Herald the Night

Chapter Thirty-Seven

The Gendry household had become an overnight headquarters for more people than Luke could ever remember having in one place at one time. He didn”t hate it, by any means, but it was definitely overwhelming for his partner. Overwhelming was, naturally, an understatement.

The most ironic part of it was the fact that it was Taz’ idea in the first place. When their friend group sat down to discuss the situation, he”d vehemently insisted that the only option for Theo and Connor was with them. It wasn”t a terrible idea in theory—they had plenty of space in the two-family townhome. Things got tricky when the flood of visitors and employees started coming and going.

It was about to get ten times worse, too. Connor was finally getting released from the hospital and they were all wound tight over it. None more so than Theo himself. Luke had never gotten the full experience of living alongside Theo and his family. The depths of how his PTSD affected his life were sobering and heart wrenching. His two younger siblings were no better off. Luke, and his entire family, were humbled by the experience.

“Dad, hey.” Luke rapped his knuckles against the frame of the living room door. “We”re headed out in a bit. Do we need anything?”

“I need my damn kitchen back, is what I need.” Dad sank deeper into his recliner and glared at the television. It wasn”t even on. Luke felt the slow arch of an eyebrow shift his expression.

“What—oh, Birdie still at it?” He glanced over his shoulder to the room in question. Connor”s mother had arrived the morning after Connor had regained consciousness. Once it was decided amongst them all that they”d be staying here, she had descended on their kitchen and rarely left except to visit her son and sleep.

“Sure as shit.” Another grumble, another glare at the blank void of the television screen.

“Go help the ole bird out.” Luke grimaced as a cry from deeper in the house called him out.

“Who are you calling old, young man? I reckon you need a whack with my cane to remind you of y’manners.” Birdie appeared behind him and had him flashing a sheepish grin. Her thick Southern accent was endearing. The fire in her eyes was intimidating. “And as far as you go, Larry. I ain”t got time for your nonsense. Didn”t hear you complainin’ when you done ate half my dang cinnamon rolls.”

Luke glanced between his father and Connor’s mother, doing a double-take as he noted the red flush creeping over Dad’s cheeks. Oh, shit. What were the fucking chances. A smile slowly drifted over his lips as he smothered a chuckle.

“Dad, Ms. Birdie… play nice. We’re headed over to the hospital now.” Luke settled his palm on the older woman’s shoulder with a gentle squeeze. “Send me a shopping list if you need something, love.”

“You”re a good boy.” Birdie”s cool palm gently patted Luke”s cheek. “Thank you. Tell my Connie to behave himself. He”s seven kinds of cranky when he ain”t feelin’ right.”

He left the parents bickering over some recipe in the living room, but nearly crashed into the wall as he tried to dodge his goldendoodle Brody and a chaotic young Anna as they careened through the hallway. That was another thing they were still adjusting to. With the exception of shy little Parker’s occasional visits, the Gendry family had very little experience with children. Actual children. Leon and Liam were basically overgrown children on a good day. Adding the influence of the Montgomery kids made all of them worse.

“Anna, no running in the house. Please? You’ll get hurt.” Theo, flustered and struggling to get a backpack zippered, almost walked straight into Luke on his way toward the front door. He caught the man before they could collide and instantly regretted the act as Theo tensed from head to toe. His anxiety would be a long work in progress. “Shit, s-sorry. I… yeah. Sorry.”

“All good, Theo. Let me help.” Luke carefully pried the backpack from Theo’s trembling hands, zipped it, and slung it over his shoulder. “You got everything we need?”

Theo bobbed his head just once as he worked to slow his breathing. He didn”t need to ask to know that his nerves were spiraling out of control. He also knew better than to insist Theo stay behind while Luke went to the hospital.

Without another word, Luke led them out of the house and shut the door on the chaos inside. It was still early, the sun barely cresting the buildings to the east, but the heat was already unbearable. Humidity was going to have them cranking the AC before noon, for sure. The silence between them continued as they climbed into Luke’s sedan, and persisted as they made the arduous trip through morning traffic toward the hospital. Only when the signs for the hospital appeared to guide them the rest of the way there did Theo finally speak.

“Thanks for this. Thanks for everything.” He wound his hands tighter together in his lap. “Everything. We wouldn”t be here—”

“It”s what we do. No need to thank me. I”m glad we”re getting through this together.” Luke reached out and gently patted Theo’s knee. “Lawrence would be so proud of you.”

“Oh, God. Don”t make me cry,” Theo grumbled, even as he flashed Luke a watery smile. “Thanks, Luke.”

“It”s just the truth.” He paused to concentrate on parking the car before shutting it off and turning to face Theo head on. “Let”s go get our soldier, eh?”

Theo nodded while flinging the door open. Luke almost had to race to catch up before Theo pivoted on a dime and came racing back for the backpack in the rear of the car. His nervous excitement increased as they walked into the hospital and grew to a boiling point by the time they made it to the right floor. He gave up trying to keep Theo contained when the door to Connor”s room came into view.

Deciding to let them have a moment, he lingered in the hall and took the opportunity to check his phone. The newly expanded group Discord had flooded his screen with notifications in the time it took them to get to their destination.

Cay the Cray: ETA ten minutes

Tazzy: Save me, the parents are fighting.

Leon: hate when they do this

Lliama: hate when they do this

Leon: HAHAHA jinx!!!!

Abby Dabs: ur so creepy

Lily Flower: We’re running late. Do you need us to bring anything?

