"You need some real rest," John continues when the other man doesn't really say anything. He can appreciate the silence, but he'll fill it with soothing words just now. "As real as it can get. I need to check on the others who're in hospital, but I'll get you set up at the pharmacy. We can fetch you coming back north if you aren't already out and away by then. I'll leave you with most of the food I've got left. That water maze ruined a good bit of it, but we'll make do. They should tide you over until you can reach Tifa and Duster.

"If we can move, they can move. Reckon they're on their way already." John falls into silence after this outpouring of reassurance and just walks, propping Alfie up when he needs it and staying close otherwise. The 'I'm not sorry I pulled a knife on you' bit of their last conversation is still in his head, but it's something distantly there. While Alfie's sick and physically weak, though, John doesn't expect he'll be foolish enough to try anything.

They make the pharmacy a little while later. It is quite close, and it appears to be clean when they step in. John moves to prop Alfie up against one of the walls and pulls out a few tins of beans for him before taking his water bottle to the sink for refilling.