Sway got a warm welcome from his staff when he returned to work four days later. They were calling it the forty-eight-hour bug, but the symptoms persisted for at least a week. He didn’t know how much longer he would’ve lasted if Brian hadn’t been there. He’d been like a white knight… well, black knight. The way he’d cared for him. Like a ‘gentle giant’, his mom had called him.

By the time Brian left, his mom and Tweetie had officially fallen in love with him. They began to fawn over Brian more than they did him, and he’d been the sick one. When Brian spoke for the first time, Sway thought Tweetie was going to pass out. Either from the surprise or the sound. Both were enough to make him do a double take. Not that Brian ran his mouth constantly, he still signed when he had a lot to say; choosing only to voice short statements. Sway understood it was going to take time. The breathing, the focusing, the escaped noises when Brian wasn’t trying. It all had gradually progressed into sound over time. Sway didn’t need Brian to speak constantly, even though he was madly in lust with that grating bass; he’d still fallen for a silent man.

“Sway, it’s so good to see you back.” Dr. Chauncey patted him on the shoulder while Sway stood at the nurse’s counter.

“Nice to be back.” Sway smiled, meaning it. He’d missed his patients. It took about twenty extra minutes in each room, during his rounds, everyone wanting an explanation where he’d been.

“I got good news for you.” Cayson smiled. “Your favorite, Ms. Debbie, is moving to the next level in the trial. Her results were real positive these past two weeks.”

“Yes!” Sway whooped, then lowered his voice, still grinning broadly. “I was praying they would be. Did you tell her, yet?”

Cayson nodded, sitting at one the computer terminals. “I did. She was really happy.” Cayson smiled at Sway. “But, I tell you. I don’t think she would’ve pulled through if it weren’t for you.”

“But, I didn’t—”

“Before you say that,” Cayson stopped him. “I’ve never heard Ms. Debbie laugh and play like she did when you brought her that little furry troublemaker. She was radiant and in good spirits for days after that. The patient’s mental stability will have an effect on their trial results as well. There’s no better medicine than laughter. That’s why I knew you were the right person for this job. To keep the patients uplifted. Ms. Debbie has been talking in future tense the past couple days. Going on about how many new cats she’s going to get when she has her new kidney. Hope, Sway. You give your patients hope. If they forget why life is so precious… you remind them. Then they have a drive to want to live again. You showed her that, just because she lost her other cats, there’s still plenty more that need a good home.”

Sway took Cayson’s compliment to heart. It was hands down the best one he’d ever received. Dr. Chauncey could see how much his nursing profession meant to him. Sometimes people didn’t understand why he gave it his all, but if they’d been on the other side of the curtain like he had, then they would understand.

Stanton had been in ICU for three days before he was taken off life support. Sway remembered how amazing those nurses had been to him and his mom. They’d helped them through it all, as if it wasn’t just their job but ingrained in their hearts to care for others. From that day, Sway had known he only wanted to care for those who were too down to care for themselves.

Sway went back to his office, his day was winding down and it hadn’t been half bad. The morning had flown by as he caught up on the things the fill-in charge nurse hadn’t understood. By late afternoon, he’d cleared his inbox and had touched base with each of his nurses. Dr. Dominick was in and out of department budget meetings all day, so he’d been lucky to avoid the awkwardness he knew was coming. Tweetie told him play by play what had happened between him and Brian when he’d come to the house. Sway couldn’t believe the man had had the audacity to take it to that level. That was crossing a serious line coming to his home at midnight. It didn’t matter what time he’d left work. Brian was leaning on him to tell Cayson, but Sway was still hesitating. Now, after hearing about Ms. Debbie advancing and feeling positive that she was going to live… how did Sway step in and shut down the entire trial and hand her and the rest of the optimistic patients, a death sentence.

He went to the dry erase board with all their patients’ names and updated some changes he’d made on the schedule. He checked his watch and saw it was after six; Brian was meeting him in the front in a few minutes. He wanted to try to be on time, since they were meeting Dana and Ford at Applebee’s. It was Friday and he couldn’t wait to get to Brian’s. Tweetie was doing respite hours for his mom all weekend, so Sway had packed a duffle and gave it to Brian to take to his house. His mom didn’t warn him to slow things down, she recognized the kind of man Brian was. He wasn’t one he’d let slip through his fingers. Sway thought of the way Brian had cared for him while he’d been ill. He’d been in and out of consciousness, but every time he’d cracked his eyelids Brian had been there. He’d bathed his warm forehead with a cool cloth in the middle of the night. He’d fed him when Sway could finally hold down soup and cleaned up any that he didn’t. Never once did his boyfriend grimace or complain. Sway was still smiling when he locked his desk drawer.

“Someone is feeling a whole lot better.”

Sway’s good feeling evaporated at the sound of Dr. Dominick’s voice. Sway reluctantly peered up and jumped a little when his office door slammed shut.

“Oops. Didn’t mean to close that so hard.” Dr. Dominick moved farther in the room. He was dressed to impress as always, wearing an expensive-looking sweater, and tailored slacks. “I’ve just been so nervous. I heard you were sick… through the grapevine. I don’t particularly like being left out of the loop in my own department.”

“Dr. Chauncey sent me home. I suggest you confront him,” Sway said, having had enough.

