Viktor drifts off after that, safe and content in Jayce's arms. He spends the next few days in and out of consciousness, feeling a bit better every time he awakens, then allowing himself to enjoy the intervals of painkillers. He tells himself that he made it--that he deserves all the time he wants to rest and recuperate, and that work will be there when he's ready. Having Jayce so close at hand certainly helps.

By the beginning of the second week, Viktor is awake more often than not, demanding the entertainment that they both knew he would want. To Jayce's credit, he's more than prepared to stimulate him (mentally, anyway), and they spend long hours talking and working on various projects that they sidelined while completing the Hexcore. When Viktor gets tired, Jayce reads to him. Sometimes they simply sit in bed together, enjoying each others' company. For as much as Viktor would like to be recovered and back to his normal activities, this is nice, too.

Since Viktor is feeling better, the two of them are more confident about resuming operations at the shop--he doesn't need supervision at all times, allowing Jayce to work on some of their orders, at least part time. That leaves Viktor to work on his own projects, and when Jayce returns later in the afternoon, he's sitting up in bed, scrawling in his notebook, perking up as soon as he hears the door open.

"How is everything in the workshop?"