Albert was tired. He was tired and pissed off, an in desperate need of a cigarette.

And Dale, bless him, had brought cigarettes home for him. However, the bag they resided in was currently on the floor and entirely too far away from where Albert sat on the couch, and Albert was too tired and horny and pissed off to even move.

Why was he pissed? Same reason that the last few days of being pissed off had been filed with. He couldn't move his stupid, bullet-hole and scar ridden shoulder or left arm without a significant amount of pain and stress on his system.

But Albert wasn't entirely focused on that. He was more focused on the fact that he just made out like teenagers on the couch of his apartment with his male best friend. Being in his mid-to-late whatevers as a closeted gay man in the FBI, Albert was a grown ass man who did not partake in such activities on a whim or, as it so happens, in a handful of years altogether.

So he was freaking out a little.

Add up pissed off, exhausted, confused, in pain, a little cold, and needing but not really wanting a cigarette to freaking out, and you end up with an overload of emotions that Albert hadn't felt singularly in ages. What was he doing about it? Well, since there was no one immediately in front of him for him to insult until they ran away, he was sitting in silence. Staring at the wall. Freaking out. It was like he'd used all his energy in the last few days, yet there was still so much thrumming through his body. It made him restless.

Albert and Dale just made out on Albert's couch three days after Albert had been shot point-blank in a crime of opportunity a half a state away. It had been a rough week, really, so you can't blame him for the overload of emotions and mixed messages in his head.

Dale was currently in the restroom, taking a shower and changing into his sleep clothes.

Albert didn't really know what to do at this point, or if he should be doing anything at all. At least he could use this time to cool down from the sudden almost-sexual encounter he'd just shared with his... Dale. Dale had, after thoroughly exploring every inch of Albert's face and neck with his mouth, had dismounted and asked about the shower.

Albert had just stared up at him. "Uh," he said, his mind still on the track where he and Coop would be a little more naked than they were at the moment. "Shower," he continued.

"Yes, I, ah, kind of figured, since your arm, and everything, that we could continue this, if you want to that is, at another time, where, ah, you're feeling better?" Cooper looked wildly around the room they were in and then darted over to his bags.

"Yes-" started Albert.

"I've got my things here!" Cooper interrupted. "And I can just, you know, shower, then we can get you taken care of - you know, like with your wound and such, not with the, ah-"

"Coop!" It was Albert's turn to interrupt, finally recognizing that Dale was freaking out a little too. "Yes, to all of the above. Go. Shower. I'll be here."

Cooper had nodded enthusiastically, given Albert a thumbs up, and disappeared down the short hallway, leaving Albert where he was now. Sitting. Breathing. Still a little turned on. Holy shit, what a fucking life change to deal with - he was having relations with Cooper now? Damn if he didn't see this one coming.

He heard the water turn off and started to get up, deciding that this was as good a time as any to take more painkillers. He just finished wrestling with the water when Cooper called him in to the bathroom a few minutes later.

"I've got all the bandage supplies in here, and I'll go grab your pajama pants, and then we can get you all showered and you can get a fantastic night's sleep."

Albert nodded. Soon enough, Cooper reentered the bathroom with the pajamas and sat them down on the toilet. He stood in front of Albert, who gave him that resigned, blank face, ready for the sheer fun that this was going to be. Not.

Dale started with the swing his arm was in, carefully tearing the velcro fastenings at the front and supporting his arm as it loosened. Slowly, he let Alberts arm down by his side until it was vertical once again. Albert tried not to react to the pain and pleasure Cooper was causing him, but grimaced anyway. Cooper kept up a steady stream of muttered reassurances as he took the sling off of Albert and carefully folded it. Next, he started on the shirt buttons, first tugging the shirt from Alberts pants.

His arms brushed Albert's sides and made him shiver. Cooper looked up as he continued to unbutton the tiny buttoned, and gave a half smile. "Ya know, Albert, this isn't exactly how I'd pictured undressing you for the first time."

Albert tried to repress the sudden flow of blood to his face, among other places, but was blushing by the time Cooper had finished with the buttons. "God, Coop, timing much?"

"I know, I know. Now, careful, I'm taking the shirt off."

Albert complied again, really for lack of response than anything else, and tried his best to remain still while not tensing his damn arm. Cooper took in the sight of the bandage, pausing a little too long.

