Chapter Text
Jon woke up in Martin’s arms the next morning and even though he was entirely covered in bandages and was looking at months of miserable doctors appointments and physical therapy, he was still happier than he’d been in a long while. He snuggled into his chest, feeling secure. He hoped Martin wouldn’t mind. When Martin woke up a few minutes later and noticed a gently snoring Jon snuggled into him he felt his heart melt. Aw.
When the two walked into the office later, Jon nervously holding Martin’s hand and gazing around like a frightened prey animal while Martin carried Jon’s bag for him, Tim and Sasha knew once again that their plan had failed. They were at first disappointed - seriously, how many murder attempts could this man survive? - but then considered the scene in front of them. Hmm. Jon was not being mean to Martin. And Martin had a certain happy glow to him they hadn’t seen in a very long time. Huh. Okay they could see how this played out for a bit and put a pause on the murder attempts. After all they were currently fresh out of ideas after the rabid raccoon.
When they got to Jon's office, Jon looked at Martin with panic in his eyes. “Please don't leave me alone." Martin gave him a reassuring hand-squeeze and told him just to hold on for a couple minutes. Within ten minutes Martin came in with his desk on a dolly and sat it down.
“Okay so where should we set this up?"
Martin ended up putting some of the already gone through statement boxes where his desk had been in the archival assistant office and replacing them in Jon's office with his desk. There. Now he and Jon sat next to each other. Jon looked relieved. “Thank you Martin."
Martin felt a glowing feeling in his chest and smiled at Jon. “Of course." Then he went off to the breakroom to get them each a cup of tea and some ibuprofen. When he got back he saw Jon staring at his phone with a look of faint displeasure on his face.
“What is it?”
“I forgot… I have a physical therapy appointment today.”
“Ah.” Martin could tell Jon wasn’t exactly thrilled about it. “Here, I’ll take you.”
Jon looked somewhat relieved and nodded. “That… that would be nice, thank you.”
By the time they got there it was almost the appointment time and Martin sat with Jon in the waiting room while he waited for his name to be called. Jon looked positively antsy and Martin tried to think of ways to ease his stress a bit.
“Jonathan Sims?”
Jon stood up, shaking. “Um, that’s me.”
Martin thought he’d at least offer. “Jon, do you want me to go with you? You know, for moral support?”
The relief in his face when he turned to Martin made him certain he’d made the right decision. “Y-yes please.”
An hour later, Martin was helping a moaning Jon back to the car. That had been rough. He knew he was supposed to be moral support but it had taken everything he had not to cry along with him - he couldn’t stand seeing Jon in pain. Fortunately it seemed Jon appreciated the comradery and as they entered the car he leaned against Martin’s shoulder. Martin looked over at him, somewhat surprised, then noted that Jon didn’t even seem fully conscious anymore - the man was exhausted. He carefully buckled him in and took off for his apartment. No way was Jon going to be able to work any more today.
When he got to his apartment, he gently shook Jon awake and opened his door for him. Jon simply groaned and tried to bat him away. “No… so tired… go away…. (incoherent mumbling)”
Martin gave him an amused look then simply scooped him up into his arms and carried him in. Jon relaxed into his arms and by the time he got him inside he was snoring softly. Martin gave him a fond look and tucked him into his bed. “I’ll be back soon.” He’d just had an idea for something he could do to maybe raise Jon’s spirits a bit. He was going to check out the basement where Carlos Vittery had been found - he knew Jon had wanted that looked into before. So he left a little note on the notepad beside the bed.
“I’m going to check on that Vittery statement. In case you wake up before I get home, feel free to help yourself to anything in the fridge, pantry, or freezer. I have extra clothes in the closet, help yourself to those as well if you’d like to shower and change. I’ll be back soon.
Fondly, Martin”
…
Jon woke up briefly while Martin was out and spied the note but was too tired to really do anything about it and fell back asleep after. No, what woke him up was the sound of the door quickly opening and closing and Martin hurrying into the apartment, panting.
“Um, what is it Martin?" Jon was still half-asleep and rather confused.
“Worm lady - Prentiss. I saw her."
“Oh GL!" Jon would have had to sit down if he hadn't already been lying down. As it was he sank deeper into the pillows.
Martin breathed a nervous shaky breath and got up under the covers next to Jon. “Mind if I snuggle in?"
Jon looked relieved. “By all means. I could also use some comfort with her out and about." He shuddered.
…
They were both awakened hours later by knocking at the front door.
Martin groaned, exhausted, and made his way over.
"Who could it even be at this hour?”
"What time even is it?” Jon turned to the alarm clock on the nightstand but the power appeared to be out. No matter. He reached for his phone… it had died.
“Martin, what time is it? My phone died and it seems the power is out."
“I… I dropped my phone fleeing from Prentis."
“...Ah."
The knocking continued. Martin started towards the front door. “I'm sure it's just a neighbor checking if we've lost power." Then, right as he reached for the handle, he had a thought. What if… what if it was Prentis? He stared at the door, somewhat concerned, and then shrieked as a worm made its way under it. “It's her, Jon! It's Prentis, and the worms are getting in through the cracks around the door!"
"Oh G! Really?!?!”
"YES!” Martin was sobbing at this point and Jon quickly made his way to the front door to help him.
"Oh G! Oh G! Oh G!” Jon started hyperventilating.
"We…we need to block the cracks around the door!" Martin ran off to grab some towels with which to to that and Jon tried to deal with the worms that had come in already.
“Shoo! Get out of here!" He thwacked a worm with the broom back towards the crack under the door and it hissed at him and leapt. “AHHHHHHH!!!!!"
Martin came out with the towels just in time to see said grumpy worm burrowing its way into Jon's leg. "OH G, JON!"
“AHHHHHHH! Get it out, get it OUT!!!!"
Martin frantically reached onto the counter next to him and grabbed…a corkscrew. Okay that would do.
“AHHHHHHH AHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"There - it’s out.”
Jon panted heavily.
Martin looked at him sympathetically. “Okay, you just sit there and watch for more worms okay? I'm going to block the cracks.
"G-got it.”
Martin hurriedly blocked all the cracks with towels then, when he was sure he was done, gently scooped Jon up and carried him back to the bathroom and laid him out on the floor. "Here, let me clean that up.” He quickly grabbed a washcloth, some gauze, and hydrogen peroxide and kneeled down on the floor beside him.
Jon was a tad bit annoyed. “I can sit up -”
Martin gently pushed him back down. “Then the angle is harder and also this isn’t going to exactly feel good and I don’t want you passing out and hitting your head. Just lie down.”
Jon sighed but did as he was asked. Something he was grateful for a couple seconds later when Martin poured on the peroxide. “AHHH OH G, OH G IT BURNS!”
Martin gave him a sympathetic look and put on the gauze and medical tape. “There. All done.” Jon looked up at him with wide eyes, breathing heavily. “Here, let’s get you to bed where it’s more comfortable.” He scooped Jon up into his arms and carried him to the bedroom and laid him down gently on the bed. Jon’s eyes nervously darted for the bedroom window and Martin hurriedly began to seal any potential cracks there as well.
Jon watched him carefully, making sure no worms got in without his notice. “Wish we had some caulk or something.”
Martin looked up at Jon’s comment and gave a faint chuckle. “Yes, that would be nice.”