"That's... rough, Nick. I'm sorry."
And Jack would offer taking over sometimes, but when Shane gets really bad like that, he really only ever settles for his mother. Jack understands why, sure, but it doesn't make him feel any less like he ought to be helping out more.
Especially with his date of deployment so close.
Brushing his nose atop Nick's head, Jack nuzzles him in the hopes it soothes the omega, even if only a little. "Is it just something he's got to get used to?"
As intended, the nuzzling serves to calm Nick almost immediately just as much as it reminds him that he needs to savor these moments while he has them. He never wanted it to happen, but he's found Jack's become a bit of a crutch for him. Even if he can't help with Shane because he only wants Nick, he helps Nick calm down when he's feeling overwhelmed.
Even more so, he doesn't want to tell Jack just how much he's grown accustomed to his presence. Nick knows adding that to everything else Jack's dealing with isn't fair.
A slow line of air leaks through his nostrils as he nods and cuddles in more deeply into Jack.
"Yeah," he sighs. "Yeah, I think so."














