filling empty beds just like me

@declansaintjcmes​

It started out as any other day in the hospital would start out. There was a gun shot victim coming though the doors, and car wreck victim that was being placed in room 36. This wasn’t unusual for Grace, considering that she was a trauma nurse - these were things that she saw on a daily basis, but somehow they never got any easier. Especially now that she was back in her home town once again. She came back to care for her mother, and to be honest she wasn’t sure how she felt being back in Olympus. It felt easy enough to get back in the swing of things. She remembered exactly where the grocery store was located that was closest to her house, and what coffee shop she could stop by on her way into work every morning. Things were coming together slowly, and for Grace that was easy enough. She was clocking out to get a quick bite to eat for lunch, before she had to be check the vitals of the next patient she saw. Grabbing her phone out of her pocket to dial Michael’s number - even though she had it saved in her phone; she still liked to dial it. It made her proud of the fact that she knew his number by heart. It was one of three numbers she could ever memorize. Michael, her mothers, and Declan St. James. 

Just as she was about to press the call button; she came face to face with the very same person she expected to see, and not at the very same time. Declan stood right in front of the revolving door, dressed in a security guard outfit. Their eyes met each others at the same time, and she couldn’t help but to think how ridiculous she must have looked to him - standing there in dark pink scrubs with her hair pulled back into a low ponytail - a half eaten peanut butter and jelly sandwich in one hand, and her phone in another. It was the first time they had saw each other in person in six years. This wasn’t exactly how she planned to see him, or even how she planned to tell him that she had came home. But things had happened so fast, and she was offered the job and then her mothers health went down hill - the thought slipped her mind and now the last conversation they had was playing back in her mind over and over again, and all that could get to come out of her mouth was a very sheepish “Hey.” 

Losing her, after all these years, was like an old wound. The scab was large and it would never stop aching, sharp pain brought by the little reminders that came from still staying in the same town where they’d been friends all those years ago. Grace had been Declan’s other half before he even knew that she was, the first person he wanted to share things with, his plus one anywhere, and the person he’d do dumb stuff just to see her smile and roll her eyes. Declan had been stupid, beyOND dumb for not seeing how incredible she was until some other guy had, and he’d never forgive himself for it.

It was Dec’s sin, though. Dec’s shame, and over the six years it had been since he’d seen her in person, he’d shouldered it with as much grace (pun intended) as he could. Catrina and Bambi got him through those bad days, thank God, and now it was just a matter of letting her all the way go.

He didn’t really think he ever could, but. He could try, right?

So the shock that went through him - that lightning that went through every atom he had, brown eyes blowing side and pupils large, when ten minute into his shift, he saw her. Her, with that still blessedly long auburn hair, a sandwich in her hand and surprise on her face that matched his. Her, with those clear brown eyes and the way that she always made pink wear her, and suddenly Declan had swallowed his tongue. (What do you even say, after all this time?) 

Chris isn’t that old, to be very clear. His hair is peppered with white here and there, and he likes keeping his beard fashionably short, but he’s not that old. Also, he’s been running this farm and the business just shy of thirty years, so his agility isn’t all that surprising. “Yeah, that’s what I used to tell my old man.” Javier, managing to escape Lala’s grasp for a quick second, comes over to nudge in greeting and Chris chuckles. “They’re really feelin’ extra affectionate today, huh? Wonder what Oz fed these buggers today…”  He chuckles, leading Declan over to the milking station while they talked. “Well that’s good! I swear I keep tellin’ myself to call the vet over in Baton Rouge. He’s a friend of a family friend and he knows these goats better, to keep an eye on them. But ya know how it goes…Anyways, you here for some cheese, right? That’s what your sister called for, I think? How is Catrina, by the way?” 

“Oh yeah?” Declan says, listening with interest. Other than the occasional hairball, he’s been very lucky in the fact that Henry hasn’t had many problems. The grey furball stalked around the house with a lot of confidence for someone who was only two years old, but Declan kept an eye on him anyway. The thought of anything happening to him wasn’t something he ever liked to think about, and he mentally fired the vet information over for later. “If you can, send me their number later. Yes! Bambi refuses to eat any cheese that isn’t from your farm. Blame her loyalty to your little girl and your herd.” Dec laughs, pushing back some flyaway hair.

