Page 32 of Sean's Sunshine
Lance raised his eyebrows. “Yeah. But you see him for who he is. Not even his coworkers have done that much.” Lance tapped some more stuff into his tablet. “Okay, now I’m going to submit your treatment plan and go let Henry and Billy back in, provided that kid can calm the fuck down. Visitor’s hours end at nine, so maybe get him to go back home and catch some sleep, okay?”
“Yeah.” Maybe, if Sean asked nice again, Billy would kiss his forehead or temple before he left. He remembered longing for sweet moments like that from Jesse; it didn’t have to be porn sex or dry-humping to turn his key. Sometimes it was just a sweet moment, a kiss on the forehead, a touch of the hand.
Billy didn’t seem to mind that.
Lance paused at the doorway and looked over his shoulder. “I remember when you were here before and Rivers and Henry made a big fuss because your department didn’t know, didn’t show up. My phone’s been blowing up since Billy got you here. I don’t think that’s going to be a problem this time around.”
Sean closed his eyes, both in embarrassment and with a little bit of relief. It was so much like theHe’s yer fuckin’ brother, and you defend him till yer deadmoment of his life—except Rivers and Henry had been the ones slapping people upside the head. The fact that they’d done so figuratively instead of literally helped a little, as did the fact that his department had been mortified that they hadn’t known. In the end, though, his brothers had stood for him—and it looked like Billy’s brothers would do the same.
EVENTUALLY HENRYcame back in, leading a recalcitrant Billy practically by the ear.
“So, what’s the prognosis, chief?” Henry asked, and Sean wrinkled his nose.
“Two days… observation. You assholes… leave at nine.”
Billy glared at him. “And you don’t gotta be a fuckin’ hero for a while, right?”
Sean gave a sheepish smile under the mask. “Next week… is fine….”
Billy snorted. “Whatever, man.”
“I’m starving,” Henry announced. “And Sean, I know you haven’t had lunch yet. How about I go get some takeout, text all the guys yelling at me to make sure you’re okay—including Rivers and Cramer in case you felt left out—and generally let Billy here tell you all the reasons you completely suck as a roommate.”
“I hate you,” Billy said, his eyes narrow and voice flat.
“Of course you do,” Henry told him, lighting up like it had been the best compliment in the world. “I’m a complete asshole. What’s not to hate? Back soon, you two. Ta-ta for now!”
Henry disappeared, leaving Sean and Billy rolling their eyes at each other.
“What now?” Billy asked, and he didn’t sound sardonic or bitter. He sounded lost.
“I’ll… need… a… nurse… for longer,” Sean managed.
“Yeah, sure. But no more being a fucking hero, okay?” So, so lost.
“No… promises. All… ever wanted….”
“Was to be a cop like your old man?” Billy asked, and there it was—the bitter. “Yeah, didn’t take a super genius to figurethatout.”
“Sor… ry?”
“Don’t be sorry. Don’t. Just be healthy. Goddammit, I’m gettingattachedto you—do you get that? You and your military haircut and your up at seven, breakfast by eight, exercise at nine. Oh my God. My morning BMs are actually running onyour schedule!”
Sean sputtered under the mask and struggled to catch his breath.
“Don’t even bother to answer,” Billy snapped. “I can tell I hurt your brain. I’m saying—it’s not fair. I was just supposed to watch over you for six weeks, and now….” He let out a breath.
“Randy… could….”
“I’d cut him,” Billy said, with no mercy left, although Sean knew Billy loved the kid. “No. You don’t go replacing me with Randy. You don’t go replacing me withanybody. You understand? That’s a fucking rule.”
Sean smiled. Although he hadn’t really thought Billy would go for the suggestion, it was a relief to know it was completely off the table.
“Fair,” he rasped. “Same.”
There was a sudden frozen silence between them as Sean realized what that would mean. How he could take that. That Billy not replacingSeanwith anybody could mean not beingclosewith anybody. Physically. As in Billy’s third job, that they hadn’t talked about since the last time he’d worked it.
He opened his mouth to try to say “Sorry,” but Billy grunted.
