Work Text:
As with most good things, it started with an accident.
Grace’s door was ajar. Only by an inch or two, but it was definitely open.
Security reported it to Adrian, who asked Rocky about it. All the Eridians had mutually agreed to respect Grace’s privacy, with no monitoring going on inside his house - Armando had a direct link to the biodome system, allowing him to raise an alarm if something happened to Grace.
Why door open?
Don’t know. I go see.
Rocky was grateful for the break. Between helping with the engineers trying to comprehend Earth science and incorporate it into their own knowledge, and running interference with the politicians who had too many ideas of how to deal with the relationship between Earth and Erid, he had little free time. He tried to visit Grace as much as possible, but his friend had his own scheduling issues.
Teaching and drawing up lesson plans for his students took up a good deal of his time, but putting together logs to transmit back to Earth was now a secondary task; Grace’s honorary ambassadorship helping strengthen the ties between the two civilizations. True, transmissions would take a long time to both send and receive, but it was a necessary evil to keep both groups focused on the task at hand.
With the news that both suns had recovered from the astrophage infection, came the realization that they now had a shared responsibility to try and help the rest of the universe - or at least as many as they could.
This had started a strange space race; both planets working to create more missions to other planets in an effort to figure out what could be done about the Petrova Lines.
It took little time for Rocky to get into his protective suit - the engineers had done a much better job in building this one than he could ever have; using all their techniques to provide a tighter fit and sleeker, more flexible seams. He could feel so much more through it; diving into the water and rolling on the sand in the biodome, providing so much more sensation than the crude ball he had created to survive on the Hail Mary.
Be back soon, he said to Adrian.
Take as long as need to. I have work to do. Take care of Grace.
It didn’t take long to get through the safety doors, and into the biodome.
Rocky raced up the steps to the door, noting how the night cycle had just started - an artificial one, since Erid didn’t have the same rotation as Earth. It would remain dark for 8 hours, then slowly illuminate to the cloudy fog his friend enjoyed so much.
“Grace?” He trilled before pushing the door open and entering. “Grace?”
Armando nodded at Rocky as he approached the bedroom, swinging his robotic arms around in welcome. There was no outward sign of distress, letting Rocky know there was nothing physically wrong with Grace.
He’d just left the door open.
Rocky let out a trill of relief before turning away.
“Rock?”
The familiar voice had him moving to stand beside the bed.
“Everything okay?” His voice was slurred, the sleepy mumble Rocky had become accustomed to during their long trip home.
“Yes, Grace safe. Not close door all the way. Door that I made.” He allowed a bit of annoyance to creep into his voice. “Had to come and make sure Grace was okay.”
“Oh. Sorry. I’m fine.” Grace stretched out a hand to pat the transparent shield. “Tired. Long day. I couldn’t sleep. Mind going in all directions - just couldn’t settle down. Guess I didn’t close the door properly. Sorry,” he repeated.
Rocky shrugged. “All good. Rocky go now.”
“Wait.”
The single word held him in place.
Grace rolled over, making room on the mattress. “Can you stay for a few minutes? I…” The sleepy words come out in a slow roll. “I miss you. Been a long time since you watched me sleep.”
“But Grace safe.” Rocky pointed at the medical robot. “Armando watch you sleep.”
“Not the same.” Grace yawned.
“Is true.” Rocky admitted as he climbed up on the mattress, remembering all the months they had been together on the spaceship. It had been so much…
Quieter.
He laid down on the bed. “I watch you sleep. Be safe now.”
Rocky didn’t flinch as Grace’s arms went around him; much easier with the thin protective suit. It was easy to relax into his grip, and monitor as Grace’s breathing became slower, deeper, signaling a level of sleep.
The silence allowed Rocky to relax as well, decompressing from the day’s activities.
Here, there was nothing but the two of them.
Rocky sighed, and curled closer to Grace. Mentally he reverted back to his routine on the Hail Mary, listing and cataloging what he needed to do once Grace woke up. Without constant interruption, it was much easier and less stressful.
The artificial sun rose, illuminating the house slowly.
Grace woke first, stretching out as he blinked himself awake.
“Rocky?” he murmured as he reached for his glasses. “Why are you here?”
Rocky grunted as he rolled off the bed. “Grace leave door open. Rocky come to check and make sure all is well; Grace ask Rocky to stay. Rocky stay.” He gave himself a shake. “Now Rocky go, take nap, and start day.”
“Oh.” Grace scratched the back of his head. “Sorry about taking you away from Adrian. You should have gone home once I was asleep.”
“No. No. No.” Rocky strode toward the door, ignoring Armando as the robot began its daily routine of making what Grace said passed for coffee. “Rocky sleep at home while Adrian watch. Is all good.” He turned back. “Is like when we were in space. Was… nice. Grace feel better?”
“Yeah.” Grace cleared his throat. “Feeling a lot better. Thanks for being here.”
“All good. See you later.” He paused, finding the words. “If Grace want Rocky to watch over him some night while he sleep, maybe leave door ajar? Rocky see, Rocky come and be with Grace.”
Rocky watched Grace think for a few second before giving a slow nod.
“But only when I leave the door open,” he said. “I don’t want you to get in trouble. Especially with Adrian.”
Rocky chuckled before trotting out the door. “Have good day.”
Adrian wasn’t upset when he returned.
Grace save Rocky. Never deny Grace anything we can give. I will explain to others. Go to sleep now - I watch.
Now, it’s a routine.
Neither of them will admit it, of course, because that would mean that they miss the comfort and silence of the Hail Mary, and that is something hard to describe to those who hadn’t been there.
Every biodome night, Rocky checks the security camera to see if the door is open.
If it is, he leaves whatever it is that he’s working on, and goes to the house to curl up with Grace in bed. The silence wraps around them, giving some peace and quiet before the demands of being on Erid returns with the artificial sunrise.
Then Rocky escorts Grace to another day of classes, before going to meet Adrian and returning to his many responsibilities.
Until a few days later, when the door is left ajar again…
***
A few notes: Yes, I am the author with one of the oldest fanfics on ff.net. Yes, I married a man who sent me a fan letter based on my X-Files fanfiction. Yes, I do original work. If you like romance, check out my stuff. If not, well... keep on reading what you love!
Yes, I am that old. Usenet old. So bear with an old crone as she returns to her first love... I love to write drabbles, missing scenes that just fill in the gaps.
So there.
*creaking noises*