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Rain drummed on the window of Chris and Leon's small apartment, lightning flashing outside. The TV droned mindlessly in the background as the lights flashed through the living room. Leon's watch read 2:46 AM, later than he thought. Ever since he had returned from his time in Spain, nothing seemed real, not time, not people, nothing. He felt as if he was in a state of nothingness while the colors and faces flashed across the screen. He was so tired.
Sleep was a fight every night, and he couldn't remember the last time he hadn't woken up by ravaging night terrors, leaving him screaming and clawing at his throat, trying to get rid of the parasite long gone. He absentmindedly ran his fingers over the scabbed over marks trailing down his neck, remembering the blood speckling his hands when he coughed, the dark, dank room he seemed to be endlessly stuck in, the feeling of the life draining out of Luis. His vision blurred, from tears or exhaustion he couldn't tell. He longed for Chris's warmth, his strong embrace, like the one he had given him after finding Leon collapsed on the bathroom tiles, dry heaving with dried blood under his nail and gouges on his upper chest. Chris was the only thing that felt real to Leon, his anchor even. Leon found himself shakily walking to the bedroom door, cautiously opening it. He shuffled over to where Chris was sleeping soundly, debating whether or not to wake him. He internally groaned, feeling like he was back in his childhood, telling his mom he threw up in the middle of the night.
"Chris?" Leon whispered, hands quivering anxiously.
"Mrghh....Leon?" The other man yawned, sitting up as soon as he realized the state the other man was in. "Oh Leon, c'mere" Chris said, barely above a whisper with a sad smile on his face. Leon slipped under the satin sheets and shuffled over into Chris's arms. Chris held him tight, sensing he wasn't in the headspace to talk. He just needed love. Leon sniffled and blinked away the tears threatening to spill out of the corners of his eyes. Chris ran his fingers through Leon’s hair, combing it soothingly. Leon buried himself under the covers, flinching at a loud clap of thunder. He mentaly kicked himself in embarrassment . Spain had made him weak, and as far as he could tell, weakness was not widely accepted in his line of work. If he flinched at thunder, how the hell could he fight a bioterrorist. He knew Chris wouldn’t tell anyone, but still. He hated himself for accepting that mission, for agreeing to join STRATCOM. He had so desperately wanted to protect Sherry, and he was glad he did, but he sometimes wished he had found another way. Chris cupped Leon’s face in his gentle hands, placing a loving kiss on his forehead
“Chris, I can’t sleep,” Leon whispered, burying himself in the sheets.
“I know bub, I know” Chris replied, wrapping an arm around Leon’s crumpled form and pulling him closer. The blond yawned and pulled the covers over his head. “Try your best to rest, I’ll be here to fight those nightmares.” Chris reassured, stroking Leon's hair as sleep clawed at his brain, black dots floating around in his field of vision.
“G'night, love you” Leon slurred as he let his eyelids slip shut, dragging him into the first peaceful sleep since Spain, not counting the sedatives he was given at the hospital. Chris held the younger man close to his chest, placing a kiss on his cheek.
“I love you too” Chris murmured, sighing in exhaustion. He pulled the covers over the two of them . The rain drummed on the roof, leaving him with a sense of peace. He shut his eyes, floating off to sleep with Leon.