Precious

Disclaimer: These characters are mine.

I decided to rewrite a bit of the last section from the previous chapter.


Chapter 12

There was so much blood. Nick scolded himself for thinking that things were anything but, yet the fact remained that he’d just sewn up the bullet wounds of one of his husband’s friends. That wasn’t normal. As he stood clutching the blooded instruments and cloths, he realized Vinny could have been in Vinny’s position and that scared the hell out of him. Nick wasn’t scared of Nick, despite his growling and posturing; he was scared for him.

“Vinny, we need to talk--” They certainly did.
***
It had taken a ridiculous amount of reassures, as Vinny had come to term the obscene number of times he’d apologized and tried to soothe Nick’s worries, for Nick to put the incident behind them.

His husband was an enigma. But maybe he was just getting better at seeing what was in front of him. Car salesman, yeah right. The company that he kept, his friends—Sal, Johnny, Benson, and Paulie, good men—dangerous men nonetheless. It was the flash and swank atmosphere that was all around and then it was the underlining feeling of tension and danger. Two things that no matter what seemed to permeate every space since Nick had fixed up Johnny.
Vinny sweared on all that was he held sacred that things would be different. Nick believed him. He loved him more than anything. So, he put it out of his mind.

He entered the room filled with beats and the hissing of machinery. Nick opened the pale blue curtains, allowing sunlight to enter the room, and make the sterile environment just a bit more inhabitable. “Having a good day, Mr. Markowitz?” Nick fluffed the old man’s pillow and smiled as he blinked twice for yes.

Nick browsed the charts, adding notes and updates of readings. “Well, that’s good.” He patted the man’s check. “You’re one of my best patients. Be proud. With all the improvement you’re making since your stroke, you should be talking to me real soon.”

The old man nodded his head gently. Despite the tubing in down his throat, the old man was working hard to communicate with his nurse. He smiled as much as his deadened facial muscles and the tube would allow. “I’ll check on you later, okay?”

Mr. Markowitz made a pleasant sound. There was nothing good about a stroke. In his case, he enjoyed those days when his pretty nurse came to see him. On those days, he’d give his soul to be forty or fifty years younger. Maybe, then he’d have a chance with the young man.

Nick closed the door behind him. He walked down the hall, smiling at his patients and reading charts. It was pretty good day. That couldn’t be said often.

He entered the nurse’s station. The five women sat around working of charts and mostly griping about the doctors and their families. They all treated him like a son, and took great pleasure in teasing him about his age.

Nick sat at his desk and began to finalize his paperwork for the night when he felt a hand of his shoulder. “It must be Thursday.” Nurse Claret teased with a soft smile. All the other nurses agreed. The soft sound of giggles filled the area.

Nicks smiled innocently. “You couldn’t see that on a calendar that it’s Thursday?”

Nurse Claret tapped him on the back of the head for the wise crack. “No, we all know it’s Thursday, because that husband of yours sends you flowers every Thursday. Young love…” The older nurse swooned. “It’s so beautiful.”

The other nurses laughed.

He gathered his things. “Since my husband sent me these darling flowers, I guess it’s only proper that I go home and thank him for them.”

Another nurse, slightly less ancient than Nurse Claret, patted his shoulder. “Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do, Kid.”

“I have no idea what you mean.” Nick said in a teasing innocent tone. He wished the ladies good night and shifted his flowers in his arms. It was time to go home and he needed to think of a something special by which to thank his husband
***
A short ride later, Nick pulled up to their building. The argument had been long, hard and stubborn. Vinny insisted on giving him a car. He said it was too dangerous walk around town at all hours of the night. Nick kindly reminded Vinny that he’d been doing that for years before the older man had come into his life. The older man held his ground on the issue. The next morning there had been a sleek silver car waiting for him in front of the building.

As he came to a stop in front if his building, Nick felt relief to be home. Sometimes, his life pre-Vinny seemed like lifetimes ago. From a disinterested family to stripping for money to stable home and job, his life changed in ways he never expected it to.

He took the elevator to the penthouse. Quietly, he hummed a little tune. The flowers filled the elevator with a charming aroma. A small bell dinged as the elevator reached the top floor. Nick entered the penthouse. The airy sounds of voices was carried all the way to the front foor.

From the back, a voice. “Nick?” It was Vinny.

“I’m home.” He hung up his coat before placing his flowers on the living room table. He heard footsteps coming from the den followed by the sight of his husband being trailed by Sal, Johnny, Benson and Paulie. Johnny was still recovering.

Vinny welcomed Nick home with a quick peck on the lips. “Hey Nicky.” Sal took the opportunity to hug him. The big bear of a man treated Nicky like family, always offering hugs and affection. He truly made Nick feel like he was a part of a family.

Nicky approached the kitchen. Rich smells floated through the penthouse. The scents of rich spices and sweet wine were enchanting and made Nicky aware of how hungry he actually was. It wasn’t usual for Vinny to cook. But when the occasion arose, it was an affair not to miss.

He sipped the rich sauce. The tangy flavor danced on his tongue. The door closed and the apartment quieted. A set of large arms soon found purchase around his waist.

Nick moaned in appreciation. “I can’t believe you cooked.”

The rough scratch of stubble rubbed across Nicky’s cheek. “I wanted to do something special for you.”

“You didn’t think the flowers were enough.” Nicky turned in Vinny’s arms, bringing him face to face with the smirk of his husband. One of those large hands traveled over his hip and down his side to cup the round bubble of his ass.

They kissed languidly. Vinny broke the kiss though he was loathed to do so. He’d been waiting all day to have Nicky in his arms again. The way their bodies fit made it seem as though they were made for each other. “Nicky, I know tomorrow’s your off day, so I made an appointment for us.”

Nick looked up into his face. “Huh, what kind of appointment?”

Vinny sighed. “With Dr. Giacomo.”

Nicky pulled away. His body strained in a tight line. “Vinny, I thought we talked about this.” They had. Nicky told Vinny he wasn’t ready. He was barely ready for marriage as it was, but kids, those were a whole new ballgame.

“Nicky…” He was using that short tone that was the precursor to his hard voice, which came before his yelling voice. “We’ve tried, but I think we should still see a specialist. You only have to think about it?” He placated.

“Alright, we’ll just look into it.” They’d see a specialist, but that didn’t mean he had to start popping out babies anytime soon. Vinny would listen. He had to.


TBC

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