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dylan-dufresne.livejournal.com posting in monaboyd Aug. 20th, 2007 07:00 am)Title: With A Little Help From My Friends - 46/47
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
dylan_dufresne
Pairing: BB/DM
Rating: PG-ish
Summary: Progress is moving forward, one small step at a time.
Feedback: Would be greatly appreciated as it’s my drug of choice. Many thanks to my beta,frojane.
Special Thanks: Toloki_girl for the exquisite banner that she has created, and to tarnishedhalo for loaning me her inspirational manip for the centerpiece. I am so thankful and appreciative of you both, and your generosity.
Disclaimer: Not at all true in reality. This is my imagination at work.
A/N: Look! No angst warning! Enjoy. :)
Previous Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45
Chapter 46
Rising slowly from the depths of one of the best nights of sleep he’s had in months, Billy smiles as he opens his eyes, pleased when he’s greeted by the sight of the soft nape of his lover’s neck. He listens to the slow, steady rhythm of Dom’s breathing, and deduces that the younger man is still fast asleep, curled up trustingly in his embrace. Considering the emotional upheaval last night and then excitement at half three, it’s not all that surprising that he’s not awake just yet. Billy decides to leave him be, as the rest will be good for him.
Several feathery kisses are pressed to Dom’s warm skin and then Billy ever so gently eases his hand out from under Dom’s scruffy cheek and his arm from under their shared pillow, doing his best not to disturb the sleeping man. It’s a moment later that Billy realizes his efforts have unfortunately been in vain. Dom’s breathing changes and then he’s shifting back, snuggling further into Billy’s body.
“Don’t leave,” Dom murmurs sleepily. “Stay.”
“Go back to sleep, love,” Billy says quietly, drawing the tartan blanket up over his slender shoulder. “I won’t be long. Just a few minutes.”
“But-”
“Dream, my Dommie,” Billy whispers, stroking his hair. “Remember that day in the highlands, on our honeymoon, where we made love outside, the sun on our bare skin. When you wake up, we’ll have breakfast in bed, yeah?”
“Mmm,” Dom sighs under his breath. “Pancakes.”
“As you wish,” Billy says with a smile, watching as Dom drops off to sleep again.
For several minutes Billy can’t force himself to move, gazing at the beautiful sight before him, and then in the distance, he hears movement in the kitchen. The fact that he wants to talk to Viggo before Dom awakens gives Billy the motivation to climb out of bed, and he zips the trousers that Dom opened last night before slipping silently out of their bedroom, closing the door with a quiet click.
“Good morning,” he offers as he enters the kitchen, finding the doctor wrapped up in a robe, fixing himself a cup of tea. “How did you sleep?”
“Good morning to you, too,” Viggo replies, taking in Billy’s rumpled clothing. “And very well, thank you.”
Catching a look in Viggo’s eye, Billy arches an eyebrow, inviting elaboration.
“I heard some raised voices last night,” Viggo confesses. “You’ve clearly slept in your clothes. Is everything okay?”
“Better than okay, actually,” Billy tells him. “Dom and I got some things sorted out, and then just after three o’clock we were up again.”
“Was he in pain?” Viggo asks quickly, looking at his watch. “He should’ve been all right until-”
“He’s fine,” Billy interrupts. “He woke up because he could feel my hand on his arse.”
The Scotsman watches and then grins as Viggo’s jaw drops, his eyes wide.
“It’s not all back,” Billy hastily continues. “But he’s got some sensation in his thighs, mostly tingling right now. It’s the most positive sign we’ve seen.”
“Bill, this is incredible news.”
“I know,” Billy agrees, his eyes growing damp. “Trust me, I know.”
“What do you want me to do?” Viggo asks. “Get him back to the hospital right away to run some tests, look him over here-”
“I want to talk to you about the rehab facility that Dom’s moving to.”
“Sure. What do you want to know?”
“Is it the best?” Billy asks pointedly. “Is that the place that’s going to give Dom the best chance at walking again?”
“It has an excellent reputation,” Viggo tells him, and then gnaws on his lower lip for a moment. “They’re actually trying out a new program there, working with spinal cord injuries like Dom’s. So far the results have been very promising.”
“Can we get Dom into that program?” Billy inquires. “If it’ll help him-”
“There’s a catch, Bill. The facility doesn’t have any government funding for the new program yet. It’s being run on private donations right now, until they can prove that it’s more cost effective than the current program.”
“Okay, that’s fine. I’ll write a cheque.”
“Bill, it’s not going to be cheap,” Viggo cautions. “And there are no guarantees-”
“I don’t care,” Billy interrupts firmly. “He’s going to have every possible opportunity. Whatever it takes, I’ll do it.”
“Somehow I knew you were going to say that,” Viggo says wryly. “I’ll make some calls. Set it up.”
“Thank you.”
“I should get dressed,” the doctor adds.
“There’s no hurry,” Billy says. “I’m making pancakes for Dom, so take your time.”
“How’s the cast?” Viggo asks, nodding at the plaster covering Billy’s left arm.
“Pretty good, actually. I’ll be glad when it comes off, though.”
“Itchy?”
“Not really. I just miss having both arms to hold him,” Billy replies without thinking, then blushes when he notices Viggo smiling at him fondly. “I, uh-”
“I know what you mean,” Viggo says softly. “After everything that’s happened, you want to keep him close. Keep him safe.”
“Aye,” Billy agrees with a nod.
“Well, if you want, I might be able to do something about that arm,” Viggo tells him. “We can talk about it later. I’m going to grab a shower and then I’ll be in the guest room, catching up on some charts I brought with me.”
“Thanks again,” Billy says solemnly. “He really needed this. We needed it.”
“I’m glad I could make it happen.”
