Chapter 34
" Seth. We've gotta get Rome to a hospital okay?"
Dean was kneeling on the floor next to Roman and had noticed the wastepaper basket underneath his desk. Peeking inside he saw the four empty energy drink bottles. This was not good. Roman had probably overdosed on the caffeine.
However he didn't want to alarm Seth. " I can feel his pulse." This was true. It was faint in his wrist but it was there none the less. Seth was crying and Dean knew that he had to get him to focus on something to calm him down.
" Come on Sethie. Help me carry him to his car." He placed his arm around Roman's waist trying to lift him alone and he nearly dropped him. He felt like dead weight.
Seth came to Roman's other side and placed an arm around him as well and together they made it outside to the Mercedes. Dean propped Roman up against the car while Seth opened the back door. Together they manage to get him on the backseat.
When Seth closed the door Dean placed his hands on his shoulders. " Now Sethie, listen to me." He looked at the tear stained face of his boyfriend and hoped to God that Seth wouldn't fight him on this. " You have to drive Roman to the hospital."
" But Dean ..." Seth started to protest.
" No Seth please listen. I have to lock up here and then I'll come right behind you, okay?" He searched Seth's face looking for any sign that he understood but all he saw was fear being reflected back. " I'll call ahead so that they will be expecting you."
" Seth you can do this. You gotta be strong for Roman's sake." Some more tears ran down Seth's face but he nodded. He pulled Seth in for a quick hug and kissed him. " I love you." He pressed the car keys into the palm of Seth's hand and he took them wordlessly and got into the driver's side of the car.
He was damn scared as well but he had to put on a brave front for Seth's sake. " You'll do fine. Just focus on the road okay?"
Seth nodded and wiped his face with his hand. He then placed the key in the ignition. Dean stuck his head through the window and kissed his cheek and then withdrew. " Now go baby."
He took a couple steps back from the vehicle and Seth swung the key and the Mercedes purred to life. Seth gave him a final glance before he sped out of the carpark.
Dean watched the disappearing tail lights until they vanished and then pulled out his cellphone and called the hospital to make the arrangements.
Walking back into Roman's office, Dean tore the leaf off the deskpad where the energy drink had spilt and tossed it in the garbage. But seeing all of those energy bottles made him sick so he decided to take the garbage out. What the hell was Roman thinking drinking all of those at once? It was like if he had a death wish. As he dumped the bag into the garbage can he thought that it just wasn't worth it no matter how well the job paid. He hoped beyond any reasonable measure that Roman hanged on until Seth made it to the hospital. Just hang on Rome, Dean thought as he walked back inside the office. He picked up Roman's cellphone and was reaching for his briefcase when he saw the wrapped bottle of wine next to it. His name was scratched on the card in Roman's handwriting. Picking up the bottle he felt his throat tightening and his eyes burning. He couldn't help it. He allowed the tears to burn a path down his cheek. Roman just had to make it. He would never forgive himself if he lost him. He was the one who encouraged Roman to take the job . He remembered Seth accusing him of not caring about Roman's well being in one of the fights they had. He had assured him that it was for the best and now he wasn't certain about that at all.
He took up the bottle of wine and briefcase and turned off the light in the office and locked the door making his way to his car. Seth had to be at the hospital by now. He placed everything in the passenger seat and got in. He started the car and the Mustang growled to life. He took off in the direction that Seth had gone in. Roman just had to make it.
The first thing that hit Roman was the smell. His environment smelled different. It didn't smell as if he was at home or at his office. He opened his eyes slowly wondering why his bed felt so uncomfortable. Inside his room seemed unusally bright and he didn't recognize any thing in it. Casting his eyes around he spotted Dean slumped down in a chair fast asleep and Seth was standing next to him looking out of a window.
" Seth?" His voice sounded so weak unlike his own.
However Seth heard him and his head snapped around. He didn't look like his usual Sethie. His hair was completely disheveled. His t-shirt and jeans rumpled. He wondered what happened. His baby would never leave home looking like that.
Seth made his way over to him and he saw a mixture of relief and sadness on his face. " You're awake Romie." He gently stroked the side of his face.
Roman didn't understand that statement. Why wouldn't he have woken up? Where the heck was he? " Where..." He started.
Seth shushed him. " You're at the hospital Romie." He could see the questioning look on Roman's face. " You had a caffeine overdose. You drank too many energy drinks."
It was exactly then that Roman became aware of the IV drip in his arm. He looked at it puzzled and then back at Seth.
His boyfriend squeezed his hand and then let it go. " I have to go tell the nurse that you woke up." He watched as Seth left the room and wondered why he seemed a bit strange to him.
But then the memories of being in office and drinking all of those drinks did come flooding back. How could he have been so stupid? He knew better than that.
