Chapter Text
For a few seconds, Grace wasn’t sure what woke her up.
She and Emily were asleep on the couch, folded into the corner with Emily curled up in her arms and laying half on top of her. They’d been watching a movie, something one of Emily’s friends recommended, and had barely made it halfway through when both of them had passed out almost at the same time.
They’d been house-sitting for the Kennedy-Redfield house for three days now- something that was almost certainly more for hers and Emily’s benefit than their, given how ridiculous the security on their house was- and had heard little from the trio since they’d left in a hurry on that first day. It was also odd being in their house without them, and it clicked after a few seconds that the thing that had woken her was a car pulling up outside.
Rubbing sleep out of her eyes, Grace sat up a little, careful not to jostle the little girl asleep against her as she picked her phone up off of the floor and checked her notifications. There were only a few, all from Claire, sent just over an hour ago.
Claire R: L+S on their way back from the airport now, ETA 1hr
Claire R: Didn’t go as well as we hoped
Claire R: You can take Emily home if you want to, will probably be quiet night
Claire R: Don’t feel you have to leave though, just letting you know <3
Glancing down at where Emily was asleep on her shoulder, Grace considered her choices for a few seconds as the sound of a car door shutting from outside reached her. She could attempt to move Emily to her bed, but she’d probably wake her in the process and wasn’t sure how far up the stairs she’d get before Leon and Sherry got in and she didn’t want to be in their way. She opted to stay on the couch, turning the volume of the TV down to low as it cycled through commercials, and listened as the front door alarm beeped as it was disarmed before opening.
Two distinct footsteps entered, the front door shutting and beeping again a few seconds later. She heard muffled voices- mainly Sherry- as they presumable removed their coats and boots, before both headed for the stairs and she listened as they both ascended them.
Maybe she should leave- the mission had been a collaboration between BSAA and Terrasave, with no involvement from her or the FBI needed this time around. But Claire had told her before they left that they were happy to have them for however long, and the text had been reassuring that she and Emily weren’t wanted out the second they got back.
Decision paralysis had always been one of her worst enemies.
Upstairs, the distant sounds of the shower started up and Grace froze as Emily shifted slightly in her arms. The girl was a heavier sleeper than she would have expected, but she was prone to waking up randomly sometimes and often struggled to get back to sleep. After a few moments she settled again and Grace sighed, resigning herself to staying on the couch at least for now.
Around fifteen minutes later, the shower shut off and Grace had almost nodded off again when the door to the living room quietly opened and Leon stepped inside. His hair was still dripping slightly, almost plastered to his face where he’d seemingly mostly towelled himself off before heading back downstairs.
“… Hey.” He greeted quietly when he realised that Grace was awake and looking at him.
“Hey.” She replied just as quietly, watching as he hovered uncharacteristically. She rarely saw him looking even slightly unsure, but there was something in his gaze as his eyes flicked over her and the sleeping girl in her arms that made her pause. He looked... haunted was a way to put it, although there was something carefully still about his face that made it clear, at least to her, that he was very much trying to keep something in check.
After a few seconds, he approached the couch and slowly lowered himself onto it in the middle. They sat in silence for a few moments as he visibly considered something, before he seemingly made up his mind.
“Can I…” Leon turned slightly to face her, hesitant as he gestured to Emily.
“O-oh- yes, of course.” Grace sat up a little, adjusting Emily in her arms in more of a carrying position before gently handing her off to Leon. He took her, settling her in his lap with an arm around her shoulders and the other maneuvering her into a comfortable position with her head against his shoulder. He’d changed into his pajamas after his shower, she guessed, now wearing a t-shirt that was baggy even on him and a pair of soft, thick sweatpants instead of the heavy combat gear he’d been wearing when they’d left a few days ago. His hair was still dripping a little onto his t-shirt, but he didn’t seem to notice.
Grace watched as Emily’s eyes fluttered open for a second, clocking the second she realized who was holding her and she shifted slightly closer, one of her arms coming up to grasp Leon’s t-shirt loosely before she fell back into slumber with a content noise.
Smiling softly, Grace glanced up to Leon’s face before her expression fell. He looked devastated, curling his arms around the small girl more securely and sinking back into the couch cushions as if he was being physically pressed into them.
“… Sorry.” He whispered when he realized that Grace was watching him, and she shook her head.
