darker_london | Brothers (Peter, Thomas) Rating: PG

Peter had stayed up all night in his sister's very very locked car. He'd had all of the instant coffee that Thomas had made for him, and he'd even smoked a few cigarettes with the windows rolled down slightly. He'd deal with getting the smell out later, so Liz didn't castrate him. He hadn't dared to fall asleep until the first light of dawn appeared through the trees of Regents Park. He was too terrified.

He'd woken up around midday and he'd left the car to walk down the street just to give him something to do. He didn't go far, nor was he gone for long, but it helped to clear his head. He'd returned to the car and he continued to read until he fell asleep yet again, his head against the window.

Thomas had spent the day in Deirdre's house helping when he could and otherwise, staying out of the way. He'd had a brief chat with Rolf before the angel left to head for Father Bianco's parish, but other than that, he'd done...not much.

Except worry about Peter.

Thomas continually glanced out the window to see Peter in his car. Once he'd looked and Peter hadn't been there. If his heart had been beating at all, he probably would have had a heart attack. He'd called Peter's mobile, however, and found that Peter was just taking a walk.

Finally, as the sun set, Thomas had had enough. He had to check on Peter. Deirdre was out anyway. He grabbed some leftover pizza from the refrigerator and filled up another empty bottle with water and he headed outside for Peter's car.

Peter was still asleep when he got there. Thomas knocked lightly on the window, as all the doors were very much locked. Peter awoke with a start and he let out a yell, his head bashing into the window hard. He put his hand to his head and groaned as he let Thomas in. "You scared the shite out of me, Thomas!"

"Yes...I see that." Thomas said softly. "I'm sorry, Peter. Your brains remain undamaged, I trust."

"I think my brains will live." Peter said as Thomas climbed into the passenger seat. Peter locked the car again the second that Thomas closed the door.

"Paranoid, much?" Thomas asked with his eyebrows high.

"There are demons out there!" Peter said, his voice all high and squeaky. "Of course I'm paranoid!"

Thomas just looked at his best friend, all wrapped in a blanket, his hair a mess. "Uh huh. Is that why it smells like smoke in here? Because you're so paranoid you're smoking now?"

"Bugger!" Peter hissed, opening his window a smidge.

"Weren't you hot out here today?" Thomas asked, trying to give Peter a subject change.

"That's why I went on a walk. But it's cooled off and this blanket isn't all that warm anyway. Is Deirdre inside? Are you sure it's okay that you're out here?"

"Deirdre's gone to look for Renee. She left awhile ago. See, she hasn't given up yet. Besides, I figured you'd been out here so long, you must be hungry."

Peter smiled slightly. "Deirdre went to look for Renee? Good. I was hoping she wouldn't give up. You brought me food?" Peter asked hopefully.

"I brought you food, you crazy man." Thomas said, handing Peter a plastic container with the pizza inside. "And some water. I'm sorry it isn't anything fancy, but I'm hardly a four star chef."

"I spent most of my life living in monasteries, Thomas. Part of that was with you. You should know I can get by on...crap and stuff."

"Crap and stuff. You get really eloquent when you're paranoid."

Peter opened the container and he gazed at the pizza within. "Shut up, I am always eloquent!" Peter said back before he picked up one of the pieces and took a bite. "Thank you, Thomas. I needed this."

"I figured." He handed Peter the water as well. "You're alright, right? You're not-you're safe?"

"I'll be fine. The pizza helps. And if Deirdre's out looking for Renee, maybe she'll be better soon too. You should go back in, Thomas. There's no reason for you to be out here."

"There's you, you ninny." Thomas said easily, reclining his seat a little. "I'll go back in. I will. But I missed you." He looked over at Peter and his cheeks reddened. He turned his head back to the roof of the car and he opened the little moon roof thing and he knocked on the glass. "Heh. You can see the stars from the inside of your Toyota. If I had to sleep in a car, this would be the one I'd choose!"

"Well, thank you for that." Peter said flatly. "I missed you too, you know."

"Good." Thomas turned back to him, shutting the moon roof. "Are you really going to stay out here another night?"

"If I have to."

Thomas sighed. "Alright, Peter. I'll bring you more coffee later then." He reached out and took hold of Peter's hand, despite their mutual decision to remain friends and not lovers. This wasn't about sex, it was about giving Peter strength. It was about closeness, and being more comfortable around each other than they were in their own skin. "I'll come visit again soon, and you can bowl me over with your eloquence."

"Oh I will!" Peter said, his mouth full of pizza. "I'm good at it!"

Thomas snorted. "And good at chewing. You might want to put that one into action there."

Peter swallowed. "I am not at a table, therefore I need no table manners."

"Did you teach your daughters that one?"

"No. No, they're far too polite. I think it would stun them."

Thomas squeezed Peter's hand. "Gotta go, Peter. Be careful. Holler if you need anything. But use the phone, because if you actually holler, I'll be terrified."

Peter smiled over at Thomas. "Okay. I'll ring. I'll see you later, Thomas."

"That you will!" Thomas let Peter's hand go, and he mussed Peter's hair. "You're all scraggly."

"And if I was meeting the Queen, that would matter." Peter said, batting Thomas' hand away with his free one.

"Right." Thomas waited for Peter to unlock the doors so he could get out. "Sweet dreams and all that." He waved and then disappeared back into the house. Peter locked the car again and he slid down into his seat. Occasionally he glanced around nervously. He was in for another long night.