Day gave the nurse the supplies and closed him in the room with his partner, while he walked his brother to the living room and got him a glass of water. Day listened to all his instructions as God’s caregiver for the next several days and asked the necessary questions.
“I know it seems like a lot, but you are more than capable and a damn good partner. Oh yeah, didn’t God say a while back that he had a mom and a brother that lived in the area? Why don’t you give them a call so they can come and help take care of him?” Jax asked him.
“I’d rather do it myself,” Day said without hesitation.
Day tried to ignore his brother’s questioning glance while he sipped his coffee.
“Are you in love with him, Leonidis?”
“Yes.” Again there wasn’t a moment's hesitation, and even Day had to admit that he was shocked as shit at the confession.
“You never mentioned that Cash was gay,” Jax said.
“I know.”
“Leo, what are you doing? Falling for a straight man, and your partner at that?” His brother tried to make eye contact with him.
Day finally looked into his brother’s eyes, soft hazel ones that matched his own, and told him. “He loves me back. Straight, gay, bi, goddamn tranny… whatever he is. That man loves me too. He just hasn’t said it yet,” Day took another sip, “but he will.”
Day was relieved his brother let that subject go. He walked him and Joseph to their car, again playing the role for the neighbors, and came back in to take care of his partner… his man.
Might-As-Well Get Comfortable
The nurse did a great job with God. He smelled great; his teeth were brushed, hair combed, and even his sheets were changed. Wow. Day stared at a peacefully sleeping God. Jax said the pain medicine, along with the nausea medicine, would keep him mostly asleep for the rest of the afternoon and night. He still had sweat beads on his brow, but he didn’t look to be in pain, and Day was grateful.
Since it was almost four in the afternoon, Day sat on God’s small black and white futon in his living room and took out his cell to call his captain. After Day lied, saying that God had pneumonia and was in the ER all morning, he told him God could only be released if someone was going to be with him. He knew his captain wouldn’t require any documentation, but Day knew his brother could whip something up if he needed him to.
“Yes, sir. I’m going to be available on my cell phone for any questions.” Day paused and listened. “I would say a few days tops, sir.” He promised to check in several times a day and hung up.
Day sat on the couch for a few more minutes, his leg shaking nervously. I just admitted that I love God. What was I thinking? What if he doesn’t love me back… or can’t? Fuck. That would be the end of our partnership.
Day went into the kitchen and looked in the refrigerator. There wasn't much to choose from and he settled on a turkey sandwich and a couple of apples.
Day finished his lunch and went back into the bedroom to watch God sleep. Every now and then he’d pick up the cool rag and dab his clammy skin. He was still hot, but not alarmingly so.
After a couple hours Day began taking his holster off, but paused mid action. God’s guns. God kept two of his guns in his truck at all times. Day figured if God was going to be in the bed for several days, he’d better bring his weapons in.
He opened the front door and saw the same guys sitting on the porch next door. Damn… nothing better to do. Must be nice to sit on your ass and smoke pot all day. Day didn’t want to have a conversation, so he jogged over to God’s truck and used the key fob to deactivate the alarm. He reached in the glove box and removed a 9mm, then went around to the driver’s side and felt under the seat. He pulled out a .22 caliber handgun and a cheap cell phone. He tucked the guns in his waistband and put the phone in his pocket.
Day gave a slight nod to the neighbors and headed back inside. After putting the guns in the closet, Day put the cell phone on the kitchen counter and stared at it for several minutes. It wasn’t God’s main phone, it was a throwaway. Day was a naturally inquisitive man, and every instinct he had told him that God didn’t want him to know about this phone… which made it hard to resist… so he didn’t. Day would rather know now than later if his anticipated lover was doing something that could hurt him. He pushed the small power button and went directly to the contacts. There was only one. “Mom, Gen.”