“Hey!” I hear Chan call out. “I need a little help!”
There’s a flurry of activity around me, and I feel Tristan’s slight body lifted by several pairs of hands and set down on what I assume is a gurney or a bed. I can hear Chan giving Tristan’s details in the background.
I’m poked and prodded to within an inch of my life, or rather Tristan’s life. He’s quickly and efficiently stripped down and covered with a thin cotton hospital gown as I try not to squirm and giggle. Who knew Tristan had so many ticklish spots? They attach monitors and stick in needles, then some sadist cranks open my eyelid and shines a light so bright directly into Tristan’s eyes that I’m surprised it doesn’t disintegrate his retinas.
Someone close by starts talking. “I see from his notes he had an accident about six months ago, a choking episode during which he stopped breathing. Do you know if he’s suffered any headaches, seizures, or blacking out since then?”
“No, not as far as I know,” Chan replies. “But this is unrelated to that. I’m pretty sure his drink was spiked.”
“Was he drinking alcohol?”
“No, he was drinking tea with a bunch of old ladies,” Chan replies.
“This is no laughing matter Mr…?” A disapproving voice admonishes.
“Chan, just Chan, and I was being serious,” he answers. “He was drinking tea, he said it didn’t taste right, that it had a bitter taste, and then he passed out quicker than Ruby on a weekend bender to Margate.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Never mind,” Chan says impatiently. “I’m pretty sure he was drugged… is he going to be okay?”
“His vitals look good, he didn’t stop breathing, and he’s got a good strong pulse, but we’ll monitor him closely until he regains consciousness. In the meantime, we’ll run blood tests to see if there are any drugs in his system. If he was drugged, however, it will have to be reported to the police.”
“Already way ahead of you,” Chan replies. “His boyfriend is a detective with the Metropolitan Police.”
I hear a person exit the room while someone else fusses over me. I still don’t dare open my eyes, but I do hear Chan’s voice.
“Hey, Danny. Okay, please don’t be mad at me but, um… I’m at St George’s with Tristan. It looks like he might have been drugged.”
I don’t have to look to know Chan’s face is probably displaying a pained wince. I can hear Danny’s reaction halfway across the room and he’s not even on speaker.
“No… no! He’s fine! Well, okay, he’s not fine, but they don’t think he’s in immediate danger. His stats are good, and they’re keeping an eye on him and running blood tests.” He listens for a moment and Danny seems to have calmed somewhat because his voice has lowered to the point I can no longer hear it. “Okay, I’ll see you soon.” He hangs up the phone.
A few more seconds pass and I hear a lot of shuffling about, then silence.
“Dusty,” Chan whispers and I crank open an eye to see that we’re alone in a cubicle in A&E.
I pull down the oxygen mask. “What’s going on?” I whisper back.
“They’re waiting on the results of the blood tests, and Danny’s on his way.”
“Okay, time for me to vacate, I think. The last thing I need is Danny holding my hand and telling me he loves me. That would just be super awkward,” I decide. “Tris is in good hands.”
“I wish we had more time,” Chan says miserably. “I hate that this has happened to Tris, but I never thought I’d get the chance to see you again, although it is a bit weird what with you wearing Tristan like a Halloween costume.”
“Hey.” I glance around the cubicle quickly to make sure no one can see me as I’m supposed to be unconscious. I prop myself up on my elbow and reach for Chan, cupping his chin and bringing him in close so I can press my lips to his. “You’re my best friend, Chan,” I whisper. “My forever, my ride or die.”
“But you did die.” His mouth turns down and his lip pokes out.
“But I never left you,” I say softly, “and I never will. I’ll be waiting for you right there at the very end. We will see each other again, I promise.”
Chan tilts his head and blinks back the tears. “Okay,” he breathes out heavily. “I’m not going to say goodbye, but you better get out of there before Danny shows up.”
I nod and lie back down on the bed, replacing the oxygen mask so Tristan’s set once I exit his body. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and try to sit up, but instead of leaving Tristan’s body lying on the bed behind me, he rises up with me. I blink a couple of times and frown. Okay that wasn’t supposed to happen.
I lay back down and try again, but the same thing happens.
“Uh, Dusty, what are you doing?” Chan asks, uncertain.
