Title: Overnight
Author: Angel Mouse
Relationship: Bridge/Sky
Rating: PG
Warning: None really
Theme: Animals

Overnight

Sky picked up the stuffed dinosaur from Bridge's bed and studied it absently for a long moment. Ever since he'd known Bridge the stuffed animal had been his constant companion. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down but he wasn't having much luck.

The fact that Bridge had wormed his way into Sky's heart over the year wasn't helping his state of mind either. Today had been an unmitigated disaster and he felt that it was entirely his fault. He had been in charge of the mission, it was his responsibility to make sure everyone was okay and it was his mistake that had seen Bridge sent to the infirmary for the night.

Pushing those thoughts to the back of his mind, as well as the encompassing worry for his best friend he turned towards the door. Shaking himself to pull himself together, he grabbed the dinosaur tight and headed out of their room towards the medical bay.

He ignored all the looks that he was receiving by carrying a stuffed green dinosaur around but by now, most cadets knew to leave Cadet Tate alone. He reached the medical bay and Dr Manx looked up, giving him a tiny smile, not entirely surprised to see him there.

"Ah Sky, I wondered how long it would take for you to show up. I've put him in the back, away from everyone else. He's asleep right now but you can sit with him." She finished noting something down on the chart and gestured to the back of the medical bay.

"Thank you. How is he?" She smiled gently at him, knowing how close the two of them were, after all Bridge had been here many a night watching over Sky.

"He'll be fine with a good night's sleep. He's just got some bruises and a fair bit of smoke inhalation. His wrist is sprained as well so that's taped up for a few days. Other than that he's okay. He kept asking where you alright. I told him apart from a massive headache and a bit of smoke inhalation you were fine and that you had checked yourself out once I had cleared you. I think he was more worried about you than himself." Sky nodded, speaking quietly to himself.

"He would be. Thanks Kat." She nodded and he moved to the back of the medical wing to where Kat had gestured Bridge was. He hestitated a moment and then taking a deep breath he steeled himself, he had to put on a brave face for Bridge.

He went through the curtain, making sure that it was closed behind him. He stood there, looking down at the sleeping figure on the bed, clutching the stuffed dinosaur to his chest. He moved to Bridge's bed side and sat down in the chair with a soft sigh. He reached out and placed the stuffed dinosaur under Bridge's arm, wrapping his bandaged hand around it.

He knew how much that Bridge loved that stuffed animal. He moved the chair closer and with a glance around to make sure no one was watching, he took Bridge's hand in his and began to speak softly.

"I'm so sorry Bridge, this is my entire fault. I should have been stronger, I should have last longer. If I had held my shield longer, if I had just taken your help when you offered it you wouldn't be here. But I was too worried about you and those kids we were protecting. I didn't want to let you down, I didn't want to you think that I was weak, that I couldn't protect you after I promised I would. I have to be strong, for you, for my Dad, for everyone. I guess I just didn't want to let you down." Sky's voice was barely a whisper. "I just hope you forgive me."

Bridge woke up slowly, feeling obscurely safe, secure and strangely, loved. He left his eyes closed, gently sending his mind out to find where those feelings were coming from. He could feel the soft, well worn fur of his dinosaur Dino under his arm and that surprised him. No one but Sky knew how much that well worn stuffed animal meant to him.

He opened his eyes to see Sky resting his head on his arms on the bed, one of his hands gently grasping Bridge's unbandage one. Now he knew where he was getting the feelings of warmth, love and security from. But then there was something else he was feeling from Sky.

Guilt.

Bridge frowned, wondering why his friend would be feeling guilt. And then he realised why he would. The fire that they had been trapped in had come close to killing them, if it wasn't for Sky's shield protecting them, the two children they had found, and the pair of them would be crispy critters right now. And that was the crux of Sky's problem. Sky was feeling he let Bridge down because he couldn't protect them for longer.

It was just a sheer fluke that as Sky's strength ran out just as the fire crews had found them he had found out later. Bridge had wanted to lend Sky his energy but Sky refused, knowing how much direct physical skin to skin contact distressed Bridge.

Bridge sighed, knowing that he'd have to head this off before Sky wound himself up in guilt and self recrimination. He gently ran his gloved thumb over the back of Sky's hand, feeling the warmth of his skin and of his soul through the thin leather. He would never admit this to anyone but he found Sky's presence in his life a blessing and a wonder.

He was the most gentle person deep down that Bridge knew, and his aura was a soothing blue with hints of red deep down. His presence was like constant warmth in the dark places that Bridge's mind and soul sometimes ended up in. And Bridge found that his feelings for Sky were going deeper than friendship, deeper than Sky knew.

Bridge gently stroked the back of Sky's hand, wishing that he could touch Sky, wishing a million things that he couldn't have. When they were trapped in that warehouse there was obviously something Sky wanted to say to him, something important, but he couldn't tell what it was.

He had been overwhelmed by the fear of the children and their own fears. He devoutly wished that he could hold Sky in his arms, feel the warmth of his skin against his. He wished he could kiss Sky, tell him how he felt but he couldn't. He could never, ever have any of those things.

Just then Sky stirred and opened his eyes, straight away looking at Bridge. He smiled gently at him, not letting go of Bridge's gloved hand for a long moment and then he moved from his position lying on his arms on the bed. He sat up straight and grimaced slightly as his back protested.

"Have you been there all night Sky?"
"Yeah, I guess I have. I didn't want you to wake up alone." Bridge smiled and gestured with his bandaged hand to his stuffed dinosaur.
"I have you to thank for her?" Sky blushed slightly, ducking his head down.
"Ah yes. I figured that if I got chucked out of here, at least you'd have your stuffed animal for company." Bridge hugged the dinosaur to his chest, sensing Sky's presence on the green furry animal. It would be the closet he could get to Sky physically for the moment. It wasn't enough but it would have to do.

"Thank you Sky. For bringing her to me, it means a lot." Sky looked at him and Bridge could feel the guilt that was now the dominate emotion in his friend. "You have nothing to be guilty about Sky and you don't need my forgiveness but you seem to believe that you do, so you have it. I would never, ever hold a grudge against you for anything you do Sky. Please understand that." Sky looked at him and then comprehension began to dawn in his eyes. He gave Bridge a tiny smile and reached down, squeezing his hand gently.

"Thank you Bridge." Bridge grinned at him, not wanting to let Sky's hand go, even through the gloves he wished that he could hold Sky's hand properly. He wished so many things, but he kept them hidden deep in his heart.

Sky looked at his best friend wishing that he could take Bridge into his arms and hold him tight, kissing his worries away. But he pushed those feelings down, the main thing was that Bridge was awake and well.

"Want me to see if I can spring you?" Bridge looked at him like he had just said he'd won the lottery and Sky felt warm feelings spread though him.
"Yes please!" Sky grinned back at him, glad to see the smile on Bridge's face and joy in his eyes.

"Well wait here, I'll see if Kat will let me spring you." He left and Bridge's smile fell. He hugged his stuffed animal to his chest, breathing in Sky's scent, Sky's aura. Finally he softly spoke to the toy.
"It's a shame he's not a stuffed animal, then I could hug him like this all the time."