The Magic in Your Touch

by Sara Bell

  “Call me Brandon.”

  “O.K., Brandon. I can do this by myself. I did my residency in a hospital a lot like this one. I know the drill and most of it is hurry up and wait.”

  Brandon smiled and started walking him towards the emergency entrance, locking the doors of the SUV with the remote on his keys. “Normally, I would agree with you, but I just happen to know someone who works here. He actually owes me a favor, so I think he’ll be able to get us in and out of here a little bit faster.” While he was talking, he led Nathan past the emergency wing to a row of elevators inside the hospital proper.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Relax, Doc. We’re going up to the third floor to neurology. The guy I told you about has an office up there.”

  Brandon pushed the button for the elevators. The one closest to them opened, allowing a woman and four half-grown children to get off. One of the larger boys bumped into Nathan, nearly knocking him off his feet in his already addled state. Brandon caught him to his chest, trying to ignore the arcs of electricity that went through his skin when he wrapped his arms around Nathan and pulled him to his chest. Both the woman and the boy apologized, but Brandon’s only focus was the man he held in his arms.

  “Doc, are you O.K., man?”

  “Nathan.” “Huh?”

  “My name is Nathan, or Nate. I figure if you’re going to hold me in your arms like we’re about to do the tango, the least you can do is call me by my name.”

  Brandon pulled back to see the grin on Nathan’s face, the first smile he’d since the moment he walked into the doctor’s office. “If you’re joking around, you must be O.K.”

  “That’s what Amy says. Do you want to let me go now?”

  Brandon pulled him close again. “Do you really want me too?”

  “Considering we’re in the middle of a hospital lobby waiting on an elevator and being watched by dozens of people, yeah. Thanks for catching me, though.” He lowered his voice and cast his eyes down a bit. “It felt kind of nice to be held again.”

  Not certain how to respond, Brandon let him go, immediately missing the warm heat from his body. He stayed close enough to catch him again, if necessary, as they boarded the elevator. Other people crowded in, making conversation difficult. The silent ride gave Brandon a chance to tamp down some of the lust he was feeling.

  The third floor of Chicago General wasn’t as crowded as the lobby, so Brandon was able to lead him through the hall at a fair clip. When Nathan stumbled, he immediately apologized.

  “Sorry, Doc. I forgot how fast I was going.”

  Nathan grinned again, making Brandon’s own knees feel weak. “Normally I can keep up, but I think I’m just a little punch drunk.”

  “Maybe we should have called an ambulance. Are you even supposed to be walking around?”

  “Amy checked me over before we left. This whole hospital thing and MRI is just a precaution. I do feel guilty that you have to spend your evening here with me, though. I feel like I’m messing up your plans.”

  Brandon stopped in front of a row of doors and said, “If by ‘messing up my plans’ you mean taking me away from the glamorous prospect of sharing a frozen pizza with my dog, then I can only invite you to mess up my plans more often.”

  “No family? No boyfriend?”

  “I have plenty of family, but I don’t live with them anymore. I figure thirty-two is a little old to be sharing a set of bunk beds with my kid brother. As for the boyfriend, I had one of those too, but he belongs to someone else now, thank God.”

  Nathan said, “I’m sorry, man. I didn’t mean to bring up any painful memories.”

  Brandon shook his head. “You didn’t. Jeff and I broke up four years ago. He subscribes to the theory that gay men are incapable of fidelity; I don’t. Seems he had a fondness for twinks that I didn’t share.” Brandon almost laughed at the shocked look on Nathan’s face. “He had an affair?”

  “Affairs, as in plural.”

  “That must have hurt.”

  “Maybe the first time I caught him in bed with another guy. By the third time, I was glad to be rid of him. I think the only reason I stayed as long as I did was because I felt like I had made a commitment. I guess he didn’t see it that way.”

  “Damn. That’s harsh.”

  Brandon shrugged. “It was a long time ago. Come on. Let’s get you checked out.” He knocked on the door they were standing in front of.

  The door opened immediately and Brandon was engulfed in a bracing bear hug almost as fast. “Hey, squirt. What the hell are you doing in Chicago at 7:30 on a Tuesday night?”

