Love is Always Write Anthology Bonus Volume

bandaged them up properly before adding another layer, wrapping wide sports bandages around Daren's rib cage, left shoulder and left knee. An emergency aluminum splint and some more sports bandages substituted for a cast on his right wrist. Sebastian didn't think it was broken clean through, more likely a just a fracture. It was all finished off with a couple of fingers splints on the right hand.
    Only then did he carefully slide a jumbo T-shirt over Daren's head and carry him back down the hall and into the bedroom. As he stepped into the room, he remembered the blood-stained sheets. He sat Daren down in the chair, stripped and changed the bed at a speed his drill instructor would have approved of. He then lifted Daren into the bed and tucked him in tight with a few strategically placed ice packs.
    As he headed back to the bathroom to clean up, he pretended not to hear the quiet sobs.
    A few hours later, when Sebastian brought him some Gatorade and more Tylenol, Daren lay with a dead look in his eyes. Daren sipped at the Gatorade; then he chugged it. Sebastian brought him a second glass. Unless Daren made a direct request, Sebastian was keeping him on a clear liquid diet for a few days so they wouldn't have a full repeat of that morning. Daren chugged the second glass then drifted back into sleep. Sebastian sat down, feeling exhaustion taking over him as well. He made a little mental note to update Daren's chart before slipping into sleep himself
    ****

CHAPTER 2       
    Sebastian woke up with a jolt and a crick in his neck. The light coming though the heavy drapes said it must be well after noon. He stood and listened to his back pop. He realized Daren was awake and looking at him.
    "Hey, how are you feeling?" Sebastian asked.
    Sebastian got a slight shrug in return.
    "Mind if I take your temperature?"
    Daren gave a small shake of his head.
    Sebastian grabbed the thermometer. Daren cringed a little as it went into his ear. Sebastian read it after the beep. "Ninety-nine point one. That's a lot better. Are you starting to hurt a little less?"
    There was a small shrug.
    "The swelling in your face is going down. I can see both your eyes now." Daren didn't react. "Thirsty?"
    This time he got a nod. "I'll be right back." Sebastian grabbed some more Gatorade, pain killers, and another antibiotic pill. He hoped they were past the initial crisis. The physical one at least. Sebastian put Trauma Counselor on the list of things he wished he had.
    Daren's eyes were on him again as soon as he reentered the room. Sebastian gave him the pills and the Gatorade, trying to think of something to say. "How did you break your toes?" Sebastian asked once the pills had been swallowed.
    Daren looked at him, his face still blank and unreadable. "I dropped a waffle iron on them."
    "Oh." Sebastian tried to keep a straight face, but it only lasted for a second. He broke into giggles. "I'm sorry," he apologized. He tried to get the giggles under control.
    The muscles in Daren's cheeks twitched, and a small hiccup of a giggle escaped. "I threw a fit. I cried and cussed and screamed. I made them take me right to the hospital and take all these x-rays. Demanded pain killers. Good ones." Daren tilted his head back as a manic sounding chuckle bubbled out. "Wish I'd shoved a few of those into my pocket." Daren's face fell again, and he became silent.
    A tinny ring broke through the silence, causing both men to jump and Daren's eyes to go wide with fear. Sebastian plucked his phone from the nightstand where he'd left it for Daren. He didn't even check the ID, just answered quickly while trying to keep an eye on Daren who looked about to flee.
    "Hello?"
    "Hey, man. It's Jimmy. Where are you?"
    "Shit." Sebastian hissed softly. He'd meant to go and dip his toes in some ocean water with Jimmy and some of Jimmy's friends that afternoon. "I'm really sorry. I completely forgot."
    "When do you ever forget anything? You sick or something?"
    "No, seriously, I just forgot."
    "Well there's still time to get out here."
    Sebastian couldn't explain just how badly he wanted to take a swim and wash the previous twenty hours off his body. "You know, I think I'll pass. I'm probably just going to stay in this weekend. Rest up, you know."
    Jimmy didn't answer right away, and Sebastian could hear the sounds of people laughing and the ocean waves in the background. "Have you got someone there with you?" Jimmy's voice was full of juvenile innuendo.
    "Yes, Jimmy, I've