The soft flickering of a muted movie helped to ease Jack's anxiety over his next chore. He sent a text to Sam and received an immediate reply. He wouldn't have to wait or wake anyone up, but night-shift-Sam could go either way with his mood. Jack prayed for sleep deprived as he called and waited.

"Fairchild."

"How much would you hate me if I kinda sorta moved in with Kieran?" he asked, unmuting the TV and setting it to a low murmur. He didn't think vampires had amazing hearing, and Kieran had looked especially tired when he headed to bed.

"You're an adult and allowed to make decisions on your own," Sam replied, his voice bordering on monotone.

"But…?"

"But." Sam took a deep breath before his tone turned exasperated. "Really, Jack? Where do you stand with him? Is this something you actually want, or are you being coerced?"

Jack blinked at the TV in surprise as his thoughts collided with the wall that was Sam's logic. He didn't think he was being manipulated. He wasn't missing any more time than usual. He just noticed it more. "Why would you think I'm being coerced?"

"You're nothing but mixed signals when it comes to that guy."

"That's just me in general," Jack said in relief. "I have some major issues in case you didn't notice."

"Never noticed. Besides—" Sam broke off as a muffled voice interrupted from the other end of the line. "What? Not if I can avoid it. Last resort. I mean it."

"Something interesting?"

"Joe's trying to drag me into his investigation. Contaminated drugs, so—"

"So don't risk it. I know." Jack rolled his eyes. He really regretted not covering his tracks better. It was just ecstasy. Nothing super hardcore. It wasn't like he was trying to score heroin or make meth.

"EMTs found a guy and barely managed to save him. Dead for two minutes. Don't do anything stupid," Sam stressed.

Jack dropped onto his side and sighed heavily. "I'm under the impression I'm in the middle of something stupid. If your reaction's anything to go by."

"At least you recognize it." There was a hint of annoyance in Sam's reply.

"Ha. So funny." Jack rolled onto his back and propped his legs over the couch arm. "But you don't hate me?"

"I don't hate you, and I don't hate your stupid boyfriend."

That caught Jack's attention. "He's been upgraded? Really?"

"He's about even with Shane at the moment, but pulling ahead. Not that it would take much."

"Who's Shane?" And how could he bring up how much better Kieran was compared to Shane at every possible moment?

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"Tara's current boyfriend who thinks it's appropriate to stare at my wife's ass as if I'm not there."

"Ah. That Shane." That was why the name was familiar. It was good to know that he and Tara were both still bad at picking decent relationships.

"That Shane," Sam confirmed in distaste.

"Does she know?"

"Which one?"

"Either," Jack said, snorting softly. He couldn't imagine one knowing and the other not.

"Candy has since decided against sitting in on the morning yoga class despite the convenient time slot."

"Guess I'll prepare myself for the breakup outing." Jack wondered what bars they would hit. He struggled to sit up, eventually giving up on fighting for balance against the couch arm. He huffed as he stared at the pile of blankets sitting beside him.

"Now what's wrong?"

"Would it be weird if I opened a window at night?" Jack asked, looking from the blankets to the curtains covering the windows. There was a slight chill in the air, but it was comfortable enough to either sleep in a sweatshirt without blankets or do his normal routine of t-shirt and boxers and buried in comfort. "To make it cold. So I can wear a sweatshirt to sleep in."

"I'd say go for it, but that's just me talking," Sam admitted with a soft laugh.

"Yeah… I mean, he's seen 'em, so he won't be all weird about it, but he also won't be weird about it."

"Which is weird."

Finally, someone understood. "Exactly!"

"Jack. Go to sleep."

No one understood.

Jack rolled up a sleeve and examined his arm in the shifting light. Kieran had seen them when there were fresh additions. If he woke up first, then he could throw on a sweatshirt. "Right. Going to sleep. G'night."

"Night."

He changed into what served as his pajamas and began arranging the sheets on the couch. The cool air was refreshing on his bare arms, and he ran his fingers along the texture of his scars. He could just barely recall what it was like being high and enjoying the feel. Scoring was off limits for the moment, and it was unlikely that Sam would let him know when the danger of contaminated drugs had passed.

He looked to the hall that led to Kieran's room and wondered what it would be like to willingly go under a vampire's thrall. He settled under the blankets and huffed in annoyance. He was an idiot with too many conflicting thoughts.

The only thing Augie had managed to put in perspective for him was how stupid he was. Chasing an unachievable high was right up his alley, and he couldn't tell if it was an implanted thought or his own. Since there was no drifting fogginess, it was probably his own.

Jack rolled over and faced the back of the couch, hoping for at least a good three hours of solid sleep. Five if he was really lucky.

---

The sound of cabinets opening and closing pulled Jack awake, and he poked his head out of his comfortable tomb. He grabbed his phone off the coffee table and squinted at the time. Six was much too early to be alive.

His eyes moved from his phone to his bare forearm. It was also too early to deal with anyone seeing his scars. He scanned the floor and found his discarded sweatshirt. Reaching out, he grunted against the soreness in his shoulder.

The sounds from the kitchen stopped. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you," Kieran quietly called out.

"It's no problem," Jack said as he pulled his sweatshirt over his head and pushed his arms through the sleeves. He was ready to face the world.

Or at least the apartment.

"Would you like breakfast?"

"Is the sun up?" asked Jack. He slumped back into the blankets. They had reached the level of comfort that only a restless sleep the night before could bring, and he fully intended to catch up on his missing sleep.

Kieran laughed and shook his head. "Help yourself when you're ready."

A noncommittal noise was all Jack could manage, pressing himself further into the pillow and blankets.

image [https://i.imgur.com/eZY0YUq.png]