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asphaltcowgrrlTitle: Hand in Hand
Fandom: Romani Detective Original Fiction
Pairing: Andrej Zeklos/James Rosewood/Zayne Reyes
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,357
Summary: An apprehension goes wrong and Zayne winds up in the hospital. (See end note, I’m sorry.)
Author’s Note: Written for the Slow Sated Sunday prompt at 1_million_words. Not really how the theme is supposed to go but whatever. I spent something like 16 hours in a hospital yesterday, cut me some slack.
He looked down at the pale face of his partner and sighed. Andrej wouldn’t ever understand why Zayne did the crazy things that he did but, in this case, the cowboy’s recklessness had saved his life. When the knife had appeared, Andrej didn’t know, but Zayne had seen it and gotten between him and the suspect’s blade. Unfortunately, while Andrej had come out unscathed, Zayne hadn’t been so lucky.
A lock of hair had fallen across Zayne’s forehead and Andrej brushed it back. Zayne winced and Andrej gave his hand a light squeeze. “It’s okay, love,” he whispered in Romanian, even though Zayne would never understand any of it but that single word - iubit - but only because he heard it so often. It seemed to ease some of Zayne’s restlessness, but then, maybe that was the morphine. Whatever the reasons, Andrej refused to let go until he knew Zayne would be okay.
“What happened,” James asked, pushing past the flimsy curtain that was supposed to give the ailing privacy.
Andrej shook his head, fighting back the tears that had threatened to fall since the moment it had happened. “I did not see the knife… he got Zayne… I –”
“Don’t,” James whispered, brushing a hand across the top of Andrej’s head. “It’s okay. We can talk about it later, when you’re ready.” He looked down at Zayne, that handsome face contorted in pain. “What did the doctor say?”
“That the blade missed anything vital, but clipped a blood vessel or two which is why he required surgery. He will be okay in a few days.”
“Good to hear,” James said, pulling up a chair on Zayne’s other side. He reached under the blanket and took hold of the Texan’s hand. “Not sure I’m ready to give up a kidney for this asshole.”
Despite himself, Andrej chuckled. “He was not hit anywhere near his kidney, Jay.”
“Point still stands,” he teased, giving Zayne’s hand a kiss. “How are you doing, cowboy?”
“Hurts,” Zayne muttered.
“You know you have a button you can push that will fix that, right?”
“Don’t want to,” he grunted.
“You’re an idiot,” James said, nothing but love in his words.
“He is very stubborn,” Andrej said. “But the nurse has put something in his IV to help him out. He will give in eventually, I am sure.”
“Smart woman,” James said, leaning back in his chair and sighing. “This is not how I wanted to start the week, Andy.”
“It was not my idea either, Jay,” Andrej replied. “But here we are.”
A nurse poked her head in and smiled at the two of them, sitting there, each holding one of Zayne’s hands in their own, giving the only comfort they could in the situation. “We ought to have a room for him soon,” she said. “We’ll keep him overnight and then turn him loose in the morning once we know he’s good to go. Keep talking to him, even if he only grunts back. It’ll help.”
“Thanks,” James said, smiling back at her. “It’s easier to talk to him when he can’t talk back.”
“Shut up gingerbread,” Zayne murmured.
“That’s the pain talking,” she said. “Don’t let it get to you.”
“Nah,” James laughed. “That’s Zayne talking.”
“He is right,” Andrej said, a smile creeping onto his face. “But it is said with love.”
The nurse laughed. “As long as you know you’re loved, right?” She heard something and frowned. “Excuse me, I have to go check bed nine again.”
She ducked out and James looked at Andrej who was grinning. “What’s the deal with bed nine?”
“Whoever is in that bed keeps trying to take his gown off,” Andrej said. “I have heard the nurses tell him to put it back on about four times already.”
James snorted. “Never a dull minute, huh?”
“No,” Andrej agreed. “Although I am surprised that it is not Zayne trying to get naked every five minutes.”
“He must really be in pain then,” James said.
“He is, Jay,” Andrej said, feeling the weight of the world settle onto his shoulders again. “You can go home if you like, you look exhausted. I am going to stay until they get him a room.”
“I’m fine,” he said. “I’m pissed enough that I didn’t know he was hurt until half an hour ago and that you had to wait all alone.”
“Trish and Hilary came and sat with me for a bit,” he said. “I could not get a hold of you, so I called them. Please do not be mad at yourself for doing something important while I was here.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“It is not,” Andrej said. “Jake told me what you were doing and why you couldn’t answer the phone. The fewer drugs on our streets, Jay, the fewer people – us included – will be hurt because of them. What you are doing matters.”
“Yeah, I know,” he admitted. “But I still hate that I wasn’t here for you. Either of you.”
“You’re here now,” Zayne slurred. “Now shut up and hold my hand so I can get some rest.”
James smiled and leaned in to kiss Zayne’s cheek. “Whatever you say, cowboy.”
