Their bickering and needling was a background sound that was as familiar and expected as the sound the waves made on the shore. It was almost comforting in its own way…they were both alive and well if they were giving each other grief. A noisy dog household had always been a good one. Better than when things were quiet.

But they almost weren’t alive, Finn thinks absently to himself. They could have died because I hesitated.

Jake’s cuff on his shoulder stops that train of thought abruptly.

“Sure, I’m okay, man,” He props himself up on his elbows. He looks in Jermaine’s direction. “Is he gonna be okay? He sounded pretty scared.”