  “Damn, Keith. Put me down before you snap my spine, will ya? Are you and Maria so hard up for money that you have to drum up business by causing the injuries yourself?”

  Seeing Nate’s startled expression, Brandon said, “Nate, this is my brother, Keith. He’s a neurologist here. Keith, this is Nathan Morris.”

  Keith put his brother down and moved closer to Nate. Using one finger, he gently tilted Nate’s head so he could better see the right side. He turned back to Brandon. “I’m assuming you didn’t do that to his head?”

  “If I had, I damn sure wouldn’t have brought him to the hospital. Nate thinks he was the subject of a gay-bashing.”

  Nate gave Brandon an icy glare. “No, he doesn’t think he was the subject of a gay-bashing; he knows he was.”

  Keith and Brandon both fought back their grins. Keith said, “Yeah, I hate it when people talk about me like I’m not around, too. I guess you’re here for an MRI, right.”

  Nate nodded. “Yes, but I don’t want to bump anyone else off the schedule.”

  “I’ll check with one of the techs, but I don’t think there’ll be a problem. Tuesday nights are kind of slow, even here in Chicago. Do you have a set of orders, or do you need me to write you some?”

  Nate handed him the orders and watched as Keith’s face changed. “Wait a minute. You’re a doctor?” When he nodded, Keith said, “You aren’t the same Nathan Morris who did his residency in the NICU at Atlanta General, are you?”

  Brandon watched as Nathan nodded and then blushed a little bit. He turned to Keith. “You know him?”

  Keith said, “Only by reputation. Dr. Morris here is a legend in the field of neurology. He pioneered a technique to help premature babies deal with the neurological symptoms of withdrawal from heroin and cocaine. Man, what are you doing all the way up here?”

  Brandon could see how uncomfortable Nate seemed. Before Keith could pump him for more information, Brandon said, “Don’t you think he should at least be sitting down somewhere? I mean, you are the doctor and all, but still…”

  “Shit. I’m sorry, man. I’m actually a pretty good doctor when my dumbass kid-brother isn’t distracting me. Let’s get you to radiology.”

  Keith led them down the hall to the radiology lab. While the techs took Nate into the other room and prepared him for the MRI, Keith seized the opportunity to pump him for information. Brandon told him all about the gay-bashing and his doubts about the motive. Keith ignored all that and cut straight to the reason why gay-bashing would even be a possibility in the first place.

  “So, Dr. Morris is gay, huh?”

  “Don’t even think about it, Keith. Jeez, you’re almost as bad as Mom.”

  Keith did his best to look hurt, but Brandon knew him too well to be fooled. “All I did was make a casual observation, Bran.”

  “Yeah, right. Just like you made a casual observation that one of the doctors on your surgical rotation was gay and had a thing for guys in uniform? Just like the casual observation you made about how great Pastor Oakley’s son was, or how nice Mrs. Jensen’s brother-in-law seemed? The answer is no. Stop trying to fix me up.”

  The tech came back into the room and started adjusting the settings for the MRI machine. Keith stepped back enough so that the guy couldn’t hear him. “You need to have that conversation with your hormones, bud. I saw the way you were looking at him.”

>   “No reason I can’t look, is there? But looking is all I’m going to do. For all I know, he could have a boyfriend.”

  Keith shook his head. “Not the way he was looking back at you. I’d almost be willing to put money on it. Besides, if he has a man, why wasn’t he the one who brought him in? No way in hell would I let some other guy take Maria to the hospital if she was hurt.”

  Before Brandon could respond, the tech turned to Keith. “Dr. Nash, the patient’s heart-rate and breathing are both elevated. I think he’s having a reaction to being inside the machine.”

  Keith swore. “The poor guy must be claustrophobic. None of the open MRIs were free?”

  “No, sir.”

  Keith thought for a moment, them pulled Brandon towards the desk. “Here, talk to him.”

  “What?”

  Keith pointed to the mike mounted on the desk. “Talk into the mike and he’ll be able to hear you. It might calm him down and take his mind off being inside the machine. Hell, you’re the one with a degree in forensic psychology. Don’t you think it’s worth a shot?”

