Author/pseudonym: MonaCK and Cathy Roberts
Email address: monaCK2@yahoo.com and huntersglenn@yahoo.com
Rating: NC-17
Status: Finished. Well, mostly finished. Just the ending left to write.
Pairing: John Carter/Dave Malucci
Date: March 30, 2004
Archive: Please ask first
Series: 49/?
Category: "E.R."
Disclaimer: "ER" and all its characters belong to Warner Bros. No infringement of their copyright is intended. This story was written for the enjoyment of "ER" fans everywhere, and may be downloaded for your own pleasure. The title of the story was inspired by the Jimmy Buffett song of the same name, and no infringement is intended. The story can be found on the following web sites: http://www.heresmona.com/fanfic.html
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Boutique/7087/, and
http://www.errealmofslash.com
Summary: It's a slashy A/U story about how Season 8 might have been and contains no spoilers for the current season.
"Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes, Part 49"
By MonaCK and Cathy Roberts
As soon as John's mother left, Dave was at John's side, a hand on the older man's shoulder as he tried to convince him to sit down. Not only was Dave worried about John's mental health, but his physical health as well. Dave honestly wasn't sure how much pressure John's poor feet, and poor heart, could take.
As John sat down, he looked over at his father. "Why doesn't she love me? Am I asking too much for her to just simply love me?"
Jack walked over and sat down on the couch beside John, making sure there was room for Dave to sit on John's other side. He put his arm around John's shoulder and pulled him against his chest, remembering how when John was small and upset, Jack would hold the boy in his lap and they'd just sit. They never needed words back then, it always seemed to be enough for John to just be held.
"Eleanor does love you, John. She just doesn't know how to show it anymore. I think the two of us lost track of how to do that back when Bobby died. Maybe we came to think that if we loved you and your sister too much, then we'd lose you, too. I can remember watching Eleanor as she'd rock you to sleep when you were a baby. You wouldn't want to go to sleep," Jack smiled softly as he remembered watching his wife and son so many years ago. "Despite your stubbornness, she'd sit in that rocking chair for hours, singing to you and rocking until you finally fell asleep. She loves you, you have to believe that."
John drew in a shaky breath. "She has a lousy way of showing it. I needed her. I really did, and she came in here and..." John buried his face in his father's shirt, ashamed of crying, because even after all of that, he still wanted his mother, just like a baby.
Dave blinked, feeling completely helpless as he watched John being comforted by his father. Finally, reaching out a hand, he gently massaged John's shoulder. "We...we love ya, John. I...I know it's not the same thing, but, you know that I'll always be here for ya...and I think the same goes for your Dad over there. You know, you're...you're pretty lucky to have a Dad as cool as yours is..." Dave was beginning to think about his own father then, and about the times he'd come home drunk, and throw him and Steve around the room -- about how his mother would just ignore it, and drink to try to make it all go away. It was not exactly Ozzie and Harriet at the Malucci household.
"Oh, yeah, I'm lucky, all right," John said, a hint of bitterness in his voice. He knew that Dave was right, but it was hard to see that under the circumstances. He pushed up and away from his father. "He never saw anything either, just sent me away when I was too much in the way." John's eyes were flashing with anger as he answered Dave, and then he turned his head to look at Jack. "Didn't you, Dad? You didn't want to deal with me back then so you sent me away. Well, now you've got to deal with me whether you like it or not, don't you?"
Jack knew he was guilty as charged. "You're right. I do have to deal with it now. We all do. I have no excuses for not seeing that something was wrong with you, but I truly felt that getting you out of the house was the best thing for you under the circumstances. I didn't listen to you when you tried to tell me what had been going on, I simply assured you that it was over and sent you away. It's no wonder you felt abandoned." The talk Jack had had with Dr. DiLeo the day before, after they had both sat and listened to John, was definitely paying off now as Jack saw the anger subside behind John's eyes. "You have every right to feel angry with me and your mother...and with Jenny. You were a child and you were betrayed by the adults around you. I can't blame you if you hate me now."
