Hide and Seek #4
JJ waved him off as she composed herself. In a hushed voice, she answered her impatient audience, “Simo, I can't even mention Halo's name without him coming unglued! He's ok now, I think.”
“What else?”
“He told me he plans on keeping his promise to Joel… even if it kills him!” JJ patted her chest with her hand. “Halo is going to be sick…”
“JJ, you should not tell Halo about this.” He glanced up toward her bedroom, and, in a quieter voice, he continued, “In her condition, it would not be good.”
“Simo, I have to tell her something! She will never forgive me otherwise.”
“I understand this. Be gentle, and tell her what is only necessary,” Simo offered.
JJ nodded in agreement. “Uh, he was asking for his clothes, too.”
The doctor spoke up. “He is in no condition to do much of anything.
With the blood loss and that seizure, possibly being a grand mal…
he must eat, sleep, and rest or you will have to hospitalize him.
If not, plan on digging a grave. I am genuinely surprised he got this far, and crawling up and down a ravine?
In his condition? Wow. If you hadn't brought him in, Simo, I doubt he would have lasted a week, and that's being generous.”
Theo's perpetual smile faded as he added his two cents' worth. “That was his planning... his heart?” He made a violent snapping motion with his hands. “Broken.” He sighed and shook his head. “He no can... uh, he cannot see Halo anymore, it kills him here.” He pointed at his chest.
Simo rolled his eyes at Theo.
Seeing Simo’s eye roll, Theo angrily stood up and pointed at Simo.
“You not understand? You not remember what is like with heart broken? Your big eyes spin in that big head like he is crazy… stamata!” Theo threw up his hands in disgust and brushed past his boss.
When he reached the kitchen doorway, he spun and glared at Simo and pointed upstairs.
“I see you hold his hand and tell him ‘hold on’. Why all night you be like this now?” Theo spun his finger at his temple, then put his hands on his hips and waited for an answer.
Simo looked from Theo to the doctor, then to JJ, and back to Theo. “Maybe I don't want to remember...” Simo replied bluntly.
Theo dropped his hands from his hips with a heavy sigh. “I will go see if he is ok.” He turned and headed up the stairs.
Simo shook his big head, making his ponytail sway back and forth across his back. “Sorry, Theo is usually happy...”
The doctor shrugged. “I'll see to the patient, then I'll take my leave. Just follow the instructions I gave you.” He grabbed his large backpack and headed upstairs, leaving a wide-eyed JJ watching Simo.
“Wow, I never saw Theo like that. He have his heart broken?”
Simo gave her a look. “Haven't we all?” He sighed, sat back down, and took a gulp of ouzo from his flask. “You think he can handle a meeting?”
“Sure, just don't bring up Halo, or who knows what will happen.”
“Fuck.” He simply said, “Theo is right. I must not forget he is broken. Ach! I just want to shake him and lock him in a room with Halo.”
“Not sure it would be that easy...”
Simo began chuckling, and looked at JJ with a half-smile. “It never is.” He watched JJ nod emphatically. “I will have Chen take you back. You must be on guard all the time now. Joel has been very quiet. He is planning something. He will strike when Halo returns or soon after.”
“Great...” JJ said and went and waited in her living room for Chen.
“Hey, handsome man, it’s Jessie.” Xander heard the red-haired beauty and saw the tray of food in her hands. “Are you able to sit up so I can put this down?”
Xander rubbed his eyes and managed to scoot up, allowing Jessie to set the tray on his lap. “Uh, thank you, uh, Jessie?”
She smiled. “Yes.” She turned her attention to the IV saline bag and adjusted the flow. “Hey, baby, what would you describe your pain level at?”
He shrugged. “Three, maybe four, why?” he asked politely.
“Do you feel like an injection of Demerol would make you feel more comfortable?”
Xander shook his head. “Uh, no, thank you. If it hits nine, I'll scream for you.”
“I wouldn't wait until nine, baby. Please finish your breakfast; you have a meeting today. A lot of your questions should be answered there.” She sighed and, with reluctance, sat down on the edge of his bed.
She felt sad for him, once again, at what she had to tell him.
She bit back her anger at her own feelings and sighed.
“Xander, I am letting you know that the subject of Halo may come up. Everyone here knows that she is a sensitive subject for you.”
He stared at her for a long moment. “Fine, it's the least I can do for your help. Not that I wanted it...” Xander replied, his voice trailing off.
