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[ day five without sleep had been kind on him for the most part. research was finally going smoothly after two weeks of being locked indoors, barely allowing himself to get up for breaks that did not include making a new pot of coffee or a quick trip to the restroom. sure, the first week he went outside for said coffee--which could explain why there were so many Starbucks cups stacked on every table around the place--but now he couldn't be damned to step outside, too engrossed in his work to do much else but read and pick up his coffee mug every now and then when the compulsion hit him.

thus his surroundings are a mess, his (& caleb's) apartment littered with books ranging from medical to spiritual to supernatural-- anything and everything to cover all his bases in hopes that he'll find something that would answer all the questions their family had been asking ever since alyssa fell into a state that they could not quite discern, even with the help of their go-to doctors. this is why he's been hunched over his desk for as long as he could remember, though at current he's occupied with a bunch of files he had "borrowed" from someone he had yet to meet, but feels like he should know very well.

at this moment he's completely immersed in this new found fascinating material, finding himself both relieved yet feeling something pinch the pit of his stomach when he flips to another page of one of the hundred-something folders that is stacked on his desk. when his eyes start to blur and go unfocused he sits back in his seat, slapping his cheeks a few times to wake himself up. realizing that he's going to get nowhere without taking a break he eventually pushes himself away from the desk, moving to go to bathroom to splash some water on his face before wandering to the kitchen to grab another cup of coffee.

with the fresh cup in hand he heads back to his workspace to reposition himself in his seat, staring down at the material as his shoulders droop a little in exhaustion. nonetheless he's back to work after a split second, completely and utterly focused on that and nothing more. ]

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[ blinks once. ]

Ah?

[ lifts a hand to pat one of albert's cheeks. ]

I'll tell you when you're older.

[ smile deepens. ]

I await the day with bated breath.

[ shakes his head and stands, tapping the rim of the coffee mug he gave albert before moving away to grab that tupperware. ]

Drink your coffee before it gets cold. It's precious fuel.

[ dutifully takes a sip & raises an eyebrow down at it. ]

Is this home-brewed?

[ rummages around in one of the drawers in the kitchen for a fork, blinking over at albert when he hears his question. ]

Yeah. Why?

[ smiles around the rim of the mug. takes another sip. ]

My compliments.

[ smiles a little to himself privately, shaking his head a little bit as he steps away from the kitchen to take a seat. ]

Does this mean that I have your blessing to open up my very own coffee shop?

You do not strike as an entrepreneur-type, baby brother.

Eh, I guess you're right. I'm better at saving the world.

And how goes that endeavor?

[ gives him the thumbs-up and a grin. ]

Great, of course. As long as I'm on the case!

[ one more sip & he sets the mug aside. ]

Cooperation is always the key, baby brother. Even when trying to save the world.

[ blinks in confusion. ]

What d'you mean?

Just that you should not allow yourself to shoulder the entire burden.

... I can't help myself if it's for someone important.

[ short pause. then his eyes go to the file, slowly beginning to read again. ]

She is important to us all, Nathan.

I know, but we all have our place in this. [ hesitates with his next words, speaking slowly. ] She needs you there with her. Not me. That's why I'm here doing this.

[ stares down at the tupperware in thought and, after a long pause, he settles back into his seat in silence to begin eating slowly. ]

I am aware. I will always be there, for as long as she needs.

[ the sight of nathan eating comforts him enough so that he drops his attention & concentration to the second file. takes the same level of care he had placed in reading the first, unwilling to skim in fear of losing some vital information that may help a certain little girl at home. ]

[ continues eating quietly, pushing around the food a little when he feels like he's not hungry anymore. still, he holds onto it and keeps his thoughts to himself while slumping a little in his seat, allowing albert to take his time in reading. ]

[ ten, fifteen minutes later & he's finished. raises a hand to cover his eyes for the moment to ease away the exhaustion straining them before finally turning them back on nathan. ]

The first report was more enlightening.

[ shrugs a little. ]

I know, but I'm covering all my bases.

[ leans back into the chair. ]

A good attitude. [ pauses shortly, glancing at the pile of reports. ] Other than the illness, there has been no leads?

No, but I feel like I'm getting close to something important that'll help. [ sets the tupperware to the side before gesturing to the files slowly. ] It gets... more strange as you go along. Like there's something more to it than we thought.

And you are certain that it will be applicable? [ helpful? ]