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
It’s nearly ten o’clock by the time the three men return to the hospital, Billy and Dom having indulged in a luxurious pancake breakfast in bed, and Viggo’s willing to bet, more than a fair amount of snogging took place, judging by Dom’s dazed eyes and rosy lips. Whatever he and Billy discussed last night seems to have taken care of any lingering issues, and the couple is closer than ever. Additionally, Viggo realizes the fact that Dom’s back has improved is not the reason for that, oddly enough, but is apparently just the icing on the cake.
It’s only at Dom’s insistence that Billy leaves to open the book shop, and as he slips out of the room he’s greeted by Aureen and Austin, who were overjoyed to receive a phone call this morning from the couple, sharing Dom’s happy news. The day passes quickly, Billy calling to check on Dom every couple of hours or so, pleased to learn that there has been significant improvement with Dom’s latest test results. New x-rays show that Dom’s spine is slowly shifting back into alignment, and is no longer impinging on the spinal column. Just when Billy starts to think that the day can’t get any better, Viggo calls to inform him that Dom has been accepted into the specialized program at the rehab facility, and will be transferred in a day or so, earlier than originally planned, since he’s had a breakthrough.
Finally, Viggo requests that Billy stop in for a check up on his arm, to evaluate the possibility of his cast being removed at an earlier date. The idea of being rid of the reminder of what happened that horrible night is very appealing to Billy, especially since he knows Dom’s tendency to blame himself for such things, so he opts to close the shop early, even though Drew offers to take care of things. Not wanting to give the boy too much responsibility too soon, Billy gently declines, but offers his sincere thanks, and gives the young man his weekly paycheque before saying goodbye.
Just past half six, Billy appears at Dom’s hospital room, and is greeted with a smile when he walks inside and perches on the edge of the bed, their lips meeting in a warm kiss.
“I had no idea how much I’d missed your smile,” Billy comments as he pulls back and draws his fingers through the blonde strands of Dom’s hair to get them out of his eyes. “You need a haircut, love.”
“Yeah, I know I do,” Dom agrees, covering Billy’s hand with his own and cradling it to the side of his face. “Kiss me.”
“With pleasure,” Billy murmurs in reply, and then guides their mouths together for a prolonged exchange, tongues tangling lazily and sensuously.
“So how was your day?” Dom asks when they part, letting his fingers trail down Billy’s arms to his hands in a lazy caress.
“Good.”
Dom’s hands and starting to slide up Billy’s forearms when he stops and his eyes widen. “Bills-”
“Aye?”
“Your arm.”
“Cast came off this afternoon,” Billy explains as he peels off his jacket and then rolls up his sleeve to reveal a small brace with velcro straps covering his left arm from wrist to elbow. “I’ll need to wear this for a couple of weeks and be careful, but other than that, it’s fine. In a few months you’ll never knew I broke it.”
“Good,” Dom says quietly. “I’m glad.”
“Would you do me a favor?” Billy asks, eyes focused intently on Dom’s.
“Anything.”
Smiling, Billy reaches inside his shirt and pulls out a silver chain, the one that holds their wedding rings, and have been carried next to his heart since the night Dom was shot.
“I think these have been hanging around my neck long enough,” Billy says quietly. “Help me put them where they belong?”
Dom’s eyes sparkle with happiness. “Absolutely.”
Together, they slip the chain over Billy’s head, and once the clasp has been opened, they take turns placing the simple platinum bands on each others ring fingers.
“Much better,” Billy declares, gazing at their entwined hands, leaning down to press his lips to Dom’s skin. “Just didn’t look right before.”
“I should’ve known that you’d keep them around your neck,” Dom murmurs, shaking his head. “I wondered what had happened to the chain, but I couldn’t make myself ask Orli if he knew anything about them.”
“I wanted them to be safe.” Reaching up to push the hair out of Dom’s eyes again, Billy frowns. “Dommie, you really need a haircut. I can’t remember the last time it was this long.”
“I know,” Dom replies absently. “It’ll wait until you’re up to it.”
“Me?”
A sweet blush colors Dom’s cheeks as he adds, “I was hoping that you’d cut it, like you used to.”
“I’d love to,” Billy says softly, and leans in to brush a kiss across Dom’s waiting lips.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
As Viggo promised, Dom is moved to the rehab facility the next afternoon, accompanied by Billy, with Aureen and Austin following in the car behind them. Dom is very pleased to learn that he’ll be able to wear whatever clothing is comfortable for him, instead of the drafty hospital gowns he’s been required to wear at the hospital, and Billy promises to bring him a selection of items from home. Although Dom is eager to get started, he’s told that he should concentrate on getting settled tonight, and he’ll meet the people who will be working with him in the morning.
After a quick phone call is made, Viggo and Orlando arrive for a visit, and a celebratory toast is made with plastic cups and sparkling apple cider. Several items that Billy brought from the flat are set out to make Dom’s room a wee bit homier, including a picture of the two of them, taken after their picnic lunch in London, snuggled up together under a tree. The couple is teased good-naturedly about their frequent displays of affection, but all are relieved that they’re approaching the other side of a very difficult time, together. Eventually, Viggo and Orlando say goodbye, promising to visit again soon, giving the family some time to themselves.
Even though the day is one that everyone has been looking forward to for weeks now, it’s not without a twinge of sadness as well, because Aureen and Austin are leaving that evening. They’ve taken as much time off from their jobs as they possibly can, used up all their vacation days, and need to get back to Manchester. Even though they know Dom is out of danger, is on the road to recovery, it’s clear that both feel guilty about the timing of their departure. Because of that, Dom spends several hours with them, the three exploring the facility together, and reassuring them that he’s going to be just fine. He even promises them that he and Billy will visit as soon as they’re able.
