Grant
GRANT
Eyeing the coffeemaker on the break room counter, contemplated whether he wanted to risk it. Sure, it would be caffeine, and according to Lydia, the stuff was strong enough to kick exhaustion to the curb hard enough to leave it bruised and bloodied.
But at what cost?
Grimacing, he grabbed a Styrofoam cup from the stack beside the pot and poured the thick black coffee into it. Remembering his days of residency and break room coffee all too clearly, hesitantly took a sip.
Oh, just how he remembered, boiled dirt with a hint of something resembling coffee.
“Lots of sugar there, Dr. Andrews, it’s the only way.”
Turning to Lydia’s voice, he wrinkled his nose at her. “I can’t believe the taste hasn’t changed after all these years.”
She cocked her hip, smiling. “I think they’re afraid they’ll get something weaker. As it is now, it might taste like steeped pinecones covered in mud, but it’ll wake you up in no time.”
“It better,” muttered, ripping open several packs of sweetener.
“Haven’t tested it yet, but I bet it works really well as paint stripper.”
made a mental note to find out how much caffeine was in the stuff. There were enough decent varieties of coffee on the market that he could find something of equal strength but far better quality. It bordered on inhumane to make people drink this, and he had no problem spending a bit of money to make sure the employees on his floor didn’t have to suffer through the horrid concoction in his hand.
Lydia smiled as he took another sip. “Better?”
“Well, I suppose it tastes like sweet dirt now...so yes, one could call that an improvement.”
“It’s...nice to have you back, .”
Her soft words brought his head up, snorting softly at her gentle smile. The past couple of weeks probably hadn’t been fun for anyone, let alone him. It still stung that he hadn’t heard from Theo, and his chest ached whenever he delved too deep into his memories. Worse yet, he’d known that Lydia had been worried about him, even as she’d respected the space and time wanted.
“Getting there,” he admitted.
“Well, when you’re ready to talk about it, I’ll be here. Just like always.”
His smile reached his eyes. “I know. Thank you.”
“And if you need me to kick someone’s ass for you, I can do that too.”
laughed. “That won’t be necessary.”
“Well, just in case.”
No, Theo was an adult, and he could choose who he wanted in his life just as much as he could choose who didn’t belong. If Theo didn’t want to be with , so be it. That was just something would have to live with. It didn’t change the bitter throb in his chest, but at least he could find it in himself to smile again, so there was that.
“I think I’ll have my hands full with people bloodied and bruised as it is. Today’s a clinic day,” told her, taking another wary sip.
Her brow shot up. “Oh crap, thank you for reminding me. Millie called looking for you.”
frowned. “Really? I’m not due down there for another hour.”
“She said she’s got more than enough people down there for the day. But she said something about needing someone on the...out of hospital visits?”
“Ah,” said. “That.”
“First I’ve heard of it.”
chuckled. “Because they send doctors out, not nurses. It’s a program they started about ten years or so back.”
“Oh, so, like, house visits?”
nodded. “But not for individuals. It was originally Millie’s idea, and she put it to the board. Everyone discussed it, tore it apart, and made it...acceptable.”
“Meaning it wouldn’t cost the hospital too much.”
snorted. “Exactly. Essentially, some money thrown toward the clinic is tucked away for these visits. Doctors sign up to be on the list, and whenever one is needed, they’re called out.”
“To where?”
“Depends, homeless shelters, youth centers, sometimes emergency clinics in low-income areas of the city. We take over much-needed medical supplies, do check-ups, treat anything we find, give advice, and things like that. It’s been a little while since my name was called. Where’s she sending me?”
Lydia frowned, pulling a piece of paper from her front pocket. “William Polick Youth Home? I think that’s how it’s spelled, or at least I hope it is for your sake.”
frowned thoughtfully. “I think I know which one you mean. Never gone personally, but it’s one of the few homes that cater specifically to homeless LGBT youths.”
“Oh. I didn’t even know there was something like that.”
“There’s a couple of them in the city. They rely almost completely on private donations. Sometimes they get help from the city or charities, but mostly, it’s from people who want to help them specifically.”
She bumped his hip with hers. “Well, maybe it will do them good to see a good-looking, very gay doctor show up.”
frowned. “I’m not going to parade in there. I’m going there to help them.”
“And I’m sure a bunch of kids without homes and probably a dim view of the future could use inspiration too.”
shook his head, finally dumping the half-full coffee into the trash. “Ever the romantic.”
“What can I say? It’s a gift.”
He checked his phone for the time, feeling the familiar twinge in his gut at the lack of messages. “Well, if I’m going to make it there and have time to get through everyone, I should probably head out now.”
“I suppose I’ll have to wait till tomorrow to hear how it went.”
sighed as he walked out. “Yes, and I’m sure you’ll want every last detail.”
“You got it.”
* * *
Stepping through the center's front doors, ’s footsteps slowed to a halt as he looked around. The runner under his feet was clean, and the floor beneath it was well-maintained. The few pieces of furniture in the entryway weren’t new, but they were clean and had very little wear and tear. The walls had recently been repainted, still gleaming and bold in their freshness.
There were pictures on the left-hand wall. Some were in small frames, some larger, but all contained pictures of kids, most in their early to middle teens.
The other wall contained drawings, paintings, and sketches. There was a collection of small figurines, some crude, some intricate and well-crafted. For all intents and purposes, it was a home and a very well taken care of one at that.
