castles crumbling

PART SEVEN

                Jake spends his weekend catching up on paperwork and admin, ignoring his sisters’ suggestions that he get a pet so he has something that forces him to stick to more of a routine at home. Or rather, something that forces him to actually go home. He’s gotten very good at ignoring them though, having four sisters will do that to a man. Maybe he could get a fish and that’d serve them right for giving him unsolicited advice. He does love them all though, can’t imagine his life without them.

                There’s a reason he does the job he does; he doesn’t often have to point to the photo on the wall showing toddler quadruplets, but sometimes when he has parents who are terrified their premmie won’t make it he points to that photo on the wall. It’s hard for people to look at him in the flesh, look at the picture of him and his sisters born at 27 weeks, and get their head around the fact that he’s the toddler in the picture. He’s even had some people not believe him, but fortunately his and his sister’s names are on the portrait his parents had done to celebrate them making it to their second birthday.

                One of his sisters spent a lot of time in hospital, and, according to his parents, Jake had always found it fascinating rather than scary. He had seen good and efficient nurses take care of his sister and help her with their kindness and he’d decided that he wanted to help in the same way. One of his earlier training rotations had been pediatrics, then he’d had one in NICU and then he realized he’d wanted to specialize in neonatal care. He loves kids and he’s good with them.

                Which is lucky for his sisters, because they’ve all got at least two kids, and he’s always happy to look after all of them at once when he goes home. If his mom could manage four newborns, then Jake can manage 11 kids aged between 13 and two months. Even if he does look a little unhinged when he goes out in public with them all, because the family resemblance is enough for them to all look like he could be their father. He never corrects anyone who assume it either, likes living the fantasy for a few hours; although 11 kids would be too many even for him he likes to make people’s brains implode just thinking about it.

                He gets to work on Monday and sets about his usual routine of reading through the notes from the weekend staff. If he had a social life he’d be grateful for his senior position that allows him his weekends and evenings, except he’s a workaholic and he knows it. He does take time off, but he saves it up to visit home, and home doesn’t have a hospital big enough that would ever be in need of Jake’s level of expertise. He’s come to accept it. He has a busy and fulfilling life.

                “Morning Jake,” Bradley greets, appearing in the door to Jake’s office. “Got you a coffee.”

                “You didn’t have to do that.”

                “I know. I was getting one for myself. How was your weekend?”

                “Nice and quiet,” Jake answers, and he accepts the drink, watches as Bradley steps in and makes himself comfortable on the sofa he has in his office, long legs spreading out making the sofa seem smaller than it actually is. It feels a little weird with how comfortable Bradley seems to be making himself and he raises an eyebrow inquisitively. Holds back the what the fuck? because that would be a tad unprofessional but he’s definitely thinking it.

                “The kids aren’t due for their cares for another thirty minutes,” Bradley states, seeming to read his expression. “Don’t want to wake them too early. Wait. Sorry. Am I stopping you from doing work?”

                “It’s fine,” Jake waves his hand, because honestly he’s all caught up because of the work he did over the weekend even if he’s still a little weirded out by Bradley just making himself comfortable. “Is Natasha…?”

                “She’ll come in later. She’s getting up twice during the night to pump and I decided to let her sleep in. I’m sure sleeping and resting and recovering are way more important right now…”

                “They are,” Jake agrees.

                “Yeah, but you try telling her that. Actually,” Bradley’s eyes light up. “Can you? Tell her that? You’re a medical professional, she’ll be more likely to listen to you. She never listens to me. Well. That’s not true. But… uh. We had a really good talk and she’s just going through the motions because she feels it’s the right thing to do. Doesn’t feel like she’s bonded with them at all.”

                “It’s still very early days, and she experienced a traumatic–”

                “I know! But she seems to think it would all just happen naturally and be easy. She’s going to talk to someone…”

                “That’s good to hear. I won’t approach her, but if she talks to me or asks me questions I’ll let her know my professional opinion. But I don’t think me providing my thoughts unprompted would go down overly well,” Jake says, and he knows it doesn’t. Has learnt it with his sisters, the numerous new mothers he’s dealt with over the years. He keeps his mouth shut unless it’s life threatening and unless someone asks him for his opinion. Then all bets are off.

                “Oh. Smart. There’s so much information out there, it can just all turn into noise. Thank you for being so good with us.”

                “It’s literally my job, and the pair of you have been very quick to pick everything up.”

                “We’re both naval aviators. Good at following instructions and learning things quickly. Although I think we both wish there was a sole instruction manual that the kids came with.”

                “You and every single new parent. So, you guys met in the Navy huh?”

                “Yeah. Back in flight school. Long time ago now.”

                Jake knows how old Natasha is, her birthdate is on all the paperwork, which means Bradley must be a similar age. It means they’ve been together for well over a decade. It’s kind of nice. Sweet.

