Page 28 of Disciplinary Action
Gideon followed behind, keenly aware of every bell, beep, and phone ringing. There were medical personnel everywhere. Some nurses sat behind a large desk while others leaned over it, deep in conversation. Two small dark haired ladies dressed in scrubs pushed around strange looking machines with a blood pressure cuff attached.
When he was finally inside Cal’s room, Gideon breathed a sigh of relief, pressing his back to the closed hospital room door as the buzz of the hospital hallway disappeared. His gaze landed on the boy. He wore a blue and white hospital gown, and somebody had tucked the covers up under his armpits. He looked small beneath the covers. A small tube had been fed up his left nostril, and a blood pressure cuff looped around his right arm. Another tube in his left arm attached to two bags hanging from a metal pole. There were deep purple bruises under his eyes, and his cheeks looked hollow, his skin chalky beneath his tan.
Gideon dragged the chair over to Cal’s bedside.
“Can you hear me, little bird?” Gideon asked, taking the boy’s hand in his, gently rubbing his thumb over his inner wrist.
There was movement behind Cal’s lids, but his eyes never opened. Gideon let out a breath and slouched down in the chair, keeping the boy’s fingers linked with his. He didn’t remember dozing off but he must have. When he opened his eyes again, Cal was watching him, like he wasn’t sure if Gideon was really there.
Gideon tilted his head. “You’re awake.”
Cal smiled just a bit. “So are you.”
Gideon leaned forward. “You scared me.”
Cal’s eyes filled with tears, his cheeks stained red as he tried to wipe at them with his free hand. “I scared myself.”
“Why didn’t you tell me things were so bad?” Gideon asked, voice soft.
More tears streamed down his cheeks as he shrugged. “Why would I? We hardly even know each other. You only know I exist because I blackmailed you.”
“Correction, I let you think you had successfully blackmailed me because I knew I wasn’t done with you five minutes after I let you leave my apartment that night and I wanted to see you again.”
“I guess that’s all out the window now, huh?” Cal sniffed, turning his gaze to look out the window.
“Do you want it to be?” Gideon asked.
“What? No. You know I don’t,” Cal said.
It wasn’t true. Gideon didn’t know that at all. He found it hard to know what was going on in the boy’s head. He could have only tried to blackmail him to stay at the school or to try to extort money from him…but he’d never asked for money. Not once. Not even the first night when Gideon had offered to let him walk with the cash without ever doing anything together.
“Well, I don’t want it to be over either. But no more blackmail. If we’re going to do this, it will be my way. Understand?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
Gideon grinned. “Good boy. Once you’re able to leave the hospital, you’ll come stay with me. I’ll pay for your meds and your meals and anything else you need, and you’ll make sure you are testing your blood sugar regularly and taking your medications as prescribed.”
Once more, tears started to fall. “I should say no, but I don’t want to be back out on the streets.”
“Shh, don’t cry. I’ll take care of you. I should have made sure you were okay from the start. That’s on me.”
Gideon waited for Cal’s waterfall of tears to slow. He seemed absolutely exhausted. He coughed a little, his tongue shooting out to lick over his bottom lip, voice almost shy as he asked, “But are we still… Can we still…”
Gideon stood, bending over his boy to get close. “Can we…what, little bird?”
Cal dry swallowed loud enough for Gideon to hear. “Are you still my Daddy?” he whispered.
“Oh, yes. If that’s what you want. But part of that means making sure you’re healthy. I won’t risk your life. Once you’re stable, we’ll pick up right where we left off. There are so many things I’ve yet to show you…and do to you.”
Cal whimpered as Gideon pressed a kiss against his ear. He dropped back into his seat just as the door opened and a nurse in purple scrubs stepped inside, smiling when she saw Cal and Gideon. “Oh, you’re awake. You two were having quite the nap. Time for your meds.”
“How long do you think he’ll be here?” Gideon asked.
She frowned as if thinking. “At least two or three days is standard with this admission, but don’t quote me on that,” she said.
“Would it be alright if I brought him some of his things from home?”
Cal cut his gaze towards Gideon in confusion, but the nurse just smiled. “I don’t see why not.”
