by Aiden Bates
Finn was already out by the elevators, fuming, before he realized that his own employee had dismissed him.
He decided to call it a day and head home. He still had boxes to unpack and things to put away, not that he knew where most of this crap had come from anyway. Maybe he should have gone for a smaller space. The amount of stuff that a person had expanded to fill the space inside of a person's home. He'd gone out and bought the biggest house on the market that he could and already it felt cluttered.
He didn't have anything to measure success by yet. They'd reduced headcount, slightly, but it hadn't been because of Finn. It had been because some hospital employees had heard that Regent was taking over the hospital and jumped ship.
Silver Oak didn't need them. He was going to drag this hospital into profitability if it killed him, and them, and half the city. Not literally; no one wanted that. The thought that Idoni had gotten him so wrong burned in him.
It didn't matter what Idoni thought of him. A man couldn't run a hospital with a bunch of malcontents running around behind his back, second-guessing him. That was the first rule of a takeover, getting rid of the dead weight and the old guard. He'd unload those guys and replace them with loyal employees who wanted to see the hospital do well.
He prowled the empty halls of his house. Once upon a time, this house had belonged to an industrialist. That had been over a hundred years ago. It had been lovingly restored, but those days were long gone. Idoni could talk about grants and about donors, but there weren't exactly a lot of folks with the kind of philanthropic muscle left to drop a new wing onto a crumbling old facility. The donors that did still exist would want to see that the hospital wasn't being profligate with their cash.
Finn had been training his entire life for an opportunity like this. He wasn't going to let an upstart like Idoni get in his way. He'd find an excuse to fire him soon enough.
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Bonus Chapter Sixteen
Pat scanned the crowd for familiar faces. The department ceremony was smaller than the university ceremony, and it was more meaningful. That didn't mean that the hall was any less crowded. He would have thought that his family would be easy to find, but he would have been wrong.
It wouldn't be the first time. Or the last, he added, with a little laugh.
"Daddy!" A little girl's voice pierced the soft murmur of the crowd, and the sea of moving bodies parted to reveal the people who Pat most wanted to see. Pat's daughter, two-year-old Calista, threw her arms around his knees and squeezed tight. Her big brother, Tommy, followed close on her heels. His greeting was a little less effusive, but just as proud and adoring. Maybe his toned-down response had something to do with his good friend DJ, Ryan's son with Nick Robles, who trailed along behind him.
"I don't like your robe, Daddy." Tommy picked Pat's graduation robe. "It feels funny."
Dr. Tripp, Pat's advisor and supervisor at the state hospital, laughed and put a hand on Pat's shoulder. "You should try walking around in them," he told the boy. "They're incredibly hot. Fortunately, you only have to wear them on Commencement Day."
The adults caught up to the kids. "I don't know, he could pick up a little bit of extra work by playing one of those TV judges." Ryan Tran only sort of tried to hide a laugh behind one hand. It didn't work very well. "Congratulations, man. You worked hard for this."
Pat smiled. He had worked hard for this, and he knew it, but he hadn't done it alone. "I had a lot of help." He wrapped an arm around Elias' waist.
Tommy wrinkled his nose. "Aw, man, they're going to kiss or something. Gross."
DJ's lip curled. "Do they do that a lot?"
Tommy nodded, face drawn with long-suffering resignation. "All the time, DJ. All the time."
The adults all laughed.
There were a lot of them. No one else in the psychology department had brought such a large family to commencement. Pat had Elias, of course, and the kids. Everyone from Cold Case had come, and they'd brought their mates with them. Morris' omega, Pete, was there snapping pictures the whole time. Doug Morrison was chatting quietly with someone he apparently knew professionally, and Nenci and Oliver's daughter was playing with Tommy and DJ.
The Randalls were there, too—all of them. Asra and Eli stood proud, along with Asra's parents and her birth siblings. Susana was there, of course; Pat had come to love his sister and welcomed her with open arms. Elias' parents and siblings were there, too, although the department's administration had drawn the line there to make sure that there were enough places for everyone who wanted to attend.
Pat accepted their congratulations and took their hugs and handshakes in good stride. It had taken a lot to get to this point. When he'd gone back to school, he'd still been hesitant and a little bit prickly. He couldn't believe that the guys from Cold Case would still want to be around him. He could barely believe that Elias wanted him. Now he could smile and simply accept the accolades due to Dr. Tessaro.
The department threw a small reception for their graduates. It lasted for about an hour, long enough for Pat to say goodbye to all of the friends and colleagues he'd gotten to know during his time in the program. He was confident that most of them would stay in touch, even the ones who were heading off to jobs in places like Switzerland or Japan. They'd bonded, and they'd built a mutual respect as they worked together. He knew that he could call on Hinata Yamamoto any time that he had a patient with strong psychosis related to postpartum issues, and he knew that she would call on him with questions about patients with difficulties related to trauma.
