The next morning, Paul woke to bright light streaming in through the window. Grumbling that this seemed to be happening a lot lately, he shielded his eyes and tried to see the culprit.
“Good to see you back in your usual self,” laughed a familiar voice. Squinting, he made out the short figure with spiky black hair over by the window just as they were lowering their hand from raising the blinds.
“Good to see you too, Ry,” he muttered, letting his arm fall back on the bed as his friend moved to sit in the chair beside the bed. Immediately, Paul remembered the young woman…Mary…
“Where’s Mary?” Paul asked casually, hoping he wouldn’t set off any red flags in Ryan’s head, but the icy glare he received in return told him he hadn’t succeeded.
“Oh, somewhere around here. Why do you ask?” Ryan replied slowly, cautiously.
“Where is she?” repeated the tenor with more emphasis, sitting up, causing Ryan’s eyebrows to shoot up as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Around here somewhere, I guess. Why do you ask?”
“Just wondering,” murmured Paul, sinking back into the pillows and closing his eyes with a sigh.
“You sure you didn’t hit your head too hard there, Byrom?” asked Ryan, leaning forwards on his elbows.
“I’m fine, Kelly, just give me some time, true?”
“We on a last-name basis now?” Ryan joked, but Paul shrugged and did not respond. After a minute, Ryan lay a hand on his shoulder before leaving without a word.
A few minutes passed, but to Paul the silence seemed to stretch for hours before, finally, the door opened again. Thinking it was Ryan he ignored it until the person walked forward, too lightly to be the Dark Destroyer, and stood beside him.
Opening his eyes a crack, Paul watched Mary move around as quietly as she could, laying a bag of…something…on the low coffee table in the corner before removing her coat, leaving that on the back of the chair. Walking around the monitors, she sat down beside him, and Paul shut his eyes as she reached forward and ran a hand across his forehead, pausing to see whether he had a fever or not. Satisfied, she was about to pull her hand back when he turned his head slightly, as though in his sleep, so that it was pressed closer to her hand, and he felt her tense for a moment before running that wonderful hand down along his cheek to his jaw, then up again to ruffle his hair.
Peeking out from under his lashes, he held back a smile when he saw hers as she traced his brow. It lit up her face, and she seemed completely unaware that he was watching her, smiling openly when he playfully turned his head towards her again, one blue eye watching her.
There was a cough from behind them, and Mary stood with a jump, pulling her hand back as she turned quickly to see the person who had just come in.
Ryan stood in the doorway, one eyebrow slightly raised as he took in the situation.
“He fell asleep already? He was wide-awake only five minutes ago.”
Mary turned back to Paul, and then blushed when she saw him watching her, this time with both bright azure eyes open normally. He smiled at her, winking when she became an even darker shade of red.
“Hey,” he murmured, his eyes sparkling with laughter.
“Hey, yourself,” she replied shyly, but then looked over her shoulder as Ryan stepped into the room and left the door opened a sliver.
“So, Mary, I was thinking,” he began, pointedly avoiding Paul’s gaze. “I was wondering if you’d like to get some coffee. Paul needs to get some rest, and you can't just stay here the whole day…” he trailed off, raising his brows again, letting her figure out the rest of the sentence.
Mary glanced back at Paul with a hesitant expression, and Paul opened his mouth to protest just as Sharon came into the room.
“How are—oh, hello,” she broke off, seeing Mary. The two exchanged pleasantries, and then Sharon stepped around them to talk to Paul.
“Paul, come on, they’re releasing you, so get dressed and let’s go,” she said, laying a bag of clothes on the sheets. Turning to the two others, she smiled.
“Let’s step out while he gets ready, alright?” she suggested, ushering them outside. Mary grabbed her coat and the bag and followed the producer, tensing when Ryan placed his hand on her back, leading her out, ever the gentleman.
Gritting his teeth, Paul got dressed as quickly as he could, wanting to catch her before she left. Tugging on his coat, he strode towards the door, thinking of what he would do if she already had.
Outside, Mary was talking with Sharon, the two women deep in conversation while Ryan tried to find a way to slip a word or two in. Limping up behind them, Paul did his best to hide the obvious effects of the injury, not wanting to worry Mary any more than she was by now.
“And here he is. You okay? You’re a little red in the face,” commented Sharon, taking in the anticipating expression on his face as he glared daggers at Ryan. The other man took one look at him and stepped back a pace, his eyes trying to find a place anywhere other than where they were—which was on Mary.
“I’m fine,” the tenor replied with a tight smile, stepping closer to Mary so that he was between her and Ryan. If Sharon noticed that, she didn’t say anything, although the marginal widening of her eyes probably meant that she had. Nodding her thanks at Mary, she left.
“I, uh, I-I’d better go too,” stuttered Ryan, backing away and walking down the hallway, throwing one last glance over his shoulder.
Which left just the two of them. Mary looked down at her hands, and then seemed to remember something.
“Here, I forgot to give you this. The hospital gave your clothes back, so…yeah…here,” she said, thrusting the bag into his hands.
Paul smiled down at her, taking the bag and letting one finger trace her palm. She shot a glance up at him and smiled awkwardly, and Paul stuffed his hands in his pockets before turning to the door.
“So, about that coffee…you still game?” he asked conversationally.
“I don’t know; I have to get to work, and I don’t want to be late.”
“How far is it?”
“Only a few blocks, but it’s okay.”
“In that case, how do you feel about a walk, and maybe you’ll change your mind about the coffee?” he suggested, putting in just enough hope into his voice to make her consider it.
“Well, if you’re sure you can…how’s your leg?”
“I can handle it,” he said with an easy smile, hoping he would.
“Then let’s try it. But if you limp even one step, you’re taking a cab back, understood?” she said, absolutely serious. Nodding, Paul flashing her one of his trademark grins, and they started out, him hiding that limp with every trick he had up his sleeve.
* * *
okay, tell me what you guys think!
Jan 11, 2018 21:32:29 GMT -5
Jan 11, 2018 21:32:29 GMT -5
Feb 7, 2018 22:19:54 GMT -5