Chapter 28

As soon asDixon and the others hauled the would-be assassin from the room, Josh's facade of calm crumbled into dust. He'd done his best to put up a brave front—no way was he going to show that fucker any sign of nerves—but now that it was over, he couldn't stop shaking. He was grateful the CrossBow agent had elected to stand out in the hallway, because Josh didn't think he could have held in his emotions a second longer. Eventually his tremors subsided, but inside, he was still freaked the hell out.

I could have died.

If it hadn't been for Dixon, he'd probably be lying in the morgue with a sheet pulled up over his face. And that would suck hairy donkey balls, as they said in high school.

The door opened, and Josh froze, even though he knew such a reaction was illogical. Dixon walked in, heading straight for him, and Josh couldn't hold it in anymore. He hiccupped, fighting the tears that were already sliding down his cheeks.

Dixon sat beside him on the bed, his arms around him. "Hey, it's okay," he crooned. "You're safe, he's gone."

"Yeah, he is." Josh stared at him. "Will they send someone else? Will they keep sending people until I'm dead?" He leaned into Dixon. "I'm scared."

"I'd be shocked if you weren't," Dixon told him. "This is some scary shit we're dealing with. Now you know why I've been saying you need to stay in our room at CrossBow until this is taken care of." Josh stilled, and Dixon leaned back, peering at him. "What's the matter?"

He smiled. "You said ‘our room.'"

Dixon grunted. "I'm sorry. I know I said I could be patient and?—"

"No!" Josh interjected. "I'd… I'd like it to be our room. The thought of going back to Grandma's old apartment doesn't fill me with the comfort it used to. I was living her life, not mine." He looked Dixon in the eye. "I want one of my own, with you. If you still want me."

Dixon cupped Josh's cheek. "I will always want you," he vowed. "I have from the first time I saw you get out of your car and head for the doors, and then go back because you left something behind." He chuckled. "You did that a lot. And every time I saw it, I fell deeper in love with you."

Josh blinked. "Because of my forgetfulness?"

Dixon laughed. "No. Because of your earnest and caring nature, the fact that no matter how frustrated you got, you never let it weigh on you. The fact that one day you actually remembered my name."

"I'm sorry."

Dixon brushed his lips against Josh's. "Hush. I didn't mind telling you who I was, because I hoped one day it would become important enough that you'd remember."

"It took me a lot longer than it should have, but as soon as you were in my head, you never left it." And you never will. Dixon wasn't only in Josh's head—he was in Josh's heart.

Dixon's smile was the most genuine one he had ever seen.

"I love you," Josh whispered.

"Love you too, Doc." Dixon stroked Josh's hair. "I can't wait for us to get home."

For the first time since Grandma died, home finally had a meaning.

"Now get some rest." Dixon kissed him again. "If the doctor's happy with your progress, you could be out of here by tomorrow."

Now that was a goal.

Then he remembered what had been on his mind ever since Dixon had removed the fake nurse.

"What about the syringe he had?" Josh shivered at the memory. It didn't take a genius to work out it probably had the same poison in it that they used to kill the other guy.

Dixon grumbled. "Against my better judgment, I gave it to Chalmers."

Despite his qualms, Josh chuckled. "What do you have against him? He's been nothing but decent to us."

Dixon got off the bed and paced a little, wringing his hands. "Because he… he… oh, I don't know! He rubs me the wrong way."

Josh couldn't resist. "Oh, he's rubbing you? Dude, details." He grinned. "If I can't be doing it, the least I can do is hear about it."

Dixon came to a halt and gaped at him. "Fuck no. He will never get within eight inches of my stuff."

Josh flashed him a smug grin. "Good, because those are my eight inches."

Josh's jawached from smiling so much. "I can leave?" He'd thought about nothing else since his conversation with Dixon.

Dr. James nodded. "Not right away, but by the end of tomorrow, certainly. We'll organize your check-ups before we let you out the door, and give you a list of dos and don'ts."

"You already know what's on the don'ts list," Dixon murmured, and Josh was sure his face was bright red.

Dr. James blinked, then coughed. "You'll be taking it easy for a while, remember."

"If he doesn't, there are plenty of people who'll remind him." Dixon grinned. "I'll be at the top of the list."

Josh gave him a mock glare. "When you've quite finished?" He returned his attention to Dr. James. "Thank you for taking care of me." They shook.

"You're welcome." Dr. James gave a nod to Dixon before leaving the room.

