Pike didn't say a word. The time for talking had passed. He just placed a gentle kiss atop her head, gave her hand a gentle squeeze, and relaxed. They both needed sleep, but Pike didn't close his eyes until she drifted off. Once she had, he chanced a look down at her and couldn't keep the smile from his face.
When she was awake, Faith was tough with a side of flirty. And she was tough, there was no question about that. But now he knew that some of that persona was an act, a mask to hide behind. So was the flirtation, to a degree. But when she was asleep? Her masks fell away. She wasn't Faith the Tough Girl, she wasn't Faith the Flirt. She was just Faith. Beautiful, strong, and in so many ways, innocent.
It was funny. Pike didn't have any trouble falling asleep now.