Later that night, when Dom and Billy are curled up in bed together, just enjoying the quiet and closeness, Dom sighs softly as Billy draws his small fingers through his hair.
“Wish you could stay here,” he says, cheek resting comfortably against Billy’s pectoral muscle, the heart beat beneath very soothing.
“I’ll be back in the morning,” Billy promises. “Just a little longer, and then you’ll be home.”
“Tomorrow’s Monday, Bills,” Dom reminds him gently. “The shop.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“Can’t help it.”
“Dommie, you start physio tomorrow-”
“I’ll be fine,” Dom interrupts. “And I’ll feel much better if I know that the shop is open, and people are buying books.”
“But-”
“Do it for me?” Dom requests, his fingertips petting the curve of Billy’s shoulder. “Please?”
Billy sighs and presses a kiss to Dom’s forehead. “All right.”
“Thank you.”
“But I still want to see you in the morning.”
“Okay.”
“I figure I can come by for an hour or so, go home to open up, and come back later,” Billy explains. “If you need anything, I’m just a phone call away, yeah?”
Looking up me meet Billy’s gaze, Dom smiles. “I know.”
“Dom, there is one more thing,” Billy says cautiously, not wanting to alarm him. “Just something I want to you to know.”
An eyebrow arches warily as Dom responds with a slow, “Okay.”
“I get the feeling you’re trying to hide your scar from me, and I just wanted you to know that you don’t have to,” Billy continues gently. “I understand if you’re self-conscious about it, I mean, it’s natural to-”
“I think it’s ugly,” Dom says quietly. “And it’s not going to fade like the ones on my back. It’ll be there from now on. Every single day. Why would you want to-”
“I’m grateful for that scar, Dommie,” Billy supplies when Dom trails off, petting his hair. “It represents something very important.”
“What?”
Cupping Dom’s cheek, Billy gazes deeply into his eyes. “That you’re still alive,” he murmurs tenderly. “You’re here.”
“Oh.”
“Never thought of it that way, did you?”
“No,” Dom admits.
“Does it hurt?” Billy asks.
“It’s still tender, but no, it doesn’t hurt. Not anymore.”
“Okay. Good.”
“Do you- do you want to, uh, see it?” Dom inquires hesitantly.
“If you’re not ready, I’ll wait,” Billy replies. “No pressure.”
A long, quiet moment passes, and then Dom releases the breath he’s been holding as he deliberated in his head.
“You can look.”
Wordlessly, Billy nods and then carefully rolls Dom onto his back before slipping off the bed, moving down the side of the mattress until he reaches Dom’s mid section. To Dom’s surprise, he doesn’t peel back the t-shirt covering his belly, and instead laces their fingers together.
“Bills?”
Looking down at their entwined hands, a tiny smile flutters across Billy’s cherubic lips. “I won’t look until you’re ready. I’ll wait until you tell me that it’s all right.”
It’s only after Billy closes his eyes that Dom remembers that this is the way Billy saw his back, in the mirror the night they confessed their feelings for one another. Then, Billy waited patiently for Dom, never forced him, and quietly gave his unconditional support. Deeply touched, Dom’s anxiety dissipates and he uses his free hand to nudge the blanket aside before drawing up the hem of his shirt to reveal the healing wound that he’s been adamant about keeping hidden until now. Billy’s eyes remain closed the entire time, and Dom has not doubt that he won’t cheat and look beforehand.
“Open your eyes,” Dom says softly, his gaze locked on Billy’s face.
Complying with the gentle request, Billy looks down, and takes in the image of the still healing incision on Dom’s abdomen. After a few moments he shifts his free hand to rest on Dom’s belly, just below his navel.
“Can I touch it?” he asks quietly.
“Yeah.”
Dom starts to caution Billy to be careful, only to watch with wide eyes as the older man leans down and brushes a feathery kiss to the scar. The reverence in the simple act steals Dom’s voice, and his eyes are glistening when Billy pulls back, meeting his gaze.
“Thank you,” Billy says simply.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Even though he stays until the last possible moment, Billy is denied the opportunity to meet the people who will be working with Dom to help him reach the goal of walking again. It’s Dom who sends him on his way with a playful swat to his arse, promising to call later, and waves until Billy disappears from sight. Fortunately, Dom barely has time to get nervous, and then the door to his room opens, and two people enter.
“Good morning, Mr. Monaghan,” the female says as she moves swiftly over him.
“Call me Dom,” he replies, eyeing her closely and then glancing at her male companion.
“Dom, it is,” she continues. “I’m Cate, and this is Sean.”
“Hello.”
“I’ve been reading over your chart,” Cate tells him. “You’ve come a long way, considering the injuries you sustained. How are you feeling today?”
“Nervous, but excited,” Dom says with a tentative smile. “Or is that what you meant?”
“Well, that’s good to know, too,” she replies with a smile. “I was pleased to read that you’ve had some sensation return recently. The new x-rays look very promising.”
“Yeah, it started a couple of days ago,” Dom reports. “There’s been tingling in my legs, like when your foot falls asleep. It started at my hip and is down past my knees now.”
“Have you attempted to wiggle your toes, or make any movement, for that matter?”
Ducking his head for a moment, Dom swallows hard. “I’ve been too afraid to try.”
“Well, would you like to get started?” she inquires. “There’s a lot of testing to be done to see where your strengths are, and what we’ll need to work on. I’ll taking care of the internal side, like getting all your systems up and functioning like they should. My goal is to get your body self sustaining again.”
“No more catheter?” Dom asks, eyes perking up hopefully.
“Exactly.”
“Sounds good,” Dom says, and then looks at Sean. “So, I know what to expect from her. Where do you come in?”
