AN: Chapter 14! Enjoy!
After a week and a half, and his decision to not talk to the cops about Darius a few days into his hospital stay, Bagoas was discharged from the hospital into the willing care of Alexander and Hephaestion. He was still weak and had a strict list of instructions to follow while he recovered. Alexander was careful to listen carefully, and looking at their boyfriend, Hephaestion could not help but feel a small bit of pity for the injured man. They remembered Alexander's concentration when they started their shots. Alexander could be just a little overbearing in the way he cared when it was someone he loved who needed help or was sick.
As it was, Hephaestion had to give Alexander a look after he offered to carry Bagoas to their car, "Let him have this. He needs to know he has his own power and choice."
Alexander had the decency to look chastised at that as they walked behind Bagoas, staying close in case he slipped or tripped on the way out to the car, but far enough behind him to give him some space. When they arrived at the car though, both Alexander and Hephaestion worked to help Bagoas into the front seat, Hephaestion flipping a button on the seat to turn on the car's heated seat feature and watching with a smile as Bagoas melted into the heat with a relieved sigh.
"Thank you…" he moaned softly. It was clear he meant it for more than the relief given to him by the heated front seat.
"You're welcome, Sweetheart," Alexander smiled before Bagoas dropped off to sleep immediately, even before they were in the car and pulled out of the parking lot.
The ride home from the hospital was short and silent, but Hephaestion could feel the worry radiating off their boyfriend. By the time they had made it to the apartment, Hephaestion could tell their boyfriend had worked himself into knots over the young man who was asleep next to him in the car.
"Bagoas?" They whispered, keeping their voice and touch gentle, "Bagoas, we're home," He moaned in acknowledgment at hearing a voice, but didn't awaken fully. Hephaestion looked to their boyfriend, sharing a worried look, but quickly turned back to the hurt man in their car when Alexander silently gave the option that he was sleepy from the drugs the hospital had given him that morning before he was discharged, "Bagoas, we are going to get you into the house, okay? Can I carry you?"
Bagoas' foggy sight found his and he nodded. Hephaestion beamed, relieved at the response from him, however slight. Consent given, Hephaestion and Alexander worked together to get Bagoas safely into their apartment with as little pain as possible.
When they had all gotten in the door to their apartment, Bagoas begged for a bed, his pain slowly becoming worse.
"We don't have another bed, Sweetheart, but if I clean up our bedroom really quick, are you comfortable with taking our bed? We can sleep out here in the living room."
Bagoas' eyes widened at the implied preposition, and he shook his head wildly, "What? No, no, no! No! I can't! I'm not allowed! That's your bedroom!"
Hephaestion watched him, their bow creasing in confusion, "You're not allowed? Sweetheart, we're giving you permission to use it. You need somewhere to rest while you heal, and the living room couch or floor isn't good enough for that."
"It's fine! I'll be okay!"
"It's not okay, Sweetheart. You need the bed, and we're giving you that space," Alexander was gentle but stern.
Bagoas stiffened upon seeing his expression before sputtering and then bursting into tears, shaking in Hephaestion's arms, shaking his head back and forth as he hid behind his hands.
"Let's sit," Hephaestion spoke quietly, knowing the young man that he held was overwhelmed. They very carefully rubbed his back, aware of his bruised lungs and broken ribs, "You're okay, Sweetheart. You're okay. No one is going to hurt you ever again, I promise. No one is going to hurt you here," Bagoas gasped, trying to calm down, moaning as his ribs and lungs protested the act of crying so hard, "Sweetheart, you need to calm down. This isn't good for your ribs."
"I- can't…" the young man gasped, his breathing ragged.
"I'll get you some water. If that doesn't work, we can head back to the hospital. Maybe you were discharged too soon," Alexander said absently, moving toward the kitchen.
The last comment, said in passing more than anything, sent ice down Hephaestion's spine. There was no telling how much Bagoas would be at risk if he ended up in the hospital again. Alexander hurried back to them with a glass of water, kneeling down in front of the couch and helping Bagoas did, reminding him to take small sips. If he choked they would be right back where they currently were, only worse.
When the young man had calmed enough to stop gasping for breath, Alexander spoke, "Bagoas, listen. Ah," he stopped the man from speaking as he went to protest again, "just listen. We have sleeping bags and an air mattress, so you can and will take our bed and room for as long as you need to. No arguing. We just want to get you back to being healed and healthy again, and a proper bed is the best place for you to do that. And if you need help, all you have to do is call for one of us. Okay?"
Bagoas sighed, but Hephaestion didn't know if it was a sigh of relief or something else, "Okay. Okay, I'll do it. Thank you."
Alexander smiled at him, "No need to thank us, Sweetheart. It's our pleasure. Let's go get you settled, then you can sleep. Gods know you need it."
Bagoas smiled shyly as Alexander stood up from his place by the couch, "Thank you, really."
Both Alexander and Hephaestion understood that "Thank you" was for more than just the bed, "No thanks needed. The only thanks we need is to see you healthy and happy. Sound like a deal?"
Bagoas beamed as he was nodded, truly relaxed for the first time he could remember in a long, long time. All was right with the world.