The moment Gabriel was in bed and pulling him close, Dal tucked in close against him. He pillowed his head on Gabriel's shoulder and draped an arm over his ribs, fingers curling into his shirt. His body was still quaking but he felt somehow numb. He breathed out one lone breath, like a sigh, and then he squeezed his eyes shut. He wanted to cry or scream or... something, but he felt nothing. Maybe it was shock. He'd never felt anything like this before he he lacked the language to name it properly.

"I don't wanna," he murmured. "I close my eyes and I just see him standin' over me.