" Hi."
He looked up and Dean was taking a seat on his bed next to him. Dean held his hand and smiled at him. " We were so worried about you."
" I'm sorry." Roman felt as if he should be apologizing.
But Dean shook his head. " Don't apologize Rome. Maybe I should be the one apologizing. If I had listened to Seth sooner maybe we would have gotten to you earlier." He saw the confused look on Roman's face so he continued. " Seth was worried because you were out so late that he insisted that he was going to check on you. So that's when we found you passed out in your office and brought you here."
" I was so stupid." Roman felt disgusted at himself.
" Don't beat yourself up dude. At least now that you're awake they'll discharge you and send you home." Dean leaned over and kissed his forehead. " Glad that you're okay."
At that point Seth came back in with the nurse and doctor in tow. The doctor told Roman that he was lucky that his partners found him when they did and that he should take it easy for the next few days and stay at home and rest.
His vital signs had all returned to normal and that he would be discharged in a couple of hours. When the nurse and doctor left Seth volunteered to go home to get some clothes for Roman to change into. Roman was a bit surprised at how quickly Seth left not even stopping to give him a quick kiss goodbye. He knew for certain that something was bothering Seth but he really had no idea what it could be. Maybe Seth was mad at him for working himself almost to death.
His thoughts were interrupted when he felt a weight on his bed and Dean held his hand. He gave him a shy smile and leaned in and kissed his lips.
" I'm so glad that you're okay Rome." Dean stroked his hair and kissed his forehead. " When Seth gets back, we'll take you home and take care of you."
" I don't want you guys going through too much trouble," Roman started to protest but Dean cut him off.
" Hey, we nearly lost you. Nothing is too much trouble for a guy that we both love."
Roman could hear the sincerity in Dean's voice and said nothing more and waited patiently with Dean next to him until Seth returned.
When Seth brought back his clothes he didn't stay long in the room and immediately went looking for the nurse for the discharge papers. Dean helped him change into the clothes surprisingly without any gratuitous groping. Roman had to admit that he was a bit disappointed but he could tell that Dean was being true to his word and was taking care of him. It was then as he watched Dean pack up all of his personal belongings that he truly appreciated Ambrose. He had become such a rock for him in recent months. He always encouraged him and had his back in situations including dealing with Seth.
Dean was surprised by the strong arm wrapping around his shoulders and pulling him against Roman and the subsequent kiss planted on his forehead. " I love you."
He looked up at Roman with a surprised expression. " Love you too Rome." He wondered what was going on in that head of his.
Roman pushed his fingers through Dean's fluffy curly mane and kissed his forehead again. " I'm so damn lucky to have you."
Dean was actually lost for words for a bit so he hugged him tightly instead. Relief flooding through him that Roman was able to hug him back. He was so glad that they went looking for him when they did. Today could've had an entirely different outcome.
When Seth came back into the room with the discharge papers, they were still holding each other. Roman noticed a strange emotion flicker across his face. It didn't appear to be jealousy but more one of contempt. But Roman couldn't understand it. Why would Seth feel that way towards him and Dean?
After all of the paperwork had be solved, Roman left the hospital walking between Seth and Dean. Seth being uncharacteristically quiet while Dean boldly held his hand and ignored any stares that they received. When they reached the carpark, he realized that he had to travel with Seth because he was driving his Mercedes and Dean had his car.
He got slowly into the passenger side of the SUV while under Dean's careful scrutiny. When he fastened his seatbelt, Dean leaned in and kissed his cheek. " I'll see you when we get home."
" Okay." Roman smiled at him and watched as Dean he made his way back to his car.
He looked over at Seth who started the engine and thought how strange it looked to see him in the driver's seat. Somehow though, he wasn't opposed to it.
They drove down the highway in silence and it was rather strange for Roman. He was used to Seth talking sixty miles a minute but to have him so quiet for so long wasn't sitting well with him. " Are you okay?"
He noticed Seth tensing up a bit before answering and when he did it was curt and to the point. " I'm fine."
" You seem awfully quiet." No repsonse. Roman pushed a little further. " You don't seem like your usual bubbly self."
Seth glanced around him as if he couldn't believe what Roman just said and looked back at the road. " Well my boyfriend nearly died last night. So excuse if I'm not as you say bubbly."
Ouch. Roman knew that tone. It was the same one he had heard the night they had gone to the restaurant when he had told Seth was he was taking on another case and he had been none too pleased about it. That serious adult tone that let him know that Seth was at the end of his rope.
" I'm sorry."
He didn't know what else to say. Maybe if he had listened to Seth he wouldn't be in this predicament. He just wanted to secure a good future for both of them and be able to give Seth anything that he desired. But his baby seemed so withdrawn from him right now.
