Work Text:
Jeff hears a familiar voice first and foremost. And he's never been good at sleeping peacefully at a hospital.
A mess follows suit. There are doctors yelling, someone dragging heavy objects without a care in the world, making so much noise that it'd wake anyone up in the entire hospital. The man is screaming Jeff's complete name and as soon as Jeff identifies its owner, he wants a hole to swallow him whole.
Leave it to Phil to travel hundreds of miles and make it easier for cops to arrest him for disorderly conduct.
Jeff's immediate response is to startle and try to sit, because someone has to stop the man and the only one available for the job in a mile radious is him—but the pain that shoots through his body due to the sudden movement has him groaning for a full second and he returns to the bed immediately. He almost wants to laugh—really—because when Phil Brooks sees him in this condition, he'll flip out.
There's a reason why Phil isn't Jeff's emergency call. There's a reason why he prefers Matt over Phil present at hospital with him and, no, it doesn't have anything to do with the fact that WWE doesn't want CM Punk anywhere near their shows. See, Jeff loves them both dearly, there were never doubts about that, but Phil is the kind of guy that would commit a felony on Jeff's account even when he explictly tells him not to. Phil gets what he wants, any means possible. Murder simply happens to be a means to an end.
He figures he won't need to ask Phil what is he doing here, if mere hours ago he's called him to tell him that he was okay and Phil suprisingly told him he was going to sleep. That was back in Chicago, where they live together. That's like seventeen hours away by car, isn't it?
The noises get louder. He's sure he's heard yelling security around, if Phil's loud threats are anything to go by. Jeff clicks his tongue—Phil has finally found his room. He hopes he can get some sleep with him tonight before he's taken to the police. There's no way he's taking him out of jail in this state.
As the mess seems to get closer and closer, Jeff figures it's the time to sit and show Phil that he's okay, that the visit and the chaos he's creating are entirely pointless—though his lower back is killing him and he doesn't even want to get started with his crotch—when suddenly the doctor enters... followed by the most distraught Phil he's seen in years. Jeff freezes.
Maybe it's not a good time to remember that Phil hates Randy Orton with every fiber of his being.
Phil doesn't say a word as he walks into the room and then runs to hug him, holds him tight, as though as Phil's afraid of losing a part of him. Jeff decides not to say anything yet and the pain on his back is bearable. He knows when to tease Phil for being a worrywart and this situation isn't one of them.
"Hey, doll," it sounds like a tired sigh, like Phil's been running all the way to the hospital and the nervous, almost sad smile that flashes on his face for a few seconds has Jeff melting. "How are you feeling?" he asks him as he caresses his hair and face, so softly, as though he's afraid of breaking Jeff.
Jeff has never lied to Phil, he's proud of that too; but this time, he wonders whether he should tell him that he's actually in pain or not, especially after Randy beat him up.
"I'm going to be fine," he replies instead, which isn't a lie. He pulls Phil closer again and leans on his chest. His heartbeat are a thousand miles per hour.
Phil wraps him around his torso with his strong arms and tightens them slightly, not daring to let Jeff go. He'll complain about his back later. Phil is a few words man when it comes to feelings, to intimate feelings. He obviously doesn't have a problem cutting a promo about the truths of the company he works for, but he struggles when he's got to say something about the truths of his heart. Jeff will settle this time—while Phil isn't saying antyhing, his action speak loud enough for him to tell Jeff that he's worried, he's dead worried and very possibly angry.
Jeff can hear the doctors and nurses walking out of the room, muttering things under their breaths that Jeff isn't bothered to listen. Phil's more important. He'll deal with the aftermath of his husband's meltdown later on.
There's a short silence until Phil speaks up.
"I am going to kill him," he whispers into Jeff's ear, letting out a low growl.
Jeff's heard a lot of tones come out of Phil's mouth. He's seen him mad, angry, sad, happy, euphoric, depressive. But it's the first time that he feels like Phil is ready to search for Randy's hotel room and kill him on the spot, or throw him out of the window if his room is in a high floor. He won't tell him that: 1). he knows exactly where Randy's staying at and, 2). he also knows he's on the fourth floor.
"Okay, stop," Jeff says, pulling away. Phil's eyes are dark and his mouth is pressed in a thin line. Jeff sighs, cupping Phil's cheeks with both of his hands. "Don't be stupid, you're being dramatic. This is not the first time it happens and it certainly won't be the last. It's the world of pro wrestling. Come, sit."
Phil calms down, relaxing his shoulders, but not because of Jeff's words, unfortunately. He just loves it when Jeff rubs his thumbs against his cheekbones, though Phil will never admit it. Jeff moves his legs a little, to give Phil space to sit; albeit hesistant, he sits on the edge of the bed like a five-year-old who's just been reprimanded.
