BEN SPENT THE FIRST WEEK SLEEPING in Ichabod's room during the day, while Murphy made a quick switch of shifting his daytime routine to a nighttime one. When the blood bags had dwindled, Murphy had gone out to buy them at Ben's meek request. He wasn't ready to leave the house, he said, and he didn't want Ichabod going anywhere without him. The mortal was happy enough to, and Ben was pleased. There had been a peculiar moment passing between them as they'd loaded the baggies into the fridge and freezer. Ben had been wondering if he should drink from Murphy, and obviously his friend had picked up on something along those lines. Still, nothing had been said by either and the moment passed.
Ben had made a habit of checking in on Murphy before the mortal went to sleep for the day, and he was usually asleep earlier than them because it was easier to get to sleep when it was still dark. Murphy used the last half hour of night quite well, before the sky brightened and sent his vampiric friend into something much deeper. On one of the nights when Ben came to the door, he saw that Murphy was awake, and he padded over and climbed into bed with him. Nothing had been said between them, and Ben didn't really need the blood, but there was something comforting in snuggling up to Murphy and getting into position to drink from him. Afterwards, they held one another and sleep came for both of them.
Ben had expected Ichabod to say something to him the next night when they woke up, but was grateful nothing came. Ben figured his brother was probably pleased that Ben was getting by without him. He felt like he was clinging to Ichabod a bit too much, relying on him too heavily. The next night was gradually better, but was still filled with grief and sadness, but Ben and Ichabod had both tackled looking at the things dumped into the ballroom, that Kerr had arranged to be delivered. Murphy had been there as well, at Ben's invitation - and had heard Ben's tales about Kerr brought on by this suit, or that statuette. There'd been memories shared, that night, and there had been some smiles among the tears.
Ben went to Murphy's bed a second time, both retiring to Murphy's room. He hadn't said anything to his mortal friend about staying a second time, so wondered if he was surprising Murphy by following him into his room and shutting the door behind himself. It wasn't like he could drink a second time, so early. (Mind, he'd taken so little last night that he probably could).