" You don't have to apologize." Seth pulled into their street. " I don't think you tried to kill yourself on purpose."
That remark really cut him. Was working too much really the final straw for Seth? It had to be more than that.
The SUV pulled up in front of their building and Seth parked it. Roman watched as Seth got out the car and took out the key for his front door and unlocked it. He sighed and got out of the car and was on his porch when Dean arrived.
He walked into his living room and Seth turned to leave when Roman put out an arm to stop him. Those large brown eyes were angry and he needed to know why. " What's going on Seth?"
Dean walked in the front door and stopped in his tracks when he saw the confrontation.
" Nothing." Seth tried to push passed him but Roman grabbed his shoulders and stopped him.
" Seth something is wrong." Roman was determined to get to the bottom of this. " You need to tell me."
" Nothing." Seth averted his eyes. " You need to rest."
" I'll rest once you tell me what's bothering you."
Seth eyed Dean at the door and knew that if he got out of Roman's grasp that he wouldn't make it past Dean.
" My problem is that you nearly died last night Rome."
Roman swallowed hard but he didn't say anything.
Seth continued. " You nearly died Rome." The agitation breaking through his voice. " Die working on a stupid fucking case when you were supposed to be home with us."
He had no justification. Seth was right. He was supposed to be home with them celebrating Dean's good news. " Seth, I'm sorry." His words sounded so pathetic to him. The word sorry did not carry enough weight to equalize the regret he held for not calling it quits at a decent time to come home to his boys.
However Seth seemingly ignored his apology and continued. " But you know what the worst part is? I was at the hospital and you were lying on that bed and no one knew if you were going to wake up or not and your cell phone rings. Dean's asleep in the chair too and I answer it to hear some guy with a british accent asking for you. So I tell him what happened and he's like shocked and wants to send you flowers and saying that he would extend the deadline of the case and that you don't need to work so hard. I'm thinking that this guy sounds pretty reasonable and just before I give him your room number he says that his name is Wade Barrett. That's when I ended the call."
Seth's eyes narrowed at him. " Now I know that I may just be a dumb stripper but I do remember Damien talking about a friend called Wade. What the hell is going on Roman? Why are you doing business with one of Damien's friends?"
To say that Roman was in shock would be an understatement. It wasn't that he was intentionally trying to keep who he was working for from Seth. It was just that he knew how complicated the circumstances around it would be to explain.
" Did you know about this Dean?"
Dean swallowed hard and nodded. He knew that Seth was now going to be angry at both of them.
" You fucking knew?"
Dean recoiled sharply. A bit taken back by Seth's outburst. He had never really sworn at him before. He could see the betrayl on his face and he was looking from Roman to him repeatedly as if he were disgusted.
" Why would you work for one of Damien's friends after what he did to me? Don't you care about that?"
" Of course I do care Seth." Roman seemed to have found his tongue again. " It's just a bit complicated. If you would just listen -"
" No!" Seth walked to the door. " I don't want to hear it."
Dean stood in front of him.
" Move away Dean." Seth snapped at him. " You obviously don't care about me either."
Now that statement angered Dean. " You know that's not fucking true." He pushed Seth back into the living room. " Now instead of storming out of here like a brat, you're going to listen to what we have to say."
Seth folded his arms across his chest in a defiant stance and eyed both of them as if his mind was already made up. Dean sighed and looked at Roman. Seth was not going to make this easy.
So they told Seth about going to the golf course and Roman confronting Damien and the subsequent events that followed. By the time they had finished Seth shook his head in disbelief.
" You knocked Damien out? And he's gone to Italy?"
Roman slowly nodded. " Yes Seth."
" I still don't like it. I ..." Seth's voice trailed off when he noticed Roman clutching the arm of the couch and dropping unceremoniously on it.
" Romie!" Both he and Dean rushed to their boyfriend's side.
" Romie are you okay?" Seth tapped the side of his face.
Roman opened his eyes slowly and looked at both at them. " Yeah I just felt a little light headed."
" When's the last time you ate?" Dean inquired.
Roman thought for a while and then shook his head. " I don't remember."
" Don't you worry Romie. I'll fix you something to eat." Seth moved from over him and walked into the kitchen.
Roman looked at Dean bewildered. " Seth can cook?" He whispered.
Dean shook his head. " I've never seen him do it before."
Roman swallowed uncomfortably as he heard pots and pans banging in the kitchen. " I think I maybe needing another visit to the hospital shortly."
Dean looked perplexed. " Why?"
Roman rolled his head over the back of the couch and closed his eyes. " For food poisoning."
A/N: They almost lost Roman and now Sethie's cooking. Oh dear...