Chapter Text
Day 946
He sits up fast, heart racing. He still hears that damn comm, the one replaying in his head tonight…
“PRICE! HELP, IT'S GOT DANIELS! PRICE, HELP U—”
The transmission was cut off by a distant roar and the sound of Des Walker, a fellow engineer, being ripped to shreds… He knew what had killed the occupants of lifepod 4 now but then… Fuck. What he wouldn't give to go back to a time when the reaper’s face didn't jump out at him every second he shut his eyes. All teeth and pincers and muscles… a thing of horror, that makes his blood run cold any time he ventures close enough to the crash site to hear that God awful roar.
Paddy jumps as he feels Tom’s hand on his, before settling again. His fiance’s calloused hand holds his with familiar warmth, stroking soothing circles with his thumb as he looks up at him. Tom doesn't say a word, just waiting for Paddy to be ready to talk again.
“Sorry, love… didn't mean to wake you…” Paddy sighs, running a hand over his face, realising now his cheeks are wet from crying.
“Hey…” Tom sits up, putting his head on Paddy’s shoulder with a soft sigh, interlacing their fingers. “It's not your fault… you hate it when I get apologetic after nightmares…”
Paddy lets the moment sit for a while, allowing himself a minute to breathe and remember he's not there anymore. Lifepod 4 is 740 meters away… the nearest Leviathans are reefbacks… There's nothing to be afraid of here.
Eventually, the couple lies down again, Tom holding Paddy close to his chest, rubbing his back and kissing the top of his head every now and again. He listens to Tom's heart beat… slow… steady… rhythmical. A reminder that they're alive… not deep enough to encounter anything worse than a stalker.
Tom isn't dead.
Eventually, Paddy's fiance begins to ask the usual questions…
“Paddy… was it a normal person nightmare or… a memory?”
Paddy goes quiet before replying. “Memory… Lifepod 4 again… I can't get over it.”
“You don't need to get over it, love… We've faced horrors but that… losing people like that… I can't even imagine how that must weigh on you…” Tom's words are soft and caring… but sleepy too.
“You should get some rest.” Paddy says softly. “I'll be okay…”
Tom grumbles but Paddy knows he's already almost half asleep. He buries his face in the doctor’s neck, feeling as he drops off to sleep. A blessing that Paddy can't find himself.
He lies there, breathing in Tom’s warm scent. But any time he starts to drift off all he can think about is what led up to that moment…
And everything they’d found afterwards.