Two hours later,after a round of exams and treatment, both men were released. Ventolin eased their breathing, X-rays were taken, oxygen masks were removed, and an endless loop of waiting finally came to an end. Thankfully, the doctors found no lasting damage.
The ride to David’s house passed in silence—just the rasp of breathing, the faint hospital smell clinging to their clothes, and the dull ache that followed trauma.
At David’s house, a black Chevy Suburban—the security detail’s ride—waited at the curb. As soon as David parked, four heavily armed agents stepped out and closed ranks around the driveway. Colin and Joshua followed David out of the car, their senses dulled by exhaustion and profound shock, moving on autopilot.
David opened the garage and motioned to the agents. “Chairs and a table in there—food and coffee coming soon. Bathroom’s at the back.”
One of the officers, Michael Reed, had worked with both Colin and Sarah. He moved to Colin’s side and embraced him, speaking to him in a low, hushed voice. Colin listened, grim-faced, then nodded and murmured a quiet reply before moving back to Joshua.
“You OK?” Joshua asked.
Frowning, Colin nodded, then urged Joshua toward the house. “Let’s go in. Get you off your feet.”
Once they were all in the kitchen, David turned to Nate. “Baby, grab two pairs of pajamas and new toothbrushes from upstairs, OK?”
As Nate hurried up the stairs, David led Colin and Josh into the living room. “Sit down. Try to relax.”
“I’m not sitting on your furniture, David,” Colin told him.
“Neither am I,” echoed Joshua. “Have you looked at us?” He spread his hands, indicating their clothes—still covered in grime and soot.
Nate returned and handed each of them a pair of pajamas and a toothbrush. “Use whichever bathroom you want. There’s soap and towels in both.”
“Josh,” David said, “once you’ve showered, I’ll rebandage your feet. Colin? Are your feet cut, too?”
“No. I found my sneakers before we fled.”
“I’ll rebandage your hands.”
Colin shook his head, but David wasn’t having it. “Don’t be a stubborn ass! Those bandages are already dirty. You’ll get infected.”
Joshua clutched Colin’s arm. “Colin, please.”
Colin looked at his husband’s face, his expression flat, eyes unfocused. After a moment, he just nodded, the movementslow and heavy. “OK. After I shower.” He gave Joshua’s arm a perfunctory pat, then trudged upstairs, head bowed and shoulders slumped.
Joshua’s gaze followed him, then he turned to his friends, eyes welling with tears.
“Go shower, Josh,” Nate soothed, easing him gently toward the stairs. “Everything will look a thousand times better once you scrape all this soot and grime off.”
Nate watched him go, then turned to his husband, face stricken. “Ohgod, Davy!”
“I know.”
“They’re both so—so shattered. It’s tearing me apart.”
“You know what that house means to them. Seeing it like that…” He sighed. “And right now, they’re both in shock.”
“Can the house be saved?”
“I don’t know, Nate. I’ll call Graham Kingsley in the morning. If it can be saved, he’ll save it.”
“And if it can’t?”
“Then they’ll rebuild. Life goes on, my love.”
“It’ll kill them!”
“No, it won’t,” David said, stroking Nate’s hair. “They’re smart guys. They’ll see that they’re both OK, and write anything else off as expendable.”
