The drive back was tedious. It was really hard to see anything at all. Grant kept his eyes on the red lights ahead of him. Caleb drove very slowly. Finally he pulled into a small lot and Grant swung his car in next to him. They got out, not even trying to stay dry anymore. The cars beeped locking up as Caleb nodded Grant after him. They found their way to the building and took shelter in the covered stairwell.
"Well that was fun." Caleb laughed.
Rivulets of water ran through his hair plastering it to his face. Grant chuckled softly.
"Come on." Caleb wrapped his arm around Grant's in a friendly manner and they went up the flights of stairs to the third floor.
Down four doors Caleb released him to literally fish around in his watery pocket for the key. The door opened to the apartment whose schematics Grant had studied so many, many times. But now, it was no longer the cruel blue and black of a floor plan. Somehow this small cream painted box held warmth. It held comfort. It held them.
"This is my place." Caleb said fondly.
Grant thought for a moment. "It feels nice in here, warm."
"Nice in here?" Skye laughed in the background. "Our leading agent is a horrible conversationalist."
Grant tuned her out as the blonde smiled.
"Yes it is. Warmer than we are at the very least." Caleb picked off his soaked jacket.
He tossed it on the coat rack. The blonde's shirt clung to him very tightly. Grant studied it with secret pleasure. Funny, just by admitting it was pleasureful he could avoid the rush of blood to his face. Caleb picked at his shirt and looked over at his soaked companion.
Caleb laughed. "I've got some clothes you can borrow."
He vanished for a moment and handed him a pair of sweatpants, a white t-shirt, and a sweatshirt that had a firefighter's symbol on it.
"There's a restroom back that way." Caleb gestured.
Grant walked away reluctantly glancing back. He dried off the best he could, pulling on the softer fabric. It was rather large but he just shivered for a minute to let the air pockets trapped against his skin heat up. He exited the small bathroom and made his way down the hall back to the living area. He wondered if Caleb would lend him a pair of socks.
"Hey. Sorry, forgot to ask but did you want socks too?"
Grant turned to the open door of the bedroom as a white bundle was thrown to him. He caught it neatly and professionally.
"Thanks." Grant said leaning one hand on the wall to pull on said socks.
Caleb nodded amicably and shivered. "Man, it's still cold in here isn't it?"
He gave the silver temperature control dial a spin. The heater warbled to life sounding like the heavy outwards breath of a large wolf sighing to wakefulness. He then went over and picked up the remote controller from the table. The box hummed to life. They watched the game in silence. Neither really had a team to cheer for so they just watched. Eventually, having consumed an oven baked pizza, the game ended.
"Good game." Grant said.
Caleb nodded. "It was fun."
Grant grinned. Just sitting with the blonde seemed to be fun. "I need to head home though. Past my curfew you know." He said jokingly.
A huge crack followed by a rumble shook them suddenly. He sound of the heavy rain reached their ears. Caleb went over to the window and shifted the shutter a bit. Two successive flashes lit up the room in ex-ray white light. Grant didn't flinch but Caleb did.
"Hmm." Caleb rubbed the base of his chin. "Change of plans."
"What?" The dark haired guy came to look outside.
Water lapped at the sidewalks and the road was hidden under the formed river. Various twigs and branches ran with it. A small child's toy was barely visible floating away. The rain changed direction blowing the rain into the window so nothing could be seen beyond but melting colors.
"I guess we make this a sleepover." Caleb sighed. "Sorry Grant. I completely forgot about this fella. One whopper of a storm."
Grant shrugged tiredly. "Nature happens."
Caleb laughed. "That it does. You get the bed. I'm going to take the couch."
"What? Wait." Grant said.
The blue eyes looked at him pointedly. "Go to bed Grant." He said commandingly soft.
Caleb got his way. And Grant found himself in the large bed covered by a nature colored brown grey comforter. He sighed rolling over for another sleeping sleepless night.