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Travis was staring blankly out the window when he heard someone knocking on his hospital room door, “What?” he frowned, since the pandemic started, hospitals refused all visitors to the patients, so he had been by himself since he had been admitted since the middle of last shift, “Who…Emmett…” he whispered at the sight of the former firefighter who was standing hesitantly at the entrance of his hospital door, “how?” he demanded as he pushed himself up into a sitting position ignoring the flash of pain that was stemming from his shoulder where the metal pole had entered it.
“I’m working here,” he shrugged as he gestured at the Grey Slone jacket he was wearing, “I’m conducting COVID testing as well as contact tracing.”
“But I doubt that would allow you into a patient’s room,” Travis smiled as he realized for the first time since he had been brought in.
“It wouldn’t,” he smiled even as he entered Travis’ room, “how are you?”
Travis smiled as he decided to enjoy his first and probably his only visitor while he was stuck in the hospital due to COVID procedures, “better now.”
Emmett blushed as made his way closer to Travis and perched on the edge of his bed as the pair started to talk about how their lives had been going since the last time that they had seen each other.
During the course of Travis’ stay in the hospital, he had slowly opened up to Emmett and he had helped him to work through his remaining grief about Michael’s death and he had managed to slowly rebuild his relationship with Emmett, and while he still couldn’t say he was at the ‘I love you’ stage yet, he felt ready to start a steady relationship with Emmett. Now, he just had to work up the nerve to tell Emmett and ask him if he wanted to try a relationship with him again.
“Trav,” Emmett called out as he appeared at the door a couple of weeks later, “when are they going to let you out of here?”
“Later today,” Travis smiled as he waved the discharge paperwork in his hands, “I’m just waiting for the nurse to come back with my medication and wheelchair.”
“Great,” he smiled at the news, “I’m happy for you,” Emmett forced himself to keep up the appearance that he was happy for Travis getting released from the hospital, the firefighter had been going stir-crazy while being laid up in the hospital bed and he was probably beyond excited to be able to go home.
“Emmett,” Travis paused momentary before pushing himself forward, after everything that had happened between them, the job, Alicia, Emmett’s dad, could they really make it work between them, he wondered to himself as he forced himself to ask the question that was burning on the tip of his tongue, “I was wondering…could you take me home?” he blushed slightly as a stunned look overtook the former firefighter’s face at his request.
“Wha…yes, yes I can,” Emmett stumbled over his response as he shifted slightly on his legs as he was completely uncertain of what he should do next. What exactly did Travis mean? Did he want to be just friends or did he mean something more?
“Good,” Travis replied as he suddenly felt as bashful as a teenager with his first crush! “Maybe, we could…talk, you know, afterwards?”
Emmett’s eyes widen slightly as he took a moment in order to take in the veteran firefighter’s suddenly nervous appearance, “I’d like that,” he countered with ease as a smile spread across his face.
“Good,” Travis nodded his head in relieved agreement as he shifted slightly, as though he was uncertain of what he should do next. Should he try to take the younger male’s hand, or should he wait until they have the opportunity to speak first. He wondered to himself. Thankfully though Emmett take the decision out of his hands as he reached out and gently took Travis’ hand in his and gently squeezed it with a renewed hope filling the pair with a peace neither of them had felt since that fateful day that they had broken up.
“Good,” Emmett repeated as he focused all of his attention on the feel of Travis’ hand beign held in his.
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