John shook his head, tears once more in his eyes. "I don't hate you, Dad. I'm sorry." He hastily wiped at his face. "I just can't seem to think straight right now. I didn't sleep much last night, not after my dream, and I guess it's catching up to me. I didn't mean to yell at you and Mom."
Jack reached over and patted John's knee, giving his son a small smile. "Yes, you do mean it. I'm sure that you've been holding a lot of anger and disappointment deep inside over the years, John. Now that you're tired and emotionally strung-out, that anger and disappointment is able to come out. I know you don't hate me, I was just saying that if you ever did, I wouldn't blame you."
That only seemed to make John cry even harder and he reached out for comfort, but not toward his father, but toward Dave. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Dave's arms instinctively pulled his arms around John's body, bringing him close to his chest as he shut his eyes, wishing he could take all of his pain away. "It's okay. It...it really is okay, and it's gonna be better," he found himself saying. "I...I mean, you're talkin' about it, and that's...that's a very good thing. I'm so glad you're lettin' us know how you feel...and not keepin' it inside you. You're allowed to be upset...at all of us who have hurt you..." Dave felt guilty for even trying to compare this situation with that of his own upbringing. What Dave's father had done to him was nowhere near as bad as what Jenny and Alex had done to John, and he felt like an idiot for even trying to make it seem that way.
John shook his head. "I hurt *you*, Dave. You didn't hurt me. You didn't do anything to deserve being hurt by me." There was no way John was going to move out of Dave's embrace, but he still hated hearing Dave make it sound as if he was the bad guy in the situation.
"Okay, listen to me. We've both done our share of hurtin' in this relationship. But, the important thing to remember is...we know that it isn't where we wanna be. We *wanna* be with each other, and I'm not goin' anywhere. I'm never leavin' ya again, and, as for the rest of this...we'll figure it all out, John. I promise ya, I'm gonna be there with ya every stop of the way..."
Dave was fully aware of just how bruised he was getting. And he had a feeling that Mr. Carter likely saw the way that the bruise marks were appearing. Hopefully, they would just be ignored. Only Dr. DiLeo needed to know about what had happened with the nightmare the previous night.
Jack cleared his throat. "You said that you're tired, so maybe you should try to get some sleep? Dr. DiLeo won't be here until around noon, so you have plenty of time to nap before he's due to arrive," Jack said. It seemed to him that John was strung out and needed the rest.
Dave looked up towards John's father, and then back down at the man in his arms. "It's probably not a bad idea. I...I could lay down with ya if ya wanted me to," he found himself saying. Anything to get John to relax.
John sat up and looked at Dave, his eyes still watery and now reddened from his crying. "You'd do that? Even after what happened last night?"
"Of course I'd do that," Dave said, his voice growing very soft. "We know that what happened last night didn't happen under normal circumstances. And, I already told ya, I'm in this for the long haul..." Dave knew that John's father was still on the other end of the couch, but there was no way that Dave was going to sugar coat his feelings. Not anymore.
John could see the truth in Dave's eyes and he nodded. "I know. If you weren't in it for the long haul, then you would have been gone by now. Like a smart person would be," John said with a slight smile. "I am tired, and if you don't mind, I'd like to have you there with me."
Meanwhile, back in the kitchen, Luka was sitting on a chair and looking over towards Abby. "Things seem quieter in there, do you think that it's safe to go in? Maybe we should head back to the house and leave them alone for now...Dave seems to have everything under his control...along with Mr. Carter..." They might have been in the kitchen, but they hadn't missed the fact that both of John's parents had been there -- and they would have had to have been deaf to miss the argument that had taken place.
Abby nodded. "I think we can go in. God, but that woman is a real bitch, isn't she? "
Luka nodded as he stood, taking Abby's hand in his as he led her towards the living room. The scene on the couch was at least somewhat promising -- John in Dave's arms and John's father sitting near them on the couch. But his mother was missing, which didn't really surprise Luka all that much. He cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, I hope that we are not interrupting..."
