I was hiding under your porch because I love you.

Sid comes by after Sunday's game. It's late and he's trying to be quiet as he lets himself in, but Geno wasn't asleep. He gets out of bed and goes to the top of the stairs. He leans on the bannister to watch Sid finish hanging up his coat.

"Oh," Sid says when he turns around. "Sorry."

"Is okay," Geno says. "I'm awake."

Sid climbs up the stairs, stopping one step down from him. "We won tonight."

"I know," Geno says. Sid frowns, opens his mouth, and Geno adds, "I only look once."

"Hmph," Sid says. "How's your head?"

Geno shrugs, small and careful. "Not bad."

It hurts, and so do his shoulders, his neck. He still feels dizzy if he tries to move too fast, or read a book or watch tv. But it's not as bad as it was yesterday morning.

"I just wanted to see you, um, check on you tonight," Sid says, "because we leave tomorrow, and..."

"And I'm not go," Geno finishes.

"Yeah." Sid frowns harder. "Weren't you wearing that shirt yesterday?"

Geno looks down. "Maybe?"

Sid wrinkles his nose. "When was the last time you took a shower?"

Geno hesitates.

"Yeah, come on, I'm running you a bath," Sid says firmly.

Geno makes a face.

"I know, but it will make you feel better."

Geno keeps making the face.

"Excuse me, who is the king of concussions on this team?" Sid asks. "Learn from my experience."

Geno gives in at that, because Sid probably does know what he's talking about.

Sid sees it in his face. He reaches out and touches Geno's arm. "Trust me, it'll make you feel better. A little bit, anyway. And I'll make sure you don't pass out and drown."

Geno sighs and turns around. Sid follows him back to the master bedroom with its en suite bath.

The bathroom has a a huge, deep marble tub, which Geno liked when he saw the place, mostly because it looked big enough to have sex in. He has used it maybe twice.

"Get undressed," Sid says, heading towards the bathroom.

"So sweet, Sid!" Geno says, but he starts taking his clothes off. He hears the water come on. His shoulders twinge when he pulls his t-shirt off. He went into the boards hard.

He sits down on the bed to take his sweat pants and boxers off, just to be on the safe side. He puts everything in the hamper, grabs a robe, and goes into the bathroom.

Sid has left all the lights off. He's lit the fat white candles that sit on the edge of the tub. Geno always thought those were just for decoration. But the little bit of light spilling in from the bedroom and the soft glow of the candles feels better on his eyes than the full light of the bedroom and the hallway did.

Sid is sitting on the edge of the tub, testing the water with his hand.

"No bubbles?" Geno says.

Sid looks up. "I couldn't find any," he says, a smile hovering at the corner of his mouth. "You must be out. Epsom salts, though."

Geno hangs his robe on the towel rack. There are a few built-in steps up to the edge of the tub. Geno isn't too proud to let Sid steady him as he lowers himself to sit on the edge.

He twists and slides his legs into the water. It's so hot it's almost painful, and he hisses in a breath. He eases off the edge, sinking in to sit on the bottom. He leans back and stretches his legs out. The tub is big enough that he doesn't have to pull his knees up.

"Here," Sid says. He has a rolled up towel in his hands. He puts it behind Geno's neck, so Geno can sink down further, rest the back of his head on the towel.

The water rises to cover his collarbones, and Sid turns the tap off. Geno closes his eyes. The lap of water is loud in the sudden quiet. The heat feels good now, sinking into his muscles. It's not doing much for his headache, but it loosens up his tight shoulders, eases the ache of bruises he'd forgotten he had.

Sid doesn't say anything, but it's nice to hear him breathing, know he's right there.

After a while, Sid dips his hand in the water again. "More hot water?" he asks.

"Mmmm," Geno says, not bothering to open his eyes.

There's a lever under the faucet that works the drain plug, so Sid can let some of the water drain before he turns the tap on again. The new spill of hot water spreads through the tub, and Geno sighs.

