First of all, I'd like to apologize immensely for about the millionth time for the excruciatingly long wait for this chapter. It's taken me quite a while to find the time and inspiration to continue with this story. I'm sure I probably said it before, but I don't want to post chapters unless I know for sure that I'm doing the story justice. I'd also like to give a big THANK YOU to everyone who's still been reading and reviewing this story! Quite remarkable for a fanfic of an unfortunately mostly unheard-of pairing that hasn't been updated in over a year!
Drew flipped through the channels on the TV, becoming increasingly impatient with every show that failed to offer any semblance of entertainment.
"Don't you guys get any good channels in this place!?" Drew shouted, but got no response.
He tossed the remote aside in defeat when he settled on the least boring program; an infomercial about the newest exercise machine. At least the guys were cute.
"Hello!" A nurse politely greeted as she pushed in a small tray, slightly startling Drew.
"Oh, hey! Uhh, so are you here to release me?" Drew sat straight up, nearly tearing off his hospital gown when the nurse held up a hand to stop him.
"No, I'm sorry. You're still pretty banged up. We're going to keep you here for a little while longer until we know you'll be alright on your own."
Drew groaned. "But I'm fine! I can get around just fine on my own and they didn't even hurt me that bad." He slumped back hard against his bed and very much regretted it, squirming in agony.
"See?" The nurse nodded knowingly, "Your injuries are worse than you thought. Here, this will take care of the pain." She handed him a small paper cup containing two white pills and a cup of water.
"What is this?" He asked, examining the pills.
"Oxycodone; it's a painkiller."
"Oxyco..? Alright, whatever." Drew shrugged and gulped down the pills with a swig of water.
"The pills should take effect after about twenty minutes and you'll start to feel better. You'll also feel a little drowsy, it helps out a lot if you have trouble sleeping from the pain."
Drew nodded. "So.. that's it? No news on when I can bust outta here?"
The nurse gave him a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry, I don't. It won't be much longer, I promise. Hang tight. Call me if you need anything alright?" She winked and wheeled the cart out of the room leaving Drew to his lonesome again.
"Fantastic."
Boredom was slowly driving him up the wall, especially with no one coming to visit him. He had his phone, but who would he call with everyone being in school? He could always call his mom and let her know what was going on, but he honestly didn't want to see her now. Plus, he knew that would only make Adam worry.
A knock came at the door, rather than an intrusive nurse this time. Drew expected them to just enter but when no one walked in on their own, he gave them permission.
"Uh, come in?"
Drew had no idea who'd be coming to visit him, but he was still caught off guard by who walked through the door.
"Bianca?"
The brunette walked in cautiously, unsure of whether it was okay for her to be here. She also had a look of concern about her. "Hey, Drew."
Drew found it unnerving to see his ex-girlfriend without her usual bold, confident demeanor. It was such an unfamiliar look on her.
"What are you doing here?" He hoped his question didn't come off as hostile. He was genuinely surprised to see her.
Bianca stepped closer to Drew and stood next to his bed. "I heard what happened. I was worried."
Drew smirked. "You still care enough to worry about me?" Bianca nudged him teasingly, her tension seeming to dissipate.
"Of course I do, you dork. Why wouldn't I?"
"Just after everything, I thought you..."
"Hated your guts?" Bianca interjected. "At first, yeah. I was pissed, shocked.. but I thought about it a lot and after a while I realized it's really not your fault. You weren't trying to hurt me."
"I really wasn't." Drew affirmed. "I'd never do that to you. And I'm really sor-"
"Don't worry about it." Bianca rested a hand on his arm. "Like I said - not your fault." Drew simply smiled and nodded. "Okay."
Bianca's mood sombered as she glanced at Drew's bruised face. "Did they find the guys who did this to you?"
Drew shook his head. Bianca sat down in the chair next to him. "So those assholes are still out there." She inadvertantly reaffirmed Drew's fears and the thought alone made his stomach churn.
"Do you know these guys? Why would they do this?"
"They're just a bunch of pricks that Jake and I got into a fight with at a bar a few weeks ago. Jake stopped me from decking one of them and he took a swing at him instead, then we took off. One of them must've tracked me down and found out where I worked. They jumped me as I was leaving."
A sick feeling burned inside Drew as the next thought crossed his mind. "Bianca, what if they go after Jake next?"
That question concerned Bianca, but she put on her poker face. "No, I'm sure they're done bothering you guys. Besides, they gotta know that they'll probably get caught if they try anything like that again."
"Yeah, you're right.." Drew wanted to believe Bianca, but doubt and fear were both weighing heavily on him.
Bianca knew he wasn't completely buying her attitude. "Don't worry about it, Drew. You need to focus on getting better."
Drew nodded. "I know. I'm just.. worried."
"Of course you are." Bianca smiled. "You wouldn't be Drew Torres if you weren't concerned for someone else's safety. It's what I love about you."
Drew looked up and caught Bianca's smile turn a shade of melancholy, sending a pang of guilt through him.
Bianca glanced down as their eyes met. "I should probably get going." She stood up and slung her purse around her shoulder. "Are you gonna be alright?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Shouldn't be much longer before I can go. Thanks for coming to see me, Bianca. Really. It means a lot to me."
Bianca smiled, "No problem, Drew. I'm always here if you need me. Feel better soon, okay?"
Drew laid in bed staring up at the ceiling for what felt like centuries. "I just want to go home. I wanna see Jake and make sure he's alright."
He climbed out of bed and stared at the dark, snowy city outside his window. "Those douchebags could be out there looking for Jake right now."