Josh sank back against his pillows, and Dixon sat on the edge of the bed.

"Good news."

"Great news." Josh glanced at the cabinet beside his bed. "Where's my phone?"

"You don't need it now."

He gave Dixon a stern gaze. "Yes, I do," he insisted. "If I'm moving permanently to CrossBow, I have to organize movers."

Dixon's eyebrows went sky high. "When for?"

"As soon as possible."

"Er, Doc? Many moving companies need you to schedule well in advance."

Josh frowned. "But I don't want to wait."

Dixon smiled. "Relax, Doc. We can figure this out. We have options. First off, we can rely on friends and coworkers. I've already spoken with Michael and Gary. They said Michael would be more than happy to help facilitate the move, if we wanted. We could ply our coworkers with pizza and beer, and Michael said because you were moving into CrossBow permanently, they could do it on the clock."

Suddenly this move had gotten really complicated.

The last thing Dix wanted,especially since Doc was supposed to be resting, was for him to be stressing over a move. He wished he could go to Doc's place—his old place—and pack the stuff up to surprise him, but he knew how he'd feel if someone went into his space and pawed at things he didn't want anyone else to see.

"I don't want anyone to be put out," Doc complained.

"Okay, another option would be for you to contact your lawyer and give him a list of things you need brought over right away. Then I could go over and get it all, and during the course of the next week, we could move things a bit at a time. This'll give you a chance to see where you want to put your stuff. There's a large room that I thought would make a great office for you, if you were interested."

Doc's lips twitched. "I have a lab, remember?" He sighed. "I just don't want this to be a big production, that's all." He bit his lip. "Maybe asking the people at CrossBow for help would be the best bet. I mean, they know you, so it's not like you're asking strangers for help." Doc cocked his head to one side. "What kind of beer do you think we should offer? I want it to be something that makes moving me worthwhile."

Dix chuckled. "They'll do it for whatever swill we offer them."

Doc widened his eyes. "As if I'd provide swill. I could have a chef put together some pizzas."

Dix knew he'd do it. Doc would go over and above to show his appreciation. "How about we talk to the cafeteria? I know they'd kill to try out some new recipes on willing subjects."

A faint frown creased Doc's brow. "Is it really okay to ask them?"

"It is. I'll take care of it." He kissed Doc, knowing full well he could do this every day for the rest of his life. "Is that how you want to proceed?"

Doc gave an emphatic nod. "Yes."

"Then I'll handle it all. You rest up here so they don't have reason to keep you."

"My keys are hanging on a hook in my lab." He frowned. "I think."

A full belly laugh rolled out of Dix. "No, you left them by the coffeemaker last time you came in. I put them in your nightstand so they wouldn't get lost."

Dix couldn't wait to get started. Doc had quite a collection of stuff, but they had lots of hands, so it wouldn't take forever.

The idea he'd just had might take a little longer to organize, however.

Gary and Michaelwere on their way back to CrossBow after picking up Doc, and Dix was nervous as hell. Because once they arrived, Doc was moving in with him officially. The guys who'd turned up to help Dix move a lot of Josh's stuff had done a fantastic job, but after he'd seen the number of boxes, Dix realized his rooms were inadequate. Fortunately, Gary had made a suggestion that solved the problem, and Dix couldn't wait to see Doc's face.

Two surprises in one day. Doc is gonna freak.

The door swung open and Dixon tensed. Please let him love it.

"Dixon?" Michael called out.

"Be right there." He hurried to the door and found Gary with his hands over Doc's eyes. "What's going on?"

Gary huffed. "It's a surprise, isn't it?"

"What surprise?" Doc asked. "I didn't agree to a surprise." Gary pulled his hands away, and he gasped. "This isn't your room."

Dix grinned. "No getting anything past you, is there?" They stood in one of the grand suites that were normally reserved for VIP guests. Gary was only too happy to move them into one, which would give them double the room, almost four thousand square feet. Boxes filled the living room, both Doc's and his own, waiting to be placed in rooms.

"Is this ours?" Doc asked, his eyes huge.

"If you want it. I thought we'd need more space than my room allowed, especially after I saw all the stuff brought over from your old place. If you don't like it?—"

"I love it." Doc's eyes sparkled. "It's big enough to play naked hide and seek in."

Dix blinked, and Michael and Gary cracked up.

"Excuse me?" Dix stared at him. "Never a dull moment with you around."

