Love Means_. Freedom - Andrew Grey

he slept, sort of.

    Someone came in and left again, but the pain meds had kicked in and he didn't really care.

    That floaty feeling was back and it felt so good, and the dreams were back. Preston was here with him, sitting next to him. He could almost feel his fingers stroking his hair, Preston's hand in his. "Preston." He wanted so badly for it to be real.

    His dream-Preston spoke to him this time. "I'm here, Stone."

    "I'm sorry, Preston. Don't go again." He held on to his dream-Preston just like he wanted to hold on to the real one. "I made you go and I'm sorry." The dream faded and his mind quieted.

    Light coming through the windows woke him, along with the tightness from his chest.

    Opening his eyes, he saw the drab ceiling and the blank television clearly. He was still tired, but his vision and mind were clear. Turning his head, he saw someone curled in the chair next to him, a blanket over his shoulders, head turned toward the wall. "Geoff, you should have gone home."
    The head turned and it wasn't Geoff. "I'm here, Stone."
Preston's eyes looked back at him from the chair. "How long have you been here?" Stone asked, barely able to believe his eyes.
    "Got here last night. I told Geoff I'd sit with you, and he went home for a while." That smile he loved shone back at him, and Stone blinked to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
    "You're really here?" A hand slid into his, and at that moment, Stone knew for sure it was real.
"I'm really here."
"I'm sorry, Preston. I was scared and thought you'd be better off, and I wanted you to be happy and...."
One of Preston's hands stopped his blathering with a gentle touch to his lips. "We'll talk later. You need to rest and get better."
    Stone wanted to tell Preston so much. How much he missed him, how bad he felt. How stupid he'd been for telling him to take that job. Instead, he breathed a sigh of relief that at least Preston was here now and holding his hand. "How long are you staying here?"

    "I don't know, Stone."

    "Oh." He swallowed, and the pain in his throat started up again. Reaching for the water on his tray, he took a small sip, setting the cup back down and looking over at Preston.

    "It depends, but I'll be here for a few days at least." Preston didn't withdraw his hand, and Stone took that as a good sign even if he didn't tell him he was back to stay for good. He felt so guilty that he figured he'd take what he could get. "The nurse said that you should be able to go home in a day or so."
    As if on cue, a nurse entered the room. "Are you feeling better today?"
"Yes." He watched as she messed with the tubes.
"Are you in pain?"
"Not really. My chest aches, but not as bad as yesterday, and the headache seems to be gone."
    She smiled at him. "That's good." She fiddled with the IV some more, and then took off the bag and began removing the tape from his arm. "We're going to pull this out and then get you some breakfast."

    "Is it that same stuff I had yesterday? 'Cause if it is, I'd rather starve." He smiled at her, and she smiled back.
    "Now I know you're feeling better, if you can make fun of the food. That's the signal that you're almost ready to go home." He felt slight prickles of pain as she removed the needle and then bandaged his arm with a practiced ease and gentle touch. "There, all done." She handed him a card. "Here's a menu; order what you like. Just dial 3250 and they'll have it sent up." She went to her computer on a cart and started typing before leaving the room.
    "Would you like me to help you?" Preston took the card and began running down the offerings. Together they ordered what they thought would be the things least likely to be shoe leather and placed the order.

    "Preston, I...."
    "It's okay, Stone. I had a talk with Robbie just after I got here. He told me what you told him." He felt Preston hold his hand again. "I won't go anywhere until you can come home, so just relax and get better. Sleep, if you like. I'll be here." Preston's hand slipped away, and Stone watched him get up and unfold a walker before making his way to the bathroom.
    "You're walking!"
"With this thing? Yeah."
    "Who cares, you're walking all on your own." Stone shifted on the bed and watched as Preston opened the bathroom door. "And you're wearing your Wranglers."

    Preston stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Are you looking at my butt?"
    Stone lowered his eyes. "Uh-huh. I never got to see it before, not like this. You look good in the jeans." He did, too, those