell"

"That's  just hormonal girl issues. She'll get over it" Joker easily shrugged it off, Gideon sighed shaking his head. He wasn't surprised by Jokers lack of heart. 

"You have the emotional range of a teaspoon"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Forget it" he shrugged it off and went back to working out. This time he went over to a hanging bean bag. Putting on boxing gloves he spent the next ten minuets punching the bag, mentally thinking it's Joker. While Joker is lifting weights beside him.  Gideon is just constantly thinking about Chloe during his workout. He gets a call from Chloe suddenly and when he picked up she tells him she wants him home. He goes home right away and Joker follows him because he's a concerned friend and he wanted to know what was wrong.

Once he got home he walked into the living room to see Chloe is sitting up on the couch facing her coffee table where her chess set is placed for a new game. He noticed Dempsey is sitting on the other side with the black chess pieces. Dempsey sat y'all looking at Chloe with his tongue out shaking his tail happily to be here. Chloe just looked angry at him with her arms crossed "are you going to take your turn or what?" She casually and annoyedly asks her dog, this confused Gideon. But it would be best if he didn't ask anything about it.

"Bear?" Gideon then says walking over to the couch, he sat down next to his wife and wraps his arm around her waist and pulled her in. "What's the matter?"

"I feel lonely" Chloe responds, Gideons only been gone for an hour but for her it felt like years. Looking down at her he kissed her hair and lightly strokes her ends. Just wanting to be comforting for her and their little one. "That's all..."

Gideon let out a quiet sigh and he says softly "Bear, I know how worried you are, but please do not forget you're pregnant and the stress you're putting on yourself is not good for the baby."

"I know. I'm worried about Jack and Hannah obviously, but that's not why I wanted you here.." This caught Gideons attention and she knew it did, as a new dad and husband Gideon was curious and concerned at the same time. With the way Chloe said that it could mean anything.

Chloe was quiet for a while, she was fighting her tears through a straight face she couldn't hold forever. She was in a war with her mind while she felt Gideon stroking her arm. The silence was too painful for her to comprehend and because of that she breaks her sentence and starts crying with her hands over her eyes. Now Gideon is very nervous.