Chapter Fifteen
Brody looked around his apartment trying to see what Drew would see when he brought him home tomorrow.
Drew had masterfully convinced his family that Brody was the better option to oversee his care.
Brody knew that Drew was close to his family but he picked up on something in Drew that was strained when he dealt with his family. Ah, something to think about later.
A quick check of the time had Brody scrambling into his scrubs.
Normally, he wore his ACUs in and changed in the locker room.
But today, he just didn’t have it in him.
An Under Armour long-sleeve T-shirt under his scrub top would keep him warm tonight.
He hadn’t gotten around to ordering a monogrammed fleece or warm-up jacket yet.
Grabbing his backpack, Brody did a visual inspection for his ‘work necessities’ — stethoscope; trauma scissors; manual BP cuff; water bottle; and gummy bears.
Yup, he might be approaching twenty-six but they were still his go-to snack.
He grabbed his travel mug and jacket and was out the door.
The drive to the hospital didn’t take long. Brody was clocked in and ready for report with time to spare. He blew on his coffee as he listened to Marcia’s run down. Six patients to start the night. Not too bad.
“Are there any meds that are due in the next thirty?” Brody asked when she stopped rambling. Yes, he loved his coworkers but if a few of them could learn the bullet-point concept of briefing him on patients, he’d love them more.
“Bed five needs Toradol. Wicked migraine there. Other than that, nope. Just waiting on scan and lab results on the rest,” Marcia replied.
“Now, the important question that has been burning up the gossip, when were you going to tell us all about the hottie you’ve been seeing?
I’m sad that I wasn’t here to witness you fawning over him. ”
Oh fuck. Great. He was the top of the gossip list again.
Brody was sick of being the one people talked about.
There had been enough of that when he was a kid.
How was he going to deflect this? “Hottie? Are you referring to the stabbing victim we received?” There he was being all officer-like again, even pulling out his ‘officer voice’.
He watched as his tone reached Marcia’s brain. She had the decency to look away.
“Ummmm, well, I heard…” Marcia paused talking and met Brody’s eyes. “I’m sorry. You’re right. No matter what I heard I shouldn’t refer to a patient in such a manner.”
Brody took pity on her. It wasn’t her fault that he got everyone’s attention with Drew’s appearance. “It’s okay, Marcia. We’ve all mentioned patients’ looks and behaviors. I guess I’m just upset to be the center of attention.”
Marcia nodded and patted his shoulder. “I’ll see what I can do to squash things. He’ll be okay?”
“Yeah, he’s being released tomorrow.” Brody didn’t share the information about Drew coming to stay with him for a few days to recover.
“Great news. I’m heading out unless you need anything else?” Marcia looked hopeful.
“I can’t think of anything. You have a great night.” Brody wanted to check in with Drew, make sure he wasn’t in any pain. Looking at the board, Brody figured he’d have time in a little while to call up to the floor. First, Toradol for bed five, then rounds.
§ § § §
The walls of the elevator were holding Brody upright and that was a challenge with his backpack slung over his shoulder.
He couldn’t figure out why he was so tired.
His shift hadn’t been overly busy but by the time he was free to check on Drew, it had been too late.
He’d had time to get all his charting done without having to stay over.
His replacement was on time. Basically, a good shift.
Fighting off a yawn, Brody stood straight when the doors opened.
Never let them see you sweat; never let them see you weak.
“Uncle Mike, thank you but Brody is going to watch me,” Drew’s voice floated down the hallway.
Oh great, he was walking into family drama.
Not Brody’s strong point. Every time he’d dealt with family drama, he’d been moved to another home.
He’d thought Drew had worked everything out with his family yesterday.
Guess Drew wasn’t coming home with him. Brody felt… let down? Disappointed? Unwanted?
“I love that you and Aunt Trish freshened Noah’s old room but—” Drew stopped talking as Brody stepped into the room and stared at him.
Drew was sitting in a wheelchair, dressed in sweats, holding his phone to his ear with one hand, the other against his body in a sling.
Brody wasn’t interrupting an in-person argument. A little better but still.
He fidgeted as Drew looked him up and down. Brody couldn’t identify the look on Drew’s face when he met Brody’s eyes. He did a mental check of his scrubs; no spills during the shift so they should only be a bit wrinkled.
“Uncle Mike, I’ll call you when I’m settled at Brody’s,” Drew said as he pulled the phone away and stabbed his finger against the screen. “Thanks to all the saints that you arrived when you did.”
