David Tennant One-Shots/Preferences

TLC - Alec Hardy

The Daniel Latimer case had been going on for two full months.

Alec had slept very little, and eaten even less.

But he didn't have time for that. Not when he had a case to solve.

It was midnight. L/n and Miller had gone home anywhere between five minutes and an hour ago.

He said he'd stop in a minute. Just reading through the files one more time.

He'd read through them ten times by now.

He didn't noticed when you came back. It took a minute for you to notice him, to be honest.

"Hardy?" You opened the door to his office. He didn't look up.

"Hardy!"

He looked up calmly. "Yah?"

"What are you still doing here? You said you were leaving an hour ago."

"I got distracted."

You furrowed your brow. "When was the last time you slept?"

"Why does it matter?"

"Because you're gonna be useless if you don't take care of yourself. Have you eaten or drank anything today? Other than manky microwave tea?"

"I've been busy."

"Shut up."

He jumped out of his chair as you threw his coat on him.

"What was that for?"

"You're going home. Now."

"L/n, you can't tell me what to do. I'm your boss, not the other way 'round."

"I'm aggressively advising you. You can't think straight without sufficient sleep or food. Or, showers, for that matter, so up."

"What're you gonna do if I don't?"

"I'll shave your beard off."

"I'll fire you."

"Then your eyebrows will be next. Now, please, with all due respect, get up off your arse and go to bed."

He groaned. He'd learned how stubborn you were, by now, and there was no point arguing. He knew you were right.

He stood up, slouching and stumbled slightly as he walked.

You cautiously leaned forward as he neared, looking closely at his face.

"Look at you, Hardy, you're exhausted."

"'M not," he lied.

"You're a terrible liar. Grab your things."

Soon you'd wrestled him, half asleep into your car and took him to the nearest open shop. You bought two meal deals and then took him back to the hotel.

He, reluctantly, allowed you into his room. You sat on his bed and ate with him.

He noticed you staring at him. "You don't have to watch me-"

"You'll chuck it away if I don't and that cost me a fiver, so, eat your sandwich."

He rolled his eyes and took another bite.

He already felt better once he'd finished.

"See? Food is good for you. Now, you go take some clothes in there and get a shower."

"What're you gonna do?"

"I'm waiting in here so I can make sure you go to bed. Which is why you're taking clothes in there."

"You are not staying in my room while I shower."

"I'm not gonna peek! I'm just sick of you smelling like ten cans of shark shit."

He rolled his eyes and showered. A nice warm shower, you'd told him. When he came back into the room, dressed in a t-shirt and pajama bottoms, he found you sat on his bed with a cup of nice smelling tea.

"Becca gave me some chamomile. Sit down." You patted the bed beside you. "Yours is on the bedside table."

"I don't like herbal tea."

"You don't like anything."

He sat down, under the blankets with the tea. "What're ye doin' now?"

"I'm sitting and watching TV with you until you fall asleep."

"Why?"

"Because a well rested Hardy is a slightly less irritable Hardy. It's easier to sleep with another person in the room, and you're a disobedient fucker who'll get straight back up if I leave now. Lay down, please."

He shuffled down into the bed, taking careful sips of the warm tea. You were - annoyingly - right. The tea was nice and he felt his body beginning to grow heavy.

"You haven't drugged me, have you?" He asked, slurring ever so slightly with drowsiness.

"Nope. This is what it feels like when you listen to your body and sleep when you're tired."

He finished his tea, and you watched his eyelids fighting to stay open. You lowered the volume on the TV until you could barely just hear the dialogue.

It didn't take long for him to stop fighting and drift off.

You waited for a while after he fell asleep, to ensure he wasn't pretending.

Just when you'd approved, and switched off the TV, he made a gentle noise. You furrowed your brow at the sleeping man.

He did it again. A quiet, involuntary sound like... a whimper.

He did it again, thrashing in his sleep, this time.

He was having a nightmare, you realised.

You shuffled down to his level and rubbed his arms softly.

"Sh..." you whispered close to his ear. "It's just a dream. You're okay."

After some more of this, his movements slowed to a stop. By now, you were feeling pretty tired yourself, and you were half tempted to sneak into bed with him.

You didn't, of course, knowing that you'd never hear the end of it, even if you weren't fired immediately. Instead, you left on his TV, just as some white noise for him to sleep to.

You made your way back to your room and slept through the night.

The next morning, you were slightly less chirpy than normal, but not too bad.

Alec was, of course, still grumpy but less rude than normal.

"Good morning, sir," you smiled, sliding a fresh brew across the small kitchen counter to him.

He looked at you, slightly surprised, before averting his gaze. "Mornin'."

"How are you feeling?"

"Much better." He gave you a tiny smile. "Thank you."

"No problem, sir. Everyone needs a little TLC now and then." You patted his shoulder. "Maybe now that you've had some rest we'll be about to find something new."

He smiled wider as he watched you walk away.

"Maybe."