Chapter Text
Pulling up in the driveway of his home, Blue killed the engine and turned to face Taylor who was sat in the passenger seat.
"Wow you really weren't kidding when you said you live in the middle of nowhere" Taylor observed looking around at the towering trees and lack of neighbours. Blue chuckled and got out the car, going over to the passenger side and opening the door for Taylor before grabbing her bag from the trunk.
"What a gentleman" Taylor sighed and battered her eyelashes earning a laugh from the other man. Blue slung Taylor's bag over one shoulder and linked hands leading her up to the house.
Once through the threshold Taylor observed the decor in the house, it wasn't exactly modern but it was unique. Floral photos hung from walls and a wooden table stood in the living room, cup rings staining it. The one thing that caught her attention was the lack of photos of Blue and his mama, nothing showed that a son and his mother lived here. Fixed upon one wall was records and photos of famous singers, along with awards given to Dixie during her time as a singer. Yet there was nothing hanging up of Blue's achievements.
In the kitchen she saw a tray that held several orange bottles full of pills, a cookbook on a stand, weighing scales with a note pad next to it. Upon the fridge there was a shopping list, an old birthday card, and coupons for food.
"C'mon lemme show you my room" Blue smiled taking Taylor's hand again and leading her upstairs. Taylor happily followed, once again on the walls up the staircase there were floral photos or photos of Tennessee landscape, yet no photos of Blue and Dixie.
When they reached the top, Blue pushed his door open revealing inside, the walls were painted a Prussian blue with band and movie posters decorating the walls, by the window was a pale oak desk with a lamp and a closed sketchbook. Beside the desk was a deep red electric guitar, Taylor knew Blue could play the guitar but she was yet to actually get a private show.
Blue's bed was neatly made, the black duvet pulled back to allow the mattress to air. There were two drawers next to the bed, the bigger one evidently being where boxers, socks and whatever else a man would need. The other piece of furniture was smaller, with only two drawersboxes. Ontop was a book, reading glasses and a small red case that had a label reading "medical kit".
Blue being Diabetic was no secret in the firehouse, Taylor wasn't proud to admit that she didn't know in depth about the condition, only the basics but since she met Blue the woman educated herself and even putting together hypo kits for her car, her apartment, and one for the firehouse. Admittedly, she worried about Blue especially if his blood sugar would fall or whenever it would rise but who was she to tell him what to do? Blue knew his body and could manage it, sometimes help was needed especially if he wasn't coherent enough during a hypo.
Blue flopped down onto his bed, staring at the ceiling and letting out an exaggerated sigh of exhaustion, Taylor rolled her eyes fondly and wandered over look at the collage of photos on one of the walls. Immediately she recognised those chocolate brown eyes, it was Blue from when he was a kid up until his teenage years actually smiling. Taylor had come to realise that Blue didn't smile often or if he did it never reached his eyes. The same face cropped up in several photos, an Hispanic boy with dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes, the two grinning in every photo together.
"Who's this baby?" Taylor asked pointing to one of the photos, Blue turned his attention to Taylor and the wall pausing for a moment when he saw the photo.
Blue stood up and made his way over to the wall, not saying a word but just silently looking at all the memories stuck there. Taylor waited patiently for his response, not pushing him. She'd noticed that Blue didn't respond well to being pressured especially in very emotional situations.
"That's Micha...he was a good friend, we grew up together" Blue answered slowly. Taylor nodded and smiled at Blue, she loved learning more about her boyfriend especially if it was a childhood friend.
"Really? I'd love to meet him. The two of you look so happy" Taylor grinned, her smile soon fell when Blue's reaction wasn't the same.
"He died in 2021" Blue stated quietly. Taylor immediately pulled her boyfriend in for a hug who melted into her touch.
"Oh baby I'm so sorry" Taylor muttered pressing a kiss to his forehead, she didn't get a verbal response but got a nod. Blue pulled away and looked at the photos.
"I'd like to tell you more about him" Blue stated leading her over to the bed and pulling out a wooden box that was stored underneath his bed. The box was beige and had Blue and Purple swirls painted along the sides, the lid had the name 'Michael' carved into it. Clearly done by hand and definitely by Blue, what other artsy skills was he hiding?
Taylor sat down on the bed, her hands smoothing out the duvet. Blue sat down next to her and began showing her everything inside the box, the first thing he pulled out was a memorial card. The photo on the front showing Micha with a massive grin, behind him was scenery of the Great Smoky Mountains.
"I took that photo, we went Rock Climbing for his 16th birthday" Blue smiled fondly, Taylor couldn't help but crack a smile too. Blue knew alot about her friends, including the ones outside their overlapping circle of first responders so it was nice to hear about his friends.
A few hours later the two were cuddled up on his bed watching a movie on Blue's laptop. Her arms were wrapped around his torso and they were covered in a dark red fluffy blanket. The sun was disappearing in the horizon, they'd had another one of Dixie's recipes for dinner. Taylor considered herself really lucky that she had bagged herself a man who could cook, and looked hot doing it.
A few seconds later she heard beeping come through on Blue's phone, making the man sigh and look at the notification.
"Glucose?" Taylor asked looking up at her boyfriend, earning a nod.
"My blood sugar is high, I don't think I pre-bolused enough before having dinner" Blue explained looking at his numbers. Taylor immediately stood up and left the bedroom, going downstairs into the kitchen and filling up a glass with water and fetching Blue's insulin pen from the fridge shelf, she had noticed it there earlier when Blue had opened the door when getting vegetables.
Going back upstairs she saw Blue looking at her in confusion before noticing the glass of water and his Insulin pen.
"How did you..."Blue trailed off, reaching for the case on his beside table. Taylor sat back down on bed smiling softly and kissed his cheek.
"I saw it earlier when you were getting the vegetables" Taylor answered.
"You did?" Blue asked innocently wiping his finger with a wipe.
"Of course I did" Taylor stated simply watching as Blue took out the Glucometer, Lancing Device, and test strips.
"Thank you" Blue muttered pricking his finger and collecting the blood onto the strip. A few seconds passed and the machine beeped.
"What's your blood sugar?" Taylor questioned watching her boyfriend carefully.
"278" Blue answered disposing of the test strip in the sharpesafe bin nearby.
"Do you have a needle?" Taylor asked, Blue nodded and went into his top drawer, pulling out a needle. Then grabbed another wipe and cleaned down an area on his lower belly.
Taylor passed the pen to him and allowed him to take off the pen cap, used another alcoholic wipe to clean the rubber seal before connection the needle to the seal. Blue primed the pen to make sure that there was no air bubbles before dialing to the dosage he needs to correct and injecting himself.
It was in these moments Taylor realised just how much went into correcting blood sugars. She knew Blue was diagnosed when he was a little kid, he'd told her after a hypo during their first date.
Blue then disposed of the used needle in the sharpesafe bin, before putting the lid back on his Insulin pen. Taylor took it and moved it out the way, she'd put it back in the fridge later.
"You feeling okay baby?" Taylor asked gently playing with Blue's hair.
"Thank you. For getting my Insulin" Blue stated wrapping his arms around his girlfriend. Taylor returned the hug and peppered kisses along her boyfriend's face, causing him to giggle.
"Baby you really don't need to thank me" Taylor replied carding her fingers through Blue's thick, dark brown hair.
"I do. Thank you for noticing" Blue stated.
Noticing.
"Blue" Taylor began "You're my boyfriend I'm gonna notice things"
Blue smiled and pulled his girlfriend in for a kiss, Taylor grinned into the kiss and cupped his cheeks.
He was grateful for finding someone who saw him and noticed things.
To be seen is to be loved.