Page 243 of The Locker Room

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that sort of thing gave a man confidence.

Plus, there was the fact that he was on the court for Chris.

Being on the court for Chris had made all the difference during the

second series. Chris"s bones were healing, and physical therapy was still

months away, but as Xander watched the doctors change the bandages,

as he saw his lover"s blood seep from still-oozing wounds, as he saw the

places in the flesh where bones had ripped through muscle and skin,

Xander had two options.

One was to run from the room, sobbing and retching because, oh,

God… oh God. Chris. Chris whose body had been so beautiful, who had

been so bright and buoyant, so vital, even in sleep… oh God. Oh baby.

All that pain….

But doing that wasn"t an option. Chris looked down at his ruined

body and cracked grim jokes: “Ohmigod! I could be a villain in an

Austin Powers movie!”

“I thought you were already Goldmember.” (Xander had managed

a smile with that one—he"d never say how much the smile had cost

him.)

“Dude! Compliments will get you anywhere you want! But this?”

He gestured to the leg that was being rewrapped in gauze as they sat.

“This is epic. This is like Patchwork Man or the Human Quilt.”

Xander had grimaced. “Worst. Supervillain. Ever.”

Chris turned his head (hopefully so he didn"t look at the damage)

and stuck out his tongue. They"d given him some painkillers before the

procedure, so his movements were a little bit dreamy, but Xander had no

doubt he was aware, painfully aware, of his terrible loss with every

breath. “No, that would be The Whizzer—you remember him?”

The Locker Room 211

Xander snorted. “He was a superhero, genius, and I still say your

names suck.”

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