“That’s it. Good boy. Deep breath in, let it out slow. Good. Better. One more time.” Sir breathed with him, in and out, and the grip on his arms eased a little more with each one until the room went still and quiet. “My good boy. That’s better. You’ll remember everything with time. You just woke up, so give yourself a break.”
“Yours. Stay here, please. Just for a little longer?” He just wanted Isaac close for a while.
“Would I leave my boy?” Sir’s touch was gentle now, soothing. “I’ll be right here. I’ll help you.”
“I can’t remember right, but I’m trying.” He just felt like something was off. “More ice?”
“Sure.” Isaac picked up the cup and touched the spoon to his lips. “You have been very worried about us, in your sleep, through the drugs…you felt we weren’t safe. That’s why we have friends outside the door.”
“Good. Good, I think I’ve done something bad, Sir. I’m afraid I did something wrong.” He was having trouble keeping his eyes open, focusing. His words belonged to someone else.
“I’ve got your back, boy. Whatever it is, I’m by your side. But I’m not sure that’s true. Someone beat the snot out of you.”
“Uh-huh.” But what if he deserved it?
Isaac kept contact with him, fingers sliding gently over his chest and arms. “You’re going to remember it all soon enough. And once we—”
There was a knock at the door and Cyrus walked in, followed by a short young doctor in a white coat. “Dr. Morgan.”
“Thanks, Cyrus. Good morning, doctor.”
“Good morning. Oh, you’re awake. Very good.” The doctor went to the computer and pulled something up. “How do you feel?”
“Ready to go home.” He wasn’t staying here.
The doctor’s eyebrows flew up. “Well, that’s good to hear, if a bit premature.”
“We haven’t…discussed anything yet. I thought it best to wait for you.”
“Isaac, you know as well as I do—”
“Yes, butyou’rehis doctor.”
Dr. Morgan nodded slowly. “I am. Of course. Are you in pain, Neil? Anything too much to deal with?”
“I’m okay. I’ve felt better, but I can deal.”
He heard Guapo and his kitten snort simultaneously.
“Hm. Why does your family find that funny?” Dr. Morgan’s face was so completely deadpan he couldn’t tell if that was a joke or not. The doctor didn’t wait for an answer, he just started an examination, beginning by gently turning Neil’s head this way and that.
God, he was sore. Like tender everywhere. He swallowed back the moan and prayed he hadn’t winced.
“I’m going to have a look at your hip.” The doc rolled his blanket back, carefully tugged his gown free. He thought he heard Alain gasp and Guapo whisper something to him. The doc ignored all of that and cool fingers moved over his skin. “Are you feeling this yet?”
“Not a lot. It’s mostly tingles.” He lifted his head to look, saw the drains, and gagged. “Oh, Jesus. Take them out.”
“That’s not going to happen for a bit. Breathe, officer. Just breathe.”
His kitten was suddenly there, stroking his jaw and blocking his view. “You good, Chou. You got us right here.”
“Not going home today, Kitten.” He was fixin’ to hurl. “I need a Sprite or a ginger ale or something like.”
“I can get that,” Alain said, nodding firmly. “Gimme two.”
Isaac followed Alain for a few steps, and he heard the whispered “Take Les.” Alain nodded and left the room.
“This will take some time to heal, Neil, but it will.” The doc spoke as he covered him up again. “You don’t have to worry about not walking again or anything that extreme. You’re in good shape. You just need to rest for a bit and then rehab it.”