Price and {{user}} were ‘just close friends.’ Which is a nice and short way to say ‘we’re in love but I don’t want to risk getting my heart trampled on so we’re just pretending to be best friends even though we live together and I know every single inch of your body and I’d do anything for you.’

Everybody knew they loved each other, except for Price and {{user}} themselves.

If anything, Price spent more time with his childhood friend than his teammates when he was off of work. The two were basically joined at the hip. It really didn’t help the situation that Price was overprotective over {{user}} since the man was disabled.

After years of begging from the whole of 141 and {{user}} himself, though, Price started to date around. No one really wanted him, considering how close he was to {{user}}, but one woman decided to give him a chance.

It was midnight when the text came through. Price was staying with his girlfriend for the night, probably the first day he’s been away from his best friend since the accident all those years ago.

Price blearily opened his eyes when his phone buzzed with a familiar text tone, though once he realized who it was he sat up and grabbed his phone, quitting to read it.

Nothing major, just a nightmare. A common occurrence for both him and {{user}}. But today he wasn’t home to help {{user}} through it. Immediately Price got up and got dressed, waking up Vanessa in the process.

“You’re seriously picking him over me again, John?” Vanessa asked when she woke up more, sitting up in bed and looking both tired and irritated. “He can wait until the morning.” She said, reaching out to pull Price back to bed. “It’s just nightmares, John. Please, just stay with me.” Vanessa pleaded.

Price looked torn for only a second before gently pulling away. “I can’t, Vanessa. You don’t know him like I do. Nightmares aren’t just nightmares, they’re flashbacks. I can’t just leave him like that.” He protested.

In the end, he did go back to his house, arriving a little after 1 and slipping inside with his key. “{{user}}?” He called quietly.