“Um, you’re welcome? Sorry, I didn’t make it up to help you get changed. All your stuff ready to go?” Brody asked as he visually inspected the room. He didn’t see anything that wasn’t hospital property. Drew really hadn’t been here long enough to collect a lot anyway.
“Considering the uniform I wore in was toast and all I’ve got is my phone, charger, and the change of clothes that Keith brought me?
Yeah, I’m all set.” Drew sounded tired. Looking close, Brody could see lines around Drew’s eyes and mouth and he would swear that there was sweat rolling down the side of his face.
“Did you take your pain meds this morning?” Brody would put money that Drew’s answer was going to be no.
Instead of answering, Drew lowered his good hand to the wheel of the chair and tried to push himself.
Brody tried to control his laughter but his store of control must have left the building because before he could process it, he’d dropped his backpack and was holding his stomach as he fell against the wall laughing.
Drew’s glare only made him laugh harder.
After a minute or so, Brody started to calm down, wiping the tears from his face. Yup, he’d broken up so hard he’d cried.
“Are we finished now, cadet?” Drew asked, impersonating Lieutenant Colonel Robbins which ramped Brody’s laughter back up.
Using strength he didn’t know he had, Brody stopped laughing though he did continue to snort.
“Sorry but all I could picture as I watched you try and move yourself was one of those wind-up toys that’s got something stuck in one wheel and can only go in circles.
Where am I taking you? To the lobby to wait for the sergeant major?
” Brody leaned over and picked up his pack, sliding it over his shoulder.
He walked over to the back of the wheelchair and released the brake.
“Oh, hell no, please and thank you. You said you’d rescue me from my family and watch over me.
Are you backing out? Because if you are, just drop me at my apartment.
I’ve worked too long and hard for them to let me stand on my own two feet.
So, I’ll ask you, where are you taking me? ” Drew shot back.
Brody didn’t hesitate. He might be setting himself up for a huge let down but there was no answer that he could give other than, “Let’s go to my condo. I put clean sheets on the bed in the guest room.”
§ § § §
Drew tried to get comfortable on Brody’s couch.
He’d asked to rest there. After the number of hours he’d spent in the hospital bed over the past few days, he didn’t want to lay down.
He was sure he was going to slide down and crash out eventually but for right now, he was swallowing down the pain he was still feeling from the ride over.
Time for distraction because he was not going to take more pain meds. Yeah, he’d suffered a nasty wound to his back, side, and arm but there was no way he was going to open any doors to becoming reliant on drugs.
“Are you done being stupid?” Brody asked from the entryway.
Drew glanced over and would have fallen over if he hadn’t been sitting.
Brody was leaning against the corner of the hall, a pair of low-slung sleep pants barely holding on to his hips.
And nothing else. Drew had never thought he had a fetish for what a man was wearing.
Yeah, he appreciated a good pair of jeans and a tight shirt just like the next gay boy.
He’d listened to his aunts and uncles talk about the beauty of a man in uniform.
Never fazed him; he wore one every day. But when Brody had stepped into his hospital room in his navy-blue scrubs?
Drew about swallowed his tongue, and all the moisture in his mouth dried up.
Now? Standing there in just a pair of flannel pants?
Oh yeah, please? Could he slide them off Brody and start from his ankles with his tongue?
“Huh?” Oooh, Drew was being all articulate and everything.
Brody pushed off the wall and walked closer, a bottle of water in one hand; the other he held out palm up. “Take the pill, Drew. Whatever is holding you back, I promise I’m here.”
How was he going to explain this to Brody without sounding like a loser? Drew shrugged. “I just don’t want to come to rely on them, you know?”
Brody half-smiled and shook his head. “I promise. I won’t let you become dependent.
You need these few days to let things heal a bit more and they won’t be enough to hook you.
The dosage is a lower one. I’d be surprised if you needed anything more than some Tylenol in a day or two.
Close your eyes. I’ll be here. Trust me? ”
Drew’s gaze bounced between Brody’s face and his hand.
Brody didn’t have any reason to lie. Should he take a leap of faith?
Something in Drew told him this was the biggest decision he would ever make.
That this was the moment his future was set on a path.
Not when he chose a branch or a major but whether to metaphorically jump into Brody’s arms. Taking a deep breath, he reached for the pill and bottle of water.
After he swallowed the medicine, he held his hand out to Brody and asked, “Stay with me?”