Note: unless stated, each chapter is a stand alone story.

Title: Night
Ship: Skye/Carter
Genre: Romance/Fluff
Rated: PG
Word Count: 1299
Summary: Carter has trouble sleeping at night even behind the gates.
A/N: Written for Carter/Skye – Night by mercscilla for 'Friday One Word Fic Challenge' Week -2

… … …

He remembers the nights in camp, the constant danger that came with their lack of fences, the worry that something bigger and a hell of a lot meaner than them could come and knock them out of their homes in the trees. It doesn't make for a restful sleep and because of it he had always been willing to take night patrol. What was the point of lying in a cot when sleep was elusive with every howl in the jungle?

When he returns to Terra Nova, Carter, finds that his night habits follow him, it doesn't matter that the gates and the technology can keep the civilians of the colony as safe as they can be in a pre-historic world where there are dinosaurs and an army lead by a psychotic asshole who refuses to die out to get them.

He's become a night owl, only now with his job as a field medic, he doesn't have the option to catch some sleep during the day and the lack of rest is starting to catch up to him.

"Looks like you're about to slump over."

Carter looks up from under the tree he's sitting, leaning back against the trunk and gives the woman in front of him a sarcastic but tired grin. "Didn't know you cared so much, Skye, I'm touched."

He chuckles as she rolls her eyes at him. "What's wrong, why do you look so tired?"

"I'm not sleeping at night," he answers deciding not to continue teasing her, since his arrival in the colony he and Skye had slowly started to develop a relationship that wasn't solely based on her dislike of him and his uncontrollable need to poke at her. "I might be tired right now but come nightfall I'll be wide awake, sleeping pattern I developed in my time out there."

Skye nods absently as she studies him. "Maybe you need an activity, something to wear you out at night."

He starts to grin, laughing as he watches a pretty blush spread over her cheeks as she realizes the double meaning behind her words and he has to shake his head at the inviting picture she makes as she ducks her head, looking away from him.

He lets the comment somewhat slide as she gives him a pleading look. "Any ideas? I mean, other than the one that obviously just passed through your head."

She rolls her eyes again but nods. That night he watches as she sets up the chess board in his living room, he doesn't know the game but she's a good teacher and he picks it up soon enough, it's not boring like he originally thought but it does take brain power to strategize and he realizes she's hoping all the mental energy it takes to plans his moves will tire him out, it doesn't, instead there comes a time when he looks up from his king and he notices that Skye is having trouble keeping her eyes open.

Pushing her chair back he carries her to his bed and lays her down, covering her before he walks out. It's another restless night except this time it's on a thin couch and it's much more restless because the other reason he's up at night is now sleeping in his bed and he isn't next to her.

The next night Skye comes over this time with her plex and a handful of microchips. "Maddy Shannon lent me her old movie collection," she explains when he questions her.

When she falls asleep next to him on the couch, her head against his shoulder, her hand over his stomach, he doesn't move her, instead he tips his head back and closes his eyes. He doesn't sleep long, but it's more then he's gotten in a while. Watching her open her eyes and the soft smile on her face before she realizes that through the course of the night she has draped herself over him is worth the crick in his neck, hell the screech she lets out as she scrambles off him, falling on her ass in her haste also makes it worth it.

It goes on like this for days, each night she comes up with a different plan and each night he ends up watching her go to sleep. He's not complaining, he's still tired but since the first time he led what was left of the Sixers to the gates, he's also more relaxed.

Tonight he sits across from her at his table, holding his glass out as she pours some murky liquid with a strong smell. He studies it with a dubious look and watches as she raises her own glass to her lips, not even making a face. He takes a small sip and scowls into the glass as the liquid burns down his throat. "You know the object is to get me to sleep, not to burn a whole through my stomach."

"Don't be such a baby, Carter," she mocks as she takes another gulp and smiles at him. "I can drink it fine, Tasha can drink it, and so can Hunter and even Josh."

"You and Tasha are crazy," he points to her. "And Hunter and Josh are two idiots who pant after you, you could tell them to eat slasher dung and they would to impress you."

"Gross, Carter," she answers making a face.

"Maybe, but I don't see you denying it."

"So," she drags out as she stands up and goes to lean against his side of the table, her leg brushing his as she looks down at him. "You don't want to impress me too?"

He narrows his eyes at the coyness in her voice, her game is obvious, but he's not sure how much of it is the alcohol. "Cute, is that what you're wait for? For me to act like those idiots?"

She huffs as she pushes off the table. "It was just a little joke, Carter."

"Yeah well," he starts standing up. "I'm tired."

"I'm tired too!" she exclaims as she stares up at him with a stubborn chin. "I'm tired of waiting for you to make a move."

For a moment he's truly shocked, he's well aware of his feelings for her, but until now, he's been sure she didn't return them.

"Don't give me that look," she continues, poking him in the chest. "You know what I'm talking about, so don't play."

He raises his hands in surrender. "For once Princess I'm not playing, I'm honestly surprise here."

Skye turns a deep red as she groans into her hands. "I thought if I kept showing up…I thought you wanted me, too-"

He takes a step forward at her words, not letting her finish his mouth covers hers. He enjoys the way she sighs into his mouth and grips his hair tightly.

"So you didn't really intend to teach me chess," he asks kissing his way down her throat his hands opening her shirt as he guides her to his bedroom.

"Not really," she murmurs, her hands under his own shirt, her short nails scratching down his chest.

"But I got good at it," he jokes as they fall into his bed.

"You can play with Taylor then," Skye answers as she rolls them over with her on top, chucking her shirt and bra in one go.

"Really shouldn't talk about your adoptive father when you're on top of me and topless, Princess," he tells her. "Could kill the mood."

She grins down at him, her hips pushing into his, her center pressed where he's hard and ready. "Somehow I doubt that, Carter."

He laughs at the mischievous look on her pretty face. That night after they are both completely spent, he finally gets a good night sleep.