                “You two are lucky to have each other.”

                “You have no idea,” Bradley says with a grin, and he looks so fucking happy it kind of takes Jake’s breath away. So much for not developing a crush. Ah well. He’ll be gone soon enough, and Jake can get on with his life. And on that note –

                “So Charlotte and Oliver are doing well enough we’re looking at moving them up to Level Four.”

                “Really?”

                “Yep. A step closer to going home. The last step.”

PART SEVEN

                “Oh, I am, am I?” Bradley asks, but he’s definitely following Jake out of the pool hall, curious as to where Jake might be leading them, runs into his back as he stands in the street, hands on his hips and assessing the street. It’s still fairly bright out and he puts on his sunglasses, then catches Jake’s glance at them and he realises they’re covering up his eyes and quickly removes them again

                “Did you drive here?”

                “I did. Is Bob going to be able to make sure Natasha gets back alright?”

                “My brother is a gentleman,” Jake says, and then he grins wider. “Unlike me.”

                “See, you keep saying shit like that and giving me whiplash. Hooking up or dating?”

                “Both can be true at the same time. First you have to pass the final test. Where’s your car?”

                “This way,” Bradley says, and his entire body is thrumming suddenly with the idea that maybe he’s not just going to Jake’s place to meet a dog. Fuck. It’s a high-pressure meet and greet. He doesn’t quite jump when Jake’s hand sneaks into the back pocket of his jeans as they walk, but it’s a close thing. He glances to catch Jake grinning at him, then he squeezes Bradley’s ass and he ducks his head, shaking it a little. Can’t believe he’s doing this right now and that it has him excited about the potential of a lot more than just some good sex.

                “My car.”

                Jake nods, and he can’t tell what Jake thinks of his Bronco, is pretty sure it isn’t a deal breaker, however Jake definitely hasn’t given him any impression that he’s low maintenance. The man has standards and isn’t going to waste time with people who might not meet them. Bradley can’t help but admire that; already wants to exceed every challenge Jake sends his way. Jake gives him his address and Bradley enters it into his phone, notes it’s a twenty-minute drive into a suburb he’s not familiar with.

                “Can you hear me talk with the windows down?” Bradley asks, glancing quickly to Jake as he pulls out into the traffic. The look Jake gives him is a little smug and Bradley can’t wait to kiss that mouth, fuck, he needs to concentrate on driving.

                “I can hear you just fine.” He wants to ask about Jake’s exes, the ones his brother said Jake had bad taste for going out with. Wants to know what made them bad so he can hopefully maybe avoid the same pitfalls or behaviour. “You going to talk, or just think about it?”

                Bradley huffs in annoyance, not sure how to just blurt out and ask about Jake’s past boyfriends, partners, hookups or whatever he refers to them.

                “Bob said you had bad taste in men…”

                “Hmm. You want the juicy details of all my past relationships already?”

                “Uh. Maybe your biggest pet peeves?” Bradley asks, hopes that’s broad and vague enough but also show enough interest to maybe get something. “I can talk about why all my past relationships have failed if that helps?”

                “Did any of them end because you cheated?”

                “What? No!”

                “Well. Pet peeve number one.”

                “Fuck. Sorry.”

                “Wasn’t you that cheated on me. What about you? Pet peeve?”

                “…uh. Being dumped while I’m deployed. I’d prefer that then them cheating on me, but that’s happened too.”

                “That’s two. I thought naval aviators were smart.”

                Bradley rolls his eyes and shakes his head, glances to the side quickly and sees Jake grinning at him and he grins back. Yep. Still wants to kiss him.

                “Your second pet peeve then?”

                “Well, people treating me like I’m stupid simply because I can’t hear.”

                “People do that?”

                Jake snorted and Bradley took that as the affirmative answer Jake clearly means it as.

                “Seem to think something is wrong with my brain.”

                “But there isn’t,” Bradley says, a little confused. He had looked at Jake’s Instagram, had seen the explanation of how he was born deaf, had failed cochlear implant surgery when he was around ten years old, how he’d hated the idea that people thought his life was somehow less than everyone else’s.

                “I know that,” Jake says, tone sharp. “Glad you do too. Just… don’t like people treating me like I’m weak or helpless.”

                “Time and place for that though, right?” Bradley says, and he hadn’t thought his words were overly suggestive but Jake is laughing, and he repeats the words in his head, flushing a little and shaking his head. “Get your mind out of the gutter. I was thinking more if you were sick in bed and needed caring for.”

                “Boring. But I was still imagining a bed being involved.”

                “One step at a time,” Bradley mutters, not even sure if Jake will pick his words up the way it’s almost under his breath. Jake’s laugh is answer enough though.

                “You were the one imagining bringing me soup in bed, that’s so many more steps ahead of what I’m imagining.”