Kaya looks at him, her eyebrows furrowed. “I definitely wasn’t paying all that much attention to Classic Lit in high school. Wuthering Heights was so boring, I wanted to go to sleep every time we had to read a page of it for class or something.” She shrugs, going back to scanning the board before her. “Be my guest, dude. I can’t find anything as interesting as wine and pottery. Even the cheese making class is gone, now where am I going to buy my goat’s milk cheese from?” 

“It was the worst, I have to agree with you. The only thing worse than reading the boring book, is hearing people argue about the boring book.” His dark eyes scan the board once more, trying to see if he’d missed something. Their gossip gathering habits hadn’t really been a part of any plan, but Declan had gotten rather attached to it. You only learned so much at the door, after all. “Hows this, K?” Declan points out a pottery class. “It’s supposed to be therapeutic, so people are going to be talking about deep things. Plus, we could get a lopsided plate out of it or something. Haven’t you always wanted to re enact Ghost with me, your platonic flirty friend?” He wiggles his eyebrows, mostly joking about the Ghost thing.

He frowns at his friend insinuating that he doesn’t have anything else going on, so much so that he resorts to activities that 70-something-year olds will play at a home for recreation hour. Although, it’s not so much insinuating as it is pointing it out, because the truth is that Declan is right. “I do have something interesting going on in my life, but my friend is being a real drag right now and doesn’t want to participate anymore.” He pauses. “Do you… want to go out or something?”

“Mmmph.” Declan noises noncommittally, taking another sip of his drink. Henry evidently has decided he’s had enough of Dec’s curly haired friend and stalks over to his owner, climbing into his lap and placing his paws on Dec’s chest. “Hi to you too, Eight.” He murmurs, stroking his cats grey back. “Not really.” There’s a beat of silence, and then a memory strikes at the man hard enough to make him physically wince. “Have I ever told you about Grace?”

ST. JAMES FAMILY TREE.

Hugh St. James, Father, 55 Theresa St. James, Mother, 54 Catrina St. James, 35 Bambi St. James, 10 Declan St. James, 30

Chris chuckles, jumping over the fence to finally give Declan a hand. “Shoo, baby girl. Go find someone else ta bother. Shoo!” He gently slaps the goat’s rump, finally getting her to move away from the younger man’s pockets. “It’s been in our family for generations. Don’t even know who decided we should keep goats instead of….oh I dunno, sugar cane, maybe? But yeah. Mind ya, we’ve got a few seniors here that my dad helped birth, but most of these are new billies. Like Lala’s best friend over there, Javier. You know how it goes, sometimes you just…end up with so many goats.” 

“A man after my heart,” The Thane said with a grin, taking the bottle and cracking it open as he walked around the back of his truck to grab his tools and take a look from the Jeep before him. “When was the last time you washed this thing, bro?” He asked, laughing as he moved to duck under the car. Leaning back to take a swig from the bottle in his hand, Jeremiah sat down on the warm concrete. Setting the bottle aside, he started sorting through his tool box for a flashlight. “Yeah, got locked up at home thankfully. But power went out for the entire time so I couldn’t check up on my brother.” 

Ducking under the Jeep to check the issue, Jer hummed. “Not too bad of a problem, should be able to fix it.” Standing up again, Jer went back to his truck to get another part he needed. Glancing at Declan as he grabbed his beer again, Jer grinned. “Long time no see,  dude. What else been goin’ on with your life besides a tornado almost takin’ us all out?”

“Hey bro, always.”  Declan claps the other man on the back before they round to the Jeep in question, the wind kicking up a ruffle on his dark hair. He knows enough about a car to get around but it’s still nice to have a professional willing to come over for just the price of an ice cold bottle. “Uh, a month? I don’t know. More concerned about the interior, more often than not.” It helps that his Jeep is a silver that doesn’t show the dust that much. His friend disappears under the hood, doing this thing, while the youngest St. James just waits, drinking his beer until he’s back. “Thanks for this though Jer, really. With my sleep schedule, it doesn’t always match up with garage hours. What’s going on in my life?” He gives a middling shrug, uncomfortable with the question because he knows in a lot of ways that he’s stuck in a rut. “Nothing, really. Bambi gets bigger every damn day. Makes me wonder where the days are going, you know?”

