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When Dennis was a young, he was taught to believe the rain was a great thing. The rain helped the crops grow, kept the wells full and the rivers around the farm flowing. He also learned that despite the rain, chores still needed to be done. So even on the stormiest days, a young Dennis spent his time in the barn, mucking stalls and feeding livestock. Some days, he ended up in the rain mucking the outdoor runs because there was no rest for the wicked. There were a few summers where he ended up with a wicked cold, enough to knock him on his ass, but he still held a fondness for the rain.
Having grown up with such a profound understanding of the effects rain had, and how good it was for people, when Dennis was in college, he grew to enjoy it in another way. He still loved the rain for providing food and water for farms, but now he loved the calm it would bring with it. Throughout med school, he found studying to be easier when it rained, sleeping more soundly.
When he lost his housing, his love for the rain suffered a bit. When it rained, it was harder to get into shelters, or to find appropriate places to sleep. His clothes often stayed wet for days after rain storms when he couldn’t find somewhere safe to stay.
After moving in with Trinity, Dennis didn’t feel the same love of the rain he once did. He still had a deep appreciation for the rain, but he couldn’t sleep as well during big storms like he used to. Thunder no longer soothed him, and lightning caused his heart to skip a beat.
As he gets older, though, dealing with the rain gets easier. He talks to therapists, and his friends, and he gets to the root of why he can’t get as comfortable with the rain any more. But he’s getting there. Storms no longer scare him, he can deal with long rains better now.
However, this is not to say there aren’t still bad days. On nights like this one, as the city of Pittsburg sleeps, and a storm rolls in without much warning, Dennis can’t help the old fears that resurface.
He’s laying in bed with his boyfriends, for once not in the center. Jack had had a rough day, so when bed time had come around, Dennis refused to take the center of the bed. He knows sometimes Jack needs extra attention and cuddles, despite his rough exterior. So tonight, Dennis is on Jack’s side of the bed when a clap of thunder wakes him, his eyes snapping open as the dark room fills with the retreating sound. Summers had a way of bringing unexpected storms.
He clenches his hand into Jack’s shirt, taking a deep breath to ground himself. He knows where he is, he knows he’s safe here. Dennis knows that all it would take is one little shake, and he could get his partners awake, offering comfort if he needed them to. But right now, he waits. Waits to see if it’s a real storm, to see what his brain does with the information it's being fed.
When another rumble of thunder rolls through the room, he releases Jack’s shirt, looking over the sleeping form next to him. He decides to take a chance, moving slowly to pull himself away and out of the bed. When no one stirs for more than a moment, he counts himself successful.
He grabs his phone from the nightstand and sneaks downstairs and out onto the back patio, staying in the area covered by a solid awning. He curls up in his favorite spot, and reaches for the cigarettes that he keeps there. He tries not to smoke too much, he knows Robby and Jack don’t like it. Neither like the taste when they kiss, and Robby especially hates the way it clings to his clothes. He decides as he’s lighting up that he’ll change his shirt before going back to bed.
Dennis sits there, watching the rain fall in the garden. He looks over at the small area where he and Jack have been working, they started planting a small bunch of crops. He knows the plants are enjoying the rain, that the area needs it badly. He thinks about how eventually the tomatoes Jack insisted on planting will be perfect for making homemade sauce, and how his strawberries will be great for jams.
He looks to the sky as a strike of lightning makes its way across the clouds, and he counts.
One, two, three.. BOOM
Three miles away. Dennis nods and lights a fresh cigarette. He stays there for a while, chain smoking, wondering about what the streets might look like, and if the Pitt is busy now that it’s storming again. He knows from experience how many MVAs can happen in a short time from a storm like this.
He doesn’t know exactly how long he’s been outside when he feels a hand on his shoulder, causing him to jump, stubbing out his cigarette in quick succession. Behind him stands Jack, looking out into the night sky.
“Hi,” Dennis says quietly, tilting his head back so he can see more of Jack, “I didn’t wake you when I left, did I?”
“Nah, Mouse, woke up a little bit ago, haven’t been able to fall back asleep,” Jack comforts, moving to sit at the edge of Dennis’s lounge chair, “you okay?”
Dennis takes a moment to think. He’s been doing that a lot since he came outside, but over all, “Yeah. Yeah, I’m okay. Truly okay. I, uh, woke up to the thunder. It freaked me out a bit at first. But then I came out here, and it.. it kinda feels soothing again?”
Jack nods, showing that he’s listening, as he sets his crutches on the ground. Dennis watches him as he speaks, before moving to allow Jack to sit beside him for just a moment until he moves himself into Jack's lap, head resting on the man's chest. They stay there for a while, sharing the silence as the rain continued to fall onto the patio awning. The patter of the rain gets softer as the storm starts to lessen.
“So, it’s soothing you, huh,” Jack finally asks, his hands trailing over Dennis’s arms, “that's good. I’m glad you’re finding comfort in the rain again.”
Dennis nods, letting his head fall so that his ear is right over Jack’s heart. Between the sounds of the rain, and the sound of Jack’s heart, he feels ready to sleep again. Once again, Jack leaves him be for a while, just letting the child in Dennis heal a bit again. Honestly, he needs this too. Sometimes, just some time to take in the rain helps. The smell is soothing to Jack.
After about 10 minutes though, Jack runs his nails over Dennis’s spine, sending a chill down the man’s back.
“Alright, Mouse, it’s getting chilly out, we should go back to bed.” he concludes, looking over Dennis’s sleepy face.
Dennis nods, but doesn’t move for a moment. Once he gets moving, he slides off of Jack’s lap slowly, reaching to grab the crutches off the ground and help his partner stand and steady himself. They make their way back upstairs together, Dennis stops in the bathroom to brush his teeth and ditch his shirt. Once they’re in the room again, Robby’s sitting up in bed sleepily.
“Mm, where have you two been?” he asks, voice thick with sleep.
“Enjoying the rain,” Jack says softly, coaxing Robby back to laying down.
“Rain? Is Den okay?”
Dennis smiles, crawling into the center of the bed, gently pressing a kiss to Robby’s neck.
“I’m good, Mike,” Dennis says softly, curling against the man beside him, “Really good..”
Robby drapes an arm over Dennis’s waist, and soon Dennis feels Jack’s legs tangling in with his and he comes to cuddle from behind.
“Alright, let’s get back to sleep,” Jack whispers, obviously already back on the edge of sleep, “Last one asleep makes breakfast in the morning.”
Dennis grins, closing his eyes. Sleep comes easy this time.