All The Ways We Touch [BxB]

eighty-two - aftershocks pt. three

The sound of footsteps coming up the stairs was concerning now that Elliot had left. Jamison reached for a steak knife on the side of his bed and held it tight in his hand. "Who's there?"

"It's me!" Entering the room, he put his hands up, his heart breaking as he watched Jamison let out a deep breath of relief, only to wince at the pain. "Sorry to scare you, but change of plans."

Putting the knife back down, Jamison raised a brow in confusion. "Forget something?"

"I—" he stopped, trying to think of a quick lie before remembering their pact. "I started to panic," he admitted. "I can't leave you here while I'm gone. I'll be useless, and just, like, having a panic attack in the stairwell. That's no help to Archie."

It didn't make Jamison happy to hear that. Not because he didn't want to go, but because he was worried about his boyfriend. Their appointment couldn't come soon enough. "So, you want me to come with you?"

"Kinda," he said, going into the closet and picking out Jamison's clothing. "I'm going to drop you off at Vera's apartment. I'll feel much better about you being locked up in there."

Getting dressed with a broken arm and collarbone was an arduous and painful task, but a nurse had shown them a technique that helped. "You make it sound so pleasant," Jamison teased before sucking air through his teeth as he winced.

"I'm sorry!" Even though he knew that it wasn't him causing Jamison the pain, it was still heart-wrenching to know that it was because of his so-called help.

"It's okay," Jamison said, breathing through the pain as Elliot continued to help dress him. His doctor had prescribed him painkillers, but the last thing he wanted was to be too drowsy to fight back. At least the over-the-counter stuff took the edge off for the most part. "It's not your fault."

"Are you sure you don't want something stronger for the pain?" Elliot asked, zipping up the jacket he'd put on Jamison. He couldn't wear his normal hoodie with his injuries. "Are you warm enough?"

"Yes, to both," he said, walking slowly back over to the bed to get his phone. He could only imagine how ridiculous he looked in Elliot's oversized clothing. "I'm ready."

They took it slow, with Elliot carrying the portable oxygen machine as Jamison slowly walked down the stairs, trying to keep his shoulder from moving too much. "Are you driving?"

"No," Elliot said, too quickly. While the idea of driving himself someplace was tolerable, he couldn't imagine getting back in front of the wheel if it were just he and Jamison. The wreck was still too fresh and painful. He needed time before he could drive him around again. "I'll have Vaughn drive us."

As Elliot was going to drive himself, the only reason he figured Elliot would have Vaughn drive them was that he wasn't comfortable driving him because of the accident. He knew that Elliot was drowning in the waters of self-blame, but there wasn't anything else he could do or say to help him. Patience would be needed between the two of them.

The drive into Astoria was quiet with no traffic at the early hour because it was Saturday. Neither Jamison nor Elliot said much, only held hands and looked out the windows. Elliot talked to the security guard at the gate, who let them in, and then Vaughn stopped next to the elevator so that Jamison wouldn't have to walk as far. Elliot knocked on the door, then waited.

It took a minute for the door to open, Jack yawning and squinting at both of them. "It's Elliot and Jam," he said, opening the door and inviting them in. "What's up, guys?" he asked, confusion and a half dozen acne stickers peppered across his face, the stars making it look like a tiny galaxy. "Vera'll be out in a sec. She's changing."