Sweet Blood (boyxboy)

Chapter 16: Bad blood

"It's not shitty blood, there's never any shitty blood...it's just blood!
☆

Shawn pulls up outside the hospital entrance. "You go in, I'll find somewhere to park." He says, leaning across as John nods and gets out. John closes the car door and Shawn drives away, with John hurrying towards the glass rotating door. He makes his way to the main reception, a young man sat behind the desk.

He gives John the once over up and down. Even John could tell this guy was checking him out, yet other than the obvious, he couldn't sense it, nor craved the need to feed,  surprising considering the last intake of blood had been yesterday lunch, courtesy of Toby.

He pushes the events to one side as John speaks. "Hi, I received a call to meet a Dr Rowan Kelly?"

The man gives John one last longing look before asking "name please?"

"John I presume!" John and the man turn to see Rowan approaching the desk. "I'm Dr Kelly. I've been waiting. Follow me."

John obediently follows Rowan to the lift as the receptionist gazes longingly at John as he walks away.

"As soon as the lift doors close, John chooses to speak. 'Tell me. What's going on?"

Rowan looks at John with what he hopes is a reassuring smile. "I'm trying to help James with his condition." Rowan clears his throat before continuing. "I know he...and you need blood to sustain your health and I'm currently looking into various blood types to see how they best manage the condition."

John takes a minute to process the information. "So you are looking for a cure?"

Rowan chuckles. "That would be the ultimate goal, but right now, we are just looking at how to enable both of you to go for longer periods of time without wanting to take in more blood. John nods. He thinks he understands.

The lift doors open and Rowan and John make their way to a small room. Rowan stops just short of the entrance. "I'll give you both a minute."

John smiles. "Thanks." Rowan nods and walks away, John noticing the limp.

John pushes the door to see Jamie stood by the bed, putting on his hoodie. "Jamie!"

Jamie looks up. Smiling at John. John can't remember the last time Jamie had smiled. His usual demeanour being one of stress, or fear or sadness. "Hey. I didn't mean to worry you. I didn't expect to be here over night."

"Jamie, what happened?"

Jamie sits on the edge of the bed, patting next to him, gesturing for John to join him. He explains all about what Rowan had explained to him about their blood, how he was caught short last night and how he ended up in the hospital bed.

John smirks to himself, raising an eyebrow. "I wondered why such a young doctor was limping!' Jamie smacks John around the side of his head. But is also smiling...just a little.

"You haven't skipped your blood have you? Jamie looks concerned. "I mean I know you were probably distracted because you didn't know where I was."

John turns on the bed facing Jamie a little more head on. "Yeah. I was gonna talk to you about that actually....that blood in our fridge. Where did you get it from?"

Jamie looks at John confused. 'Well, here. Like I always do. Why?"

"It was off. It smelt weird and tasted vile! I tried a couple of bags. They were both bad."

"So you're telling me that you haven't had any blood since last night?" Jamie now seems on edge.

John nervously scratches his neck. "Well since yesterday lunchtime."