"Duck down for a sec," Sid says, turning off the tap. "Like, all the way under."

Geno gives him a dubious look, but Sid was right about the bath, so he goes.

When he comes back up, Sid has Geno's shampoo bottle in his hands. "I know this is -- a little weird, but I swear this will makes you feel better," he says.

"Okay," Geno says and closes his eyes.

He hears Sid squirt some shampoo into his palm and put the bottle down, and then his hands are sinking into Geno's wet hair. He lathers Geno's hair up. It's like get his hair washed at the barber, but not, because Sid's hands are so incredibly gentle.

Soft hands, Geno thinks, and almost smiles.

Sid rubs tiny circles into his scalp, barely any pressure at all. Sid was right, it does make him feel better. Maybe just because he's not clenching his jaw so tightly, or maybe it's psychological, but the dull throb of his headache eases into something quieter, more bearable.

Sid scoops water up and lets it spill through Geno's hair. He does it again, a slow, easy rhythm. It's probably getting all over the edge of the tub and the floor, but Sid keeps doing it.

Geno opens his eyes and looks up at Sid. Sid's face is serious, focused. He's chewing on his lower lip as he concentrates on washing Geno's hair. He meets Geno's eyes and gives him a half-smile.

"How are you feeling?" Sid asks.

Geno thinks about it. "Better."

Sid nods. He pours some more water through Geno's hair. His knuckles brush against the side of Geno's neck.

"You know, it was the neck injury as much as the concussion that really kept me out last time," Sid says.

"I know," Geno says.

"I told the trainers to make sure they check you for that," Sid says.

Geno swallows. He reaches up and touches Sid's hand. "Thanks, Sid."

"Duck down," Sid says.

Geno takes a deep breath and sinks down under the surface. Sid runs his hands through Geno's hair under the water, rinsing out the rest of the shampoo.

Geno surfaces again. He leans back, and a jaw-cracking yawn takes him by surprise.

"Are you ready to sleep?" Sid asks.

"Yeah," Geno says. He feels warm and boneless, all the pain and frustration faded down to manageable levels.

"Okay, hang on a minute," Sid says. He gets up, goes over to the walk-in shower and turns it on, then comes back. "You need a hand?"

"Maybe," Geno says. He pushes slowly to his feet, holding on to the edge of the tub. He sits on the edge and pivots, pulling his legs out and setting his feet on the steps down.

He stands up. Sid hovers, but doesn't try to grab him. Geno makes it down the steps to the bathroom floor without falling and cracking his skull open, and it feels like a victory.

"Rinse off quick before you go to bed," Sid says.

Geno almost says no, because the shower is in the opposite direction of his bed, and all he wants to do is lie down, but Sid's right, he'll feel itchy tomorrow if doesn't rinse the salt off.

When he steps out of the shower, Sid hands him a towel. Geno dries himself off. Sid grabs another towel off the rack, and reaches up to rub it gently over Geno's hair.

Geno huffs out a laugh.

"Wait here," Sid says.

He goes out to Geno's bedroom and turns off the lights, all but the dimmable one next to Geno's bed, and that one he turns almost all the way down.

"Okay," Sid says.

Geno drops the towel, briefly debates putting the robe on, and then just gives up and walks naked over to his bed.

He climbs in and lies down, and feels like he could sleep for days.

"I gotta go," Sid says. "But text me if you need anything."

"In next, hm, eight hours?" Geno asks.

Sid frowns.

"You gone tomorrow, Sid," Geno reminds him.

Sid's mouth twists like he just bit something sour. "Then just -- let me know you're all right."

"Okay," Geno says, closing his eyes.

Sid doesn't say anything for a moment, doesn't move. Then he comes to the side of the bed and presses a quick, soft kiss to Geno's forehead.

Geno opens his eyes.

"You're going to be fine," Sid says.

He sounds so fierce and sure that all Geno can say is, "Yes."