Chapter Seventeen

Rocky

"Damnit, Collin, this is serious." Rocky raked his fingers through his hair as he paced and held the phone to his other ear. "He's been sleeping for more than twenty hours."

"Does he respond to you if you try to wake him up?" Finally, it sounded like Collin was taking him seriously.

"Yeah, he grumbles but he doesn't even wake up enough to form actual words." Rocky had known Aiden was exhausted when he'd brought him home yesterday, and when Rocky had gone to bed last night, he hadn't been too worried. But now, it was the next morning, Aiden still wasn't waking up and that had Rocky getting extremely concerned.

"You said he was exhausted, that he's been burning the candle at both ends. He's probably just catching up on missed sleep but if it makes you feel better, I'll come check him out."

"I'd appreciate it. Thanks, man."

After he disconnected the call, Rocky paced the living room and resisted the urge to go stand watch over his boy. He was grateful for Collin being willing to come by. He'd met Collin Hayes a while back after Spike's Little girl, Arabella, had been kidnapped and seriously injured. It hadn't taken long to realize the man in charge of Arabella's care was a Daddy as well. They'd formed a friendship based on the grief they shared. Collin had lost his wife and Little as well. It was a tragedy that had led the good doctor to seek life in a smaller, quieter community.

When the knock sounded, Rocky wrenched himself from his thoughts and rushed for the door. When he saw the dark-haired man on his doorstep, a half smile lifting one corner of his mouth, Rocky sighed in relief. He let Collin in and led him to the bedroom. He noticed Collin's raised eyebrow and the shock in his eyes at finding Aiden in Rocky's bed instead of the guestroom. Collin didn't say anything, just approached the bed and tried to wake Aiden much as Rocky had done.

"You said he hit his head? How long ago?" Collin asked over his shoulder.

"A couple of days ago."

"Has he shown any signs of a concussion?' Collin asked as he checked Aiden's pulse with his fingers and dug out a stethoscope from his bag. "Any nausea, dizziness, passing out?"

"No, he seemed fine. You almost wouldn't even know he'd hit his head."

Collin shined a light into Aiden's eyes and Aiden grumbled again, but still didn't stir otherwise, and Rocky felt his concern growing to full-on alarm. Why didn't he wake up? This couldn't possibly be normal. Rocky paced and grumbled while Collin did whatever it was he did.

"You're acting like an overprotective Daddy over there," Collin said with a twinkle in his eye that Rocky would have sworn meant he knew. How could he though, since the entire community still saw Aiden as, not only a Daddy, but a straight one?

"Ha, ha," Rocky deadpanned. He hated having to keep their relationship a secret, but Rocky had promised Aiden he'd wait until Aiden was ready. "Just tell me what's wrong."

Collin stood and approached cautiously like he was scared Rocky would explode, but when Rocky looked closer, he realized Collin was studying him like a science experiment, waiting to find out how Rocky would react. He did his best to hide his feelings. Really, he did. Apparently, he hadn't done a very good job of it.

"Your boy is sleeping it off, Rocky. My guess is that he's been working too hard for too long and now, for whatever reason, he finally gave out yesterday." Rocky's eyes closed despite his best efforts, his relief was impossible to hide. "He isn't sick, he's just tired."

"Thanks." It was the only word Rocky could choke out. He'd allowed his mind to explore so many terrifying scenarios, so many ways this could be a sign he was about to lose his boy, like he'd lost Seth. Relief was coursing through him, and he was barely holding himself together.

Collin clapped Rocky on the back and said, "I'm happy for you, my friend. If anyone deserves a second chance, it's you." Rocky could only nod his head at the sentiment. "Go sit with your boy, I can show myself out."

Collin had almost made it to the bedroom door when Rocky finally found his voice, "Collin?" When the other man turned his unnaturally blue eyes Rocky's way, Rocky said, "You deserve a second chance, too."

Guilt and grief flashed over Collin's face as he shook his head and replied, "I don't deserve anything." Then he was gone, and Rocky found himself seated beside Aiden and brushing the hair back from his forehead.

Rocky didn't notice the tears tracking down his cheeks or the quiet sobs as his body released the tension of the last couple of hours. This was all his fault. He should have been keeping a closer eye. He should have clued in to how Aiden had been wearing himself out the last few days. How long had he been working so hard before he'd found the listening device the day before? He was going to have to pay much closer attention to how much Aiden worked and to being sure his boy got enough rest.

Rocky sent a text to Blade, letting him know they wouldn't be in to deal with the contractors again. Rocky was sure that Blade would be rethinking his decision to put him and Aiden in charge of the remodel, but he couldn't bring himself to care much about that. Rocky could only worry about his boy and what was best for him.

When a reply came in from Blade telling him to take care of Pup first and worry about anything else later, the tone of the text had Rocky wondering if Blade might have an idea of his feelings for Aiden. He just didn't have the energy to worry about that either. He set his phone aside, crawled into the bed behind Aiden, wrapped an arm around his waist and just held him close as he continued to sleep.