Caleb was pacing outside the bedroom door. Tristan hadn't looked well... at the very least he should eat a little and take his meds before going to sleep. Of course, he had a key to the door, but it was better that Tristan didn't know that. He listened intently and heard nothing inside. Looking at his watch, he estimated that Tristan should be gently snoring by now - it was odd that he was so quiet. 

He knocked on the door. "Tristan..?" 

A murmur. 

"Tristan, are you okay in there?"

A slight stir from beyond the door was all the impetus he needed to knock louder; banging his fist as he desperately tried to force some kind of response.

"...Hurts..."

Tristan was conscious; he'd be able to ascertain if the door was unlocked with a key. Slamming his shoulder against the wood, Caleb tried to break the lock with his strength. A few painful hits was all it took to remove the barrier that kept him from Tristan. Rushing to the bedside, he checked his temperature before carefully lifting him into his arms. 

"I think you have a fever, let me take you to the hospital." 

Tristan resisted. His body was sticky, and everything ached beyond the level of his comfort. The energy required to leave his bed was more than he could bear.

"Tristan..." Caleb touched his forehead against the man he held. "Don't worry, I'll be with you. I will always be with you." 

The half-conscious patient was carried into the elevator and bundled into the back of Caleb's car. It wasn't the hospital that they arrived at, but a private clinic only a few streets away. Gone was the perfunctory care of the over-stretched Dr Perinna, replaced by the scrupulous efforts of the highly paid Dr Terice. 

"I'm glad you called ahead" she said, "My nurse was about to leave for the night."

After thorough testing, it was determined that Tristan had most likely suffered some inflammation to his head injury, and that the issue could be easily treated with fluids and medication. 

"So this is the husband?" she asked Caleb as they stepped out of the room, "I'm surprised you didn't bring him here after the accident. There's no sense in being mysterious if it means your partner isn't receiving the due care he deserves. What? Were you worried I'd scare him with tales of your past?"

"He doesn't like hospitals" he told her, "That's all. If I can take care of him at home then I will."

"Just be sure he doesn't overdo it and he should be fine. He's young and healthy after all."

Caleb was about to return to Tristan's side when he stopped to confirm what she said. 

"How healthy..?" he asked, "What did the scans show..?"

"Not much. His arm is healing well and there doesn't appear to be any other problems. I'm surprised you told me he's been suffering memory loss - there are no indicators of structural or functional lesions present in his brain. Though of course I couldn't rule out the possibility of psychological damage. You didn't traumatize that poor boy, did you?"

"Of course not" Caleb frowned, thinking about the bastard that had caused all this. "But in terms of his immediate health... he needs to rest? So his returning to work would have to be delayed..?"

"Not necessarily. So long as he took things slowly..."

"But you could suggest otherwise, right?"

Dr Terice wasn't sure how to answer him, but it was clear what he was asking. Why he wanted to keep Tristan at home was his own business. 

"I would only advise rest. The patient can choose to listen or not, it's his decision after all." 

Caleb was worried that it was too soon for Tristan to be out in the world, he hadn't yet secured things between them. If he could take care of him for a little while, they were bound to get closer than they were now. 

"Don't even think about it" she said, "You can't force someone to rest."

"It's not forcing" said Caleb, "It would be gently encouraging."

He returned to Tristan's side and smoothed his hair as he began to stir on the bed. 

"I think I fell asleep again" he said, shifting away from the touch of his fingers. "Where is the doctor? Can I go soon?"

"Dr Terice has advised that I can take you home... but you'll need to rest for a little while. I think you may need to postpone your return to the supermarket for a little while. It's most likely you'll have to remain in my care until the inflammation subsides... and given the chance of relapse... I think it's best that I move back into the master bedroom..."

Tristan was still groggy, and a little confused by the suggestion. 

"You mean we would switch rooms?" he asked him, "Or just that I should stay somewhere else..?"

"Only I would switch" said Caleb, "That is... we would share our bedroom. Like we used to..."

Having never before shared an apartment with this man, let alone a bed, it was bold of him to make such a claim directly to Tristan's face. He could try to dispute it, to demand that he continue to sleep alone, but what would be the point? It's not like it was his apartment. He was staying there like a pet. 

"It's up to you" he said, his face void of emotion.

The resigned countenance of the patient was not the greatest response he could have hoped for, but Caleb was satisfied that permission had been somewhat granted. This was only one step closer towards his goal after all, he couldn't be sure of landing his foot squarely each time; there were bound to be some that were a little harder to traverse. The nurse came in to remove Tristan's IV, but Dr Terice did not come to see him. 

"It's okay" Caleb told him, "The doctor's already given instructions on how to take care of you. For now let's just go home."

Tristan was too tired to refuse the arm offered to him as they made their way to the car, at least he didn't need to be carried. They drove in silence; one preparing himself to sleep beside a stranger, and the other trying to calm his own frenzied excitement. 

