3 n 1 (Tracob)

☔️13☔️

Jacob places a pack of sliced turkey into his cart and continues moving down the aisle.

He reads over the shopping list he made at home and searches for the next item. 

It's now been a year since Troye's death, and though it was still hard at times, Jacob was growing used to living with the absence of him. 

"Excuse me?" 

Jacob's head snaps to the right at the sound of the new voice.

He pauses for a moment at the man's face quickly trying to figure out why he looked familiar.

The man had crutches but didn't seem to have anything physically wrong with himself.

"Yes?" 

"Sorry to bother you," the man begins. "You just look familiar. Are you-is your name Jacob Bixenman?" 

Confused, Jacob racks his brain for reason why he might know the dark haired guy before him.

Then it clicks.

Jacob's jaw drops slightly in realization.

He nods, "Yes, it is." 

"Hi, Josh. My name is-"  "Alex Carson." 

"Yeah," Alex smiles. "You remember me?" 

"Yes, I do. I'm surprised you remember me." 

Ale  grins wider, "It's kind of hard not to. Troye only talked about you all the time." 

Jacob grins, "Really?" 

Ale  nods, "It got kind of annoying after a while, but it was adorable, honestly. The way his face would light up at the mention of you. It was such a different side to him compared to what we saw at training." 

Jacob chuckles lightly, "Yeah, he always had the excitement of a little kid. I couldn't complain though. But...how've you been?" 

"I've been good. Yeah, I'm home now, officially, so I've gotten to spend a lot of time with my wife and daughter." 

"I didn't realize you served full time. I thought it was your first year, when I met you. That wasn't that long ago," Jacob states. 

Alex nods, "It was. I um, I got sent home actually." 

"Oh," Jacob replies quietly, not sure of what to say. 

Alex carefully leans down and pulls up his pant leg on his left leg.

In place of his leg from the knee down was a prosthetic one. 

Jacob looks down at it as Alex stands back up, "So yeah, I got sent home after the accident. Been home ever since. Still getting used to walking with it, hence the crutches, but I'm living." 

Jacob opens his mouth to say something but is cut off by a small voice. 

"Daddy!" 

Alex grins as a little girl runs up to him, he pushes his pant leg down before picking up the dark haired girl, resting his left crutch against the wall, "Hey, sweet girl. I want you to meet someone." 

Alex looks toward Jacob with a smile, "Jasey, this is Jacob. Jacob, this is my daughter Jasey." 

"Hi!" Jasey grins with a small wave. 

"Hi," Jacob responds with a smile. 

"Where's mommy?" Alex asks the little girl. 

"In that aisle. She told me to come to you while she got things." 

"Alright, we'll join her in a minute. Jacob, it was great seeing you again." 

"Yeah, you as well." 

"Hopefully I'll see you later," Alex says placing Jasey on the ground and grabbing his crutch again. 

Jacob nods in agreement as Alex turns to walk away.

"Hey, um..." 

Alex stops and turns back around with an expectant look, "Yeah?" 

Jacob pauses for a moment before sticking out his right hand, "Thank you for your service." 

Alex smiles lightly and shakes Jacob's hand, "Thank you for your support." 

Jacob watches Alex walk away. He smiles before turning back to his cart and continuing his shopping.