"JC." Firm, making sure he had the other's full attention. "I'm not. going. anywhere." He made sure to annuciate every word pointedly, his tone serious. "Even if tomorrow I found the perfect person to be with - by the way that would mean someone who was just fine with me being a part of this, with you - I wouldn't go anywhere. You can't lose me; it's that simple."

He dug his fingers into his own messy hair. "I'm not sure how to get that through to you better. You saved my life, and you're my best friend." There was a bark of a laugh, shaking his head. "Probably the closest I'd admit to that whole soul mate thing, you know? You've got nothing to be jealous of, if that's what you're worried about. I might get distracted, whatever, but that doesn't mean I'm going anywhere."

His brows pinched and he held up a finger, frowning. "And I didn't even push you away! I didn't even know what to do when you started all that stuff this morning! Then you go and tell me you don't want me with anyone else, sounding completely pissed off about it? Yeah, I got pissed, too."