A dull ache in his ribs woke Tom from a restless sleep. As his mind became fully conscious, the pain steadily intensified and a low moan escaped from between his lips. His eyes fluttered open, and he stared around the room, his face a mask of confusion. For a moment, he had no memory of where he was, but everything soon became clear when his gaze settled on Booker. The dark-haired officer sat cross-legged on his bed reading a comic book. It was a strange sight to wake up to, and blinking drowsily, he rubbed a shaky hand over his mouth. “How long have I been asleep?”
Tossing his issue of The Amazing Spider-Man #300 onto the mattress, Booker smiled. “Nearly two hours. How’re you feeling?”
Tom pushed himself up to a sitting position, a faint tension shadowing his eyes. “Sore,” he admitted softly, “and I really gotta piss.”
“Do you need a hand?” Booker asked with a rush of concern, the words tumbling from his lips before he had time to consider how Tom might …show more content…
“It’s what I live for.”
Grateful that Booker was using humor to deflect the awkwardness of the situation, Tom’s hesitant smile turned into a grin. “I’m sure it is.”
Smiling back, Booker’s eye motioned toward the door. “Do you need help getting to the bathroom?”
With a shake of his head, Tom moved gingerly over to his bedside table, each step jarring his damaged ribs. However, he found an inner strength and swallowing down the pain, he picked up his toiletries. “I think I can manage” he replied determinedly and taking a small, shallow breath, he walked toward the door. But as his hand grasped the knob, he paused and without turning around, he spoke in soft, shy voice. “Um, Dennis? Thanks for… well, you know.”
The sound of Tom speaking his name sent a shiver of desire down Booker’s spine, and his eyes sparkled with happiness. “You’re welcome,
Tossing his issue of The Amazing Spider-Man #300 onto the mattress, Booker smiled. “Nearly two hours. How’re you feeling?”
Tom pushed himself up to a sitting position, a faint tension shadowing his eyes. “Sore,” he admitted softly, “and I really gotta piss.”
“Do you need a hand?” Booker asked with a rush of concern, the words tumbling from his lips before he had time to consider how Tom might …show more content…
“It’s what I live for.”
Grateful that Booker was using humor to deflect the awkwardness of the situation, Tom’s hesitant smile turned into a grin. “I’m sure it is.”
Smiling back, Booker’s eye motioned toward the door. “Do you need help getting to the bathroom?”
With a shake of his head, Tom moved gingerly over to his bedside table, each step jarring his damaged ribs. However, he found an inner strength and swallowing down the pain, he picked up his toiletries. “I think I can manage” he replied determinedly and taking a small, shallow breath, he walked toward the door. But as his hand grasped the knob, he paused and without turning around, he spoke in soft, shy voice. “Um, Dennis? Thanks for… well, you know.”
The sound of Tom speaking his name sent a shiver of desire down Booker’s spine, and his eyes sparkled with happiness. “You’re welcome,