Up from the depths of a technological hell comes...
******
“Sergeant, there’s no need to -”
“Shit!” He regretted it immediately, the vise clamping in his neck cranking a few ticks tighter thanks to his chair jumping, body jerking, shirt drenching, Jack stirring, damn embarrassing start back to alert. “Shit.” Fucking fell asleep sitting - stupid, so stupid and fucking weak – what if – and they – Jack could have -
“En…nis…” The voice pillow slurred, drowsy ribbons binding it still. “…are…you?”
At his side instantly, knuckles soothed a stubbly cheek. “I’m here, I got you, you’re safe,” tender forehead kisses coaxing slumber’s return.
“You…cow…hat…hot…”
“Sssshhh, baby, ssshhh..” A stray lock of dark hair was scolded back in place and a non-existent blanket wrinkle received a smart smooth down before a hand motion and an ill advised nod of the head retired the conversation to the bathroom doorway.
“I didn’t mean to wake you.” The barely above a whisper apology conciliatory and sincere “I’m sorry, Sergeant.”
“No, no, Kisha. I shouldn’t have been…wait, is it already…” Neck knot kneading hand paused for a time check. “Antibiotics at nine.”
“There’s no need to wake him, though.”
“But, doesn’t he need, I mean, how is he -”
“Incredibly hot, brilliant and in love with you.”
The lines of his Jack smile crinkled, the grooves deep from copious amounts of practice. “He told you to say that, didn’t he?”
“Even wrote it down for me.” The 5x7 card pulled from her pocket flashed loopy, round words in red Sharpie. “To avoid a misquoting faux pas.”
“Self diagnosis by Dr. Twist. He write his own prescriptions, too?”
The other side of the card presented Jack’s one word cure-all: Ennis.
“And I do believe one will make the other,” a tiny, thin paper cup was placed in Ennis’ care, “go down easier. But, soon, with food. And don’t give into his Bambi eyes this time.” A wee, wisp of a little thing, and not much older than Junior, Kisha had proven to be remarkably immune to that fatal condition that afflicts most women when exposed to the Twist Charm. “No matter how much he whines.”
“Jack whine?” Mock protestation ‘defended’ his partner’s honor. “No!”
“Yeah, right. And how long has he been my patient?”
Since Wednesday night, introductions made, thanks to Hunnie’s powers of persuasion, over blood soaked sheets.
******
Sordid details tomorrow!
Sorry for being away sooooo long.
B