Which obviously gives you the final say on everything, up to and including who is allowed to WORRY about supplies and logistics. Right. I’m just a big fat idiot.
[ He did kind of set himself up for that, but it still stings. There’s snot in his voice. ]
There just wasn’t — isn’t enough time, John, for me to heal up even putting - p-putting supplies aside. I couldn’t help with anything. I couldn’t DO anything.
[That, at least, gives John pause, because it's a feeling he can empathize with. He's contemplated taking himself out when he's got to the point that he's more hindrance to people than help, physically speaking. But he'd never gone through with it. Maybe that's part of what makes him so angry here.]
You couldn't have helped with anything if you hadn't come back, either, Rhys. The Admin keeps cutting back on medical resources. I didn't- If you'd died on your own and didn't come back, that'd be one thing, but having someone kill you and then you not coming back... the revival system isn't a cure-all. Most people don't come back. I wish. God I wish you and everyone else would stop talking about it like it is one.
No. I couldn’t. Damned if I did and damned if I didn’t, b-because I know I was hurt bad enough where I couldn’t reasonably expect to be on my two feet before... before whatever happens at the end of all this. With the way I did it, there was a chance.
It. Wasn’t easy. I didn’t - [ He looks around for Beckett, or anyone else who could be listening. ] I didn’t WANT to die, not really. It doesn’t stop being scary no matter how many times this hellhole puts you through it.
I've had to watch too many of my friends kill themselves, Rhys. It hurts. Any time it happens it hurts. And maybe it's not fair to blame you, but I can't-
A good friend knows when his doctor-soldier pal is struggling his way into self-destruction. Especially when he basically straight-up said it a second ago.
[ He knows a little something about self-destruction. ]
You're not a machine, dude. But you just might break down like one.
I'm not about to throw my life away again, and even if I was apparently you'd be there, turning off your emotions and just. Dealing. Because whatever, right?
[There's a quiet sigh of frustration on John's side. He's already bent so far in so many ways, compromised his moral principles to defend people like Alfie or Royce or Bucky. He's tried to maintain his ethics with regard to medicine, at least.]
That's not what I'm saying, Rhys. It's not... your life matters to me. It's not 'whatever.'
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
[This is what it's like to be on John's bad side. There are some who would label him something of a dick...]
no subject
There just wasn’t — isn’t enough time, John, for me to heal up even putting - p-putting supplies aside. I couldn’t help with anything. I couldn’t DO anything.
cw: suicidal ideation
You couldn't have helped with anything if you hadn't come back, either, Rhys. The Admin keeps cutting back on medical resources. I didn't- If you'd died on your own and didn't come back, that'd be one thing, but having someone kill you and then you not coming back... the revival system isn't a cure-all. Most people don't come back. I wish. God I wish you and everyone else would stop talking about it like it is one.
cw: suicidal ideation
It. Wasn’t easy. I didn’t - [ He looks around for Beckett, or anyone else who could be listening. ] I didn’t WANT to die, not really. It doesn’t stop being scary no matter how many times this hellhole puts you through it.
I didn’t want to hurt you either. Nobody won.
cw: suicidal ideation
I can't do this anymore. I just can't.
cw: suicidal ideation
But. You still wanna be our doctor.
[ Which, as far as he can see, sticks John squarely in the potential death door of many. ]
I don’t think detaching is gonna work for you, John. Not here, not when you already care and push yourself so hard for everyone.
cw: suicidal ideation
A good doctor and soldier knows how to separate out emotion when there's a job to do.
Re: cw: suicidal ideation
[ He knows a little something about self-destruction. ]
You're not a machine, dude. But you just might break down like one.
cw: suicidal ideation
I dunno what to do, Rhys. I don't feel like I can trust you or Beckett right now. I'm not sure what it'll take to change that.
cw: suicidal ideation
Whatever.
cw: suicidal ideation
That's not what I'm saying, Rhys. It's not... your life matters to me. It's not 'whatever.'