Albert spurred to action, undoing his pants with his right hand and letting them fall to the floor. He stepped out of them, and hesitantly asked Cooper to get his socks for him. Cooper complied, then flipped on the shower. "I'll be right here. Well, right out in the hall. Let me know if you need me. Your towel is there!" Cooper made his exit as gracefully as the awkward situation allowed and Albert finished undressing by pushing his boxers to the floor. The hot water was the best thing he'd felt all week, excluding what happened on the couch, and he took full liberties of letting the water relax the muscles in his back, taking care not to wet the bandages on his front too much.

The air conditioner had cooled his skin too much in the last few hours, and Albert felt his body start to normalize again, like he could breathe comfortably again. He half-heartedly soaped and rinsed, and shut off the water. He barely got the towel around his waist before he heard Dale knock on the door.

"Albert? Ready for me?"

As I'll ever be, Albert muttered under his breath. "Yeah, sure, why not. Join the party, Coop, it's been lonely in here."

Cooper entered and offered his assistance with Albert's pajama bottoms. Once those were on, Albert dropped his towel and started picking at the bandages over his wound.

"God this itches," he said. Cooper already started on laying out the supplies to clean and redress the wound as Albert tossed the soggy mess into the trash next to him. They both took a moment to look at the mess on his shoulder.

"Ow," said Albert.

The scar itself was about three inches long, extended unevenly from either side where the bullet entered just below his collar bone. They had used heavy, black stitches to close the wound, but it was still an angry red with bruising starting to blossom around the area.

"Not exactly a pretty sight, eh Coop?"

Albert looked over at Cooper and saw that he was looking down into the sink, presumably trying to gather himself. "It's a beautiful one, Albert. It means you're still alive, that you survived a random act of violence and are going to be okay. I think it's a great sight indeed, Albert." Cooper didn't cry, but wasn't far from it either, and Albert reached out his right hand to land on his shoulder in the small bathroom.

"That's a nice sentiment, but nonetheless, let's get this covered up, I'm about to fall asleep standing," said Albert, gently and with great affection for his friend. A sudden pang from his shoulder made him wince audibly. "Damn, that hurt."

"I'm sorry, is there anything I can do?-" Cooper was cut off.

"Damn! Shit damn!" Albert's shoulder was flaring with white-hot pain, not adjusting well to the movement and temperature changes of the last few minutes. "Shit!"

"Albert!" Cooper gently laid a hand on his shoulders, one barely touching the skin close to his wound.

"Just – distract me for a second!" Albert gritted.

"Ah, okay, um, well," rambled Cooper, flustered at Albert's pained face in front of him. "Recent development in my life, I just kissed my best friend, quite a bit actually, and it was really nice, and I want to do it again, if he'd allow. On a long-term, relationship basis."

The pain in Albert's shoulder started to recede slowly and he managed to open his eyes. " I would allow, indeed. Unless you're talking about another friend of yours I don't know about."

Cooper smiled. "Better?" At Albert's nod, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to Albert's forehead, his nose, and lingered at his lips until Albert could lean and close the gap himself. The kiss was warm and dry and chaste, and Cooper pulled back and reached for the supplies, getting to work on Albert's shoulder.

Freshly bandaged and with the sling carefully re-hooked around Albert's bare torso, Albert took Cooper by the shoulder and led him into the bedroom. "Sleep in here tonight, yeah?"

Cooper looked at him with curiosity before saying, "What if I jostle you? I don't want to hurt you."

"Get in the damn bed. If you hurt me, don't worry about it, I'll be letting you know by a sudden relocation of your ass to the floor. Now let's sleep."

Despite his lethargic vitriol, Albert moved with extreme care into the bed, Cooper straightening pillows into a supportive mound behind him as he got comfortable under the covers. Cooper climbed in on the side away from his injury, flipping off the bedside lamp as he moved, and turned onto his side facing Albert, but not quite touching him.

Both men were extremely aware of their own positions in relation to each other, eyes wide open in the dark room.

"Well, this is weird," breathed Albert. "At least I'm on meds."

Cooper gave a small laugh and started to relax. "Do you mind if I –" he put his hand on Albert's side and moved closer to him. "Is this okay?"

Albert, half asleep and suddenly more warm and comfortable in Cooper's arms than he had been in weeks alone, hummed in agreement. Cooper carefully squeezed Albert before relaxing completely, taking in his scent and warmth before dropping off into a dreamless sleep himself.