"Which side do you prefer?" Caleb asked in him the bedroom. 

"Don't you remember?" asked Tristan, turning away as he rolled his eyes and yawned. 

"Things change... you maybe wanted to sleep differently with your injury and all" said Caleb, trying to cover up his foolish oversight. "I'll use the main bathroom, and let you get ready for bed in here" he said, "I'd remind you not to lock the bedroom door tonight... but I think it's still broken from earlier. Don't worry, I'll get it fixed soon."

What did it matter if the door could be locked or not? Caleb had already found himself safely on the other side of it. Tristan didn't have the energy to cover everything and shower again; he washed his face, brushed his teeth, and changed into clean pyjamas. It's not like it mattered if his hygiene wasn't perfect, if anything it might make Caleb change his mind about sharing a bed with him. 

"Ready?" asked Caleb; by some unknown law of time and space, Caleb had showered and returned while Tristan was in the bathroom.

The last time he'd gotten into bed with someone, aside from that fevered night when he's first arrived; was when he slept beside Jed for the last time. There was always so much distance between them, and it was rare that they'd turn in together. 

"I'll take the left side" said Tristan, closer to the door and easier to make an escape. 

"Okay!" Caleb replied, pulling back the covers and slipping into the right to wait for him. "Do you want me to help you into bed?"

"I can manage." 

Caleb was still wearing his glasses, a loose fitting t-shirt was peeking above the covers, while his boxer shorts were hidden beneath. While Tristan wasn't all that interested in what he was wearing, he couldn't help but catch a glimpse of his muscular legs before they disappeared from view. 

"Is there a gym here?" Tristan asked. 

"There is... but I don't use it. When you're better you can go there as often as you like." 

Tristan nodded and pulled back the covers, swiveling into position before laying against the pillows. Caleb checked that he was comfortable, before offering to bring him a glass of water and help rearrange the bedding. He was fussing so much it was starting to grate on Tristan.

"I'm fine" he said, "But the more questions you ask, the less likely I am to relax. I would like to go to sleep soon." 

Hearing Tristan stand up for himself was something Caleb had been desperately waiting for. 

"What else would you like?" he asked, unable to keep himself from following Tristan's simple request for peace. 

Tristan sighed and looked ever so slightly in his direction. 

"I'd like to go back to work tomorrow" he said, "But I presume that's not allowed..." 

Caleb leaned on his elbow, watching him. "When you've recovered, of course you can go back" he told him, "But what do you want in the meantime..? How can I make you comfortable, Tristan? This is your home, I want to see you happy here." 

Happy? It was enough that he was barely surviving. The only thing he'd really wanted to do was visit the temples with Tibur and Millie. 

"There's something... isn't there?" asked Caleb, witnessing the perceptible disappointment on Tristan's face. 

"If I can't go to work, I assume I couldn't go to see the north of the island with my friends? We were talking about it tonight... though I think we're unlikely to go for a little while." 

Caleb was sad that it wasn't something he could give him himself.

"When you're better" he said, "Whatever you want to do, we can make it happen. For now though, you need to rest. And I will help you do that." 

Trust me, only me. I will take care of you.

Tristan didn't answer. He settled down beneath the covers and turned his face towards the door. A sobering thought kept him from sleep. 'If he tries to touch me I can run' he'd thought... and yet there was nowhere to run to. If he tried to touch him, he would probably have to let him. Silent tears stained his pillow, as he fastened his fingers tighter around the covers. He thought of his dad, and how much he longed for him to come and rescue him from this madness. But his father was gone... and even in the days he was around, he would never have recognized his child's pleading eyes. 

Help me. Anyone...

Caleb had no thoughts of impropriety, content as he was to inhabit Tristan's space. No more listening from behind closed doors, he could hear him breathing. He knew that he was safe, and in turn, he could sleep a little easier. Once his glasses were neatly placed on the bedside, and the light switched off, he didn't dare disturb the placement of the bed covers. Awkwardly laying there with his limbs uncovered, he remained stock-still in the hopes he wouldn't frighten him. 

"Good night Tristan" he whispered in the darkness.

After a while, Tristan's grip on the covers eased, and he gently wiped the tears from his face. Caleb's snores echoed through the room, and while the sounds were unpleasant, they were welcomed. If he was asleep, then Tristan would be safe. He stayed up so long just listening to the reassuring snores that he didn't realize when he fell asleep himself. 

In the morning, he expected the man would be gone; Jed would never remain in bed beside him. When he turned his face to the side, Caleb was a respectable distance away from him... watching. Tristan was startled, almost falling off the bed as he caught sight of him. 

"Careful!" cried Caleb, reaching out to catch him by his good arm. "No need to be scared... it's only me."

That's what I'm afraid of.