Disclaimer: Clearly I do not own Shameless :)
A/N: Just a little Filler for the latest episode.
Restrained
That night they lie in bed, Ian already half asleep when he feels Caleb shift behind him, suddenly spooning him, left arm wrapped tight around Ian's chest he whispers, "I respect you. I care about you. I want you to be healthy and happy as much as you can be. And I need you to know that. It does not matter one bit to me who or how many people you have been with as long as you want to be with me right now, ... that's all that matters to me."
Caleb feels Ian tense before he turns in Caleb's arms, locks eyes with him, reaches out placing a hand against Caleb's cheek, cupping it softly. To Ian closeness like this is still so strange, and doubt and tears spring forward crowding his face, eyes hushing away from Caleb's.
Before he knows it Ian feels soft fingers gently brushing at his skin, trying to take away the tears, the pain and doubt and guilt they come from, ... and it only makes the tears come harder. "How can you ...," Ian starts but cannot finish the sentence, not even the thought, does not know exactly what it was until he hears Caleb finish it.
"... want you?" Calbe slowly moves forward, shifting Ian onto his back, hovering over him, waiting for Ian to look up, back at him to say "I don't just want you. Ian, I ... I admire you, I love having you here, being with you in every way. I love ...".
"Don't say it," Ian interrupts him.
"Why not?" Caleb asks looking on more questioning and curious than upset.
"I don't know if I could say it back."