10. Help
~ set after 2.06 because I have been dying for a scene like that on the show~
She's not sure if a single day has passed since the dome has come down when he has not had at least one injury. Unfortunately, given his instinct to jump right in, it was usually his face that was bruised, cut or swollen. And of course, he did often come home with the occasional fractured rib or banged up shoulder. He plays the tough guy, naturally, shrugging his injuries off as just scratches or a forgetful bump, but she hears him when he tries to turn at night and the pain is too much, the way he winces, or hisses to muscle through it. She absolutely hates it. She hates that he has to go through it all, all the pain he has to endure.
They have just made it back home from the high school, leaving Sam's body somewhere in the bottom of that pit, both physically and mentally exhausted. They walk into their bedroom and she sits down on the bed, her head falling in her hands as the day's events take their toll on her. She feels him coming to stand in front of her, one hand lands on her shoulder, gently massaging the fatigue away, and the other hand tenderly smoothes over her hair. He whispers something about taking a shower and leaves with a kiss to the top of her head. She knows she must be filthy as well, her skin covered in rubble and dirt and dust, but she is so damn tired. It seems like every day under this goddamn dome is another day dodging a bullet or a bomb or a drop into the abyss.
She doesn't know how long she sits there, letting the weight crush her into the soft mattress of the bed but she soon hears the shower turn off in the bathroom and waits for him to step out. Five, ten minutes later, when he still hasn't come out, she goes in to check on him. She finds him with his back to her, the first aid kit sitting on the counter as he tries to awkwardly clean the wounds on his neck. She steps up being him and puts a hand to his shoulder, "hey, let me help with that," she urges him, and he gives her an appreciative look. She grabs the first aid kit off the counter, and takes his hand in hers, leading him back into the bedroom.
He sits on the bed and she makes her way behind him, settling with her legs tucked under her. The cuts and scrapes on his neck have stopped bleeding, so she makes sure she cleans them properly. He winces at the pain and she stutters her apology, momentarily stopping her actions. He reaches back, reassuringly rubbing her thigh, "it's ok," he says as she continues.
She packs everything back in the kit when she is done, but doesn't get up. She sighs heavily and rests her forehead against the top of his bare back, still wet from his shower. She wraps her arms around his waist, holding onto him tightly. He understands. He could have died today, again, and he knows just how lucky he is to be alive, to be here with her. He takes her hands in his and brings them up to his lips, kissing her knuckles, her fingers and he feels her tears fall onto his back. Effortlessly, he turns around and pulls her into his lap, wraps his arms around her, holding her so tight. She finds the warmth of his neck, buries her face there and wraps her arms around his neck, her fingers clinging to the hairs on the back of his head. He just holds her, lets her cry as he whispers comforting words against her skin and peppers her forehead with soothing kisses.
It's a few minutes before she pulls back, smiling apologetically. She has never let him see her so vulnerable, even the night she found about Peter, he'd stayed downstairs back then. The ashamed apology is ready to leave her lips when he pulls her to him, his hands on her face gentle yet full of intent and his lips on her swallowing her apology with his.
ok, you guys know the drill, please let me know what you think :)