Jack turned in his seat and smiled at Luka. "No, not at all. John's about to take a nap, though, and while he and Dave are sleeping, we can go over to the house for breakfast. I'm sure Corrine has something prepared by now." Jack informed them.
"Yeah, I'm gonna stay here with John. We'll catch up with you guys later...go have breakfast...and then go have some time to yourselves. I'm sure this wasn't exactly what you had planned for this mornin'," Dave said, a soft smile appearing across his lips.
Luka looked at Dave, and then over to Abby with a shy smile. "No, this wasn't in the plan...but it's all right. Abby and I have plenty of time to be alone together..." Luka then turned towards Mr. Carter. "I think that it would be very nice for Abby and I to join you for breakfast, thank you. We were going to have some earlier...and I can only speak for myself, but I am *quite* hungry."
"Good," Jack said as he got to his feet. He reached down and softly stroked John's hair. "Call me if you need me."
John nodded. "I will." He watched as his father left with Luka and Abby, and then turned to Dave. "I'm not sure if the couch is big enough for the both of us and Luka said I need to stay off of my feet. We could maybe try the floor?" Even though another person could easily lie down on the other part of the sectional sofa, John didn't want Dave over there -- he wanted Dave beside him, holding him.
"Why don't we go upstairs? I can help ya get up the stairs, and that way, we can both be comfortable on a mattress, and I can hold ya the way I want to," Dave said as he brushed a stray hair off of John's forehead. "I can even carry ya up the stairs. That's not a problem at all. I just wanna be near ya..." It still amazed Dave sometimes just how strong his feelings were for the other man. But no way was he going to let a moment go by when he didn't try to prove it to John. He *had* to. He simply couldn't fuck things up this time.
John quickly nodded. "Okay." Right then he'd agree to anything that kept Dave near him. "I don't care how we get there, just as long as we get there."
Dave smiled softly, and then got to his feet. He reached his hands down, pulling John up off of the couch, and then, in one motion, lifted the man in his arms, cradling him as if he were carrying his newlywed bride over the threshold into their home. Carefully, Dave began to walk, making sure he didn't trip over anything, or do anything that would cause John to fall.
Dave began to walk up the stairs, concentrating both on John's face, and to make sure he didn't fall over his own two feet as he walked slowly up the steps. And then, he was finally up on the upper landing. He turned towards the bedroom, and then considered for a moment. "Do ya need to use the bathroom or anythin' before we go to sleep?" Dave figured that he might as well take care of that at that moment as opposed to having to carry John across the hallway again.
John thought about it for a moment, and then shook his head. "I'm okay. I just want to sleep with you." He grinned at Dave. "Before you drop me."
Dave chuckled softly. "Don't worry, my friend. I will *never* drop you." A grin spread over his lips as he finally made his way into the bedroom, and as he deposited his lover on the bed, he followed, crawling onto the bed beside John. Overall, everything had turned out all right. Yeah, he had bruises on his arms...but they would go away. The important thing was...the bruise that had formed over his heart last night had healed rather easily. And that had sent a feeling of relief through Dave's body that was almost unspeakable. As John settled down next to him, Dave brought the blanket over the both of them, and then wrapped his arms around John's body. "I love you...don't ever forget that..."
John nestled within Dave's embrace, "I won't. At least, I'll try to not forget it. I love you, too. That's why it hurt me when I saw I had hurt you."
"I...I know," Dave said, his voice very soft as he rested his own head on top of John's. "I haveta say, it...it hurt me too, even though I know that you didn't mean it. I know that for a fact, or I wouldn't still be here. I know that wasn't *you* doin' all that. One day...one day I haveta tell ya a little more about my family, and about my old man. I...I think it's time that you knew a little more about me, seein' as how much I know about you..." Things like that weren't easy for Dave. Never before had he trusted someone enough to know what his old man had done to him. Trusting John enough to tell him about Danny, his son, had been easy compared to the thought of opening up and telling John all that his father had done - and all that his mother had never done.
"I'd like that," John said as he stifled a yawn. "I want to know everything there is to know about you. Although I already know the most important thing."
