Knowing that he was most, if not all, of the cause of Dirk's anguish made Jake's shoulders shake as he tried to not sob along with him. His breath hitched anyway, but he was determined to stay mostly together for Dirk. He was the one hurting most, here, he needed some kind of lifeline to keep him afloat.

That didn't change the tears that streamed freely down Jake's tanned cheeks, though.