Zayne smiled and gave James’, then Andrej’s hand, each a squeeze. “I need to sleep.”
Andrej fitted the activator for the pain meds into Zayne’s fingers and then wrapped his hand around Zayne’s fist. “Squeeze,” he said. “It will help.”
For the first time in written history, Zayne did as he was told. By the time the nurse had returned, he was snoozing peacefully. They followed Zayne’s bed as the nurses delivered him into his room. James yawned as soon as they were alone.
“Go home,” Andrej said. “He is asleep. I will not be far behind you.”
“Yeah, okay,” James said, fighting off another yawn. “But if you are more than an hour, I’m coming back here.”
Andrej smiled. “I will be home soon, I promise.”
“Okay,” James said. He gave Andrej a kiss and then brushed a quick one across Zayne’s forehead. “But I’m timing you.”
“I am going to talk to the nurse and make sure she has my number and then I will be home.”
“Promise?”
“Promise,” Andrej said, shooing James out of the hospital room.
When he heard the elevator doors close, Andrej turned back to Zayne.
“He’s a stubborn asshole.”
“You are supposed to be sleeping,” Andrej reminded him.
“I needed to say goodnight,” Zayne murmured.
“I love you, Zayne,” he said, taking his partner’s hand into his own again. “Now good night and get some sleep.”
“I love you, too,” he said, the words sliding into one another as the pain medication started to kick in again. “And the redheaded idiot.”
Andrej kissed Zayne’s mouth lightly. “Go to sleep. We will be back in the morning.”
Zayne’s reply was a soft snore. Andrej shook his head and wandered out to the nurse’s station to leave both his and Hilary’s numbers for the staff. He hadn’t been looking forward to going home, but knowing James was there waiting helped. It wasn’t the same without Zayne, even when he and Jay were antagonizing one another, but he’d be home soon enough. Even if all they could do is cuddle and hold hands for the next few weeks, they’d at least be whole again.
--
End notes: first of all, there WAS a guy three beds down from Troy in the PACU that kept taking his gown off. I heard a nurse saying, “No, you need to keep that on. Sir, your gown has to stay – wait, if you need to pee, just pee, you have a catheter!” My poor drugged up husband looked at me and said, “I think I’m glad I can’t see that.”
Second, for some reason he was very resistant to using the pain button. The nurse finally said, “Honey, that’s why it’s there, PUSH IT.” And he doesn’t generally handle pain very well at all. Men. *shrugs*
Lastly… sorry for making this into what it was. But, I spent a good three hours doing exactly this yesterday and I think it needed out.
Fandom: Romani Detective Original Fiction
Pairing: Andrej Zeklos/James Rosewood/Zayne Reyes
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,357
Summary: An apprehension goes wrong and Zayne winds up in the hospital. (See end note, I’m sorry.)
Author’s Note: Written for the Slow Sated Sunday prompt at 1_million_words. Not really how the theme is supposed to go but whatever. I spent something like 16 hours in a hospital yesterday, cut me some slack.
He looked down at the pale face of his partner and sighed. Andrej wouldn’t ever understand why Zayne did the crazy things that he did but, in this case, the cowboy’s recklessness had saved his life. When the knife had appeared, Andrej didn’t know, but Zayne had seen it and gotten between him and the suspect’s blade. Unfortunately, while Andrej had come out unscathed, Zayne hadn’t been so lucky.
A lock of hair had fallen across Zayne’s forehead and Andrej brushed it back. Zayne winced and Andrej gave his hand a light squeeze. “It’s okay, love,” he whispered in Romanian, even though Zayne would never understand any of it but that single word - iubit - but only because he heard it so often. It seemed to ease some of Zayne’s restlessness, but then, maybe that was the morphine. Whatever the reasons, Andrej refused to let go until he knew Zayne would be okay.
“What happened,” James asked, pushing past the flimsy curtain that was supposed to give the ailing privacy.
Andrej shook his head, fighting back the tears that had threatened to fall since the moment it had happened. “I did not see the knife… he got Zayne… I –”
“Don’t,” James whispered, brushing a hand across the top of Andrej’s head. “It’s okay. We can talk about it later, when you’re ready.” He looked down at Zayne, that handsome face contorted in pain. “What did the doctor say?”
“That the blade missed anything vital, but clipped a blood vessel or two which is why he required surgery. He will be okay in a few days.”
“Good to hear,” James said, pulling up a chair on Zayne’s other side. He reached under the blanket and took hold of the Texan’s hand. “Not sure I’m ready to give up a kidney for this asshole.”
Despite himself, Andrej chuckled. “He was not hit anywhere near his kidney, Jay.”
“Point still stands,” he teased, giving Zayne’s hand a kiss. “How are you doing, cowboy?”
“Hurts,” Zayne muttered.
“You know you have a button you can push that will fix that, right?”
“Don’t want to,” he grunted.
“You’re an idiot,” James said, nothing but love in his words.
“He is very stubborn,” Andrej said. “But the nurse has put something in his IV to help him out. He will give in eventually, I am sure.”