They might not be able to grab lunch together anymore, but technology had made the world a much smaller place. They would still be friends.
After the reception, Pat and his family left for home. It was time for the party. Since the administration had drawn a line for Elias' siblings' spouses, they'd gone to the house in Sharon and gotten things ready for a blowout party like the place had never seen. Elias had insisted. "You've earned this," he said. "You should be celebrated."
Pat let it happen. If people wanted to celebrate, he wasn't going to stop them.
Music was already blaring by the time that they pulled up to the house, and caterers had started barbecues and set out rented tables all over the place. The sun warmed the earth, and the house and yard were filled with people.
Tommy and Calista's cousins ran around the yard, giggling and shouting and playing games that no grownup could truly understand. Various adults, some paid and some related, kept an eye on the proceedings and made sure that there was no damage to life, limb, or significant property. All of the cousins knew that the rules were a little bit different at Uncle Elias' house, and if the landscaping got a little damaged no one was going to shout too loudly. Pat wouldn't go so far as to call it a favorite among the younger set, but the Salazar kids never did seem to complain about showing up.
Most of the Nixon kids' birth families had come to celebrate. Some of the kids still had difficulties, whether it was as a result of complications from the diphtheria or simply from the trauma of trying to integrate into a family of strangers. All of them credited Pat and Elias, among others, as the reason for any success that they had.
The oldest were in college now, despite the setback of never having been in school before. Asra hadn't lost her faith. She'd done two years in a community college near her parents, and then transferred to a school near Pat as she pursued her new dream: the ministry. She planned to become a pastor, with a second degree in counseling. Her parents were proud of her, and so were Pat and Elias. She went to visit Zavia with him sometimes, and they prayed together. It seemed to help both of them; Pat wasn't going to question it.
Eli had chosen a different path. He had been accepted to Pat and Elias' alma mater, and now he was pursuing a criminal justice degree. He saw both Elias and Pat as role models, and he hoped to someday help people in his situation. He didn't care if he did it in the private sector or with a badge; all that he wanted was to help. The Randalls quietly encouraged h
im toward HomeSafe as a career, and Pat didn't blame them.
Pat made the rounds, along with Elias. It was incredible to have so many people, and so many well wishers, gathered in one place. He loved to see the kids playing so nicely together, and he and Elias stood back and watched as Tommy and Calista ran amok with their cousins for a little while. They didn't jump when Elias' younger brother, Joe, came up behind them.
"So." Joe took a long pull off of his beer bottle. Pat and Elias didn't generally keep booze in the house, but they'd allowed it for the party. Given how red Joe's face had gotten, Pat wondered if that had been the wisest decision. "Pat. Are you done mooching off my brother, or are you going to start pulling your weight around here?" He snapped his fingers. "Oh, I forgot. You're working for the state. You're going to keep draining his accounts until the day you die."
Elias scowled. Pat just smiled. Once upon a time, comments like that would have driven a wedge between him and Elias. It might have also gotten Joe punched, depending on Pat's mood. Pat was older now, and he was a lot more secure. "You do realize that I wound up getting funding for my degree, Joe." He picked up his can of soda. "Oddly enough, there are plenty of people out there who think that criminal minds are worth study."
"You're still not contributing. He's still footing the bill for this house, for your kids' school, for that hot nanny—who won't give me her phone number because she's a total bitch."
"Or because you're married, and your wife is a nice person who deserves better than that." Pat shrugged. "Susana was raised right. Anyway, how's that job hunt coming? Must be rough, getting caught up in a scandal like that. Not many banks are so keen to put out the welcome mat, am I right? That golden parachute just disappears." He winked and guided Elias away from his scowling, red-faced brother-in-law.
"That was priceless," Elias whispered as they strode out of earshot.
"Thank you." Pat grinned down at his mate. "I was kind of proud of it, if I do say so myself. Joe's got some issues. He's lashing out at me because he's jealous. That's all."
"I know." Elias took his hand. "It's just that achievement is such a thing for them. I'm so proud of you."
Pat blushed. "I think we've got a lot to be proud of—both of us, together."
The party wound down, and little by little the guests trickled away. The Salazars were the first to leave, because they had the farthest to go. By the time that the caterers cleaned away the last of the mess, Susana had put Tommy and Calista to bed and all that remained was for the pair to head to the bedroom themselves.
They looked out over their backyard. Only a few hours ago, it had been the scene of huge crowds and unceasing activity. Now it was silent, the pool shimmering in the moonlight. "It looks like such a little angel when it's sleeping," Pat commented.
Elias cracked up. "Are you happy?" he asked. "Did you have fun?"
"I did have fun. Thank you for throwing the party for me." Pat kissed his omega then. He put his hands onto Elias' hips and let himself relax into his omega's presence. "Thank you for being you."
"Honey, I'm not done yet." Elias chuckled and unbuttoned Pat's dress shirt. "It's been such a beautiful day; don't you think we should keep celebrating?"
