Hex

[london_spy]

from here

"I don't want the drink as bad as you do," Danny replied, and it was as much a pointed remark as it was a challenge. It had been a long time, but he knew what happened when he pushed Hex. He knew, and he wanted it.

 

If they were going to burn, it ought to be a damn good blaze.

Comments

[london_spy]

"No- I just... Just get me some cold medicine, I'll be fine," Danny insisted, curling up under the covers and coughing again. "I don't want to go to the hospital, Hex."

[just_hex]

"Danny, you know that's foolish. If it's a cold it could turn into pneumonia by tonight. We're going to see someone," Hex said firmly as he fetched Danny some clothes.

[london_spy]

"Or I might sit in A&E for three hours only to find out I've got a tickle in my throat," Danny argued. "Hex, last time I was in there it was for an overdose. You don't think the first thing they'll do is test me?"

[just_hex]

"I'm not going to bend on this, Danny," he shot back. "So what if they test you? It'd be worse if I went to work and came home to find you..."

Sick. Dead. Words he wouldn't say aloud for fear they might come true.

"...Just get dressed...Or I'll take you like you are."

[london_spy]

It was on the tip of his tongue to tell Hex to fuck off, but his better judgement won out as he dragged himself out of bed to get dressed.

"I wish you wouldn't treat me like a child. I'm a grown man for fuck's sake. I should get to decide what I do in these situations," he muttered, looking unsteady on his feet as he cleaned up and got dressed.

[just_hex]

Then stop acting like a child, he thought, but kept silent for a moment.

"You don't have the luxury of trying to sleep off a cold," he finally said gently. Once Danny was dressed, Hex moved in to touch him lightly. "I don't mean to fuss...I just don't want this to get any worse."

[london_spy]

"I know," Danny said quietly. "I know, I just- I wish it could just be a cold. I wish everything in our lives could just be... Normal, you know?"

[just_hex]

"I know. I know, love," he replied. "But this is our normal. This is what we've got to live with and that's just how it is. We've got to take care. Come on, the car should be here in just a few minutes."

[london_spy]

"I've got to take care, you mean," Danny said quietly, pulling his coat on and grabbing his cigarettes before heading outside to have a smoke and wait for the car.

[just_hex]

Hex followed him out. He hesitated just a moment before laying a hand lightly on Danny's back.

"I mean 'we'," he said. "We're in this together, yeah? We are."

[london_spy]

Danny leant into the touch, taking a long drag and coughing hard before giving in and crushing the cigarette under his heel.

"Part of me thinks you like this," Danny admitted, closing his eyes and breathing as deep as his lungs allowed. "Having something broken to look after, I mean. ...I'm not judging you for it. We all have our vices after all."

[just_hex]

Hex had thought the same thing on more than one occasion, but had always put it out of his head because he loved Danny. This wasn't some fix-it project. He'd committed to caring for Danny, as he hoped the man would care for him. But he also knew that codependency was a trait he had. The trouble was...it was so unconscious. He did things without thinking, then looked back and realized what he'd done.

"Maybe, maybe not. I just want you to be alright, Danny," he said. "Right now all I'm worried about is that cough."

[london_spy]

"If they make me stay, will you stay with me?" Danny asked quietly. "I don't trust hospitals. Not anymore."

Danny didn't really trust anywhere he could be touched by them.

[just_hex]

"I won't leave your side," he promised. "Not for a minute."

The car rolled up and Hex took Danny's hand.

"It's going to be alright."

[london_spy]

Taking the offered hand, Danny could only hope Hex was right as he followed him into the car.

It was a short ride to the hospital, and Danny was silent most of the way. By the time they reached A&E he was coughing hard again, and trying to ignore the crackling sound he heard every time he took a breath.

[just_hex]

The nurse took them into triage and got Danny's vitals. A listen to his chest and a couple questions about his positive status and they were ushered into a room, only to wait. And wait.

Hex paced a bit.

"I'm sure they'll be here soon," he said, trying to be reassuring.

[london_spy]

Danny could feel how off his breathing was now, and he took a deep breath before speaking.

"Go home. Pack me a bag. ...They're going to keep me overnight," he said quietly. "I've got fluid on my chest, I can feel it."

[just_hex]

"Let's get some oxygen on you," he said, rather than agree to go. He found a mask and attached it to the wall. Oxygen began to hiss quietly.

"We'll worry about a bag later. Right now I'm more worried about making sure you're stable."

[london_spy]

"You're not on duty, you shouldn't be touching that!" Danny laughed, the action only promoting another coughing fit.

[just_hex]

"I do what I like," he replied with a grin. It faded the second Danny began to cough. He could hear the rattle of it from here. He didn't need to listen closer to his chest.

[london_spy]

A doctor came in eventually, confirming what Danny had feared. He'd be staying the night. After all that waiting, it took no time at all to get him into a hospital gown and into a room- Thankfully not one he'd have to share.

He hated being on a drip, hated the stupid oxygen mask, and though he was trying not to fuss, it was clear Danny was not in high spirits as he lay quietly in the hospital bed.

[just_hex]

Hex stayed with him through it all. It wasn't until Danny was settled in bed, on a drip of saline and antibiotics and masked with oxygen, that he sat on the edge of the bed and touched him tenderly.

"I'll stay if you want. I don't want to leave you alone," he said. "I can go get your things in the morning."

[london_spy]

Tugging on the mask, Danny pulled off his oxygen so he could speak.

"You don't have to stay. I was being a coward before," he said, shaking his head. "I know you've got better things to do than sit here all day and night with me, Hex. I'll be alright."

[just_hex]

"Danny, I've got nothing 'better' to do," he replied. "I want to be here with you. By your side. Put your oxygen back on and lay back."

[london_spy]

"You could work on your book, you could get proper rest. You could see your mates, see a film... I can make you a list of things that are better than sitting here watching me suck on air, Hex," Danny countered.