“I’ll be working with you on strength training and endurance,” the older man replies. “And when you’re ready, taking your first steps.”
Overjoyed at the thought of walking again, and not being confined to a wheelchair, Dom beams.
“Don’t smile at me yet,” Sean cautions. “I’m known as Sean B around here. B is for bastard. I’ll work you hard, and you’ll probably hate me on more than one occasion-”
“As long as I walk out of here, I don’t care,” Dom interrupts firmly. “I’ll do whatever you want.”
Sean grins. “Then we’ll get along just fine.”
Flipping through Dom’s chart, Cate arches an eyebrow. “I see you have a partner. Mr. Boyd.”
“Billy.”
“We encourage family involvement whenever possible. Would that be something Billy would be interested in?”
“Most definitely,” Dom says, a soft smile turning up the corners of his mouth. “He was here late last night and early this morning. He’s working right now, but I’m sure you’ll meet him soon.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
“So, shall we get to work?” Sean suggests, looking to Cate and when she nods, he moves over to Dom.
“Absolutely,” Dom agrees.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
As expected, within a few days, Billy has introduced himself to Cate and Sean, and taken an avid interest in Dom’s therapy schedule, wanting to be involved as much as possible. And he’s certainly not the only one. Orlando makes regular visits, timing it so he arrives just as Dom is awakening from the required nap he takes after his morning physio session, Viggo dropping by every few days in the afternoons, as his schedule allows. Like when Dom was in hospital, Orlando brings the puppy that the younger man has grown so fond of, the two spending some quiet time together while Orlando keeps an eye out so they won’t be caught. She’s growing quickly now, getting more active by the day, and soon, she’ll be moving to her new home.
It’s Billy who informs Sean of the impossible standards that Dom often sets for himself, and they work together to keep Dom on track, so he doesn’t overdo it and inadvertently cause a setback. He’s grateful when his concerns are taken seriously, and is there when Sean cautions Dom about pushing his still healing body too fast. Under Sean and Billy’s watchful eyes, Dom’s stamina steadily improves, thanks to hard work and dedication, and his sessions are slowly increased in length. Later, after he requests it repeatedly, a second session is added in the afternoon. Billy is the one who works with him then, encouraging Dom to keep going, supporting the younger man as he continues to pursue his goal.
The next several weeks are filled with challenges, victories and disappointments, and through it all, Billy is there at Dom’s side. He’s the one who helps Dom into the loo for the first time after he’s finally freed of the medical contraptions that have been taking care of his bodily functions, and they decide to celebrate in a rather unconventional way. A haircut, as well as all the feathery kisses Dom could ever want. One night when Billy shows up with takeaway Thai, he’s treated to the sight of Dom starting wondrously at his bare feet, as he silently orders his toes to move, and they obey. For the first time in months, Dom’s eyes are filled to overflowing with joy, and hope.
Billy is there when Dom is frustrated and sore from the demands he’s putting on his body, the desire to walk again overwhelming, and he rubs Dom’s sore muscles until he’s limp and drifting off to sleep. Lastly, he’s the one who gives Dom a sponge bath after each exhausting day, tenderly washing away the sweat and weariness, and uses the quiet time to reconnect with Dom. He knows that Dom has had so much of his privacy taken away since he was shot, and this is one intimate task that he can take care of. In addition, it’s important to Billy that their close bond is maintained, in a way that has nothing to do with sex.
Despite all the amazing progress Dom has made, not all functions have normalized, specifically, even though sensation has completely returned, he’s not been able to get aroused. It doesn’t matter how many times Billy tries to comfort Dom about it, on this point, his stubbornness is too strong for Billy’s reasoning. Not even Cate can get through to Dom, with all her medical expertise and explanations as to why it just might take a wee bit longer. All Billy can do is be supportive, and pray that there will be good news soon.
One sunny Thursday morning in February, after Dom’s been at the rehab facility just shy of a month, Billy receives a call from Sean, asking that he come for a very special occasion. Today, Dom is going to attempt to walk, and Sean wisely thought that he would like Billy to be there for such a special moment. The day doesn’t go exactly as planned, but after some initial problems, Dom is able to take half a dozen small, shuffling steps, with Sean’s assistance. At first, Dom is extremely disappointed, and is only soothed somewhat after a long talk with Billy, curled up together. Billy promises him that it will get easier, and that Dom just needs to be patient.
Not for the first time, Billy hates that he has to leave at night, and can’t be there to ensure that Dom doesn’t lay awake, staring at the ceiling, worrying and doubting himself. As it is, he stays until after eleven o’clock, well beyond the end of visiting hours, and Dom’s breathing is slow and steady, anxiety finally leaving him, if only temporarily. When Dom awakens in the morning, Billy is waiting at his bedside, and they spend over an hour talking, the older man rubbing slow circles between Dom’s shoulder blades. When he leaves to go open the shop, Dom seems in better spirits, and it only fuels Billy’s hope that Dom will be able to come home soon.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Chapter 47
Author:
dylan_dufresne Pairing: BB/DM
Rating: PG-ish
Summary: Progress is moving forward, one small step at a time.
Feedback: Would be greatly appreciated as it’s my drug of choice. Many thanks to my beta,
frojane.Special Thanks: To
loki_girl for the exquisite banner that she has created, and to tarnishedhalo for loaning me her inspirational manip for the centerpiece. I am so thankful and appreciative of you both, and your generosity. Disclaimer: Not at all true in reality. This is my imagination at work.
A/N: Look! No angst warning! Enjoy. :)
Previous Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45
Chapter 46
Rising slowly from the depths of one of the best nights of sleep he’s had in months, Billy smiles as he opens his eyes, pleased when he’s greeted by the sight of the soft nape of his lover’s neck. He listens to the slow, steady rhythm of Dom’s breathing, and deduces that the younger man is still fast asleep, curled up trustingly in his embrace. Considering the emotional upheaval last night and then excitement at half three, it’s not all that surprising that he’s not awake just yet. Billy decides to leave him be, as the rest will be good for him.
