ODDS OF LOVE SEASON TWELVE

Episode 157

" I'm feeling better," Zipp said with a pout as he squirmed in his hospital bed and looked curiously at what passed for French toast at St. Paul's.

Ethan sent a congratulations text message to Jeremiah and then glanced at Zipp. " That's good. You're still not leaving this hospital. Not until they have finished your antibiotics. And not until your kidney is healed. "

Zipp pushed away the French toast and reached for his cup of tea. " Only because you say I should stay. I still hate hospitals. I remember when my grandmother went to the hospital when I was ten. A simple procedure they all said. She.... never came back again. I loved my grandmother. "

And I love you, Ethan almost said until he caught himself with much surprise. Love ? Him for Zipp ? Maybe a brotherly love or one of those bromance things. But it wasn't more serious. It couldn't be, he mused as he glanced over at the man who was back to poking at the toast with his plastic fork.

Zipp said almost off hand," I hope my kidneys do get better. I would hate to be hooked up to one of those terrifying dialysis things. And I...... probably would. I only have one kidney you know. "

Ethan blinked his eyes at him. " No. I didn't know. One kidney? Really? That's..... amazing. How ? "

" I was born that way. Doctors told my parents when I was adopted it shouldn't be an issue. " He laughed in an oddly unZipplike manner and it was edged with a tremendous amount of bitterness. " If they only knew. I think I was born under a unlucky star. "

Ethan was stunned once again. He had truly thought he knew everything about this man but apparently not. " You are adopted? "

Zipp sighed and closed his eyes. " Yes. The trend of people leaving me began when I was born. "

Ethan's worry grew steadily. If he only had one kidney and he was adopted then if he needed a kidney donated wouldn't that make it more difficult?

He reached out to hold Zipp's hand.

Zipp whispered ," Flower's family went back to Kansas and New York. She's all alone upstairs. I was wondering if you would go up and check on her later?"

That was actually the last thing he wanted to do but what Ethan told him was," Sure. I'll go see to her? "

What could it possibly hurt? , he thought to himself.