Spark And Flame (12 page)

Chapter 29

“Why are we celebrating?” Aiden asked as he opened another card and quickly scanned. “Please add the Springville Police Department to the list,” he said and Kat nodded as she took note.

“You’ve been discharged and you’re officially recovered,” Lane explained and Aiden looked unimpressed.

“I did very little beyond staying in bed and waiting,” he mumbled as he held up a t-shirt from the Springville PD. “The doctors and nurses did remarkable work and were very supportive,” he said and Lane nodded in agreement.

“Yes, they’ve definitely been a blessing and they were very appreciative of the extravagant selection of baked goods you had delivered,” he said. “Julie told me the nurse’s station looked like a bakery. But it’s your turn now. You took a very violent criminal off the streets, almost died in the process and fought through a slow recovery,” Lane explained and Aiden sighed as he reached for the last gift basket.

“I don’t feel like I did anything exceptional since I arrived,” he muttered and Lane waved it off.

“Maybe everyone’s glad you’re off the patient roster and you managed to recover without making someone choke you,” he offered and Aiden looked up. He was still for a moment before he nodded.

“I find that more believable,” he said and everyone laughed.

“I think you were an absolute angel,” Lorna said as she passed Aiden a form to sign and blinked rapidly at him. Aiden was certain she was flirting and dismissed her opinion immediately. She was clearly biased because of his looks. She was a very friendly and capable nurse so he offered a quick smile. “Thank you. You’ve been very helpful,” he said and she turned red as she ducked then dashed from the room. Kat pursed her lips as she watched her go.

“Who should we send a Thank You note to for the basket?” She asked and Aiden plucked a card from between several bars of chocolate, boxes of cookies and teas.

“Parker County Emergency Services,” he read then passed the basket to Kat. “You can have this,” he said under his breath and she cheered quietly. “I don’t like cookies with chips or icing,” he whispered.

“I know,” she whispered back and winked as his eyes went to the basket overflowing with sugar cookies Lane’s mother brought earlier that day. He was anxiously waiting for most of the people in the room to leave so he could pull the basket into his lap and gorge himself.

“I think that’s it,” he said as he looked around and several people checked their phones and watches. “Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for us. I will remember my time here very fondly,” Aiden added and waited as people smiled and waved as they made their way from the room. A few of the more senior doctors closed in on Aiden to shake his hand. He quickly shook each hand and offered more thank yous until the room cleared and it was just Lane’s family, Chief and Sandra. “Can I have my cookies now?” He asked and Blake laughed as he lifted the basket and set it in Aiden’s lap. “How long do I have to stay in this wheelchair?” He asked and Fred chuckled.

“It’s a rule, son. You have to be wheeled out when you’re discharged. It’s a liability thing,” he explained and Aiden’s foot tapped impatiently. Fred leaned close and patted Aiden’s shoulder. “I’ll wheel you to the parking lot and you’ll be free,” he said and Aiden nodded.

“Can I bring my cookies?” He asked and Fred laughed.

“You can’t eat the whole basket, you’ll get sick,” he warned and Aiden shrugged.

“It’s fortuitous that I’m in a hospital because I intend to try,” he said and Fred roared.

“I love this kid,” he declared as he tousled Aiden’s hair.

He loved Lane’s dad. He was a large, loud, gregarious man who took his role as patriarch seriously. He kept a close eye on his children’s lives and was a devoted grandfather. Aiden didn’t bond with Fred immediately but he felt accepted and embraced from the moment they met. After the abduction, Fred became more affectionate and protective of Aiden and he felt as if a strong, unspoken bond had developed. Fred conveyed his gratitude and loyalty without words. Aiden appreciated that. His own father maintained their separation and despite Dee and Kat’s criticism, Aiden found that both acceptable and desirable. After so many traumatic events, he did not wish to have a reunion or confrontation with his father.

“Now that you’re officially off the books, I get to show you around and share all the hospital hacks I’ve picked up,” Kat said as she jumped to her feet and Aiden nodded and hoped hacks were a good thing.

Aiden assumed they were as Kat used her time at the hospital very effectively. When she wasn’t helping Lane and Aiden she was staying up to date on the nurse’s gossip and looking for a prospective husband among the doctors. Within two weeks she was dating an oncologist she referred to as Dr. Jeff. He was almost completely deaf but very attractive. Aiden wasn’t sure why but Lane found it incredibly funny when Aiden pointed out that Dr. Jeff’s disability might be beneficial as he could turn off his hearing aids when he needed a break from Kat’s almost constant talking. Aiden found it less disturbing and was able to tune her out when he became overwhelmed or uninterested. Surprisingly, of all of Lane’s family, Aiden felt closest to Kat. She eventually conquered Aiden’s resistance and he accepted it was easier to love her and let her have her way.

