Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 9

going on?" Gabe handed Eric the name badge. "Oh fuck."
    He pulled out his cell phone and dialed Lucas's number. It started to ring. His head jerked when he heard the first chime. His hand fell to his side as another police offer picked up a cell phone that laid by the curb.
    "This can't be happening?" His vision became fuzzy and he thought he'd pass out. Every minute he'd spent with Lucas flashed before his eyes.
    "Gabe, stay with me. Harrison, get your ass over here."
    He could hear the commotion going on around him, but he was too numb to do anything.
    "I need you to drive us to the hospital they took the accident victim to," Eric shot out the order.
    "Why?" Harrison asked as Eric guided him toward the squad car.
    "That man's Gabe's boyfriend." Eric pulled open the door and shoved him inside.
    "Oh jeez, I'm sorry, Gabe. I'll get you there ASAP." Harrison climbed into the driver's seat and radioed dispatch to see where the ambulance took Lucas.
    Tears pooled in his eyes when the voice over the radio said Saint Christopher's, the hospital where Lucas worked. They had the best trauma team in town. That's the hospital you wanted to go to for any reason. Good doctors and nurses who gave excellent care.
    The radio beeped and Gabe felt sick when dispatch informed him the victim coded in the van and they had to intubate. They didn't know if the man was going to make it.
    The rest of the ride passed in a blur. Time seemed to stop. Eric walked into the ER, where they were met by a teary eyed Connie.
    "Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry." She wrapped him in her warm embrace, but it didn't take away the pain.
    "How is he, Connie?" Eric asked the question he knew Gabe couldn't.
    "Not good, not good. He's got some broken bones and internal bleeding. They took him upstairs to surgery. They had to bag him in the bus. He hit his head pretty hard on the pavement. The doctors ordered a CT scan of his head. They think there might be some swelling of the brain." She started to cry. "It doesn't look good, boys."
    They took the elevator up to the third floor. The waiting room was crowded with nurses and doctors who knew Lucas. When they saw him walk in, they gave him watery smiles and sympathetic looks.
    Eric sat him in a chair and went to get him some coffee. It was a nice gesture on his friend's part, but it wouldn't help. Nothing would except him waking up to discover this was just a horrible dream and that Lucas was okay.
    But it wasn't a dream, this was reality. And all he could do was sit and wait.
    Please Lucas, don't leave me here alone. Stay with me.
    CHAPTER 10
    An excruciating pain woke Lucas. He had to pry his eyes open. Once he did, he instantly regretted the action. Bright light lit the room and he felt like his retinas were on fire.
    He tried to bring his hand up to shield his eyes, but he couldn't move it. Looking down, he saw a cast encased his arm.
    What the hell?
    He looked to the other arm and saw IV's taped there. His head began to ache as he tried to remember how he got here. The last thing he recalled was going to see Gabe and that was it. How did he end up in a hospital, his hospital no less?
    He angled his head to the side at the sound of soft snoring. Gabe lay asleep, in the chair beside the bed. He tried to laugh at seeing his tall muscular boyfriend trying to fold himself into that chair, but his throat was dry and it came out a harsh croak.
    As the air hit his throat, he began to wheeze. Gabe stirred at the noise. His eyes slowly opened. When he noticed Lucas looking back at him, he jumped from his chair.
    "Lucas. Oh my God, Lucas." His voice hysterical and quite loud to Lucas's ears.
    "Gabe," he tried to whisper.
    Gabe hit the call button and shouted for a doctor to come in. After he barked out his orders, he sat very carefully next to him, holding his hand.
    "Thirsty," he did his best to say.
    Gabe ran to the sink and filled the small pitcher, then poured some into the plastic cup on the table. He held the straw to his lips. Lucas took a small sip, not wanting to overdo it. The coolness running down his dry throat felt heavenly. After another sip, he relaxed back on the pillows.
    The bed dipped under Gabe' weight and he turned to look at his lover. "What happened?"
    "You don't remember?" Gabe asked.
    "No. All I remember is that I was going to surprise you at work. I had to work the night shift and I wanted to spend time with you before then." He racked his memory, trying to remember.
    "Honey, you were hit by a car."