9-1-1 and SPN

            “Do you want the radio on?” Buck asked warmly, glancing over at you briefly before returning his gaze to the road.

            You composed yourself and turned to look at him, tipping your head back against the headrest with a thoughtful expression.

            “That depends,” you hedged. “What’s your taste in music like?”

            Buck laughed and the sound went straight to your chest, reawakening the butterflies in your stomach; you couldn’t believe how cute he was when he smiled. He reached for the dashboard, twisting the volume knob up to a comfortable level. Classic rock filtered into the air from the speakers and you grinned.

            “Not bad,” you said coyly. “A man after my own heart.”

            Buck chanced another look over at you. You were heading down a quiet residential road and so he reached over to take your hand, keeping his other hand on the wheel. Neither of you were in a rush to end the evening, so he slowed down a little, giving you more time to enjoy the novelty of one another’s touch. You entwined your fingers with his and gave his hand a squeeze, feeling warmth flood your body at the casual intimacy.

            The two of you listened to the music in silence for a while, Buck’s fingertips gently tracing mindless patterns on the back of your hand as he neared your apartment. Too soon, you thought, he pulled up to the curb in front of the building and put the Jeep in park, shifting in his seat to look over at you.

            “I guess this is goodnight,” he murmured softly.

            “It doesn’t have to be just yet,” you reasoned with a small smile. “Walk me to the door?”

            Buck’s gaze fell away for a moment and he gave a soft laugh as a flush colored his cheeks. He nodded, giving your hand a gentle squeeze before pulling away to unclip his seatbelt. He got out of the car and circled around to your door as you collected yourself and preened a little in the visor mirror, pulling it open just as you hastily folded your hands back in your lap. He held a hand out to you, helping you out of the car and steadying you until you got your feet under you. You thanked him softly and stepped aside as he shut the door behind you, leading the charge toward your building.

            You waved your key fob in front of the sensor panel next to the door and buzzed the two of you in. Buck followed as you led him to the elevator and pressed the button for your floor, trailing after you until you stopped in front of your apartment door. You turned to face him with a smile.

            “And this is where I leave you,” Buck said softly.

            You shrugged.

            “How about a nightcap?” You countered, not wanting the night to end just yet.

            Buck looked stricken as he smiled wryly.

            “Wish I could, but I have an early shift tomorrow,” he said apologetically.

            You reached out and splayed a hand on his chest. He reached up, his hand encircling your wrist to keep it there before you could pull away. You could feel your pulse bounding beneath his touch and you could tell by the bemused quirk of his lips that he could feel it, too.

            “Your heart is racing,” he commented.

            Beneath your palm, you could feel his heart doing the same.

            “So is yours,” you murmured.

            You locked eyes for a long moment before your mutual attraction spurred you into action. Buck leaned in, closing the space between the two of you, his free hand coming up to cup your cheek as he pressed his lips to yours. You gasped into the kiss and felt him freeze for a moment. Before he could pull away, though, you pressed forward, throwing yourself into the kiss, your breathing coming a little too quick, a little too shallow. You felt almost giddy as your heart rate picked up, your pulse still throbbing against Buck’s touch as he slowly deepened the kiss.

            You moaned softly, missing Buck’s lips the moment they were gone as he broke the kiss, coming up for air. Your eyes fluttered open and you bit your lip, feeling your cheeks heat as you took in his coy smile and those beautiful, sparkling blue eyes. He gently stroked his thumb over your cheekbone, caressing your face for just a moment longer before pulling away. The only points of contact left were your hand on his chest and his fingers grasping your wrist.

            “I should go,” Buck said lightly, his tone unconvincing.

            “Or,” you said with a casual shrug. “You could come in and stay a while. Keep an eye on me; with my heart racing the way it is, it might be a good idea to have a firefighter around, just in case.”

            Buck laughed, giving your wrist a gentle squeeze before letting you go. He gestured to your door, relenting.

            “In that case, by all means, lead the way.”

            You bit back a squeal of excitement as Buck caved at last. You turned toward the door, fumbling for your keys, nearly missing the keyhole on your first attempt. Taking a subtle, steadying breath, you unlocked the door at last and pushed inside. Buck followed close behind, a warm hand pressing between your shoulder blades to guide you. You weren’t sure what the night would bring, but whatever it was, you knew it was going to be fun.

