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Jonathan tapped his pen nervously against the desktop as he worried his lip between his teeth.
Geoffrey was late.
The vampire had finally managed to secure a weekend off after almost a month, and his enemy turned friend turned lover was late.
He let out an annoyed huff, normally he was more patient than this, but Geoffrey brought out a different side of the mild-mannered doctor.
As time ticked forward, Jonathan began to feel worried. What if something happened? What if he’d been injured? His imagination immediately started concocting wild images of the hunter lying in the gutter, bleeding out.
Maybe he should check on him. He knew the route Geoffrey normally took from Priwen headquarters to his home in the West End; he could easily traverse it backwards without being noticed.
Logically, Jonathan knew that his lover had most likely been caught up in paperwork or Priwen business.
But what if they found out?
His stomach quickly turned to lead.
What if they figured out where Geoffrey was sneaking off to?
His chest felt too tight, like iron barbs were digging into his heart.
What if they knew who the commander was meeting?
And why.
Jonathan jumped to his feet, hand outstretched to grab his coat, when he heard it—the familiar beating of Geoffrey’s heart.
The vampire let out a sigh of relief.
Geoffrey was safe.
Jonathan quickly slipped into his blood sight to check to make sure both his mother and Avery were in bed. Once satisfied, he crept from his room and snuck down the stairs to the front door. He opened it just as the hunter was reaching the top step.
“Evenin’, Reid,” Geoffrey panted.
Why was he so out of breath? Jonathan immediately switched from concerned lover to doctor. The hunter’s eyes were watery with dark circles, his cheeks flushed, and there was a slight wheeze to each breath.
“Geoffrey, you’re sick!” Jonathan quickly stepped inside so that the hunter could enter the house and get out of the cold night air. “You should have called or sent word that you weren’t feeling well. I would have never asked you to cross London in this state.”
“I'm fine,” the hunter lied unconvincingly. “Just a bit tired is all. Nothin’ to get upset about.”
“Geoffrey,” the doctor placed his hand to the hunter's burning forehead. Geoffrey always felt warmer to him, what with Jonathan's skin being cooler than a human's, but this was more severe. “You have a fever!”
“I said, ‘m fine,” the hunter repeated, his words slurring just a tad. “Ya keep fussin’ over me and the whole bloody house will wake up.”
“You most certainly are not fine,” Jonathan argued. “Come on, let's get you upstairs and lying down.” He wrapped one arm around Geoffrey’s back and began guiding him toward the stairs.
The hunter mumbled an incoherent complaint, but allowed himself to be sluggishly dragged along. He leaned his weight against Jonathan. The cool skin on his brow had felt like heaven earlier.
“Allow me to carry you? I'm afraid your lungs are full of fluid, and the stairs may be too taxing for you,” Jonathan asked as delicately as he could manage. He wasn't trying to insult or upset his lover or his pride.
“I can handle a few stairs, leech,” he grumbled. Geoffrey pushed away from the vampire and reached for the banister, his hand missing the first try.
“Okay, you can get mad at me all you want, but I'm carrying you upstairs.” Jonathan didn't give the commander time to protest. He stepped forward and scooped the man into his arms like a groom with his bride.
“What are ya doin’? Put me down. I can walk up the damn steps. I don’t need ya carryin’ me,” the hunter complained the entire time, but didn’t try to break free.
Jonathan simply hummed in response. He quite enjoyed holding his lover against his chest like this, and was reluctant to even set Geoffrey down so he could open the door. Instead, the vampire summoned a tendril of shadows to wrap around the handle for him.
“That’s cheating,” Geoffrey huffed, resting his head on the doctor’s shoulder.
“No, it’s using my resources wisely,” Jonathan corrected, sticking out his tongue as he pushed the door open with his foot and carried the hunter inside.
The room was dark, the only light funneling in from the hallway, but Jonathan didn’t need the light to see. Even without his ability to see in the dark, this was his bedroom. He could navigate it effortlessly with his eyes closed.
He released the doorknob and commanded the tendril to pull back the blankets so that he could set Geoffrey down on the bed, so he was sitting up with his feet hanging off the edge.
“I’m gonna get the sheets all filthy,” the hunter complained.
“The sheets can be washed.” Jonathan lit the gas lamp to fill the room with a soft glow. “And, I’m going to help you undress to get more comfortable. No muddy boots in the bed.”
Geoffrey opened his mouth to protest, but gave up with a sigh.
Jonathan smiled to himself, glad he wouldn’t have to fight his lover much longer. He crouched down and began undoing the hunter's boots before he slid each one off and set them out of the way.
“Socks on or off?” the doctor asked, even though he was confident in Geoffrey's preference.
“Off.”
Jonathan nodded before he removed them too and tucked the discarded socks in Geoffrey's boots. He rose to his full height once more and began helping the commander undress. Each piece was hung or folded with care beside the bed until Geoffrey was down to his undershirt and pants.
“Here, lie down now.” The doctor helped maneuver his lover's legs onto the bed. He covered him with the blankets and sat on the bed next to him.
Cool hands brushed sweat-soaked hair off Geoffrey's brow as he tutted in disapproval.
“Ye're mad at me,” the hunter grumbled, turning his head to avoid the vampire's gaze.
“No. I'm concerned for you. I wish you had told me you were unwell. I would have come to you instead,” Jonathan countered, bending down to press a kiss to the commander's forehead.
“It wouldn't have been safe for ya there,” Geoffrey argued, his eyelids growing heavy.
“So instead you risk your own health to come here.” Jonathan sighed as he straightened up.
“See ye’re upset,” the commander pouted. He looked rather adorable tucked into his bed, and it made Jonathan chuckle. This only made Geoffrey pout even more. “Do ya still love me?”
“Of course I love you, you silly man. I only wish you looked out for yourself like you do the rest of Priwen. That's all. Now rest. I'm going to fetch you a cool towel, medicine, and make you some tea and soup. London needs her top hunter up and running as soon as possible, lest she fall in your absence.”
“Ye’re makin’ fun of me,” Geoffrey groaned, covering his head with the blanket. He was rather pathetic when sick, but it was honestly endearing in Jonathan's opinion.
The doctor pulled the blanket back down so he could see Geoffrey’s face once more. “Rest. I'll be back soon. I promise.” The vampire rose to his feet and headed to the doorway. He waited until Geoffrey's eyes fluttered closed and his breathing evened out.
He'd let the man sleep; Lord knows the hunter never got enough. Jonathan took his time gathering the supplies and brewing Geoffrey tea while the soup from dinner was reheating. When he imagined this night together, he had pictured them in bed for other reasons. Yet, he wasn't disappointed. He enjoyed taking care of his lover, and he would cherish every moment they were together, even if he was the only one awake.