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[maddest]

[You rang?]

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[al_truism]

[Break is still asleep when Al arrives at the crack of dawn. He'll wake to the smell of brewing tea.]

[maddest]

[Break pads down, yawning, wrapped in a warm blanket.]

Al?

[al_truism]

Hey. Lucifer told me it was all right to wait until you woke up.

Tea?

[maddest]

All right- but what are you doing here?

[Pawing sleep out of his eyes.]

[al_truism]

I wanted to come make sure you were all right, and to talk to you about something.

[He gets together a mug of hot tea and sets it down in front of Break.]

[maddest]

[He settles down into the seat, watching him closely, picking up the tea.]

Sweet of you- but you have me worried, it's so early.

[al_truism]

I was already awake. Lucifer called me up while it was still dark.

[maddest]

Good grief.

[Glancing over his shoulder.]

Is he all right?

[al_truism]

He's fine. He wanted to ask me a few more things about the scientists, and prod at me like usual.

[Al gives him a tiny smile, meant to reassure.]

... and you disappeared for a while. I- got worried.

[maddest]

I wasn't doing so well, after the week I had.

[al_truism]

... I owe you an apology for my part in that.

[maddest]

No, I owe you one. I never really was able to do much to help you.

[al_truism]

I was too stubborn to accept help until it was too late. You can't take responsibility for that.

... I'm guessing that you were up most of the week?

[maddest]

Mmhm. Ukitake and I slogged through it.

[Muffling a cough.]

[al_truism]

[Al half-lifts a hand, eyes widening. He shouldn't still be coughing.]

[maddest]

[He recovers quickly, and sips his tea.]

It was a long one. But we kept everyone fed and watered.

[al_truism]

Did you get enough sleep?

[Stupid question. Of course not.]

[maddest]

Enough to survive.

[Except he's coughing again.]

[al_truism]

[Al gets up and gets him a napkin. That doesn't sound good at all.]

[maddest]

[It gets worse, this time, settling deep in his lungs. He spits blood into his white sleeve, and curses softly.]

Time to go back to the black and blue coats.

[al_truism]

... Break-

Come on. Back to bed with you. You can bring your tea.

[maddest]

I'm fine, I need to get moving for the day.

[al_truism]

You just coughed up blood. I can't remember the last time that happened.

[He picks up Break's mug.]

The world will function without you while you rest, I promise.

[maddest]

All the benefits of angel-healing.

[Soft laughter.]

[al_truism]

[Al doesn't laugh. Too worried. Instead he gently shoos him to his feet, back up to his room.]