Work Text:
Steve had fallen asleep on his Gaffer’s couch again. Ted looked up from his computer. It had been a frequent occurrence as of late, but Ted did not mind. Not in the least. Steve was not out and about, he was safe, in the office where Ted could keep his eye on him. He worried about the lad. He knew he was not bouncing back from all the changes that were the fallout of the Corbett fiasco. Kate had left and although Chloe showed promise, he knew that Steve had not yet fully adjusted. To be honest, neither had he.
They were the last two in the office. The night janitor had just left from cleaning, and Ted only kept the small light on his desk on as he finished up some reports for the DCC. He slid his chair back as he sat there watching Steve sleep. He knew that he should go wake the lad up so they could leave the office, but he didn’t. He went over to the couch, noticing that Steve was trying to curl himself into a ball, shivering, brows furrowed. Whatever was happening in his wee Steve’s head was not making for a very restful sleep. He took his jacket from the coat rack, and tucked it in gently around him, watching as Steve as he sniffed the covering, sighing and snuggling down, breathing deeply, settling almost instantly.
Ted smiled before returning to his desk. Shutting off the desk lamp and settling back in his chair for a wee bit of shut eye. He knew he should rouse Steve so they could go their separate ways for a good night's sleep in their respective beds, however, he was more comfortable here than in that Travel Lodge room. He compromised, he would let Steve go home early tomorrow, knowing that the couch was not good for his back and feeling guilty for his weakness, but tonight he needed the comfort of having Steve close at hand. And let himself imagine that Steve felt the same, images of him nuzzling his nose into Ted’s jacket and sniffing deeply, feeding that thought.