Cay the Cray: Just your beautiful faces, my loves.

Luke pocketed the phone with a smile. He rarely had the bandwidth to engage in the chaos of the group chat, but he read every message. Knocking a little jingle on the doorjamb, he stepped into the room and shared a knowing nod with Elias just inside. Connor and Theo were wrapped tight in embrace on the edge of the bed. Theo’s tears were prolific. Connor”s hadn”t stopped since he fully regained consciousness, coming and going in ebbs and flows that left him looking perpetually like a kicked Golden Retriever puppy.

“Hanging in there, soldier?” Luke kept his voice low and soothing. Once Connor made eye contact, he added a salute.

“R-reckon so. M”jus’… r-ready…” He paused with a meager sigh before continuing. He”d come a long way in a short time, but the injuries he had sustained still made his speech difficult. The prognosis was good, but watching him struggle squeezed Luke’s heart in a vice. “Home.”

Elias and Luke made themselves busy packing up everything that had appeared in the room over the course of Connor’s stay. He hadn”t been there for an exceptionally long period of time, but with so many people intent on showering him with love and support, the space had filled with a plethora of balloons, flower arrangements, and get well soon cards. Enough to rival the hospital gift shop on the first floor.

It took numerous trips to the parking lot and rearranging of trunk spaces before the gifts were securely stowed. Luke and Elias walked slower than ever on the last trip back to the hospital room to give Theo extra time to help Connor dress for discharge. Elias jumped on the opportunity for a quiet one-on-one conversation.

“I know we’ve already done this, but thank you again.” Elias walked beside him with a casual air that was only surface deep. “If there”s anything I can do to help, you know how to reach me.”

“Same, Elias. We’re all in this together.” Luke clapped a hand to Elias’ shoulder with a curt nod. “Have you guys decided what your next steps are?”

“Yes. No. Maybe?” Elias gave a half shrug as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Cay and I have talked a little but with everything going on, it hasn”t exactly been a priority.”

“I”m sure you’ll figure it out. Take the opportunity to enjoy the downtime a little, eh?” Luke slowed their pace even more until they were at a standstill in the hall. A study of Elias’ face revealed stoicism and determination amid the worry lines and tension around his eyes. The blowout between him and the President had been dramatically recounted by Caleb numerous times. For as much cheering and applause it had garnered from their group, he knew Elias was struggling with finding direction now that he and Caleb had both resigned from the White House Chief of Staff office.

“What is this downtime you speak of?” Elias flashed a grin as he lifted a hand to scratch at the salt and pepper goatee on his chin. “I don”t do downtime.”

“Fair point well made, my friend.” Luke’s attention drifted to the doorway down the hall as a porter with a wheelchair disappeared through it. “Perhaps it”s just my upbringing speaking, but I think everything”s going to work out just fine.”

“We”ll get there. One step at a time.” Elias tracked his gaze and his smile deepened. “We”re the most resilient fools in the district. Anything less is simply inconceivable.”

Their brief conversation died down as the focus shifted to the next mission—getting Connor home so they could all be together again. The typically sunshiney blond was more of a curmudgeonly grouch as he mumbled complaints about the wheelchair all the way to the front door of the hospital, but the sparkle in his eyes was too bright to ignore. Luke muffled a chuckle as he jogged ahead to get the car and pull it up to the curb. It only took seconds for Connor to drag himself from the wheelchair and shuffle toward the car door—much to Theo’s audible protest as he rushed in to help.

“M’fine. S”okay.” Connor tugged the passenger side open and collapsed into the seat with a loud groan. Even Luke could see through the brave face he was putting on. According to the doctor, the headaches and vertigo could come and go for months still. His speech was clearing up more and more with every day, but he still had a long road to recovery that included regular visits to the neurological department and a roster of physical and speech therapy appointments to get through. By his insistence, he was also vehement about keeping up his therapy sessions, both with and without Theo.

Luke waited until they were on the road with Elias shadowing them in his BMW before he broke the quiet. “So, ready to get back to work?”

Connor snorted softly and scowled. “Don”t b-be… ass.”

“Not you, cupcake.” Luke smacked Connor’s knee and then flicked his gaze to the rearview mirror with a devilish grin. “I was talking to Theo.”

“Huh?” Connor twisted in his seat to peer into the back.

“Yeah, surprise. I was going to tell you about it tonight once we got settled. Um… we”re coworkers now.” Theo flashed half-assed jazz hands with a lopsided grin.

Connor turned back part way and arched an eyebrow at Luke.

“The twins wanted someone on network security. Pays a lot better than web design. And you”re still on the books too. Neither of you will have to worry about income. Just work on getting better.”

Connor sank back in his seat with a quiet sound. A range of emotions played out over his face as he turned to look out the window, sinking down even further as an awkward lull developed in the conversation. He genuinely wondered if maybe he’d offended the man and was just about to offer an apology when he turned his gaze back. A sparkling of unshed tears ringed his whiskey gold eyes as he parted his quivering lips to speak.

“Thanks,” he whispered, so quietly Luke would have missed it if the interior of the car weren”t so silent. “Th-thanks for… all.”

“No man left behind, bud. It”s my absolute pleasure.” Luke reached across the console and squeezed the back of Connor’s neck. Theo’s had snuck into view and did the same to his shoulder. The silence that returned wasn”t tense or awkward or uncomfortable. It was a silence of understanding and support. It was silence filled with love.