                When he and Natasha win handily, easy enough with how distracted both Bradley and Bob are, he informs them all he wants to play Bradley one on one. Bob is rolling his eyes, and there’s heat in Bradley’s and he realizes he’s unintentionally made another innuendo with one-on-one. He shoos Bob and Natasha away with a wave of his hand, giving Bob a quick good luck and have fun and getting a thanks in response. He turns back to find Bradley watching him and he hasn’t racked up the balls for another game so Jake starts, just to give himself something to do.

                “My brother really seems to like your friend.”

                “Well, she seems to really like him too. She wouldn’t have left with him otherwise.”

                Jake bites both his lips, considers what approach he’s going to take.

                “I want him to be happy more than I want a hook-up.”

                That seems to make Bradley pause, and Jake wonders what it is. His family have made a lot of sacrifices for him, accommodated a lot, Jake has no issues putting his brother’s potential happiness before his own. Even if he’s already mourning the potential of hooking up with Bradley.

                “Wait, so… you’re saying we’re not hooking up?”

                “I know I was definitely giving that impression, but if we fuck and then end up hanging out a whole lot because my brother and your best friend end up dating… it could get awkward.”

                “So it’s not because you don’t want to have sex with me…”

                “I didn’t take you for an idiot. I would very much like that, however…”                 “What about dating me?” Bradley asks in a rush, and Jake frowns, not sure if he caught the words. “I’m not only interested in hooking up, I’d like to date you. If that’s something you’d be into.”

                “What?”

                “I mean… I haven’t done the one-night stand thing in years. Was going to make an exception because…” he waves a hand in Jake’s general direction and he’s blushing and Jake smirks, suddenly feeling like his night isn’t ruined at all. This changes things. Well. Some things.

                “You’re serious…” Jake says, and Bradley nods slowly and Jake quickly reassess everything. He hadn’t been lying when he said he was picky about people, but Bradley has ticked every single box and then some as to what Jake likes in his partners. Intelligent, good looking, sense of humour, little bit of an asshole, cute when flustered. Can sign.

                Jake would definitely let him have a second date. Several dates. He’s also not fixated on waiting some arbitrary number of dates or length of time before he has sex with a new person. That right now is a massive flashing neon sign in the pro column of dating Bradley because he’s been flirting with Bradley all night and Bradley has been reciprocating in kind. Which has resulted in him feeling even hornier than usual.

                “You said you liked dogs.”

                “Uh. What?”

                “In your audition, you said you liked dogs. I’m going to need you to prove that.”

                “Uh. Sure. How?”

                Jake grins, presses the cue stick into the clasp on the stand on the side.

                Fortunately for him, it seems reciprocal. Every time he looks, Jake is looking right back. He just grins at Bradley and then either licks his lips, takes a drink from his bottle of beer, or moves his hand on his pool cue in an incredibly suggestive way and Bradley knows he’s not just imagining it. He’s been teased. Or given a show. Maybe both. Natasha is enjoying herself, he knows her well enough to tell and Bob is being attentive with her, asking about her service, seems genuinely interested and not in a condescending or patronizing way. Bos is also good at pool, which Bradley knows is going to count in his favour.

                “Come on Bradshaw, you’re usually better than this.”

                Bradley shrugs, because he’s never been overly competitive with over people. He’s always wanted to improve himself, beat his own personal bests, but needing to beat other people is something he leaves for other people to worry about. Which is infuriating for them when it’s Bradley they’re trying to beat.

                “You’re not trying your best?” Jake asks, cocking his hip against the edge of the table and Bradley shakes his head.

                “Nope,” he says, letting the p pop and he licks his lips. Jake’s eyes flick to his lips and he grins. He glances to Natasha quickly, but she’s lining up her shot and Bob is watching her intently. “Saving my best for later,” Bradley mouths the words, signing it as best he can, hopes Natasha doesn’t look his way because she’d probably put a cue stick into his balls. Jake is laughing then, head tilted back and it’s loud and unrestrained.

                “Promise?” Jake snaps back, hand faster than his spoken word, the sign a little off because he’s holding a bottle but Bradley is already repeating the sign back to him and nodding. Jake’s eyes glint and he pats Bradley’s chest, lets his fingers dig into the muscle of one of his pecs and he swallows, getting more turned on with every passing second. He wonders how pissed Natasha would be if he dragged Jake off to the bathroom, because he strongly suspects Jake would be down for it.

                He forces himself to focus on the game, tries to ignore the way Jake moves, or brushes up against him as they move around the table. It’s gotten busier, but not busy enough that he has to press against Bradley to get past him. He’s not complaining though, and Natasha has stopped looking at him with disdain, so that’s something. They play another game, switching partners and he’s paired with Bob, which he’s a little disappointed about.