The Shunning - 11. Chapter 10

While busying himself setting up the computer, Steven cell phone went off. "Hello?"

"Well... what did he say?" Patrick's voice said.

"He hasn't given me an answer yet... we sort of got into an argument."

"That's not like Dare... so that mean it has to be your fault. What did you do Steve? Did you fuck things up?" Patrick asked accusingly.

"It was a slip of the tongue," Steven said weakly.

"Out with it," Patrick demanded.

"I used the word `shun' in front of him."

"God... did I end up with all the brain when we were born?" Patrick swore.

"I know... it was a big mistake."

"I told you to read those files I gave you... it is a pretty accurate list of topics not to discuss with Dare... the top one being anything to do with shunning."

"I'm sorry... I really meant to read them and even went to my computer to open the files but then I got distracted on wanting to give Dare a computer."

"You tried to get him a gift?" Patrick moaned.

"Don't start... it took me forever to find something for him to barter with."

"And what would that be... knowing you, you got him some over-powered over-priced machine that he will never use."

"Sex." Steven replied.

"What?"

"The hospital has been keeping a pot which goes to the person who beds Daryl first."

"And how big is this pot?" Patrick asked suspiciously.

"Twelve thousand dollars." Steven laughed.

"He's mine! I saw the most fabulous dress EBay that I've just got to have."

"Sorry... you have to be hospital staff."

"I could always drop by in my nurse's outfit," Patrick threatened.

"Don't you dare!"

"That's the whole idea... me doing Dare."

"Stay away from him Patrick. If you want the dress so badly I'll loan you the money."

"I have a better idea. How about we both sleep with Dare at the same time and split the money 50/50."

"Now that would be fun," Steven chuckled.

"So it is a deal?"

"Yes... I'll bring Dare home as soon as we get off work."

"I'll be sure to have the whips and chains ready then," Patrick joked.

"I forgot... which boyfriend of yours left those behind?"

"It was Tom."

"What ever happened to him?"

"I don't know... I dumped him when he wanted to put me in that sling," Patrick replied.

"I think we still have that stored somewhere in the basement," Steven chuckled.

"Good... keep it there. That thing gave me the creeps. Is there anything else up?"

"Yes, I gave Dare his discharge papers today... dang he didn't sign it."

"You better make sure he does," Patrick warned.

"I'll do that now," Steven said. "Catch you later."

Snatching the paper from the desk, Steven rushed back up to the ER, grabbing Jessica. "Where's Dr. Gavin?"

"In trauma. A pregnant woman came in with a gunshot wound... it hit the baby. The woman is going to survive. Our archangel is trying to save the child."

"Damn..."

Going to the observation room, Steven looked into the trauma unit. The nurses were getting ready to roll the mother out while Daryl seemed to be working with lighting speed on the premature baby. Twice the infant needed to be resuscitated with Daryl continuing well past the standard time that such efforts were to be made. In the end, the archangel of Memorial Hospital achieved another miracle... the infant leaving for the operating room in stable condition for further surgery.

When Daryl finally left the room, he looked tired and haggard even as he wore a weak smile on his face. Half the ER staff, including Steven clapped and cheered when Daryl came out.

"That's one you're going to have to write an article on for the Journal of Trauma," Dr Richardson said, slapping Daryl hard on the back.

"It was what I had to do," Daryl replied, sounding exhausted.

"Tim... I think Dr. Gavin could do with the rest of the day off," Steven said.

"I think you're right," Dr. Richardson nodded. "Take off Daryl... you deserve it."

"I..." Daryl said as if he was going to protest before slumping to the floor unconscious.

"He did it again..." Jessica sighed, as she started sticking electric monitors on Daryl's chest..

"This has happened before?" Steven asked, concerned.

"Every time he saves someone who everyone here knows should be down cooling in the morgue."

"Exhaustion?" Steven guessed.

"That's what Dr. Gavin claims... I'm starting to think otherwise."

"What do you mean?"

"Are you a religious man?" Jessica asked, taking hold of the small crucifix around her neck.

"I filed a restraining order on God several years ago. He's not allowed within 500 yards of me," Steven joked.

"But you spend so much time with Dr. Gavin..." Jessica seemed surprised. "I don't fully understand what it is he believes, but I do have a great deal of respect for his faith. Don't you?"

"I have a great deal of respect for him... I just don't see why he bothers being a member of a loony cult. He's a doctor for goodness sakes... an educated man."

"That might be how you feel... but most people are not so pessimistic as to not believe in miracles."

"Or angels?" Steven chuckled.

"Why not... I don't know if Dr. Gavin is one, but I do believe God has a special purpose for him. Do you have any idea how much money he gives to the community each year?"

"I have some idea," Steven nodded.

