14. Doc
This is what Hell must feel like. The gritty sandpaper feeling behind my eyes due to not enough sleep, paired with the ache in my bones after hours of standing over one of my best friends trying to save his life…
Now, I have to give updates to the fucking Council on little sleep, and with no coffee because Daddy is an asshole.
It’s not the full Council today. Roman is still sitting with Cristian, Tennant at his side this time, as Carter is here with Lio, Keegan, and Jude.
Javi chooses to stand rather than sit at the table, but I fall heavily into the chair, my body thanking me for the break.
Though I’m careful not to get too comfortable, lest I pass out right here in front of everyone.
Sarah takes the seat next to me, looking better than I probably do, and I’m not the one who was taken into custody. I really need some more medical assistants. I’m getting too old for these all-nighters.
“You doing okay, Sarah?” Lio asks, worry clear in his dark emerald gaze.
“Fine,” she says in a clipped tone. “Their case is flimsy at best. The warrant going missing was a nice touch, though unnecessary. I suppose I do appreciate not having to stand in front of a judge, though. Especially since my lawyers probably would have been arrested for contempt.”
Carter grimaces. “I’ve already spoken to both David and Sinclair. David is… While he admires your dedication to your cause, he doesn’t approve of you choosing to stay with us. He wants you home.”
Lio’s expression hardens while Sarah sighs. “I spoke to him after I returned. He knows where I stand. I promised to see this through, and I am. You have me until the Senator is in your custody.”
“Sinclair isn’t impressed with David’s choice in lawyer, nor is he happy with you, Javi.” Carter turns his attention to my other side.
Javi grips the back on the chair in front of him, and stares the Council member down. “He’s the one who was throwing his ego all over the place. It’s not my fault he can dish it but not take it.”
I laugh, fully on my friend’s side. Sinclair may have been saved by Cristian, like I was, but he chose to keep his distance, while I felt safer nearer to Cris and Ten…
Though our professions also played a part in that.
As a lawyer, he gets to be hands-off and distant, while I literally have to be in the thick of things.
Still, you’d think two people who came into the Family in similar ways would have common ground, but the guy’s a bigger asshole than Tennant and a psychopath to boot, or at least a sociopath.
I doubt Javi got that read on him, though. Sinclair is a very good liar.
“He’s very good at his job. He knows who you are—your reputation, at least—and didn’t appreciate you butting in where you weren’t wanted. Please don’t piss him off.”
Javi says nothing, so Carter moves on, knowing he won’t get anything out of the psychiatrist. “I hope you take time for yourself today, Dr. Ranlen. Take tomorrow off too, if you’d like.”
She waves him off. “It was a stressful situation, but nothing I can’t handle. I wouldn’t be a good doctor if I let something unexpected shake me. I’m fine.”
Keegan seems like he’s going to argue, but she shoots him a look and he slumps in his chair, the concern etched all over his face. I am glad I’m an only child. Though they probably would have ended up like my parents rather than me, knowing my luck.
“Do you have an update on Nario?” Lio asks.
“I’d like to move him this evening, if possible,” I reply.
Sarah scoffs. “It was hard enough getting Lio transferred, and you want to move someone who just went through a double amputation?”
I can hear the judgment in her tone and it pisses me off. With a flick of my wrist, I slide my scalpel out from my sleeve. Sarah makes no indication that she’s noticed, but the men on the other side of the table tense.
“That was different. Those were your doctors. They had an honor code and followed the rules of the land. Murry doesn’t have an affiliation with that hospital—though, thankfully, he has hospital privilege there—and his hospital will back him up if there is a pissing contest between the two.
“Don’t think I wouldn’t have had Nario taken to the other hospital if I wasn’t sure Murry and his ortho friend could be called into yours. He’ll sign off on the transfer paperwork, no questions asked.” Well, no questions to anyone but me. I’m sure I’ll get a lecture, but that’s our love language.
Murry knows the deal, and he stays out of my business. I hate knowing I’ll owe him a favor after this, but that’s how things work between us. We’re not friends, but we’re not quite adversaries either. More…frenemies with benefits. Only the benefits don’t include sex.