“It’s okay.” She whispered back, unsure what to do. She knew that Leon had had… well, a ‘traumatic’ time of it was an understatement. She knew bits and pieces of what he’d done, what he’d been forced to do and what he had to do to survive. She knew that he was (thankfully) receiving ongoing treatment for his PTSD, and that he had been an alcoholic before he’d gotten help after years of being alone.
She didn’t know how to help him here.
“There was,” Leon started, clearing his throat when his voice cracked a little. “There was this kid. Over there. I couldn’t…” He trailed off, eyes glazing over slightly before he blinked a few times and looked down at Emily, still peacefully sleeping.
“… I’m sorry.” Grace sat up properly, folding her legs underneath her. She’d only been through hell once, and Leon had been and come back countless times. She didn’t even know if he knew exactly how many people he’d lost over the years.
The door to the living room opened again and Grace glanced up as Sherry entered. She looked just as tired as Leon, but she managed to aim a small smile at the younger woman as she rounded the couch, trailing her hand over the back of it before she settled on Leon’s other side. Her hair was also little damp from her shower, pushed back from her forehead with a headband that Grace was pretty sure belonged to Claire.
Sherry leaned forwards to grab the remote off of the coffee table before she brought her legs up, angling herself slightly to the side and resting her head on Leon’s shoulder without hesitation.
Watching her as she settled in, flicking through the TV channels before landing on one of Emily’s regular kids shows, Grace glanced towards Leon again. He seemed a little more grounded than he was a few moments ago, although his gaze was far away as he absently rubbed his thumb over Emily’s temple while she slept peacefully against him.
Making up her mind, Grace moved so she was turned slightly further away before she shifted towards the other two, clearly telegraphing her movements so as not to startle him. Folding her arms a little more against herself, she leaned against his side, wedging her shoulder a little in the gap between his bicep and the couch before slowly tilting herself to rest her head against Leon’s shoulder.
A few seconds passed where all she could hear was the TV and the sound of her own heartbeat when Leon sighed quietly, a shaky, bone-deep sigh that seemed to leech some of the tension from him. Glancing up, she saw him shut his eyes for a few seconds, leaning his head on the back of the couch.
She didn’t have the words to comfort him, didn’t know what she could say to even attempt to help in that moment, but if she and Sherry could be there for him… that was all she could ask for.
~*~
“… to bed, your neck will hurt if you sleep like that.”
Managing not to startle awake at the sound of a quiet voice, Grace attempted to keep her breathing even as she pretended to still be asleep, although she cracked one eye open to assess the room. She wasn’t sure what time it was- there was no light coming through the partially-closed curtains, and the main light in the room had been dimmed so it was barely on.
Claire was crouched in front of her husband, her hands on his knees as she smiled softly at him. She looked tired, and there was a shadow behind her eyes that mirrored what Grace saw in Leon and Sherry’s upon their earlier return.
“… Yeah. Yeah, you’re right.” Leon whispered back, sounding almost as exhausted as he had before Elpis had been released. He slowly sat up, and Grace adjusted herself just slightly so she wouldn’t immediately tip into the space he’d left behind. Her neck was aching just slightly where her head had been tilted against Leon, but she’d bear with it for now.
She listened as -presumably- Claire gently took Emily from Leon, whispering that she’d be right back before her socked footsteps exited the room. A few seconds passed as Grace listened to Leon and Sherry breath softly, before she felt the pressure of a hand land gently on her shin and squeeze it just once, as if reassuring himself she was still there.
“Night, kids.” Leon whispered, sounding well beyond his years as he pushed himself up from the couch. He took a few seconds to get his bearings, and she cracked an eye open again to see him run a hand through his now-dry hair and sigh deeply before he headed out of the room.
Sherry was still fast asleep, curled against the back of the couch with her cheek pressed against the soft fabric. She looked younger when she was asleep- although she looked fairly young when she was awake- and her only reaction to the movement was to rub her cheek against the cushion and mumble something indistinct.
Grace let her eyes flutter closed again, coming close to dozing off when someone entered the room again. There was the sound of moving fabric, followed by a soft noise she couldn’t quite place and a whispered,
“Goodnight, Sherry.” As Claire moved away from the couch for a moment.
Then there was another fabric sound, closer this time before she realized that a blanket was being laid over her. It was gently tucked in at her sides, and Grace distantly wondered if she was dreaming before she felt a gentle kiss be pressed to her temple.
“Goodnight, Grace.” Claire whispered, turning the overhead light off as she left the room. “Sleep well.”