            You tossed and turned as the nightmare raged on, the visuals in your head as vivid as the incident itself had been. Your chest felt tight, your breathing a little too fast, too shallow, and you woke up with a start. Though the flashbacks faded into the distance as consciousness returned, the pressure on your chest lightened but did not disappear all together. Your doctor had warned you that you might feel some tightness as you healed in the wake of your fractured ribs and bruised tissues, but the pressure felt different than what you’d come to know over the course of the two weeks you’d spent in the hospital.

            Slowly opening your eyes, you were startled to find Eddie hovering over you. You blinked away the blurry cast to your vision and focused your gaze on him, realizing he had his stethoscope on and was pressing it to your chest. His touch was gentle, but the weight of his hand was no doubt what had pulled you out of your slumber.

            “What’re you doing?” You mumbled sleepily.

            “Shh, I’m trying to listen to your heart,” he explained softly.

            You hummed quietly and relaxed again at his words, unfazed. You were used to being poked, prodded, and examined after your stay in the hospital, and you trusted Eddie. If he wanted to listen to your heart, you weren’t going to protest.

            Eddie carefully moved the stethoscope every once in a while, resting it back against your skin with the utmost care so as not to aggravate the bruising on your chest. You dozed a little as he listened closely, waking again only when you finally felt him pull away to set the stethoscope aside. You tipped your head to the side a little, regarding him through half-lidded eyes, a bit fuzzy around the edges from the painkillers.

            “Am I gonna make it?” You asked teasingly.

            Eddie chuckled softly, but even in your haze you didn’t miss the flicker of hurt in his eyes. You reached out, groping sightlessly for his hand as he met your gaze. He slipped his hand into your grip and you squeezed his fingers clumsily, bringing his hand up to brush a kiss across his knuckles.

            “I’m sorry,” you whispered.

            Eddie shook his head, shifting closer so he could press a kiss to your forehead.

            “You have nothing to apologize for,” he assured you. “I’m just glad you’re finally out of the woods. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”

            You tipped your head to nuzzle into his neck, inhaling the familiar, comforting scent of his cologne. You shifted the hand you had gripping his, exposing your wrist, wordlessly encouraging him to wrap his fingers around it like you knew was his wont to do when he needed reassurance. As you’d predicted, Eddie’s fingertips found your pulse point easily. You could feel your pulse reverberating against his touch.

            “I’m okay,” you promised softly. “I’m going to heal up just fine, and until I do, you can do whatever you want to do to know that I’m just fine.”

            Eddie smiled at your words, shifting carefully so he could wrap an arm around you without ever letting go of your wrist. You winced a little as your broken ribs ached fiercely in protest, but quickly settled comfortably into his embrace.

            You laid ensconced in Eddie’s warmth, strength, and comfort for a while, your eyes fluttering closed as he continued to feel your pulse. It slowed over time as you grew sleepier and more relaxed, and Eddie murmured soft encouragements for you to get some more rest before dinner. The pain medication was admittedly drawing you closer and closer to sleep with every passing moment and eventually you felt yourself succumbing to it.

            “I love you,” you murmured softly as your breathing evened out and you dozed off.

            “I love you, too, sweetheart.”

            Eddie rolled his eyes, dropping his hand away and looking at the assortment of medicines beside him, fishing out a bottle of plain old Tylenol.

            “When was the last time you took anything for the fever?”

            Buck groaned, reaching out and groping around for his phone. He lit up the display, tossing it aside once more as he looked at the time.

            “Three hours ago, maybe? I don’t even know anymore,” he said tiredly.

            Eddie nodded. At the risk of overdosing Buck, he set the bottle aside again and reached for Buck’s empty water glass. He assured Buck he’d be back in just a moment before standing and heading into the kitchen. Buck watched him go for a moment before settling back into the couch and letting his eyes fall closed once more.

            Eddie took his time in the kitchen. He could already hear Buck’s soft, congested snores emanating from the couch and he smiled a little as he unpacked the groceries he’d bought. It didn’t take him long to put on some tea and get the beginnings of some chicken soup going on the stove, and soon he was heading back to Buck’s side with a small tray in hand.

            He set the tray, laden with tea, water, and a popsicle, down on the coffee table and disappeared again, only to return with the med kit he usually kept in the back of his car for emergencies slung over his shoulder. He returned to Buck’s side in time to find Buck sitting up, clumsily unwrapping the popsicle and sticking it into his mouth. Eddie waited with bated breath for Buck’s reaction as he set his kit down and sat down beside the other man, but Buck didn’t seem fazed by the treat.

