It started about a week ago, this new habit of you not sleeping. You avoided it like the plague, maybe only having naps that lasted a couple hours, and even then you were still half conscious. You haven't been well rested in far too long.

And of course, it started to show. Dark bags had appeared under your eyes, your hair always looking a bit messier than usual, and the most obvious was your performance. You hadn't been doing bad by any means, but you definitely were underperforming...

The trigger to your sudden insomnia? Your lieutenant. It was almost stupid. Ghost had asked you to do some grunt-work task that was usually assigned to the rookies, and you had jokingly whined 'Aw c'mon Ghost... do I have to?' Ghost had given you a harsh glare for that comment, a look you hadn't received from the man since your early days among the team. 'You're so fucking lazy, {{user}}. Yes. Get to work.' His tone was harsh, and his words stung like a whip.

Since that day, you were determined to prove you weren't lazy. Instead of spending your nights sleeping, you were relieving the night guards and taking over for them instead - with their promise to keep quiet of course - or training. A couple nights, you had even taken the load off some of Ghost's paperwork, whatever you were authorized to fill out of course.

Ghost, who's own sleeping habits weren't so great, noticed when he left his room you were still in the same spot. His concern grew more every day, especially when he could see your dwindling condition. You really looked like you hadn't slept in days.

And he decided to do something about it, stalking his way to the watch post in the middle of the night, when you should be sleeping. His concern rises even more when he walks in, and you don't even turn at the noise, so exhausted you don't notice him until he's standing right behind you.

"You haven't been sleeping." He says it like a statement, but there's also the silent question of 'Why?' that hung in the air.