When the intensity of his pain started coming back he popped a couple more oxycodone and gulped down some water.
"I need to get out of here and find Jake. Why isn't he answering his phone? Doesn't he know how much I'm freaking out?" Drew sighed and glanced at the doorway. Activity outside was dwindling; visiting hours would be over soon. He headed for the door to scout the halls, hoping to see a familiar face.
Drew wasn't a step outside his room when he walked right into someone. The man caught Drew and prevented him from falling backwards. "Easy! Unless you plan on staying here a while longer."
"Jake!" Drew hugged his boyfriend tightly. "You're okay!"
Jake laughed and returned the hug. "Hey! Isn't that what I'm supposed to be saying to you? Why wouldn't I be okay?"
"I was just worried.. that those guys would be coming after you too."
Jake shook his head. "Nah, don't worry about me. Seriously."
"I can't help but worry."
"All this stress is going to make you feel worse. You need to relax. I'm going to be fine, you're going to be fine. Just chill out, okay?"
Drew felt the weight of Jake's hands on his shoulders before they began to knead and massage them. Somehow this massage felt better than any other he's ever received from Jake. Any stress in his body ceased to exist right then and there.
Jake smiled as his boyfriend seemed to visibly relax.
Drew bowed his head and allowed Jake to ease out the tension in his shoulders. He just wanted to go home and lay in bed with Jake all day long, knowing he'd always be safe in those plaid-covered arms.
He felt like he was breathing through new lungs and like the air in the room wasn't so heavy and oppressing anymore. He turned around as Jake's fingers continued to knead his shoulders and caught him in a tight hug.
"I love you so much, Jake." He said softly against his boyfriend's shoulder. His voice sounded a little bit sleepy.
"I love you too, Drew. More than anything." Jake reassured him. His hands traveled up Drew's back. One hand gently cupping his neck and stroking the back of his ear while he ran his fingers through Drew's thick dark hair with the other. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired. I'm just.." He trailed off before holding Jake tighter. "I guess I'm just finally feeling better now that you're here."
"I'm glad." Jake said. "You have no idea how good that makes me feel."
"You always make me feel good, Jake." Drew lightly grabbed the collar of Jake's shirt and kissed a trail up his neck, settling on his lips. The repeated kisses were innocent at first, but quickly escalated with more passion.
"You.. you sure we should be doing this.. here?" Jake asked between lip contact.
"'Course. Why not?" Drew asked, oblivious to Jake's cautious glances at the door.
"Anybody could walk through that door at any moment." Jake said, partly paranoid and also amused and turned on by the situation.
"Yeah, I know." Drew paused his kissing for a moment. "It's just been a while, y'know? And.. after everything that's happened.. Plus, you look really hot tonight."
Jake smirked. "Oh I do, do I? Well, this is a new shirt, after all."
"I noticed." Drew chuckled. "Looks good on you. But let's be real, you always look good." Drew had a spark in his eye; one that didn't go unnoticed by Jake.
They stared at each other for a few seconds before resuming kissing each other and took a few steps closer to the bed.
"Umm.."
The guys instantly separated and turned their attention to the door where a short, mousey nurse stood awkwardly, averting her eyes.
"Sorry to interrupt!" She laughed nervously. "Visiting hours are almost over. I'm sorry, you're going to have to check out for the night, sir. But you can come back and visit again tomorrow."
"Um, uh.. right." Jake stammered. "Do you know when he'll be released?"
"I don't have that information, sorry. It shouldn't be too long, though. It looks like he's uh.. feeling better!" The nurse smiled anxiously and held her clipboard to her chest before leaving the two alone again.
"So that was weird.." Jake said. Drew nodded and agreed. "Yeah.. Guess I'm stuck here for another night."
"Well, she wasn't wrong. You are looking a lot better." Jake stood in front of Drew and stroked his hair. "You'll probably be released tomorrow."
"You saying I looked like shit before, Martin?" Drew joked, despite being disappointed.
Jake smiled. "You never look like shit, okay? I'm starting to think it's physically impossible for you to not look like a model at any given moment, honestly." He wrapped his arms around Drew's shoulders and kissed his forehead. "I'll be back tomorrow right after school. Hopefully to take you back home."
"Hopefully." Drew echoed. Jake let his boyfriend go and smiled down at him. "I'll see you tomorrow. Get some rest."
Drew brought his lips up to Jake's one last time for the night. "I love you, you know." Jake rested his forehead against Drew's. "I love you too." He had to force himself to walk away from Drew, otherwise he knew he'd never leave.
Drew let out a long sigh once Jake was out the door and stared out the window at the city lights decorating the night skyline. "Damn.." Drew said to himself, taking in the scene. He wished more than anything that he could be on the outside, enjoying it with Jake.
But yet he wondered if he'd have just taken something so simple for granted had he already been let go. Maybe times like these were necessary to make make other moments feel special.
"I'll have to show Jake this when I'm out." A figure stepping into the lights below caught his attention. It was Jake heading to his truck. Drew placed his hand on the window. "He'll love it." He stood there, still as a statue, watching Jake climb into his truck and drive off. He stayed there until Jake's tail lights disappeared into the distance.
Drew retreated to his bed, which seemed to feel ten times more comfortable than it has for the last couple days. He wrapped himself in his blanket and tugged the pillow closer to himself. The view of the city was still as beautiful from the bed as it was when standing in front of the window.
Everything's so perfect now. Drew thought, his vision becoming hazy and his mind calming. I refuse to let anyone ruin that for me. Nothing and no one can take this away from us.