Henry (The Beck Brothers 1)

Claire placed a hand over her franticly beating heart and squeezed her eyes shut. She had come so close today to loosing the man she loved. It still hurt. She was still trying to believe that he was actually here. Claire was then startled by the door being opened and an orderly wheeling Henry's bed back into the room.

They had pumped Henry full of morphine when they got him hooked up to the IV. So he was flying high. His eyes were closed but he had a small smile on his face. They had made him change into a hospital gown, which he had complained about, but it was hospital policy. A blanket covered him from the waist down.

" The doctor will be in shortly with the results", The orderly said, putting the brakes on the bed and putting the sides down.

Claire thanked him as he left. She then went over to Henry and sat down on the edge of the bed by his hip. The bed was set so that he was sitting up slightly. Claire slipped her hand into Henry's, lacing their fingers together.

Henry's eyes cracked open. His glassy drugged gaze barely focusing on her. " Hey Darlin'", he rasped.

Claire smiled, " Hi, how do you feel?"

" So good", he breathed, his eyes closing again.

Claire leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on the lips, " Why don't you get some sleep", she murmured.

Henry nodded and almost immediately drifted off. Claire brought his hand up to her mouth and kissed his knuckles. She slid his glasses off his face before moving to the chair next to the bed. She couldn't help but smile when he started snoring lightly. He looked so handsome when he slept.

Sebastian ran through the parking lot of the hospital. He was desperately trying to make it there before his mother. He had called her this morning and told her that Henry was in the hospital and had been since last night. Well, she freaked the fuck out, screaming and yelling at him. So as soon as he got off the phone, he raced out of his apartment to get to the hospital to warn Henry and Claire that his mother was on a tirade. He had tried to call Claire, but she didn't answer. He figured she was sleeping.

The front desk gave him Henry's room number. When he got there, the door was closed. Sebastian knocked then opened it, peeking his head in. The room was dark except for a sliver of light coming from a space between the curtains and he could hear Henry snoring lightly. No way that was Claire snoring. Sebastian moved into the room, closing the door behind him. He spotted Claire on a cot on the other side of Henry's bed. Sebastian walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. Claire sucked in a sharp breath as her eyes flipped open, startled.

" Sebastian?", She asked, confused and still half asleep.

" Hey Claire"

" What are you doing here?", Claire asked as she pushed up into a sitting position.

" You weren't answering your phone and I had to warn you about my mom, she's seriously pissed and probably on her way", Sebastian whispered.

" Goddammit", Claire bit out, " What the fuck is her problem?"

Sebastian sighed heavily and shook his head, " No one and nothing is good enough for her sons. She always been like this, growing up with her was insane, she was always in our business, getting involved in things that she didn't need to. I can't say she's gotten worse, but she hasn't gotten any better"

Just then the door swung open and the overhead lights flicked on. His mother stormed into the room, looking furious. Even in her haste to get here, her hair was still perfectly in place and her makeup was done. She was wearing her signature dark jeans and a blouse. Today it was a pink blouse.

Henry grunted and rubbed his eyes before slowly blinking them open. " What's going on?", he asked, his voice gravelly from sleep and probably the drugs.

Sebastian held his hands out as if to ward off his mother's wrath, " Mom...", he started but snapped his mouth shut when her eyes flashed and she pointed at him.

" You! You shut up!", Anne bit out, her tone telling Sebastian that she was absolutely livid.

Henry grabbed his glasses and slid them on. " Mom, what's the problem?", he asked wearily.

" My problem?!", she shrieked, making Sebastian wince. " My problem is that someone didn't call me until this morning to tell me you were in the hospital!", she finished, glaring daggers at Sebastian.

" Henry needed rest", Claire chimed in as she stood.

" I was not talking to you, missy", Anne snipped, turning her dagger glare on Claire.

Sebastian saw Claire's whole demeanor change. Her beautiful face turned hard and cold, her shoulders squared and the anger was rolling off her in waves. Sebastian readied himself to break up the fight that was inevitable. Claire opened her mouth to speak but there was a knock on the open door, cutting her off.