"Don't look so gloomy." Chris said retaking his seat at Brody's side. "It is only two more days here."
"I don't need to be here." Brody said frustrated by the latest news delivered by the doctor.
"Everyone else disagrees." Pride said. "Now we are smuggling in real food,"
"And coffee." Chris interrupted before Pride continued.
"There is not much to complain about."
Brody's complaining was cut short by Pride's phone going. "Pride." He answered wondering who was calling. Brody and LaSalle watched the senior Agent wondering who it was that was causing him to grimace. "How exactly did you get my number Mrs Brody?" He asked causing the grimace to spread to Brody who shook her head. "I'm not comfortable discussing any of my team with you regardless of your relationship with them."
"That media training he went on is paying off." Chris whispered to Brody.
"I can pass a message on for you." Pride offered the caller, before shaking his head and checking the call had disconnected before looking at Brody and saying. "Your mother."
"How did she get your number?" Chris asked.
"She said she was a professional journalist and that I should focus on more important things like why Brody had not returned any of her calls or emails. I thought you'd prefer me not to say."
"Thank you." Brody said.
"I suggest at some stage you might want to consider calling her. She sounded worried."
"The doctors said I needed to avoid all stressful situations." Brody pointed out.
"They did, but seeing you have ignored all the other advice they have given you, I'm not sure that counts as an excuse." Pride said.
"So I have a question." Chris said.
"Sounds ominous." Brody commented.
"The morning you were taken we were having a team breakfast, which you didn't turn up for." He then looked at Pride and said. "But you knew she wasn't going to come. I'm guessing you did not become a psychic so," he looked back at Brody, "there must have been another reason why you wouldn't come."
"Now's not the time Christopher." Pride warned, hoping Chris would change topics only for Brody to say.
"It's okay." She then looked at Chris and explained. "It was my birthday."
"Oh." Chris said, slightly offended that she hadn't told him and hadn't want to see him. Seeing the hurt look in his eyes Brody went on.
"Birthdays were something that I always shared with Emily. We were always close, but on birthdays we seemed that much closer. But now she's gone they just feel really empty. They are the one day each year I really miss her. So I just prefer to be alone."
"That's messed up logic." Chris said. "But thank you for telling me." He added touched that his partner had confided in him.
-00-
"Hey, you awake?" Chris asked popping his head round Brody's room door.
"You do realize that is a really dumb question?" Brody said.
"I'll take that as a yes." Chris smiled glad his partner was up to throwing some sarcasm his way. "Otherwise I would feel a little guilty."
"About what?"
"Moving you. Shift over." He insisted raising the safety rail on one side of the bed. "Come on." He added. Reluctantly Brody slid across the bed towards the safety rail.
"Comfortable?" Chris asked.
"I guess."
"Good." He replied before putting his bag on the floor and kicking off his shoes and jumping on the other side of the bed.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm fed up with the chairs here. So I thought I'd get the best seat in the house to watch the game." He grinned.
"Would you like me to move somewhere else?" Brody offered.
"Yeah, but Loretta would complain so you better stay where you are." Chris said still smiling. Any response Brody had was cut off by Pride walking in and asking.
"What's going on?"
"Sorry King, beat you to it. You'll have to sit over there."
"Unless you also want me to move." Brody said. "Because I am more than happy going home."
"You are not going anywhere." Pride said sternly. "You heard what the doctors said earlier."
"It is amazing how someone with such a good and freaky memory manages to forget everything doctors tell her." Chris commented.
"I didn't forget, I just don't need to be here. I can take care of myself."
"Whilst no one doubts that, you shouldn't need to." Pride said as the door opened again.
"Christopher! What are you doing?" Loretta asked entering the room.
"Making myself comfy."
"The beds here are for the patients." The ME pointed out.
"And Brody is in bed. It seemed a waste not to use all the empty space."
"Are you okay with this?" Loretta asked worried that Brody may be uncomfortable.
"He's a surprisingly good cushion." Brody said.
"If you are sure." Loretta said pinning Chris with a warning stare. "I just came by to drop some more clothes off and check that you were getting enough rest."
"I'm fine. Ready to go home." Brody said.
"Not what Leo said." Loretta said. "But hopefully it won't be too long now."
"We're about to watch the game and teach Brody how to root." Chris said. "You want to join us?"
"I think I will pass." Loretta said. "Enjoy the rooting. Remember to let Merri rest."
As Loretta left Pride started to set up the TV for the game. When he was done he glanced over to the bed and saw Brody sound asleep, resting against Chris.
"I'm going to call it a night. Look after her and make sure she doesn't wander too far."
"Sure thing King."
-00-
Chris was just starting to doze off when he heard Brody's breathing start to change as her body tensed. For a minute he was unsure whether to to wake her or let her live out the dream. However, when it sounded like she was whimpering he decided to wake her, using the hand snaked under her body to gently squeeze her shoulder whilst he called her name. When she finally woke, she woke swinging. Fortunately Chris was prepared and used his free hand to hold the swinging arm and held it down until his partner calmed. Eventually now fully awake she asked.
"LaSalle?"
"Right here. I've got you." He assured her causing her to rest against his chest and draw silent comfort. After awhile she asked.
"Why are you here?"
"You're my friend."
"No, I mean why are you in bed with me."
"You fell asleep on me, didn't want to wake you." LaSalle explained. "You want me to go?"
"No." She said resting her head on his chest.
"You okay?"
"Not really." She confessed.
"Well I know you will be." LaSalle said.
"Yeah?"
"Sure, you are the strongest person I know. Not to mention stubborn." He smiled. His expression then turned serious and he said. "I know you went through hell, but you got through it and you have us to make sure you don't get sucked back in."
"Thanks."
"So, you want to try getting some sleep?"
"Don't think I could."
"Well, I have just the thing." As Brody turned to look at him she couldn't help but be infected by his boyish grin. "Stay there a second." He added as he slid out of the bed and over to his bag. "So King said you liked the city view from the roof. I can go one better. The LEGO view." With that he pulled out some boxes and added. "We are going to build you a New Orleans mini city that you can keep by your bed. You will always look down on it so it will be like being on the roof, only you don't have to go anywhere, which will save King from having a heart attack." He said as he pulled the tray over Brody and put the boxes down before climbing back into the bed. "Let's build us a city."
The End
A/N: Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it.