Hook, Line & Sinking (Completed)

20. Sleeping

Hey everyone!

Ready for Matt cuteness? :-)

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Sleeping

We said nothing on the ride to my house but once there he was out of the car before me and getting my door. Inside I fumbled with the lights a little clumsily and realized my hands were shaking. "Darling," Matt murmured while he wrapped an arm around me and started steadily guiding me through the house and up the stairs. "It's okay, I got you." It was then I noticed the duffel in his other hand.

"You don't think it's safe? That they might find me here? There's an alarm system you know..." I told him but I could hear the uncertainty in my own voice. With all that was left unsaid between us I didn't want to presume that he'd just stay, though I wanted him to very badly. "I don't know... They've probably run off to lick their wounds but I don't think they'll give up. The alarm system is a joke, I could get past that easily."

My eyebrows went up, "Really? Have some trespassing experience of your own do you?" I joked, referring to one of our first meetings. He laughed, "Yeah some. I was a Combat Diver for the navy you know, me and Thorne both." I was grateful for the distracting conversation so I pounced on that, "Isn't it cheating? You can turn into half a fish..." "Yeah but I couldn't very well do that with everyone watching now could I? Only advantage I had over the other guys was holding my breath. I can do fifteen to twenty minutes just like you if I don't change shape."

I'd pointed us to my bedroom and now we stood in the door opening surveying the mess I'd left behind that morning. The red numbers on my alarm clock informed me that it was barely midnight which shocked me, it felt like it was almost morning but then so much had happened...

"Okay check, you were a Combat Diver with Thorne, so he's a strong swimmer too huh? Does he know?" I shrugged out from under Matt's arm and headed for my closet so I could dig out a more modest pair of pajamas. He watched me from the door, "He knows about me. Caught me when I returned from a solo mission once..." "But not about the rest of your family? Or me?" When Matt shook his head I thought he looked a little melancholic, clearly it didn't sit well with him to hide things from his friend.

Changing the subject I eyed the duffel he was still holding in one hand, "You're planning on staying the night aren't you?" I wasn't sure what he was expecting but I knew I didn't want him to go, it didn't seem likely that they'd find my house but the thought of him staying eased my mind. He shrugged his wide shoulders and winced, the first sign that he might actually be in a little pain. "I don't like the thought of you alone in the house and like I pointed out, I don't trust that alarm system. I'll sleep on the couch of course."

"There's a guest bedroom down the hall," I pointed in the direction he should head and he gave a single nod and disappeared. I watched him go and wondered where the hell things were headed now between us. Where did I want things to head? Certainly not anywhere tonight.

In the bathroom I stripped and checked out the bruises on my hip and the minor abrasions on my wrists. I couldn't believe how unscathed I had gotten away from Gavin. No scratches, no extra bruises, I was more marked up from Jamie and her ambush on Friday evening than from what had happened tonight. Somehow that almost made it seem like it hadn't happened to me but some other person.

When I'd performed some of my standard evening rituals, like brushing my teeth and braiding my long hair I felt a little more like myself somehow. Dressed in long cotton pajama pants and a tank top I went to my bed and sat down, only to startle when Matt knocked on my door. "You want to go to sleep right away?" he asked when he stepped inside. I noticed that he'd put on a pair of sweats but was bare foot again.