Author's note: This is my first and most likely last fanfiction ever. English is not my native language and I suck with tenses, so you'll probably find a lot of mistakes, but I did everything in all conscience. So, I hope you'll get what I wanted to say. I have no medical degree so just add the mistakes and the absurd actions to the category fiction. This story is pro Catherine AND pro Danny. Please don't comment if you don't like that combination.

Chapter 1

Steve sat on the sofa in their hotel room, Tv on, but he wasn't really watching.

„So, how about dinner? We want to try that restaurant?" Catherine said.

Although he was tired to the bone he answered „Yeah, we can do that. It looked nice and from all the people that were sitting outside it looked like the food is good too."

„Just let me slip into some plain clothes and then we can start."

When Catherine returned Steve had his eyes closed and looked even more tired than before.

„I'm ready. You too"?

„Hmm," he answered, but didn't even attempt to get up.

„Hey there, you okay?"

„Hmm, yeah, I am just tired".

„Hey, sailor, if you don't want to go just say it. We don't have to go there".

„But we planned on doing that when we saw it this morning".

„Yes, we did, but we didn't say when. We just arrived here today. And I assume we are not leaving tomorrow so there might be some more days to do that".

He opened his eyes and even from a few feet apart she could see his weariness.

He didn't know what to say, because to be honest he just wanted to curl up and sleep and from the way Catherine looked at him, she knew.

She came over to the sofa, cupped his chin and said: „let's stay here then. Eating is important too, but there is no point in going out if you fall asleep at the table".

Steve looked at her with sad eyes and told her that he was sorry to let her down at their first evening.

„Steve, you are not letting me down, okay. I mean we came here to sort things out and the first and foremost thing is still to get you back on track".

She sat down beside him, put a pillow on her lap patted on it and said: „Come on now, lay down and relax a bit.

He was reluctant at first, still thinking he let her down, torn between pleasing her and getting up or giving into his fatigue, but then he couldn't resist her offer.

He put his head on the pillow, his legs on the sofa, turned on his right side and closed his eyes.

When Catherine started to rub his shoulders and massaging his neck, she felt the tension in every muscle she touched. She tried to be gentle, but knew that some of it hurt. When she changed her position to caress his cheek, she felt some wetness on it.

She didn't say anything, just wiped the tears away, kissed him on his temple and went back to petting him, alternating between his shoulders, neck and cheek.

She felt him relax and snuggle up to her a bit more, but it does nothing to loosen his cramped muscles.

After about half an hour Catherine heard his breathing even out and he was asleep.

Two hours later she felt him shiver and stretched her arm to reach the woolen blanket he used to rest his head on while "watching" TV.

She achieved her goal without waking him up, unfolded it and spread it over him.

She was tempted to tuck him in, but she desisted from it, because no matter how exhausted he was, he was still a SEAL and could wake up when thinking he was in danger and she didn't want to risk getting hit with a fist or an elbow.

A few minutes later Catherine fell asleep as well.

Another two hours later, still dozing, she felt Steve's sleep becoming fitful, but before she could react and soothe him, he started mumbling "NO, no", then his cries became louder "No! No! No! and he started thrashing around.

Catherine was wide awake in seconds. Ignoring her earlier fear of getting hit she called out his name and started touching him again.

Steve awoke with a start screaming "Danny!"

Panting, he tried to get himself up into a sitting position, but Catherine held him down telling him that he is okay and safe and that there is no danger. Steve struggled for a few seconds, but the sound of Catherine's voice and the soothing tone she used finally got through to him.

He tried to control his breathing, bringing it down to a normal pace as well as his pulse while Catherine continued comforting him with reassuring words and gentle touches.

After about two minutes he had calmed down significantly and Catherine allowed him to sit up, though still holding him tight to her body.

"You okay now"?

Steve just nodded, he didn't trust his voice right now, because he could still feel the horror of his dream and he also didn't want Catherine to worry even more.

They sat in silence for a few minutes then Catherine asked: "Do you wanna talk about it"?

Steve just shook his head and Catherine knew better than to press. The room felt silent again both sitting with their own thoughts.

"Danny", Steve whispered after a few minutes. Catherine didn't say anything, she knew Danny had been shot recently, but she didn't know if this had anything to do with it or if it was something that had happened much earlier, like the incident while they all had been under quarantine or something she didn't even know about at all. "I thought I'd lost him. Finding him on the floor, bloody and not moving. I…I thought that was it. His face was a mess, his shirt soaked with blood, the floor covered with blood….". His voice broke, his eyes filled with tears.

"He had the strength to get up and climb into the car, but he lost consciousness again. I…I… the ride to the hospital felt like hours, I felt so helpless and all I could think about was that I couldn't lose him". The tears were streaming freely now. Catherine still hasn't said anything, she just let him talk.

"While he was in surgery I went to the chapel and begged to be taken instead of Danny. I just couldn't bear the thought that…that…" he couldn't continue cause the sobs that accompanied the crying now made him unintelligible. Catherine still didn't say anything. When he had started, she didn't want to interrupt him, she just wanted him to get it all out, but now she felt so much for him she didn't trust her voice – just like he did just a few minutes before. She just pulled him a little closer and put a gentle kiss on his temple. "In…in…this dream…I couldn't…save…him. He…was dead, Catherine…dead…He turned to his side and buried his face into her shoulder continuing the sobbing.

When he finally stopped, she wiped the rest of the tears away and coaxed him into going to bed instead of lying on the couch. He didn't answer, just nodded, got up and made his way to the bedroom. Without taking his clothes off he lay down and curled into himself.

Catherine climbed into the bed beside him, took a blanket, covered them both and when sleep finally took over, they slept like spoons.

But it wasn't exactly a peaceful sleep. Steve was restless and Catherine awoke every time he twitched, mumbled or moaned – afraid that it would turn into a nightmare again – and spoke reassuring words, squeezed his hand or rubbed his chest. It helped to prevent the worst, but it wasn't enough to relax him enough to fall into a dreamless sleep or to rest easy.