Gently cracking the bedroom door, Jamie peered around the corner to see David curled up in a ball, laying upside down in the bed. The soiled black button up he'd been wearing on their trek home was still clutched in his grasp, wadded up over his nose and mouth.
'Guess I was right about not getting my shirt back any time soon,' he grumbled.
The blankets and sheets had been tossed about as if in a fit of tantrum, yet no one reported hearing him flipping shit back here. David's hazel eyes were open, staring off at nothing.
"Hey," Jamie called softly, sliding around the door and shutting it softly behind him. "Ready to get up? Breakfast is ready."
Slowly, the man's reddened eyes glanced his way and something like relief washed over his face. He lowered the button up and whispered nervously.
"Jamie, are you alright? They said you were, but I still don't trust them not to lie to me."
The grey-haired man spread his arms wide.
"Yes. See. All in one piece. I just needed to sleep it off. Of all the stupid shit to happen, Red decides to go and get us shot up with your medication," he tried to chuckle despite his irritation at the alter's impulsive temper.
David frowned, seemingly not convinced that the other man wasn't on death's doorstep. He sat up; the shirt still possessively draped over his lap. His gaze was fixated on Jamie's chest, making the former pet raise a brow in annoyance.
"What?" he asked, looking down at himself, expecting to see food or some other detritus from tending the animals.
Not seeing anything marring the fabric, Jamie ran his hands over the area in question, not understanding what David was fascinated with.
"Lift your shirt," the tyrant suddenly demanded.
"Excuse me?"
Biting his lip, David managed to stutter again.
"Lift your shirt. Please. I just need to make sure of something," he nearly pleaded.
Begging was not in the man's nature; typically, he gave a command and either you followed suit or died a horrible, drawn out death.
Rolling his eyes, Jamie lifted the hem of his shirt, exposing his flat, muscular abdomen.
"There?"
"Higher. Please."
Irritably, Jamie continued pulling the garment up, now baring his chest to David's intense gaze.
"Better? I hope you have a good reason for asking me to do this besides just being a pervert."
Swallowing nervously, David ignored the jab.
"It was just a dream," he whispered, appearing to breath a sigh of relief.
Lowering the t-shirt, Jamie moved to the dresser to pull out fresh clothing and supplies for David's colostomy. Curiously, he glanced over at the man in the bed.
"What was just a dream? Apparently, whatever it was got wild. It looks like a tornado went through here," he commented.
David was silent as tried to decide whether the vision was only just a dream or whether it was something more. He didn't notice Jamie standing beside the bed until he felt a hand lightly shaking his shoulder.
"Hey, are you alright? I know you used to have nightmares but I.." he started to inquire when a strong grip snared his wrist, nearly toppling him over atop David, a near repeat of last night's debacle.
Only this time, Jamie felt strong arms wrap tightly around his upper body. Sucking in a panicked breath, he reflexively struggled to break free. A snarl lifted his lip as Red swiftly 'pushed' Jamie aside and leapt out into the open.
"Are you bound and determined to test me, motherfucker!" he snarled. "I swear to fuck if you don't let me go, I'm going to bite a chunk out of you!"
"I'm hugging you, ill-tempered mutt. I thought you were dead or dying!" David whispered into the man's ear.
"Oh, there's about to be a dead man in here," Red hissed in response. "You said yourself I would be fine after the sedative wore off, you fucking liar!"
Still foolishly embracing the wrathful pet, David shook his head. If anything, he squeezed him tighter.
"I'm not talking about the sedative! I watched you bleeding out in front of me with a sword shoved through your back! That's why I wanted Jamie to raise his shirt. I had to see that it wasn't real!"
Red ceased his squirming in the tyrant's arms.
"What are you talking about? No one's stabbed me. Besides myself apparently."
Carefully, David eased his grip on the deadly alter, pulling back so he could look into Red's large near-black eye. Knowing he risked having a limb torn off, he still could stop the impulse to cup the pet's jaw.
Raising a brow, Red growled.
"You must be forgetting who you're dealing with? Or you'd rethink touching me like this!"
Sighing, David lowered his hand. He ached to hold the other close, the vivid image of the nightmare seared in his mind. But it wasn't just a figment of his imagination; it was a warning.
"I know exactly who I'm dealing with, Red. It wasn't my intention to drag you out again like this. Maybe you're the one that needs to hear this though. I don't want to alarm Jamie unnecessarily."
Uncharacteristically, the pet slowly lowered himself to settle beside his former master on the bed. Normally he wouldn't allow himself to get this close unless he intended to draw blood. Despite David's current condition, the tyrant was still dangerous.
'He could have done something last night in the bathroom when I was unconscious. Yet I don't feel like he did,' he mused thoughtfully. 'He genuinely looks spooked right now.'
"Alright, get talking then. You know I don't have much time before one of Jamie's friends checks in and I don't think they would be excited to see me," he growled, glaring at David.
The tyrant stared back, a slightly annoyed expression creasing his forehead.
"You know if you didn't act like Cujo every time you interacted with people, it wouldn't be an issue," he pointed out.
Red crossed his arms angrily.
"You made me that way, asshole. Cut the shit and tell me what's got a bee in your bonnet this morning," he snarled.
"Fine. Look, I don't think what I saw last night was just a nightmare. You remember the types of dreams I used to have in the palace. This one was different, but it still felt as real as the others did," he started, staring at his hands in his lap.
