Title: A Long Day in a Long Week
Fandom: Spooks (MI5)
Rating: G
Length: 498
Summary: Lucas has had a long day and Adam realises he's stressed.

"Hi," Adam Carter said, as Lucas North came in through the front door.  “You’re late.  What was the hold up?”

Lucas groaned.  “I left late – I wanted to finish something for Ros – and then the train was held for ages at a red light.”

Adam grunted.  “What was tonight’s excuse?”

“Broken down train at Richmond which meant there was a queue for the other platform.  Well, it was either broken down or staff shortages, I wasn’t really paying much attention.”

“Either would be equally possible.  Anyway, dinner’s ready, do you want to come straight through?”

“Coming.  It smells good.”

They chatted while the ate, and once they’d finished Adam suggested they watch the next episode of the serial they’d begun.

“Would you mind if we left that for tomorrow?” Lucas asked.  “I really fancy a long hot bath and then reading my book in bed.”

“Yes, of course.  Are you feeling okay?”

“Yes, just tired.  It’s been a long day in a long week.  Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Not at all.  I might even get round to mending the kitchen drawer which has been bugging me for ages.”

“What, the one we held together with gaffer tape as a temporary measure three weeks ago?”

“Yeah, that one!”

“In which case, don’t let me stop you.”

Adam wasn’t taken in by Lucas’ casual attitude; he sounded strained.  While anyone would feel tired after a busy week, followed by a long journey home, Adam suspected there was more to it and Lucas was letting things get on top of him.  Lucas was just too controlled, which meant he was trying to hold himself together.  But there was nothing Adam could do about it for the moment.

Adam decided he might as well actually repair the drawer, since he’d used it as a convenient excuse.  And then, having emptied the drawer in order to repair it, he thought he would sort the contents out, rather than shoving it all back in again.  So, when he finally went to bed, it was later than he had intended, and he found Lucas already asleep. 

Adam woke in the middle of the night, to find Lucas mumbling and thrashing around.  Adam wasn’t surprised given what he’d seen the previous evening, so he moved over and quietly reassured Lucas that he was safe, it was all right, and then held him close to his chest.  Gradually Lucas settled, and once Adam was satisfied that he would sleep quietly, he too went back to sleep.

In the morning when they woke, Lucas said, “I presume I disturbed you last night.  I had another nightmare.”

“It wasn’t totally out of the blue, you seemed tense last night,” Adam replied.  “Do you want to talk about it, or do you want to doze again for a while before I bring breakfast up?”

“Let me get my thoughts into some form of order and then we can talk after breakfast, if that’s okay?”

“That suits me perfectly.”