John's eyes popped open. The room, having no windows, was completely dark. How long did he sleep? He reached for the bedside clock and turned it so he could see the numbers. 5:13 am. The last time he checked it was just after three. His nightmares had gone back to his memories. Jessica wasn't in them.
As he pushed himself to the edge of the bed, he threw the covers back. He carefully removed the leg from the charging station and reattached it. A hand slid through his hair as he sat there thinking. Maybe Dorian was right. Maybe he should stop taking the pills. They were helping him to remember, yes, but the nightmares were getting out of hand.
John stood in his black boxers and tank top, grabbed an extra set of clothes, along with his gun and holster, and walked to the door. He ran a hand over his tired eyes before going into the living area. Dorian sat on the sofa.
"You're awake. So soon?"
"Couldn't stay asleep. I'm gonna shower."
John shut the bathroom door behind him before Dorian could lecture him about needing sleep, or question him about why he wasn't sleeping. He adjusted the water temperature, making it hot. He stood beneath the steady stream with his hands on the wall in front of him, letting the water cascade over his head and face. Fifteen minutes later, he turned the water off and grabbed a towel. As he dried off, he heard voices through the door. Definitely Dorian, and the other sounded like Jessica. He dressed quickly and opened the door. He saw Dorian, still on the sofa, turned to look back at the hall that led to the bedrooms. When John stepped out, he saw Jessica standing against the edge of the wall in her dark blue pajama pants and matching top.
"Everything okay," John asked.
"Yeah," Jessica said.
"She was headed to the bathroom," Dorian said. "I was just telling her that you should be out soon."
"Bathroom's all yours," John said as he stepped out further.
"Did you leave your wet towels on the floor," Dorian asked.
"What?"
"You're sharing with a lady. Don't be a pig, John. Pick up behind yourself."
Jessica tried to hide her smile behind her hand. She could tell that Dorian liked getting under John's skin a little. When John looked toward her, she avoided eye contact.
"Everything went straight into the laundry," John said. "Okay?"
Dorian nodded and Jessica slipped past John, closing the bathroom door behind her.
"Is it in your programming to be such a pain," John asked Dorian.
"How exactly does suggesting you act like a considerate human being make me a pain?"
"You're killing me, man," John said as he plopped down on the other side of the sofa. John lay his head back and propped his feet up on the table in front of them.
"So...," Dorian said, "was it nightmares?"
John let out a sigh, knowing that Dorian wouldn't leave him alone until he talked about it.
"Yeah," John said. "Nightmares."
"Are you still taking Membliss? I told you about the effects of prolonged use. Do you want to hear the list again?"
"No," John said lifting his head from the back of the sofa. "I heard you last time."
"But you're still taking it."
"Two days ago... I took it two days ago, and I decided this morning not to take any more. Okay? I need sleep, and the memories are keeping me up."
Jessica emerged from the bathroom a moment later and walked up behind John.
"So," she said, "what do we do for breakfast?"
"This morning? Leftover pizza. Food supplies will come later based on what Rudy finds."
"Why based on what he finds?"
"Whatever he's found, or not found, will let us estimate how much longer we might be here."
"Got it." She walked across the room toward the kitchen, but turned to face John. "You want a slice?"
"Sure?"
"Cold or warmed?"
"Cold is fine."
Her eyes shifted to Dorian. "I'd offer to get you something, but I'm guessing you don't eat."
"You are correct," Dorian said, "but thank you for the offer."
Jessica nodded and went into the kitchen. John and Dorian shared a look. Jessica seemed to be trying to open up to Dorian, which was good. She came back with two plates and handed one to John before she sat down. The plush chair, which matched the sofa, was on John's side. She sat with one leg tucked beneath her.
"What are you doing up so early," John asked.
"I've gotten up around 5:30 to go to work for seven years now. I guess I developed an internal alarm clock. What about you? You went to bed hours after I did, and you're up."
John squinted his eyes. "How do you know it was hours after?"
"I had trouble sleeping."
"That seems to be going around," Dorian said with a smile.
"I could hear you talking to yourself sometimes," Jessica said.
"You're talking to yourself, John," Dorian asked. A smile pulled at his lips, and he tried to hide it.
"Not talking to myself... thinking out loud. Reading the file."
"I didn't mean to imply that you're crazy, or anything," Jessica quickly corrected. "I do it, too, sometimes. It helps me focus."
"Exactly," John said with a smile.
"So," Jessica said, "why are you up so early?"
"I wasn't sure what time you'd be up, and, knowing how you feel about droids, I didn't want to leave you alone with this guy over here," John said pointing to Dorian.
"You didn't have to do that," Jessica said. "You need to sleep."
"Yeah, that's what people keep telling me." He took a large bite of his pizza.
Dorian's eyes went from John to Jessica. "Shoving food into his mouth. That's his way of ending the conversation."
"Is it," Jessica asked. "Interesting. Okay then, subject change. What's with the gun and holster? This place is supposed to be safe, right?"
With his mouth still full of pizza, John couldn't answer. Dorian smiled and answered for him.
"That holster is like an accessory to him."
"No, it's not," John mumbled through the pizza.
"Don't talk with your mouth full," Dorian said. "I think he wears it to sleep."
Dorian winked, and Jessica let out a laugh. John tried mumbling through the pizza again, but they couldn't understand him. He quickly chewed so he could respond, but Dorian beat him to it.
"Seriously, though, John believes in being prepared. Two things important to a police officer: his weapon and his partner."
John nodded. "That's what I was trying to say."
"And you said it beautifully."
"Shut up," John said. He tried to sound annoyed, but Jessica saw a slight smile. "Why don't you go charge?"
"Technically it's still my shift. Don't mind me, I'll just sit here."
"Great."
"How long have you two been partners," Jessica asked.
"A few years," John said.
"A few months," Dorian said, with a confused look on his face.
"Months," John asked. "Really? Feels like years."
"Very funny."
"At first glance, it looks like you two don't get along," Jessica said, "but you actually act like very old friends."
"Oh, he likes me," Dorian said. "If he didn't, I'd have ended up like his MX a long time ago."
Dorian smiled and John let out a chuckle. Jessica couldn't take not knowing.
"What happened to your MX?"
"I pushed him out of my car... while I was driving on the freeway."
"Oh my gosh," Jessica said with a slight laugh.
"The thing wouldn't shut up."
John and Jessica finished their pizza, and Dorian sat with his eyes closed. He quietly scanned Jessica, trying get a sense of her mental state by monitoring her heart rate, blood pressure, and other vitals. He felt a tension, but not quite as bad as when she first arrived at the station.
Her pulse suddenly quickened, and Dorian peeked through one slightly opened eye to find her looking at John as he lay with his head back on the sofa, eyes closed.
"When will we know what Rudy has found... or not found," Jessica asked.
John lifted his head. "The Captain should be in around 7:00. I'll give her some time to settle and then I'll check in."
Jessica nodded, then stood and collected their empty plates. As she walked to the kitchen, Dorian watched John. His eyes definitely followed her.
She was back a moment later, but told them she was going back to her room to read until it was time to check in with the Captain. John nodded and his head turned slightly as she walked past him.
Dorian smiled, but quickly hid it. He wouldn't tell on either of them... yet.