"We were here, Jamie and I. But it was like nothing had happened between us. No Drakkon or Red or Jason or Tommy. Just us. I even still had my legs and could walk."
He considered how much detail he should go into regarding the obvious intimate relationship that existed in the vision.
'Hell with it. Let him mock me but maybe he will believe I'm not bullshitting.'
"Jamie and I were standing in the kitchen. He was preparing dinner for later, for us and for the others," he continued, gesturing at the door towards the current company. "He wasn't scared of me. He actually came up and hugged me and kissed me. We were a couple."
A ghost of sadness seemed to sweep across Red's face before it was replaced with incredulous disbelief. He resumed his natural toothy grin and remained silent.
David's words faltered for a moment, catching the brief slip in the pet's stony demeanor. Surely, he was imagining it. Red would be more likely to blow a gasket at the thought of being with him than being sad.
"Somehow he started bleeding," he forced out. "I didn't know what was wrong with him at first. Then I realized there was sword sticking out of his chest. The hound was outside. Its name is Vindicta and he killed Bear."
He shuddered involuntarily as he continued describing the sickening image.
"The master was there. I heard him threatening to harm Jamie because he wanted to get at me. He said his body wasn't 'ready' yet and that I know him. But I don't know who it could be!" he argued.
Red rolled his eyes.
"Someone with an axe to grind against you. You know that could be anyone, right?" the pet couldn't help but poke.
Now David crossed his arms.
"Cute, but not helpful."
He gave a large huff and squeezed his eyes shut.
"I know you were listening when I was spilling my guts to Jamie yesterday. About my stupid, mushy daydreams. You can yell at me, mock me, laugh. I don't care. I meant it."
Red tilted his head and sharp teeth gently sunk into his lower lip.
"You keep claiming up and down you love Jamie. How exactly have you even changed? I don't mean how your actions are different, but what turned the lightbulb on over your head? How did it come to your attention that what you did was not just wrong and evil, but disgusting, traumatizing, and far-reaching?"
The pet paused, head lowering.
"How would you ever 'atone', as you liked to ask Jason?"
A tear rolled down David's cheek.
"That's a fair question, darling. And truthfully, I don't know. I don't even know if that's something that can even happen. Right now, I just don't want Jamie to die. And, when this is over, you can rip me to pieces if that will help you start to heal in some way."
Red was silent a moment, listening intently for the sound of approaching footsteps. He'd better depart as he'd pushed his luck too far. The others would be wondering what was taking so long. The pet didn't want to risk raging out of control and harming them; he wasn't sure if he could stop himself even knowing they meant no harm to Jason and wanted to help Jamie.
He stared at David's downcast face, finding the somber, tearful expression at odds with how he knew the man to be in the past. And he knew in his heart, it wasn't just a bullshit act.
"I have to send Jamie back out now," he whispered. "Can you please watch pressing my buttons? Or do you intend for them to get up close and personal with me?"
"Wait," the tyrant pleaded suddenly, his voice choked with barely restrained tears now.
Red cocked his head curiously.
"What?"
Slowly and carefully, David slid his hands up Red's upper arms, guiding him closer. He felt the muscles tense under his touch. Tenderly looking into the pet's eye, he gingerly brushed his lips against the other man's.
"I miss you. You were closer to me than I've ever allowed anyone to be. I told you things I never told another soul. I could always count on you and felt safe as long as you were with me. Not just physically, but with my thoughts and feelings and fears," he admitted.
"Even with the little Omega, my thoughts kept going back to you and how desperately I wanted you back."
A wistful look passed over Red's face and he averted his face.
"You just wanted your dog back, someone who couldn't refuse, who had no choices," he argued weakly.
"No, I wanted you."
A knock made both men jump.
"Jamie, are you ok in there? The doctor's still waiting to see you," Kim's voice called through the door.
Without another word, Red's grey head dropped to his chest and he collapsed backward onto the mattress beside David's thigh. His eyes blinked rapidly, breath deep and slow.
Knowing Jamie would have no idea what exactly happened besides Red tossing him aside like a ragdoll, David answered calmly.
"We're fine. Just taking care of my shit bag. You want to take a look?"
Kim growled from the other side of the closed door.
"Gross. I'm happy for you and all but I don't care to see it."
Jamie's dark eye was slowly coming back into focus and he glanced up in confusion at David's face looming over him. He scowled in frustration.
"What did you do to him this time? You know when he seizes control like that I usually end up with a migraine," he hissed, his head already starting to pound dully.
His hand went to his forehead, feeling the slight sheen of sweat that seemed to go with the territory.
"Sorry, I just hugged you because I was glad to see you where alright," David whispered.
Groaning, Jamie pulled himself up to a sitting position.
"You really thought that would go over well? Just grabbing me?" he grumbled. "Look, if you want something like that could you at least ask and wait for me to respond so I know what to expect?"
Kim's voice came from the living room again.
"Jamie? I'd feel better if you'd answer me too!"
Glaring at David, Jamie called out as best he could with his aching head.
"I'm alright, Kim. Be out in a second."
Once he'd gotten the tyrant dressed and groomed and in his wheelchair, Jamie opened to the door to full living room, all faces staring at him and David. Dr. Waters sighed and tapped his pen on the chart.
"So, which one of you is going to tell me about your little mishap last night?"