Repairs on a restaurant are more than just manual labor, as Reina is unfortunately learning, and it seems like since this storm hit she’s been absolutely fucking flooded in paperwork. Statements, claims, all on top of a new business plan she’s trying to put together have Reina sitting her ass in her restaurant and reading more often than not, which isn’t exactly what she’d signed up for. She’d been so engrossed in her latest insurance statement that she hadn’t even heard the door open, so when she notices Declan standing in front of her suddenly, she can’t help but jump a bit. He’s a good kid, someone Reina’s always liked even if he is inappropriate more often than not. His flirting is constant, every time she sees him it feels like he’s got some comment to make, but he frames it in a way that makes it sound so smooth. If nothing else, he’s always good for boosting her ego and Reina would be lying if she said she didn’t love it. “Declan. You know flattery gets you nowhere with me,” she lies as she greets him, a hint of a smile growing when she briefly looks up at him from her paperwork before going back to it. Reina can multitask, and she figures there’s no point in beating around the bush as to why she asked him to come by. “You do security now, correct?” She knows she’s correct, Reina doesn’t do anything without thorough research, but she doesn’t want to seem too eager. She’s more interested in painting this as an opportunity for him rather than something that she needs, never one to show that she needs help. “I’ve got an offer for you, if you’re interested.”

He hadn’t meant to scare her, but Declan always preferred to make more of a quiet statement than a louder one. Seeing her jump reminded him of how he’d beg to play hide and seek when she watched him and it brought a slightly wistful smile to his face. The old days were just that, but they stuck with him nonetheless. Just like how stunning Reina used to be and still was. He would never intend to do anything to compromise their friendship and also  never thought of her as a true prospect or conquest, but the flirting would never really stop with him. It was just part and parcel or who he was.

“I beg to differ, Reina. Flattery gets you in all the right places if you know where to look.” Declan loosely tucks his hands under his arms, even as his eyes twinkle a little. “Yeah, I do, at the medical center. Why’d you call?” It’s not that he doesn’t enjoy the chance to see her, but they don’t really...hang out. At all. He wasn’t dumb enough to believe this was just a social call. This feeling increases when he hears Reina’s next words. “An offer, you say. For what?” 

❛ DECLAN ST. JAMES.

This has been the first full week that Teagan has been back at the hospital with full operations privileges. Here and there, she came in and check in on the patients that were here before the storm unfolded but actively her mind had been elsewhere ─ cleaning up the destruction of her grandmother’s shop. It was only a few weeks in the past but she’s glad it’s officially behind her. Well, technically, not all behind her but close enough with the finalizations of the property once it’s out of her hand but it wasn’t weighing on her conscience as much anymore. So, the rhythm of getting back into the swing at the hospital was like ripping the band-aid right off. Just like every workday, she plans on getting her lunch and heading back to her office to solitude. Not to avoid people, but to be ahead of her upcoming cases. 

Always ordering her favorite Grilled Chicken penne from Bertha, not Lucas, because she’s still upset about his shocking: the rivalry of their preferred baseball teams. Teagan supporting the Los Angeles Dodgers after visiting games during her four-year residency in the city whilst Lucas disgraced her with supporting the Yankees. The cold shoulder she gives the younger male is comical but she keeps the act up today after being gone for weeks. Just as she’s ready to turn the corner, straight down the corridor toward her office, an unfamiliar voice rings in her ears. Pausing her steps, the petite neurosurgeon brows vaulted toward the male sitting down. “Yup, the one and only in flesh,” she responds with no hesitation. Something about him was familiar though. Was he a patient? No, she would’ve remembered him especially if he was chatty and told her good stories during his recovery. No, it wasn’t that. Then, it dawned on where she remembers him ─ he used to be best friends with her younger sister. She doesn’t know him that well… besides the town chatter but this was usual in their vicinity. “Oh shit,” she breathes through an embarrassed laugh as she tiltes her head. “Declan, in the flesh, how long has it been? Ten years?” 

For whatever reason, the woman turns around, cementing what Declan had thought the first time he’d seen her. The Maron sister had always been darkly beautiful and all grown up, Teagan seemed to follow the same trend as the other women in her family, something Declan very much appreciated. Even, of course, if scrubs and a lab coat didn’t exactly stop people in their tracks. It takes a few  moments, but when the light goes on in her eyes Declan takes it as his cue to smile easily.