            “Can’t taste anything, huh?” Eddie commented.

            Buck shook his head, looking wary as he glanced down at the popsicle and then back at Eddie.

            “It’s Pedialyte,” Eddie explained. “I’m sure this fever sweat’s got both your fluids and electrolytes pretty depleted, so I figured a popsicle might cover both bases. Christopher loves them when he’s sick.”

            Buck smiled weakly but gratefully. He went back to licking at the treat, looking relieved when the cool liquid that melted on his tongue ran down his throat and soothed it.

            “It does make getting an accurate temp on you a little more tricky, though, so I brought backup.”

            Buck watched as Eddie unzipped his kit and quickly and efficiently located what he was looking for. Just like the kits they used at the station, Eddie’s personal kit was fully stocked and neatly compartmentalized for easy access. Returning his attention to Buck with a scanning thermometer in hand, Eddie held it up, wordlessly asking for permission. Buck nodded easily.

            Eddie turned the thermometer on, swiping it across Buck’s forehead, down to his temple, and to the curve of his jaw. The screen flashed an angry red, displaying a temperature well over a hundred degrees, and Eddie sighed as he set it aside once more.

            “You’re gonna have to come out from under those blankets,” he instructed, his tone firm but kind. “Just until your fever breaks.”

            Buck groaned, protesting a bit before finally complying and allowing Eddie to help unwrap him. Eddie stood, taking the blankets that Buck shucked off one by one, folding them neatly and setting them aside to wash later on. In the meantime, his focus was on Buck.

            Buck, who looked somehow small and vulnerable without the blankets for bulk. Buck, who shivered as the cool ambient air caressed his skin. Buck, who groaned as he hung his head, a headache in full swing pulsing behind his closed eyes. Buck, who started coughing when he attempted to clear his throat and clung desperately to the cough as the paroxysm wracked his body, unable to stop it.

            Eddie sat down at his side again, rubbing his back in gentle, reassuring circles and plucking the last bit of the popsicle out of Buck’s hand. He set the mostly-melted treat back in its wrapper and focused his attention on Buck, encouraging the younger man to take some slow, steady breaths as the coughing began to subside.

            Reaching into his kit, Eddie located his stethoscope and pulled it out as Buck slowly sat up straight, his breathing coming a little easier as he eyed Eddie warily. Eddie smiled at him softly, reaching out to run his fingers through Buck’s damp, ruffled curls, eliciting a shiver from the younger man.

            “It’s okay,” Eddie assured him. “I’m just going to take a listen. I want to make sure it’s not pneumonia setting in.”

            Buck looked a little uncomfortable at the idea but he agreed with a nod nevertheless. He sat forward as Eddie slipped the stethoscope’s eartips into place. Eddie warmed the diaphragm against his palm for a moment before reaching forward and slipping his hand underneath Buck’s shirt, pressing it to his back.

            “Breathe for me,” Eddie instructed as he slowly moved the stethoscope around Buck’s back. “Nice and slow, in and out.”

            Buck did his best to follow along, but the urge to cough was too strong. He buried his face in his elbow as Eddie continued listening, doing his best not to contaminate the other man. Eddie didn’t seem too bothered, though, and sat patiently by as Buck caught his breath and straightened up again.

            “Sorry,” Buck croaked.

            Eddie shook his head, smiling commiseratingly at Buck as he withdrew his hand from his back, reaching up beneath the front of his shirt instead. Buck shivered as Eddie pressed the stethoscope to his chest, stilling as Eddie concentrated on his exam. Buck’s heartbeat was quick but steady, and Eddie took his time listening to make sure he wasn’t missing anything.

            Pulling away after a minute, Eddie hung his stethoscope around his neck and reached for Buck’s wrist, encircling it with his fingers to feel Buck’s pulse. Buck tensed a little at that, but relaxed quickly enough as Eddie flashed him a warm, reassuring smile before glancing down at his watch to time Buck’s heart rate.

            “You’re really pulling out all the stops, huh?” Buck rasped, his throat raw from coughing.

            “Seeing as you won’t let me take you to get checked out, I thought I’d bring the check-up to you,” Eddie murmured, glancing up from where he’d been counting. “You’re tachy. Do you think you can take some slow, deep breaths for me? In and out. Let’s slow down your pulse a little, okay?”

