Hell if I know, part 2.

Part 1

The three of us look at each other for a moment, then Kirk slides past me and peers into the coffee pot.

"No hot water for tea?"

Jason smacks Kirk's ass. "Go get dressed. I'll make you some tea."

Kirk jumps away from Jason's hand. "Dick."

"Don't insult the man making your morning tea."

Kirk only grins at him and slides past me again.

Jason busies himself heating water and finding a tea bag. I turn my coffee mug in my hands, feeling the heat seep into my joints. Jason leans back against the counter and watches me while he waits for the water to boil.

"Why'd you come over?"

I shrug. "Couldn't sleep. Thought we could shoot some hoops."

He sips his coffee and runs a hand through his hair. He sets down the coffee and pours boiling water over the tea bag in Kirk's mug.

Kirk comes back into the kitchen, yawning, and takes his mug from Jason. He sips it and stares at me through the steam.

Jason gulps down the last of his coffee and sets his mug in the sink. "We're gonna shoot some hoops," he tells Kirk. "You wanna play?"

Kirk makes a face. "No."

Jason grins and reaches over to ruffle Kirk's hair. "We'll be outside." He takes my coffee mug and puts it with his in the sink. "Come on, James. Time to kick your ass."

I dredge up a smile. "No way, man."

"Oh, yes." He puts his arm around my shoulder. "I'm going to kick your ass, my friend."

I resist glancing over my shoulder at Kirk as Jason leads me outside.

Unfortunately, Jason's right, and he does kick my ass. I'm panting and sweating, and he's still dribbling toward me. I bend over and put my hands on my knees.

"Admit defeat?"

I nod and push my sweaty hair out of my face. "Yeah, yeah. You kicked my ass."

He scoops up the ball and ruffles my hair. "Come on."

I follow him into the house and back into the kitchen. He grabs two bottles of water out of the fridge and tosses one to me. We gulp from the bottles, and he heads into the living room. He flops onto the couch. I take one of the chairs.

"So. Couldn't sleep?"

My throat goes dry, and I drink down more water. "Yeah."

Jason just watches me patiently.

I stare blankly at his walls, not looking at him. "Had a nightmare."

"About what?" he asks softly.

I shrug. "Dunno." We sit in silence for a little longer. "Something about Kirk."

Jason's eyes flicker over my shoulder, and I know before I turn to look that Kirk's behind me. He comes around my chair and sits next to Jason on the couch. He's taken a shower; his hair's wet.

"Dreaming about me?"

"Yeah." I can feel myself shrinking back into the chair.

"What'd you dream?"

I grip my water bottle with both hands. "You were in danger."

He scowls at me. "I can take care of myself."

I close my eyes and tip my head back. "It was just a dream."

Part 3