Love Lies Bleeding by Remmy Duchene (carter reed txt) 📕

"Daniel shot him." The words leaving his mouth made him almost faint. There was such finality in them.

"Where's Daniel?" Byung released Anderson to cradle his face.

"Dead…"

Isha looked confused. "Dead? I thought…"

"I shot him," Anderson interrupted. "I don't know how because I've never held a gun before—but I was so angry. I just wanted him to stop."

The questions after had driven him mad. A detective from Internal Affairs wanted answers, then a cop from Homicide had more inquiries, along with Leo's captain. It was beginning to drive him crazy because he wanted so desperately to be by Leo's side. Finally, they all stopped and let him go. Perhaps it was because they saw the tears sliding over Anderson's cheeks. He hadn't cried in years but suddenly his father had been murdered, his lover was on the brink of death, and he couldn't stop the tears if his life depended on it.

Anderson didn't really feel like talking anymore anyway. They left him then, telling him to make himself available if they had more questions after an investigation.

He slumped into a nearby seat but couldn't stay still. It'd been an hour and still no word from the doctors. Each time he'd asked someone, they told him to wait for the doctor. Once the nurse even told him no news is good news. What in the hell did that even mean?

"I lost dad, Bee. He's not even buried yet and already I'm going to lose someone else."

Byung slipped to his knees before Anderson and took his hand. "Don't jump to conclusions. We'll wait until the doctor tells us something. You're tired and you're stressed. Maybe you should go…"

"I'm not leaving."

"But Anderson…"

"No!" Anderson took a breath. "I didn't mean to yell. But I can't leave. I don't want him to wake up alone. I shouldn't have let him come after me."

"And forget the fact you were kidnapped and tied up by some nut—how, exactly, were you going to stop him? That man loves you, even though you don't want to see it—or you don't want to believe it—wild horses couldn't stop him. You being in denial is not going to change that."

"Byung, don't."

"You're right. The wound is still raw. I'm going to go get you something to snack on from the café—and if you tell me you're not hungry, so help me I will pop you one. I'm going to get you food and you're going to eat, damn it."

Anderson sat back and eyed his best friend. Too stunned to say much of anything, he managed a nod and Byung hurried off. Licking his suddenly dry lips, he laced his fingers and rested his elbows on his knees, as Isha sat beside him and rubbed his back.

"I remember the day I met Leo," Isha began. "I thought he was the most gorgeous thing I'd ever seen. He was this no-nonsense cop who could charm you like crazy. He taught me self-defence, you know?"

Anderson turned his head. "He did? I didn't know he knew that kind of stuff."

"I guess he will have to live so he can teach you," Isha said softly. "We just have to believe."

Byung returned then with a parfait for Anderson and coffee for himself and Isha. Anderson didn't feel like eating it but knew Byung wouldn't give up unless he at least took a few mouthfuls. Swallowing the lump in his throat, Anderson took one mouthful, held his breath and swallowed. His stomach did a strange little flip but he took another spoonful. Luckily, the doctor came out then and he handed the container to Isha.

"How is he?"

"As well as could be expected. The bullet missed the major organs but we had to go in there and stop the internal bleeding. He's resting right now. If he makes it through tonight then we'll be on our way—providing he doesn't get an infection…"

"Can I see him?"

"Yes," the doctor replied then peered at the others. "But one at a time."

"We'll go home and get you some clean clothes," Isha said before Byung could speak. "You stay with him."

Anderson managed a small smile. He hugged Isha and Byung and followed the doctor down the corridor. Walking into the room, Anderson rubbed his palms against his thighs. Hospitals weren't his favorite places to be on a good day. The beeping of the machine worried Anderson, for the doctor hadn't said anything about a ventilator. When he got closer, he noticed the tubes went into Leo's nose and not his throat. There was an IV in his arm and the doctor explained it was for the pain. Leo looked so pale and so different. His hair was pushed back from his face and his beautiful brown eyes were closed. He was asleep.

Anderson sat in the chair by Leo's bed and took the cop's hand between his. He kissed Leo's wrist, then his palm. "This is so not what I wanted us to be doing right now," Anderson spoke softly. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before all of this happened. I was so angry at you after my dad died. I just didn't think you were doing enough but then I got entangled in all of this and I'm sorry. I should've given you a more support and I just—I was so consumed in my grief and my loss I didn't think of how this could be affecting you."

Anderson drew his lips softly over Leo's fingers. He turned his head and rubbed his cheek on the fingers then kissed them. "I never thought I deserved love. I believe in it. I just thought love was for everyone else but me. Then I met you and I thought—no. There is no way I deserved you. But I don't care if I deserve you or not. For once in my life I'm going to be selfish. You make me happy. You make me love you. You have to stay with me."

* * * *

The night passed without much fanfare. Leo was still asleep and though