"Yeah? What's that?" Dave kissed the top of John's head, and then brought his hand up to run his fingers through the man's hair, hoping it would relax him enough to sleep.
"That you love me," John whispered as he closed his eyes. "That's all I really need to know, isn't it?" It was becoming more difficult to think and John could feel himself drifting off to sleep.
"Yeah, yeah it is," Dave said, as he could feel the tension release from John's body. "That's...all you need to know..." And with his arms firmly around his lover, Dave's own eyes shut. And as John fell asleep, Dave did as well, secure in the knowledge that everything was okay between him and the person he loved most in the world.
After having a nice breakfast with John's friends and seeing them off to work, Jack had endured an hour of Hell courtesy of Eleanor and her insistence that John needed 'professional' help, in a clinical setting. Meaning of course, that she wanted him hospitalized, something that Jack didn't think was necessary. He had finally escaped her verbal tirade by first saying that he'd be willing to go with whatever Dr. DiLeo decided and then claiming that he needed to work. His mother had let him use the study and she then had engaged Eleanor in a discussion about some charity or another. By the time that Jack had emerged from the study to see if Dr. DiLeo had arrived, he had expected to find Eleanor in a calm state. Instead, he found his wife highly irate and even more upset than before, only she wouldn't tell him why.
So be it. It was hard enough worrying about John. Jack definitely didn't need Eleanor's theatrics on top of that. The psychiatrist arrived and Eleanor latched onto the man, insisting she needed to speak with him in private. Knowing that she was going to try to persuade the doctor that John needed to be hospitalized, and also knowing that the doctor wouldn't go along with that, Jack had taken that opening to go to the cottage to let John and Dave know that Dr. DiLeo had arrived and would soon be over to speak with them.
Jack had knocked on the door, but after receiving no answer, he let himself into the small house. It was quiet inside and Jack hoped that was a sign that the men were upstairs and asleep. It was with more than a bit of apprehension that Jack pushed open the bedroom door. They were dressed, or seemed to be, and deeply asleep. That was good. Jack had been shocked enough the day before when his son's 'shaving' habit was revealed as he had dressed John in his pajamas so he could be more comfortable. There was definitely such a thing as knowing too much about a person, especially when it came to one's own child, and knowing that about John was more than Jack had wanted to know. He definitely didn't want to add to that by walking in on John and Dave while they were having sex.
Jack pulled the door partially closed again, then knocked softly on it. "Dave? Are you awake? It's Jack Carter."
Dave's eyes fluttered open and he quickly lifted his head, but kept his arms firmly around John's body. Blinking once or twice, he focused his eyes on the figure at the partially opened door. "Yeah...yeah, hey, what's up? Is Dr. DiLeo here?" Dave hoped so, because John definitely needed to talk to the man. Dave's eyes drifted down towards his lover. "Should we talk to the doctor first? Maybe let John sleep a little while longer?"
"He's here, and Eleanor's with him at the moment, talking his ears off, I'm quite sure. How about if I go back to the house, grab some lunch for us all, and then bring him back here? That way, John won't be left alone. I can come up here to sit with John if you need to speak to DiLeo privately once he's here." Jack offered. He knew that something had happened that Dave was reluctant to discuss, and, quite frankly, if it concerned sex and John, and those bruises on Dave's body, then Jack didn't want to hear it anyway.
Dave nodded. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I don't wanna leave John alone right now, he...he'll feel abandoned if I do that." And, God knew, Dave had left him alone enough in the past to never want to do that again. If there was one thing that was sure, because of all that the two of them had been through, it was likely that John and Dave's relationship was stronger than ever. "Yeah, lunch sounds like a good idea. I don't think John's eaten much.." There was definitely stuff that Dave wanted to talk to Dr. DiLeo about as well...mostly about how to best handle things if John had another episode like he had had the night before.
Jack nodded. "Any sandwich preferences? I believe that Corrine is making a selection, ham, roast beef, turkey. You know what? Never mind. I'll just bring over a few of each. If there's any left over, then you can keep them in the refrigerator for later. I'll be back as soon as I can grab the food and pry Dr. DiLeo out of Eleanor's clutches. I know the woman loves John and means well, but, I'm about to slap her silly if she doesn't straighten up." And with that admission, Jack disappeared, hurrying back to the house.
