Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 10

but then I'm going to insist you leave, the less he's disturbed, the better chance he has for recovery."
    Con snorted at the surgeon's words and without turning around to look at him, said: "The better chance he has of even surviving is what you're really saying isn't it, Doctor? And that chance is slim at best."
    The surgeon looked at Gael who shook his head. He sighed and simply said, "Ten minutes, no more." With that final directive, the surgeon left the room.
    Gael moved toward Con and reached out to rest his hand on Con's shoulder. Con angrily shook it off and turned, snarling at Gael, "Leave off Gael. I'm not some fucking soldier's wife who needs your pity. I heard what the surgeon didn't say. He doesn't think that Ren is going to survive. I know that. Now can you just fucking go and leave us be. I'd like to say goodbye to the boy without an audience."
    Gael hesitated, wanting to speak, wanting to say something to comfort his friend, to allay his fears. But the words stuck in his throat. He couldn't lie to Con. They had never once lied to one another in all the years they'd been friends. Each of them had insisted on always speaking the plain unvarnished truth…it was the cornerstone of their friendship. The physician had given them little sign of any hope. Gael turned, and with a sad glance over his shoulder, left the room.
    As soon as he left, Con sighed and dropped his head onto the bed, the weight of the last few hours crushing down upon him. He wanted to say so much. The words were there but somehow every time he tried to utter them they stuck in his throat and threatened to choke him completely. He needed to tell Ren to hang on…to fight…to come back to him.
    However, the longer he rested his head the more he could feel himself beginning to drift. Finally, without uttering a word, he fell into a fitful sleep where nightmares of a future without Ren tormented his dreams.
    Con pushed away the sad memories and looked out the window one more time. If he squinted his eyes just so, he could make himself believe that Ren was still there, sitting with his knees drawn up, arms wrapped round them, his head resting on top. Everyone once in a while, when the day had more than its share of burdens, Con had to admit to desire to return to that time…when all the violence had yet to touch them. He bowed his head, a tiredness creeping over him, pulling him under. Suddenly a warm hand touched his shoulder and Con straightened, his heart leaping at the familiar contact.
    "What are you staring at, old man?"
    "Who are you calling old?"
    "You, Commander Aurelius!" A soft chuckle followed the formal title. "Con, you look exhausted. Why don't you lie down and rest?"
    Con began to protest, negating the idea that he needed any type of special treatment. While recent events had taken their toll, he found that too much time without anything to do left him unsettled and anxious. He'd much rather keep active then lie about letting his thoughts dwell on the past.
    "Don't shake your head at me. You know as well as I do that the men don't have maneuvers for your review until later today, and besides you could do with a spot of relaxation. God knows after these last two months you deserve it!"
    Con knew that Gael felt he had earned the rest because of his part in the resulting fervor caused by Anzel's death. So many proceedings had been convened to investigate the murder. So many reports submitted. So many explanations given, all for the purpose of clearing Ren's name. And it had succeeded, all the work had paid off but it had left Constantine completely drained. He gently removed Gael's hand from his shoulder and rose to his feet, stretching briefly. Turning, he looked into the eyes of his best friend…his Commander. The love he saw there warmed his heart and brought a smile to his face. Gael returned the look with one of his own.
    "I know we rarely speak of our friendship Gael…"
    "There's a good reason for that Con. You know as well as I do that we sound just like a pair of old women once we get started going down memory lane together."
    "Only when we're drinking."
    Gael arched a disbelieving eyebrow at Con. Con had the decency to appear sheepish.
    "Perhaps some other times as well."
    Gael chuckled and grabbed Con about the neck, pulling his friend close to rest his forehead against Con's for a brief moment.
    "You're the best man I've ever met, Con. You know, don't you? That if it had been within my power, you never would have