Luke.
He was breathing softly as I sped my way through the town. Of all things this place doesn't have, why is an urgent care center one of them? Or even a goddamn hospital?
"Please be okay," I whispered, pressing harder on the accelerator. Just five more minutes and we'll be at the emergency room, I just need him to keep breathing, it's too late to keep him awake, I just hope he gets out of this soon.
I inhaled deeply and swiftly pulled into a parking spot before rushing out and grabbing him. Inside the hospital was quiet, thankfully there didn't seem to be many emergency patients, I sat Toby down in the chair before rushing to the receptionist.
"I need a doctor for him, he is bleeding from the back of his head, and I can't keep him awake, please help him," I rushed out, she nodded and dialed a number, and within 5 minutes a doctor came out. She quickly walked towards Toby and lifted his eyelids, where she shined her light.
"Situation?" She asked, as she placed her fingers against his jugular and stared at her watch.
"He was slapped and he hit head against the corner of a bench, then proceeded to move as if nothing happened and tackled his attacker,"
"Tough kid, for how long has he been unconscious?"
"Roughly ten minutes or so, he complained about his head hurting, and that he saw stars in his vision, along with other ramblings,"
"Are you related to the patient?" He asked and I simply shook my head.
"No, I'm his significant other, his parents are out on business," the doctor pursed her lips and nodded.
"Can you please give this man the paperwork, and get me a couple other nurses to escort this young man to the examination room to get his head cleaned up, then get the CT scanner ready for him?" She rattled off, the nurse was quick to dial other nurses, and to provide me with paperwork.
"We'll call you back when he's ready," she noted before following the nurses through the double doors. I simply stared at the doors for a few minutes before pulling myself together and dialing Joseph. The phone rang twice before he picked up the line.
"What's going on, Luke?"
"I brought Toby to the E.R., I need you help with information,"
"Why is he in the E.R.?"
"There was a fight at school with this Marcus kid, I came in too late. Now please help me fill out the medical forms,"
Ten minutes on the phone, filling out primary care doctors, insurance, and family history, we had all the paperwork filled out. Joseph then proceeded into a mini rant on finding Marcus and beating the shit out of him, but found satisfaction when I told him I already did. Not soon after that, he thanked me and hung up the phone. I gave the paperwork to the nurse, who nodded in appreciation and showed me to the waiting room.
I sat staring at blank TV screen for an hour before the doctor who checked on Toby came out.
"Mr. Hale?" She announced, I stood up and approached her.
"How is he?"
"He's still sleeping right now, we're going to keep him here for 24 hours, just to monitor him. We gave him morphine for the pain, and I'm going to prescribe him pain relievers for the next few days." She noted, I nodded my head as I took in the information she provided. "Would you like to see him now?" She asked. I simply nodded and she began to lead the way.
317. I truly hate that damn number.
We entered the room and there he was, resting peacefully with a bandage wrapped around his head and an I.V. in his veins. My heart began beating again once I heard the monitor giving out the beat of his own heart.
"Thank you doctor," I nodded before sitting in the chair beside him.
In this moment, I felt relief, I felt the weight being lifted off my shoulders as I watched his chest rise and fall with each breath. As the tan color of his skin stayed that way. I grasped his hands and felt relief, because they were still radiating warmth. I brushed his hair out of his face and lightly pressed my lips against his temple.
"I'm glad that you're okay, and I'm sorry that I wasn't there to protect you in the beginning," I whispered before laying my head against the bed. I hope Marcus gets expelled for pulling a knife out and for sending Toby to the hospital. Every time I close my eyes, I could see him sniffing and licking Toby's neck, and just that mere image makes me see red and feel the need to punch the living daylights out of Marcus. He dared to lay his lips against, my Toby, my submissive, my boyfriend, he's lucky that those football players pulled me off of him. I had a whole lot more to give to that rat.
I groaned out of frustration, and ran a hand through my hair. How could I have let it come to this? I should've never let him leave my side. I should've known that Marcus would try and pull off such an idiotic stunt like that. It's all my fault Toby is here, Christ- I'm lousy at this aren't I? I heavily sighed before blocking out all of my thoughts. Right now, I just have to focus on Toby, worry about personal problems later.
