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the house is fine. my room?

sure. on my way.

[ The portals make it easy to get to the house, heading up to her bedroom quickly and he taps on the door. He's trying his best to look steady though he's got it all on loop in his head, everything he's heard. ]

( she's quick to jump up to the door, three dogs inside following after. as she opens, they rush the bedroom door to greet Caleb. ) Ey. Give him space. ( Anna snaps her fingers and points to the bed for the dogs, though the young Cerberus still jumps around. )

Sorry. They're just always happy to see you.

[ It makes Caleb smile despite everything, rubbing at their ears. It's actually comforting and he scritches Cerberus again. ]

It's okay. I'm glad to see them too. [ He straightens, trying to keep the smile but it doesn't really work. ] Are you okay? I mean... given everything, are you okay?

( it makes Anna smile to see Caleb smile, even a little, but she pats the bed next to her to invite Caleb to sit with her.

she sighs heavily, nods her head. ) A bit emotionally spent. What about you?

[ There's no hesitation as he comes to sit beside her, sliding his arm around her shoulders and giving a squeeze. ]

The same. I keep feeling like there's something I should be doing and don't know what.

( she easily melts against his side as he climbs up next to her, resting her head on his shoulder. ) All we can do is be there for Nate.

( she bites her lip before she asks. ) Did you know about his empathy bond with Nick?

[ His hold tightens a bit, keeping her close. He needs it in that moment, and he can't resist the comfort that comes from it. ]

And for Nick when he comes back. From what I've heard he won't remember any of this at first.

[ He doesn't answer right away, thoughts flickering through his head that he pushes down and away before shaking his head. ]

No, I don't think I've heard anything about that.

( she nods her head. ) Stephen called me.

He's worried about Nate. And I am too.

( she looks up at Caleb now, all the worry writ in her eyes. ) He loves us all so much. Sometimes too much. And I'm worried he's stretching himself too thin.

I can't blame either of you for worrying. I know I have been. With a lot of things.

[ It's like swallowing acid though, his brow furrowing. Because he can imagine what the right thing to do might seem, what others might think the right thing to do. ]

I can't blame you for that. What are you thinking?

I don't know. ( she confesses before burrowing herself against Caleb's chest further. ) I would say let's talk to him, but last time I tried to tell him I was worried about what he was doing he nearly shut me out entirely.

[ He shifts to turn a bit closer to her so he could wrap both arms around her, keeping her close. ]

Yeah, I've felt that a few times when I've tried to talk to him before. I would say this though, I think he needs us. All of us.

[ He presses a soft kiss to the top of her head. ] I've seen how hard it hits him when he losses someone.

( she takes a deep breath of Caleb's warmth mingled with his scent. it's so centering for her. )

Oh I'd never leave him. I don't intend to confront him about this either.

I just... ( what does she want... what can they even do? ) I just want to make sure we're all taking care of him.

He needs us. Not just now, but always. And he'll hurt himself to keep us. We can't let that continue to happen.

I never though you would, Anna. Not in the least.

[ No would Stephen, he thinks. Just from the short times they've spoken.

He tries not to tense, worrying he's done something he shouldn't have. ]

I've been doing my best to be there for him. Do you... have I done something wrong, Anna? If I have, please tell me.

[ He loves Nate with all his heart, and he has for longer than he can remember now. It feels like since the moment he came to this place. ]

All I want is the best for Nate, and for you and Stephen, for those that work at the theatre and are part of that family.

Oh, Caleb. ( Anna says softly, her attentions turning fully to Caleb now. she looks up at him with concern in her eyes, reaching up to stroke his cheek. )

You're so good to him. To all of us. Better even than me for him. You haven't done anything wrong.

I'm sorry if I made you think that. I'm only telling you this so you know what we're dealing with with Nate and Nick. Not because I thought you weren't doing enough.

[ He sighs softly, leaning into that touch. He doesn't try and hide the brightness of his eyes, the concern for Nate, for all of them. ]

I just wanted to make sure. Because I sometimes don't know what to do for him but to be there. It never feels like enough.

[ He doesn't often admit these things but he feels right now that they all need to be open. For Nate's sake, and their own.

His hand covers hers, moving it to the side slightly, pressing a soft kiss to the center of her palm. ]

I just always want to do everything I can for you guys. I want to do what I can to help him. Ever since last year... I know things have been rough for him.

[ He remembers being there for him that night he had gotten so wasted in the theatre, how things were after Nick Scratch had vanished. ]

I just don't know what to do.

( she closes her eyes when he kisses her palm, sighing softly before she rests her palm in his cheek.

she doesn't need to reach out with her empathy to see how deeply it touches Caleb, honestly. )

I wish I had an answer. But all we can do is keep encouraging him to do healthier and be there for him when he struggles.

You're doing amazingly. Don't doubt yourself.

[ The soft touches, the warmth of having Anna there, it's all things that he needs. He wouldn't have reached out, not while Nate is dealing with all he is, but he realizes in that moment he truly needs it more than he had realized. ]

We don't know how long Nick will be gone. [ He can't think about what happens if he doesn't come back. ] Has anyone checked with who he's contacted to? Make sure he's showing as still contracted? I mean, just to make sure?

I haven't asked, but I'll look into it. ( she can feel some kind of tension in Caleb releasing, and she can't help but feel glad she could be there for him, too. just as she knows she can depend on him. )

Did you know Nick that well?

[ As with other things, Caleb has just known that he has to try and be strong, to do what he can for those he cares about. He's still adjusting to feel he has others here for him because he hadn't known it. Not in the ways he has here. ]

I just... I want to make sure he's expected to come back. [ He shrugs slightly, waggling his hand back and forth. ] We're friends. We use each other to help us test things and all. I've been at the theatre since his first day.

( she nods her head firmly. ) I'll make sure we keep checking that he comes back.

I don't want you guys to lose anyone else.

Those that I've known that died they were only gone a few days, but I just don't trust this place. Just because of how it's been before, I don't know now.

[ He can't stand to even think about Nick not coming back. Not just for Nate, but especially for Nate. ]

When he comes back, you should get to know him. He would adore you.

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