( day 45 ) you were supposed to return

[gleans]

WHO: Galen Howard and Jesse Finch
WHAT: Galen returns after disappearing for 24 hours
WHEN: Bright and early on day 45!
WHERE: House 20

[ Galen doesn't sleep often, anymore, but when he does, it's like a rock. His dreams are deep, and they're his; he knows he's dreaming, but he doesn't dare let himself venture out. Not when he could end up in the dark, where something will be waiting for him. There are already too many little dregs of that dog slipping around him, trying to get close enough to cling, to bite, and he can't let them.

The dreams are long, and they're deep, and they're his.

Something jolts him awake, though. Maybe it's a sudden sound, maybe it's the unfamiliar space around him, maybe it's the warmth beside him. Galen opens his eyes blearily, confusion and a sudden panic - familiar from the hospital - setting in -- but there's something familiar, something -- where is --

The warmth next to him, the body, that's Jesse, and -- oh, his heart nearly stops. He wants to -- but he can't. This has to be a mistake. Maybe he's still asleep, maybe he's punishing himself, maybe, maybe, maybe --

He brings a hand to his mouth and watches, chest tight, but even with the glassesless blur he knows what he sees. Any minute now, Jesse is going to wake up, look at him like that, and kick him out. Out of where, he still can't process, but that doesn't matter. Not right now. So he shifts, tries to slip out of bed without rousing Jesse, feels around for his glasses. ]

Comments

[rigging]

[ Jesse hums his affirmation. ] It was awkward. I dunno. He's still scary as fuck.

[gleans]

He's so not scary. He actually really likes you, so.

[rigging]

Mm. [ Jesse sighs, hunching up. ] I just wanna be good enough for you. [ He's sleepy, finally coming down, so Galen gets to hear his sleep thoughts. ]

[gleans]

Listen, Jess. Forget anything anyone ever told you about not being good enough. [ His voice is low, and he brushes his fingers up into Jesse's hair. For once, he's grateful for this place, for giving him this instead of leaving him to pick up all those pieces. ] There is no 'good enough'. I fell in love with you. The first time I knew was like, a week after you started working. We shared a cigarette and I was trying to help you load up gear, and -- Christ, this sounds so fucking corny.

[rigging]

[ Maybe it sounds a little like a pep talk, but that's what Jesse needs. He sighs when Galen's fingers run through his hair - it feels good. ] ... Nah, it doesn't. [ He says quietly, curling closer. ] I remember that. [ Keep going, he wants to hear. ]

[gleans]

Um. [ One hand comes down to reach for Jesse's. ] You took a guitar case from me. And our hands touched. [ His hand wraps around Jesse's, now. ] And -- it was the first time you called me this. You said "I got this, songbird." And -- a fucking week into the job, right? That's when I knew. [ And he'd never felt that with another guy. It'd been a confusing few weeks. ]

[rigging]

[ ... It makes Jesse grin like a moron. He finally looks up at Galen, pulling his hand to his lips to kiss his fingers. ] Yeah. Y'know - I dunno when it was for me. [ He looks down at Galen's fingers, running his own all over Galen's hands. ] Think it might've been when I first saw you sing. [ He links their fingers. ] Sang my favorite Counter Curse song.

[gleans]

Yeah? [ He smiles, a happy swell settling in his chest. ] Which one?