Dialing..."Jake <3"

[Morgan Tonaya]

Morgan had been chewing the side of his thumb all day in worry. After speaking to James about Jake’s shirt he felt a lot better about whatever he was feeling for the other man…but that also meant he was feeling a lot more worried about him. Morgan had known about the mental attack, but had no idea the power with which it was executed. All he wanted to do was make sure his friend…more-than-friend…WHATEVER….was okay. He snatched up his phone and dialed the number with the “<3”

It rang all too slowly for the blond, whose bare toes wiggled in the carpet of his living room, fingers worrying in the fabric of Jake’s shirt.

“Pick it up Jake…Pick it up…”

[Jacob Lawrence]

Earlier, Jake had decided to take Ein out for an afternoon jog. The dog had been overflowing with energy and Jake needed the exercise, so it was a good idea all around. It was just as he was returning from his run, stepping into the house and making a break for the kitchen and another bottle of water, when he heard his phone go off from inside his pocket.

Withdrawing it, he glanced at the name and he quickly smiled. Morgan. He didn't waste anymore time before answering.

"Hey. Miss me yet?"

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[Morgan Tonaya]

“Jake! Oh my god.” He blurted out, relief easily apparent in his voice. “I’m so glad to hear your voice.” He added, laying his hand over his heart and closing his eyes, letting out a soft breath.

“There was--…I’m not sure I’m supposed to tell you this…---Someone got attacked at the Institute.” He said, looking over his shoulder as if someone might be listening while he moved to the couch. “It was a meta-human attack. A mental attack.” Morgan explained, his words slightly rushed with his nerves.

[Jacob Lawrence]

"I'll take that as a yes." He said, rather lightheartedly, even though he could tell Morgan wasn't calling just for an idle chat.

Yes, Jake had known about Gabe's plan. He knew what Gabe had been after, but now he was just hoping that Morgan did not get involved. "Are you okay?"

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[Morgan Tonaya]

Morgan snorted. Clearly Jake wasn't understanding the gravity of the situation. "I'm fine. I'm fine. A recruiter was attacked, but there's no saying this isn't just the first in a string." He pointed out, chewing his lip slightly.

"I'm just worried this person can find Metas...some how. I don't know." He murmured. "I just..wanted to check on you." He added sheepishly.

[Jacob Lawrence]

Jake leaned against the counter as Morgan continued, gripping his phone tighter than necessary. "If that's the case, I want you to be extra careful, alright?"

It wasn't like Jake could just go up to Gabriel and tell him to leave Morgan alone and he certainly couldn't tell Morgan to look out for Gabe. "You don't have to worry about me, Morgan."

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[Morgan Tonaya]

His heart warmed at Jake's instructions, a welcome show of affection from Jake in the wake of Morgan's twisting fear. "I will...but I have the school for security. There's already people on watch...researchers are studying the aftermath." There was a steady determination in Morgan's voice as he spoke "We're going to get him...or her I guess."

He huffed in frustration. "But that doesn't mean I don't still worry about you Jake." His throat tightened, but the next words managed to escape his throat anyway. "I really care about you. I don't want to know what its like to see you hurt."

[Jacob Lawrence]

Jake felt his heart drop as Morgan vowed that they would catch the culprit. The chances of Gabe getting caught were remarkably slim, Jake knew, but god he didn't want Morgan hurt. "Just... try not to get involved. Don't make yourself a target, okay?" It was getting harder to be vague and harder to pretend like he didn't know what was going on.

But he couldn't stop a smile when Morgan said he cared about him. "I'll be fine. It's probably Hammel they're after. You need to look out for yourself, especially when I'm not there to do it for you." He relaxed a little. "Besides, we've still got Hawaii to visit and I need you in one piece for that." He smiled faintly, hoping that perhaps the joke would settle Morgan down.

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[Morgan Tonaya]

Frowning, Morgan picked at a stray string on his couch cushions. "Jake I have to protect the school. The kids..." Morgan shuddered, curling his knees up to his chest. "I don't know what I would do if this freak came after the kids." He murmured.

Freak. Morgan rarely used that word, having heard it used to describe his own person more than once. But whoever was doing this was definitely a freak. Who on earth ever attacked a school?

Jake did manage to lighten the mood however, as Morgan laughed at the thought of Hawaii. "Oh yeah. Gotta get my hula skirt ready." He joked.

[Jacob Lawrence]

Jake sighed and tapped his fingers on the counter top. Of course Morgan would want to defend the place he worked and the children that he taught. He wished it would never come to that. "I know. Just... please be cautious. I don't want anything bad to happen to you."

There was a knot in his stomach that wasn't going away, even as Morgan joked about the hula skirt.

"Don't forget the coconut bra." This was more like it. He liked being able to hear the smile in Morgan's voice. "It'll be okay, Morgan. I'm sure things will turn out right."

It wasn't Morgan he was trying to convince anymore.

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[Morgan Tonaya]

"Yeah...I guess you're right." Morgan acquiesced, the nervous tension leaving his muscles. Jake was always so sure of everything, and Morgan wanted everything to be right again so badly that he didn't mind go along with it.

Twisting some of his hair around his finger, Morgan leaned his phone against his ear. "I should probably go dig up that coconut bra...just in case we decide to run away sometime soon." He said with a little laugh. "Let's do dinner sometime soon, yeah?" He inquired shyly, hoping that some time out would make things seem more normal.

[Jacob Lawrence]

"I like sooner rather than later." He was smiling too, the thought of a place to escape to with Morgan was a rather enjoyable one. Especially some place that was far from here and, most importantly, far from Gabriel.

"How about this weekend?" He smiled even more as Ein rested his chin on his thigh. Running a hand over the dog's head, he added, "Somewhere out of town."

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[Morgan Tonaya]

Morgan blinked at looked over at his calendar. The weekend was wide open...and a little day trip might be nice. "My mom knows a place about two hours outside of Pilot Ridge.I'll call and ask her for the name...We can take a field trip." He said softly, letting out a contented sigh.

"I'll call you about it once I know more." He said, trailing off as if he were going to hang up. Before he did, he added "I'm really glad you're okay Jake." before saying his goodbyes and hanging up.

When the phone call had ended, Morgan just sat staring at his phone for a moment and smiling. Jake was okay. Things would be okay.

[Jacob Lawrence]

"That sounds great. I can't wait." And he really couldn't. A day out with Morgan would clear his mind. For that day, he could pretend like there was nothing wrong.

"I'm glad you're okay too, Morgan." It was nice to know that Morgan had cared enough to call him and cared enough to worry for him. It reassured him that the last night they'd had together hadn't been just some drunken fluke.

After he hung up, he buried his face in his hands and took a deep breath. He had to make sure things turned out okay, he had to for Morgan's sake.

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