"Haven't you ever played?" Doc demanded. "I hide and you try to find me. If you win, I owe you a favor of your choice. Any favor of your choice."

Lord, that was a sexy grin. Dix's cock apparently thought so too, judging by its reaction.

"And on that note, we're gonna head out," Michael said, stifling his laughter.

Doc didn't so much as bat an eye. "Sure, bye."

The door closed behind them, and Dix directed Doc to the couch. "Listen, Doc…. I have a surprise for you."

Doc chuckled. "I think you just delivered it. This is awesome."

"Another surprise. Sit back, hold your hands open in your lap, and close your eyes. I'll get it and bring it in."

"Dixon—" Doc's tone hinted at his exasperation.

"Please? For me?"

Doc sighed. "That's only going to get you so far, you know. That whole ‘for me' thing can't be done too often, or it becomes redundant." Before Dix could ask again, Doc eased himself down onto the couch. "See? I'm sitting. Now bring on my surprise." He closed his eyes. "Just be quick about it."

Dix dashed into the other room and picked the gift up from the bed, then carefully brought it into the living area. "Are you ready?"

"Sure, why not?"

Dixon placed it in Doc's hands, and Doc's breathing hitched.

"Dixon? What am I holding?"

"Go ahead. You can look now."

Doc opened his eyes and cried out when he saw the adorable furry bundle. He pulled the small gray kitten to his chest. "Oh, he's—" He lifted the kitten so he was looking at the tummy. "Correction—she's precious. When did you get her?"

"I took a trip to the shelter. Michael said you'd often wished you could have a pet, and now you can. I mean, if you still want one. I can take her back if?—"

Doc glared at him. "Finish that sentence, and she won't be the only one who's fixed." He kissed her head, and she brushed her face against his chin, which made him whimper. "She's so beautiful. What's her name?"

"I don't know. What do you want to name her?"

Doc gazed at her with naked affection. "Well, I was thinking of some of the gray elements. Like Cobalt."

Leave it to Doc. "How about we shorten it to Coby?" he asked.

"Coby? Oh, I like that!" Doc nuzzled the kitten. "Welcome home, Coby." Then he frowned. "But what if I forget about her? I mean, yes, I told Michael I wanted a pet, but I worried about coming home a month later and finding a skeleton in the corner somewhere."

"You were living alone then. You're not now. We can take care of her together." Dix knelt beside the couch and stroked her tiny little head. "I bought some high-tech litter boxes, a food setup that's on a timer, and a bowl that hooks up to the water in the room, so she'll always have a fresh supply. There are also more toys and scratching posts than you can shake a stick at. And later, if you decide you want to, we can get a second kitten to keep her company, especially when we're at work. I've also got cameras set up so we can keep an eye on them."

Doc's lip wobbled. "You did all this for me?"

Dix gave him a look he hoped was every bit as adoring as the one Doc gave Coby. "I'd like to think I did it for us, but just so you know, I would do anything for you, sweetheart."

He yawned. "Would you get me a pill so I can take a nap?"

Dix feigned shock. "What happened to strip hide and seek?"

He frowned. "You thought I was serious? I just wanted them to leave."

Dix couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah, you look like you need some rest."

He grabbed one of the bags Michael had left at the door, then returned to the living room, where Doc was already stretched out on the couch, dead to the world. The sweetest thing? Coby lay beside him, her tiny paw on Doc's arm.

Yeah, this would work out just fine.

The room wasdim when Josh woke. At first, he thought he was still in the hospital, but then he remembered Gary and Michael had brought him to his new home today.

A new home—with Dixon.

A snort to his left had Josh turning his head. Dixon was stretched out on the chair, which really didn't seem to be built for a man his size. Josh wanted to wake him, to get him to move to the bedroom, but then he saw Coby had taken up residence in Dixon's lap, and Josh melted.

I have a family. Is this what you wanted for me, Grandma? Because now that I have it, I will do my best to hold on to it.

Coby lifted her head, fixed Josh with a stare, and gave a soft meow. It was so weird this one tiny creature gave him heart palpitations. She slid from Dixon's lap and bounded to Josh, who cradled her close. How could Dixon know he'd given Josh what he always wanted? A home. A pet. To be normal for once. To have what other people had.

A freaking life.

Then he realized there was someone out there with the power to take it all away. Someone who wasn't above murder. Their motives so far escaped Josh, but he would find them. He would track these bastards down, and he would bring them to their knees.

They'd regret the day they fucked around with Josh Malone.