  Brandon knew enough about claustrophobia to know that panic at being inside a tight, closed space could escalate in a matter of seconds to a full blown anxiety attack. Brandon put his mouth to the mike.

  “Nate, can you hear me?”

  A shallow breath came through the speaker of the control panel. “Brandon?”

  “Yeah, buddy, it’s me. You O.K.?”

  Another shallow breath. “I’m alright. I just hate tight spaces. God, I am such a sissy. No wonder I’m a fag.”

  Brandon smiled at the shocked look on the young tech’s face. “I don’t think being gay caused your claustrophobia, Nate. If you don’t calm down, though, you’re going to hyperventilate.”

  “I’m trying, man. It’s not that easy. Remind me never to give another one of my patients the ‘fear is only in your mind’ lecture. That is so much bullshit.”

  Keith and the tech both coughed to cover up their laughter. Brandon glared at his brother before going back to the mike. “Let’s try this. Close your eyes, can you do that?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay. I’m going to tell you some jokes. Just try not to laugh too much or you’ll move your head out of position.”

  Keith said, “I’ve heard your jokes, brother. I don’t think we have that to worry about.”

  Nate must have heard him because he chuckled just a little bit. Taking that as a good sign, Brandon said, “I’m going to ignore that and get right to the first joke. A man and his wife check into a spacious lakeside resort on their honeymoon. Night after night the clerk notices that the man goes out at three o’clock in the morning to go fishing. Every day he stays gone well into the afternoon and evening. Finally, on the fourth day, the clerk works up enough nerve to question the guy. He says, ‘Excuse me, sir, but aren’t you on your honeymoon?’ The man nods his head and says, ‘I sure am.’ The clerk says, ‘Well, if you don’t mind me asking, why are you going fishing everyday instead of spending time with your wife?’ ‘That’s easy,’ says the husband. ‘My wife has hepatitis, whooping cough, and typhoid. She’s under quarantine. I can hardly go near her.’

  The stunned clerk says, “Well, then why on earth did you marry her?’ The husband says, ‘That’s easy. She’s also got worms and I do love to fish.”

  Keith and the tech both groaned, but Brandon was almost certain he heard Nathan laugh. The tech pointed towards the monitor. He mouthed, “Keep going. It’s working.”

  “Ok. Here comes another one. A guy is going for a drive one afternoon when he passes the county retirement home and sees three little old ladies lying naked out on the front lawn. Immediately concerned, he goes inside and speaks to the administrator. ‘Did you know that there are three old, naked women lying out in the grass?’ The administrator says, ‘You mean they’re still out there? Well, you have to admire their determination.’ Seeing the young man’s confusion, the director rushes to explain. ‘Those women are all retired prostitutes. They’re having a yard sale.’”

  This time there was no mistaking the laughter coming through the speaker. Brandon breathed a silent sigh of relief as he watched Nathan’s vital signs return to normal. He kept up a steady stream of jokes and one liners until the tech pronounced the test done. Brandon smiled as he watched Nate come rolling out of the machine. He moved into the room where the machine was and smiled again as Nate looked up at him.

  “Thanks for saving me in there, man.”

  Brandon moved back so the tech could unhook the strap around Nate’s head. “Anytime, buddy. It’s not often that I have a captive audience for my jokes. Sometimes I try them out on the guys in lock-up down at the jail, but they just don’t seem to appreciate them like you did.”

  The tech moved to help Nate up off the platform, but Brandon got there first. He extended his hand and was flooded with warmth the minute Nate’s fingers wrapped around his own. For a moment, they stood still, hands together and eyes locked. Brandon pulled him to his feet but made no move to drop his hand.

  Keith and the tech exchanged knowing smiles, but neither commented on the tension between the other two. Keith said, “Why don’t you wait in my office while I read these scans? I would offer to let you read them yourself, Dr. Morris, but you look a little worse for the wear.”

  Brandon pulled Nate to his side as he swayed unsteadily. “Come on. Let’s get you to a chair before you collapse.” He felt a lump rise in his throat at the feelings of rightness having Nate pressed to his side evoked.

