"Give me...a little time to work up t-to it."

It still felt like a tremendous effort to say anything at all, but damned if he wouldn't try. He'd push himself as hard as he had to, in order to get everything back the way it had been.

And God, seeing the tears well up in Tucker's eyes...

"Shh." His hand moved along the back of his head, down to rest against his shoulders and hold him tight. "Hey. We're...gonna be alright. It's okay..."