Several feathery kisses are pressed to Dom’s warm skin and then Billy ever so gently eases his hand out from under Dom’s scruffy cheek and his arm from under their shared pillow, doing his best not to disturb the sleeping man. It’s a moment later that Billy realizes his efforts have unfortunately been in vain. Dom’s breathing changes and then he’s shifting back, snuggling further into Billy’s body.
“Don’t leave,” Dom murmurs sleepily. “Stay.”
“Go back to sleep, love,” Billy says quietly, drawing the tartan blanket up over his slender shoulder. “I won’t be long. Just a few minutes.”
“But-”
“Dream, my Dommie,” Billy whispers, stroking his hair. “Remember that day in the highlands, on our honeymoon, where we made love outside, the sun on our bare skin. When you wake up, we’ll have breakfast in bed, yeah?”
“Mmm,” Dom sighs under his breath. “Pancakes.”
“As you wish,” Billy says with a smile, watching as Dom drops off to sleep again.
For several minutes Billy can’t force himself to move, gazing at the beautiful sight before him, and then in the distance, he hears movement in the kitchen. The fact that he wants to talk to Viggo before Dom awakens gives Billy the motivation to climb out of bed, and he zips the trousers that Dom opened last night before slipping silently out of their bedroom, closing the door with a quiet click.
“Good morning,” he offers as he enters the kitchen, finding the doctor wrapped up in a robe, fixing himself a cup of tea. “How did you sleep?”
“Good morning to you, too,” Viggo replies, taking in Billy’s rumpled clothing. “And very well, thank you.”
Catching a look in Viggo’s eye, Billy arches an eyebrow, inviting elaboration.
“I heard some raised voices last night,” Viggo confesses. “You’ve clearly slept in your clothes. Is everything okay?”
“Better than okay, actually,” Billy tells him. “Dom and I got some things sorted out, and then just after three o’clock we were up again.”
“Was he in pain?” Viggo asks quickly, looking at his watch. “He should’ve been all right until-”
“He’s fine,” Billy interrupts. “He woke up because he could feel my hand on his arse.”
The Scotsman watches and then grins as Viggo’s jaw drops, his eyes wide.
“It’s not all back,” Billy hastily continues. “But he’s got some sensation in his thighs, mostly tingling right now. It’s the most positive sign we’ve seen.”
“Bill, this is incredible news.”
“I know,” Billy agrees, his eyes growing damp. “Trust me, I know.”
“What do you want me to do?” Viggo asks. “Get him back to the hospital right away to run some tests, look him over here-”
“I want to talk to you about the rehab facility that Dom’s moving to.”
“Sure. What do you want to know?”
“Is it the best?” Billy asks pointedly. “Is that the place that’s going to give Dom the best chance at walking again?”
“It has an excellent reputation,” Viggo tells him, and then gnaws on his lower lip for a moment. “They’re actually trying out a new program there, working with spinal cord injuries like Dom’s. So far the results have been very promising.”
“Can we get Dom into that program?” Billy inquires. “If it’ll help him-”
“There’s a catch, Bill. The facility doesn’t have any government funding for the new program yet. It’s being run on private donations right now, until they can prove that it’s more cost effective than the current program.”
“Okay, that’s fine. I’ll write a cheque.”
“Bill, it’s not going to be cheap,” Viggo cautions. “And there are no guarantees-”
“I don’t care,” Billy interrupts firmly. “He’s going to have every possible opportunity. Whatever it takes, I’ll do it.”
“Somehow I knew you were going to say that,” Viggo says wryly. “I’ll make some calls. Set it up.”
“Thank you.”
“I should get dressed,” the doctor adds.
“There’s no hurry,” Billy says. “I’m making pancakes for Dom, so take your time.”
“How’s the cast?” Viggo asks, nodding at the plaster covering Billy’s left arm.
“Pretty good, actually. I’ll be glad when it comes off, though.”
“Itchy?”
“Not really. I just miss having both arms to hold him,” Billy replies without thinking, then blushes when he notices Viggo smiling at him fondly. “I, uh-”
“I know what you mean,” Viggo says softly. “After everything that’s happened, you want to keep him close. Keep him safe.”
“Aye,” Billy agrees with a nod.
“Well, if you want, I might be able to do something about that arm,” Viggo tells him. “We can talk about it later. I’m going to grab a shower and then I’ll be in the guest room, catching up on some charts I brought with me.”
“Thanks again,” Billy says solemnly. “He really needed this. We needed it.”
“I’m glad I could make it happen.”
It’s nearly ten o’clock by the time the three men return to the hospital, Billy and Dom having indulged in a luxurious pancake breakfast in bed, and Viggo’s willing to bet, more than a fair amount of snogging took place, judging by Dom’s dazed eyes and rosy lips. Whatever he and Billy discussed last night seems to have taken care of any lingering issues, and the couple is closer than ever. Additionally, Viggo realizes the fact that Dom’s back has improved is not the reason for that, oddly enough, but is apparently just the icing on the cake.
It’s only at Dom’s insistence that Billy leaves to open the book shop, and as he slips out of the room he’s greeted by Aureen and Austin, who were overjoyed to receive a phone call this morning from the couple, sharing Dom’s happy news. The day passes quickly, Billy calling to check on Dom every couple of hours or so, pleased to learn that there has been significant improvement with Dom’s latest test results. New x-rays show that Dom’s spine is slowly shifting back into alignment, and is no longer impinging on the spinal column. Just when Billy starts to think that the day can’t get any better, Viggo calls to inform him that Dom has been accepted into the specialized program at the rehab facility, and will be transferred in a day or so, earlier than originally planned, since he’s had a breakthrough.
