Odis turned the car around and pulled out of the driveway, not bothering to close the gate as they left. He smiled at Bobby as they cruised down the road, the dimming light of dusk lending even more of a feeling of moonscape to the blackened earth around them. Odis glanced over. “I’m so relieved. We can get it all fixed up and be back in before middle of next week, I bet.”
Bobby nodded. “I’m kinda surprised, but I guess I shouldn’t be, since it’s concrete and all.”
Odis nodded. “I designed it with tornadoes in mind. Wanted to make sure it would hold up if one blew through. Never even thought about a grass fire, though. I’ll hafta check the roof carefully, make sure the concrete didn’t crack anywhere from the heat. It’ll hafta be patched and sealed up right away if there are any cracks,” he thought aloud as they neared the main road.
A few minutes later, they stepped into the B and B, welcomed by the wonderful aromas of baking bread and spicy roasted meat. They found John already sitting at the dining table and Gertie setting out a full spread. A huge rack of lamb filled up the center of the table, surrounded by a loaf of fresh bread and numerous vegetables.
Odis dropped his duffel in the hallway. “Geez, Gertie, how many people we feedin’?” he asked with a chuckle.
Bobby set down his suitcase in the hall and draped the garment bag over one of the chairs before joining them in the dining room.
Gertie smiled at the joviality in Odis’s voice and pointed at the chairs. “Don’t know fer sure. Told Alice and Gina to drop by. Don’t know if they will or not. Wanda Travie, Carl’s widow, is supposed to be comin’ by later.” Gertie glanced at the suitcases in the hall. “I take it ya went by the house?”
The scent of the perfectly seared lamb made Bobby’s mouth water as he sat down.
Nodding, Odis approached the dining table. “Yep, and it’s still there. Just some broken windows is all. Easy to fix. Garage burnt up, though.” He chuckled as he looked over the spread of food. “Just like Mamma—always cook when ya get worried.”
“Shut up and eat,” Gertie said as she served out sliced rib sections onto the waiting men’s plates.
Bobby grabbed some of the mashed potatoes and green beans as the door buzzed. Gertie waved at Alice to come in.
She looked like an older and slightly mousier version of Gina. “Smells heavenly,” she complimented while taking a seat next to Gertie.
“Gina not comin’?” Gertie asked, picking up a clean plate from the stack and handing it to Alice.
“Nah, she wanted ta peek in on Tuck and hang around for Hawk ta wake up. Doc said Hawk’s fine, just ornery, as normal. So they’re sendin’ him home.”
Gertie looked over at Odis, glad to see how he dug into the meat and corn on the cob with gusto. “Then ya boys might wanna eat fast and run back. Odie can help handle Hawk, if he’s in a mood.”
Odis and Bobby nodded in agreement as they devoured their dinners.
Chapter 21
ONCE back at the hospital, they found Gina in the ER, still waiting for Hawk to wake up. He was expected to be out another thirty minutes, so Bobby and Odis ran back upstairs to squeeze in a visit with Tuck. Bobby motioned for Odis to take the lead. “You go in first. That way, you can be waiting here in the hall if Hawk shows up early.”
“Okay,” Odis agreed, and he went in. He didn’t see a nurse anywhere, so he rushed right into Tuck’s room. “You awake, bonehead?” he called out while pushing open the door.
Tuck grinned and blinked over at the doorway. “Am now, asshole.”
“Good. I heard somewhere ya can’t heal when ya sleep ’cause yer not awake to think about it,” Odis teased as he approached the left side of the bed and kissed Tuck.
After a nice moment of sharing lips, Tuck pulled away. “And where’d ya hear nonsense like that?”
Odis shrugged. “One of those fundamentalist channels. Twenty Thousand Club, I think. The ones that don’t believe in hospitals or shit.”
Tuck chuckled. “Oh, I’m sure they have sound medical advice, then. Maybe you should ask Klyve about that next time he’s by.”
“Klyve? Oh, is that the snippy nurse?”
Tuck nodded. “He’s actually a good guy, just seems really tired.”
Odis took time to glance around the space. He looked curiously at Tuck. “I don’t see any kind of bathroom nearby,” he said with a questioning tone.
“Catheter,” Tuck replied. “They don’t want me movin’ around ’til they get a cast on my hand.”
