Avalon

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Just There...

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Nate heard faint giggling from somewhere. And from more than one person.

Judging by the smell he was still at the hospital and by the way his body felt half numb and pinned down by much greater weight than a plain blanket Noel had once again wrapped himself around Nate during his tight sleep.

He tried a subtle poke before he remembered how tightly Noel slept.

And the giggling probably came from nurses stuck in the doorway in the middle of adoration process.

How fun it's going to be.

Nate made a small waking movement and yawned loudly before trying to move his slightly bulkier companion. A quiet rustle by the door notified him that his awakening had been duly noted and accepted.

And then, without a warning, a bright nurse materialized next to the bed positively beaming.

"Good morning, Nate. I see you two have had a pleasant night."

Nate made a show of slight degree of blushing. "No doubt of that, nurse.. Hyden."

The nurse blushed herself and took a look at the machines, dotting down some measures and numbers.

"I see you're doing better, Nate. However I'll have to ask you to help me wake up your lovely companion because I'll need to see your body." She even added moderate level of regret.

Nate laughed softly. "I'll see how can I help with that. Commander here has a very deep sleep. I'm afraid we'd have to use some heavier intruders." He said with a shrug.

"Alright, I'll let you try easier way for five more minutes and then, if unsuccessful, I'll reside to artillery." Nurse Hayden smiled and disappeared out the door with an unexpectedly quick and quiet steps.

"Yeah, we'll see about that..." Nathan sighed, carefully enough to save himself from another coughing fit, and started elbowing Noel. When that failed he tried blowing air in Noel's ear, tickle his sensitive side of face, kick the man's ribs and number of other pokes whenever he could reach. All seemed useless against the deep loss of consciousness that was Noel's sleep.

Nate was almost sure his friend definitely had some disorder that made the sleep so deep. It was downright creepy and Nathaniel tried not to think of many injuries Noel might be suffering from. Military life wasn't easy, nor was the one they lived for some time before that..

Nathaniel looked down at Noel. He was totally glued to him and wrapped his body around Nate's as if he feared he could try an escape. Which, come to think of, wasn't a bad idea, Nate was dog tired of lying on his, albeit comfortable, hospital bed and not allowed to even sit up.

All he could do was to put his hand on Noel's head and while waiting for nurse to return do a gently massage the man's scalp. Something that was a special comforting gesture for both and mostly executed by Noel every time Nate got ill or injured, but on rare occasions it was Nathan who returned it. Those had been rare times, mostly because Noel didn't let his weaknesses show easily and was less open about his feelings, pain including. But there had been those few times it was Nate being the one to take care of sick or injured Noel.

"Oh, darling, I see you weren't successful." Nurse Hayden appeared again seemingly out of thin air pulling Nate out of old memories.

"Unfortunately." He sighed, still careful to avoid coughing fit.

"Well, how about you tell me how long he's been like this. I'm almost certain such a deep sleep can't be overly normal." Hayden was onto musing session, already checking Commander's pulse and temperature.

"Um.." Nate hesitated for a second, gathering the sometimes fading recollection of old memories, "well, after the first incident he was fine, I guess. It was my head that got cracked open, he only suffered some sort of back injury. After that I really lost some of my observation skills. It somehow became apparent after he had finished the military training, one of the rare times after reunion we spent together. That was also the approximate time I started noticing." Nate finished and took a couple deep breaths. Nurse was already checking in with her computer and something else he couldn't see.

"I see. Of course, I can't tell what it might be, however for a Commander having such issue might turn out somewhat tricky. Especially if he's still on active field duty."

"Oh, he's not. Not anymore. Last I had the privilege to eavesdrop he was test pilot and something at the strategy centre. Or just as well some secret advisor at Ministry or security specialist at Military Center. All I know is that I've never met anyone more caring and loving than this man." was Nate's rather sneaky reply with an added amount of romance story beginnings in it. And he noticed that nurse enjoyed it and soon enough staff members will be gossiping and chatting about them.

And if Noel will get admitted as well there might be some special happenings and he guessed some great fun was on the way. He couldn't stop the smirk.

"Sounds like he's the one for you, Nate. He was really getting mad at everyone here for a while. And such powerful commanding at the desk was indeed most spectacular in a long time." She said with a smile. She seemed positively moved by the whole affair they started couple weeks ago.

Nurse Hayden seemed truly worried about the man lying on top of her patient and wasn't at all troubled by the fact it made her job harder.

"Oh, he can become pretty intimidating all right. But I assume if's showing a quite an amount of affection." Nate added appropriate amount of modesty. It worked on the nurse just like a song.

"Don't worry, dear, I'll see how can I help your love, but first I need to get you two separate and both conscious." she beamed and cracked a tiny capsule which was put to Noel's face. It was quite a sight as the man in question started slowly as snail come to.

As he watched he realized something only a bit more ticklish than the possible findings of the man's health- that maybe, and just tiny bit possibly, Nate might be having much warmer feelings towards his most respected, loved and cared about friend and best possible brother anyone could ever wish for than he'd ever imagined possible. And somehow he didn't mind this new revelation.

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