#illogicalweek2019

Illogical Husbands Week 2019, day four: On the job case.

I didn’t really know what to do with this one so I drew this :) It’s again just a sketch, sorry.

I hope you're as excited as I am!

Today's theme: Emergency

Warning: nsfw-themed scenes; nothing explicit

Idk why I’m not following my own rules but why have these two turn enemies to lovers when they can be both at the same time?

-

“Sir,” Ellie said, clearing her throat. “I don’t mean to alarm you, but Dr. Masters is here.”

Alec Hardy let out a frustrated groan. “No,” he snapped. “We are not going to talk to him. Don’t even think about coming near him.”

They were sitting at the hospital lobby, surrounded by pristine white walls, the stench of alcohol stinging the air. Alec scrunched his nose in disgust at the sight of Bill Masters off at the side near the entryway leading to one of the ORs. The man had on a lab coat and was exchanging curt words with a colleague. Alec felt his blood pressure spike up at the sight of him.

Ellie rolled her eyes. “Look, sir, it’s been months since the incident and frankly, this is getting ridiculous. He’s already apologized--”

“He said he wished he hadn’t done it, not the same as apologizing. ‘It’ could’ve meant more things. Worse things that would’ve cost me my job.” Alec snarled.

“Here we go again. Why can’t you just let it go? This feud has done nothing but put you in a strop every time anyone so much as mentions his name!”

“Miller, need I remind you that his inane arrogance nearly cost us our entire case? Hm? How he intentionally made us believe that he had more to do with the murder of Walsh than he actually did?” Alec raised his brows, his lips pressed into a tight line. “And let’s not forget how he did all that simply because he hates my guts. Do you really think I could just set all that aside?”

“Well, I admit that accusing him of murder might not have gotten you off on the best foot...” Alec glared at her in response. “But it was all just a big misunderstanding! He was just the doctor on-call at the hotel. The real suspect is locked up and awaiting trial! Sir, I really think that if you set aside this childish rivalry you two have you could actually become good friends.”

“Friends?” Alec scoffed. “I would sooner be mauled by a bear.”

He eyed Masters out of his peripheral vision. Bill appeared to have just ended a shift and was pulling off his coat, revealing the short-sleeved dress shirt he wore underneath in a cream color that contrasted with his dark hair. Alec was struck by the sight of the muscles on his arms, shifting as Masters folded his coat absentmindedly.

“Still you have to admit,” Ellie’s voice broke him out of his reverie, her voice catching on a dreamy tone. “He’s quite the looker.”

“He’s... not unattractive.”

“Right,” Ellie said, already turning around. “Kath told me I could pick up the lab results from the swabs over at the north wing. You coming?”

Once again, Alec’s glare was all the answer she needed.

“Of course, your baseless disgust over hospitals makes you physically incapable,” she said in her best impression of his voice. Alec was not impressed. Ellie retracted, schooling the amused expression fighting to make its way on her face. “Be back in 20 minutes!” She set off in the direction of the labs.

Alec took a look around. Bill had disappeared from view, probably gone back home already.

He took a few steps towards one of the halls, aiming to stretch his legs when a hand shot out to grab his arm. He barely had time to react to the threat before he was being manhandled into a dimly lit supply closet.

The door slammed shut behind him. He figured his fight-or-flight response should’ve been triggered more considering that his profession made him more attuned to danger already but there was also a deeper, more concrete instinct in his mind that already knew what to expect.

There were lips ghosting near his ear.

“Didn’t expect to see you today,” Bill said gruffly, his hand coming to rest on Alec’s back, traveling up his spine and eliciting a shiver. “What a lovely surprise.”

“I was hoping I wouldn’t run into you. Praying, more like,” Alec replied coldly.

Bill chuckled, his nose skimming the line on the side of his neck. “Now, I have a hard time believing that. See, I’ve already heard you calling out to God and it did not sound anything like that.” His lips pressed on Alec’s neck, nipping at the skin. Alec tilted up his head to give him more access.

Bill’s scent engulfed him. He leaned back on the door for support as his knees threatened to give way. Bill’s hand was firm on his back, grounding him.

“We’re in a closet.” He said as if he needed to point out the obvious. “Someone could’ve seen us, you insufferable git!”

Bill captured his lips in a wild, searing kiss. Alec melted against him, his own mouth pliant, satisfied with being molded by Bill’s more capable lips. His mind went blissfully blank, as it always did whenever Bill kissed him. It was equally gratifying and dangerous--the latter somehow an ever-present consequence whenever Bill was around. His hand went up to grasp the back of Bill’s head, deepening the kiss.

Bill smiled, playfully nipping at his bottom lip before pulling away just a bit. “You sure are needy today.”

Alec’s glare would’ve sent an ordinary person running for the hills. Bill was no ordinary person, instead he tugged on Alec’s waist, grinding their cocks and eliciting a gasp from the detective.

