Page 12 of Lay It Bare

“Literally a doctor, doll. Tell me something I don’t know.”

Ellisandre snort laughed. “Save that lip for Linda.”

“Nope. Linda’s a good girl. You’re the bitch who insists on drawing their own blood.”

“Your phlebotomist was trained by chimps.”

“My phlebotomist doesn’t have ice in his veins for when holy terrors like you show up. It took two donuts to make him stop shaking.”

“Hire sturdier staff.”

“Try not scaring my staff.” Rosie chuckled. “Now get off the line. I have patients.” The phone clicked off.

Ellisandre shook their head, leveraged themselves upright off the wall, and headed to the front desk to have a courier sent for.

Ellisandre

They arrived early to the mall, but Sevastyan was already there. He headed for the men’s bathroom as soon as Ellisandre turned down the corridor. Ellisandre lengthened their stride and went in after him. No one else was in the restroom. Sevastyan didn’t look back. He kept walking and entered the handicap stall at the end.

Ellisandre followed, closing the door behind them. Sevastyan turned around. He was dressed for the cold. The wind had gotten to his unshaven cheeks, making him look rough.

Ellisandre held up the bag with the saline. “Convince me this isn’t for you.”

“It’s not.” Sevastyan shook his head. He pulled off his gloves and flexed his hand, turning his wrist over and showing Ellisandre his veins. “I’m fine.”

“Yesterday was rough.”

“Early this morning.” Sevastyan grimaced, then looked down. “I’m taking care of someone.”

“And you can’t take them to a hospital.” It wasn’t a question.

Sevastyan gave the barest shake of his head, confirming the statement.

Ellisandre handed over the bag. “Show me your chest.

Their boy took the bag, looked around, found nowhere to set it, and handed it back. He tugged off his gloves and worked open the front of his coat. There was a sweater and a shirt beneath that. He pulled them up, showing the same bandaging Ellisandre had fixed on him less than twelve hours before. Ellisandre laid their hand against his chest, feeling his temperature and the pulse of his heart. He felt healthy. Stressed but stable.

“You should be asleep.”

“I will. As soon as I get this started.”

Ellisandre nodded. “Text me this evening. If you don’t, I’ll hunt you down.”

Sevastyan’s eyes crinkled up at the edges, the barest amount of amusement. “I’ll text.”

There was nothing else to say. Even though keeping him here soothed something inside, it wasn’t soothing their boy.

“Go. Take care of what you have to. Then rest.”

Sevastyan bowed his head in acknowledgement and opened the stall, slipping out. Ellisandre waited a full two minutes and went out after. Sevastyan was already beyond sight by the time Ellisandre re-entered the corridor.

Rei held Lisa through the latest round of weak coughing until the man sagged against Rei’s chest. Holding a hot washcloth over Lisa’s face seemed to help the cough, but the one in Rei’s hand was now too cool. Perhaps he should go rewarm it. Rei moved his leg to brace himself. If he could just shift Lisa to the pillow for a few moments, he would be back with relief in mere minutes.

“Don’t go.” Lisa gripped Rei’s shirt and mumbled into the side of his neck. “Please don’t go.”

“You need to breathe better,” Rei whispered back. He put his hands over Lisa’s, gently prying them off. Lisa collapsed away from Rei, whispering something.

It had to be done. Rei tore himself away and rolled to the other side of the bed to evade Lisa’s hands. In the bathroom, the water took time to warm. Rei leaned against the counter, finger under the tap, counting the seconds until it was warm, one ear listening to make sure Lisa didn’t leave the bed. As soon as he thought the temperature would be high enough, he shoved the washcloth under the spigot and started wringing it out and letting it absorb in turns until the cloth was hot to touch. He sprinted back to the bed.