Blood Love

Now: Day 5

Hayley was already in surgery when he arrived at the hospital. That fact did nothing beneficial to his nerves or energy, or to the adrenaline rushing through his system from nearly killing Richie. No matter how much he begged to go back and see her, or how many times security had to restrain him, eventually he ended up in the stiff, uncomfortable chairs of the waiting room. Forced to wait. With Ricky.

"She'll be okay, man. It's routine, that's all."

At the moment Jason wasn't in the mood for sugarcoating or bullshit. "Just—just shut up, okay?"

Ricky nodded and collapsed into a chair. "Fine. Sorry."

He pressed his palms together in a praying gesture, eyes slipping closed. Please, please, just make her okay.

Endless minutes passed. Sometimes he paced, sometimes he prayed, sometimes he contemplated going back to finish the job on Richie just to burn off nervous energy. The minutes morphed into an hour. Still no sign of Hayley.

"Jason."

He didn't move his hands away from his face, giving a grunt as a response.

"What happened with Richie?"

"Nothing."

"Apparently you didn't kill him."

"So?"

"So, that's severely unlike you. And considering he put a shot on Hayley, downright odd. He'd usually be an unrecognizable pulp right about now."

Honestly, he was tired of hearing it. So he didn't kill the guy, most people would congratulate him on that. Most people would be relieved.

Like Hayley.

That's all that matters.

"I have self-control, I can stop anytime I want," he said, flexing his battered knuckles.

"Uh-huh. Okay."

Not in the mood to argue, Jason left Ricky to believe whatever he chose. It didn't matter. It never really did.

The ringing of Ricky's phone broke the tense lull of the waiting room. He stood and answered it, face transitioning through an array of expressions before hanging up. He hadn't spoken a word.

"Who was that?" Jason asked.

"Butch," the other man replied, scratching his head. "He said he needs some assistance disposing of a body."

Jason's body tensed. "Okay."

"He said not to tell you anything about it, so you wouldn't be involved."

"Right."

"I'm gonna go help him out. I'll be back to see Hayley."

Ricky ran out the door, and Jason found himself alone. Alone and helpless and at a loss. What the hell did he do now? What came next? What if she didn't wake up?

Don't think that. Don't think that. Don't think that.

But he was trained to believe the worst. Instinctually he prepared himself for the worst.

And he didn't know what else to do.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Mr. Lambargo?"

He'd fallen asleep. Goddammit. Completely exposed and vulnerable, just like that.

The doctor in front of him was a familiar face, the same guy who'd given him the unacceptable news about his kid. He was the last guy he wanted to say.