Footsteps brought his head up, and a smiling woman approached him. “Would you, by chance, be Dr. Andrews.”
He tucked his bag of supplies under one arm and offered her a hand. “That would be me. That would make you Mrs. Walsh, then.”
She beamed, taking his hand. “Please, call me Andrea.”
“This is a lovely place, Andrea. I was admiring the artwork and pictures.”
“Yes, they’re lovely, aren’t they? It’s only been in the past few years that we’ve managed to do so much with the kids.” She sighed heavily. “So many of them come from broken homes or...homes that don’t want them anymore. We try our best to give them a sense of belonging, of family. It was hard going, but we’ve finally got ourselves in a good place.”
hummed thoughtfully. “Well, I’m certainly glad they have somewhere. And I’m glad things have become easier on you recently.”
“Yes,” she said with a warm smile. “We were worried for a while that we might have to...transfer some of the children, or worse, close the whole thing down. But lo and behold, God grants his miracles here and there, and he chose to send us someone with goodness in his heart and charity in his soul.”
It was a little more poetic than he might have phrased it, but he nodded in understanding. Considering the crises he dealt with daily, had heard God’s name invoked quite often. He had no strong opinion one way or another, preferring to focus on what he could do rather than relying on prayer or hope. But he certainly wouldn’t dismiss the peace and strength it gave to some people or the kindness that such belief occasionally manifested in the faithful.
Andrea’s eyes unmisted, focusing on him. “And, of course, we’re so grateful for people like you. I’m sure you’re busy enough without coming down here.”
shook his head. “Don’t you worry about my time, Mrs. Walsh. I have more than enough to spare. It’s this sort of thing that makes the job easier.”
“Yes, I imagine you see quite a lot of heartache and pain.”
“Relief and joy as well.”
She smiled knowingly. “I think I know just what you mean.”
He glanced around. “Is there somewhere specific I should set up?”
“We have a small room this way,” she said, turning. “We use it as a sort of nurses’ station for bumps and bruises.”
“That’ll be perfect.”
He followed her through a door, entering what looked like a common room. There were tables cluttered with books, coloring supplies, Legos, and other scattered toys. Someone’s jacket was thrown over the back of a chair, and the bean bags pulled into a circle looked well-used and loved.
stopped as they turned down the next hallway, heart thudding hard in his chest. His eyes locked on a painting on the wall. It wasn’t one he’d seen before, but the brushstrokes, the colors, and the dark but somewhat hopeful tone were achingly familiar. He turned his eyes from the depiction of a park at night, stars dotting the sky, the moon illuminating a foliage-dense path, and focused on the signature at the bottom.
Omega .
A sharp crowd of cries from the other end of the building jerked him from his reverie. He found Mrs. Walsh at the end of the hall, watching him.
“Sorry, a little jumpy, I guess,” told her sheepishly.
She smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Our special guest is keeping them busy in the art room we built last year. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure they come here for their check-ups. Don’t be surprised if they’re a little wound up.”
“Of course not. I’m sure I can manage just fine with a few happy kids,” told her, walking away from the painting, resolutely not looking back.
* * *
The young girl, fifteen, according to her file, squirmed impatiently. “Are we almost done?”
smiled at her. “Almost. Just have to make a few notes, and you’ll be good to go.”
She rolled her eyes with all the disdain of a teenager. “Fine.”
chuckled, checking he’d covered everything. The Center had already made sure she was getting help via a therapist. Most of it was because of the treatment she’d had at home with her parents. It was common for the kids in the Center, something considered a blessing, albeit a heartbreaking one.
The medications alone were enough to break his heart. Of the dozen kids staying at the Center, half of them were on medication for depression, and even more were on anxiety medications. He’d seen enough of it in the past to recognize a history of breaks and cuts from abuse, and a few even had warnings in place to look out for evidence of self-harm.
“I’m probably missing everything ,” she said with an indignant huff.
“Ten minutes won’t hurt,” he told her patiently.
“It will when we’re all going out for food. I better not miss that.”
“I’m sure they won’t leave you behind.”
Well, whatever her home life had been like before, she had recuperated enough to bring the indignant attitude at being inconvenienced to bear. With a last note, he flipped the folder closed and set it with the rest. Miss Virginia Elliot was in the clear and, like the other kids he’d seen over the past couple of hours, had a clean bill of health.
“Well, I think that about covers it,” told her.
She hopped down off the table. “Thank God. Does that mean I can go now?”
A knock came at the door, followed by several snickers echoing down the hall. managed not to roll his eyes. Apparently, Virginia wasn’t the only one getting impatient.
“Yes, you can go,” told her.
Her black hair billowed as she spun on her heels, leaving to chuckle as she all but ripped the door off its hinges. The chuckle died in his throat as he saw the person on the other side, hand still raised. Virginia muttered, pushing past them, shouting something couldn’t make out as she returned to her friends.
Theo watched her go, his brow stitched together in an expression of wry amusement. At a glance, could see the man hadn’t been sleeping well and probably drinking too much. His eyes had dark rings under them, and he looked drawn and pale. The sight of his tattooed arms, covered partially by a shirt, and the way his mouth curled in good humor, though, were enough to leave speechless.
“That girl always has somewhere to go and no time to get there,” Theo muttered, shaking his head. “Sorry about that, but you know how?—”
Theo had finally turned to face , his eyes widening, jaw going slack.
“Hello, Theo,” said softly.