Disclaimer: Nope, don't own.

Pairing: Jack Carter/Nathan Stark

Pre-slash, K, Prompt Explosion

Word Count: Approx. 350

There is some sort of explosion on level three, something about genetically altered mice (Taggart) chewing through the wiring of an important project. Of course Nathan is called in to investigate, once again taking time out of his busy schedule, so he hurries down. There are a few people hurt, two rushed to the infirmary, but it doesn't appear to be sabotage, so he relaxes a little.

Sheriff Carter is off on the other side of town, so his deputy shows up instead, which, no matter how much he denies it, disappoints Nathan just a little, because he has come to enjoy their verbal sparring. Perhaps he also just enjoys the mans company.

He's next to the machine that caused the explosion, peering over another scientists shoulder to make sure they are not making mistakes, because they have had enough accidents for the day when a secondary explosion goes off.

Nathan wakes up later in the infirmary, sore and irritated with himself for not double checking all of the systems.

He goes to move, when he realizes that one of his hands appears to be pinned down to the bed. This is an odd occurrence, so he shifts slightly on the bed, surprise making its way through him when he finds the cause of the restriction.

Sheriff Carter, Jack, is fast asleep in a chair next to his bed, bent over the bed in a way that makes his back protest just from the image. Jacks' head is pillowed on one arm, while his other is stretched out, holding Starks hand as though it were the most normal thing in the world. And perhaps it is.

Nathan contemplates waking the other man, and then decides against it, settling back in and watching the blonde man until he drifts off to sleep again.

When he wakes, they will be back to their verbal sparring, Jack will blush and shrug off the intimate gesture and Nathan will make some dry remark. Then they will be back to Scientist and Sheriff, just like before. For now though, they are only Nathan and Jack.

Comments? Requests?