oom: room 25, millitimed to halloween night

[scurlock]

Doc leads the way up the stairs to his room, Katherine trailing behind him (because this way, he's not tempted to check her out) and while he's expecting both of their costumes to disappear...they don't. So he opens the door to his room, which has been cleaned up nicely since the last time she was in it.

The bed is made, the weapons are all put away, his desk still looks like a bit of a disaster area (but that's to be expected, given the books and papers and the fact that he's been writing a lot lately) but it's generally a lot better than it was last time.

"I got somethin' you can wear," he tells her. "Let me get it and then I'll run back down and get us somethin' for dinner."

He rifles through the dresser for some drawstring pants, socks, a t-shirt and a button down, all of them getting put on the polished surface, next to those folded paper cranes. "You may have t'roll the sleeves up a bit," he apologizes. "But that should work."

Comments

[scurlock]

"I know, but you're exhausted...you're gonna put a crick in your neck sittin' on the couch like that. Least lie down with me?"

One hand brushes over her face gently.

[ikissdhimbck]

She's too tired to argue.

(Or notice the way the invitation included himself.)

She nods almost imperceptibly.

"All right."

[scurlock]

He offers her his hands to get up off the couch.

(The man can be proper and still be there as a friend.)

[ikissdhimbck]

She sucks in a deep breath, blinking away her tiredness, before accepting the proffered hands and hauling herself upright.

She takes a minute to steady herself on her feet.

[scurlock]

Doc notices that too, but merely inclines his head towards the bed.

"C'mon. Ain't far," he adds.

And I've got you, is implied.

[ikissdhimbck]

"All right," she murmurs, in response to both the words and the implication.

She doesn't let go of his hand as they walk the short distance to his bed.

She hesitates before lying herself down, not knowing whether he wants on the inside or the out, since the bed is snug in that corner. But she's not sure how to ask him that.

[scurlock]

The bed is big enough that he can get past her and flop down on the far side near the wall without her having to ask, and he only has to uncover a few books and a notebook and toss them towards the foot of the bed before he can get comfortable.

"Y'can go ahead and get under the covers," he says. "I'll take this," he motions at the quilt that's folded at the end of the bed, and he lies down on top of the blankets as he drags it over himself.

It might be a little chilly, but, he'll live.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Aren't you gonna be cold?" she asks softly, brow creased with worry.

[scurlock]

"Well...I..."

Doc looks at her. Looks at the quilt. Technically there are more layers between them than the last time she slept on him in the infirmary, so...

"Alright."

He slips under the first blanket and tosses the quilt over them both, but there's still a blanket and sheet between them.

(It seems Doc has made himself a nest.)

[ikissdhimbck]

She still looks a bit worried, but the added blanket appeases her some.

She settles down into the bed a bit stiffly.

It's strange being in someone else's room. Even more strange that it's Doc's room, and he's currently lying beside her.

She's still a little anxious, not quite wanting to allow herself to drift off. Being in the room with someone else has only intensified those feelings.

So she lays there, very still, eyes open to the ceiling.

[scurlock]

Doc shifts, slowly, getting closer until she's close enough that she can rest her head on his shoulder.

"I am right here," he reminds her. "And I will be here all night. I'm not leavin'."

This is so many levels of wrong if you looked at society but he doesn't care.

[ikissdhimbck]

She swallows nervously, head shifting on the pillow until her face is turned towards him, almost resting against his shoulder, but too afraid to close the distance between them.

"I know," she whispers, nodding slowly. Her blue eyes are focused on his green ones.

"I just don't want to give you a fright, if I dream again. Sometimes I get to thrashing."

[scurlock]

"You won't," Doc says. "And I don't mind. You want me to wake you up if you're in the middle of another dream or would y'rather me let you sleep? I know sometimes gettin' woke up can be worse."

So he moves a little closer, then pulls her to him, in a hug of sorts.

"I've had my share of nightmares," he adds. "I'm used to it."

[ikissdhimbck]

Her stomach goes in knots when he draws her to him, but she doesn't pull away. Her head falls against his shoulder now, in that embrace, her hands resting on the sheets and blankets between their bodies. After a time she can feel the heat from his chest pulsing through.

"Y'can wake me," she murmurs, face nuzzled against his throat. "I usually wake up, anyhow. But it ain't... it isn't pleasant."

She's starting to relax, though. The warmth and solidity of his body is a reassuring comfort.

[scurlock]

One of his hands moves to cover one of hers on his chest.

"Alright. I will."

Doc smiles a little and settles a bit more on the bed, keeping close and knowing that she's relaxing a little. That's all he wants. That, and her to sleep soundly for a little while.

[ikissdhimbck]

She's starting to drift off, the heavy weight of sleep closing in on her consciousness at a fairly rapid pace.

Just when she's about to drift off completely, she rouses herself with a jerk, blinking hard and shifting closer to him.

"Doc?"

Her free hand stretches up, away from their bodies, until her fingers find that short, spiked hair of his.

[scurlock]

When she shifts closer, he wraps an arm more securely around her frame to keep her near him.

"What is it?"

If his head tips a little towards her hand, that's just because he's tired.

[ikissdhimbck]

Her fingers are pulling through his hair very slowly, so steady you could set your watch to the rhythm.

"I'm happy," she murmurs. In case there were any lingering doubts.

"Thank you. For making me feel safe."

Her voice is thick, and as she finishes, it trails off in a soft sigh, before her breathing evens out and her fingers still in his hair.

[scurlock]

Doc smiles as she falls asleep, and he watches her awhile before he leans in and presses his lips to her hair.

"You're welcome."

It's a whisper, and he knows she won't hear it, but it still needs to be said.

She's happy.

With him.

(He knew they'd make this work.)