Dorothy woke up to bright sunlight streaming into her eyes and groaned. Turning her head to the side, she pried her eyes open and looked around in surprise. Where the hell…? Oh, yeah. Zechs’ apartment. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, glancing around curiously.

She hadn’t really paid that much attention to her surroundings when they had arrived the previous night. Both she and Zechs had been far more concerned with getting their companion into the large bed that appeared to be Zechs sole concession to comfort. Well, actually, the couch isn’t that bad either, compared to some of the ones in the Preventer’s lounge. Zechs hadn’t even bothered to turn on the lights, just half carried Duo into the bedroom and dumped him on the bed. Dazed blue eyes had opened halfway, then simply closed again as Zechs tugged Duo’s boots off and started unknotting his tie.

“Do you need any help?” She had asked quietly, feeling rather unnecessary again.

“I think I can manage. There are tee shirts in the drawer there, and sweats. Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot else that might fit either of you.” She nodded, and dug through the indicated drawer to pull out two pairs. Leaving one pair on the bed beside him, she sighed.

“In that case, I suppose I’d better leave this part to you.” She grinned. “Much as I might like to watch you strip him.” Zechs blinked up at her, and to her delight, had blushed. “Oh come on, you can’t tell me you haven’t noticed how good looking he is.”

“This is not merely a ploy to get him into my bed,” He growled.

“Of course not… or I would have had to kill you for taking advantage of him.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “Just pointing out that it’s not everyday a girl gets to watch one cute guy strip another.”

He scowled, if anything blushing even harder, and threw a pillow at her. “There are blankets in the hall closet. Make yourself at home.”

“I’ll manage, thanks,” She laughed softly, then sobered slightly. “Take care of him?”

“Of course.” He had nodded, understanding her need to lighten the mood a bit, and turned back to his task. Gathering up the clothes and the pillow, she had closed the bedroom door behind her.

Still… that would have been fun to watch, she mused to herself as she glanced at the clock. It was still early morning, and not even really time for any of them to report to the shift they were supposed to be on.

Stretching, she glanced at the vidphone thoughtfully. I wonder if Une will be surprised or suspicious if all three of us call in sick today? Screw it, I don’t really care. Duo is not waking up if I can help it… Padding quietly to the bedroom door, she eased it open and peeked around the edge. The sight that greeted her made her smile widen.

Duo was curled up, blissfully unconscious, in Zechs arms. The older man was awake, watching his companion sleep with a rather thoughtful bemusement. Hearing the faint noise from the door, light blue eyes glanced questioningly at her. Duo whimpered as his pillow tensed, and burrowed farther away from the light coming into the darker room from the half-open door. Slipping into the room, she hastily closed the door behind her and moved silently toward the bed.

“What is it?” Zechs asked quietly.

“I was going to call in sick today… want me to call in for you too? It…might look rather odd…but I…” She gestured at the chestnut head buried against his shoulder. “I didn’t think we should either wake him up or leave him.”

“No. That’s fine. And I don’t care how odd it looks.” Zechs smiled bitterly. “They can think whatever they like.”

“That’s good to know.” Her own grin bordered on malicious. “Though somehow I don’t think Une is going to exactly spread the news of our alliance around. And no one else pays any attention to the two of us anyway.”

“True,” he smiled back, then hesitated. “Um…when you’re done… could you bring me a drink or something? I have the bad feeling I’m going to be here for a while.”

She threw him a mock glare. “Now I see why you invited me to spend the night…. And why I had to sleep on the couch….”

“Hey, I’ll do the same for you when you’re playing teddy bear….”

“Alright,” She grinned at him again, feeling more lighthearted than she had in months. “Be back in a few….”

* * *

Zechs watched her leave the room, closing the door silently behind her. Duo hadn’t even stirred during their conversation. Then again, he didn’t wake up when I was talking to Treize either. Zechs sighed, shifting the younger man to a more comfortable position that wouldn’t put his arm to sleep again.

The night hadn’t been completely peaceful, despite the current stillness of his bedmate. At least twice Zechs had woken to the sounds of whimpers and groans from Duo. Each time he’d managed to sooth the younger man out of his nightmare and back into a deeper sleep again; but after the second time, just before dawn, he’d been unable to fall back to sleep himself.

Looking down at the face nestled against his shoulder, Zechs brushed long bangs out of closed eyes. When did you start to trust me this much? To sleep in my arms and let me talk you through a nightmare? Or is it that you just don’t care anymore?

Looking down at Duo, he found himself thinking about Dorothy’s comment that she found them both… cute. For some reason, he found it oddly unsettling; as well as flattering. Down, boy. This isn’t about getting him to fall in love with you. It’s about getting him to want to live again.

‘Glad that you finally figured that bit out.’ Treize smiled. ‘Though Dorothy was right, it was a lot of fun to watch you strip him.’

“Don’t you start….”

“What?” Dorothy asked as she stepped back into the room bearing a tray with a pitcher of water and three glasses. To his amazement, she’d apparently made herself at home in the kitchen. How long have I just been watching him sleep?

“Nothing,” he muttered. “How did Une take the news of our sick day?”

“She made me promise that Duo wouldn’t show back up at the Preventers headquarters for at least forty-eight hours, even if that meant that neither did we.” Dorothy shrugged. “I think she’s actually genuinely worried about him.”

“Yes, well… so are we.” Zechs watched as she set the tray down on the endtable and seated her self gracefully on the edge of the bed. Even dressed in an oversized tee shirt and baggy sweats, she still managed to move as though they were at a ball.

“Were you aware you having nothing edible in your kitchen?” She poured two glasses of water, taking one for herself.

“I…suppose that isn’t really a surprise. I’m not home much.” He sighed, and carefully began to wriggle out from under Duo. Several times he froze, as the young man made a sleepy sound of protest, but eventually Zechs was able to sit up and lean against the headboard. Duo immediately curled up at his side, his head resting in Zechs lap. Wincing, Zechs tried not to think about how attractive he did find Duo, and how dangerous that position was while Dorothy smirked at him in obvious enjoyment.

“Just wait… it’s gonna be your turn eventually.”

“Looking forward to it, actually.”

“Of course you are.” He sighed again. She handed him a glass of water with a rueful smile.

“Sorry, but it was either water or beer. The milk in your refrigerator smiled at me, so I thought I would leave it be.”

“Water will be fine,” he murmured. “I suppose I’d better make a trip to the store today.”

“Actually,” she shrugged. “I’ll go. I need to gather up some clothes anyway. I can bring lunch back with me….” She hesitated, flushing a little. “If that’s alright? I… if you don’t mind me staying the day….”

“I invited you to stay.” He reached out a hand to her, a little startled at the odd feeling that the three of them were supposed to stay together through this. “I’m hardly going to make you sleep on my couch, run errands and then leave.”

“Just so we have that straight.” She glared at him, dragging a little of her former attitude back to fill the suddenly awkward moment. He couldn’t help smiling at her, even as he understood the uncertainty in her blue eyes.

“We have that straight.” He tried to sound suitably chastened. She snorted softly, sounding genuinely amused as well.

“You know… I think this friendship thing might work out ok after all…”

“Me too…”