In the alternate timeline, right after Vander and Silco reconcil there is a brief period before they get back together. During that period, they are awkward, understandably, but are slowly working towards “something”. Only there is a rough patch when Vander witnesses Silco’s PTSD for the first time. The two of them stare at each other, afterwards, bathed in silence with only their children as audience. Silco is breathing heavily calming himself while Vander looks like if he was physically struck. The larger man starts to back away and that’s when Silco realizes what happened. He tries to placate Vander but the moment he moves forward , it breaks whatever spell they were under. Vander’s ripping out the door in a flash which leaves Silco to pick up the pieces. He makes sure that the children are okay, obviously dodging any questions from Powder. Silco waits the whole day…panics the whole day…for Vander. He worries that he ruined everything. The other man comes home at midnight when their children are tucked in bed, battered and bruised. Silco stands in the middle of the room, knowing that Vander had went out fighting, exerting himself in the ring. It was a coping mechanism that his partner had picked up years ago and he feels guilt again that he drove Vander back to it. Silco watches as the larger man walks closer to him until he crumbles to the floor a few inches away. That’s when Vander breaks. Large sobs and a desperation tinged to his voice as he apologizes for what he did. Silco could do nothing else but crumble besides him, wrapping his arms around Vander. He doesn’t cry…but he does plead.. he pleads that Vander never ever leave him like that again. A strong embrace is all Silco gets in return.
