Page 55 of Vallaverse: Twist
Hope flickers. “So, I'm good?”
He smiles at me again. “Yes. For the most part.”
Brooks straightens and leans forward. “For the most part?”
The doctor nods and sits back in his leather chair. “You will struggle with the addiction to the chemicals. It might be worse at some times than others, but I believe you're strong enough to handle it, Laz. Help is always available, and there are many resources. The important thing for you to understand about it, however, is that you experienced a very intense overdose. If Brooks hadn't gotten to you in time, you would have died. The amount of chemicals in your system when you got to the hospital is astounding. It is absolutely imperative that those chemicals,or any other similar chemicals, never be reintroduced ever again. One more heavy dose could, and likely would, kill you.”
I nod. I have no plans to ever take R or anything like it. I don't want that life. “What else?”
He laces his fingers together over his stomach as he settles farther into his chair. “I don't see any reason why you shouldn't resume a natural heat cycle. Eventually.”
“Eventually?” Brooks asks. “What does that mean?”
“It means,” the doctor continues, “eventually. There is no time frame for these sorts of things, Brooks. Laz's body will continue to heal, and he should start re-establishing a typical omega cycle. It might take a little while, and it may be a little stuttered, but I believe he will settle into a regular cycle. Eventually.”
“Is there any way to determine when that might happen?” Brooks asks.
The doctor's brow raises, and he pins Brooks with a heavy look. “I'm not looking to rush his recovery, and it would stunt it if you were to rush it. It will happen when it does.”
I lick my lips and squeeze Brooks's hand. “What about,” I pause, my cheeks heating, “kids? Is that out of the realm of possibilities?”
Our bond pulses, but I can't bring myself to look at Brooks. We haven't discussed it, but we're here with the doctor now, and it's a natural part of this conversation.
The doctor hums. “Well, if your cycle resumes and becomes regular, I can't see a reason you should have any trouble conceiving. As long as it isn't anytime soon.” He levels another hard look at Brooks.
“So, I can have kids?”
“As of right now, I don't think it's an impossibility. I will caution you that it isn't a guarantee. We can do another exam and do some testing when your cycle resumes if you'd like.”
“Yeah.” I nod, feeling a lot better about everything. “I'd like that.”
The ride home isn't exactly tense, but the energy is tight. Brooks and I are both buzzing with our own thoughts. It takes nearly half an hour for me to explode.
“Are you going to be okay with me going into heat?”
“What?” His head turns sharply to look at me before going back to the road. “Of course, I'm okay with it. You're supposed to go into heat.”
I pull my lip between my teeth and rub my thighs. “What I mean is,” I take a breath, “will you be okay with helping me through it?”
“Is that a serious question?”
I nod, but he can't see it. “Yeah,” I say quietly.
Brooks looks at me again. “What else would I be doing, Laz?”
“I don't know,” I mumble, looking out the window.
“Don't be ridiculous,” he says, the corner of his mouth lifting. “You're my Omega. It is my duty and privilege to take care of you during your heat. I look forward to it.”
Neither of us says anything for a few more minutes, then we both blurt out a question at the same time.
“Will you claim me again during my heat?”
“You want children?”
Another awkward silence follows. Those were two very different questions.
“I,” he starts. “What?”