Odis scowled and reflexively covered his groin with his hand. “Doesn’t that hurt?”
“I don’t know. Wasn’t awake when they put it in. Can’t be too bad, though, since sounding is such a hot activity.”
“Sounding?”
Tuck chuckled. “I ferget yer a slow straight man sometimes. It’s puttin’ things down the urethra for pleasure.”
“Hey,” Odis said as he punched at Tuck’s arm. “Who says I’m slow? I’m just not up on all this jargon.” Odis turned curious. “What kinds of things?”
“Thin metal or plastic rods. Look it up on the Internet if ya really wanna know more.”
“I will,” Odis said firmly. “Have you ever done that?”
“No sex talk right now, okay? Seein’ how’s I’m stuck here like this, with no privacy, even.”
“Sure, sorry,” Odis agreed. “But you brought it up. I should go,” he said with a hand squeeze. “Bobby’s waitin’ his turn, and just so ya know, Hawk’s due awake any time now.”
Tuck tried to smile peacefully. “Good to know.”
Odis gave him a quick kiss and left. “All yours, stud,” he said a minute later as he passed Bobby and sat down on the maroon couch.
Bobby handed him his cell phone and went into the ICU. He grinned back at Tuck as he slipped in the door. “Hey,” he said warmly.
“Hey, stud,” Tuck answered as Bobby sidled up to the bed. They kissed. “He looks better.”
“We had some dinner at Gertie’s.”
“Damn, makin’ me jealous. Don’t even tell me what she made.”
“Okay, I won’t, then.” Bobby glanced around at all the pinging and beeping machinery. “Why do they have you hooked up to all this junk?”
“Who knows?” Tuck said with a shrug. “I can’t even tell what half the shit’s for.”
“You doing okay?”
“Sure. Mostly just bored. They won’t let me even stand up out of bed.”
“Sorry,” Bobby said with a comforting hand pat. “Prob’ly won’t get better anytime soon.” Bobby heard a familiar grumbling voice out in the hallway and felt Tuck tense up under his caress.
“Loki’s nuts, here we go,” Tuck quietly mumbled.
“Should I—”
Tuck grabbed his hand. “You stay right here.”
ODIS blocked the door to the ICU wing with one hand planted on each side of the doorframe, trying his best to look formidable as he stood up to the six-foot-three Viking warrior. “No. Bobby’s already back there. Only one at a time.”
Hawk scowled. “Don’t feed me bullshit, Odie. I’ll rip you in two if you don’t get outta my way.”
Klyve stepped up behind Odis holding a squared-off plastic gun. “You heard the little guy. Back up to the couch.”
“And who the fuck are you?” Hawk glowered down, keeping his eyes on the gun in the nurse’s hand as he shifted slowly to the right.
“I could ask you the same fuckin’ question,” Klyve replied. “But all you need to know is I’m the one in charge of keeping the peace here.”
Hawk took another slow step to the right, watching Klyve wielding what looked like a Taser as he stepped forward. Hawk studied his movements, learning his tells.
“Couch,” Klyve repeated as he motioned with the gun. “Not only am I the senior nurse on this floor, I’m also a Vartlett. Do I need to call my cousin Charlie?”
“No.” Hawk took another step back and relaxed his shoulders. “No need to bring Mayor Vartlett in on this
.”
“Didn’t think so. Now, have a seat and wait your turn.” Klyve looked at Hawk’s bare feet and the haphazardly tucked hospital gown he wore as a shirt with his jeans. “Before I change my mind and start calling all the stations to find out where you escaped from.”
As Hawk took two steps back toward the couch, the elevator door opened with a ding and Gina rushed up. “Hawk!” she yelled. “They didn’t say you could leave yet.”
Hawk perched on the edge of the couch. “I’m not leavin’ ’til I see my brother.”
“And you’re not gettin’ anywhere near him until you calm down,” Klyve said firmly. “Tuck and the other patients need a quiet environment.”
Gina glared at her husband as she sat down beside him.
“Okay,” Hawk said.
Klyve glanced over at Odis. “If you can behave, I’ll let the little guy take you back, but only for five minutes. I have to check him for rounds soon.”
Hawk stood up and nodded.
“I didn’t hear you.”
“Okay,” Hawk agreed aloud. “Five minutes. Got it.”