"Dad's pretty pissed at Mom, isn't he?" John sleepily asked. He had awakened hearing Dave saying something about lunch and heard everything his father had just said.
Dave kept his arms firmly around John, kissing the top of his head softly as the man spoke. "Well, he's not too happy with the way that she treated you when she was here," Dave said, as he leaned his head back on the pillow. "I'm sure that it'll all work out. How ya feelin'? Didja sleep okay? Do ya wanna sleep a little bit more? We have a little while before Dr. DiLeo gets here..." Dave continued to keep his arms around John, not wanting to let go for love or money. Dave was afraid if he did, John would slip out of his life for good. Dave knew it was borderline irrational, but he didn't care. He just wanted John to know that Dave was there -- and that he wasn't going anywhere ever again.
"I don't feel tired." John raised his head, turning his neck slightly so he could look at Dave's face. "I'm hungry, though. You two were talking about lunch?" John asked with a smile
"Yup," Dave said, flashing John a grin. "Your Dad's bringin' over a buncha stuff for us to choose from,. and he's gonna bring enough for us to be able to have a snack later. How does that sound?" Not tired was good. Hungry was good. Because Dave knew that when John was upset, the first thing to go was the man's appetite. He made a mental note to make sure that John ate before they discussed anything less than positive with the man, so at least he'd have some nourishment in his system -- even if John did end up throwing it up later.
John grinned back at Dave. "That sounds great. Corrine makes great sandwiches, trust me on that." He settled his head back on Dave's chest. "I know this might sound a bit cowardly, but do you think that you could talk to Dr. DiLeo before I do? I'd rather have you tell him about what happened. I think he'll get more of the facts that way." There was also the fact that John didn't like thinking about what he had tried to do to Dave, or about what he *had* done to him. And you couldn't very well tell someone else what had happened without thinking about the events in the process.
"It's not cowardly at all. I was gonna suggest that to you, but I didn't wanna get you upset or anything...or have ya do anything that you're not comfortable with.. ya know what I mean?" Dave continued to run his fingers over John's clothing, trying to massage soothing fingers into John's body. "You know, we *are* gonna work this out. I was jus' thinkin'...we've been through more than your average couple, but...but I think that it's gonna bring us much...much closer in the end..." He planted another soft kiss on John's head before continuing. "I love you so much."
"I know. You'd have to love me a lot to put up with all this shit," John said as he sat up. "I need to go to the bathroom. I...I think that maybe I should get my crutches over here, and maybe one of Gamma's wheelchairs, too. Good thing I kept them, huh? I can keep the crutches up here and the wheelchair downstairs. Luka sounded pretty serious when he said I needed to stay off my feet for a while." It was hard to admit that he needed help getting around, but John wasn't so much into pain that he liked suffering -- or wanted to face Luka's wrath if the man found out he had been walking after being told specifically to not do that.
Dave nodded. "Yeah, that's probably not a bad idea. I'll take care of gettin' 'em over here for you after we're done with Dr. DiLeo today, okay? But in the meantime, your chariot awaits," Dave teased as he stood and then walked over towards John's side of the bed. "Even if it is just to take ya into the bathroom to take a piss."
He carefully and easily lifted John into his arms, and then walked towards the bathroom, take care to walk slowly so that he didn't risk dropping John. And then after he got him into the bathroom, he set him onto the floor. "I'm guessin' you can take it from here?"
John nodded. "I think so. Thank you." John waited until Dave had shut the door, then he took care of his business and flushed the toilet. He was tempted to make his way to the sink to wash his hands and brush his teeth, but he knew that it was technically walking, so he found himself calling out to Dave instead. "All done," John said as he lowered the lid on the toilet and sat down, taking the weight off of his feet. They hurt. They, really, really hurt, and he found himself wondering if taking something like Tylenol would really be too much of a risk. Everyone told him it would be okay -- it was his own decision to forego all painkillers, mainly because he was scared to death that the tiniest bit of pain relief would have him craving more and more.