“Oh sure, implicate another doctor so they risk going through the same thing I currently am,” she snaps.
I take a deep breath, trying not to take offense to her tone.
“I’m very sorry for what you’re going through.
Hell, I’m sorry again for what I put you through when Emilio was hurt,”—I still maintain we could have taken care of it, but I won’t argue with her—“but this situation is different. Murry knows the risks and he actively chooses to help. His only connection to this world is through me.” It's a small lie, but no one has to know that.
“No one is going to think anything is off about him transferring care of Nario over to me. When Enzo lost his leg, we did the same thing. As far as anyone was aware, he was taken to a private facility to heal. This is going to be exactly like that.
“You don’t have to approve, but it’s happening. Look at what you just went through. We cannot trust that Nario is safe. Not only that, his lovers need to see him, and them going to the hospital is a risk we cannot take.”
She lets out a harsh breath, but doesn’t argue, because what can she say?
Nicolo, Antonio, and Jude cannot put their lives, or Nario’s, at stake just for a visit.
And with the Senator’s reach, who the fuck knows what could happen should we leave him in the hospital for any longer than is absolutely necessary.
I hate the position this puts her in, and she may hate me for my ego and attitude, but she has the same fucking issue. Her stubbornness and determination to not be steamrolled is an issue.
I respect her, I do, but maybe it’s a good thing she took David up on his offer of a job. We’re friends, but we’re both egotistical in the way all doctors of our caliber are, and we cannot let our shortsightedness get in the way of the people who trust us with their lives—literally.
“Let me know what I can do,” she finally says, and I relax, nodding at her.
“I will, thank you.” Reaching out, I squeeze one of her hands, hoping she understands that I’m not doing this to steamroll her, or to overlook her competency.
She sighs but gives my hand a small squeeze in return before letting go. More of my tension eases, knowing this didn’t fuck up our fragile friendship. Wouldn’t that make going to visit Soren’s uncle and cousin awkward?
“Doc, how soon can you get Nario moved?” Jude asks.
“I’ll make the call to have Murry prep the transfer paperwork and get Nario ready for transport. I need a few hours of sleep before I head over there to oversee things, but if all goes well, this evening, maybe after dinner. Tomorrow morning at the latest. I will let you know.”
“I want to go with you.”
I shake my head. “It’s not safe.”
“Fuck that. I’m riding with my Boy.”
I raise a brow. “And your two other Boys? I heard they already tried to sneak off.”
Jude smirks, a sadistic thing that I’m sadly too tired to appreciate. “Don’t worry, I have plans for my Bel Fiore and Star. They’ll stay where I put them, and will have a guard to watch over them.”
I wish my fellow brat luck with that. I really wouldn’t want to be Antonio and Nicolo right now.
“Vonny has already prepped a room in the medical wing for Nario to recover in, so we’re all set there.”
“Okay. Let us know when you’re able to make the transfer happen,” Carter says.
He tilts his head and asks, “Do you have enough help? With Cristian and Nario both injured, Hollis and Roman still on suicide watch—though I’m hoping with Hollis in therapy, and I heard Cristian agreed…
” He looks at Javi, who nods in confirmation.
“Right, so hopefully, with everyone on the same page, Roman will take a chance at therapy again. Anyway, you’re stretched thin in the medical wing. Do we need to hire someone else?”
I am careful not to look at Lio directly, but I see how he flinches out of the corner of my eye.
It’s slight, but I’ve been watching for it, waiting for the day he asks about Rose’s disappearance.
I know they grew close during his stay. She liked him…
which made her failure to do her fucking job all the more difficult.
“We could use an extra set of hands or two…” I say. “I’ll put together a list and present them to the Council at a later date. Maybe by the end of the week?”
Carter nods and I hold my breath, waiting to hear something from Lio. He seems to steady himself before he looks up and meets my eyes.
“Is…did Rose go back to the clinic? Or…did she quit? I’m only asking because she hasn’t been around.
I know she was one of the Head Nurses at your clinic, but was needed here because she was also on your personal Medical Assistant Team, but…
why wouldn’t you bring her back? Unless…
does she not want to come back because she’s disgusted by what I did? ”
He slips his arms into his lap, looking so fucking sad that my heart goes out to him. I’m way too tired for this shit, but…he deserves to know the truth.