            “I can try,” Buck replied tiredly, sagging back against the couch cushions as Eddie continued to hold his wrist. “I might start coughing again, though.”

            “Humor me.”

            Buck rolled his eyes, attempting a slow, deep breath. Eddie encouraged him softly, keeping an eye on Buck’s pulse as the younger man worked through a few cycles of deep breathing. After a little while, Buck’s heart rate began to slowly come down, and Eddie released his wrist after one last quick count of his pulse, satisfied with Buck’s progress.

            “Better,” Eddie said softly. “And I’m sure it’ll come down even more after we’ve broken that fever. Which brings me to my next order of business.”

            Buck raised an eyebrow at Eddie’s words, wondering what Eddie was thinking.

            “The antipyretics aren’t doing enough to bring your temperature down, so we need to help your body out a bit,” Eddie explained. “I want to run you a cool bath and we’ll keep working on your hydration. How does that sound?”

            Buck groaned, but he knew he wasn’t going to get a better deal than that. He knew it was either Eddie’s way or urgent care, so he settled on the comforts of home even if the thought of a cool bath was distinctly unpleasant. He nodded eventually.

            “Terrible,” Buck groused. “But tolerable as long as you keep me company.”

            Eddie barked out a laugh and put his hands up in a gesture of surrender.

            “How can I refuse an offer like that?”

            Buck smiled genuinely for what felt like the first time in forever. Eddie regarded him with a soft, affectionate expression and leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Buck’s sweaty forehead before pulling away to go get a start on that bath. Buck’s eyes followed him for a moment before he, too, pushed off the couch to follow, resigned to his fate.

            Eddie laughed as Buck sank down onto the sofa next to him, a second bowl in one hand and the remote in the other. He accepted the snack and set it down in his lap, wrinkling his nose a little as the acrid scent of charred popcorn finally wafted in from the kitchen.

            “And you say my cooking is bad,” Eddie teased.

            Buck rolled his eyes.

            “At least this is just because I’m not used to the settings on the new microwave. I’ll get the hang of it eventually. Your cooking is beyond help.”

            Eddie nudged Buck in the ribs with his elbow and snatched the remote out of his hand, pulling up the Netflix menu. He scrolled through the category listing, stopping at Buck’s insistence when they hit the horror movie section.

            “The Conjuring is supposed to be pretty good,” Buck quipped as Eddie passed it while flicking through the movies on offer. “I’m down if you are.”

            Eddie glanced over at Buck as his thumb hovered over the play button.

            “I’m not the one who gets spooked easily,” Eddie said pointedly.

            It was Buck’s turn to roll his eyes, but he nodded concedingly.

            “That’s fair,” Buck agreed. “But at least I’ve got you for company. You won’t let the ghosts get me, right?”

            Eddie picked up the cushion at his side and swatted Buck with it, nearly upending both of their popcorn bowls. Buck held his hands up in a gesture of surrender.

            “Don’t worry, the boogeyman’s got nothing on me after all the years I spent chasing him off for Christopher,” Eddie teased.

            Their laughter echoed around Buck’s living room as the opening credits to the movie started up, but settled quickly as the movie began. Eddie sank back into the couch cushions, sipping at his beer and snacking on popcorn, letting the pleasant buzz from the alcohol slowly displace the tension in his muscles. Buck, meanwhile, was sitting up straight, his eyes wide, hands gripping the bowl in his lap tightly as the movie started to get spooky. It wasn’t the kind of thing that would unsettle Eddie, but Buck was a little more highly strung.

            A few more minutes passed before Buck set his bowl aside having nearly spilled half of its contents into his lap after a jump scare. He shrank back away from the TV, draining his bottle and inching closer to Eddie. Eddie could tell Buck was getting spooked, if the way the younger man’s gaze darting around to the dark corners of the living room was any indication.

            “It’s okay, Buck,” Eddie murmured softly, stretching his arm out along the back of the couch. “It’s all just special effects on a green screen. C’mere.”

            Buck glanced over at Eddie for a moment, feeling a little bit ridiculous for being unnerved, but there was just something about ghosts and demons that freaked him right out. After a moment’s hesitation, he sighed and shifted closer to Eddie, leaning into his lover’s side and resting his head on Eddie’s chest. Eddie’s arm settled around his shoulders, fingertips drawing mindless swirls on the skin of his upper arm where Eddie’s hand rested.

