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Would you like a drink?" Thomas offered.
     
Eric was suddenly aware of how parched he was. "Water would be great, thanks."
     
Thomas nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him.
    Eric started taking off his shirt, grimacing as sore muscles stretched. He stripped with relief and wandered into the bathroom. A couple of minutes later he was standing under a hot spray of water, humming with relief as he washed the stink of the evening away, wincing as the water hit sore spots. He was too tired to stay in for very long, and once he was clean Eric shut off the water and reached for a towel.
    The bathroom was steamy. Eric dried off as best he could, wrapping the towel around his waist as he staggered tiredly back into the bedroom. There was a t-shirt and a pair of pajama pants folded neatly on the bed. Unused to wearing anything in bed, Eric figured that as he was in someone else's house it was only good manners not to startle the host with the sight of his naked butt.
    Come to think of it, Eric wasn't sure if there was a Mrs. Clay here. After all the heavy flirting he was pretty sure it wasn't a wife, but there might be a mother. Wearily, he unwrapped the towel and got into the pants; they were a little short in the leg but not too tight. He was just pulling the t-shirt over his head when there was a quiet knock at the door.
"Uh, come in."
    Thomas poked his head around the door. "I have a cold bottle of water for you and a bowl of water for Millie and Toby." He hesitated in the doorway.
    "Thanks." Eric held out his hand for the bottle, the condensation dripping down the outside. He took a large gulp of the water, appreciating the coolness as it went down his parched throat. Even so, the taste and smell of the smoke was hard to shake off. Both dogs downed the water greedily, scrapping to lick the last drops out of the bowl.
    He put the bottle down on the nightstand to see Thomas frowning as he turned back. "Oh, sorry. Should I have put the bottle on something?" he apologized quickly.
    "What? No. I was just looking at your back." Eric was amused to see the faint stain of red on Thomas' cheeks, apparent even in the dim light of the bedroom. "I can see red marks."
"Really?" Eric twisted, trying to see over his shoulder to have a look.
    "The t-shirt's rucked up," Thomas pointed out. "Take it off. I've got some cream which should ease any soreness."
Eric really just wanted to fall on the bed and sleep but he obediently took it off.
     
"Lay on the bed," Thomas ordered. "I'll be back in a minute."
    Thomas left the room and Eric collapsed untidily on top of the covers with a sigh of relief. He was almost asleep when Thomas returned. Feeling the mattress dip under him, Eric reluctantly opened one eye to find Thomas sitting next to him on the bed. Eric made to get up.
Thomas just pushed him down, saying, "Lay back down. I'll just put some cream on the red patches."
    For a few minutes Thomas worked in silence, his fingers lightly spreading the ointment over Eric's skin. By the time he finished Eric was almost asleep again. He drowsily felt a soft blanket drape over him and then he really was asleep, not noticing as Thomas left the room or feeling the dogs creeping onto the bed to be near him.
* * * *
    He awoke to the smell of fragrant coffee and every muscle in his body screaming for him not to move.
"Eric?" There was a light pressure on his arm along with his name.
     
"Uh?" Coherency was never his strong point in the middle of the night.
     
"Sorry Eric, the police are here. You're gonna have to wake up now."
     
"Smidanit," His voice was muffled as he buried his head back in the pillows.
    "Uh… If that was some comment about the middle of the night, I hate to disillusion you but it's three in the afternoon and I've sent them away once already."
He groaned loudly at the mere thought of getting up. "Dogs?"
     
"In my kitchen," Thomas said promptly, "working their way through my fridge."
    Eric rolled over onto his back and