Chapter Twenty-One
Pulling into his parking space in the complex, Lifeline parked the Jeep alongside of Billy's black truck, the medic having driven it once or twice a week to keep the battery from running down while the Marine had been away. Billy smiled fondly at the truck, easing himself out of the Jeep to look the vehicle over. "Thanks for taking care of her while I was gone," he said softly.
"I should've known you'd spend the whole time worrying about your truck." Edwin teased.
"Wasn't the truck I was worried about," Billy said as he ushered Edwin up the stairs toward the condo door.
The medic raised a dark brow but made no reply as they entered the stairwell and started up the stairs. Reaching the second floor, Edwin sorted out the key for the front door from his key ring and unlocked it, pushing it open for Billy, who slipped quietly into the condo, smiling a bit as he did so. He felt more relaxed in that moment than he had in ages, unable to shake the strong sense of "coming home."
Follwing the Marine inside, Lifeline closed the door before setting his keys down on the small table next to the door and flipping on the light switch. Though it wasn't completely dark yet, the inside of the condo was a bit dim. As the light clicked on, Billy turned back toward Edwin. "You been holding up okay without me around?" he asked quietly.
Edwin had moved to draw the drapes across the front window closed. "As well as I could," he responded softly as he looked at the other man.
"Sorry I didn't stay in touch better." Billy walked over to Edwin as he spoke.
The medic stepped towards the Marine as well, meeting Billy halfway. "You're here," he said as he reached to cup the other man's face in his hands. "That's all that matters."
Billy's arms slid around Edwin, and he smiled. "I was right about one thing, though," he murmured softly. "It feels good to be home." The blue-eyed man's words once again brought a smile to Lifeline's lips and he leaned in to kiss Billy. The Marine returned that kiss gently, holding it for several long moments before pulling back enough to murmur, "Mind if we sit down?"
Edwin nodded as he looked at the other man, concern in his dark eyes. Dropping his hands from Billy's face, he slid his arm around his shoulder. "You look tired," he said as he ushered the Marine over towards the sofa.
"A little, maybe," came the reply. "I've spent way more time than I like to admit cooped up in a bed."
Lifeline moved to sit down, drawing Billy down with him. "Are you hungry?" he inquired, his other hand coming up, his fingertips gently brushing down the side of the other man's face.
"Not really," Billy said, tilting his head into the touch. "For company, mostly."
The medic's hand slid away from his lover's face so that he could embrace Billy, pulling the blue-eyed man closer.
"I've missed you," Billy said, leaning happily into the embrace as he slid his arms around Edwin.
"I wanted to be there," Lifeline said softly. "I wanted to see you so much."
"I know you did," came the soft reply, and Billy looked up at the medic.
Edwin looked down at the other man. "I couldn't believe it when Rebecca said you didn't want to see me."
"Not just you... I..." Billy's gaze dropped. "I didn't really wanna see anybody."
"But I'm just not anybody," the medic said. "Or at least I thought I wasn't."
"Not just anybody... Edwin... I didn't want you to see me like that," He whispered. "I really didn't. I... Jesus Christ, my lower back looked like a lump of hamburger."
"I'm sorry," Lifeline said softly.
"It's not your fault..." Billy said and looked up. "I really wanted you there, but... none of the nurses could look me in the eye... I couldn't have taken it if you'd freaked, too. Besides, you and I both know Duke wouldn't have been too happy if you'd taken off again to see me."
"What I've seen in the past year and a half... I don't think there are too many things that could make me freak out anymore." The medic's eyes were gentle as he met Billy's azure gaze. "Let's just leave it, okay?" he asked, his voice sounding a bit weary. "I don't want to spend your first night back arguing."
"Okay," Billy said, nodding as he tightened his embrace. "Can I just say I'm sorry, and then leave it at that?" Lifeline nodded before he titled his head down a bit to rest his cheek on the Marine's dark hair.
Smiling at that, Billy laid his head against Edwin's shoulder and got comfortable. He didn't plan on moving, nor did he plan on allowing Edwin to move, for a good long while.
Billy wasn't quite sure when he fell asleep in Edwin's arms. He only knew that when he woke, it was to a warm embrace and the familiar scent of the medic's aftershave. Smiling as he realized where he was and who he was with, he opened his eyes slowly and tried to shift without waking his lover up. His back itched and he wanted a shower, but he didn't want to wake Edwin if he could help it. Despite his best efforts however, Lifeline stirred and blinked awake, his dark eyes immediately falling on Billy as a faint smile curled his lips. Billy smiled back, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to Edwin's lips. "Sorry I woke you," he said quietly, not wanting to break the comfortable stillness in the room.
The medic glanced over at at the television, checking the time display on the VCR on the shelf underneath it. "It's late," he said as he turned his attention back to Billy. "Have a nice nap?"
"Mmhmm... you?"
"Can't complain," Edwin responded.
"Good deal..." Billy smiled a little. "I need a shower."
"So go take one," the medic said with a chuckle. "Or did you get too used to having cute little nurses give you sponge baths?"
"Don't I wish?" Billy asked, and chuckled. "But I won't be long."
"You..." Edwin made an exasperated sound as he loosened his hold on the other man.
Billy kissed Edwin again lightly and managed an impish grin as he stood. The medic stretched a bit before he too rose to his feet. "Do you want something to eat?" he asked.
"Yeah, something light I think," Billy said with a nod. "Food first... then shower."