I sat there, staring at him for hours, holding onto his hand as if it was a lifeline. Now, every time I blink, all I can see is him, every single little detail. The curve of his soft lips, the hint of stubble forming along his jaw, the scar right above the arc of his brow. At some point, I felt myself taking longer to open my eyes as I blinked, until I fell asleep and all I could see was a resting Toby.
"Luke,"
What?
"Luke, wake up," I simply groaned and squeezed Toby's hand before drifting back.
"C'mon you need to eat, wake up," at this point they were patting my back. I grunted and peered over to see Joseph standing beside me.
"Not hungry," I grumbled before shutting my eyes again.
"Don't be like that, Toby already ate hi-"
I quickly sat up and looked at Toby, "He's awake?" I frowned when I saw him still asleep.
"He was, but he got tired after an hour,"
I nodded my head, well, I'm glad he woke up. It felt like five minutes have passed when I felt Toby's hand trying to wiggle its way out of my own. I furrowed my eyebrows and squeezed his hand before getting comfortable again.
"Pickle, I need to pee," he whined.
"Hold it, m not let go," I grumbled.
"C'mon, I really need to," I could feel the bed shaking as he wiggled his body. I peaked open my eyes and snapped back into reality. I sat up and let his hand go before I stood up to help him out of the bed.
"Sorry, sweetheart, c'mon," I beckoned. He simply blushed and grasped my forearms and shimmied out of the bed.
"Need help?" I offered as he shuffled towards the bathroom.
"With peeing? I'm good, but do you think they can bring me a snack? Im hungry,"
I nodded and rushed over to the nurses station, before waving them off and going to the cafeteria. I grabbed as many snacks as my arms could carry before paying for them. When I got to the room, Toby was back in bed pouting at the cup of jello in front of him.
"Why so glum?" I asked, he turned at looked at me then smiled brightly.
"Thank god, good snacks!" I chuckled and set them down on the table. Grabbing his jello and opening it, I ate about a third of the cup before I looked up due to the lack of noise. Toby just stared at me mortified, I furrowed my eyebrows and put another spoonful of jello into my mouth.
"What?" I asked after a few more moments of silence.
"You're crazy! Jello is so disgusting!"
"Toby, jello is delicious,"
"Totally isn't, my god, blegh,"
"Thankfully you're not the one eating it then," I shrugged and put the final spoonful in my mouth.
"But if we make out, then I'll indirectly taste it,"
"I think you would find appreciation if we do,"
He rolled his eyes and shook his head, "I doubt that," I simply smirked and put down the empty cup. Pushing the table away and scooting in close till my breath fanned his.
"You sure you wouldn't like a taste?" I asked as I stared at his parted lips. Watched as his tongue ran across his lower lip before his teeth took it in and dragged it out. Fuck, that was hot. I looked up to see his face rouge and his eyes wide.
"Words, Toby," I smirked.
"I-I want to taste," he whispered, leaning up.
"I can't hear you, louder," I teased watching as his cheeks went beet red. He jutted out his lower lip and feigned a look of innocence as he looked up at me.
"May I please have a taste, Sir?"
I wanted to do nothing but rip his gown off, everything had me fully turned on. I wanted to ravish him, I quickly cupped the back of his neck and went in for the kill. But unfortunately, a knock echoed throughout the room and the doctor waltzed right in.
"Alrighty, Mr. Ryan, looks like you're all ready to be discharged, did you have any questions or concerns?" She asked as she finished writing on her clipboard, before looking up at us. Her eyebrows raised and her cheeks blush pink. "Oh my, was I interrupting something?" She giggled. I frowned and sat myself back into the chair and looked outside the window.
"Sorry, did I need to do anything?" He asked quietly.
"Just get dressed and get yourself on out of here," she responded before walking out of the building.
"You should take these snacks downstairs, and put them in your car, I should be dressed and ready to go by then," Toby said after a minute. I looked towards him with a brow raised.
"Who said I'm leaving your side right now?"
"No one, I was just saying, it would be easier, so you could be hands free when we walk out together," he mumbled as he looked away. I watched as the tips of his ears turned pink, and I got the hint. I smiled and pressed my lips to his temple before grabbing the snacks.
"Okay, I'll be back in a bit,"
Just like that, I rushed to my car with my hands full of snacks and a smile on my face.