            Eddie couldn’t help but smile every time Buck jumped as the movie drew closer and closer to the climax. He’d long since finished off his popcorn, but he’d cracked a second beer half way through the film and sipped it leisurely as Buck burrowed into his embrace. The movie was admittedly intense enough in some parts that even Eddie jumped a little, which just made Buck jump even more. The gentle weight of Eddie’s arm pulling him just a little closer, holding him a little tighter in the wake of those moments put him back at ease again, though, and the way it settled Buck right down nearly made Eddie’s heart ache with fondness.

            The ending of the movie came soon after all the action, and Eddie felt Buck sag into him, the tension finally seeping out of the younger man’s body as the threat of another jump scare on the horizon faded. His head pressed into Eddie’s chest and Eddie had no intention of moving just yet. He was warm, comfortable, and just buzzed enough that he was content to sit there with Buck for as long as Buck needed him to.

            “That was a surprisingly good movie,” Eddie said eventually. “What did you think?”

            “Shh,” Buck hissed quietly. “I’m trying to listen to your heart.”

            Eddie smiled softly at Buck’s words, falling silent as Buck splayed a hand on his belly and shifted a bit to get more comfortable. As Buck settled, Eddie reached up and ran his fingers through Buck’s hair, feeling his heartbeat reverberating against Buck’s cheek, slow and steady. Eddie knew how calming it could be, listening to someone’s heart to ground a little. Hell, he’d done it with Buck more times than he could count. It made the warm feeling in his chest grow even hotter, and he wondered how he’d ever thought he’d been in love before. He’d never felt that spark with anyone else.

            “Listen for as long as you want,” Eddie murmured.

            He lost track of how long the two of them laid there, Buck’s hand slipping higher, palm pressing into Eddie’s ribcage to feel his heartbeat as much as he could hear it. Eddie stroked Buck’s back, his arm, his hair. He was so relaxed that he was drifting off when Buck finally moved, sitting up and pulling away to stretch after being curled up for so long. Eddie smiled as Buck turned his head to meet his gaze.

            “So I heard there’s a sequel,” Eddie said cheekily. “I’m down if you are.”

            His laughter at Buck’s expression was cut off as he was walloped with a cushion, but Buck was laughing, too. The sound pushed what little tension was left from the day out of sight and out of mind, and Eddie felt nothing in that moment but love, joy, and the promise of another night of cuddles over popcorn somewhere down the road.

            You packed your bags and headed for home, the ache between your lungs persisting as you drove through the maze of downtown streets toward Eddie’s place.  It didn’t take you long to get there, and within minutes you were walking up the driveway, ready to just kick back and relax.  Thankfully it was Friday and you had all weekend to cut loose and forget about everything going on in your world.

            The front door to Eddie’s house swung open and light spilled onto the porch as you approached.  He smiled at you as he appeared in the doorway and you leaned into his embrace as you crossed the threshold, smiling as you were enveloped in his warmth and strength.

            “I missed you,” he murmured as he pressed a kiss into your hair.

            “I missed you, too,” you said softly, closing your eyes and inhaling the scent of his cologne, clinging to him tightly.

            The two of you stood locked in a hug for a long moment before you finally reluctantly pulled away and you followed Eddie into the house.  You could smell the rich, slightly spicy scent of whatever he was making for dinner on the stove and you could hear quiet video game noises emanating from behind Christopher’s closed door down the hall.  The domesticity of it all made you smile.

            “Make yourself at home,” Eddie said warmly, ushering you into the kitchen with him.  “Can I get you a drink?”

            You allowed him to lead you to the kitchen table, sitting down as he pulled out a chair before rushing over to the stove to stir whatever was simmering there.  You watched him for a moment, unconsciously reaching up to rub at your chest again as it continued to ache fiercely.  Your heart rate picked up as your thoughts began drifting back to the pain and you didn’t even notice Eddie speaking to you until he was right at your side, kneeling so he could meet your eyes from below where you were staring, lost in thought.

            “Are you okay?”

            You shook your head as you snapped out of your reverie, looking down at him as he reached up to gently grasp your wrists, pulling your hands away from your chest and into your lap.  His thumbs rubbed gentle circles into your skin and you sniffed a little as tears welled in your eyes.

