Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 7

That's…"
    Laughing, Jimmy put an arm around Scott's shoulder, "Didn't you have a dog when you were a kid? They don't live forever."
    "We had a cat that liked to jump me from dark corners. Seriously, though? Fifteen years? That's it?"
    "Well, maybe a little longer, but…" Jimmy trailed off, pressing a kiss to Scott's temple.
    "And, there's two of them so they don't get lonely. What happens when one of them..." Dropping his voice to a whisper as if the puppies could hear him, " dies ? Won't the other one get all…depressed?" Scott was already feeling a little depressed at the idea.
    "We'll get him a grief counselor, baby. "
    "But…"
    Laughing again, Jimmy looked at Scott for a long moment, sobering after a pause, "That really freaks you out, doesn't it?"
    "Well… I mean. Why get all attached to something you know is just gonna die on ya?" Again, whispering the one word.
    Pulling Scott into a hug, Jimmy wrapped his arms around him, kissing his temple, "It's that whole cliché, ya know? Better to have loved and lost and all that. Fifteen years of happy companionship and then saying goodbye is better than never getting puppy kisses, I promise." Just then one of the teacup beagles whined at their feet, tugging with puppy teeth at Scott's cuff. "Cheer up, they think you're upset."
    "I am upset." Scott said as he pulled back, but he laughed with the words, stooping down to pick the puppy up, cradling it while it licked his face. "Two dogs. They get your room. It's already an animal shelter."
    Grinning, Jimmy told him, "I assure you, these are the first dogs ever to cross my threshold."
    ****
    Scott had expected the puppies to keep them up all night, having been warned at the vet that it might take a few weeks for them to adapt. Instead, Hercules and Persephone (Jimmy picked the dogs and Scott picked the names) slept soundly but Jimmy woke in the small hours with a shout that sounded wounded, jolting Scott out of a sound sleep.
    Jimmy was scrambling on the bed and grabbing at Scott, saying, "No, no…Goddamn it, come on!" He was crushing Scott against his chest like a ragdoll and Scott was trying to shake the man awake at the same time.
    "Hey, it's okay, wake up, Jimmy. Wake up, it's okay."
    Another small shout and Jimmy was panting for breath like he'd run ten miles up hill, his body shivering with a sheen of sweat covering his skin. "It's okay," Scott soothed, stroking the man's shoulders and back, trying to lean Jimmy back down onto the pillows.
    "Jesus," Jimmy muttered, drawing in a ragged breath, "Fuck… You okay?" he asked, his voice cracking a little.
    "Yeah, fine. What happened?"
    "Just…shit. Never had a nightmare so…Shit. C'mere," Rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands like he was trying to push out the memory of his dream, Jimmy leaned back against the headboard, Scott shifting closer and wrapping his arms around the man's waist. Jimmy took another deep breath and pulled Scott as close as he could.
    Slipping his feet between Jimmy's, "Tell me," The whispered command warming Jimmy's bare chest as Scott pressed a kiss after the words.
    "Just…I was down in a morgue, but I was working on someone, using paddles and tryin' to get them back, I guess. A nurse was next to me and she kept saying, ' Dr. Sinclair, it's too late. It's too late, you have to stop. You're too late .' And I looked down and it was— I just…Jesus." Taking another labored breath, Jimmy pressed his face into the top of Scott's head, his hold tightening as he muttered, "Just a bad dream."
    "It's okay, probably just stress and school." Scott whispered, "Want me to get you some water or somethin'?"
    Settling down further on the bed and keeping a firm hold on Scott, "No, just…don't go anywhere."
    ****
    Scott slid his phone into his back pocket while Jimmy tossed a tennis ball across the park for the puppies to chase after and fight over.
    "What's up?" the man asked, looking over at Scott, reading his expression.
    "Nothin', just…Rob invited me to dinner tonight."
    "That's a bad thing?"
    "No, just, um…his folks are in town and they'll be there too."
    "He's asked you to meet his parents ?" Jimmy sounded as incredulous as Scott felt.
    "Guess so. I mean, I think just as friends? But…"
    "He's not out to his family?"
    "No, he is, but, I mean, come on. We've only been hanging out for a couple months, it's not like we're…"
    "You are, you just didn't realize it."
    "No. I mean…ya think?"
    Just then Persephone tackled Hercules, the two