Clouds and Rain

Grant, didn‟t he?”
    Flynn nodded silently.
    “He‟ll tell you more. Maybe even about what we did when we were younger.”
    Flynn thought she looked mischievous and was dying to ask her for more details, but he had a feeling she liked being mysterious and wouldn‟t divulge any more secrets. He hoped he‟d get the chance to hear Gable tell him more about himself.
    At that moment, Dr. Isaacs entered the waiting room, white coat flaring out behind him. “I think you can go back in now, but not for long. I‟m afraid I‟m going to have to tell you to keep the visits short from now on. Gable‟s still very weak and he‟ll need his rest, but I have a feeling he‟ll be dying to see you. So to speak.” Flynn looked at Calley and then at the doctor. “Do you mean he‟s awake?”
    Isaacs smiled. “Yes, he is. We‟re still trying to wean him off the ventilator, and that may take some time after depending on it for three weeks, but yes, he‟s awake. We‟ve given him something for the pain, but we‟ve shut off the sedation. He can‟t talk, which will be very frustrating for him, but try to keep him as calm as possible, okay? He‟ll still be quite drowsy and he‟ll fall asleep from time to time. Please let him. He needs the rest. And maybe just one of you at a time?” Flynn couldn‟t help but think Isaacs seemed relieved about the whole turn of events as well, and that gave him a good feeling.
    “Go on, Flynn, it‟s you he‟ll want to see,” Calley urged him on.

    80

    Clouds and Rain

    Flynn wasn‟t as confident, despite the fact he wanted to run, not walk, to Gable‟s room. “I don‟t know, Calley. We had a hell of a fight right before—”
    Calley shook her head. “That‟s long past. Go on.” Flynn followed Dr. Isaacs down the corridor and overtook him just before they reached Gable‟s room. As he walked in, he saw Gable lying on his side, both of his hands tied to the same side of the bed and looking comfortable, with his eyes closed. He sighed, the knots in his stomach not unclenching yet, although the anticipation of finally seeing his lover awake had somewhat abated. He remembered the doctor‟s words and didn‟t try to wake Gable.
    Then Gable opened his eyes. They still looked a little unfocused and it seemed to take him some time to recognize who he was looking at, but then he reacted and tried to speak, making the ventilator beep loudly.
    “Shhh,” Flynn tried to soothe Gable. He took Gable‟s hands in his. “You can‟t talk yet. You have a tube down your throat to help you breathe and lots of wires attached to you, but they told me that if you stay calm and try to rest, they‟ll be able to take the tube out soon.” Gable tried to talk again, and this time the machine beeped even louder as he gagged and pulled on the restraints.
    Flynn took Gable‟s face in his hands and made him look at him.
    “Calm down. Breathe. In and out. In and out.” Flynn‟s attention was momentarily drawn by the nurse, who was keeping his distance, as though Flynn was being given permission to try and soothe his lover. In other words, he wasn‟t doing a bad job, which was demonstrated when the machine stopped its irritating noises as Gable tried to comply with Flynn‟s demands.
    Gable relaxed and dozed off again while Flynn caressed his cheek, and the nurse left his spot at the entrance of the room. It was an exhausting evening for both of them, as Gable struggled with his circumstances and Flynn jumped up every time something awakened Gable and made him gag. Slowly, he adjusted, and Flynn just had to grab his hand and nod at him to make him remember what he was supposed to do. Calley briefly dropped by to say good-bye and 81

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    promised to visit again the next day, and Flynn settled on the couch next to Gable‟s bed until they politely asked him to go home.
    Flynn was back early the next morning, after only riding out to make sure the horses in the paddocks were okay. To his disappointment, Gable still had the tube and not a lot had changed, but he was glad to see some recognition in Gable‟s confused eyes. Gable was sitting more or less upright and Flynn saw they‟d replaced the arch that had been there right after the operation and that kept the blankets from pressing down on Gable‟s legs. He knew it would be hard enough for Gable to come to terms with the amputation and preferred to tell him when he could actually talk and ask questions. For now, they could blissfully