Chapter Six

My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Houston and areas effected by Hurricane Harvey!

Trent and Olivia's visit was extended with the disaster of the hurricane in Houston, They offered to let friends of theirs stay at their house until the couple's own home was livable again. That was going to be six weeks. With their own space at Rick's home it was still comfortable for everyone. Trent was half-way expecting this so he had bought his tools and other equipment so he could do smaller contracts and keep his business going. Much larger contracts from Houston and surrounding towns would be abundant very soon. It was a moot question for Rick when his mother asked if she and his father could stay for the time.

"That's kinda why we built you your own pad," Rick said. "Yes! You can stay here."

The storm hadn't done too much damage in San Antonio but many had fled here from the flooding. Many of the shelters, hotels even schools were housing survivors. How long some would be here was unknown. SAM's ER and wards were over capacity with new patients and transfers from the flooded city. Many were residents from nursing homes. All staff was working sixteen hour shifts. It was the same at other hospitals. With Drew only home long enough to sleep, eat and shower, Rick's parents could help eliminate chaos in their home for the sake of the children. Trent told Drew if he heard of anything the older man could do around the hospital to help things run smoother to just let him know.

There actually was. The hospital had run out of beds for the less critical patients. Cots had been donated by a local furniture store but there was no one available to put them together. Trent immediately volunteered. He would bring his own tools. When Drew introduced his father-in-law and told Topher what he was at the hospital to do, Topher was relieved.

"You're a godsend, man!" The doctor said. "We have a dozen more patients coming in from a retirement home."

Trent the ER director to point the way to the beds and he would get to work immediately. With Trent working away, Topher thanked Drew for bringing the man along.

"He wanted to help," Drew said. "When I heard this I figured he could free someone up. He'll be in town for a while. He and my mother-in-law gave their home up for friends to stay in till their place is habitable. I know you have to get permits and all, but he can do any electrical work around here. He's got his papers with him, he's state certified, both residential or industrial."

"Sounds great. If anything happens, with all back logs likely in paperwork, I might have ask him to do any work and ask permission later."

Trent was agreeable to that. It was a hospital for heaven's sake. If work was needed it had to be done now, permits could wait with this amount of people needing help. Trent was willing to suffer any professional consequences that went with that. For the next six hours Trent put together beds, and changed burned out lights. He went to the gas station twice to re-fill gas cans for the backup generators and for the ambulances were running low on fuel and couldn't afford to wait in the line-up at the pumps. He ordered 12 large pizzas paying with his own money for the staff who were run off their feet. He even went to the dollar buying a bunch of stuffed animals for the distraught young patients who lost their own teddy bears. He gave two cars in the parking lot a boost when they wouldn't start. Jordan didn't know how they would have done without him.

"You deserve a medal, man!" TC told me. "You didn't have to do this."

"It is the least I could do for you guys with all you're doing. I'd never be able to do your job. And you guys are Drew and my son's other family. I'm grateful for you."

"Drew's parents are douchebags," TC said without hesitation. "I don't know he and his sister turned out the way they did. He and Rick always have our backs. We got theirs.

"I bet the rugrats are happy to see you," he said changing the subject.

Trent smiled and said they were. "They're rotten but I love 'em. They're so smart. Kids that age didn't have that vocabulary when I was growing up. Casey is so sweet. She's the perfect addition to the family."

Trent left after six hours. He was amazed how the staff kept up with the flow of patients. He didn't envy them. When he got home Shaye was showing off how she could hold her baby sister by herself even though Olivia was sitting on the couch too.

"You better give that hubby of yours a massage when he gets home," Trent told Rick. "If you two wanted to be alone for a bit-"

"Stop! Okay, dad. Seriously if Drew and I wanted to be alone, you just killed the mood by suggesting it! Thank you anyway. But I am sure he is too exhausted." Rick laughed shaking his head.

Rick knew his husband and everyone else were going non-stop at San Antonio Memorial. When Drew returned he would definitely give him a massage, just he would fall asleep to get the rest he needed but sex? That was out of the equation for more one reason now. As Drew fell asleep with his husband rubbing his back he hoped his father-in-law wouldn't show up in the bedroom in his dreams.