[MountSweetMeat] Darren tries, reeeeally tries to take Marco with him. Unfortunately the variant isn't quite lucid enough to recognize him at all times and just isn't capable of following into vents or especially narrow spaces when things get dangerous. In the end, Darren convinces him to stay hiding between the shelving of the old Filing Hell room and leaves alone with the hope that bringing back help will find Marco alive.
It was hard. Darren wasn’t the kind of guy that gave up easily or liked to accept the idea that there might not be a way to save everyone.
To have his cake and eat it too.
“No, baby,” he whispered, pushing Marco back down as the variant tried to get up from their most recent rest, ready to struggle along behind Darren for a few more hours. The therapist’s voice was rough, tears standing in his eyes because he understood now – this wouldn’t work.
No, Marco was not going to make it out with him. Not travelling the way Darren had to, not until they could get more help. So Darren needed to do the right thing and go get that help.
Kneeling with a wince, he pushed errant hairs behind the heavier man’s ear, looking into those confused eyes. Mark was red faced, sweaty, and still breathing heavily after a five minute rest. Dragging him onward was worse than what he was doing now, he had to tell himself that. Had to believe it.
“You hide down here, okay,” he waited a moment, until the other man almost grudgingly nodded. “I’ll be back with help as soon as I can.”