ODDS OF LOVE SEASON TWELVE

Episode 33

" So ," Detective Nate Jacks said around his unlit cigar that was sticking out of his smirking mouth as he stared at the " couple" who held each other's hands as one was in a hospital bed, " if you remember anything at all useful just let us know now. Okay? "

Then he turned away from the former assistant state's attorney who was a definite lesser man since he had been run out of his job and the " victim " in the case. Without another word he ambled out of the room.

" What a dick," Joe Jacobs murmured faintly as he tried to adjust himself and get comfortable in the hospital bed. He hated hospitals. The beds. The beeping machines. The wires sticking all over him. The IV that ran blood and antibiotics and God only knew what else into his body. People coming in constantly to give pills and take his vitals. Hospitals were not his scene. " He doesn't care. Not about me. Or Norland. Why should he? When Aids first came out I could see him rooting for it. "

Winston reached out to touch Joe's face. To offer him support but also to assure himself that the man was really there. Alive and whole and fussing about something. His Joe was okay. He was alive. Thank God. It scared him to think that if he had been late getting home ......If he had missed his train or the bus after....... If the line had been longer at the grocery store..... If .....

He pointed at his eye and then his heart. His last motion was to Joe himself.

Joe smiled slightly. " I love you too. You're probably the only one who does love me. Or like me really. No probably about it. You are. You're my only visitor. Nobody else will come. Not even my employees. Or my father. He'll have a cocktail party when I die. " He saw Winston shaking his head fervently. " No. It's true. I accept it. Maybe I created it. I don't care. As long as I have you I don't care who else is here. Look. We need to talk. I have put your name on the house deed and for the club. With me. I have put your name on the bank accounts. You will be taken care of. If..... You'll be fine. I promise. I made a will too. You get it all. "

Winston shook his head. There were tears forming in his eyes. He kept shaking his head. Joe lifted  Winston's hand to his lips for a soft wistful kiss. " I know you don't want to hear this but it's necessary. All the documents are at my lawyer's office. Judith Xi is her name. And I have copies in my desk at the club. And in a safety deposit box. Don't let anyone take a thing from you. Okay? Especially my father."

Winston swallowed hard. He reluctantly nodded.

" And I want to marry you. Now. Can you get the hospital chaplain here? And round up a couple witnesses? That brother of yours maybe for you. And maybe my cousin Angel. I want us to get married today. "