DT Serum, Primary Testing In Progress

"I know," Geena said gently.  "If Tramp has any mind at all, he will soon come to realize that, too.  He's just afraid and a bit self-centered right now."

Ashton looked down and swirled the water in the glass a little. He felt hollow still.

Geena put her arm around his shoulders and pulled him in for a light kiss to his temple.  "I don't expect that to make you feel any better right now.  Nothing will, but in time."

"Okay." Ashton mumbled. He was going through the motions more than anything now, the fight having long since left.

Geena smiled tenderly.  "Trust someone who has gone through something similar more than once.  It's not good now, but give it time.  I am willing he will come back with an apology on a silver platter."

"But what if he doesn't?" Ashton asked softly. "You heard him. What if that's truly what he feels?"

"Then he doesn't deserve you, and you deserve more than his drama," Geena said firmly.  "Enough for now.  We will wait and see what happens.  For now, you need to shower and take care of those wounds on your hands and knees."

Ashton nodded and went to take a shower as Geena told him to robotically, on autopiolet.

Geena waited for Ashton to get out of the shower.  She gathered up the things she'd need to clean out his hands and the small injuries in them.

Ashton got out of the bathroom, his hair still sticking up from being wet. The shower had cleaned out the cuts pretty well, but a few tiny pebbles remained where they had stubbornly lodged themselves deep into the cuts.

Geena held out a hand.  "Come here.  Let me clean out your hands, okay?"

Ashton quietly nodded and let Geena do whatever. He was tired, and done with everything.

Geena gently cleaned out the pebbles, being as gentle as she could while getting it all out.  Lex, meanwhile, did his best hover-while-not-hovering impression.

Ashton didn't react much. Once Geena was done, he muttered a thanks and went upstairs to lie down.

Lex followed Ashton and sat on the edge of the bed.  After a bit, he stretched out next to his friend and pulled him into his usual sleeping hug.

Ashton instinctively moved closer into the comforting embrace that always made him feel safe. A few minutes later, Ashton was asleep.

Lex just sighed and hugged Ashton tighter.  That damn tramp had best keep his distance far as he was concerned.

Geena went to find Gaster.

Gaster was in his office, lost in thought and looking troubled.

Geena slipped into a chair across from Gaster.  "Are you alright?"

Gaster nodded slightly. "I just feel like Tramp leaving was my fault."

Geena raised an eyebrow.  "You did more or less read him the riot act and kick him out rather than talk about it," she said calmly.

Gaster sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "I thought I tried by informing him passively what I won't tolerate in this house, and he discarded it immediately. Thus, I tried again more firmly."

"By yelling at him before you even told him why you were yelling at him?" Geena asked gently.  "Not to mention, you knew that he has a problem, yet you gave Ashton the pills to keep at his bedside in easy access.  That hardly seems fair."

"I told Ashton to keep the pills on him, and to only give Tramp measured doses." Gaster clarified. "I imagine Ashton forgot to put them in his pocket one time."

"Ashton kept them in the nightstand as a matter of practice.  I don't think he meant any harm, he likely didn't even think of it.  Layla is a rarity in how quickly and easily she kicked her habit, and Tramp showed no real interest in kicking it in the first place, making it that much harder to resist," Geena explained gently.