After one awkward visit from Abby, Connor was left with only Stephen for company the rest of the time he was in the hospital. He didn't know if it was because the others just decided they had done their duty and visited already, or if Stephen had kept them all away.

Oddly enough, he didn't really care.

Stephen had hardly left him alone. Connor had forced the man to leave on more than one occasion to get some sleep ("I can sleep just as well here!"), or to take a shower and change clothes ("You have to do it here, I can too."), or just to get some food ("Fine, but only if I get you something too. I'm not going to eat real food if you're stuck with that hospital crap.").

Connor had asked the other man more than once if he was needed at the ARC, to which Stephen had just muttered something Connor couldn't hear and changed the subject.

But today was the day Connor could finally leave the hospital – which is how he found himself laying on Stephen's sofa, his ankle propped up under three pillows. "You didn't have to take me here," Connor told the other man, looking around uneasily at the clean flat.

Stephen scowled, "what was I supposed to do, let you go back to Abby's? She wouldn't know how to take care of you."

"I don't need-"

"You aren't supposed to be on that leg for the next four weeks," Stephen said loudly, cutting him off. "And that means that someone needs to be around to get you something to eat, or drink, or to even change the damn DVD if needed. So yes, you do need."

Connor let out a sigh, though inside his heart was beating frantically. He had never had someone do this for him. Someone who actually wanted to take care of him. And that person was Stephen Hart.

He had never seen that one coming.

Suddenly, Stephen's words from the hospital flew back into Connor's head. "The same brilliant, funny, utterly odd Connor that no one could hate."

Did Stephen really believe that? He had always thought he was just an annoyance to Stephen – someone who was constantly in the way, someone who was never good enough.

"What are you thinking about over there?" Stephen questioned, a frown on his face. "You look… oddly serious."

Connor cleared his throat uncomfortably, avoiding the other man's gaze. "Nothing. So, what DVD's do you have?"

Stephen scowled, shaking his head at the other man, "You know, one day I'm going to get you to actually tell me what's going on in that head of yours."

"Maybe one day," Connor agreed with a bright smile, "So, DVD's?"

Stephen's eyes narrowed dangerously, but he walked toward the small cabinet beside the television and opened the door before pulling out a DVD and placing it in the player. Connor thought about protesting, sure that it was going to be some boring movie that he would fall asleep watching, but gasped in shock as a familiar tune began to play. "You own Star Wars?"

Stephen looked at him, affronted, "Just because I can't quote it word from word that some people, doesn't mean I don't like it."

Connor looked at the other man, shocked, before breaking out into a wide grin. "Awesome."

Stephen laughed, standing and rolling his eyes. "Right, well, budge over a bit. Can't really see the screen from the chair."

"Why would you put the chair over there if you can't see the TV?" Connor asked, though he sat up and tried to position himself in a way that his leg was still propped up.

Stephen rolled his eyes yet again, "Because it made the room look good." He sat on the couch where Connor's head had been a moment before, then shifted slight sideways. "Alright, lay back."

"Wha-" Connor was cut off as Stephen wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him back, firmly pushing Connor's back against his chest. Connor tensed, eyes wide.

"Relax," Stephen murmured, his other hand moving up to slowly stroke Connor's hair. Connor the tension fall away as Stephen did so, until his head was resting on Stephen's shoulder. "See? Everything is fine."

Connor nodded, head still resting comfortably on Stephen's shoulder. Stephen chuckled and his arm tightened around Connor's waist for a moment. "Good boy."

"Oye-"

"Just relax, Connor," Stephen said lowly, and Connor felt something suspiciously like lips touch the top of his head softly.

"Stephen-"

"Rest Connor. Watch the movie."

"But-"

"Connor."

Connor fell silent, turning his attention to the movie and slowly letting himself relax into the warm body behind him.