war-torn

Four

Iain woke up late. Fortunately he'd packed last night, before his phone call to Dylan. He was in deep and, for once, he was looking forward to the current tour ending. He really hoped Dylan had meant what he said.

"Iain, you're late." Sam did not look amused.

"He was up late making sexy phone calls to his mystery lady."

Iain felt himself blush as Simon spoke. Sam looked at him and smiled. She'd noticed the last couple of weeks that he'd seemed happier. She put it down to spending time with his family.

"What are you doing here?"

"Simon has kindly stepped in for Antony."

"Ant not well?"

"Family emergency. We'll be fine. You two can tell me all about this mystery woman tonight!"

Iain wished the ground would swallow him up. He was thankful once again for Dylan's foresight with his nickname.

*****

Travelling to the training area three hours away, Sam felt nauseous. She had forgotten her travel sickness pills. This will be a long trip, she mused.

"You okay Sam?"

"I'm fine Iain. I can't believe you didn't tell me you'd met someone. There's me going on about Dylan. I never thought to ask you why you've seemed happier since your leave."

"It's nothing really. We're still both relatively new to each other."

"But phone sex? If only I could talk Dylan into it! It would be nice for just once, to take sex out of the bedroom and be a bit more daring."

"Have you ever asked him?"

"No! I mentioned bondage once, as a joke. He dismissed it straight away."

Iain couldn't decide if he'd like to be restrained by Dylan, or be the one to restrain Dylan. He felt himself become hard at the thought and moaned.

"You okay Iain?". He nodded, not daring to open his mouth. "Think your mystery lady would like that?"

"I have...no idea..."

Sam handed Iain a paper bag. "You don't look too good. Take this in case you're sick."

Iain nodded a thanks. This was going to be a long trip, where all he could think about was Dylan. He wasn't sure who was the dominant one out of the two of them. Iain didn't care either way. Both scenarios turned him on.

Taking the paper bag, he sat there breathing into it, thinking of puppies and kittens in an attempt to keep his mind off Dylan.

*****

Dylan was bored. He hated country life just as much as city life. The country was pleasant enough. Plenty of sheep to talk to when Dervla wasn't listening. But everyone knew your business.

Stepping inside the village pub, everything went quiet. When the patrons realised it was only him, they carried on with their conversations.

"Dr Keogh! This is a surprise! I take it the lovely Sam is still on tour?"

"She is."

"I missed her when she was on leave. The next time she's back, ask her to pop in for a chat."

"I will do Mr Graham."

Dylan slid onto one of the stools at the bar. The bar keep, Freddie, placed a shot of Whiskey on front of him. "That ones on the house doc. A thank you for keeping Amy calm whilst you were delivering our baby."

"Thank you. Has she decided on a name?"

"Wesley. Just some random name she chose from her book."

"At least it's not too commonplace. I don't think I've come across a Wesley before."

"True. I'll leave you to it doc."

Dylan sighed. He had no idea why he'd willingly chosen to mingle, as Sam had put it when they first moved here.

"You look sad."

"Excuse me?"

"You miss someone."

"Georgina, leave the doc alone will you. He doesn't want to hear any of your clairvoyance crap."

"It's not crap. It's the truth."  She handed Dylan  a tarot card. "Keep them safe."

Dylan looked down at the card. He'd never been superstitious as such. His mother had always told him not to walk under ladders, but he'd never taken a horoscope to heart, when the other kids at school had.

Turning the card over he was shocked to see it was the death card. He dropped it onto the bar top, downed his Whiskey and left. Dylan ran back home, bolting the door behind him, falling to his knees in despair. He hated war. And now there were two people in his life out there he cared about. Even though they were only on a training exercise, Dylan knew things could escalate quickly. Working in and emergency department had taught him that.

Dervla moved alongside him. He reached out and hugged her. "We need to stay strong Dervla. We don't want anything happening to them do we girl?"

Dylan had been scared many times in his life. But this fear he felt now was excruciating. Like someone reaching into his chest and ripping his heart out. They had to be okay. They just had to be.