Finally, Viggo requests that Billy stop in for a check up on his arm, to evaluate the possibility of his cast being removed at an earlier date. The idea of being rid of the reminder of what happened that horrible night is very appealing to Billy, especially since he knows Dom’s tendency to blame himself for such things, so he opts to close the shop early, even though Drew offers to take care of things. Not wanting to give the boy too much responsibility too soon, Billy gently declines, but offers his sincere thanks, and gives the young man his weekly paycheque before saying goodbye.
Just past half six, Billy appears at Dom’s hospital room, and is greeted with a smile when he walks inside and perches on the edge of the bed, their lips meeting in a warm kiss.
“I had no idea how much I’d missed your smile,” Billy comments as he pulls back and draws his fingers through the blonde strands of Dom’s hair to get them out of his eyes. “You need a haircut, love.”
“Yeah, I know I do,” Dom agrees, covering Billy’s hand with his own and cradling it to the side of his face. “Kiss me.”
“With pleasure,” Billy murmurs in reply, and then guides their mouths together for a prolonged exchange, tongues tangling lazily and sensuously.
“So how was your day?” Dom asks when they part, letting his fingers trail down Billy’s arms to his hands in a lazy caress.
“Good.”
Dom’s hands and starting to slide up Billy’s forearms when he stops and his eyes widen. “Bills-”
“Aye?”
“Your arm.”
“Cast came off this afternoon,” Billy explains as he peels off his jacket and then rolls up his sleeve to reveal a small brace with velcro straps covering his left arm from wrist to elbow. “I’ll need to wear this for a couple of weeks and be careful, but other than that, it’s fine. In a few months you’ll never knew I broke it.”
“Good,” Dom says quietly. “I’m glad.”
“Would you do me a favor?” Billy asks, eyes focused intently on Dom’s.
“Anything.”
Smiling, Billy reaches inside his shirt and pulls out a silver chain, the one that holds their wedding rings, and have been carried next to his heart since the night Dom was shot.
“I think these have been hanging around my neck long enough,” Billy says quietly. “Help me put them where they belong?”
Dom’s eyes sparkle with happiness. “Absolutely.”
Together, they slip the chain over Billy’s head, and once the clasp has been opened, they take turns placing the simple platinum bands on each others ring fingers.
“Much better,” Billy declares, gazing at their entwined hands, leaning down to press his lips to Dom’s skin. “Just didn’t look right before.”
“I should’ve known that you’d keep them around your neck,” Dom murmurs, shaking his head. “I wondered what had happened to the chain, but I couldn’t make myself ask Orli if he knew anything about them.”
“I wanted them to be safe.” Reaching up to push the hair out of Dom’s eyes again, Billy frowns. “Dommie, you really need a haircut. I can’t remember the last time it was this long.”
“I know,” Dom replies absently. “It’ll wait until you’re up to it.”
“Me?”
A sweet blush colors Dom’s cheeks as he adds, “I was hoping that you’d cut it, like you used to.”
“I’d love to,” Billy says softly, and leans in to brush a kiss across Dom’s waiting lips.
As Viggo promised, Dom is moved to the rehab facility the next afternoon, accompanied by Billy, with Aureen and Austin following in the car behind them. Dom is very pleased to learn that he’ll be able to wear whatever clothing is comfortable for him, instead of the drafty hospital gowns he’s been required to wear at the hospital, and Billy promises to bring him a selection of items from home. Although Dom is eager to get started, he’s told that he should concentrate on getting settled tonight, and he’ll meet the people who will be working with him in the morning.
After a quick phone call is made, Viggo and Orlando arrive for a visit, and a celebratory toast is made with plastic cups and sparkling apple cider. Several items that Billy brought from the flat are set out to make Dom’s room a wee bit homier, including a picture of the two of them, taken after their picnic lunch in London, snuggled up together under a tree. The couple is teased good-naturedly about their frequent displays of affection, but all are relieved that they’re approaching the other side of a very difficult time, together. Eventually, Viggo and Orlando say goodbye, promising to visit again soon, giving the family some time to themselves.
Even though the day is one that everyone has been looking forward to for weeks now, it’s not without a twinge of sadness as well, because Aureen and Austin are leaving that evening. They’ve taken as much time off from their jobs as they possibly can, used up all their vacation days, and need to get back to Manchester. Even though they know Dom is out of danger, is on the road to recovery, it’s clear that both feel guilty about the timing of their departure. Because of that, Dom spends several hours with them, the three exploring the facility together, and reassuring them that he’s going to be just fine. He even promises them that he and Billy will visit as soon as they’re able.
Later that night, when Dom and Billy are curled up in bed together, just enjoying the quiet and closeness, Dom sighs softly as Billy draws his small fingers through his hair.
“Wish you could stay here,” he says, cheek resting comfortably against Billy’s pectoral muscle, the heart beat beneath very soothing.
“I’ll be back in the morning,” Billy promises. “Just a little longer, and then you’ll be home.”
“Tomorrow’s Monday, Bills,” Dom reminds him gently. “The shop.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“Can’t help it.”
“Dommie, you start physio tomorrow-”
“I’ll be fine,” Dom interrupts. “And I’ll feel much better if I know that the shop is open, and people are buying books.”
“But-”
“Do it for me?” Dom requests, his fingertips petting the curve of Billy’s shoulder. “Please?”
Billy sighs and presses a kiss to Dom’s forehead. “All right.”
“Thank you.”
“But I still want to see you in the morning.”
“Okay.”
