ODDS OF LOVE SEASON TWELVE

Episode 153

Winston was used to nightmares. After he was attacked by that maniac Skip Sands in their own home and then after the shootings of himself and Richard Norland at Spencer's house he had experienced more than his share. Only now he couldn't wake up screaming anymore but shaking yes until Joe comforted him back to sleep. And not just with sex which was a Joe Jacobs specialty of his.

But this morning it was Joe waking up yelling beside Winston in the bed in the room that was once just Winston's but was now belonging to them both. Winston was usually an early riser and was already up reading the Washington Reign in bed with the reading glasses he hated perched on his nose. But as Joe sat up in terror with sweat rolling down his handsome face Winston forgot his reading and tossed the phone onto the bottom of the bed to tend to his man.

He anxiously signed," Joey, are you okay? These nightmares are happening a lot. Since the..... "

Joe shook his head at him and ran his hands over his face. " I'm fine. It has nothing to do with..... that. I'm back now. Everything is fine. Just fine. "

Winston didn't believe that. Not for one second. He wasn't as smart as Spencer or even Richard Norland but he wasn't an idiot either. Something had happened to his husband when he disappeared from the hospital. Something bad. And , he wouldn't discuss it ! Or tell the police ! He just kept telling everyone that he was fine when it was so clear he was not fine. He didn't know how to help Joe. He could barely speak in more than a couple halting words at a time which was even more frustrating to him. It was so demoralizing, the speech issue, that he had actually missed a couple therapy sessions. What difference did it make anyway? He would never speak again outside of his board , his special cards and sign language only a few in his life understood. And he would never get his old job back again so he could prove his real worth as a lawyer. Who wanted a lawyer who couldn't talk ? He also felt that his being mute was affecting his communication with Joe. If he could get his point out better maybe Joe would open up. Maybe. But he couldn't.

His hands trembled as they signed at him ," You are not fine. Stop lying to me ! What happened to you ? Who kidnapped you? "

Joe sighed and shook his head stubbornly. " I said I am fine. The only thing that is wrong with me right now is you irritating me by continuing to ask what's wrong ! Just stop. Go look for baby names or something. "

Then he leapt up from the bed in his skimpy black and red briefs to stomp off to the bathroom where he locked the door and proceeded to splash cold water on his anguished face.