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[thewarningafter]

@beyonce

You've reached Dr. Stephen Strange. Leave a message and my secretary will get back to you.

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[thewarningafter]

[Stephen can add his months of avoiding video to his growing list of regrets. It feels good, somehow, to be seen as well as to see, even if his own face is gaunt and sunken under the scraggly beard.]

You were right. There wasn't any point in us coming up here. I, uh...I will point out that none of us died, though.

[For all the good that does them. Stephen blows out a shaky breath; looks away a moment. A less good thing about being seen: it's excruciatingly obvious that he's holding back tears.]

Listen, I...we're going to try to come back to the bunker. But a week isn't....

[Isn't long enough, given how long it's taken them to gather here.]

[termineur]

I know.

[ It's not enough time. ]

Just...try your best. If your there with each other, at least you'll have that.

[ Nobody has to die alone. ]

[thewarningafter]

[Stephen nods convulsively.]

We're staying together. No delays, we're not--we're not doing anything more here.

[Not pitching the anomalies into the inferno like John had suggested.]

It'll be a big group; there's no way around that now. But we'll be together.

[termineur]

Good. You can help each other out, if the pace is too hard on anyone. And yeah, you can go through the tunnels during the night.

[ It's still not enough, but Gabriel is the king of last-minute saves, and he suspects a lot of the other 'residents' here are, as well. ]

I- er. Could you stick close to Rhys while you're traveling? He says he's fine a lot, but he- it'd be better for him.

[ With how pale he's gotten, it's easy to tell he's blushing a little. And clearly worried. Rhys will try to take care of everyone else, even while he's imploding. ]

You can tell him I asked, if it helps.

[thewarningafter]

[Stephen's brows knit together.]

Yeah. I can...do that? I'm not exactly his favorite person, though.

[Is Gabriel...blushing...??]

[termineur]

[ Stephen doesn't seem too enthusiastic, but he has agreed. ]

Thanks. But what happened? You two not see eye-to-eye while talking magic or something?

[thewarningafter]

More like we didn't see eye to eye on his medical qualifications.

Or lack thereof.

[termineur]

Ah.

Yeah, you're both kind of sensitive about that. [ Probably a little harsh, but it's the truth as far as Gabriel sees it. ] But it doesn't matter now, does it? Not really.

[ He's quiet for a moment before he continues. He's not sure how to approach this. But if ever there was a time to bring it up, it's now. He doesn't look at the camera as he speaks. ]

Rhys and I, we're close. Obviously not right now, but- we've been holding each other up. We understand each other. And I can't be there for him, and it's kind of ripping me up inside.

[thewarningafter]

[It kind of does matter, Gabriel; Stephen is a neurosurgeon and Rhys is...very much not. He doesn't say it out loud, but the look on Stephen's face no doubt speaks volumes.

His expression unfolds into something like disbelief. A flash of jealousy, maybe, before it finally shifts into understanding.]

You never told me.

[termineur]

[ Gabriel narrows his eyes slightly, but doesn't comment on the look Stephen's giving him. He'd rather not have that sort of thing out. It's not worth it.

He instead gives Stephen some time to react to all of that, and then stares down at his hands. ]

I never told anyone. I'm still not sure what there is to tell. He's not fully human, not usually. And I was helping him understand that, and he was helping me figure my own self out. But I-

[ Tears start to gloss over his eyes. He doesn't let them fall. ]

I don't know when it happened, but it's more than that now. Too late to really analyze it, honestly. I just- don't want either of you to have to be alone, right now.

[thewarningafter]

We won't be.

[However he feels about Rhys--however confused his feelings about Rhys at this point--he can do this for Gabriel. Let him die, let them all die knowing that at least they weren't alone.]

I'll...look after him.

[Whatever that means. However welcome or unwelcome it is.]

[termineur]

Thank you.

[ It doesn't feel like enough, to say that, but it's what he's got. Ever since Hiro had him do that favor and compensated him by informing him he dies alone, unmourned, it's been stuck in his mind. He hadn't believed it at first- now, he's just happy he might beat the prophecy.

Especially now that he can't stand thinking about the same thing happening to his friends. ]

...I should get back in there, bang my head against some doors, see if there's anything we missed. But I... [ It almost feels like a last goodbye, leaving it at this. ] If you could use the distraction, we could talk while you walk. I always love hearing about your world's magic.

[thewarningafter]

I always love talking about it.

[Himself. He likes talking about himself. And maybe now there'll be someone to remember him.]

I'll call you again when we're on the move. I can even let Rhys listen in.

[termineur]

Yeah.

[ His smile is genuine, even if he looks about halfway to crying. It's better than he'd been at the start of the call. The emotions are still here, at least. ]

I'd like that. I'll talk to you later, Stephen. Safe travels.

[ And with that, he reluctantly hangs up. ]