“I figure I can come by for an hour or so, go home to open up, and come back later,” Billy explains. “If you need anything, I’m just a phone call away, yeah?”
Looking up me meet Billy’s gaze, Dom smiles. “I know.”
“Dom, there is one more thing,” Billy says cautiously, not wanting to alarm him. “Just something I want to you to know.”
An eyebrow arches warily as Dom responds with a slow, “Okay.”
“I get the feeling you’re trying to hide your scar from me, and I just wanted you to know that you don’t have to,” Billy continues gently. “I understand if you’re self-conscious about it, I mean, it’s natural to-”
“I think it’s ugly,” Dom says quietly. “And it’s not going to fade like the ones on my back. It’ll be there from now on. Every single day. Why would you want to-”
“I’m grateful for that scar, Dommie,” Billy supplies when Dom trails off, petting his hair. “It represents something very important.”
“What?”
Cupping Dom’s cheek, Billy gazes deeply into his eyes. “That you’re still alive,” he murmurs tenderly. “You’re here.”
“Oh.”
“Never thought of it that way, did you?”
“No,” Dom admits.
“Does it hurt?” Billy asks.
“It’s still tender, but no, it doesn’t hurt. Not anymore.”
“Okay. Good.”
“Do you- do you want to, uh, see it?” Dom inquires hesitantly.
“If you’re not ready, I’ll wait,” Billy replies. “No pressure.”
A long, quiet moment passes, and then Dom releases the breath he’s been holding as he deliberated in his head.
“You can look.”
Wordlessly, Billy nods and then carefully rolls Dom onto his back before slipping off the bed, moving down the side of the mattress until he reaches Dom’s mid section. To Dom’s surprise, he doesn’t peel back the t-shirt covering his belly, and instead laces their fingers together.
“Bills?”
Looking down at their entwined hands, a tiny smile flutters across Billy’s cherubic lips. “I won’t look until you’re ready. I’ll wait until you tell me that it’s all right.”
It’s only after Billy closes his eyes that Dom remembers that this is the way Billy saw his back, in the mirror the night they confessed their feelings for one another. Then, Billy waited patiently for Dom, never forced him, and quietly gave his unconditional support. Deeply touched, Dom’s anxiety dissipates and he uses his free hand to nudge the blanket aside before drawing up the hem of his shirt to reveal the healing wound that he’s been adamant about keeping hidden until now. Billy’s eyes remain closed the entire time, and Dom has not doubt that he won’t cheat and look beforehand.
“Open your eyes,” Dom says softly, his gaze locked on Billy’s face.
Complying with the gentle request, Billy looks down, and takes in the image of the still healing incision on Dom’s abdomen. After a few moments he shifts his free hand to rest on Dom’s belly, just below his navel.
“Can I touch it?” he asks quietly.
“Yeah.”
Dom starts to caution Billy to be careful, only to watch with wide eyes as the older man leans down and brushes a feathery kiss to the scar. The reverence in the simple act steals Dom’s voice, and his eyes are glistening when Billy pulls back, meeting his gaze.
“Thank you,” Billy says simply.
Even though he stays until the last possible moment, Billy is denied the opportunity to meet the people who will be working with Dom to help him reach the goal of walking again. It’s Dom who sends him on his way with a playful swat to his arse, promising to call later, and waves until Billy disappears from sight. Fortunately, Dom barely has time to get nervous, and then the door to his room opens, and two people enter.
“Good morning, Mr. Monaghan,” the female says as she moves swiftly over him.
“Call me Dom,” he replies, eyeing her closely and then glancing at her male companion.
“Dom, it is,” she continues. “I’m Cate, and this is Sean.”
“Hello.”
“I’ve been reading over your chart,” Cate tells him. “You’ve come a long way, considering the injuries you sustained. How are you feeling today?”
“Nervous, but excited,” Dom says with a tentative smile. “Or is that what you meant?”
“Well, that’s good to know, too,” she replies with a smile. “I was pleased to read that you’ve had some sensation return recently. The new x-rays look very promising.”
“Yeah, it started a couple of days ago,” Dom reports. “There’s been tingling in my legs, like when your foot falls asleep. It started at my hip and is down past my knees now.”
“Have you attempted to wiggle your toes, or make any movement, for that matter?”
Ducking his head for a moment, Dom swallows hard. “I’ve been too afraid to try.”
“Well, would you like to get started?” she inquires. “There’s a lot of testing to be done to see where your strengths are, and what we’ll need to work on. I’ll taking care of the internal side, like getting all your systems up and functioning like they should. My goal is to get your body self sustaining again.”
“No more catheter?” Dom asks, eyes perking up hopefully.
“Exactly.”
“Sounds good,” Dom says, and then looks at Sean. “So, I know what to expect from her. Where do you come in?”
“I’ll be working with you on strength training and endurance,” the older man replies. “And when you’re ready, taking your first steps.”
Overjoyed at the thought of walking again, and not being confined to a wheelchair, Dom beams.
“Don’t smile at me yet,” Sean cautions. “I’m known as Sean B around here. B is for bastard. I’ll work you hard, and you’ll probably hate me on more than one occasion-”
“As long as I walk out of here, I don’t care,” Dom interrupts firmly. “I’ll do whatever you want.”
Sean grins. “Then we’ll get along just fine.”
Flipping through Dom’s chart, Cate arches an eyebrow. “I see you have a partner. Mr. Boyd.”
“Billy.”
“We encourage family involvement whenever possible. Would that be something Billy would be interested in?”
“Most definitely,” Dom says, a soft smile turning up the corners of his mouth. “He was here late last night and early this morning. He’s working right now, but I’m sure you’ll meet him soon.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
“So, shall we get to work?” Sean suggests, looking to Cate and when she nods, he moves over to Dom.