“Give or take a few, for sure.” He gestures to the seat across from him. “Care to sit? I’m on my lunch break right now, and I’m going to assume from the fact that you don’t look rushed that you’re on one too?”

“Oh, I don’t want a house. I was thinking something a little less concrete, like an apartment.” He waved off the idea of a house. Even in D.C. he didn’t own a house, he rented an apartment with all the amenities available to him. They had a gym, rooftop pool, concierge, and even a guest suite for when people had visitors. He lived on the top floor and his apartment was huge, with the greatest views in the city if you asked him. It was gorgeous and there was nothing that was going to compare in Olympus, but he would make due with what he could find. As long as he didn’t have to deal with the hotel anymore, they had awful room service. “Did you move here three years ago?” He asked the man, wondering if he was fairly new to town as well and could give him advice. “I’m Mitchell by the way, pleasure to meet you.” He offered the man his hand to shake if he wanted to and planted a smile on his face. 

“Hey man, whatever floats your boat.” Declan spreads his arms in an expression of nonchalance, shrugging a little. He doesn’t actually care what the dudes moving into, after all. House hunters crap or not, he did really like his townhouse. Declan’s future was a mystery to a lot of people, himself included, but he liked to believe that they involved that house. And the cat Bambi had so lovingly given him as a housewarming present. “No, I moved out of my parents place, which, sounds bad. They’re in Florida, but they left the house to my sister, who I’ve been living with - look, it doesn’t matter. But I was born here, basically.” He shakes the other mans hand, firm and steady. “Declan. Same here. Did you just move here?”

@declansaintjcmes​

It had been two days since his father showed movement and muttered a few words, but there had been no follow-ups. Still, everyday, Aaron made time to pay his dad a visit. It was never a set hour since his schedule had been all over the place after the storm, but this time, he seemed to have lined up with Declan’s security shift at the hospital. Even more, he estimated he’d make it there around his break, so on his way there, he stopped by Popeyes to order some food for them, knowing full well the other wouldn’t be able to resist. It wasn’t often Aaron bought fast-food, but with everything that’s happened, he took a break from counting his macros. He sent Declan a text to let him know. With how long they’ve known each other, he already knew what his go-to order was for most places, so he didn’t ask.

Plopping the take-out bag down on the table in the cafeteria of the hospital, he pulled out a chair to sit and started to take the food out of the bag. “Out of spite, I thought of going to Mickey D’s,” he deadpanned, indirectly calling back to the time the other had them wait more than an hour in line for the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich when it first came out. It was the last time Aaron ever step foot at Popeyes, and he knew on his friend’s list that Burger King always came first before Mcdonald’s. “Get us some Egg White Delights with a hashbrown to put right at the center.” As usual, he always had to play out, but after saying it, he almost regretted the decision of not going out of his way to buy it for himself. He’d usually eat it without the hashbrown because of the macros, so thinking about it made his mouth water. “Consider yourself a lucky son of a bitch the hype died down because I was not about to wait more than 20 minutes for this. You tell me I’d have a 6 out of 10 sandwich in 7 minutes or a 9 out of 10 sandwich in an hour, you better believe I’m taking the 7 fucking minutes one. Never do that to me again.”

Pretty decisively, Declan didn’t much like it when his non doctor friends showed up at his work. His job wasn’t too hard, when all was said and done (though he could live with a lot less times holding back screaming loved ones from their family in the ER), but unless one was a doctor, it wasn’t really a place one wanted to HAVE to go. Seeing his friend Aaron so often was a bittersweet surprise for him, but one that he didn’t see the harm in enjoying a little bit. If his friend had to go through pain, Declan could be a distraction whenever he could.

Today, he knew for certain that his friend was going to appear during his lunch break, a coincidence he wouldn’t help but take advantage of. A smart friend, and one who’d pay attention, he had no doubt that whatever food he was going to bring, Declan would be a fan of. It was sometimes odd, for his friends to see him in the full head to toe Security Uniform, but Aaron seemed to take it in stride. Even if they got a few curious looks for a someone in a full official uniform about to dig into some seriously crispy chicken. “Dude if you had brought Mickey D’s I would have kicked you out of my lunch and spent it eating some shitty turkey sandwich from the cafeteria. Better than those cocaine fries.” He slips open the top button of his uniform, prepared to dig into his lunch, having just been  waiting for his friend to join in. “Ah, see, this is why your romantic prospects are absolute ass. While quick fucks, or in this case, chickens, can be great in a pinch or not, nothing beats something you gotta work for. Or at least wait for.”

