It was God’s mom and his brother. Oh, okay. Day didn’t know why but he thought he’d find a bunch of tramps' phone numbers listed there. Day kind of laughed to himself and tossed the phone in one of the kitchen drawers. He turned off the lights and went into the bedroom to take care of the man he loved.
Playing Doctor
Day had showered and put on a pair of God’s huge sweatpants that he’d had to tie as tight as he could so they’d stay up, and a black tank top he found in the dresser in the corner. There was a small television on top of it and Day turned it on to the food station, setting the volume just high enough so he could hear it and not disturb God.
Day quietly did his evening duties for his patient. He changed the IVs, emptied the catheter bag, inserted the pre-filled syringes of antibiotic and pain medicines into the port, and put some cool water and clean rags by the bed. Day climbed onto the other side, careful not to jostle God and propped some pillows behind him. He took a small sip of the coffee he’d sat on the tiny end table before turning on the bedside lamp.
Day flipped through his magazine until he found the article on the modern submachine handgun. He was engrossed in the article when he felt God shifting on the bed, perhaps trying to get more comfortable. Day absently rubbed God’s shoulder while he groaned and rocked back and forth. He put his mouth close to the side of his face.
“Sshh, it’s okay, Cash,” Day whispered quietly.
That seemed to settle his partner, but a few seconds later God’s large thigh shot out to the side, darn near knocking Day off the bed, and released a loud cry.
“Cash, calm down.”
God cried out again. Obviously he was dreaming. Fuck, another nightmare. When he started thrashing more wildly, Day had to jump out of the bed. He ran around to the other side and quickly moved the IV tower out of reach so God didn’t knock it over.
“No, Dad, stop!” God yelled, his eye squeezed shut, and sweat pouring down his face.
“Cash, wake up!” Day yelled. His heart was beating wildly and his hands shook as he got a firm hold on God’s wide shoulders.
Day shook him more forcefully but that only seemed to make it worse. He climbed on top of his partner and tried to press his full weight on him. If God ripped the IV or catheter out, Day wouldn’t know what to do. He held God’s arms down to his side and yelled again. “Cashel, Cash, stop it!”
God’s eyes opened but Day knew he wasn’t awake yet. Day rose up and straddled his stomach, still pinning his arms to his sides. He leaned over and dipped the cool rag in the water and leaned back in to wipe God’s wet face. “It’s all right. It’s just a dream, Cash, wake up.” Day watched God’s eyes come back into focus. Day began to lift up some, so his full weight wasn’t pressing on him anymore, when he felt one of God’s arms come around his back, preventing him from moving.
“Stay,” God moaned.
“I’m too heavy. I’m just gonna slide over.” Day eased off and settled in close to his side. God took in a shaky breath and coughed hard for several seconds. Day wiped his damp brow some more, his cheeks, his neck, and then his lips all with light tender strokes.
“It’s okay. I’m not going anywhere.” Day placed a soft kiss to God’s temple and saw his partner’s muscled chest fall with his exhale.
God turned his head to stare into Day’s eyes. He could see the gratitude emanating from those beautiful green irises.
“Leo,” God said in a half-breath, half-wheeze.
“Try not to talk. My brother said he’d be back in the morning, he said it won’t take long for the worst of the symptoms to go away. You’ll be weak for a while, but I’ll be right here to help you. I’m going to get up now so I can give you some more cough and pain medicine. Jax said I could give them as needed.”
Day watched how God stared at him wide-eyed. Day stared back. “I know. You’re welcome.” Day softly wiped the cool rag across God’s forehead one more time before kissing him there too.
He moved to the other side of the bed and got out, moving around to God’s side so he could inject the medicine. He pushed in the two syringes and realized that he only had two more for pain. Shit. I hope he doesn’t need more before Jax comes back. God stayed with his back to him, and Day took the opportunity to raise God’s shirt and wipe the cool rag over his back. Day couldn’t help his body’s reaction to the strong, muscular back. Day gasped at the huge lion tattooed across the upper left side of his back. The mouth was open wide in mid-roar; the full, bushy mane was so detailed, it looked like it swayed when the muscles moved. The paws were big and the claws were extended as if the beautiful beast was prepared to attack. A lion described his partner perfectly—fierce, protective, a king. Day had only caught glimpses of the exquisite work before because God didn’t undress in front of him or anyone often, probably not wanting too many people to see the scars that accompanied the art on his body.