"No, please."

Stephen Connor's eyes popped open. During his internship, he'd learned to wake up in a flash. It was a skill that had served him well when his son was a baby, much to his wife's envy. Now it was serving him again as he shared a bed with Miles. It was a rare week that went by without at least one night's sleep being interrupted by one of the slave's many nightmares.

"Please...."

Stephen reached over and flipped on the nightstand lamp. There was no good way to bring Miles out of one of these dreams, but it helped if, once awake, Miles could see where he was. Or, more to the point, where he wasn't.

"Miles, wake up," Connor called gently, resisting the urge to pull the young man into his arms. "You're with Stephen. You're safe."

"You're too big, I can't. Please."

Swearing softly under his breath at the remembered torments that caused these nightmares, Connor tried again. "Miles, wake up. You're dreaming."

This time, Stephen accompanied his words with a hand on Miles' forehead. The light touch along with the trusted voice were enough. Miles' eyes opened, although it was clear he didn't immediately know where he was. The young man looked wildly around the room, panting hard and body covered in a light sheen of sweat. Stephen's blond hair caught his eye, though, and some of the tenseness left Miles as he recognized his surroundings and the man in the bed with him.

"Hey, it's just me," Stephen said encouragingly. "You're safe."

At first Miles just stared at him with wide, frightened eyes. Then, with a sound that was half sob, half whimper, the slave launched himself into Stephen's arms.

Connor caught him, grateful for the opportunity to hold the younger man. "It's okay, my own. I'm here and no one's going to hurt you again. Ever."

Miles didn't cry, but he shivered as he clutched at Stephen and hid his face against the bigger man's chest. Connor kept up the soft croon of words and rubbed Miles' back, offering reassurance with his body and voice. He was grateful when it seemed to work; the slave's tremors eased as the comfort of Stephen's presence chased away the terror from the nightmare.

Six months ago, it would have been a different story; Miles would have been far too wary of Stephen to fall asleep in his bed, let alone allow his owner soothe him. They'd come a long way in half a year and it was never more evident than during these episodes. Connor didn't usually consider himself a patient man, but he had to admit, that with Miles, patience had definitely had its rewards.

Miles gave a deep sigh as the shivers stopped, but he made no move to leave Stephen's arms. Realizing the storm was over, Stephen shifted so he was leaning against the headboard and Miles was draped across him.

"You want to talk about it?" Connor asked, continuing to stroke Miles' back.

The slave didn't speak, just shook his head firmly. The motion caused Miles' dark hair to fall into his eyes and Connor tenderly brushed it back.

"Okay, you don't have to," Stephen assured him. He sighed inwardly. They'd come a long way, it was true, but they had so far yet to go.

Putting the thought aside for the moment, he bent enough to kiss the top of Miles' head. "Go back to sleep, Miles. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. You can sleep safe."

In truth, Miles was already more than halfway there. Stephen watched with satisfaction as the droopy eyelids fluttered all the way closed and the slave drifted off. Connor didn't stop his stroking, though, nor did he make a move to turn the light off.

It was hard for a man like Stephen to admit, but he couldn't do anything about Miles' past. He could support, he could comfort, he could vow that nothing would ever happen to Miles again, but he couldn't change the horrors that had already been endured. All he could do was to make sure that Miles' present and future were as secure as they could be.

Sighing again, Stephen settled in for a long night. He was a doctor, so in addition at being good at waking up fast, he was an old hand at staying awake. Keeping watch over Miles' sleep was the least he could do, especially if he wanted to be worthy of the trust Miles was exhibiting by sleeping in his arms.

Stephen smiled as he again kissed the top of Miles' head. They'd come a long way in their relationship and they had a long way yet to go, but he wouldn't trade this particular journey for anything.

~the end~