Sam's apartment - Boulder, Colorado - Wee small hours of the night

[cameronmitchell]

It'd been almost a week since Cameron had been staying with Sam and he was starting to get used to waking up in what was for the moment his bedroom. The shadows playing across the ceiling had familiar shapes now and he stared up at them, letting his mind go blank as he struggled for his breath

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[carter_i_am]

Sam, of course, had fallen asleep in the lab in the middle of working on an experiment, and had her head pillowed on her arms as she slept, lights on and blazing, pencil in hand.

At least she hadn't fallen asleep on the microscope. Again.

[carter_i_am]

"Hot or cold?" She figured she could probably manage warming it in the microwave. "Were you always this bossy, or is this a gift that came with age?"

[cameronmitchell]

"It's not bossy, it'd having your best interest at heart," he replied. "And cold is good." Because he liked it cold and he didn't quite want to fall asleep again.

[carter_i_am]

"Cold is easier," she said, pouring him a glass. "My best interests, huh? Kind of a novel approach for me. You too, seems like."

[cameronmitchell]

"Maybe," he leaned against the counter and he wondered if he really was acting different. "Is that your way of saying that I should stop fussing?"

[carter_i_am]

Sam shrugged. "I guess not. I'll learn to adapt--Jack fusses, but I only see him every few months, if that. I'm not used to it, that's all."

She figured he was using caring for her to avoid dealing with his own issues, but it wasn't like she had any right to bring that up.

[cameronmitchell]

"I got used to minding people," he said softly. "Everyone had each other's back. Had to to stay alive."

[carter_i_am]

"Hey," she reached over to lay a hand on his arm, "It's okay. I get it."

[cameronmitchell]

He touched his fingers to the back of her hand and nodded. "I'll try to be less bossy if you try to actually not sleep in your lab," he bargained.

[carter_i_am]

"You couldn't ask for something easier, huh?" She yawned while she considered. "Deal."

[cameronmitchell]

"Nah, easy wouldn't be fun," he grinned at her and reached for the glass. "Living room?"

[carter_i_am]

"Living room," she agreed, nodding. "It's not like either of us are sleeping for a while anyway, right?"

[cameronmitchell]

He glanced over his shoulder towards her as he made his way to the living room. "You can, you know."

[carter_i_am]

"No, I can't." Then she added, "Once I'm up, I'm up for at least an hour. Combat adrenaline. You know how it goes."

[cameronmitchell]

"Yeah," he did and he moved to the couch, heavily plopping down in it. "Sorry I woke you." Well, maybe not completely. The house was less quiet now and he was definitely in favour of that instead of sitting up alone.

[carter_i_am]

"My back and neck thank you," she said, sprawling on the other end of the couch and propping her feet up on his leg. "Which is my way of saying that I don't mind being woken. Bad?"