Klyve stepped back into the ICU and let Odis and Hawk pass. “Behave,” he said, waving the gun at Hawk as he stepped by.
Odis led him into room two. “Ya got a visitor,” he announced as Hawk walked in.
Hawk froze in the doorway, taking in the sight of all the busy machinery. He saw the mummy-wrapped hand, then saw Tuck’s left hand in Bobby’s. His brow furrowed, etched with heavy concern. “You okay, midget?” he asked, trying to keep his voice normal.
Odis glared at the slur, but Hawk was looking right at Tuck and didn’t notice.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Tuck told him. “Was that you makin’ all that ruckus in the hallway?”
Hawk dropped his gaze. “Sorry. I was kinda pissed nobody told me ya was here.”
“You upset people when ya carry on like that,” Tuck chastised as he pulled his hand away from Bobby and held it out. “Ya gonna hug me? Or just stand there lookin’ stupid?”
Bobby stepped over to make room for the big man to get close. Hawk very gingerly put his arms around Tuck and lightly squeezed before pulling back. “What happened to your hand?”
Tuck frowned as if he wasn’t sure how to answer. “Freezer landed on it,” he finally said.
“Fuck,” Hawk muttered. “Which one was it? I’ll go shoot it for you.”
“Ya idiot.” Tuck chuckled. “No need for that.” He patted Hawk’s arm. “You better get back downstairs before they start lookin’ for ya.”
“Okay,” Hawk said, his eyes glued to the bundled wrappings on Tuck’s hand.
Odis stepped up and grabbed the billowy side of Hawk’s gown-shirt. “Let’s hurry, before Klyve throws ya out.” He pulled Hawk back toward the door and started dragging him out.
“I’ll come back later,” Hawk promised.
“In the morning.”
“Okay, mornin’,” Hawk agreed as he stepped out the door.
Tuck visibly exhaled when he saw his brother step out of the ICU into Gina’s arms. “Sorry,” he said to Bobby.
“Why are you apologizing?” Bobby asked as he held Tuck’s hand again. “Hawk obviously loves you.”
“He doesn’t handle emotion well. Never has. He just growls and stomps around like a wild bear. It can be embarrassing.”
“Better that than a brother who won’t even look at you,” Bobby replied.
Something in the tone of Bobby’s voice grabbed Tuck’s attention. It was just the slightest tremble—a quiet thing, easily unnoticed, that hinted Bobby was speaking from a place of painful experience.
Klyve came in before Tuck had a chance to ask about it. Walking to the charts, he threw a glance at Bobby. “Time’s up.”
“Okay.” Bobby smiled at Tuck. “We’ll be out in the waiting room. I’m trying, but I doubt I’ll be able to drag Odis out again.”
“See ya, stud.”
After Bobby left, Klyve smirked over at Tuck. “That little guy of yours sure has some big-assed balls. Had to rescue him with a stapler.” He went around to Tuck’s right hand and slowly opened up the bandages.
“A stapler?” Tuck asked.
“Square plastic, gun shaped, looks like a Taser. I thought yer brother was gonna chew him up.”
Tuck chuckled. “Odis is like one of those Jack Russell dogs. He fergets he’s a half-pint.”
Klyve carefully examined Tuck’s fingers. “He’d have got his own blows in, I’m sure. But you tell that brother—”
“Hawk,” Tuck told him.
“You tell Hawk if he ever acts like that again, he’s not comin’ back. I’ll lock the door on his ass.”
“He should be all right now that he knows I’m not dyin’.”
Klyve nodded as he began rewrapping the hand.
“How is it?” Tuck asked.
“Doing well, I’d say. Good color. We can prob’ly throw a cast on it tomorrow, sad to say.”
“Why sad?”
Klyve walked over the chart and made his notes. “Because you won’t hafta be in ICU anymore. They’ll put you in a regular room or maybe even throw ya out the door altogether.”
“Oh.”
After putting away the chart, Klyve looked at him. “It’s not often I get guys I actually like hangin’ out with around here.”
Tuck just kind of half smiled, not sure how to take the compliment. He thought it might be nice to have Klyve over for a beer someday—it seemed like they could be good friends. Then he remembered about the house. “Shit.”
“What?”