Dave made his way back inside on John's word, and frowned as he looked at the expression on John's face. "Your feet hurt don't they?" he asked, sighing softly. "I wish I could help ya. Uh, do ya wanna lean on me while you wash up? Maybe...I dunno...man, I hate seein' you in pain, and I really wish I could take it all away," he said, his voice soft as he crunched down on his haunches in front of John.
"I wish you could, too, but you can't, and I can't. I just have to put up with the pain, that's all. It's my fault that I'm in pain, anyway. You really shouldn't waste your time feeling any sympathy for me." John said as he looked into Dave's eyes, seeing the concern and caring there. Concern and caring that John wasn't so sure he deserved. Not from Dave or anyone else.
"Sorry, my friend," Dave said, his voice very soft and sincere. "But worryin' about you and feelin' sympathy goes part and parcel with the whole lovin' you thing. I have no choice..." He paused for a moment, and then looked around the room. "Maybe we can set somethin' up for you with ya sittin' in order to brush your teeth and stuff. I know that you have to stand for more time when doin' that then when doin' something like pissin', so maybe it'll help take the weight off...but, meanwhile, do ya wanna lean on me? It might help a little."
"I just need to wash my hands, I don't even have my toothbrush over here." John said as he reached out and placed his hands on Dave's shoulders in preparation for standing. "I borrowed yours earlier without asking, and I shouldn't have done that. Sorry."
Dave thought for a moment, and then shrugged. "No biggie, but if ya needed a toothbrush, all ya had to do was ask. I *always* have an extra," he said, flashing the older man a grin. "So, if ya wanna brush your teeth, I can set ya up, no problem." Dave helped John move into a standing position, and carefully walked with him over to the sink.
"That would be good. My mouth feels as if it's full of cotton. I don't even want to think about what my breath smells like right now," John joked as he gingerly walked toward the sink. Once to the sink, John grasped the edge of it, holding on tightly, the whiteness of his knuckles the only outward sign of how much pain he was feeling. "And where's this extra toothbrush of yours?" he asked Dave.
Dave looked towards John, concern laced in his face as the man grabbed onto the vanity as if his life depended on it. "Right here...one second," he said, as he opened up a cabinet under the sink. Pulling out a fresh toothbrush, he removed the wrapping, and handed the toothbrush to John. "Here ya go, Hoss. It's now officially yours," he quipped, as he kept a hand on the small of John's back to help steady him.
"Thank you," John said as he accepted the toothbrush from Dave. He knew he could put the pain aside and do what needed to be done. He had done it before, and he could do it again. So, he put the toothbrush on the side of the vanity, and then used both hands to turn on the hot and cold water so he could wash his hands and face first. As he washed up, John was ever aware of Dave's hand on his back, and he would smile at Dave in the mirror from time to time, feeling very grateful that he once more had Dave in his life.
The thoughts that were running through Dave's mind were going at about a million miles a minute as he waited for John to finish. Dave wasn't quite sure what was going to happen when Dr. DiLeo arrived. Dave was *not* very good talking to therapists or shrinks, but for John, he would do it. He had done it before, but last time, it was only about John. This time, it was about something related to both him *and* John, and Dave was sure that eventually the talk would get to him and his old man...and Dave wasn't sure how he felt about that. But for John -- for John he would do it. Dave had hurt John enough in the past to know that he owned it to his lover to be as open as possible.
By the time John was finished brushing his teeth, he could hear voices drifting up the stairs, and then his dad was in the doorway.
"You're awake," Jack said, smiling at his son. "I hope you're hungry because Corrine sent about ten sandwiches over for the four of us." Now that John was awake, Jack wasn't sure how things were going to work out with him and Dave talking to Dr. DiLeo before the doctor spoke with John. He supposed they'd work something out.