“Smart woman,” James said, leaning back in his chair and sighing. “This is not how I wanted to start the week, Andy.”
“It was not my idea either, Jay,” Andrej replied. “But here we are.”
A nurse poked her head in and smiled at the two of them, sitting there, each holding one of Zayne’s hands in their own, giving the only comfort they could in the situation. “We ought to have a room for him soon,” she said. “We’ll keep him overnight and then turn him loose in the morning once we know he’s good to go. Keep talking to him, even if he only grunts back. It’ll help.”
“Thanks,” James said, smiling back at her. “It’s easier to talk to him when he can’t talk back.”
“Shut up gingerbread,” Zayne murmured.
“That’s the pain talking,” she said. “Don’t let it get to you.”
“Nah,” James laughed. “That’s Zayne talking.”
“He is right,” Andrej said, a smile creeping onto his face. “But it is said with love.”
The nurse laughed. “As long as you know you’re loved, right?” She heard something and frowned. “Excuse me, I have to go check bed nine again.”
She ducked out and James looked at Andrej who was grinning. “What’s the deal with bed nine?”
“Whoever is in that bed keeps trying to take his gown off,” Andrej said. “I have heard the nurses tell him to put it back on about four times already.”
James snorted. “Never a dull minute, huh?”
“No,” Andrej agreed. “Although I am surprised that it is not Zayne trying to get naked every five minutes.”
“He must really be in pain then,” James said.
“He is, Jay,” Andrej said, feeling the weight of the world settle onto his shoulders again. “You can go home if you like, you look exhausted. I am going to stay until they get him a room.”
“I’m fine,” he said. “I’m pissed enough that I didn’t know he was hurt until half an hour ago and that you had to wait all alone.”
“Trish and Hilary came and sat with me for a bit,” he said. “I could not get a hold of you, so I called them. Please do not be mad at yourself for doing something important while I was here.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“It is not,” Andrej said. “Jake told me what you were doing and why you couldn’t answer the phone. The fewer drugs on our streets, Jay, the fewer people – us included – will be hurt because of them. What you are doing matters.”
“Yeah, I know,” he admitted. “But I still hate that I wasn’t here for you. Either of you.”
“You’re here now,” Zayne slurred. “Now shut up and hold my hand so I can get some rest.”
James smiled and leaned in to kiss Zayne’s cheek. “Whatever you say, cowboy.”
Zayne smiled and gave James’, then Andrej’s hand, each a squeeze. “I need to sleep.”
Andrej fitted the activator for the pain meds into Zayne’s fingers and then wrapped his hand around Zayne’s fist. “Squeeze,” he said. “It will help.”
For the first time in written history, Zayne did as he was told. By the time the nurse had returned, he was snoozing peacefully. They followed Zayne’s bed as the nurses delivered him into his room. James yawned as soon as they were alone.
“Go home,” Andrej said. “He is asleep. I will not be far behind you.”
“Yeah, okay,” James said, fighting off another yawn. “But if you are more than an hour, I’m coming back here.”
Andrej smiled. “I will be home soon, I promise.”
“Okay,” James said. He gave Andrej a kiss and then brushed a quick one across Zayne’s forehead. “But I’m timing you.”
“I am going to talk to the nurse and make sure she has my number and then I will be home.”
“Promise?”
“Promise,” Andrej said, shooing James out of the hospital room.
When he heard the elevator doors close, Andrej turned back to Zayne.
“He’s a stubborn asshole.”
“You are supposed to be sleeping,” Andrej reminded him.
“I needed to say goodnight,” Zayne murmured.
“I love you, Zayne,” he said, taking his partner’s hand into his own again. “Now good night and get some sleep.”
“I love you, too,” he said, the words sliding into one another as the pain medication started to kick in again. “And the redheaded idiot.”
Andrej kissed Zayne’s mouth lightly. “Go to sleep. We will be back in the morning.”
Zayne’s reply was a soft snore. Andrej shook his head and wandered out to the nurse’s station to leave both his and Hilary’s numbers for the staff. He hadn’t been looking forward to going home, but knowing James was there waiting helped. It wasn’t the same without Zayne, even when he and Jay were antagonizing one another, but he’d be home soon enough. Even if all they could do is cuddle and hold hands for the next few weeks, they’d at least be whole again.
--
End notes: first of all, there WAS a guy three beds down from Troy in the PACU that kept taking his gown off. I heard a nurse saying, “No, you need to keep that on. Sir, your gown has to stay – wait, if you need to pee, just pee, you have a catheter!” My poor drugged up husband looked at me and said, “I think I’m glad I can’t see that.”
Second, for some reason he was very resistant to using the pain button. The nurse finally said, “Honey, that’s why it’s there, PUSH IT.” And he doesn’t generally handle pain very well at all. Men. *shrugs*
Lastly… sorry for making this into what it was. But, I spent a good three hours doing exactly this yesterday and I think it needed out.
