Hunter and the Hunted (Septiplier)

~~ CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX ~~

I sat right next to him.

Right next to Jack.

He looked so fragile, so small and hurt. He looked as though if you touched him as soft as you could manage, he would crumble. He was just so... broken.

He was covered in bandage patches and splints. Both of his legs were bandaged and bared a splint each, whilst his right arm was held to him with the triangular cloth sling. He was so terribly broken.

Bruised, battered, broken, busted, beautiful...

Phil had done an excellent job though, and I was very pleased and thankful of him.

"How's you?" Dan asked sitting across from Jack on the opposite bunk.

"I'm fine... I guess..."

"You're not, but that's okay. That's understandable. I understand and so does everyone else."

"What are you getting at?" I asked, it wasn't rude, just curious.

"We can see how broken you are right now, Mark. I understand that you don't know Phil and I very well, but just let me tell you that even if you don't trust us in the slightest, we trust you. Even in this shit-storm of a life were being forced to live, we know you're not bad people. Just know that you don't have to be wary of us I guess. Also, everyone will understand if you just stay here with him... I would do the same if it were my Phil... Just... I don't know... I guess I just wanted you to know that."

He finished his little speech with a smile, and I stood abruptly, causing Dan to jump slightly. I opened my arms to him, and he questionably accepted my hug.

"Thank you..."

"For what?" He seemed confused.

I backed away from him and retook my seat next to Jack.

"For this, if it weren't for Phil, I don't know what would have happened to him. For you, saying what you said, it means a lot to me... I trust you because of this," I said pointing towards Jack, "Because of this, whether you choose to or not, you and Phil will always have a place in this group. Always."

I felt a tear fall from my eye as I loosely grabbed Jack's good hand and brushed my fingers over his knuckles.

"Thank you as well," Dan said, standing and whipping a tear from his own eye and placing a hand on my shoulder, "Phil will be ecstatic to hear that." I looked towards the black-haired man sleeping on the couch in the front, "I can't protect him by myself anymore... Everything just seems to be getting worse.. So if you don't mind, we'd like to stick around for a while."

"Not at all," I breathed smiling up at him and then back down at Jack.

"You love him, don't you..."

"With everything I have, with every ounce of what makes me, me. Yes, I love him."

I was smiling still, looking over his slightly swollen and paler than usual face.

"And you love Phil just as much."

Dan blushed and nodded his head.

"With every ounce of what makes me, me," he said expressing it with my own words, smiling and walking over to him, shaking Phil's shoulder slightly. Phil woke and smiled up at Dan, before the brunette sat down where Phil had lifted his head from, letting him lay back in his lap. He ran his hand through Phil's hair as he began to fall back asleep. Dan sending one last smile my way.

~~~@~~~

It had been twelve hours since my little talk with Dan. He did seem like a good guy, and so did Phil. I kinda hoped they would stick around for a while. I mean, they would make a great asset to the team. I'm not sure if they can fight, but Phil knows his way around a medical needle, and that's what we needed right now.