Work Text:
"C'mon love, let's head to sleep," Mike said, walking into Daniel's office. The detective was hunched over his desk and warmly illuminated by a task light. He had been so engrossed in his current case that everything else fell to the wayside. His desk was a mess of papers and empty coffee cups and Mike had hardly seen him at all the past week. He never even came to bed the previous night so he couldn't help but worry.
"Yeah alright I'll be there soon, promise," Daniel looked up at him with a tired smile for just a moment before turning his head back to his work, scribbling something away that Mike didn't quite understand.
Mike placed a kiss to the top of his head, "Get some rest, okay? You need it. See you soon."
Daniel only hummed as Mike made his way to their bedroom to get ready for sleep. In all of the time he was getting changed into PJs, brushing his teeth, and even crawling into bed, his partner never appeared. So he sighed and turned off his bedside lamp, getting comfortable under the covers and hoping that he would join him soon enough.
Only in the morning, the bed was empty beside him. Mike frowned as a deep disappointment seated itself in his gut. He reached over to his side to feel the sheets and it was as he expected. It was not even warm. He pushed himself out of bed and quickly found his way back to Daniel's office, where he could see a gentle glow from the hallway.
He was exactly as he found him about 8 hours before, only somehow with an even worse posture and joined by 2 more empty coffee mugs. Before walking over to his desk, Mike grabbed a plush throw blanket that was folded over the sofa in the corner. He announced his presence by wrapping the blanket around Daniel's shoulders. The detective jumped but then immediately melted into the touch. "Oh..morning," he said, his voice groggy and laced with guilt.
Mike rubbed his shoulders as his eyebrows knit together in worry. He knew he hadn't slept but as his eyes scanned his desk, he noticed there being no evidence of food either, save for the handful of empty mugs. Usually he would bring a sandwich or at least a snack back to his desk but on days like this when he was so engrossed in his work, food was the first to be ignored. "Love, when was the last time you ate?"
Daniel thought about it for a moment but looked puzzled, as if he genuinely couldn't remember, "Uh.. a while ago I think. I'm okay though, just been busy."
"Mhmm," Mike hummed, not quite believing him. "How about I get some breakfast started, yeah?"
"That sounds lovely, thanks," Daniel replied and so Mike turned towards the kitchen to finally get some proper food in him. Of course the moment he was alone again, Daniel turned back to his work. He was so close to solving this case he could practically taste it. As he typed away and sorted through evidence files for the hundredth time it was almost as if he could smell it even. That delicious justice...oh is that bacon?
Almost involuntarily he rose and his feet dragged him to the kitchen, following the wonderful smell of meat cooking away. He kept the blanket around his shoulders because while his office kept warm, there was always a chill to the flat in the mornings. He took a seat at the kitchen counter and Mike greeted him with a bright smile as he cracked an egg into the sizzling pan. "Thought that might draw you out. I'm cooking your favourite."
"Thanks darling," Daniel blinked a few times, sleepily. His eyesight was so used to squinting at documents it took a moment to adjust to the new environment. "You didn't have to, really."
"And have you living on granola bars again? I don't think so," Mike said as he flipped the bacon and then wiped his hands on his apron. "Now why don't you tell me about the case you're working on? Must be pretty juicy to have you all wrapped up like this."
Daniel groaned and rubbed his face, "It's this Stuart bloke, William Jackson. He was just a servant—a tenant farmer's son. But he disappeared off the face of the earth and no one knows what happened to him. The clues are all there but I just can't seem to find the link."
"Well if anyone can get to the bottom of it, I'm sure it's you. You're absolutely brilliant," Mike said, handing him his plate. "You helped to bring Xerxes to justice when I was shot at Thermopylae now didn't you?"
"Thanks, I hope you're right. I feel like I owe it to them to uncover the truth."
Mike served up his own plate and joined him at the counter. The two of them ate between idle chitchat about Daniel's case and the report Mike was expecting to film the next day. When they were done, Mike cleared up the dishes and Daniel thanked him as he turned to head back towards his office.
"And just where do you think you're going?"
Daniel stopped in his tracks and looked back at him, confused, "My office?"
Mike pouted at him, "I was hoping you'd get some sleep by now. You need it."
"But I—"
"How about this," Mike cut him off. "You come back to bed for just 5 minutes, okay? At least rest your eyes for a bit and then you can get back to work. Deal?"
Daniel eyed him suspiciously but then slowly nodded, "I suppose 5 minutes wouldn't hurt."
"Lovely!" Mike smiled and strode towards their bedroom, prompting Daniel to follow. "You'll thank me later."
The two of them settled down into bed, with Mike still in his PJ's and Daniel only slipping off his jumper. He didn't see the point in changing clothes entirely if it was only going to be for a short rest.
Even then, he got comfy by pulling the blankets over him rather than simply laying on top of the comforter. Mike joined him and wasted no time in cuddling up close. He wrapped an arm around his torso and rested his head against his shoulder, hoping that would convince his partner to stay a bit longer. "G'night Daniel," he whispered against him.
Daniel mumbled some sort of "Goodnight" back but his eyelids were heavy and sleep came for him the moment his head hit the pillow. Mike smiled when he could hear soft snores coming from his direction. Finally.
Mike drifted off to sleep too, happy to have his detective back in his arms and taking care of himself for once. When he awoke from his nap an hour or so later, his heart was full to see the bed still occupied besides him. He lifted his head to admire his soft features in the morning light. In all of his glory of slightly greasy hair and overgrown stubble, Mike thought he looked absolutely beautiful. More than anything, he was glad that D.I. Bones was finally getting more than 5 minutes of sleep.