Chapter Text
The alarm blared noisily in the bedroom and woke the sleeping Daniel Cain from his slumber. The doctor groggily rose from the bed and stretched as he slammed the snooze button on the blasted thing.
He needed coffee.
But more importantly, he needed to wake his partner up.
Daniel put a gentle hand on the person next to him in bed, “Herbert honey, wake up it’s the morning time.”
“Five more minutes,” Herbert murmured as he turned around and snuggled deeper into his covers.
“Come on Herbert you have to wake up.”
“Mmm,” Herbert groaned.
“Alright, you asked for it.”
Daniel snatched the tiny scientist's covers off him and watched as the man flailed his limbs in response almost like an angry cat.
“Was that really necessary!” Herbert snapped as he threw his pillow at Dan.
Daniel dodged the pillow and laughed, “It got you up didn’t it.”
Herbert didn’t respond only grabbed his glasses off the nightstand.
“Good morning to you too Herb.”
“You’re going to be late for work you know if you stay in here any longer,” West complained as Dan lathered his hair in shampoo.
The two were in the shower together getting ready for the day.
“Can you blame me if I want to spend a little extra time with the person I love?”
“You’re a fool you know that,” Herbert deadpanned.
Daniel kissed Herbert on the head, “Love you too hon.”
The bacon sizzled on the pan as Herbert stirred it around along with the eggs in the accompanying pan.
“Rufus off the counter you know better!” The scientist snapped as he shooed the black cat away with an oven mitt.
The black cat in question had a face of indifference and took his time getting off the counter.
Damn, that wretched cat ever since he reanimated Rufus all those years ago after the whole bride fiasco. It was nothing but a pain in West's side, it was like Rufus purposely chose to be a nuisance to the scientist. Even though Dan denied it saying he didn’t mean to Herbert knew that the little vermin loved to antagonize him.
Whether it be knocking down Herbert's beakers or pissing in his notes the little cat was a menace to West.
But Dan loved the reanimated feline, so Herbert couldn’t get rid of it.
No matter how hard he wanted to.
“Smells good what’s for breakfast,” Dan asked as he tied his tie and entered the small kitchen.
“Bacon and eggs.”
“Oh, yummy.”
“Want some coffee, Herbert? Daniel asked as he went to the cupboard to get the mugs.
“Yes, I’ll take mine black.”
“I don’t know how you drink your coffee like that?”
“What I don’t understand is how you can possibly drink yours so sweet it’s disgusting.”
“I like my coffee sweet.”
“If you can call that swill coffee,” Herbert grimaced.
Dan rolled his eyes, “Whatever you say.”
The doctor silently prepared the two coffees while Herbert placed the bacon and eggs on two ceramic plates.
They ate breakfast together in silence and when it was time for Daniel to go to work Herbert walked him to the door.
“Don’t forget your lunch,” The scientist said as he handed his partner a brown paper sack lunch.
“I made you a tuna fish sandwich, you need more protein Daniel, or else you’re going to be skin and bones.”
“If anyone’s skin and bones it’s you, Herbert.”
“Nonsense I’m practically a perfectly healthy weight.”
“Practically.”
Herbert shoved the brown paper sack into Daniel's hands, “Just take your lunch you’re going to be late.”
Daniel smirked and kissed his husband on the head, “I’ll see you at seven.”
Herbert watched Daniel from the front porch walk up to the old beat-up station wagon in their driveway.
The doctor waved goodbye as drove out of the driveway.
The scientist waited there on the front porch for a moment before returning to the house.
Now the real work begins, West thought as he made his way down to the basement.
It was not unusual for Herbert to go down to the basement when Daniel was away at work at the hospital.
After all, this was Herbert's real work, perfecting his serum and conquering death.
Everyone in the neighborhood thought that he was just a regular stay-at-home house husband albeit a weird one.
Yet no one suspected Herbet of being a wanted criminal.
Those long five years he spent away from Dan after the whole bride fiasco shattered West.
Losing Daniel made him careless and reckless.
Herbert struggled for those five years away from Daniel.
It was by chance that they met again when Herbert was admitted to the hospital where Daniel was working, after suffering a heart attack because of prolonged use of his reagent over the years.
Daniel had been there every step of the way during Herbert's recovery.
He even eventually helped West to get off the reagent.
It was by then that they both realized their feelings for one another.
Herbert needed Daniel.
Though he wouldn’t admit it.
And Daniel needed Herbert.
They stayed in Castle Rock and got married, it was a nice quiet town with few cops.
It was the perfect place for West to work.
Plenty of bodies to dig up in the local cemetery.
The possibilities were endless for his work.
West opened the freezer pulled out a severed leg and put it on his work table.
He slapped on a pair of rubber gloves and smirked as he filled a syringe with his reagent.
Now it was time to get to work.