Page 25 of Gunpowder

He fumbled for the kit, dropped it a couple times before he managed to get it into Wren’s hands because if he heard that right then what Wren had done worked. The casual statement had given the rest of the group pause, as well; a collective moment of making sure they had heard and understood it right. Wren didn’t elaborate further as he began the process of removing the tube and closing the hole in Adam’s ribs.

Nolan’s shaky voice finally broke across the murmurs of the others. “S-So, he’s going to be okay?”

“He’s going to live. Okay might be an optimistic word for how poorly he’s going to be feeling, but he’s not going to die.”

It was a good thing the stitches didn’t take long, because Blair’s mind blanked out when he circled the table and he honestly wouldn’t have cared what he disrupted once Wren was within reach. He wasn’t about to get on his toes to reach for the taller man’s neck but he didn’t think twice about throwing his arms around Wren’s slender waist. He heard the pop of Wren discarding his gloves, felt the warmth of his own breath puff back against his face when he exhaled into Wren’s tank top. Wren’s hands settled on his shoulders and just kind of… patted them. Whatever. Blair wasn’t even surprised that Wren didn’t know how to hug properly.

Blair laughed as he released him. He would have stood there with his arms around Wren until the sun came up if it got him any closer to expressing the immeasurable gratitude he felt, but the adrenaline was wearing off and his leg’s protests were no longer willing to be silent. He eased himself down in a chair at the table full of medical supplies. Nolan seemed to have used his last reserve of strength as well, his head down on the table next to Adam, holding his partner’s hand.

Ricky had been staying out of the way since they arrived, but he made his presence known as he raised what had to be the biggest bottle of liquor Spencer had on the shelf. “We’ve got all the more reason to kick Phantom’s ass now, but for tonight I think this calls for celebration!”

Blair looked back at the boss, who had taken his place on his favorite leather couch. “Adam is gonna live to fight with us another day. Pour us a round, Spence,” Felix said.

The room erupted into a comforting, familiar chaos. Blair gladly took the shot that Ricky brought to him and lifted it to Adam, unconscious though he was, before throwing it back.

Once everyone had a drink, Spencer sat down next to Blair and leaned forward on his elbows with just a hint of a conspiratorial smile. “So,” he said, running a finger along the edge of the shot glass dangling in his hand, “That’s him.”

Blair didn’t have to ask who he was referring to. “Yeah. That’s him.”

“He’s something else.”

A smile of his own came unbidden to Blair’s face. “Yeah, he is.”

“If he’d stuck around, I’m sure the boss would have thanked him. Felix doesn’t have to like him to appreciate what he did.” Spencer sat his glass down in favor of taking out his Zippo and a cigarette.

Blair straightened. “He’s already gone?”

“He bailed out as soon as Ricky called for drinks.”

He looked around but, sure enough, Wren was gone. Not one for socializing, is he? Spencer watched, drawing on his cigarette, but he didn’t stop Blair from making his way to the door.

The streetlight in front of the bar was flickering, nearly burned out, but the artificial glow of the surrounding businesses was enough for Blair to scan the sidewalk. Wren was nowhere in sight.

He took out his phone and hit Wren’s contact.

“It didn’t take you long to start missing me, Blair.”

“Where did you run off to? I could have taken you home, it’s the least I could have done after what you did for us.”

“I told you, I did it for the practice. I have no desire for your gang of well-dressed pyromaniacs to be in my debt.”

Blair sighed and moved back enough that he could lean against the wall, take some of the weight off his leg. “I still would have taken you home.”

“It’s fine, I’m meeting Reymond at the hospital and going back with him.”

Stubborn ass. “You didn’t have to put your boss, or senior doctor or whatever, out of his way. I really wouldn’t have minded.” I really, really wouldn’t have minded having a chance to thank you somewhere that wasn’t full of people.

“It’s not out of his way. We’re both going home to the same place.”

The words didn’t register as unusual at first, but as soon as they did, it felt like someone had doused him in cold water. Pieces that he would have rather not gone together slowly fell into place; Wren planning to do his residency under him, the fond way Doc looked at him, the first name basis.

Blair stared at the sidewalk. Wow, he was an idiot.

“Okay.”

He didn’t wait to hear Wren’s clipped version of a goodbye. He ended the call with an odd pressure on his chest. The weight of his naivety, maybe. The thought of Doc’s—Reymond’s—striking features sent a wave of irritation through him. They were a perfect fit. Doc’s easygoing nature with Wren’s colder demeanor, his people skills to make up for Wren’s lack thereof. They were both so fucking smart. He didn’t realize his grip had been tightening on his phone until pain shot through his hand.

He pocketed his phone. It wouldn’t be long before someone came looking for him. He just needed to go back inside and let Spencer make him drinks until he stopped trying to figure out why he was upset.

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