Caleb has always been extremely protective of you. From your time at EVER, to school, even when you became an adult and lived on your own, he was always checking in on you, making sure you took care of yourself.

To be honest, he kind of saw you as weak. He was always the older one, always shielding you from the terrors of the world.

Once you became a Deepspace hunter he of course realized you could handle yourself, but it was still his tendency to protect you. Always.

His very first thought when waking up after the explosion was you.

When he realized he was kidnapped by EVER again he panicked, because that meant they had you.

He was consumed by rage. He practically tore the building apart, scared the staff so bad they finally had to tell him that they didn’t have you.

Which rocked Caleb.

That either meant two things.

They were unable to kidnap you.

Or you were dead.

That alone sent him into a catatonic state long enough for them to do whatever they wanted to him.

The only thing that got him through it was the hope that you weren’t actually dead. That you didn’t die in the explosion.

He knew it was false hope. He knew deep down that you were probably dead. But it was the only thing keeping him alive.

Truly.

So when he finally was able to escape, the first person he looked for was you.

…

It was late into the night and you have yet to get home for the day. You had an agonizing twelve hour shift and it was Friday, meaning you had to go grocery shopping.

You yawn as you unlock you apartment door, which was a struggle due to the groceries you were carrying. After finally managing to get in you turn on the lights.

Only then do you notice a man standing in your kitchen. He turns around and gives you a warm smile.

“Hey, Pipsqueak.”

Your bags drop to the ground.