“Shut up!” Alec managed to say in between Bill’s thrusts. His hands scrambled to grip Bill’s shoulders. “Arrogant git.”

Bill’s answering smile was positively devious. In that moment, Alec knew he was putty in the doctor’s hands.

And then Bill pulled away, his hands returning to his sides, leaving Alec in complete confusion over what had just taken place.

Of course, he thought. That’s all this was to Bill. A game to see how bothered he could get Alec within the span of a few minutes. He’d been manipulating Alec once again and, just like the first time, Alec had walked straight into his trap.

He cursed himself for being played a fool.

Alec cleared his throat, mustering up what little dignity was left from him. “Well I hope you were entertained,” he said dryly. If he sounded somewhat sad he hoped that Bill didn’t notice. He turned around, hand resting on the doorknob.

“Idiot,” said Bill, arms snaking around Alec’s torso. Alec was frozen as Bill tucked his chin on the crook of Alec’s shoulder, placing light kisses on the fabric of his shirt. “I believe Miller will be back shortly. Wouldn’t want her to wonder. But I’ve a special evening planned out for you tonight.” Bill trailed kisses up his neck and behind his ear, making him shiver.

This was all a game. Another plot of the cunning Dr. Bill Masters to have him running in circles once again over a lead that will inevitably turn out to be nothing. He’d seen the danger firsthand, already knew the consequences of choosing to continue down this road. Devastation. Disappointment.

Despite this, Alec steeled himself and gripped Bill’s hand where it rested over his stomach and lifted it up to his face. He pressed a soft, lingering kiss over Bill’s knuckles. For once, it seemed that Bill was rendered wordless.

G? | Alec Hardy/Bill Masters | Broadchurch/Masters of Sex | None | “Emergency”

Alec had answered the phone; he had nobody to blame but himself.  He should have learned (by now) that nothing good ever came from answering Bill’s home phone.  The only people that ever called it seemed to hate Bill on a scale that could not be measured by any normal standards. 

Only, this wasn’t a phone call from an errant religious group who had nothing better to do with their time.  It wasn’t a sales call.  It wasn’t a bill collector.  It wasn’t even that one woman that seemed to hate Bill especially on Wednesdays.  (Alec had no idea what that woman actually did or why she hated Bill.)

No, this was a call from the birthday party he’d dropped the youngest Masters child off at that morning.  (Alec had even said to Bill, when he accepted the job, weren’t adults expected to stay with their children under such circumstances?  Howard was only seven years old; that wasn’t old enough to be trusted to do anything with some sort of supervision, really.)  

“His father isn’t answer his cell phone,” said the birthday mother with a hurried, worried exasperation in her voice.  “If someone can’t come and get him, I’ll have to call an ambulance.”

And really, the only thing than one of Bill’s children getting hurt at a birthday part was Bill being called to the emergency room for one of his children.  (Even worse might be getting called to the ER for a non-emergency.)  Alec made it to the birthday party in record time.  He found the knot of worried mothers standing around little Howie (as they called him) throwing a great confusing disaster of advice at him.

Someone had filled a water bottle with ice.

“I’m here,” Alec said.  (Although what good he was going to be, that was largely debatable.)  “What happened, what’s the injury?”

Howard looked at him with something that could only be labeled as disappointment.  It wasn’t surprised disappointment, it was just resignation.  (Bill Masters had been, up to this point, something of a terrible father.  Alec was going to make sure that got fixed no matter the cost.)  “I fell out of the tree,” Howie said.  He moved the water bottle away from his bleeding palm.  “My wrist really hurts.”

Alec had never been a doctor, but he’d been a father for long enough.  He asked for specifics about the accident.  He tested the most basic range of motion and then he said, “right, let’s go Howard.”

“Howie,” the boy said.  He slid off the bench they’d put him with a glum frown.  All the ladies called their well wishes and Howard nodded along as he followed Alec back toward the car.  “Where’s Dad?”

“I don’t know, but I have an idea.”  He looked sideways, down at the boy dragging his feet in the dirt.  “Look,” he started.  There was something to be said here about how parents had to work, and how what Bill did was important.  But Howard didn’t even live with Bill all the time.  If things didn’t change, he might not ever chose to live with Bill again.  So Alec sighed and ruffled his fingers through the kid’s hair.  “How about we go and kick him really hard?”

“Mom says you’re not supposed to solve your problems with violence.”

“Well, of course you aren’t.  I’ve got a whole job that’s just stopping people from that or putting them in jail so they’ll remember it for the next time.  But sometimes, just now and again, a good kick to the shins is called for.”  

They’d come to a pause next to the car.  Howie was holding his arm to his chest.  His little seven year old brain was processing this new exception to the rule.  He shrugged a little, “ok,” he said, “if we find him at work then we can kick him in the shins.”

They were definitely going to find Bill Masters at work.

