"Feeling better?" I ask eventually. I meant for it to come out sly, but I think I just sound braindead.
"Hmm."
"A'right." I pat his knee, then circle over the skin of it with my fingers. He makes another soft noise.
We don't have much in the way of pillowtalk. He's been known to fall asleep on occasion, though, and I don't terribly mind it when that happens. It's more familiar than we're supposed to be, officially, but you can't beat a warm body in your bed. Now more than ever, I don't mind it.
So I turn on my side and pull him up against my chest to spoon him.
"You're getting sentimental," he mumbles, but doesn't actually protest in any way.
"Maybe I'm just still cold," I say, pulling up the covers.
He laughs at that - a bright sound, surprising both of us, and I can feel it against my chest. "After everything I've done to warm you up? For shame."
I don't think I ever see him laugh - with others, I mean. There's the stupid rich boy smile and the smirk you kind of want to punch, sure, but nothing more. It's only now, times like this, relaxed and all inhibitions gone. With me. That makes me feel special, which is a problem, because feeling special is an easy way to get more attached than you should be.
Well, too late for that now.
I burrow my face against his soft hair and am not too ashamed to fall asleep.
There's a loud, incessant beeping from the intercom - an emergency connection from mission control. I grumble and try to sit up through the tangle of sheets, but Xu is already reaching for it blearily to pick up the receiver and turn off the blasted noise.
"What is it?" Xu half-slurs, still groggy with sleep, before either of us can think to stop him.
"Decker, we need- Who is that?" Central's voice is clear, clipped, and alarmed. I watch Xu's eyes widen, instantly awake, as he remembers exactly where he is. For a good two seconds, there's dead silence on both ends of the line.
I sigh and take the phone out of his hand, giving him a look. Xu stares back at me in mortification.
"I'm here, boss," I speak into the receiver.
"...Decker, we need you downstairs," Central replies matter-of-factly. "Be there in ten minutes."
"Got it, boss."
"Dr. Xu, you as well," she adds dryly. "We couldn't reach you in your room. I wonder why." I watch Xu cover his face with his hands. It's the closest I've seen the boss come to sassing anyone, and by the look on his face, he's not too pleased with that particular honour.
The call disconnects and we both stare at each other.
"Face it, doc, that's not the worst way we could have been caught," I point out, and Xu groans.