by Elouise East
Chapter 3
Craig
His shoulder was aching, but it was most likely from Craig not wearing his sling all day than the injury itself. He was trying to use his left arm less than his other arm, it wasn’t easy, and he was relieved he could put the sling back on after he finished working, although it would be after he made dinner.
He was finishing up the initial layout for a new customer when there was a knock at the door. Craig frowned. Darren hadn’t told him there would be any deliveries or anything today, although he could have forgotten. He couldn’t ignore it because everyone in the cul-de-sac knew Craig worked from home and never went anywhere. If a delivery driver tried to deliver it to a neighbour, they’d tell him to try his house again.
Craig logged off from his work in case this took longer than a few minutes and strode to the door. He could see the outline of someone moving from side to side through the tempered glass; it was as if they were stepping from one foot to the other. He opened the door and, when he recognised who it was, his heart rate and breathing increased, making him dizzy. He took several steps back as “No, no, no. This can’t be happening,” repeated in his head.
“Why aren’t you wearing the sling?” The sharp reprimand came from the A&E doctor who stood on his front step, frowning at him. He was good looking, although in a more natural way than Darren’s hard-earned muscular sense of the word. What the hell was he doing there? Darren was going to be pissed to find out the doctor had made a house call without letting Darren know beforehand. “Well?”
Craig blinked at the vocal nudge, having not answered the doctor’s first question.
“Um…I’m working. It was getting in the way.” Craig cleared his throat.
“The sling is to stop you from hurting and to make sure your arm heals properly. You need to wear it. How long have you had it off?”
“Since around ten.” Craig bent the truth slightly. He’d not had it on at all that morning because he’d gone straight to work as soon as Darren had left.
The doctor shook his head. “Can I come in and check your shoulder to make sure you’ve not damaged it more?”
It would not be a good idea. Darren would be annoyed enough as it was that the doctor had made a house call but to come in…? What choice did Craig have? If he refused, the doctor might infer there was something to hide and create more issues, whereas if he allowed him to enter, Craig could be checked over, and the doctor would leave within fifteen minutes. He was concerned about the doctor’s questions at the hospital and how it would be perceived if he refused. Clenching his jaw, he opened the door wider and indicated for the doctor to enter.
Closing the front door behind the doctor, Craig led the way to the living room.
“I’m not sure if you remember my name, but I’m Dr Alex Wick.” He held out his hand to shake Craig’s good hand.
“I remember.” Craig kept his gaze on their joined hands before pulling away. “Where do you need me to sit?” He pushed the doctor towards his goal as fast as he could, hopefully minus any alarm bells.
“On the sofa with your injured arm towards me is great, thanks.” The doctor placed his bag on the coffee table and opened it. As he sat, Craig made a mental note to clean the table after he’d left.
“Before I test your shoulder, I’d like to check the pupil of your left eye, make sure there is no damage now the eye is open.” The doctor cupped Craig’s chin, lifting his head as he shone the light towards him. “Look straight at me, please.”
Craig observed the serious expression on Alex’s face, and the slight downward tilt to the corners of his mouth as if he wasn’t happy about something. He also tried to ignore the tingling sensation travelling along the skin, which was being held.
“Now, move your eyes to the left, but keep your face pointing forward.” Craig followed the instructions. “Now to the right.” Craig waited as patiently as he could. “Okay, everything there appears to be healing nicely. You have the obvious blue and purple bruising, which will be there for a few more days before it begins to fade. Obviously, if you have any trouble with your vision, come and get it checked out.” The doctor put away his light. “Okay, let’s examine your shoulder. Could you take your t-shirt off, please?”
Craig slipped it off carefully, knowing if he winced, the doctor would take note. It wasn’t as easy as it seemed.
“Right, I’m going to feel around your joint as I did when you were in A&E.” His hands palpated around the joint, across his shoulder blade, across his collarbone and down his upper arm. Craig felt uncomfortable, but no arrows of pain shot through his body. “It seems okay. It’s healing well. You do need to wear the sling for another day. Your shoulder needs time to heal, or you will have problems with it for the rest of your life.” Dr Wick glared at him with his eyebrows raised.
“Alright.”
“How has your back been?” He rotated Craig away from him and skimmed his lower back.
Goosebumps stole across his skin. “It’s been fine. Doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“Any blood in your urine or any pain anywhere else?”
Craig shook his head. “No.”
“Okay.” Dr Wick paused. “Will you allow me to help you put the sling back on?”
Craig gritted his teeth in indecision but nodded. “I’ll go and get it.” He stood, seizing his t-shirt and directed his feet towards his bedroom. Once in the room, he tugged the t-shirt on, snatched the sling and headed back to the living room. Dr Wick was stood in front of the glass display cabinet next to the TV; it was filled with glass paperweights in colourful, intricate designs. It was one of Darren’s indulgences for Craig. For every special occasion, Darren bought him another glass design of some sort to fit in the case with the rest, and Craig loved them.
Dr Wick peered at him. “These must be yours.”
Craig frowned. “How did you know?”
“Because your face lit up when you were studying them.” He came towards Craig, indicating that his patient should give him the sling.
