Chapter Twenty Five: Be Here In The Morning
Surveying the empty coffee cup regretfully, Deeks moved his shoulder gingerly, wondering if he might be able to discard the sling and brace once he was safely out of the range of those eagle-eyed nurses, who kept coming in to check on him. You would have thought he was seriously hurt, rather than just a little battered and bruised the way they fussed after him. The resulting dagger-stab of pain soon solved that question for him, he realised with considerable regret. Having one arm out of action was seriously going to cramp his style, not to mention the carefully-laid plans for Kensi's return home. Then again, maybe a hot shower might just loosen his shoulder off a bit? Moving rather more carefully than before, he got out of bed and strolled into the bathroom.
"I do hope you're not going to leave us without saying good-bye?" The nurse looked up from the chart she was examining and smiled at him, standing there with only a towel protecting whatever shreds of dignity patients did not automatically shed the moment the hospital doors shut behind them. Her gaze travel slowly down from his face and lingered for a long moment on his bare chest and torso before finally travelling back up again. "We're going to miss you, Detective Deeks."
"Marty," he said automatically and could have kicked himself the instant the words left his mouth. She certainly didn't need any more encouragement. He was beginning to realise that all these attentive nurses didn't just have his health in mind when they kept checking in on him – or perhaps should that be checking him out?
"Mar-ty," she said slowly, drawing out the syllables and he could swear she was almost licking her lips. "Has the doctor been by to see you yet? To look you over?" She placed one hand on her hip coquettishly and flashed another smile, leaving Deeks feeling like he was on show or something. She was doing enough looking him over for the entire hospital.
"Not yet," he replied shortly. "Look – do you mind? I'm getting cold standing here. I'd like to get dressed, please."
"Are you sure you don't need any help?" The nurse looked completely crestfallen. She also looked about 22, which probably meant she was even younger.
"I'll manage, thank you." He held onto the towel firmly, just in case, trying not to feel like a jerk. Not so long ago he would have jumped at the opportunity and have had her number in his cell-phone in a flash. And now he couldn't be less interested. Was this what growing up felt like? And in an instant, Marty Deeks decided that he liked this feeling. He dropped the towel and pulled on his underwear.
"I hope you weren't going to sneak off without coming to see me?" Nico arched an eyebrow enquiringly. "Nice to see you still wear boxers, by the way. I wondered if you'd maybe changed to tighty-whities."
"Does nobody bother to knock in this damn place?" Deeks hurridly pulled on his jeans. "And shut the door behind you."
"It's nothing I've not seen before, remember, Mikey? When we were eight and decided to play doctors and nurses?"
"That was a long time ago. A very long time ago." Damn, why did she have to have such a good memory?
"And you're all grown-up now. I know, darling. I have got eyes in my head."
He reached for a t-shirt and realised this was going to be tricky. "Can you give me a hand?"
Nico smirked. "First you want rid of me, next you want me to help you. You've got to make up your mind."
"Are you like this with Callen?" He bent his head so she could unfasten the sling.
"Oh no. I'm much worse. You've got to start off as you mean to go on, that's what I always say. As you should know by now. Okay, if you hold your arm like that and I'll just slide the sleeve up like that. Great. Now, if you just bend your head down and put your other arm up… perfect."
Nico slipped the sling back into position and re-fastened it, as Deeks shook his head, trying to get his hair into some semblance of order. "I almost feel sorry for Callen, having to put up with you. He doesn't deserve it."
Nico was kneeling down, putting his shoes and socks on. "Do you want me to tie your shoe laces for you or would you rather go around barefoot all day? It's your choice, Mikey-boy." She shot him a look that spoke volumes.
"Like I was saying, Callen doesn't deserve a great woman like you, Nico. He's a lucky guy."
"You always were a smooth talker." She stood back up. "And while we're on the subject of Callen, please don't leave without seeing him. He gets pretty lonely and right now I think he's kind of depressed too."
"It can't be much fun, having to lie face down like that. Have the doctors said anything more about his eyesight?"
For once Nico let her mask slip. "Nothing at all. Only that the operation went well but that each person heals differently. And it takes a long time for the eye to heal after an operation to repair the retina. It's not like they'll take off the bandages and they'll know right away. It's going to take at least another couple of months. The best case scenario is that he'll gradually regain his sharpness of vision and be back to normal. Or he might need another operation. Or he might even have permanently impaired vision in that eye and there will be nothing more they can do. It's the not-knowing that's the worst thing." Despite all her attempts at self-control, she could not repress the wobble in her voice.
"That sucks." Deeks held out one arm. "Come here, darling." His voice was warm and soft and it was all the invitation she needed. She hadn't cried at all, Nico had been so busy trying to stay positive and to keep Callen positive. She'd been skimping her practise and spending every available hour at the hospital, sometimes staying overnight, just trying to keep Callen's spirits up, but the strain was beginning to tell and the fit of sobbing was a welcome release. "You need someone to look after you, Nico, or you're going to make yourself ill."
"I'll be fine." She brushed her hand over her eyes. "I've got to be."
Deeks' mouth quirked. "Take it from me, there's a time to be stubborn and a time to give in gracefully. And I'm telling you to stay here, get some rest and then you're coming back to Malibu with me. There are plenty of people who can come in and keep Callen amused for a few hours. But you need a break."
"I do love it when you come over all masterful." Nico rested her head against his chest for a moment.
"So does Kensi. When she lets me, that is. I know my place. But every couple of months, she lets me have my own way – for about ten minutes." Deeks dropped a kiss on the top of her head. "I do love you, Nico. So let me look after you today."
"Love you too, Mikey. Always have and always will."
They grinned at each other, in the way that only very old friends who have been through both the best and worst of times together can do.
Oh dear. That could only be called delayed gratification. I can't seem to write mildly titillating prose unless it is dark – and it is still the middle of the afternoon here. The randy plot bunny is looking most miffed. Never mind - I promise that Deeks and Kensi will make it back to Malibu - eventually. Maybe Nico will play romantic music for them?