The Slumber Party

Disclaimer: Sadly, I own neither Saving Hope nor Daniel Gillies.

Pairing: Joel and Alex (or if you prefer Alex & Joel)

Rating: T

Summary: Alex comes home late from the hospital.

It was nearly three a.m. when Alex Reid pulled into the driveway in front of her home. In an exhausted daze, she grabbed her purse and keys and stumbled out of her car and toward the front door.

I'm too tired to even shower.

I've got to get the kids up in about four hours.

I hope Joel didn't have too much trouble getting all three of them down tonight.

I owe him a dirty weekend.

It's been so long since we've spend any time alone together, just the two of us.

I miss my husband.

Alex unlocked the front door and slipped her feet out of her shoes, walking cautiously in the darkness so she wouldn't disturb Joel or the kids. She knew every inch of this house. She didn't need to turn on any lights. She could easily find her way upstairs, even in total darkness.

Or so she thought, right up until the moment when she walked into the coffee table.

"Holy, hell," The whispered curse burst from her lips as pain shot up her right leg.

She took a few more steps forward, thinking she'd reached the base of the stairs, instead her other foot collided with the wooden banister.

"Damn it," Alex whispered, giving up and backtracking toward the sofa.

If I sit on that couch I won't get back up again.

Joel Goran heard his wife's muffled curses and got out of bed, with one eye on the clock.

3a.m.

She's been working too hard lately.

He made his way slowly down the stairs, fully expecting to meet Alex halfway on the landing.

But to his surprise Alex wasn't on the stairs, instead he saw that she was asleep on the sofa in the living room.

He smiled in the darkness.

Even exhausted she looks like a million bucks.

He made it to the bottom of the stairs and walked into the living room so that he was standing right in front of the couch.

"Reid," He whispered, placing one hand on her shoulder shaking it gently, "Alex…"

When she didn't stir, he took a step forward, and knelt down to kiss the side of her neck, whispering her name in her ear again, "Alex…"

"Mmmmhmmm…Sorry…tried not to wake you…"

Joel chuckled, "So that's why you're stumbling around down here in the dark?"

"Yeah, sorry. I'm just so tired."

She mumbled, pressing a kiss against the thin layer of stubble on his cheek.

He nodded, reaching up and gently pulling the rubber band from her dark hair, letting it fall onto her shoulders.

"I know. You've been working too hard. Let's go upstairs to bed, c'mon."

Alex shook her head, and mumbled into the pillow, "Tried…Can't…Too tired."

Joel put his arm around his wife, and tried to pull her to her feet but she just pulled him into her arms, "Have to get the kids up soon anyway," She mumbled, kissing the mole behind his ear, "Thanks for getting them to bed tonight. I owe you a dirty weekend."

Joel nodded against her shoulder, "My pleasure Doctor Reid. And if putting the kids to bed is all I have to do to earn a dirty weekend, I'll do it every night."

Alex laughed and rested her head on Joel's bare chest, "I love you, Doctor Goran."

"And I love you, Doctor Reid. Now move over…"

"Joel, baby you don't have to sleep down here. I'm just too tired to go all the way upstairs."

"I know, but I don't want to sleep anywhere else except with my wife. And since she won't come upstairs I guess we're having a little slumber party down here."

Alex laughed, even as she felt herself, drifting off to sleep, "Can our next slumber party be a dirty one?"

"Yes, ma'am." Joel replied kissing Alex one last time before they both fell asleep.