All The Ways We Touch [MxM]

twenty-one - strength and grace

Parked in front of a grocery store, Jamison sat in the back of the car that Elliot had ordered, looking out the window as he waited for Elliot to return. He'd never been there, as they were still in the city, but he was disinterested in it anyway.

Around the edges of the parking lot were silhouettes of a few tall trees and if Elliot wouldn't have had a heart attack, he'd have gotten out and wandered over to them—pain or no pain.

Being in the hospital had been awful for a lot of reasons, but one of the most upsetting reasons was that he couldn't see any trees out the windows. It was all other buildings; a blight of concrete and slate gray against an overcast sky. Even when he'd been in the other place, he could at least look outside and see trees in the distance. It was what had made him value them so deeply.

'Maybe I could sneak over there before he gets back. Or just step outside for a smoke.' But stressing out Elliot any further was the last thing he wanted to do and instead, he sighed and carefully picked up his phone, going to his text exchange with Elliot. While it would've taken him a long time to type something out, especially given his dominant hand had more stitches than the other, Elliot had shown him how to send a voice message.

Jamison: "I don't mean to rush you but it's been like fifteen minutes and I'm about ready to get out and look at the trees if you don't come back soon"

After making sure he sounded more playful than serious, he hit send and waited for Elliot's response.

******

Harsh fluorescent bulbs lit the grocery store, bathing everything in bright lights to try and dissuade shoplifters, which was especially important as it approached midnight. After being in the warm lighting of Astoria Hospital, Elliot had needed to squint his eyes to adjust to them as he walked up and down the first aid aisle looking for Pedialyte. Jamison would assuredly need some with his persistent dehydration, though he hoped that he wouldn't vomit any further that evening. Ideally ever, but that was wishful thinking given the circumstances.

At the feeling of his phone vibrating, he pulled it out of his pant pocket and frowned as he listened to the message, his heart picking up speed. Jamison didn't sound very serious but it still sent a pang of anxiety through his chest. He hadn't wanted to leave his side but his desire to care for him outweighed the panic in his brain telling him that Jamison would run again when left alone. Besides, he didn't want to risk Jamison needing to be hospitalized again.

Elliot: We can look at trees together when I'm done. Just a couple more minutes. PLEASE stay in the car

He couldn't blame Jamison for feeling impatient as he was growing frustrated too. While he could go grab some Gatorade, that wasn't a good option for people who were dehydrated due to illness. Too much sugar and not enough electrolytes. Though with Jamison's penchant for sweets, maybe it would've been the better choice.

Picking up speed as he walked up and down the aisle for what felt like the tenth time, he tried not to let the worry overcome him. Jamison wouldn't do that to him again, right? Truthfully, he wasn't sure if he believed that or if he was just trying to convince himself that he did.

"Hey there, do you need some help?" A college-aged guy with shaggy blonde hair smiled at the end of the aisle.

The interruption pulled him out of his internal debate and Elliot looked up, a grin spreading across his face as he recognized the blonde. "Kyle!"

After taking a couple of steps forward, Kyle smiled wide at the sight of Elliot. "Hey, man! It's good to see you!" Continuing down the aisle, he put his hand out. "Sorry, I didn't recognize you. I forgot my glasses so you were just a blob in the distance."