jim has nightmares every so often and he doesn’t ever talk about it, but his mumbled words and staggering breaths wake bones up at night. the first few times, did nothing, despite the ache in his chest; he didn’t know what to do. all he knew was that if he could protect jim from this, if he could give him a bit of peace– well. he’d do it in a heartbeat.

but jim is his best friend and then something quite a bit more than his best friend (because best friends don’t make your heart stutter or your cheeks flush; best friends don’t grin at you like they grin at stars); one night bones wakes up to jim’s quiet whimpers and he can’t fucking do it. the sight of jim curled in on himself like that takes the oxygen straight from his lungs. I can’t do it anymore.

he finds himself slipping in bed beside jim before he really realizes it; he rubs tentative hands down jim’s arms and back, trying to soothe the tension. jim jerks awake, stiffens. oh fuck.

“bones?” jim’s voice is scratchy, soft.

“right here,” says bones. “you were- uh- having a bad dream and I…”

jim rolls over to face him. his face glints; he’s been crying in his sleep. bones swallows. reaches, slowly, and brushes jim’s cheek with his thumb. jim shivers, presses against the touch. his eyes close.

“bones,” he whispers. his hand finds bones’ t-shirt and he clutches tight.

“i got you, darlin. i’m right here.”

he doesn’t think he’s ever going anywhere else.