More

Part 14: Family Matters

Turning around and around- I'm lost in panic.

Where the hell did he go?!

Did...did he p...pass?

A sickness runs through my body and I can't breathe hardly.

"Hey...you're up." Quickly turning around, I find him standing there with two cups of coffee in his hands. His face still slightly red from yesterday and his hands slightly shaking.

Going to him, I forcibly remove the cups from his hands and set them on the counter, before crashing my body into his- nearly knocking him over. He stands confused for a bit before he wraps me in his arms.

"You okay?" He hesitantly asks as he rubs my back. My heart is beating so fast and I try to quietly calm myself, but nothing is working.

"I thought...I..." Choking on my fears, I don't need to finish it for him to understand.

"Shhh....I have you. I'm not going anywhere. I love you..." Looking up into his eyes, I feel safe and secure. Pressing my lips to his, I take him in and he pulls back suddenly and turns away from me- coughing into a handkerchief. "Sorry..."

"You feeling any better?" I ask as I look him over. Wiping my eyes as I do so.

"A bit. Lungs are still heavy." He wipes his mouth of a bit of blood and shakes his head with a sigh.

"I bet. It'll last a while for sure. You just need to take it easy and rest." Placing my hands on his chest, I run my hands up and down his pectorals. 

"I have the Dam, I need too..."

"Max! You could have died. You nearly died yesterday. If I didn't go in and find you- you wouldn't be here! The Dam is just a hospital. Your life is more important than that." I say commandingly. He looks at me taken aback and notices how serious and upset I am. "I understand the Dam is important to you. You're doing an amazing job- better than anyone else could- but if you push yourself when you should be healing- you may not be around much longer to continue making it better."

He pulls me close and holds my head to his chest. His hands rub up and down my back as he tries to console me.

"I'll take time. I promise."

"Good..."

"Well, I already signed out- so we can go when you're ready." He says quietly.

"Alright- I need to change out of these scrubs."

"Yeah...where are your shoes?"

"In the Dam's basement." I state and take my bag to the restroom to change.

After changing quickly, I come back out and he turns to ask me something, but he stands there speechless. Mouth gaping, eyes going up and down on my body like elevators- stopping on several floors- several times.

"You need a moment?" I ask and he blinks a few times and comes forward his hands finding my exposed waist.

"You...you were wearing...wearing this yesterday?"

"I was...until it became drenched." He swallows hard and his eyes land on the deep V cut neckline. They shoot back up to me and he must realize I'm not wearing a bra. "Are you going to make it?"

Swallowing hard again, he nods slowly and his hands slide around me back- feeling up and down to see how much of my back is exposed. He freezes as he realizes it stops just above my arse and halfway up my back.

Forcing himself back he covers his heavy coughs as he tries to keep his dyes on me. After a few moments, he finds his calm, wipe his face and blinks a few times.