“Don’t let her trick you into trying the gift shop’s burritos, I almost checked into the ER,” Blake warned as he snatched a cookie from the basket and Aiden pulled his lips tight as he hugged the basket to his chest.

“I don’t eat burritos,” he said and Blake nodded as he chewed.

“You might be safe, then. She can eat anything and forgets that normal humans can’t digest rancid cat food,” he said and Kat pulled a face. Aiden slid Lane a concerned glance and he winked and shook his head.

Aiden wouldn’t admit it to any of his well-wishers but all the gifts and handshakes made him uncomfortable. It felt wrong, being praised for recovering efficiently while Lane had several difficult months ahead of him. Aiden didn’t want to celebrate until Lane was walking out of the hospital with him.

For Lane’s part, he remained positive and appreciative. He would become frustrated from time to time but he masked it well and only those closest to him could detect it. For a man used to getting up early and being on the move until he went to bed, he was taking his confinement very well. Aiden assumed Lane’s patience was a result of being grateful to be alive. Aiden shared his gratitude in that he rarely worried about Lane’s recovery because he was so happy just to see him breathing and conscious. He was confident Lane would eventually walk. Aiden didn’t study neurology extensively but he was able to read Lane’s records and test results and understand them. It appeared that Lane’s paralysis would resolve and his mobility would improve as the injuries around his spine healed. The spine itself wasn’t damaged, it was the swelling and displacement around it that kept him partially paralyzed.

Time would heal their wounds. As Aiden watched Lane laugh as Dee whispered in his ear, he knew they had time. The world was finally turning its eye away from them and they could begin to slowly reclaim the life they had before Gavin Langley turned everything upside down.

Aiden waited until Lane’s dad finished lecturing Blake about his obvious fondness for the nurses and the small feud he was creating among them with his reckless flirting.

“Can you take me to the parking lot, Fred?” Aiden asked. “I’m ready to put this behind me.”

Chapter 30

“They said you did exceptionally well in therapy today,” Aiden said as he pushed Lane’s wheelchair toward the elevator. Lane looked up and laughed at Aiden.

“Do I get a reward for doing a good job?” He asked and Aiden slid him a questioning look as he pressed the button.

“I suppose. Is there something you want that you don’t already have?” He asked and Lane bit his lip and avoided looking at Aiden’s ass.

It was hard to stay positive and not get frustrated with how long it was taking his body to heal. His prognosis was good. He had some feeling through most parts of his body and his arms were moving. They were kind of heavy and he couldn’t grasp or squeeze very tight but they were coming back. It was Lane’s lower extremities that worried him. He could feel his legs and he could eventually lug them into place but it required a lot of patience. But it was the extremity that mattered most that kept him up at night. Lane often felt a strong desire to just be close to Aiden and touch him but it had been a while since he felt real arousal or got an actual hard-on. He would feel a fleeting hint of it now and then, like a scent carried on the wind that disappeared as soon as the wind died or changed direction.

Aiden wasn’t bothered by Lane’s slow sexual progress. He was intensely affectionate and extremely sensitive to Lane’s mental state. There were several instances where Aiden behaved more like a doctor and less like a husband. Lane suspected it was easier for Aiden to cope with Lane’s abduction as a doctor. If he approached Lane as a psychologist would a patient, he didn’t have to relive his own experiences every time they dealt with Lane’s. It didn’t take Lane long to realize Aiden wasn’t traumatized by the abduction itself, the fight with Langley or his own brush with death. Aiden’s scars resulted from seeing Lane completely broken and covered in blood and gasoline. Lane also noticed that while plenty of people were more than willing to talk about Aiden defeating Langley, no one discussed Aiden’s reaction to Lane’s “death”. Lane accepted that he was probably better off not knowing. He was determined to put anything to do with Langley behind them and focus on healing. He just wished certain parts of him healed faster than others.

Not that it mattered. Lane’s parents rented a large home within minutes of the therapy facilities and the entire family, with the exception of Kat, relocated to the suburbs of Chicago and raucously inhabited the small mansion. Kat and Henry’s condo was a short drive away so they were always there as well. The atmosphere in the house made it impossible for Lane and Aiden to even consider having sex. Because Lane needed so much assistance, a den had been converted to a bedroom and they were left with very little privacy. In fact, it felt more like a train station than a bedroom. It didn’t surprise Lane to see his family rallying around him. It’s what they always did. He was more surprised by how well Aiden tolerated everyone (except the younger nieces and nephews) and accepted their constant presence and unconditional adoration of him. Everyone loved Aiden before the abduction. After, he was their golden child. He could say or do anything and they laughed it off.

