The walk back to his house felt as though it took hours, when in all actuality it took perhaps ten minutes at most, if one was going at a normal walking speed. But Gale took his time this time, and it was mostly due to the fact that his mind could not seem to settle, no matter how much he tried.

"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

Am I? he thought to himself, sliding his hands into the pockets of his trousers and slowing his steps. Inside of his head, Jinhai remained silent, as though waiting for Gale to continue his thoughts. Or perhaps he was just giving him space, letting him sort through his own mess at his own pace; either way, Gale was grateful for the unexpected quiet.

He thought about Stormy, then tried not to, because even he couldn't quite decipher the jumbled mess of his feelings and not feelings and confusion when it came to her.

If this is what Marcus feels about Cass all the time, then I'm surprised he even can function, Gale thought, in mild exasperation, but he knew this wasn't quite the case. Marcus and Cass were already set in their relationship. They were married, whereas Gale was...

...not. And he had no plans to be anytime soon. In fact, he wasn't even entirely certain that whatever it was that he had for Stormy was an actual relationship. That was not a defining word, nor was it particularly applicable to them; at least, he didn't think it was, considering that all they had done was share a simple kiss - and not even that. It had been a spur of the moment gesture done on impulse because the atmosphere had been so tense, so very tense and filled with...

...what, Gale thought in frustration. He had stopped walking now, and was standing in the middle of the too-silent town, a fitful little wind kicking up around him and ruffling his hair, blonde and white strands blowing across his face. In his mind he could still see Stormy's tear stained face, see the startled look after he kissed her, the way her fingers had trembled in his.

Why did I do that?

I can't break this.

I can't let this break because I need something to hold onto.

It was different with her than it was with Bix or Candace or Marcus or even Eva. Regardless of the fact that there lay the unanswered question between them, Stormy was something solid, something he could look to to be consistent when nothing else was. It was strange, all things considered; she was closed off, holding herself distant, drawing a distinct line between herself and those around her. She was vague, she was easily distracted, she was dreamy, direct, submissive.

She was everything that was not stable, and yet she was still the most stable thing he had right now. Gale closed his eyes and tried not to let this particular thought bother him, because he could not, for the life of him, get his own thoughts to not be as confusing as they were.

His chest ached. He wondered whether she had gone to sleep, or if she was lying there awake, like he was standing here thinking and trying not to drown in the darkness that kept clawing its way up his throat. He could see Jake's face in his mind, hear the snap of his weapon breaking, see the sneer of the horseman.

If he thought hard enough, he could still hear the screams; Jake's, his own...and he could taste copper on his tongue; a hard, metallic taste of blood that would never quite dissipate, not really.

He could see Leslie, forever asleep, his sister, his twin sister, who he shared his life with, who would never awaken, who would spend the rest of her life preserved in a pod.

He could see Ben, letting go - letting go -

His head throbbed painfully, and Gale lifted a hand, absently rubbing his fingers across the gauze stretched over his forehead and around the back of his head, through his hair, to keep the bandages beneath in place. The gash to the side of his head wasn't entirely deep, but it had been bad enough to warrant a concussion, and the result of this was severe nausea and tiredness, though Gale was not really sleepy.

He wished his mind would settle.

It wasn't a bad thing, Stormy wanting time to herself to recover. He knew they both needed it, that despite the atmosphere in the Infirmary, it was neither the time, nor the place to even consider what Gale had been asking - what he had not even known he was really asking until the words had left his lips.

He wasn't sure where to go anymore.

How long have I been like this, he wondered absently, beginning to walk again, his feet moving slowly, one foot in front of the other, carrying him in the direction of his house. How long has this confusion been inside of my thoughts?

<< I'm afraid you were always a little crazy. >> Jinhai said, for the first time in several moments, and the dragon's tone was gently teasing, soft and affectionate, and Gale felt his lips quirk upwards in a very small smile.

So are you, he thought, and there was laughter in his thoughts.

<< Perhaps. >>

They walked on in silence for several more moments, and it wasn't until Gale reached the first steps of his house that Jinhai spoke again, rather abruptly.

<< You were right, you know. >>

Gale paused, his hand on the doorknob.

Right? About what?

He could almost hear the dragon's smile.

<< 'You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.' >>

The world around him was quiet, save for the smallest amount of wind that tousled his scarf and hair, slipping through the threadbare grass and making the island just a tad cooler than it normally was. The fog was still thick, and it curled around Gale like a familiar blanket. He let his hand slip from the doorknob and turned around, his back pressed against the door, facing the little town around him with its tiny houses and slowly he slid down. A small laugh escaped his throat, followed by another, and then a hiccup and a soft sob, Gale putting a bandaged hand against his mouth to muffle the sound.

<< Gale. >>

He could feel the dragon curling around him gently, and another sob made his shoulders shake a little, Gale drawing his knees up to his chest.

He felt hollow.

<< You are not empty. >> Jinhai said firmly, and Gale gave another hiccuping sob, leaning over so that his forehead was pressed against his knees and gritted his teeth, waiting for his emotions to subside, for his heart to settle back down, for his thoughts to stop being so confusing - though he knew that would never happen.

<< Gale. You are not hollow. >>

He was shaking his head, a half-laugh, half-sob making him inhale sharply.

Then what am I?

I don't know anymore.