Jessie sighed and felt the urge to hold this poor asshole’s hand again. She fought it for a moment, then gave in and grabbed it. She met his deep green eyes and held them with hers. “Xander, I know I have you as my captive audience… can I offer you some advice?”
“Sure…” Xander replied politely.
“Let’s just say I’ve been around. I, too, have suffered a gunshot wound… amongst other things, really bad things… and I have known other guys and women who have also. Ok, now that I said that, you are some kind of nurse, so you gotta be familiar with PTSD?”
Xander looked at Jessie in surprise. “Yes, it is what soldiers and police suffer due to life-threatening situations… I am not a cop or a soldier, Jessie.”
“You may not be, yet you have suffered what soldiers and police, as well as civilians, have. You should really take the time to explore what PTSD is. It’s what you are suffering from, as well as a wrecked heart…”
He sighed. “I see where you are going with this. Thank you, I will try.”
“Good, glad that part is done.” She gave him a small smile, then she began laughing. “The way Theo described how you threw our boss?” Her smile widened. “Let's leave it at not an easy thing to accomplish.”
“Uh, I think I took him by surprise... I have to say his roll out was phenomenal. It scared the crap out of me... uh, hence the gun.” She laughed, as Xander remembered something, “And what kind of cannon was he holding on me? My God, that weapon is huge.”
“Oh, Simo likes his big gun. You should ask him. I am sure your throw was a learning experience for Simo as well. He knew not to underestimate you in the first place.”
“Oh... am I going to have to deal with an angry giant here?”
Jessie chuckled. “You know how the Hulk is always angry? That is Simo. He has a huge responsibility on his shoulders; balancing many facets of this operation would be taxing to anyone. I know the big guy seems like the shoot-and-ask-questions-later type, but in fact, he is extremely astute. Don't be fooled or think you can fuck with him. He saved my life as well… even when he wasn’t supposed to.”
“Oh… thank you, Jessie.”
“Fine then, handsome, don't let me keep you from eating. When you are done? There is a new set of clothing for you hanging up in the bathroom with a toiletries kit. If you can’t make it, I’d be really happy to help you get dressed.
” She winked at him, smiled seductively, and gave his hand a squeeze.
He watched the very odd and sexy woman get off his bed. He was stunned at how tall she was. “Oh, and thanks again.”
She smiled at him before she let herself out of the room.
Xander picked up the fork and quickly shoveled the pile of scrambled eggs with diced ham into his hungry mouth.
Then came the pancakes, toast, and orange juice.
Setting his tray aside, he swung his feet to the side of the bed and onto the floor.
He tested his balance and felt better than he had for the past few days.
He removed the IV from his hand and slowly padded to the bathroom.
After using the loo, he examined his bandages.
The shower was long, hot, and glorious. It had been several days since he’d had a hot one.
The bandages stayed on tightly as he dried off.
He found a black toiletries kit, and it did have everything he needed.
He shaved and applied his deodorant. They even had left him a bottle of cologne; he hadn't seen this one before: Ralph Lauren, Polo Red.
He removed the cap and smelled it. “Nice,” he said aloud as he spritzed himself.
He looked around and saw a suit bag hanging from a towel bar.
Below it was a large black paper shopping bag.
He picked up the suit bag, turned it to unzip it, and he saw the brand on the front: Giorgio Armani.
“Jesus H...” Xander muttered as he pulled out the light gray, two-button suit jacket and matching pants.
Behind it was a black, silk, button-up dress shirt.
He hung the suit on the towel bar and admired it for a moment.
Looking into the shopping bag, he pulled out a package of Calvin Klein underwear, socks, and a black belt.
At the bottom was a shoe box that said Versace.
He pulled it out and opened it. In it was a pair of soft black, perforated leather, lace-up shoes.
“Holy cow...” Xander blurted out when he saw that someone had forgotten to pull off the price tag: $495.
“Not holy cow… holy shit,” he muttered. Had he bought a pair of shoes for even fifty bucks, Evie would have had his balls in her hand, unattached from his body, showing them to him...
Wasting no more time, he achingly dressed.
He felt something in his jacket pocket and pulled out a pair of black Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses.
He put them on and turned to the mirror.
“Someone is trying to be awfully nice...” he muttered.
Maybe Joel is trying to buy him, he considered.
He removed the sunglasses, tucked them away, and proceeded to straighten up his mess.