*Rustle rustle. Thump. Flip flip. Rustle. Frustrated sigh.*

"Let me guess: you can't sleep?" Deaq asked his fidgety partner, feeling the bed move for the umpteenth time in the last ten minutes.

"Oh, gee, what was your first guess," Van replied in an angry voice.

"Whoa, somebody gets cranky without his nap."

Van rolled over to glare at Deaq from behind dark circles, "You know I haven't slept in three days. I have a gun on the night table. Don't tempt me."

Rather than risk raising Van's ire, Deaq kept quiet. He gently stroked Van's jaw and looked him in the eyes trying to convey with touch and gaze what he would probably screw up with words.

Van closed his eyes and sighed deeply, somewhere between frustration and contentment. He loved to feel Deaq touch him. Each touch was a reminder that he wasn't alone and that someone cared enough about him to bother. Though he didn't always feel worthy of it, he thrived on Deaq's attention and while Van wouldn't risk calling what they had love, there was no doubt a connection was steadily growing between the two.

Of course the passionate sex was a decidedly contributing
factor.

Right now though, Van was so dog tired he wanted nothing more then to fall asleep with his lover gently caressing his face. Unfortunately, his body had other ideas. The remnants of three days worth of adrenaline was still shooting through his system, and though Deaq had managed to sleep during the last case, Van had not been as lucky. Although he felt like he hardly had the energy to talk, sleep was not coming easily. Deaq's soft voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"How can you not sleep? You were barely awake in the car. Even you don't have enough energy to keep going this long without some down time."

In a gravelly voice Van answered, "I'm the Van-ergizer bunny. I keep going and going and ..."

"Your mouth sure does," Deaq replied in a light tone so Van knew he wasn't attacking him. "Why don't you try closing your eyes and staying quiet for a minute. No talkin' or movin' around."

"That's what I was doing before somebody interrupted me," Van snapped, rolling over to face away from Deaq.

'Okay, that was the wrong tactic,' thought Deaq. "Well what do you usually do when this happens?" Deaq honestly didn't know much about the sleeping habits of his friend. Well, he knew about Van's SLEEPING habits, just not the other sleeping habits that included rest. He suspected Van probably didn't sleep much at all and knew he was prone to insomnia, especially if something was on his mind.

"When this usually happens," Van said as if mulling it over. When this usually happened he would blow off sleep for the night and sleep really well the next. Or, if it was early enough, he would try
to rid himself of all his energy and then grab a few hours if possible. "I sometimes go out boarding or blading. Occasionally I go for a run down by the pier. But that's when I have extra energy. Now I all I have is the last little bit."

"The last little bit?"

"The last little bit of energy," Van rolled over to face Deaq again. "You know when you're almost done, almost tiered out but you have to get rid of that last little bit or you can't sleep?"

"Yeah."

"Well it's always like that for me. If I don't get right down to empty then forget it, there's no way I can sleep," Van explained.

"Hmm," Deaq replied. "Well what do you do when you only got a little energy to burn off?"

"Promise you won't laugh?"

'Hell, no,' Deaq thought. "Of course not," he said in his most convincing and supportive voice.

Van hesitated. He had an almost guilty look on his face. "Uh, well, I..."

"Oh riiiight," Deaq said figuring what Van was uncomfortable saying. Considering what they had already done together Deaq thought Van should have no problem telling him that he jerked off to catch some zees.

"See I knew there was a reason I was here," Deaq said while slipping his hand into Van's pajama pants. They hadn't planned on having any fun tonight, Van's choice of sleep wear clear evidence of that. But if that's what he needed to get some sleep, Deaq was plenty pleased to lend a hand, so to speak.

"Deaq, that's not-"

"Necessary," Deaq interrupted. "No, it's a privilege." Deaq felt so lucky to have Van in his life. Especially lucky that Van appeared to share his feelings. He didn't know if it was love but he felt as strongly towards Van as he had about anyone else. Ever. 'I am one lucky dog,' Deaq thought as he stroked Van's inner thigh.

Van's usually hidden insecurity bubbled to the surface. 'Yeah, I don't deserve this. Not from someone as good as Deaq,' he thought. As Deaq started to fondle his balls Van decided he could feel insecure later and for now just enjoy this. When Deaq's warm hand wrapped itself firmly around his cock Van decided he could enjoy everything Deaq was willing to give him, at least until Deaq came to his senses and realized that Van wasn't worth his trouble. Yeah, he was convinced that one of these days Deaq would figure out that he was worthless but until then he was going to enjoy everything he could get and give.

Deaq increased the speed and pressure he was using, trying to bring Van off quickly. There would be plenty of time to tease the man tomorrow on their day off. After a few more strokes he felt Van stiffen. With a soft groan Van came. He lay there panting for a moment then began chuckling slightly.

Deaq hiked himself up on one elbow to look down at Van. "Well at least that's a happy sound. Not quite the reaction I was shooting for but..."

"Excuse me but I believe I was the one shooting, thanks," Van said still clearly amused, though his eyes were half closed.

"Seriously, what, man? What's so funny?"

"Well," Van started, his voice now thick with sleep. "I was just thinking how that's not exactly what I usually do to get rid of the last little bit of energy."

Realizing Van was only moments from drifting off Deaq just had to ask, "What do you usually do, Van?"

Barely awake Van said, "Watch the home shopping channel. Or fishing shows those work too."

Deaq looked at Van's contented face and the small grin on it left him wondering if his partner was serious or just joking with him.

End

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