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Bill took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, clearing his throat. A knock sounded at the door, and he looked up as his receptionist stuck her head in the door. “Dr. Masters? You asked for updates on the patient in room 35C. He’s awake.”
Bill sprang up from his chair, “Thank god!” He hurried down the hallway to the room in question, throwing the door open when he finally reached it. “You piece of shit,” he growled, glaring at the man drowsily blinking at the ceiling.
The man turned towards the offending noise, his face brightening. “Billy! It’s so good to see you.”
“What’s the matter with you, Alec?”
Alec laughed, his voice wobbly. “’M hiiiigh! You’re a doctor, you should know all this stuff.”
Bill made his way closer, pressing the back of his hand to Alec’s forehead. “You don’t have a fever, so that’s a good sign. And I wasn’t asking about your mental state, Alec. I was asking about what the hell made you think you could just cross a highway without looking? You could have died!”
“I was chasing a guy,” he mumbled, closing his eyes. “Had to get him.”
“Well, what you got was six fractured ribs, a pretty bad concussion, broken arm, broken leg, and a myocardial contusion from your pacemaker. Not to mention the guy you were chasing got away.”
“What’s the big word thing you said?”
“Myocardial contusion. A bruise on your heart.”
“Oh,” Alec nodded. “That’s bad, isn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s bad!” Bill was enraged. “Alec, why do you keep risking your life? Are you trying to constantly make me worry?”
“Ah, don’t pretend you missed me,” Alec slurred, laughing. “You didn’t miss me, you weren’t worried for me. No one’s worried for me.”
Bill frowned, his anger melting away. “Why would you say that? Of course I worry for you. Ellie worries for you, so does Daisy. I’m sure everyone at the station is worried, too.”
Alec looked at the doctor, his eyes blurry from the drugs. “They don’t actually want me there. I’m tolerated — not welcome. Why don’t you see that?”
“Because I hoped they would see how much you’ve sacrificed for them.”
“I could die tomorrow and they wouldn’t give a rat’s ass,” Alec laughed bitterly.
“I would,” Bill said, taking the detective’s hand. “I would give a lot of rats’ asses.”
“Yeah? Thought you didn’t like me.”
Bill raised an eyebrow. “And why is that?”
Alec sniffed. “You never asked me out.”
“So, not asking you on a date means I don’t like you?”
Alec nodded, his eyes closing again. “I like you,” he said. “And I asked you out.”
Bill chuckled. “You asked me to help you with a case. Not exactly a date.”
Alec opened one eye. “Do you want it to be?”
“Let’s get you healing first,” Bill smiled. “Then we can talk about it.”
“M’kay,” Alec sighed, settling back into the bed. “Billy?”
“Yes?”
“I love you.”
Bill flushed scarlet in surprise. “You what?” He didn’t get a response, as the detective had already fallen back asleep. Bill sat by the bed for a long while, holding the detective’s hand, his mind tumbling over itself. Alec had dropped a bomb on him, and didn’t even know he’d done it. Bill stared at the sleeping detective, then to the ring on his left hand. He was going to have to choose, he knew. And soon.