"I'm very hungry," John said, returning his father's smile. Then his smile faltered as he realized that he still had to get downstairs in order to eat. He knew that Dave could, and would, easily carry him there -- and that was the problem. John didn't want his father or Dr. DiLeo to see him being carried around like a -- well, like a baby. While he personally found it cute that Dave could manage his weight, he didn't think it was cute to have other people see them together like that.
Dave realized almost instantly what was going on. And sensing John's embarrassment over needing help to walk, as well as knowing that John wanted Dave to talk to Dr. DiLeo first, he spoke with a grin. "How 'bout lunch in bed? I mean, we'll bring ya whatever kinda sandwich ya want, as well as your choice of drink, and that way, I can have a chat with Dr. DiLeo, and then he can come up here and chat with you after we're done. How does that sound?"
John found himself nodding. "That would work. You wouldn't mind bringing stuff up here, would you, Dad?" John flashed a smile of relief in Dave's direction, and then looked over to his father.
Jack shook his head. "I wouldn't mind at all. Let me see if I'm up to date on what you like," Jack replied with a grin. "A ham and cheese sandwich with lettuce, tomato, hot peppers and onion, mayo and mustard, with a side of chips, chocolate chip cookies and a large glass of Coke to drink. Am I close?"
John chuckled. "That's it exactly. I think there's a tray down there somewhere, isn't there, Dave?" The longer it took for his father to gather that stuff together, the more time Dave had to get John to the bed and for John to get settled there.
Dave nodded, enjoying watching the bantering between father and son. "Yeah, there's a tray in the kitchen, next to the fridge. And there's also some Coke in the fridge if ya didn't bring any with you," Dave said, looking from John's father back over to John once more. "And while ya bring up his lunch, I'll help John back t'bed..." Dave couldn't even imagine what kind of pain John was in just from having to stand on his feet for an extra few minutes while talking to his father. And Dave was concerned that John was causing further damage to himself by being on them -- and that was the last thing that Dave wanted to have happen.
"We brought some Coke and Sprite, just in case anyone was in the mood for something without caffeine. I'll be right back." Jack started to turn away, then looked back at John. "Since Dave's going to talk with Dr. DiLeo first, would you like some company for lunch?"
John smiled. "That'd be great, Dad."
Jack nodded. "Okay. I'll be back with lunch for two." He disappeared from the doorway.
As soon as John heard his father walking down the steps, he reached out for Dave, closing his eyes against the pain radiating up from his feet. "God..."
Dave's arms immediately went towards his lover, gathering the man into his arms as John leaned against him. "Okay, I'm gonna get ya back into bed right now, alright?" He lifted John up into his arms once more, and carried him back into the bedroom depositing the man onto the bed while lines of concern etched in his eyes and face. "Are you alright? Do ya need me to get ya anything? I...I wish I could get ya some pain pills or somethin', but I know you don't want that. I...man.."
The quick trip from the bathroom to the bed was barely enough time for John to regain control, but he managed it. He smiled up at Dave, "It's okay, Dave. I'm okay. Thank you...for everything. Now, why don't we see if we can manage to pull the covers up with me on them? I don't want Dad thinking that we enjoy crumbs in our bed," he joked. Sometimes, cracking jokes was the best thing John could do to keep the pain at bay when his back and leg had been the major sources of his pain and he was finding it to be the same now with his feet. He scooted over to Dave's side of the bed, and reached for the covers, waiting for Dave to help him smooth them out toward the head board. "And Dave? I really think that the ties need to go before Dad notices them and wonders why they're tied to the bed."
Dave couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah...yeah, I suppose we do need to get rid of those," he quipped as he reached to untie them. "I mean...this is probably more important than pullin' up the blankets," he said with a chuckle. He pulled off the first tie, and then with a little work, the second one came down into his hands. After putting them back into his closet, Dave worked to pull the covers back up on the bed. After he was finished, he brought his eyes back up to meet John's. "Ya sure you're okay?"
While Dave was busy with the ties, John was doing the best he could with the covers. It wasn't easy straightening sheets while sitting on them, but he did the best he could, then helped Dave finish the job. He pondered Dave's question, then shook his head. "No, I'm not okay," John admitted with a small smile. "But I will be."