“Duke?”
The sweet sound made him realize he’d closed his eyes again.
“Duke.” Vaughan looked at him with so much admiration that it caused his chest to hurt even more.
“I’m okay,” Duke finally croaked. His mouth felt horrible, like he’d eaten a sheep. Dry and parched. “I’m better now that I’m seeing you.”
“Good.”
I wouldn’t say good. “Were you at work? How’s your new job?”
“It’s a job.” Vaughan skated over the question, immediately changing the subject. “Has the doctor been in today?”
“Um.” Duke cleared his throat again and saw Vaughan reach for the cup of water that sat by his bed. He placed the straw to his lips and Duke didn’t know how he felt about that. But that damn cast did make it hard for him to maneuver the small cup. Still, he didn’t want to appear helpless in front of Vaughan. From what he understood, Vaughan had looked up to him. Admired and lusted after him. Now Duke was nothing more than a useless lump of man lying in a hospital bed with failing kidneys, waiting to die a quick but agonizing death. He took a small sip only so he could speak a little better and waited for Vaughan to put the cup back. “No. Not that I remember. I think he may have come in this morning.”
The look on Vaughan’s face was a mix of fear and anxiousness, but Duke couldn’t be exactly sure because it was gone in an instant. Before he could question it, there was another knock on his door. He was hoping it wasn’t another visitor, because there were things he needed to talk to Vaughan about. He was going to tell him that he would’ve given him a chance. That he would’ve let him woo him… and fuck him good. He probably would’ve let that last point hang in the air unsaid, but he wanted Vaughan to know before he left this earth that they would’ve had something wonderful, but Vaughan needed to go on with his life. He didn’t want him coming to the hospital anymore. Duke was a done deal.
“Hey, Duke. How you feeling today?”
Oh great. It was his doctor. He sure sounded extra cheerful. Well at least someone’s life was going well. “Good afternoon, Dr. Chauncey.”
“Duke, I have wonderful news!” Dr. Chauncey smiled.
Duke tried to sit up a little higher, again wincing at the pain in his back. Vaughan put his hand on his arm. His face was completely impassive, but Duke’s heart was pounding. Good news? What could it possibly be? Surely his kidneys hadn’t healed on their own.
“Are you okay, Duke? Did you push your morphine drip to—?”
“Doctor, just spit it out. I’m fine. What’s the news?” Duke almost growled.
“We have a donor. You go in for surgery Friday.”
Duke’s mouth dropped open. He turned and looked at Vaughan and he wore the exact same expression before finally, a slight smile curved his lips.
“Oh, my god. Are you serious?” Vaughan gasped.
The doctor looked at Vaughan for a split second before turning back to Duke. “I wouldn’t joke about that. I’ve scoured every database in the country, Duke. We have a perfectly healthy, compatible kidney for you.”
“Jesus Christ,” Vaughan breathed. “He’s gonna live?”
Duke didn’t know who to look at. He felt like he might be dreaming, but he hadn’t taken too much morphine, so he couldn’t be hallucinating. “Dr. Chauncey. Are you telling me that my name came up already?”
“What I’m telling you Duke is that there’s a kidney available and it’s yours if you want it. What do you say?” Dr. Chauncey’s expression and words were stern but kind.
“Fuck,” Duke whispered. “Yes.”
“Good, very good.” His doctor smiled. Duke thought he saw him throw a quick wink at Vaughan but he could’ve been wrong. “Friday it is.” Dr. Chauncey walked out, leaving Duke completely awestruck.
********
Dr. Chauncey was right. Duke had inquired how and why, but he didn’t press the issue. The good doctor had said it easily. There was a kidney available, do you want it or do you wanna play twenty questions? Dr. Chauncey almost made it sound like he’d done something underhanded and the less Duke knew the better.
Vaughan had played his part, though. The shocked and flabbergasted look. He should get an Academy Award© for best clueless performance in a potential lover’s hospital room. He squeezed Duke’s hand, kissing each knuckle. But the moisture building up in the corners of his eyes was completely genuine. He was so happy the doctor didn’t wait to give Duke the good news, because he looked like he really needed the lift. It was like seeing him had put Duke in a worse mood. He hoped that wasn’t the case.
“You must have been praying hard for a miracle. I sure was.” Vaughan leaned down and kissed Duke’s forehead. “This is amazing!”
“It’s fuckin’ unreal. How the hell? I’m sure there are people in front of me who have been—”