“Could ya send one back for a sec? I fergot to ask if they checked Odie’s house. It’s in the burn zone.”
Klyve hesitated, then smiled slightly. “Let me finish my rounds first, and I will.”
“Thanks,” Tuck told him as he left.
AFTER finishing his rounds, Klyve returned to the central station to give the various room monitors a once-over. He glanced up toward the waiting room and saw Bobby and Odis on the couch. The two guys were cuddled up next to each other in the empty room in a strong embrace.
As Klyve stood up, something in his heart melted a little bit. He forgot all about being the tough nurse as he crossed the threshold of the ICU area and walked up to the men. Odis pulled away quickly when he realized someone was approaching. Klyve smiled. “Why don’t you come back a minute. Tuck said there was somethin’ he needed to ask about.”
Bobby looked over at Odis. “You go.”
“No,” Klyve cut in. “Both of you. Hurry before I change my mind.”
Both men jumped to their feet and followed Klyve back to room two. Klyve motioned at the door. “Hasta be quick, though. My relief comes in at nine, so ya gotta be out by then.”
“Okay,” Odis said as he walked in.
“Thanks,” Bobby said and turned before the door closed.
Tuck grinned up at the sight of both of them coming in. They rushed to the left side of the bed and pushed up close as Tuck wrapped his long arm around both of them. “Hi, guys.” They held the strangely awkward hug a minute before pulling back.
“Hey,” Bobby said. “The nurse said you had a question?”
Tuck glanced at Odis, then looked back to Bobby. “The house. Did ya check the house yet?”
Odis nodded. “It held up. Just some cracked windows. The garage is a goner, though.”
“Probably only take a couple of days to repair the windows,” Bobby added. “The house can be fixed before you get out of here.”
“Don’t know about that,” Tuck said with a smile. “Klyve said I’ll prob’ly get a cast tomorrow, then I’m outta the ICU.”
“Really?” Odis asked with enthusiasm.
“Really.”
Bobby reached out and ran his hand through Tuck’s hair. “And what about after that?”
“Not sure,” Tuck admitted. “They’re still bein’ dodgy about answers.”
Bobby nodded. “Still great news, though.” He glanced over at the time
stamp on the EKG monitor, which showed 2056. “We better go, Odie. Don’t want the new nurse throwing us out.”
Odis hugged Tuck’s neck. “Get some sleep,” he told Tuck as they left. “We’re goin’ back to the B and B.”
Bobby threw him a kiss before the door closed.
“Good night, boys,” Tuck called out after them. He settled back into the bed, relieved to see Odis in such good spirits. Maybe Tuck could fall asleep now, for just a few minutes.
HOURS later, the night nurse let herself into room two to do her rounds. Tuck didn’t stir. He continued snoring softly in his bed. The nurse glanced over the monitors, checking for any abnormalities. Not finding any, she went to the right side of the bed and unwrapped some of the bandaging on the hand. The color looked good both on the skin and in the nail beds of each finger.
Glancing up to make sure Tuck was still asleep, the nurse retrieved the sensitivity reflex tool from her pocket. The small spiky wheel was affixed loosely inside the long handle, similar to a pizza cutter. The wheel spun like a miniature boot spur as the nurse ran the pointed spikes over the tip of Tuck’s index finger. The finger jerked back slightly. Same for the second finger. When she ran the wheel over his ring finger, though, it didn’t move. Also no response from the pinky finger.
She put the reflex tool back in her pocket and bandaged Tuck’s hand again before making detailed notes in his chart. He still snored, unaware, as she let herself out.
TUCK fidgeted his legs in the bed when Klyve came in the next morning after shift change. “Please, can’t I get up or somethin’?”
Klyve smirked as he set down the fresh pitcher of water on Tuck’s nightstand. “Good mornin’ to you too, sunshine.” He checked over the monitors and reviewed the charts.
“Oh, mornin’, Klyve,” Tuck said once he remembered his manners. “I’m ’bout to go outta my mind with boredom. Can I at least get a TV or somethin’?”
“Maybe.” Klyve tried not to show any concern as he read over the night nurse’s notes. “Most of the people who visit me here aren’t hardly conscious,” Klyve said as he went around to the bandaged hand. “But we do have a roll-around set. I’ll see about gettin’ that TV in here for ya.”
Cleats in Clay Page 23
