Getting Late for Days

Halfway Sober

Maggie sighed, taking a deep breath and preparing for the long night ahead. Head trauma and drinking, god help them all. She’d never forgive herself if this didn’t turn out well. 

“Dr. Harper! We need you in here!” rang sharply through the ER, breaking her from her reverie. She dashed to the room where Jack lay, hoping nothing was too bad. 

“He is responding to comatose tests, so he’s just unconscious. It’ll be awhile before he wakes up,” one of the nurses told her quickly. 

“Yeah, I knew all that. What’s new? What’s important?”

“Well, he appears to be calling out in his sleep, saying something about someone named Alex? Was that the boy who brought him in?”

“Yeah, Alex is his boyfriend. I told him he could come in soon.” That’s sweet, she thought to herself, calling for Alex in his sleep. They must really care about each other. 

                                          ****************

Alex was leading his friends up the stairs, filling them in as they walked. 

“So we can see him soon?” Matt questioned. 

“Yeah, but only one at a time. ‘Cept me. I’m staying the whole time,” Alex answered. 

“That’s not fair,” Vinny whined. “Why can’t we see him?” That was just like him, always the center of attention. 

“Well, until you’re dating Jack, until you make out with him, until you curl up with him at night to fucking sleep, you can shove it,” Alex snapped. 

“God, so touchy,” Vinny murmured under his breath, but not quite quiet enough. 

“Touchy? I’ve got every damn right to be fucking touchy. Jack might not be okay, he might be in a fucking coma because you idiots let him drink too much, because you didn’t realize that he was about to pass out. He hit his fucking head, there was blood coming out of his fucking skull, and you’re gonna sit here and call me touchy? You sicken me. Just go back and sip your fucking coffee.” Alex turned away from the boys, dashing up the steps to the ER room where Jack was resting. God, he wanted to see him. He wanted to hold his hand till he woke up, glad to see Alex sitting with him. He wanted to whisper that everything would be alright. He wanted all of this to go away. 

He reached the waiting room, barely holding back the sobs that were fighting to get out. Holding his face in his hands, he waited for Dr. Harper to come give him access to Jack’s room. 

“Alex?” the doctor whispered softly, approaching the boy. 

“Yeah? Dr. Harper? Can I see him?”

“Yup, just go on in. Oh, and you might want to know, he’s been calling for you. Um, he’s been calling for you in his sleep.”

“Aw,” Alex chirped. “My Jacky misses me.” He seemed quite optimistic, which was good. Dr. Harper smiled at him knowingly, walking him to the ER room. 

“Oh, Jack,” the boy whispered. “God, what happened?” He crouched by the hospital bed, taking Jack’s hand in his, kissing the knuckles of the broken boy. He took in the dreadful sight of tubes running to Jack’s arms, the needle for an IV taped down into his skin, the weird grippy thing on his finger that took some sort of measurement, but Alex wasn’t sure what, the heart monitor beeping slowly, it all terrified Alex more than he could say. 

“Hnn…Alex…” Jack murmured sleepily. “Err, wanna see Alex.”

“Jack, babe, I’m right here. It’s me, it’s Alex. I’m here. You’re gonna be okay.” He stroked the arm of his friend and lover, gently willing him into consciousness. And then, as he ran his hand across Jack’s cheek, a cold hand reached up to his. 

“Jack!” Alex jumped, crying out. “Was that you? Are you awake?”

“Shh, shut up Alex,” Jack slurred, turning his head but not opening his eyes.

“Dr. Harper! He’s awake, he’s awake!”

“That’s great, Alex,” she cooed from the doorway. “Just spend some time, and I’ll be back later to check on him.” With that, she and all the nurses departed, leaving him and Jack with some privacy. 

“God, Jack. You scared the shit outta me. Don’t you ever do that again, you hear me?”

“Mmhmm,” Jack mumbled. “Can I have a kiss?” 

“Maybe in a bit, babe. Take it slow.” Alex melted inside as Jack ran his hand over the lighter-haired boy’s arm, gently drawing circles and swirls and hearts as they spoke. 

“Mm, okay,” Jack blurbed, fluttering his eyes open. Alex couldn’t hide his smile. 

“What?” Jack questioned. “Is my hair messed up?”

“Naw, not too bad,” Alex chimed, ruffling Jack’s hair, carefully avoiding the wound on his head.  ”Just, it’s good to see your eyes again.”

“Can we kiss now?” Jack asked. 

“God, fine, you persistent asshole.” He leaned down then, gently brushing his lips with the younger boy’s. It felt amazing, knowing his Jack was okay. It was brilliant, but he knew they had to go slow, which is why he pulled away when Jack began running his tongue along Alex’s bottom lip. 

“No,” Alex said sternly. 

“But Aaaaaleeeeex, whyyyyyy?” Jack whined. 

“‘Cause you hit your head pretty bad, and you’re still a bit drunk,” Alex lulled softly. 

“Haha, yeah, I know,” Jack laughed. 

“Shh, just get some rest.” Alex soon found a hand on his shoulder, and he turned to face Rian. 

“He okay?” Rian asked. 

“Yeah, he’s got some alcohol in him still, and painkillers. He’s kinda woozy. He just woke up,” Alex informed his friend, absentmindedly stroking Jack’s hand. 

“That’s good. Hey, buddy,” Rian said, nudging Jack’s arm. “What’s up?”

“Oh, you know, chilling. Bleeding,” Jack joked. 

“Dude, don’t mess around like that,” Rian scolded. “We’re all worried about you.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m actually pretty exhausted. Mind if I get some rest?” Jack questioned, looking directly at Rian, and pointedly not at Alex. 

“Yeah, sure, man. Just get some sleep,” Rian responded, turning to exit. Alex kissed Jack’s hand, turning to do the same, when Jack reached out to grab his wrist, making him spin to see the cause.

“Eh, eh, eh, not you, love,” Jack chided, still not completely sober. 

“Come on, babe, you need to get some sleep,” Alex protested.

“So? You’re staying with me, kid,” Jack slurred slightly as Alex plopped into a chair. He was fairly certain that his entire night would be spent here next to Jack, as would his next few days. Not that Alex had a problem with that.