Page 188 of Should the Sky Fall

“Possibly,” Ash says, very reluctantly. “Just because the conscious part of your brain is on vacation doesn’t mean the whole thing shuts off. Kind of like when you’re sleeping.”

That’s not good enough for him. He needs to know for sure.

“I have to go.” Dawson pushes his chair back, giving Donut’s leash a gentle tug.

He has questions for Cal. And Cal had better have really good answers at the ready.

Neither Gabe nor Ash try to convince him to stay, but Gabe catches up to him when Dawson is already outside. He hands him a folded piece of paper and squeezes his hand, warmth trickling up Dawson’s arm.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know,” Gabe says. “I’m just a messenger.” With that, he disappears back to the cafe.

Steering Donut in the direction they’d come from, Dawson unfolds the paper.

Fresh tears run down his face as he reads the words.

If it isn’t happy, it’s not the end.

Chapter 32

Thethirtyminutesittakes Dawson to get home from the cafe isn’t nearly long enough to prepare a speech, and whatever he does manage to put together falls apart once he steps out of the lift on their floor. He stands in front of the apartment for what might well be hours, fiddling with the keys in his hand.

Donut’s growling whine is what finally propels him to action. It takes him four tries to unlock the door, and his stomach swoops when the familiar scent of the apartment washes over him. Cinnamon and sugar.

“Cal?”

There’s no answer, the apartment eerily quiet.

Dawson’s heart sinks. Is Cal even here? He said he’d be here when Dawson decided to come back. Has he left after all? The apartment looks meticulous, it’s hard to say if anyone’s been here in three days.

Stop catastrophizing. He might’ve just gone for a walk.

Donut’s nose twitches as he sniffs the air. He lets out a bark and starts marching on the spot, his tail swishing from side to side.

Leaving his shoes at the door, Dawson continues into the apartment, letting Donut guide him.

He finds Cal stretched out on the sofa, fast asleep. He looks exhausted and like he hasn’t shaved in days.

And he’s hugging the plushie Dawson had won him to his chest.

Willing his treacherous heart to calm down, Dawson comes closer, wanting so badly to touch him, but refraining. “Cal?”

Cal doesn’t so much as stir, but then Donut barks again, and Cal’s eyelids flutter, opening slowly.

“Dawson?” he blinks, looking around, disorientated. He scrambles up into a sitting position once his gaze falls on Dawson, suddenly wide awake. “You’re home. Or…” His whole body sags. “Am I dreaming again?” His expression is crestfallen, and how fucked up is it that Dawson’s instinct tells him to go to Cal and make him feel better?

That’s not what he’s here for. He wants answers and he’s not leaving without them.

You don’t have to leave at all.

“You’re not dreaming,” he says simply. He lets go of the leash when Donut starts towards Cal, jumping straight into his lap.

Cal lets out a choked laugh, putting the plushie aside so he has room for Donut. “Hello, little one. Hi. I missed you too.” He allows Donut to slobber all over his face, rubbing his spine.

Dawson looks away. “Have you been taking your pills?”

Cal looks like shit. If he were to have another episode when no one’s here…