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Simon wandered the spacious walkways of the ship he'd come to know as safety. Mother Mary, she lived up to her name. He peered around corners, trying to figure out where the third member of their little crew had disappeared off to. Rocky was pestering him about sleeping and that meant that the current mission was finding Grace to force him back to the sleeping quarters so Rocky could watch them both sleep at the same time.
A thunking, rolling noise approached him. "Simon find Grace, question?"
Simon frowned. Rocky hadn't found him either? "Nope. And I guess you haven't either."
The Eridian grumbled, "Obvious."
Simon glanced around, "Okay. Okay. The lab and the panic room left, right?"
"I look in lab. Simon messy." Rocky stated, before immediately rolling away.
Simon rolled his eyes, trudging his way along to the panic room.
As he got closer, he could hear the sounds of waves crashing over the sand. For a moment, he stilled at the noise, one hand coming up to clutch at his left arm. It wasn't real anymore. Grace had got him out. He was fine. He was looking for Grace.
Swallowing thickly, he pushed the door open, scanning the room quickly. Grace was stood in the corner. Well. Stood was a generous phrasing. He was currently clutching one of the walls, white knuckled, staring at the ground with such intent that Simon looked to where he was staring, just in case there was something there. Nothing. That was.. The worse outcome, somehow.
"Grace?" He called out. There was no response, no movement, not even a look up.
Shit.
Blocking the sounds of the waves out, Simon moved a little further into the room, hoping his presence would jolt Grace back from... Wherever he was. But, even as he got closer, nothing changed. Grace's jaw was still clenched tightly, nostrils flaring and relaxing in quick succession, like he was fighting for air. His eyes were barely blinking and, as Simon looked closer, there were tears trailing down his cheeks.
Shit.
“Hey. It’s just me. Can you see me?” Simon asked softly, already knowing the answer from the lack of response. “Okay. I’m coming closer.”
The closer he got, the more he could swear he could hear the face pace of Grace’s heart, how the air didn’t seem to fully get into his lungs at all. One step at a time, Simon approached, like he was trying to soothe a cornered animal. His hands were out in front of him and god was he glad for that. Grace fell with little warning, knees crumbling out from under him. Simon only just managed to grab hold of him, steadying the falling body by leaning it against him. He gently lowered Grace down, hooking an arm around him, letting the other man’s shaking body rest against his own. God, he was really shaking. His entire body was tensed, coiled like a rusted spring.
“I gotcha, I’m right here.” He found himself saying, one hand coming up to support the others head, leaning it onto his shoulder. There was a flicker of movement, Grace’s eyes darting back and forth, scanning the situation.
Simon gave him a soft smile, the expression feeling foreign and forced on his face. It seemed to do enough though, Grace tucking his head fully into the crook of his neck. He hugged him closer, knowing the other enjoyed the feeling of being surrounded. Simon didn’t understand how. It felt constricting, harsh but.. Well, he would do it for Grace.
They were tangled together for a good amount of time before the thunking noise came back, reminding Simon of Rocky’s existence. “In here.” He called out gently, not wanting to overstimulate Grace any more than he already was.
Rocky entered, rolling his way in. There was a distinct worried thrumming as he spotted Grace in Simon’s arms. “Grace! What wrong, question?”
“He’s probably not up to answering right now, Rocky.” Simon explained, “Memories.”
Another set of disheartened thrumming, Rocky anxiously tapping the floor.
Simon sat for a moment, quiet, thinking, then shifted a little. “Rocky, can you watch him a moment? I’ll be right back.”
He set Grace down on the floor, watching as the Eridian came to rest beside him, “Grace will be okay, statement. Rocky, Simon protect.”
It didn’t take Simon long to find what he needed to, coming back to the panic room quickly, tugging along as many blankets, pillows and other comfortable things he could find. Rocky and Grace were still where he left them, Grace slightly curled around Rocky’s ball. Rocky had his arms out, pressed against the mesh of the ball where Grace’s body was, touching him, gently patting every now and then.
Simon began placing the pillows and blankets into the corner of the room, creating a nest of warm, soft, comforting material. Once that was complete, he moved back towards Grace, gently scooping him back up into his arms. Grace, almost instinctively, curled back into the same position he had been in before, head in Simon’s neck, one hand grasping onto his shirt.
“Rocky, can you set yourself down on the right?” Simon called over.
He was glad to see that Rocky did it without needing an explanation yet. Simon wanted to get Grace comfortable first. Working around Rocky, Simon lay himself down, squishing himself between the wall and Rocky’s ball, taking Grace down with him as well, keeping him cradled to his chest so the man could keep listening to his heartbeat.
“Grace feel safe, question?” The question was aimed towards Simon, who understood the nuances behind it.
“Yeah, that’s right. He likes being surrounded. And he likes the warmth. And he likes the sea, so we’re going to settle down in here tonight to sleep.”
“Rocky warm! Grace warm with Rocky and Simon soft.”
A small chuckle, a noise he had doubted he could still make. Grace seemed as surprised as him, tired eyes looking up. Simon rolled his own eyes, getting himself comfortable and then positioning Grace so he was laying out on top of him, could feel his heartbeat, could feel his breathing. He felt a blanket being nudged up by Rocky, gratefully taking it and tucking it over Grace.
The sounds of the water had drowned out by now, the only sounds he could hear being Grace’s breathing, his heartrate falling back to a normal rhythm.
“Simon, Grace sleep. Rocky watch. Rocky protect.”
Simon lay his arm over Grace’s torso, hugging him close to calm him still. “Sounds like a plan.”
His other hand came up to gently card through the blonde’s hair, soothing him.
“Thank you..” He heard Grace murmur as he slipped off to sleep.
Simon would return the favour of his rescue over and over again.