Another roll of her eyes, though there was clear fondness in her smile. She wasn’t too bothered by Declan’s flirting. They seemed to be cut from the same cloth, if she were being completely honest, and strange understanding of each other was there that allowed her to be comfortable and herself around him. From one insatiable flirt to another. “Eyes up here, Saint James.” She teased, resting a hand on her hip, though her own brightened at the mention of his sister.  “Really? How’s Catrina doing? How’s Bambi?”

She picked up some boxed hot chocolate before shrugging her shoulders. “I’m spending the night alone with my cats and turtle. And if that isn’t a horrible foreshadowing of my future then I don’t know what is.” 

The blonde girl held a peculiar place on Declan’s particular bedpost. There were many, many notches on it, but very few that shared the same maker. Usually he hesitated to engage women more than once - didn’t want to give them any ideas - but he and Delphine seemed to have an understanding. No reason they couldn’t be friends that fuck once...or twice...or many times. With no feelings. She genuinely was fun to hang out with, even with clothes on, and the smile that crossed his lips was easy to bring, especially when she called his attention away from her ass. “But why? This grocery store doesn’t carry a better peach.” Ah, damn. Now that was a line. “Bambi is still trying to convince her mom that because I can take care of a cat, she should be allowed one too, and it’s only half working.”

Declan continues to follows her, taking turns between looking at her eyes and aforementioned peach. Her pickings so far have been of the sweet tooth variety and it makes him chuckle a bit inwardly. “If my evening wasn’t busy, I’d offer a good way to kill an hour or two, but it looks like your fate lies with less entertaining friends. Though I can’t entirely speak, whenever I don’t have company it’s me and Henry VIII.”

@declansaintjcmes​

The town seemed to finally have calmed down. Buildings were being repaired, the line of cars in the shop were dwindling down to it’s normal ebb and flow of people who waited until their dashboard was lit up like Main Street on Christmas before they brought it in for a service. Jeremiah had checked in on his family, sorted out repairs and estimates for his mom’s house. He managed to get ahead of schedule with his online classes. Times had been just as productive as they were destructive and Jeremiah was finally considering taking a break. Hanging out in his office, letting the warmth of the shop and the sound of metal on metal and grumbling of the mechanics lull him to sleep as he tried to focus on monthly budget reports. 

A saving grace came in the form of a text message from Declan St. James. A friend he hadn’t seen much of in the past few weeks, who apparently was having some brake trouble. Jeremiah didn’t typically do house calls, but the idea of someone driving across town with faulty brakes was concerning. And anyways. He really needed to get out of the office. So, after doing a quick lap to check on everyone, the sargent got in his truck with a spare toolbox and headed down toward the other man’s home. The drive was quick with no one else on the road considering it was the mid afternoon on a Monday. It was a matter of minutes before he was jumping out of his truck to meet Declan at his door. 

“‘Sup man?” Jer asked, clapping the younger man on the shoulder. “I’m willin to look at ya brakes but it’s gunna cost you a beer.” Allowing the other man to lead him toward the vehicle in question, Thane studied Declan. “Long time since we caught up, Dec. How’d you survive the storm?”

While the blackout had been only moderately stressful for him, the man happening to have been at his sister and nieces place when it occurred anyway and waiting it out, Declan knew that not all the townfolk were as lucky. One of the ones he’d checked up on once service was back up was his friend Jer. A friend, that when the brakes on Declan’s old Jeep started making noises too raspy for a vehicle that carried around an eleven year old more often than not, that he called immediately. 

Jeremiah, for his part, came through and agreed that he could be over in a few hours. He’s waiting at the door of his townhome when the man pulls up, a dark truck next to Declan’s dirty Jeep. “Way ahead of you, man.” One beer is already cracked open in his hand, the other proffered out a bottle to his friend as he walks towards him. Though Declan had figure out what he’s got to do mechanically in a pinch, it’s not his specialty by a long shot. “I was already at my sisters so we spent the night. I was a lot more concerned about the people I couldn’t contact until after it all went back on.”