“And then we’ll have to go see a doctor about your wrist.  It doesn’t look broken but better to be safe.”

“Dad is a doctor,” Howie said.  He let Alec open the car door for him and even tolerated being buckled into the backseat without any of his usual distaste at being helped.  (Children were in far too much hurry to be adults, that’s what Alec thought.)  

“Yeah, but we need a doctor who actually does doctor stuff,” Alec said.

The drive to the clinic was blissfully quick.  The new girl that worked the front desk smiled at them as Howie darted past clutching his arm to his chest.  Bill was standing in the doorway of Virginia’s office, in the middle of some sort of conversation he thought was more important than answering his phone.  He wasn’t paying any attention to what was coming at him so he was wholly unprepared for his son to kick him as hard in the shin as a seven year old was capable. 

“Ow!” Bill shrieked, “what--Howie?  Howard, what was the meaning of--why are you holding your arm like that?  How did you get here?”

Alec had his hands in his pockets, standing a comfortable distance away, just waiting for Bill to notice him.  He didn’t have to wait long for the man to reach an obvious conclusion, and when Bill did look at him for answers he frowned at him.  

Bill’s grip on his son’s shoulders loosened up.  His face loosened out of his shocked annoyance and settled into almost the same resignation that Howard had back at the party.  “Virginia, I have to take the rest of the day off.”

Her answer was probably the same as Alec’s would have been.  Something about how he shouldn’t have come in at all.  But there was no telling Bill Masters anything he wasn’t ready to hear.  

“Let’s have a look at that,” Bill said as he guided Howie to his office.

“Alec says that we have to go see a real doctor,” Howie said.

Bill made a hum of disapproval but he said, “well, we might.  Let’s just take a little look first.”  He looked over at Alec, “are you coming?”

“No,” Alec said, “you’ve got this.”  Because Bill was never, ever going to become a better father if you didn’t make him be one.  He had all the potential; Alec had seen him with kids in other places.  He had the patience for it.  He doted on children.  He just didn’t know how to relate to his own.  “I’ll see you at home.  Call me if you need something, Howard.”

“Howie,” the boy corrected again, “why can’t he ever get my name right?”

“Well,” Bill said, “he’s Scottish.”

“He’s strange,” Howie said as he led them into the office.

Prompt: Emergency

***

Bill had never been more aware of the fact that he was just a gynecologist as in the moment when Alec had been rushed to the hospital, in dire need of a cardiologist to look him over. Of course he had known about Alec's heart issues, what medication he had taken before the operation and what he took now, but Bill had never prodded his partner for details; it was something Alec didn't like to discuss or even think about and Bill had respected that. 

He didn't regret it either, really: his partner's comfort had been very important to him from the very start, having learned from the mistakes he had done with Libby - no, what he regretted was that he hadn't been able to do more than stabilize his lover as best as he could and drive him to hospital.

Frankly, it had been terrifying.

"Oh, come on. Stop that"

Bill scowled down at Alec, looking so small and fragile amidst the sheets; his partner often was tired but he had never seen such dark circles around his eyes "Alec, it was an emergency"

"And it's been solved"

How could he be so... nonchalant about his health? Bill didn't get it - it made absolutely no sense to him: Alec had so many things to live for, so many people who cherished him and who counted on him... didn't he know how destroyed he would be if he died? What about Daisy? Ellie? Bill didn't want to have to scold Alec, especially not while he lay in a hospital bed, but it was clear that he needed to have a serious talk with the man - to make him understand that he couldn't be so reckless.

Bill pursed his lips and said nothing, deciding to stand up and get Alec a glass of water instead of arguing with him "Straw?"

"Fuck, no"

Yes, he should have imagined such an answer - sometimes he wondered why he even bothered to ask certain questions "Here you go" he murmured as he put the glass in his partner's hand so that he would have an excuse to help him sit up - thankfully Alec didn't put up a fuss about it, even leaning against the arm he had sneaked around his lower back. 

Small mercies. 

"Thank you"

"Don't mention it"

"I meant for everything" Alec clarified after he had wetted his lips with a sip; despite how parched he felt, the water only made the unpleasant taste in his mouth seem stronger and never in his life he had wished so ardently for a toothbrush - or a chewing gum, at least "I didn't mean to scare you"

"Well, that's comforting" the answer came bitchier than Bill would have liked it to but he couldn't help it: nastiness was his strongest defence mechanism - it wasn't a very excuse either, no matter how true it was "Apologies"

Alec sighed and nudged the other's hand with the glass in a silent request to take it away so that he could close his fingers around the other's, squeeze them in comfort and reassurance "Don't" while he didn't particularly like being fussed over or bitched at, Alec could understand where Bill was coming from: just thinking about the situation being the other way around was enough to make him feel sick to the stomach "I'm sorry. Really am"

"I know"

"I thought I had been taking care of myself well" he admitted, a little sheepish.