            “What’s wrong?”

            “My chest hurts,” you explained quietly.

            Eddie’s expression stayed relatively impassive, but you could see the concern in his eyes.  He squeezed your arms gently before letting go and standing up, holding a hand out to you.

            “Come on,” he encouraged softly.  “Come with me.”

            You frowned, confused, but allowed him to pull you to your feet again.  You walked along ahead of him as he led you down the hall to his bedroom.  Eddie guided you to the bed, coaxing you to have a seat and make yourself comfortable.  You kicked off your shoes before climbing onto the bed, settling yourself against the stack of pillows cushioning the headboard that Eddie had hastily constructed as you’d shifted around.

            You watched as he took a seat next to you, facing you with a reassuring smile.  He reached for you, gently grasping your wrist and pressing his fingertips to your pulse point.  You could feel your pulse racing, reverberating off of his fingers in sync with the fluttering you felt in your chest.  You closed your eyes, leaning your head back against the headboard, letting Eddie do his thing and trying to feel reassured that he was taking care of you.

            “Breathe, sweetheart,” he encouraged gently as he glanced down at his watch, timing your heart rate.

            You tried your best to ground as he counted, focusing on your breathing, on the feeling of the soft bed beneath you and how it contrasted with the hard wood of the headboard behind you, on the scent of Eddie’s cologne and the warmth of his examining fingers.  You could feel a little of the tension starting to ease and you sighed with relief, your chest beginning to feel the smallest bit less constricted.

            “Are you anxious?”  Eddie asked.  “Did something happen at work?”

            You shrugged, clearing your throat a little before speaking, your voice thick with unshed tears.

            “I don’t know,” you replied.  “I feel anxious, but I don’t know if that came on first or if I’m anxious because my chest hurts.”

            Eddie nodded sympathetically, giving your wrist a gentle, reassuring squeeze before letting go.  He reached up to cup your face, stroking a thumb over your cheekbone.

            “Have you ever had chest pains like this before?”

            You shook your head.

            “Okay, that’s okay,” Eddie assured you.  “It just means we’ll keep a closer eye on you for a bit, that’s all.  I’ll be right back.”

            You slowly opened your eyes again as Eddie’s hand dropped away from your face and watched as he stood.  Reaching up, you swiped at a tear as it rolled down your cheek.

            “Is it bad?” You asked quietly, afraid of the answer.

            Eddie glanced at you over his shoulder as he reached into a dresser drawer.  He shook his head, pulling out his stethoscope and returning to your side.  He folded the instrument in his lap, reaching out to rest on hand on your knee and giving it a squeeze.

            “I don’t think so,” he explained.  “I think you’re having a mild panic attack and that we’ll be able to treat you right here, but I’d like to get a closer look before I decide for sure.”

            You agreed easily, trusting him to take care of you.  The thought of potentially having to go to the hospital scared you enough that it drove your heart rate even higher and you tried not to think about that as Eddie held up the stethoscope.

            “I’m just going to take a listen.”

            You hummed softly in agreement and fiddled with a thread on the bedspread as Eddie inserted the eartips and held up the stethoscope’s diaphragm between his fingers.  The chill of it made you shiver a little as he touched it to your chest, but it warmed almost instantly and faded out of mind, the cold being replaced by the gentle weight of Eddie’s hand as he held the stethoscope in place.

            “Breathe nice and easy for me,” he instructed.

            You did; in through your nose, out through your mouth.  Eddie encouraged you with a single nod and a small smile, steadying you with a hand on your shoulder as he moved the stethoscope around, taking a thorough listen to your heartbeat.  Satisfied that everything was fine, he pulled away and set the instrument aside again, reaching to take both of your hands in his.

            “Your heart sounds good,” Eddie reassured you.  “It’s just working a little hard right now because of the anxiety.  I’m going to make you some tea and run you a bath to help you relax, see if we can’t get your heart rate down some.  If you’re still having chest pains after all that, then we’ll take a closer look and revisit the idea of heading into the ER, okay?”

            While his plan still made you a little nervous, it was better than what you thought he’d say and you trusted him implicitly to keep you safe.  If he said you were going to be fine, you knew you would be.  You nodded and Eddie gave your hands a squeeze, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to your forehead.

            “I’ll take good care of you, I promise.”

            You smiled and nodded, taking a slow, deep, cleansing breath.

            “I know.”