In as gentle a voice as I can muster, I say, “Rose is…no longer with us. I was forced to deal with her when she failed to do her job properly.”
Lio frowns. “What does that mean?”
“She was on duty the night you…tried to commit suicide. I don’t know if you remember, but we had someone in your and Roman’s room twenty-four seven.
We didn’t want to leave the two of you alone—not because we didn’t trust you, but you just went through something traumatic, and we wanted to make sure someone was there should either of you need anything.
“Rose was on duty that night, and she failed to do her job. She left the room for an unscheduled break, and—”
“It wasn’t her fault!” he says angrily, rising out of his chair. “It’s on me! I’m the one who was so fucking weak I couldn’t cope with life. I…” He lets out a cry. “Oh fuck, I killed her…”
“No,” everyone in the room argues fiercely.
“This is not on you, Lio,” I tell him firmly. “She had her choices, and she made them. You’re not responsible for that.”
He shakes his head rapidly. “No… No…this is my fault…”
He begins to break and Keegan catches him, clutching the Boy in his arms. He gives me a look, but I simply blink at him. I’m the innocent one here! All I did was tell him the truth! If he didn’t like it then he should have been the one to break the news to the little Boss.
Javi sidles up to Keegan—I didn’t even notice him move—and gently reaches for Lio’s arm, administering the sedative we always make sure to carry now for moments like this.
“Put him in Roman’s room,” Javi says to Keegan as he scoops the little Boss into his arms. “I’ll let Anderson know what happened, and maybe his…”
“I’ll go switch with Ten again, so he can sit with Lio,” Carter offers.
Javi nods, pulling out his phone as he steps out of the room behind Keegan.
“I think it’s safe to say this meeting is over,” Carter says with a sigh. “Keep Jude updated with the plans for Nario, and let me know if any issues crop up. Both of you get some sleep.”
Sarah and I stand, and quickly leave the conference room. Javi is standing in the hall, still on the phone, but he does meet my eyes when I step out of the room.
“Sarah,” I say before she can walk off. She raises a brow. “I do respect you, and trust in your abilities. Whatever you think of me, I still would like to be your friend.”
She gives a clipped nod. “Thank you for the apology, I appreciate it. I’ll see you later.”
Turning back to Javi as he slides his phone into his pocket, he sighs. “You need to go to bed. Where’s your Daddy?”
I huff a laugh. “He’s working, but he knows the plan, and will come check on me later.”
He raises a brow. “You already told Murry to start the paperwork, didn’t you?”
“Of course, I did. Carter knew it too. I was trying not to step on Sarah's toes, though—not any more than I already have. She thinks I have the same outdated views that some of the other old bastards do. She either hasn’t realized I’m always this delightful, or she doesn’t actually want to be my friend.
Either way, I was too tired to get into it with her today. Anyway, come on, you also need a nap.”
He shakes his head. “I need to check on Lio—”
“Didn’t you just talk to his therapist?”
“Yes, but…”
I reach out and grab his wrist. “But nothing. You haven’t slept, and you need to if you’re going to help take the fucking Senator down. Daddy’s busy, and James is working out in the field today—Joel is my guard, but he won’t snuggle me. So tag, you’re it.”
Javi lets me lead him through the house to my bedroom. He doesn’t argue or try to pull away, which says a lot about how much he trusts me, as I know he doesn’t normally like touch.
He doesn’t hide his interest as he watches me strip down to my boxers. Throwing the covers back, I slide into bed and open my arms. He bites his lip, looking unsure, and I pout, which works better on him than it does on Daddy, as he sighs and undresses.
He climbs into bed with me, stiff as a board, but I plaster myself to him, wrapping an arm around his waist. He’s even smaller than Daddy, but feels so fucking right in my arms, in a way I didn’t expect.
“Goodnight,” I whisper, already well on my way to sleep.
It may be wishful thinking on my part, but I swear lips press against my forehead, and the sweetest “Sleep well, Dear” follows me into my dreams.