Sorry, there has been a long delay in posts. I was not really inspired to write. Please let me know what you think of the latest upload.

Set after 5x02

Rich needs to talk to someone.

Rich had never been one of those people who had ever had trouble sleeping. He had always been able to close his eyes and drift to sleep in a matter of minutes. It's not like falling asleep was a difficult task. You lay down and closed your eyes. It didn't take a genius. However, many things have changed over the last few months. One of them being he was no longer snuggled beneath silk sheets atop a mountain of pillows. In fact, the bed he lay on now was lumpy, damp and smelled of old sweat and for some reason, a stench that reminded him of the Zoo.

He shifted slightly, trying to find a comfortable position then sighed at his fruitless efforts. The bed creaked under his weight as he sluggishly got to his feet, the sound of Patterson's soft snoring on the bunk above making him slightly envious. Moving to the door, he quietly made his way to the hallway, shuffling towards the canteen. He was not expecting to see a lone figure sitting at the table, hunched over a pile of tattered papers. Rich watched for a second as his tattooed friend feverishly shaded on the paper in front of her.

"I didn't think anyone would be up at this time..." He broke the silence. Jane didn't look up, but she moved her head slightly as an indication she knew he was there. "Can't sleep either huh?" he asked, moving to the kitchen. Jane didn't respond and continued to draw. Rich poured himself a glass of water from a bottle on the side.

"Water?" he offered, Jane shook her head and pointed to a glass that sat next to her; half full with a rusted brown liquid. "Right." Rich nodded and took a seat opposite her. He looked down to the paper and smiled sadly. The intricate detail in the dark shaded lines mesmerizing him. He took in every inch of the drawing, shuddering at how realistic it looked. Like a photo.

"You must miss her." He said quietly, still mesmerized at the beautifully drawn picture of Avery. Jane said nothing, continuing to shade a small spot by the young girl's left eye. Rich sipped his water and tapped his fingers on the metal table. For a moment, he just sat there, watching. Then he rubbed his neck and took a deep breath.

"Can I ask you a question?"

Jane grunted a distracted response, still not moving her eyes from her work.

"Does it ever stop?" Rich asked, his voice so quiet it was almost a whisper.

"Does 'what' ever stop?" Jane asked, her eyes still cast towards the shaded pencil drawing of her daughter.

"The nightmares...the flashbacks..." Jane stopped abruptly at Rich's words, moving her gaze towards him and putting her pencil down. She opened her mouth to respond but then promptly closed it. She didn't know how to answer that question.

"Cause, I can't even wash my face without freaking out..." Rich looked to the floor, his lip trembling ever so slightly. It was only now that Jane noticed the dark circles under his eyes, his dishevelled hair and the slump in his shoulders. "I just thought...since you spent a few months in one of the CIA's fabulous hotels... you could give me a little insight you know" Rich's attempt at a joke and a smile fell short as his voice hitched in his chest, his eyes starting to shine with tears. He wiped them away and cleared his throat. "When did they stop for you?"

Jane sighed softly, biting her lip. There was a reason she was sitting at this table at 4 am, drinking stale whisky instead of sleeping next to her husband. Trying to keep her mind distracted.

"I'll let you know when it happens." She said softly, Rich stared at her for a while and pursed his lips, letting go of a breath he didn't realise he was holding.

"I was afraid you were going to say that." He fiddled nervously with the hem of his shirt, looking down at the floor. There was a silence between them, the hum of the generator and the creaking of the old building filling the quiet. Jane traced circles around a large rusted stain on the table, biting the inside of her cheek. She had been so busy trying to keep everyone safe, busy trying to take down Madeline and make a plan that would redeem them all, that she had forgotten to check on how everyone was coping. She knew exactly what it felt like to have just escaped a blacksite. Knew the pain and darkness that came in the days and weeks afterwards. She had, had to deal with it alone, but that didn't mean that Rich had to.

"I'll leave you to it." His voice broke her out of her thoughts. She looked up just in time to see him stand and move towards the door, a slight limp in step.

"Rich," Jane called to him, he turned to face her. Taking a deep breath, Jane continued. "I know I'm not the most emotionally available person...but I'm a good listener." She said, her voice was quiet. "I know what you're dealing with right now. I had to deal with it alone...I had to push those feeling so deep down as if they never happened and... that messed me up."

Jane felt an unexpected rush of emotions flood her chest. A tight feeling clenching her heart and catching in her throat.

"If you ever need to talk...I'm here."

Rich smiled. A genuine smile that pulled at his lips and lit up his eyes ever so slightly.

"Thank's Jane."

He left without another word, leaving Jane alone. She smiled as she picked up her pencil and began drawing once more.

Just a little something I would like to see. Jane is really the only one that can relate to what Rich has been going through and the first two episodes she has seemed a little cold. Hope you enjoyed!