Barnaby couldn't believe how much better things were since their talk. He was able to be around Kotetsu without that feeling like he was secretly being disgusting. Kotetsu knew and didn't care. They were able to complete their missions with success, communication and partnership restored.

What he was really struggling with was the fact that he couldn't get sleeping next to Kotetsu out of his mind. Not only had it been a dream come true to get to hold the older man that way, but it had somehow provided him with the best rest he ever had since the dreams started.

He was sleeping at Saitou's lab again, which was somewhat helping, but he couldn't shake that feeling of wanting more. He pressed the release button on the inside of the chamber and it swung open. He stepped out and once again Saitou was there with his tablet to collect his waking status. Barnaby easily rattled off the date and time for him.

"Saitou, I've been meaning to ask you something," he said as he took a seat next to the quiet man while he worked away at his computer. "You mentioned before that people with spouses or significant others were handling the dreams differently than those who are single. What did you mean by that?"

"The information I gathered on that is contained in this file, if you have questions let me know!" Saitou said, pulling up a file on the screen in front of Barnaby.

Patients with significant others have noted a generally lowered amount of fatigue and overall mental drain than those without partners. Upon further examination hormone production of fight or flight hormones in most subjects was less than half of that of those who were tested that are single.

Test subjects with partners also noted a huge increase in fatigue when their partner was away or not with them during sleep.

It is my hypothesis that the subjects who have significant others feel safe when in bed with their partner and thus their body, while going through the dream trauma, is able to cope with the fear response induced by the dream. It may also be that the body is able to differentiate between the waking world and the dream world better if there is outside stimulus such as breathing and movement.

I have added these types of stimuli to the sleep chamber and while it seems to have helped somewhat, it is not the same result as sleeping next to a person*.

*May it be noted that subjects that slept next to friends also saw the benefit to their sleep, but we're more along the lines of being in the chamber. It seems a very close physical or emotional bond to the other is needed for the full effects.

Barnaby continued reading over the file, looking at charts, graphs, and other infographics that helped showcase the differences between sleeping with a loved one, a friend, alone, and in the chamber. Overall people that had close relationships with another person and were sleeping next to them had the best emotional and physical stability across the boards.

That explained why sleeping next to Kotetsu left him so well-rested. He had a deep emotional connection to Kotetsu, even taking away his romantic feelings, he and Kotetsu had a partnership that was unrivalled, they could practically read each other's thoughts in the middle of combat. He wished there was a way he could ask Kotetsu to let him sleep next to him without it being the single-handed most awkward conversation in human history. He was sure it would be impossible. Hey Kotetsu, glad we got it out in the air that you realise I'm desperately in love with you and you don't feel the same way, can I sleep next to you? Yeah, that wasn't going to happen.

"Thanks for the info doc," Barnaby said as he stood from the computer, about to head home to shower and try to relax before they were called out for work.

"Barnaby, you should try sleeping next to a friend and record the results; I would love to test my hypothesis about the effects of the dreams with you!" The little man spoke up as he walked past. "Also, tell Tiger I want to run tests on his suit and he should come visit me soon for that," he whispered out.

"I-I'll let you know about the sleeping next to someone thing if it comes up, as for telling Tiger, will do," he said with a nod before heading to the exit.