"There is a small children's home a few blocks away from here for AIDS patients whose parents are either dead, in jail, or just too incompetent to take care of their children. It's called the Henderson Home... after a girl who came to our emergency room."

"Is she still alive?"

"No... she's on the short list of patients Dr. Gavin has lost. It's his money that supports the home."

"Isn't your last name Henderson?"

"Yes... the girl was my niece," Jessica said, a tear rolling down her face as she ruffled Daryl's hair.

"I see," Steven sighed.

"You're in love with him... aren't you Dr. Nash?" Jessica asked after a long silence.

"It's that obvious?"

"Not by anything you've done."

"Then how do you know?"

"By the way Dr. Gavin looks at you. I don't believe he would look at you the way he does if you didn't love him as well. Promise me you are not doing this for the money."

"I'm not," Steven swore.

"Good... then I leave Dr. Gavin to your care. He usually sleeps this off in a few hours."

Chapter 16

"Care to explain this?" Patrick asked, clicking his tongue between each word as his brother wheeled an unconscious Daryl into the house.

"There was an emergency at the hospital. A child almost died but our archangel here performed another one of his miracles."

"And passed out?"

"Seems to be the tradition," Steven chuckled, as he guided the wheelchair towards the guestroom. "Help me get him on the bed."

Once Daryl was under the covers, Steven began to slip out of his clothes as did Patrick. Soon both were on either side of Daryl, their limbs wrapped around his body.

"Uhmmm..." Daryl groaned when he started to wake up.

"Wakey wakey," Steven chuckled before planting a kiss on Daryl's forehead.

"Steven?" Daryl said as he slowly opened his eyes.

"And me," Patrick said, kissing the back of Daryl's neck.

Quickly Daryl turned around, finding Patrick's grinning face. "I..."

"This is the secret I wanted to tell you," Steven said quickly.

"Twins?"

"Yes," Patrick nodded, letting the tip of his finger draw away one of Daryl's tears.

"Which one's which?"

"I'm Steven... the one who likes to wear dresses is my brother Patrick."

"Why... why didn't you tell me?" Daryl demanded.

"It started off as a joke I was playing on Steven... but then things got complicated," Patrick said when Steven didn't speak up.

"A joke?"

"Not on you Dare... but on each other," Patrick said quickly.

"I understand... David and I did the same sometimes. Twins... I don't believe it. It does explain a lot though."

"You're not mad... are you?" Steven asked worried.

"No Steven... I'm not. I'm actually happy, giddy almost." Daryl laughed.

"Why?" Both Patrick and Steven asked at the same time.

"Because now I know you two are not schizophrenic and because I finally feel like I've found a real home."

"So you will move in with us?" Steven asked hopefully.

"Yes... if you think you can put up with me," Daryl chuckled.

"Then there is only one thing you need to do." Steven said as he reached for the nightstand to pick up the discharge paper. "Sign!"

"Think I should sign this with my own blood?" Daryl laughed.

"If you will get you to move faster," Steven grunted.

"I'll get a pen," Patrick said, hopping out of bed.

"Sorry, forgot about that," Steven said when Daryl rolled on top of him.

"It's ok... I'm too happy to get angry over such a little thing."

"You really are?" Steven said surprised.

"I am... I don't like that you two lied to me but the truth is too wonderful to make me angry."

"Here's your pen," Patrick said, handing Daryl the ballpoint.

Placing the paper on the hard abs of Steven's body, Daryl signed and dated the discharge. "There, it's done."

"Finally!" Steven said, a wicked grin on his face as he ripped the buttons off Daryl's shirt.

"Hey!" Daryl protested.

"Don't worry about it... you will soon be able to afford a new one." Steven said. "As it turns out, the jackpot going to the hospital staff member who beds me first is much higher than yours."

"Why do I suspect you had a hand in seeing to that?" Daryl chuckled.

"Well here's the check," Steven said... removing it from the table.

"This is a hundred and twenty thousand dollar check..." Daryl said flabbergasted."

"Plus some change," Patrick said, lifting up a collection barrel filled with twenty dollar bills."

"You can thank Jessica for the extra change," Steven explained.

"I can't accept this." Daryl insisted.

"This isn't a gift Daryl... its payment for services rendered. You've more than earned it, or you will have by the time we let you out of this bed," Steven said, rolling Daryl onto his side so that Patrick could wrap himself around Daryl's back.

"I'm not a whore," Daryl said weakly as his pants were ripped off his body.

"But you're definitely horny," Steven said hungrily, as he used the opening in Daryl's boxers to tear them off.

"Just one question before we start," Patrick said. "Are you a top or a bottom?"

"It's been ages but back then I was sort of versatile."

"Perfect," both brothers said with wide grins.