Title: Realizations
        Author: *kee
        Email: starkee@another.com
        Webpage: http://dae.slashcity.net/~starkee
        Category: Pre-slash, missing scene.
        Pairing: G/W
        Archive: yes, please
        Summary: Just a little missing scene addition for the end of The Thin 
        Dead Line.
        Rating: G

        Disclaimer: Okay, so they don't belong to me except in my rich fantasy 
        life where i ride around on a pony and live in a castle. Besides, i 
        already owe the government enough money to have a really nice car or a 
        small house, honestly would it really be worth it to sue me?

        Notes: i am honestly truly working on my thesis, i'm just taking a short 
        break. that's all. This one is for dae for her birthday because well, i 
        can and it's the least i can do because she's the one who showed me the 
        truly wonderful place that fan fiction is. =)


        Realizations


        "What kept you?" Gunn stood as Cordelia entered the room, breaking his 
        intense gaze with Wesley, slightly unsettled by the look that had passed 
        between them.

        "I just ran into, someone in the hall." She came up behind him as Gunn 
        walked around to the other side of the room. 

        In a show of sudden and self-conscious affection, Gunn tapped his hand 
        trying not to think how close the other man had come to death, how the 
        other man's blood had soaked his own clothes, bleeding his life away. 
        Shaking the image of Wesley, pale and tragic, from his mind Gunn offered 
        him a supportive smile.

        "D'you need anything?" He hadn't even been sure the other man was still 
        alive after all the cops had dropped. For a heart wrenching moment, he 
        thought they'd been too late.

        Wesley shook his head and smiled, loopy with the drugs. He still looked 
        too pale.

        "The nurse at the station said we could stay for a little bit." Cordelia 
        took a seat and pulled Wesley's hand into her own as Gunn returned to 
        his side of the bed and restrained himself from doing the same. It was 
        all right for Cordelia, but for him, now that Wesley would be fine, it 
        would be weird.

        Shaking his head, another half giggle escaped him. It sounded good on 
        him. "You should go back and work on the eyeball." He waved his free 
        hand, his fingers flopping from the lack of control.

        Not even bothering to cover his smile, it was so good just to see him 
        alive, Gunn looked over at Cordelia. He was hoping she would volunteer; 
        he wasn't ready to leave yet. It still didn't seem quite real.

        "Well, I was the one who was working on it while you were playing 
        America's Scariest Home Videos." She patted Wesley's hand and stood. 
        "Are you sure we can't get you anything?"

        "No." He smiled. "And if anything comes up, Gunn can take care of me. He 
        saved me you know." The smile turned on him and a painful, odd sensation 
        swept through Gunn's chest.

        Cordelia laid a hand on Gunn's shoulder as she passed on her way out the 
        door. "Thank you," she said softly and then they were alone.

        He leaned forward, trying to change the angle of the harsh hospital 
        light on the already pale features. "You should sleep." 

        "'M not tired."

        "It's been a rough day, I think you should try. What were you thinking 
        coming after that cop like that? We knew there was something up." It was 
        hard not to yell, Wesley looked so weak and small and tired, it seemed 
        wrong.

        Wesley shook his head in an exaggerated motion. "Cordelia agreed, you 
        were in danger. I couldn't let you go out there alone." He yawned, but 
        kept eye contact seriously.

        Gunn shook his head, he didn't really know how to argue with logic like 
        that. "You really should sleep." Reaching up, he turned off the light 
        next to him, leaving only the harsh glare of the florescent bulb above 
        Wesley's head.

        "You were worried." It was almost a question, somehow he seemed more 
        vulnerable in the lighting.

        Nodding shakily, Gunn sat forward. "Yeah, I was worried. I didn't think 
        we were going to get you out in time. I saw you there, in the street 
        after he shot you-" He'd looked so surprised, like it hadn't happened 
        and then he fell.

        "You saved me though. You helped me." Wesley smiled at him again, his 
        face disturbingly open. His eyes were starting to slide shut again.

        He leaned forward and turned off the disturbing light he wanted Wesley 
        to be as comfortable as possible. Moving close to the sleepy man, he 
        brushed his hand over the pale, defined cheekbones. "I'll always come 
        after you." Without thinking about what he was doing, moving entirely on 
        instinct, he pressed a brief, soft kiss on the other man's lips and ran 
        his fingers lightly over his eyelids. "Sleep."

        Wesley clutched at his sleeve as he pulled away. "Don't go." His eyes 
        were wide and suddenly frightened and awake. "I don't want to be alone."

        Settling back in the chair and taking his hand, Gunn let his eyes adjust 
        to the dim light. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll be right here."