Craig passed it to him, unable to hide the wince when he used his injured arm to do it.
“Would you like some pain relief? I have some in my bag which I can administer.”
“No!” He calmed his voice before continuing, “I took some before you came.”
The doctor stared at him for a short time and nodded. “Okay, let’s get this put on. Can you sit for me, please?” Dr Wick untangled the sling as Craig sat back on the sofa and attached it in place, securing Craig’s arm to his body. “Can I take you out for a coffee? You can rest your arm for a while?”
“No. Um, no, thank you. I have a great deal of work to get on with.” Craig’s heart was in his throat. “I have people waiting for me. But thank you for the offer, Dr Wick.”
“Alex, please. What is it you do?” Dr Wick—Alex—sat next to Craig and packed up his bag.
“Um…I’m a website designer.”
“Sounds artistic. Not my forte. How long have you been doing that for?”
Tension released from his body; Craig enjoyed talking about his work. “Around six or seven years. I can never remember exactly what year I started.”
Alex smiled. “You must be good to still be in business. You should redesign the hospital website…that thing is in dire need of a refreshing overhaul.” The tinkling sound of laughter was unusual in the space they were in.
Craig could do nothing more than return the smile. “If it’s not been updated in the past year, yes, it definitely could. Many things change so often that websites get outdated easily and quickly if it’s not being kept on top of.”
“I’ll pass your name across to the team. I bet you could do wonders for it.”
“How long have you been a doctor?” Craig tilted his head. Alex couldn’t be more than thirty.
“Around four years now. I had planned to go into GP practice, but once I did my stint in the wards, that was it, I’d found my calling.” Alex smiled again. “It’s fast-paced for the majority; the
refore, the time flies, and before you know it, your shift is over.” He focused on his hands. “Unfortunately, it’s not all good.”
Craig felt for him. He could imagine some of the things Alex had to deal with; he bet it wasn’t pretty. “A ward doctor? I thought you worked in A&E?”
“No. I cover in there when they need someone, but I work on the wards usually.” Alex glanced up at him.
Craig aimed his face away, not wanting to see the expression on Alex’s face and caught sight of the clock. “Oh my god!” he gushed, standing from the sofa. “Have you seen the time? I have to get back to work!”
“Woah, calm down.” Alex stood, holding his hands out in front of him in a calming gesture. “It’s not been long. I’m sure you can catch up. You need a break every now and then.”
“I’m sorry. I do have to get back to work.” Craig couldn’t believe he’d been talking to Alex—Dr Wick—for so long. He’d been signed out of his work for too long; he was going to have to think of a reason to tell Darren. The truth wouldn’t work for the same reason he had not told Darren about the questions Alex had asked at the hospital two days prior.
“Alright. I’ll go. Can I ask…” Alex waited until Craig nodded slowly. “Are you being abused?”
Craig sighed. “No. Why do you keep asking me that?” Craig waved his free hand. “Never mind. I honestly have to get back to work now.” He marched towards the front door, not bothering to check if Alex followed. “Thank you for checking on me. I appreciate it.” He opened the door and stood, waiting for Alex to leave.
“Okay. Please come back to the hospital if anything happens.” He paused. “To your shoulder. Or anything.” He sounded unsure but stepped out the door. “Bye, Craig.”
Craig closed the door quietly and stood resting against it for a second, trying to get his bearings. Fuck, what was he going to tell Darren? He trailed towards his office, thinking of the different things he could use as an excuse. Instincts were screaming at him not to tell the truth about Alex—Dr Wick, he had to remember to call him Dr Wick—because it would most likely get Alex into trouble. He was sure hospital doctors didn’t usually make house calls, especially when they were not requested by the patients or at least discussed with them first.
Sitting heavily in his chair, he rested his head in his good hand before sighing and logging back onto his computer. Eyeing the time, he’d been logged out for an hour and ten minutes. It was a long time to have to explain away.
Craig got lost in his designs. He struggled with his sling on, but he didn’t want to take it off yet. He worked through his lunch, trying to make up for the lost time.
When four o’clock came around, he was tempted to continue working, no closer to figuring out an excuse why he had spent the time away from his computer but knew he had to cook dinner for Darren’s return.
Heading for the kitchen, he washed his hands and pulled out the ingredients for homemade lasagne and chips. He had made it many times now, and everything seemed an automatic gesture instead of Craig having to think about it, which meant he had more time to think through what he was going to say to Darren. No matter what he thought of, it would end up creating an argument. He was now essentially choosing between which one would provoke the least amount of reaction.
Darren entered as he was plating the side salad. He walked over to Craig and placed a kiss on his cheek, before slapping his ass and heading towards the bedroom.
“I’m going to get changed,” Darren threw over his shoulder as he wandered away.
Craig finished dividing and plating the lasagne and chips, placing the plates on the table. Darren came back, appearing more relaxed in joggers and a sweatshirt with the sleeves rolled up.
“Looks delicious.” He sat and started eating. “Anything happen today that I need to know about?”
