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[atypical_echo]

What it says on the Tin

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[heydrb]

Okay... no, it's fine, Mark– you don't have to. Especially not with me.

[He sighs softly.] I'm not nearly religious enough for all that, man... I don't... that's not what this is. It's- I'm...

[The sound that escapes him just then is half a breath, half a nervous chuckle. Mmm. Nope. No. He is not saying that. It wouldn't help, and it wouldn't solve anything, and Mark wouldn't believe it anyway.]

It's... I-I don't know how to explain it.

[Not... without laying something at his feet that Mark doesn't need. Now. Maybe ever.]

[atypical_echo]

I really wish you did. Because I feel like if I knew what you were feeling, I could better understand what the fuck I'm supposed to do to help.

[And hte answer, he knows, is that he can't.]

[heydrb]

You...don't have to do anything. It's- it's nothing you can fix. It's not on you to fix it, even if you could, Mark, I get that now... [He huffs softly.]

Too little, too late... story of my fuckin' life. [He mutters and sniffs and his voice is tighter, a little shaky, with his next words.]

I uhm... Fuck, I feel like I'm drowning. [He clears his throat, but it does nothing for the emotion still sitting thick on his tongue.] God- you don't need this, I-I should go before I say something really fucking stupid...

[atypical_echo]

I'm sure your therapist would say that honesty is an important part of communication.

[Damn but this has been a lot to deal with, for them both. And yet... This voice. He... cares about it.]

[heydrb]

I can't... [He whispers, dragging a hand across his face.] Mark, I can't lay this at your feet... it's not your problem. I'm- I'm not your problem.

[atypical_echo]

Except you are, man. You really, really are. And that's something we both have to acknowledge.

[heydrb]

A vice you need to quit, right?

[He hates how soft his voice is with that question, but it fucking hurts. Everything fucking hurts.]

[atypical_echo]

[Yes. Yes. But...]

Coffee's a vice too.

[heydrb]

[He can't stop the laugh that practically startles out of him.] We both know I'm worse for you than coffee...

[atypical_echo]

Yeah, probably. Don't have to laugh so hard about it.

[heydrb]

I'm not... I really just didn't expect that.

[atypical_echo]

[Yeah, neither did Mark. He sighs and wants to rub at his temples. Can't, has the phone.]

Fine, see yourself as alcoholism. Guess I'm double down for that.

[heydrb]

No, no... I like coffee better. I don't even like booze, man...

[atypical_echo]

Yeah, I sorta fell into it, hard, after I got us back to Boston. It's been an issue.

[Clearly if he had a sober buddy and got on Damien about drinking.]

[heydrb]

You know, that offer of yours about the sober buddy thing? Two-way street, man. I'll talk your ear off about whatever you want if you need a distraction or something sometime.

[atypical_echo]

Pretty sure I called you that one time for exactly that purpose. Besides, what am I supposed to do, complain that Sam's dating someone now?

[heydrb]

Wha- I don't know. If that's what you wanna talk about...? [What the fuck? When had that happened?]

[atypical_echo]

[Oh not that long ago at all.]

I don't know what I want to talk about, Damien. But everything's been bad since I came back to Boston and Agent Green died and Joan took over at the AM, and Sam's dating another AM employee and Joan's maybe dating another AM employee and what the fuck am I supposed to do with all of this?

[heydrb]

Shit... [That's... a lot.] Wait– [He shakes his head.] Dr. B's dating someone?

[Record. Scratch. Halt. W H A T?]

[atypical_echo]

I mean, not officially. The whole grieving over Owen dying trying to save her life has slowed things down. But yeah. With an atypical with super speed. He helped save all of our lives then.

[heydrb]

Jesus, Mark... You need to take time to fucking breathe. Get out of Boston for a weekend or something.

[He pauses and sighs a little– ]

I didn't mean– that's not...an invitation or anything...

[Unless...?]

[atypical_echo]

[Yeah, podunk Colorado is a VERY serious distance to go for a weekend.]

Where would I even go? I fucking blew my job. I can't go see my parents. I can't...

Fuck, I just don't know what to do anymore.

[heydrb]

I don't know. Anywhere–

New York. Virginia. Wherever you want.

[Here.
He won't say it, but his entire body screams at him to.]

[atypical_echo]

Well I can't go out of country easily. And if I leave, who is there to keep Alex company?

[heydrb]

Take him with you.