Work Text:
Alan barely remembers the trip back to the agents’ hotel in Bright Falls, stuck in his own head and shivering even after Anderson gives him a blanket—so when they arrive at the lodge and Anderson suggests he take a shower, Alan is both puzzled, and, when he finally processes her words, relieved.
As Alan stumbles on the spot, Anderson puts a hand on his back and steers him into a hotel room (Casey’s, he realises when he notices how the room is strewn with coffee cups), gently pushes him into the bathroom, and leaves Alan to his own devices.
Alan runs the shower hot and strips off his sodden clothes before climbing under the stream, leaning against the tiled wall as hot water runs over his cold, aching body, washing his matted hair and letting his freezing body warm up; by the time he leaves the shower and finds clean clothes waiting for him on the bed, Alan feels a lot better—but not even a hot shower can ease his crushing anxiety about what might be lurking in the darkness.