Lifeline nodded his head before slipping his arm around the other man. "C'mon..." he said as he manuevered them towards the kitchen.
Dinner consisted of sandwiches and soup, both of which were quick and filling. Sitting side by side at the small breakfast bar, their shoulders touching, Edwin and Billy ate quietly. Once the meal was finished, and Billy's requisite dose of antibiotics taken, he hugged Edwin again and gave the medic a nuzzle. "I'm gonna go take that shower now, okay?" he murmured.
"Go ahead," the medic said as he leaned back against Billy a bit. "I'm gonna clean up in here."
"All right. I won't be too long," The Marine promised as he nipped the back of Edwin's neck and slid away, heading for the bedroom, and the bathroom attached to it.
A faint shiver went down Edwin's spine and he turned to watch the other man leave. After a few moments, he rose to his feet and began to clear away the dirty plates and utensils. It didn't take the medic very long to get things squared away, loading everything into the dishwasher though he didn't turn the device on, not wanting to drain away the water pressure from the shower by doing so. His intent was to leave it until the morning after breakfast. Turning off the light as he left the kitchen, he padded back out into the living room checking to make sure the front door was locked before turning off the lights in the main room and heading into the bedroom himself.
The sound of the shower greeted Edwin as he entered, Billy still apparently not quite finished. Stripping off his uniform, Lifeline slipped on his bathrobe before sitting down on the edge of the bed figuring he would take advantage of the shower as well once the Marine was finished. Removing his glasses, the medic left them on the nightstand next to his Joe communicator.
Billy's shower didn't last long after Edwin came into the bedroom. The Marine, not caring for the confines of any clothing now that his back had aired and was clean, exited the bathroom with nothing but a towel about his hips. Lifeline looked up and over at the sound of the bathroom door opening, though without his glasses on, Billy appeared as nothing more than a fuzzy silohuette framed in light. Smiling a little, Billy walked over and around the bed, sitting beside Lifeline. He was freshly showered and shaven, and smelled faintly of shaving gel and soap.
"Feel better?" Edwin asked, the Marine much clearer in his vision now that he was closer. Without a shirt on, the medic could see how much paler Billy looked, his muscular chest and arms looking less defined since he had seen him last. It wasn't very surprising however since the other man had been laid up in a hospital bed for the better part of five months.
"Much better," Billy said with a smile, leaning against Edwin a little. "Although I seriously need to get some sun soon... I look like a ghost."
"I wouldn't advise it until you finish this round of antibiotics that Rebecca has you on."
"Oh believe me, I know it." Billy's smile took on a wry edge. "Never thought I'd see the day the sun made me sick."
Edwin chuckled. "Feeling like a vampire?"
"Maybe a little," Billy replied, leaning and giving Edwin a playful nip.
"Hey! I already donated, Count Coen."
That drew a laugh from the other man, and he repeated the nip. "You weren't complaining about this fifteen minutes ago..." He murmured.
"Didn't know you were keeping track..."
"I do sometimes."
The medic leaned in closer and pressed his lips to Billy's. With a soft sound, Billy pressed more firmly into the kiss, his arm sliding around his lover as he did so. Edwin tilted his head a bit to the side, sealing their mouths mouth tightly together as the kiss became more intense, his dark eyes sliding closed as he slipped his arm around the Marine. Billy moaned softly, his lips parting with the sound as he pressed closer to the other man. Lifeline's tongue slipped into his lover's mouth, a soft sound escaping from him as it found it's like, brushing against it.
As Billy's tongue twined with his lover's, he brought his free hand up to brush Edwin's cheek. The medic's hand slid up the Marine's back a bit, his fingers brushing over the scarred skin. Though Rebecca and her staff at STRATCOM had done what they could to repair the damage done to Billy's back by the parasite, including a series of skin grafts, the blue-eyed man would still bear scars.
Shuddering at the touch, Billy heard a quiet sound rising in his own throat. The skin was sensitive to the touch, and it had not yet healed to the point of feeling like his own skin. Misinterpreting both the sound and the reaction, Edwin's hand dropped away as he pulled back, breaking the kiss, his brown eyes concerned as he looked at his lover's face.
"I'm okay," Billy said softly. "That just... feels a little strange, still. Rebecca said there was a chance it would be that way for awhile." He reached out and took Edwin's hand in his. "But you didn't hurt me."
Lifeline quietly looked at Billy for a moment or two, the medic apparently contemplating something. Lifting their joined hands, he brought them up to his chest just over his heart. "B-Billy... " he started, his voice barely more than a whisper.
Blinking at the softness of Edwin's tone, Billy reached out with his free hand, and touched Edwin's cheek. "What is it?" he replied quietly, feeling the medic's heartbeat against his hand.
"I uh..." Lifeline licked his lips. "I uh..." his hand tightened a bit. "I – I'd like for you to move in with me." the medic finally managed to say.
Billy couldn't help the smile that crossed his features. "You... you sure?"
Edwin nodded his head. "You're here all the time anyway, might as well make it official."
"I'd love to," the Marine said softly.
Billy's agreement brought a full real smile to the medic's face and he lifted their joined hands to his lips, brushing them over the other man's knuckles. Billy pulled Edwin close, and kissed him gently. "Now, lover mine," He said softly, smiling back. "I think I'm ready for a good night's sleep in our bed, in our place... we can talk more in the morning..."
"Yes Sir," Lifeline said as he wrapped his arms around the Marine once again before pulling the man down with him as laid back on the bed. "Welcome home, Devil Dog."