Craig’s heart rate rose dramatically, and heat flushed his face. “No, nothing special,” he heard himself say, and he stared at his plate, fiddling with his food. He was starving but didn’t want to let on that he was. It would elicit more questions if Darren asked why he was hungry. Craig had no idea why he’d not voiced an excuse because there would be over an hour of lost working time when Darren checked later in the week. Nothing he could do about it now. If he went back and said, “Oh, actually…” Darren would know Craig had lied. He’d made his bed, now he had to lie in it and deal with whatever consequences happened on Saturday.
“Good. Love days when everything goes to plan, don’t you, babe?” Darren smiled at him, the expression on his face made him appear younger and meeker.
Craig nodded slowly, smiling in return. He was in deep shit.
Chapter 4
Alex
The noise of the TV barely registered as Alex took a swig of beer from the chilled bottle in his hand. Sat on the sofa in his shorts and tank, ankles crossed on the coffee table, he considered what he’d seen and heard at Craig’s house.
The house didn’t have a thing out of place in the quiet cul-de-sac to the east side of Cambridge. The inside manifested perfection: the house was spotless, the floors and furniture clean and stain-free, no clutter anywhere. It was comfortable and felt like a home should. At least, that was what Alex saw until he spotted a crack in the plaster to the side of the TV unit, and an actual hole in the wall the size of a fist next to the glass cabinet. Once he’d seen those, he knew everything was not as it seemed, regardless of what he’d been told.
But again, nothing he could use as evidence because he couldn’t tell anyone what he’d done or what he suspected because he’d be in trouble. After all, the hospital took a strict stance on confidentiality, and Alex had broken the rules. This was what he was tossing and turning in his mind. Was his own life and job more important than the life of someone being abused? What right did Alex have to take his own comfortable living over the hurt of someone less fortunate than him? Because Craig was less fortunate, not in monetary value, but to personal relationship standards, he was.
No answer was forthcoming, so he chose to sleep on it. His shift at the hospital tomorrow might be more eye-opening for him than staring at the moving pictures on the TV, although not seeing anything.
Alex stood and took his empty beer bottle to the kitchen, throwing the remains of his dinner in the bin; he wasn’t hungry. Returning to the living room, he switched off all the lights and the TV, double-checked the front door was locked and headed to bed.
****
Finding himself twiddling his thumbs the following day in A&E and wishing for something to do—he was covering for someone again—Alex did some reconnaissance. He couldn’t provide any evidence as it stood, but if he viewed Craig’s file, he might be able to see if he had been admitted previously for injuries.
Sitting at a free computer, he took a quick glance around before searching for and opening Craig’s hospital file. He went back several years, but nothing out of the ordinary showed up, no red flags or suspected findings or anything which could link back to what was happening to Craig.
Alex shook his head. He knew. He knew, in his heart, Craig was being abused. He knew it. But without Craig willingly admitting anything, or Alex finding any evidence, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Alex checked his notes from the night Craig had been brought into A&E and added a couple of bits, flagging up his suspicions but stating that he had no evidence to prove it. He wanted to do more, but at least if Craig came in at some other point, there would be a note of Alex’s concerns, and someone else might be able to persuade Craig to admit it.
Saving and closing the file, Alex sat back and rubbed his hands over his face. He couldn’t tell anyone about this. Or could he? Casey might understand Alex’s predicament. They were good friends, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to put Casey in the middle of all this. But he also needed someone to talk to. Yeah, Casey was the best person to run everything past. Being a paramedic, Casey saw lots of things, like Alex did. Alex messaged Casey; his decision made.
Hey. When are
you next off? Need some advice.
Immediately, Casey replied.
I’m free tonight. Swapped shifts with Tim. What’s up?
Patient issue. Fancy some company?
Why not, nothing better to do. You bring beer, I’ll order takeaway.
Deal. I finish at seven. Will be there shortly after.
See you then.
Alex pocketed his phone again, feeling some tension ease. Casey would know what to do.
The rest of his shift passed in a flurry of activity; he should have kept quiet about the place being empty. Five hours of endless patients made him question what had been put in the water that day. He’d seen broken bones, head injuries, gashes, fainting, arguments, children, adults, and everything in between. It was days like this, which made him think he wasn’t cut out for being a doctor. But he also knew he was a damn good one.
It was closer to half seven before Alex ventured back to the staff room to collect his belongings. He’d planned to shower at the hospital and head over to Casey’s but chose to be cheeky and ask Casey if he could borrow his shower instead. He was sure it would be fine. And if not, well, he’d stink the place up to make Casey reconsider.
Alex was more than ready for his downtime, and a beer and takeaway sounded divine. He trudged off to his car and pointed it in the right direction.
He parked up at the kerb by eight o’clock, wincing at how late he was, especially having had to detour to the supermarket for beer. He knew Casey wouldn’t have an issue; he was usually in the same boat as Alex. If patients arrive, you deal with them regardless of when your shift finished.
The front door opened before he got to it, and Casey held a beer out to him.
“Thought we could start with these cold ones and give yours a chance to chill in the fridge before we drink them.” Casey closed the door behind him. “Make yourself comfortable.”