  Brandon led him back to Keith’s office, wincing along with him as he groaned in pain. “Do you need to lie down, baby?” He winced again as he realized he’d let the endearment slip. It had been on the tip of his tongue ever since he’d held Nate in his arms after the mishap at the elevators.

  Nate shook his head, either not noticing or choosing not to comment on the slip. “I’m O.K. I don’t think it’s my head that’s making me so shaky. I skipped lunch today and missed dinner. I think my blood sugar probably just dropped down to the low side.”

  No sooner were the words out of Nathan’s mouth and Brandon was on his way to the snack machines. He came back with two cokes, a couple of sandwiches, and a pocketful of candy bars. He handed one of the sandwiches and cokes to Nate.

  “Thanks, man.” Nate reached for his wallet, but Brandon waved him away.

  “I was glad to do it. It’s not exactly four star cuisine, but it’ll bring your blood sugar back up.”

  Nate nodded. “You and Keith look a lot alike. Same hair and eyes. So, what’s the favor he owes you?”

  “What?”

  “On the way up here, you said you knew a guy who owed you a favor. So, what does Keith owe you?”

  “His life. I let him make it to adulthood without killing his sorry ass.” Nate laughed, but Bran noticed he wasn’t eating much. “If you eat all that, I’ll give you a treat.”

  Nate’s smile was enough to make Brandon pop a boner right there in his brother’s office. “If I had a dirty mind, my imagination could go hog wild with an opening like that.”

  Brandon colored and took the chair next to Nate’s hoping to hide the evidence of his arousal. He couldn’t remember being this perpetually horny since he was a teenager. Hoping to steer the conversation into less dangerous territory, he said, “Actually, I meant that I have a candy bar in pocket.”

  Nate’s evil grin returned. “Oh, is that what that is?”

  Brandon had just taken a sip of his Coke when Nate said that. He sprayed soda all over Keith’s desk just as the door opened and his brother entered the room. Keith took one look at the cola dripping from Brandon’s chin and the smile on the other man’s face and shook his head.

  “I don’t know what you just said to my brother, but I haven’t seen his face that red since the day Megan peed all over him in church.”

  “Megan?”

  “Our baby sister.”

  Nate looked at Brandon. “How many brothers
and sisters do you have?”

  “Mom and Dad had eight kids, counting me.” He pointed to Keith. “That idiot over there is the oldest.”

  “Where do you rank on the list?”

  “Third from the top.”

  Keith took a seat behind his desk. “Do you have siblings, Nate?”

  Brandon watched the shadows fall across Nathan’s face. “Just one, my brother, Seth. He’s twenty-two, six years younger than me.”

  Keith was about to ask another question when Brandon shook his head. “What the verdict on Nate’s MRI?”

  Taking the hint, Keith said, “Well, the MRI shows no signs of injury, but I do think you probably have a slight concussion, Nate. Do you have someone who can stay with you tonight? I really wouldn’t advise you to stay by yourself. Of course, I’m sure you already know all this.”

  Nate nodded. “I can stay with my friend Amy and her husband.”

  Brandon watched as Keith’s curiosity kicked in. “You live alone then? No partner?”

  Again Nate’s expression darkened. “No.”

  “No boyfriend?”

  “No.”

  “Any prospects?”

  Before Nate could answer, Brandon said, “Jesus Christ, Keith, I thought I was the only cop in the family. Leave the guy alone, will ya?”

  “Sorry. Anyway, as I said, I think you should stay with your friend tonight. I can write you a script for pain killers, if you want.”

  “That’s alright. I can manage with aspirin, thanks. May I use your phone to call Amy and let her know what’s going on?”

  Keith pointed to the phone on the desk, but Brandon had already pulled out his cell. “Here. You can use mine.”

  “Thanks.” Nathan dialed Amy’s number and waited in silence as it rang. After about the sixth ring, he closed the phone and said, “I got the machine. Let me call the clinic and see if she’s still there.”

  Another call and again no answer. “Not there, either.”

  Keith said, “Does she have a cell?”

  “Yeah, but she only carries it when she’s on call. She’s off for the next three days.” He thought for a minute. “Let me check the service we use for after hours calls and see if she left a message with them.” He dialed another number and waited.