This Road

Parched Lips and Proposals

I, The Sheriff of Route 66, was falling. It hurt, well, it hurt like the first time I fell in love with the man who lay there, blue curtains wrapped around his body. He was Mr. Fabolous, the rookie, the idiot, the Fabolous Hudson Hornet, and i was losing him.
I put my head in my hands, slick black hair, leather jacket. I leaned on the bed and began to sob, "no,", He couldn't hear me "I'm not losing you okay? Remember everything you said we'd do, we haven't even adopted a child, we haven't got a dog- Hell, I haven't even thrown you in jail. Boy if you leave me now then you have," i shock my head. Sobs broke apart my speech, "you have a lot to answer too," i was so lost in my grief that I didn't notice a doctor approaching.
Is this what it feels like to be on fire, your whole body burning?
The doctor was wearing a long white trench coat and blue gloves, "sir," he said, "I'm going to have too ask you too step away,"
"I-," But being a police officer in my own right I knew that there were just some things you could not be there for. Clambering up and onto my feet, I picked up my gun, relieved to feel the cold metal against my skin, and walked away.
I waited outside. Head rested against the white door. Fingering my gun in a shaking hand. I don't know how long I stood there but I knew that Monty appeared, red hoodie, blonde curls, and Sally came with him. She offered me what little comfort she could.
Finally the doctor appeared again. There were thin red circles under his eyes, "it didn't look like he would make it-".
I forgot how to breathe. Sally had to put her hand on my shoulder to stop me from erupting in violent anger. Monty McQueen's gaze said what he could not put into words, that he was here for me and he wasn't dang leaving anytime soon. If Doc and I had ever adopted a son it would have been him, "but I think," a pause, "we believe he'll pull through," I pulled my head up. Their were tears in my eyes. Cancer was a wicked game indeed, "my boyfriend- is he awake?" The doctors smile was gentle as he nodded, "yes. You can see him if you want. I'll give you five minutes," I was walking towards the door before he could finish. I swung it open and stood in the limelight. The rookie looked up from where he lay, head propped on a white pillow. He looked weak.
"You, Mr. Bloody Un-Fabolous," I cursed but there were tears in my eyes, "I'm beginning too think you enjoy putting yourself in the line of fire,"
doc shock his head but winced at the pain, "I let something take away racing. Do you really think I would say goodbye to my life in the same fashion? That I'd let it go before I even lived it?" I stared at him. I either wanted to kiss him or hug him but I knew both of those touches would hurt him so I settled on tucking a strand of hair behjknd his ears.
He smiled, "Will you marry me?" He said matter-factually. Truth was the bitterest of pills to swallow,  it was also the best. 
"Right here and now?"
"No, you darn idiot, in Route 66. I want it to be the gayest, most expensive wedding. I want to see you dress in silk. I want too see you drink yourself sick but most importantly, I want to see you smile. Smile because you get to marry somebody as fabolous as the Hudson Hornet," there were tears on my cheeks. I moved to wipe them away, "you are hellishly fabolous rookie, it's in the title,"
"Is that a yes?"
"Yes," The rookies head slumped back against the pillow. With a smile, he closed his eyes. The doctor appeared again, "that's five minutes sir," he said.
The Sheriff of Route 66 blew his future-husband a kiss before leaving the room.