Remember Me

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

                Clooney trotted into the bedroom, flopping down on the floor at the foot of the bed, and breathed out a deep, relieved sigh as he started to fall asleep. Chuckling, Morgan stepped around Gayle, and tossed her pillow onto his bed, moving to fix the blanket.

“Morgan…you don’t have to do this. I don’t need to sleep the rest of the n-“ He held up a hand, turning around to see her.

“Stop. I know I don’t have to do this. But I am, so you’re sleeping in here. My gun is on my side of the bed, you’re safer in here than you were out there.” She smiled sheepishly at him, and ran her hands over her hair, moving towards the bed.

“I hope you know how gracious a person you really are,” she said, giving his shoulder a squeeze as she laid down, and he draped the blanket over her.

“Thanks, Gayle.” He waited until she got situated, before moving to shut off the light, and climbing under the blanket on his side of the bed. Morgan rolled onto his back, and looked at her as she curled her body up towards the edge of the bed, her fingers clutching to the pillow and the blanket. “You okay, girl?”

“…I don’t know. I know I saw more…but I don’t know what it was. I’m going to try to remember for morning,” she said softly, shaking her head.

“You are a big help on this case – we don’t always have someone who has gotten in and out alive that can help us. Whatever you can remember is fine,” he said, patting his hand on her side. She tilted her head, and nodded.

“Thanks…” she replied, letting her eyes close. “If I start screaming again….”

“Don’t worry about it – we’ll handle it when it happens,” he replied, rolling to face her. The two lay quietly for a moment, before he reached out and rubbed his hand against her back. “Try to sleep, though. You need it – it’s been a hellish few days.”

                Despite her form away from Morgan, bringing her closer to the edge of the bed, when his hand touched her back, she relaxed, and stretched out her body a little bit, straightening her back against his hand. He smiled, and continued to rub her upper back gently, as she buried her face in the pillow.

“That…feels nice, Derek…” she murmured, her voice laced with sleep.

“Good…shhh…” He kept his hand moving on her back until she had fallen asleep, and for several moments after, before leaving his hand on her side, placing his head into his pillow, and beginning to drift off as well.

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                The screech sounded from the clock by the bed, and Morgan, groaning, rolled over and smacked the Snooze button. He lay still for a second, before sighing, and climbing to his feet, running a hand over his face. As he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, he made his way to the bathroom across the hall. When he reentered the bedroom, he stopped, and found Gayle out of the bed, with Clooney in her place. Rubbing his neck, Morgan headed down the hall towards the living room, peeking in to find Gayle sitting in the armchair, feet pulled up in the seat, reading the book she’d brought with her.

“Please tell me you weren’t in here all night,” he chuckled, moving to the kitchen for coffee. Gayle smiled, flipping the page.

“Not all night – as you recall, I spent part of the night in the kitchen…and then in your room,” she teased. Morgan laughed, and walked back into the living room, holding out a cup for her, which she took without looking up.

“Well played. How long have you been out here?” he asked, sitting on the couch near her.

“About an hour. I couldn’t sleep anymore, and Clooney really wanted that bed,” she replied, glancing towards the hallway.