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He opened his eyes and was immediately confused. He didn't recognize the view. Was he laying down? And why was there pressure over his stomach? Turning his head, he saw a console, currently turned off. That was familiar. Wasn't it? Where was he? Felling something shift in his hand, he looked down. Scott was asleep, his head resting on the bed he was laying on, his hand clutching his. Someone had been kind enough to throw a blanket over his shoulders.
Scott. A med bay. An initiative med bay. What happened? How had he ended up here? Like this? Usually he was the one in Scott's position. How had things been flipped around?
"Hmm." Scott's fingers twitched. No. Stay asleep. He always needed more sleep. "What? Reyes?" Damn it, SAM. Let him sleep. Scott opened his eyes and sat up, squeezing his hand. "You're awake. How are you feeling? Should I get Lexi?"
"I'm fine, my love." Hmm. Mouth and throat a little dry. How long had he been out? "Don't worry about me."
"Don't worry-. You got shot. Were bleeding out. Because I-." Oh, that wouldn't do.
"No. Whatever happened, it wasn't your fault. Don't blame yourself. You do too much of that, baby." He didn't recall what happened but he knew it wasn't his fault. And even if it had been, he would never blame him. He wanted to pull him closer but judging by the pressure he felt over his entire middle, he knew that would be a bad idea. "Come here. I could use a hug." He stood up, leaning over to give him a hug. Spotting Lexi walking in, over his shoulder, he knew he'd get the answers he wanted. Hopefully, it hadn't been too bad.
It had been bad. Two shots to the abdomen. One had tore him open and the other had perforated his large intestine, causing massive internal bleeding. Luckily the Tempest was able to get to him within minutes of it happening or things would've turned out very differently.
"How long you keeping me for?" Lexi finished her examination, pulling the blanket back over him.
"A week. At least. Scott's been in contact with Keema so she already knows you're going to be off planet for a bit." Off planet?
"We're not on Kadara?" Where were they?
"Meridian. You needed more than I could provide.
"How did you manage to get an exile onto Initiative grounds?" They still weren't allowed. Tann was proving very stubborn about that fact.
"Never try to stand between an angry biotic and his loved ones. Especially when he still has their blood on his hands."
"He-."
"Held you together, shielding you both with his biotics, until I managed to reach you. Drack and Cora had to pull him out of the med bay. The docking bay doors will require some repairs. And he hasn't left your side since he was allowed back in. I'm surprised he went without a fight now."
"I'm very persuasive." He hadn't wanted him reliving it so he had sent him away. Hopefully he'd eat something.
"I know. I'm keeping you here for another day, at least. Then I might consider moving you to his quarters."
"Whatever you think is best, doctor." She smiled, looking up from her datapad.
"You're a lot more cooperative than him."
"He has his reasons. Don't suppose i can get something to eat?"
"No. Limited fluids and iv nutrition for now. Give your insides time to recover. And speaking of recovery, get some sleep. We'll look after Scott until you wake up." He never argued with doctors so he closed his eyes and slept.
"My love, I'm fine. Why don't you go hang out with your crew?" He refused to leave his side. When he woke up, he was there and he hadn't left since. "Isn't there an ice cream shop here? Go get some ice cream." It had been two days. He needed to get him out of this room.
"No." He glared at the nurse who came to check his iv. The nurse kept glancing at him as she quickly changed over the bags before she hurried from the room.
"She's terrified of you, baby."
"Maybe next time they won't try to stop me."
"Spoken like a tyrant, my queen." He scoffed, crossing his legs and leaning back in his chair.
"Lexi didn't tell you?"
"She said the docking bay doors needed repairs. Your doing?"
"They blocked the way. We were pulling you off the ship and they said you weren't allowed past. We had to take you back to Kadara. The doctors there are good but they're no Lexi and Harry. You needed the best. Everyone's arguing. You're getting paler by the second. The doors were in the way. So I got rid of them. No one was moving so I pulled you to the tram myself. Lexi caught up and well-. You're better now. That's the important thing."
"Remind me not to piss you off."
"You've pissed me off." He leaned forward, grabbing his hand and rubbing the back of it. "Multiple times."
"Must've been lucky then."
"You weren't going let someone die just because they weren't initiative. Our doctors treat everyone. Our planet takes care of everyone." He stood up and started to pace. "I know I should've fixed it. Get our people allowed back on Initiative grounds outside of Kadara."
"And Eladden." Morda liked doing anything that pissed off Tann and she had always respected him so their people got to move freely on Eladden.
"But there was always something else to do." He wasn't listening to him. Only one thing to do. "And now-. Were there others? Did others get refused because-."
"Pathfinder." Scott stopped pacing, turning to look at him.
"I hate when you do that."
"And I hate when you blame yourself but you continue to do that. My queen, we'll fix it. We'll find out and we'll fix it. I've got nothing else to do, stuck in this bed."
"No." He walked over, grabbing his hand. "You are doing nothing but healing. I've got this. My mistake. I'll fix it."
"Our mistake." He was right. They should've pushed on this a long time ago. "But you're right. I'll stay here. You fix it. You don't need my help anyway." And it would give him something to focus on besides him. "But not here. You'll make me feel like I'm slacking if I'm watching you work. Go back to your quarters, baby."
"My crew's hanging out there."
"Then go join them. I'll be fine. You heard Lexi. All I need now is rest. Come wake me up in two hours." He walked over and kissed him.
"Fine. But you call me-."
"I will. I promise. Go hang out with your crew." He watched him leave then closed his eyes.
Opening them an hour later, he sighed. Scott was curled up in the chair, fast asleep. He wasn't supposed to be here. Had he even made it to his quarters? Lexi walked in, raising an eyebrow when she saw Scott.
"I told him to return to his quarters an hour ago", he whispered.
"He never made it." She walked to the console beside his bed and typed something in. "But he will now. You're ready to be moved. If you want."
"It would be more comfortable for him." The angle of his neck looked painful.
"It's not the first time a Ryder-Vidal has refused to leave a bedside. And it won't be the last."
"As much as I'm glad it's not him this time, I was hoping he'd be the sensible one."
"He obviously hasn't told you about the times I've kept anyone in the med bay overnight. He's the reason I always have the second bed prepared. Let's get you moved."
This was much better. For both of them. The bed was a lot more comfortable than the one in the med bay and he had a lot more privacy. Not that they could do what he really wanted to do yet but at least he was no longer in a crowded med bay. And his love was definitely more comfortable, he thought, glancing down at him sleeping by his side.
"Reyes?" Or not sleeping.
"Go back to sleep, baby." He ran a hand along his back, hoping it would work. "We both need more sleep." His hand slowed as he felt him tremble. How had he missed it?
"Baby, it's alright. You're okay."
"You're okay." He tilted his head back for a kiss. He obliged him, wondering what he saw in his nightmare. He didn't always want to share with him. "Do you need anything?"
"I'm good." He kept rubbing his back as the trembling disappeared.
"Yes, you are."
"I've got to say, it's very different being on the other side."
"Yeah. It is."
"Lexi told me I'll be able to return home in a couple days. Seems I'm a better patient than you, my love. I think she likes me."
"She always liked you. Right from the start." He knew that. It had shocked him, at first. Scott had been the only person in his life to trust him completely. Then, shortly after, Lexi. He knew why though. He saw how Scott had relaxed around him. Forget about his massive burden for a bit. "I'm glad I saw you first."
"Unfortunately for her, if she had, I've always gone human. Why don't we try going back to sleep?"
"Okay." He smiled, holding him close, as his breathing slowed into his sleep pattern. Then he closed his eyes. Soon they'd be back to their kingdom. But right now, they was home.