"It's—it's because it's him," Phil says through his teeth, letting Jeff know that he won't let this go. "Did you—ugh, were you even conscious, Jeff? Did you see what he did to you?"
Jeff raises his eyebrows. "I was there, ya know, I think I know what Randy did," there's a little teasing that Phil is not enjoying at all. "Phil, I swear—," he breaks a smile, laughing a bit.
It's just that—God, if Phil only knew how happy he makes Jeff. Even when he's sitting there with a frown between his eyebrows, so confused and so angry that he could start setting the hospital on fire right now and then go back home with Jeff over his shoulder; it's not even his prettiest image, he'll admit, but Jeff loves him all the same. It's been a long time since Jeff felt safe, loved, cared; but since Phil has entered in his life in such a fashion, Jeff hasn't felt the need to look for love and safety anywhere else.
Phil is right here, dramatically fuming, and he's his husband.
"Did you come all the way here just because of what you saw on TV?" Jeff was hesitant to ask, but he feels like he had to.
Phil shrugs like it's obvious, duh, water is wet. "What did you think, that you were going to be here by yourself with that bald creepy snake on the streets?" Jeff can't really help but smile, but also wonder what did he marry into. "Imagine my surprise when the doctor told me that I am not your emergency call. Me, your husband, Phil Brooks. Idiot," he shakes his head in disbelief.
"There's a reason for that," Jeff points at him with an accusing finger and then presses the tip of Phil's nose playfully. Phil was not into it.
"I'm too hot for hospitals and you're afraid that nurses will fall in love with me?" Phil narrows his eyes.
Jeff laughs. Yeah, that's totally so. "I'm pretty sure you've got some nurses falling in love with you with the mess you made a second ago, all right," he replies sarcastically, hitting Phil's shoulder softly.
"Whatever, you know that's true, and you just won't admit it."
"No, my emergency call is my brother becau—
"Your brother?!" Phil cries indignantly, standing on his feet. "Your brother is busy deleting people with Bray fucking Wyatt out there! And taking pictures of his family and uploading them on Twitter!"
For someone who hates WWE a lot, he's sure more updated than Jeff himself, who works in that place. Jeff has forgotten about Matt's adventures with Brat Wyatt, hell, sometimes he forgets about his own brother.
Jeff rolls his eyes. He won't tell him that Matt didn't return the call, then. "You just literally yelled at the doctors and I'm 100% sure that you threatened them!"
Phil's eyes open widely.
"That's because they wouldn't let me see you!" he exclaims. "They wouldn't let me see my own husband!"
"Now, see!" Jeff points out with a smile, because yeah this is funny. Phil is funny. "You're making a scene in the middle of hospital at midnight and that's why I don't have you as my emergency call."
Phil suddenly gets that look in his eyes. The one that he's about to do some stupid shit. Jeff's smile disappears.
"Oh, what are you actually saying?" he slowly walks towards the hallway just outside his room, never turning his back against him. Jeff is reasonably concerned. "You think I can't say that I love you to the world?" he's whispering and then, he turns around and yells: "I LOVE MY HUSBAND SO MUCH I WOULD SET THE WHOLE HOSPITAL ON FIRE FOR HIM!"
There's silence and then chattering—it reminds him that the hospital is indeed a bit busy. Jeff isn't sure whether to throw him a pillow to shut him up or kiss him to oblivion right there. This is so embarrassing.
Phil walks back into the room with a satisfied grin. Maybe kiss him will do.
"You're so dramatic and you're lucky that I love you."
Phil sits on the edge of the bed. "Wish my husband loved me so much that he'd add me as his emergency call, though."
Jeff hits him in the head this time, but still playfully. "If you love me so much, then, you'd lay down here with me."
Phil never rejects an offer to sleep next to Jeff and he's very vocal about that fact. This time, he doesn't say anything but he's very quick to take off his hoodie and settle himself against Jeff and under the covers. Phil is barely getting comfortable on the tiny hospital bed when Jeff closes the distance between them and kisses him, long and languid. He pulls away a moment later—he doesn't want to play with Phil's libido, not at some hospital while he's in pain—and Phil pouts disappointingly. Jeff lies on top of Phil's chest, arms around his torso. Phil's hand sneaks into his back silently, rubbing circles into his lower back. It's soothing, leaving the pain behind like it's background noise.
They're silent for a moment, which is weird considering that Phil is laying on a bed in the kind place that he loathes with his whole cold heart. Until Jeff's brain reminds him of something.
"Who you got as your emergency call?" Jeff asks as he props himself up on one elbow. Phil draws a confused look.
"Uh, Colt?"
Jeff frowns. "What? Colt Cabana?"
"Yeah," Phil nods. "I don't want the hospital waking you up in the middle of the night, I'm a very concerned husband even when I'm in hospital, you're welcome."
Jeff hits him harder this time.