Nancy did sneak me a pillow and a blanket to wrap around myself before she left for the night and told me her friend knows I’m here, so not to worry. My only saving grace to keep me from boredom was the book my dad tossed at me and left behind. I read that until my eyes finally started to feel tired, so while sitting in the chair I laid my head down on the bed nextto Jim.
I was awoken the next morning by the doctor coming in and clearing his throat.
Well, shit.
“I came to check on the patient. I wasn’t expecting to find you still here,” giving me a beady eye stare down. He reached for Jim’s wrist to check his pulse but startled him, yanking it away, which resulted in a gasp of pain. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I normally can get vitals without waking my patients,” but he said it with annoyance, like after he caught me here, he truly wasn’t sorry.
After he was done with all the checks, he asked me to step out for some privacy so he could examine the wound, but Jim stopped me and said I could stay. The doctor exhaled and lifted Jim’s gown, poked and prodded, wiped some sort of solution on it and covered it back up, all while Jim was clenching his jaw and gritting his teeth. I slipped my hand under the covers and held his, so he could squeeze if he wanted. Which I knew was stupid.
“I should keep you one more night since there is some redness around the wound, but I’m going to spring you. Once Nancy arrives, I’ll have her gather your belongings. If you need to make transportation arrangements, call them now as I’m not letting you leave if you are taking the trolley.” Then without a goodbye or well wishes, he left.
Asshole.
I stood up and stretched; I had a crick in my neck from the position I was leaning on the bed. I told him I was going to go see if I could call Tom to come and get us. Jim motioned to lean down to him, where he was able to reach my neck and quickly drew me to his lips, where he pressed a light morning hello, letting me go with a smug look, knowing he just upended me when I was barely awake yet. I shook my head witha smile on my face and left. On the way to the lobby area, I found a nurse and asked for Jim’s personal items so we could have his wallet. I needed a dime for the payphone.
After going through all that and calling Tom, I went back to his curtained area with his belongings and told him I used a dime and that Tom was coming. An hour later, with Tom’s help and a friendly farewell from Nancy, we were on our way back up the mountain.
Getting back to the Village, Tom illegally parked on the street right next to Jim’s unit. He was walking very gingerly with Tom and I near if he needed us. He was told not to twist or do anything extensive for a while so the wound could heal.
Inside, we took him up the stairs with care and to his bed. I helped situate him like in the hospital, a pillow wedged under his back, so he was leaning to the right.
“Are you going to be okay,” Tom asked. “Should I have David come over and stay with you or check on you?”
“Thanks, Tom,” Jim said weakly, seeming to be a little out of breath from the exertion from getting from the car to the bed. “If you see David, can you just tell him I’m home. I’m sure he will make his way over himself.”
“Sure thing, and send word if you need anything. If not, I’ll see you in two weeks,” Tom nodded, then turned to me, “I need a word.” Motioning with his head to follow him.
My blood started to chill. His face was unexpressive, so I couldn’t read if this was goingto be bad or good. I looked at Jim with as much confidence as I could muster, as I had a bad feeling about this and told him I’d be right back.
Downstairs in the empty living room, Tom looked around, shaking his head at the empty space. After taking a breath he turned to me, “I’m putting you on paid leave.” I went to respond and argue but he cut me off with a wave of the hand. “I am putting you onPAIDleave for your safety, only for now, until I figure out what to do about Richard and Dan. It will probably be only for the rest of the week.”
I started looking all around me trying to process everything from the incident down in the mine, my dad and his reaction yesterday, and how he’s going to react to this news. David and his current feelings about me and most importantly, the little void that Jim and I hadn’t talked about yet, about what we were.
“I can see your brain going a million miles, Charlie. I am not doing this because you are in trouble, but because there is trouble. I’m using this opportunity to push that trouble out of my mountain. But to do that, I can’t have you there, yeah?”
I looked up at Tom’s round face, full of scruff that looks like he didn’t have time to shave this morning. I nodded to him, “Yes, sir.”
“Good,” giving me a nod, before he leaned around the corner and yelled goodbye to Jim, but we didn’t hear anything back, then Tom started to head for the kitchen and the door. Before closing it behind him, he peered at me with approval, “I have a feeling you will be here…” making me swallow hard. “I am here if you or he needs anything.”
I know I looked taken aback, but he nodded and closed the door, leaving me alone in silence.
I creeped back up the stairs as quietly as the creaky floor would allow. Once I got to Jim, I did find him asleep. Watching him for what felt like an hour, I formulated a plan. I needed to deal with my dad and tell him I wouldn't be back at the mine till at least next week. Also, I needed to pack a bag before coming back here. Jim was going to need help because he probably didn’t have anyone else. More to learn about the man that’s starting to make me feel whole again. And more importantly, safe.
I found some paper in the kitchen and a pencil and left Jim a note on the bed next to him.
I wanted to kiss him goodbye on the forehead, but I didn’t want to accidentally wake him up.
I slipped out of his unit, into the midday spring heat and quickly headed home in the sun that’s trying to make itself known through all the industrial smog the plants put out. Once home, I gathered some belongings quickly and packed them while waiting for my dad to be done with work, which should havebeen soon.
My dad stomped up the stairs shortly after I completed my tasks, including an extra pillow just in case Jim didn’t have any more because he’s using them himself. Like hell if I’m taking comfort away from him.
When dad saw me, he stopped short in surprise. “You’re home.”
“Yes, but I’m leaving again,” I said pointing to my things. My nerves were running through me like little ants, a tickle sensation all over my skin.
“Are you serious? Son, we are having a disagreement. It might be a big one, but it isn’t cause for you to move out. I would never do that to you. After everything, I would think you’d know that.”
“Jim’s going to need help, Dad. This is about him, not us. Tom and I got him home a couple hours ago, but he lives alone. And just so you know, you can’t stop me,” I threw on to make a point, but internally bracing for a fight.
