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Sean sighed. “You know, as far as nights out go, this one isn’t one of our better ones.”

Ricardo snorted softly, taking a sip from his beer. “What makes you say that?”

Sean looked across the booth to where Nick lay, slumped and half asleep. “Boy, I wonder.”

Ricardo followed his gaze. “Give him a break. You know he hasn’t been sleeping.”

Sean shook his head. “I didn’t know that. He barely talks to me anymore. I suspected, though.”

He’d also suspected Nick wouldn’t last much longer either. After walking into the bar and having a few drinks, Nick looked like he was about to doze off. The bar lights were low, and the thick wood and glass drowned out the city's noise. Most people were sitting in pairs at the bar or in booths, talking quietly. It was the sort of place Sean preferred, quiet, the low murmur of conversation mingling with the gently playing music in the background. For Nick, though, it had equated to a lullaby after an hour.

Ricardo shrugged. “Doesn’t really talk to anyone except Matt.”

Sean looked over at his sleeping teammate. “Has he been sleeping at his own place?”

“Yeah, Nick was talking about it the other day.”

Sean sighed. “That’s probably why he’s not sleeping well. He always slept better around Matt.”

As much as the two men drove him crazy sometimes, Sean wouldn’t deny the bond between Matt and Nick. They really were just like brothers, and sometimes that meant relying on each other in a way they didn’t rely on the rest of the team. Sean wasn’t sure why Nick was so insistent on sleeping on his own now. Sure, General Winter had ensured the team members had their own places in the base housing, but it seemed pointless for Nick to use his apartment if he was comfortable elsewhere.

“Between them fighting all the time and Nick staying at his place, I’m getting a little worried,” Sean admitted.

“Do you want me to talk to them?” Ricardo asked.

Sean shook his head. “If anyone, it should be me.”

“You really in the best place to be doing it?”

Sean frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Ricardo winced. “C’mon Sean, don’t make me say it, you know what I mean.”

“Is this about Aidan?”

“Not just about Aidan.”

“But enough for me to call bullshit.”

Ricardo sighed. “It’s not bullshit. You two have been at each other’s throats for two weeks now, and haven’t let up in the slightest.”

“I need him to learn how to operate as part of this team, and if that means I have to teach him some respect first, then so be it,” Sean said through gritted teeth.

“Really? Because you put up with everything the rest of us do, but you’re treating him like the unwanted stepchild.”

“Are you saying he hasn’t been an absolute ass?”

“Do I think he could be a little easier on you? Yeah, and I’ve told him that. But I think you could be easier on him too. I know you’re not happy about him being here.”

“And you are?”

Ricardo frowned. “I never said I was, but being here isn’t his fault. You ask me, he’s as bitter about being here as you are.”

“I’m not bitter!”

“Right, you’re being an asshole to him for no good reason.”

“Very good reason.”