“Absolutely,” Dom agrees.
As expected, within a few days, Billy has introduced himself to Cate and Sean, and taken an avid interest in Dom’s therapy schedule, wanting to be involved as much as possible. And he’s certainly not the only one. Orlando makes regular visits, timing it so he arrives just as Dom is awakening from the required nap he takes after his morning physio session, Viggo dropping by every few days in the afternoons, as his schedule allows. Like when Dom was in hospital, Orlando brings the puppy that the younger man has grown so fond of, the two spending some quiet time together while Orlando keeps an eye out so they won’t be caught. She’s growing quickly now, getting more active by the day, and soon, she’ll be moving to her new home.
It’s Billy who informs Sean of the impossible standards that Dom often sets for himself, and they work together to keep Dom on track, so he doesn’t overdo it and inadvertently cause a setback. He’s grateful when his concerns are taken seriously, and is there when Sean cautions Dom about pushing his still healing body too fast. Under Sean and Billy’s watchful eyes, Dom’s stamina steadily improves, thanks to hard work and dedication, and his sessions are slowly increased in length. Later, after he requests it repeatedly, a second session is added in the afternoon. Billy is the one who works with him then, encouraging Dom to keep going, supporting the younger man as he continues to pursue his goal.
The next several weeks are filled with challenges, victories and disappointments, and through it all, Billy is there at Dom’s side. He’s the one who helps Dom into the loo for the first time after he’s finally freed of the medical contraptions that have been taking care of his bodily functions, and they decide to celebrate in a rather unconventional way. A haircut, as well as all the feathery kisses Dom could ever want. One night when Billy shows up with takeaway Thai, he’s treated to the sight of Dom starting wondrously at his bare feet, as he silently orders his toes to move, and they obey. For the first time in months, Dom’s eyes are filled to overflowing with joy, and hope.
Billy is there when Dom is frustrated and sore from the demands he’s putting on his body, the desire to walk again overwhelming, and he rubs Dom’s sore muscles until he’s limp and drifting off to sleep. Lastly, he’s the one who gives Dom a sponge bath after each exhausting day, tenderly washing away the sweat and weariness, and uses the quiet time to reconnect with Dom. He knows that Dom has had so much of his privacy taken away since he was shot, and this is one intimate task that he can take care of. In addition, it’s important to Billy that their close bond is maintained, in a way that has nothing to do with sex.
Despite all the amazing progress Dom has made, not all functions have normalized, specifically, even though sensation has completely returned, he’s not been able to get aroused. It doesn’t matter how many times Billy tries to comfort Dom about it, on this point, his stubbornness is too strong for Billy’s reasoning. Not even Cate can get through to Dom, with all her medical expertise and explanations as to why it just might take a wee bit longer. All Billy can do is be supportive, and pray that there will be good news soon.
One sunny Thursday morning in February, after Dom’s been at the rehab facility just shy of a month, Billy receives a call from Sean, asking that he come for a very special occasion. Today, Dom is going to attempt to walk, and Sean wisely thought that he would like Billy to be there for such a special moment. The day doesn’t go exactly as planned, but after some initial problems, Dom is able to take half a dozen small, shuffling steps, with Sean’s assistance. At first, Dom is extremely disappointed, and is only soothed somewhat after a long talk with Billy, curled up together. Billy promises him that it will get easier, and that Dom just needs to be patient.
Not for the first time, Billy hates that he has to leave at night, and can’t be there to ensure that Dom doesn’t lay awake, staring at the ceiling, worrying and doubting himself. As it is, he stays until after eleven o’clock, well beyond the end of visiting hours, and Dom’s breathing is slow and steady, anxiety finally leaving him, if only temporarily. When Dom awakens in the morning, Billy is waiting at his bedside, and they spend over an hour talking, the older man rubbing slow circles between Dom’s shoulder blades. When he leaves to go open the shop, Dom seems in better spirits, and it only fuels Billy’s hope that Dom will be able to come home soon.
Chapter 47
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cate and sean b (for bastard? giggles)
PUPPY!!!
walking!
i really kind of love this chapter.
p.s. something i forgot to mention about yesterday's chapter? the whole mouth or hand thing kind of reminds me of times gone by.
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Good to see that they've reconnected once more, and are both moving past what has happened.
Looking forward to the finale (?)...
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*Hugs you and your muse*
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But how sweet was this chapter, thanks so much. :D
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Dom’s eyes sparkle with happiness. “Absolutely.”
loved that part.
She’s growing quickly now, getting more active by the day, and soon, she’ll be moving to her new home.
aw, puppy! i hope her new home is Dom and Billy's place. *wink*
He knows that Dom has had so much of his privacy taken away since he was shot, and this is one intimate task that he can take of. In addition, it’s important to Billy that their close bond is maintained, in a way that has nothing to do with sex.
the lack of privacy for even the simplest things can be degrading. I bet Dom is relieved to have Billy do this for him.
Can't believe we're almost at the finish line.
kerry =)
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As for yesterday's chapter re: the mouth or hand thing - that was intentional. I think realizing that Dom was sliding back to that way of thinking is what finally made Billy speak up.
I'm glad you love this chapter.
Thank you.
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They're definitely moving on with their lives.
*giggle* Are you saying you want an Epilogue?
Thank you.
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Yeah, that's a nice way of putting it.
Thanks for the hugs.
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Glad you enjoyed. Thank you.
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People are loving this puppy! Okay, so am I. She's so darn cute in my head.
All too often, a hospital isn't the place for privacy, and I liked the idea of them being able to create some for themselves, with Billy taking care of Dom's more intimate needs. At this point, it's the closest they have to taking a bath together, as they have in the past.
Yes, it's almost over. . .*sigh*
Thank you.
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Thank you.
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