Pat shrugged the shirt off. "I'm not going to say no, that's for sure." He reached out to do the same thing for Elias. "Especially if it means that I get more you, and less clothes."
They stripped each other quickly, and then Pat remembered to lock the door. They didn't need any curious little faces peeking into the bedroom.
"My God, you're beautiful." He crossed the huge room back to his omega and put his hands on his shoulders. "Look at you. You're so naked for me, naked and half hard for me already."
Elias blushed so prettily. He always had. "I've been fighting this all day. And I do mean all day. I kind of wanted to duck under your robe, but I'm pretty sure that would have been inappropriate."
"Hmm. Worth it, though. Mostly." Pat nibbled along Elias' collarbone and reveled in the way the heat just rolled off of him. Elias wouldn't have actually done anything of the sort, and Pat wouldn't have wanted him to. Neither of them were exhibitionists, but it was fun to fantasize a little. "Are you happy?"
"I'm ecstatic." Elias's smile could have lit the room by itself. "I have the alpha I always wanted, and he's naked. We're both in jobs that we love, and we have two kids and two fosters that make us feel good every day of our lives. And, baby, we've got a family so big and so wide that they didn't even all fit on this lot. This… this is a dream life for me."
Pat smiled. "For me too." And then the time for talking was over.
It didn't take long to get one another going, not when they'd both been half hard and raring to go for most of the day. They kissed and groped, and licked and tasted, until Pat thought he might burst. Then Elias guided him to the bench at the foot of the bed before grabbing the lube from the nightstand.
Pat stretched Elias out gently but thoroughly, paying careful attention to his mate's cues as he slipped his slick fingers into his hot body. Contrary to what some older alphas had told him, it wasn't the same every time. Sometimes Elias wanted it fast and hard. Sometimes he wanted it slow and sensual. His responses during prep were usually the best way for Pat to figure out exactly how Elias wanted things to go.
Today, though, Elias wanted something different. When Pat had stretched him as much has he could, he took the lube out of Pat's hand and slicked Pat's cock up for him. Pat gasped in surprise at the unexpected touch and relaxed, eager to see what Elias would do next.
Elias climbed onto the bench so that he was sitting on Pat's lap, straddling him. He struggled a little bit, at first, to try to line himself up from this angle, and it made both of them laugh. Pat had to help, which made Elias blush, but once everything was set, Elias moved his hips and Pat couldn't think anymore.
Elias rocked his hips slowly and carefully, easing himself down onto Pat's cock. Pat watched, rapt, as Elias bit down on his lip. God, he was beautiful like this. There was no shame between them, no reluctance. Elias just looked down into Pat's eyes and smiled as he adjusted to the intrusion. Then he moved.
Pat couldn't do much from this position. He could grab on to Elias' hips and hold on. He could buck his hips a little bit and keep up with the rhythm that Elias set. It was enough. He moaned at the incredible, delightful friction that his omega created. Heat pooled low in his belly, and he had to bite his lip and focus to keep from losing it all before his time.
He reached a hand between them and wrapped his hand around Elias' cock, stroking it in sync with the rhythm. Elias cried out as he rocked, and Pat smiled. He loved it when they were on the same page.
Release, when it came, was like revelation. He held onto Pat with one arm and stroked as much as he dared, riding a whiteout level wave of pleasure as he went. Elias followed him over the edge soon after, and they collapsed against each other in a sweaty heap.
When they could both move, Elias dismounted and stood up on shaky legs. Pat supported him and guided him into the bath. He helped his blissed-out omega over to the giant soaking tub, and then he started that tub filling. Elias smiled fuzzily over at him as Pat fumbled for the bath supplies. "That was incredible."
"It was, wasn't it?" Pat brought the bath things over to the tub and kissed his mate.
"It's good to know we've still got it." Elias ran a hand along Pat's arm.
"I think we'll always have 'it.'" Pat chuckled. "We'll get older. Our libidos might take a backseat, just a little bit. But there's never going to be a point when I don't look at you and say, 'That's the most beautiful man, the most beautiful person, in the world. And I'm so lucky he was willing to be mine."
Elias stared up at him. "Even though I'm old, and have stretch marks, and C-section scars?"
Pat bent down to kiss those scars. "Your C-section scars brought our son and our daughter into the world. So did your stretch marks. You got those because we love each other." He kissed Elias' claim scar. "They're no different from this o
ne here, and you're proud of that one."
Elias wrapped his arms around Pat's neck. "You're amazing. How did we get so lucky?"
"I don't know." Pat checked the water. It was full enough, and it was a temperature that worked for both of them. "But you know what? I don't care how we got this lucky. I'm just happy that we're together again."
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Television writer and omega Liam Leonard is too busy creating a name for himself and making money to look for love. His family and friends have tried to set him up with handsome and successful alpha males, but most of the time Liam passes. His career is demanding and fulfilling, and it’s all he needs . . . for now.