Aiden became the media’s golden child as well. If it was anyone else, Lane would have worried about it going to his head but Aiden seemed to keep it all in very clear perspective and at arm’s length. Langley’s popularity plummeted after the abduction. Once the details of the abduction became public, it was impossible to deny how dangerous he was or the severity of his illness. Ironically, for many of Langley’s fans, it was Lane’s abduction and near death that put them off. Being a hypocrite was the ultimate sin, it seemed. After Langley’s attempts to prove Lane got rid of Burgess in a fit of jealous paranoia, abducting Lane and trying to kill him was a total dick move on Langley’s part. Being dead didn’t help either. Almost as soon as Langley’s death became public knowledge, the media lost interest and refocused on Aiden. There was a hardcore fan base that hung on for a few weeks then dissolved as soon as a prominent celebrity couple announced their divorce and rumors surfaced that the husband was actually gay and suffered mentally at the hands of a wife that used his secret to control him.

Lane didn’t know where Aiden found the physical and emotional stamina. As soon as Aiden was released from the hospital, finding Nathaniel Stewart was his priority. When he wasn’t with Lane, he was studying anything related to Langley’s movements around the time of Stewart’s disappearance. It took him nine days. He was so specific, had the search focused on such a small section of state park, they were able to locate Stewart’s remains in two days.

“I didn’t know where you were for less than half an hour and it was unbearable. I have to return him to his family,” Aiden said when Lane asked if he was rushing back into the investigation too soon.

After finding Stewart, Aiden turned his attention to tracking down Langley’s accomplices. He was tireless and astoundingly efficient. Four months after the abduction, Aiden announced he was confident all accomplices had been referred to the authorities. As long as they were identified, Aiden was happy to let the police and courts sort them out.

All Lane did was a few extra reps during therapy every day, take the medications prescribed and stick to a diet tailored to his body’s recovery. Aiden and his family did all the really hard work. The one thing he never felt like was a burden. Everyone was genuinely grateful to have him home and ready to do whatever they could to help him heal.

“You’re right, I already have everything,” Lane said as he reached for Aiden’s hand as the elevator doors closed.

Chapter 31

“Sandra had someone come in and clean yesterday so it wouldn’t be dusty and all the linens would be fresh,” Aiden explained as he backed Lane’s wheelchair over the threshold. Lane nodded as he looked around. He wasn’t sure how he’d feel being back in the house but it felt good. All he saw when he looked around was Aiden chasing him for the last cookie and Aiden naked against the living room window.

“It’s really good to be home,” he said as he smiled up at Aiden.

“It is,” Aiden agreed as he bent down and pressed a quick kiss to Lane’s lips. There was a low rumble and they both looked toward the front door as a red Corvette parked in the driveway. “It’s fixed,” Aiden said flatly and Lane felt his chest tighten. Blake laughed as he shut off the engine, jumped out and ran up the lawn. Lane felt his body tense and clenched his jaw as the urge to scream clawed at his throat as he waited for his brother to clear the area where he watched an officer go up in flames.

“Got her all fixed up!” Blake exclaimed as he jogged in and tossed the keys at Lane. “Aiden said anything but yellow and I decided on red,” he said and Lane shook his head.

“I’m so over this,” he said as he stared at the keys in his hand. The idea of getting back in that Corvette had his stomach in knots.

“Oh, no! She’s so gorgeous!” Blake said and Lane shrugged before he tossed the keys back at Blake.

“Merry Christmas,” Lane said before he turned the wheelchair.

“Yes!” Blake cheered as he jumped up and down.

“I’m not good with the front yard and driveway,” Lane admitted as Aiden grabbed the handles and pushed him into the living room.

“I’ll talk to Kat about having a landscaper out here immediately. I’m sure they can completely change the front,” Aiden said and Lane felt the tightness in his chest ease.

“Let’s do that. I can get to where I won’t think about what happened if the driveway and lawn isn’t there to remind me,” he said and Aiden kneeled next to the chair and studied Lane’s face.

“You’re sure you’re ready to be back?” He asked and Lane nodded. The house his parents rented in Chicago felt crowded months ago, he’d been on the verge of losing his mind by the time they headed back to Lake Cliff a little more than an hour earlier. He appreciated that everyone wanted to be there to support him as he recovered and it was easier getting back and forth to therapy but Lane was ready to strangle every member of his family.

“I’m fine, we just need to do something about the front,” he said and Aiden smiled.

“Good,” he kissed Lane as he stood. “I’ll get you a beer,” Aiden said and Lane sighed happily. It was definitely good to be home.

“I’m going to put her back in the garage and then I’ll help move you up to the bedroom,” Blake said as he turned on his heel and Lane waved as the door shut behind him. Just Blake. God, it was so nice to have an almost quiet house again.

“Here,” Aiden said as he handed Lane a beer. “Do you think Blake can make grilled cheese sandwiches?” He asked as he pushed Lane toward the back windows and he laughed softly.

“I’m sure he can manage,” Lane said and he felt more calm and himself than he had in months as Aiden’s hand rested on his shoulder. The house wrapped around them and the peaceful view of the back lawn and lake brought back memories of kissing Aiden by the garden and the two of them watching the sun set on the lake together. They were home.