Dr. Dominick raised his brows, grinning arrogantly. “Oh yes. Someone is feeling so much better. There’s the Sway I’d been hoping to see.”

Sway hefted his book bag onto his shoulder and yanked his keys off the top of his desk. A clear indication that he was ready to leave. “Was there something you needed, doctor?” Sway gritted out.

“So what time should I send the limo to your home on Sunday? I’ve gone ahead with all the arrangements, hoping you’d be feeling better in time.” Dr. Dominick fingered a couple of files in Sway’s outbox, then raised his eyes expectantly. “Seven?”

Sway frowned. “Have you lost your mind?”

“Excuse me?” Dr. Dominick stood straighter. He wasn’t tall, but he was taller than Sway. He wasn’t intimidated, and he was sick of the man continuing to try. “The nurse’s formal is mandatory for managerial staff.”

“Yes. Dr. Chauncey told me.” Sway tightened his own back and looked the creepy doctor up and down. “I will pop in for a little while. But, I won’t be going with you and I won’t be staying. Only long enough to say ‘hi’.” Sway put on the dreamiest expression he could muster. “Then I’m going back to my boyfriend’s house for the rest of the night.” Sway thought for a second, then added, “Maybe for the whole week. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

Dr. Dominick’s face turned red, but he didn’t outwardly react. Instead, he indifferently brushed his hand down his wool sweater. “Yes, your boyfriend. Had the pleasure of meeting him a few days ago. I guess he won’t be accompanying you to a black-tie affair. Does he own a tie? Can he tie a tie? That… that...” Dr. Dominick chuckled, covering his mouth. “Not sure what to say about him. Sure then, Sway. You’d rather go alone to the gala than on the arm of one of the most important people in Atlanta’s medical community; all because your boyfriend is too unpolished to fit in. Then by all means.”

Sway immediately opened his mouth to defend Brian but was cut off again.

“Fine with me. But did you ever consider that the next trial you participate in could be in London, or Japan. So, go ahead; commit career suicide if you insist,” Dr. Dominick said, his voice rising all the more while Sway looked at him like the dung-pile he was. “You could’ve had something good in your corner but now… you may have an enemy.”

“Are you threatening me because I don’t wanna be your date?” Sway asked incredulously. “I’m telling you my patience and generosity only extends so far. You are the one committing career suicide. Think about your patients for once and not your dick.”

“Grrrr,” Dr. Dominick growled teasingly. “I like this feisty side of you.”

“What the hell happened to your whole ‘work etiquette and not disrespect the staff’ speech before the trial started? It was all bullshit, wasn’t it?” Sway went to move around his desk. He was going to Dr. Chauncey.

Dr. Dominick stepped in front of him. “Where do you think you’re going? Gonna run and tell on me.” He laughed maniacally. “You going to tell Cayson? Okay. He’s been my colleague and friend for over ten years. You think he’ll believe you over me?” Sway frowned and went to move in the other direction and was barricaded again. “Or maybe you wanna tell the Chief. That’s okay, too. While you’re telling him that I’m jeopardizing my own thirty-year squeaky-clean record over a too-old, past his prime, smart-mouth twink—also make sure to tell him to not forget, he’s bringing the pizzas for poker night tomorrow. Or maybe, you want to go straight to the president of the hospital. We went to medical school together. If it wasn’t for me he wouldn’t even have that job. So, good luck with my frat brother. Did I forgot to mention that?”

Sway’s confidence waned. It sounded like Dr. Dominick had all the heavy guns covered. Except Cayson. Sway was sure that Dr. Chauncey would stand by him.

Dr. Dominick laughed right in Sway’s face. “So. Did you decide who you’re going to tell?”

Sway thought about it a moment and a sly grin spread across his lips. “Yeah, I did.”

“Inquiring minds want to know?” Dr. Dominick ribbed.

Sway pulled out his cell phone. “I’m gonna tell my boyfriend.”

Dr. Dominick knocked Sway’s phone out his hand, his reaction looked driven by fear, and completely involuntary.

“Hey!” Sway yelled. He went to pick up his phone from the other side of his tiny office when the door flew open and slammed against the back wall. Sway and Dr. Dominick both jumped and let out startled gasps.

Brian stood just in Sway’s office, his face contorted into a mask of rage. Sway knew his eyes were the size of saucers. He’d never seen Brian look that way before. Lethal. Dr. Dominick backed up, his hands out in front of him. Brian kept his eyes on the terrified doctor when he reached out and slammed Sway’s door closed behind him… then locked it. Sway began to perspire as Brian’s powerful presence dominated the room. He glanced at Sway first, as if making sure he was okay, then advanced on the doctor.

“I’ll sue. I know who you are,” Dr. Dominick’s trembling voice betrayed his tough talk.

“Brian let’s just go. I’ll report it. I’m not letting him get away with anything,” Sway pleaded, still not coming anywhere near his boyfriend as he stalked towards the man who had just sexually harassed and threatened him. A small part of Sway wanted to see just what Brian would do.

Dr. Dominick made one last brave attempt to ward off his ass whupping. “I’m not afraid of you.”

Brian leaned into the doctor’s face and growled demonically, “Everyone’s afraid of the boogeyman.” Brian’s hand shot out and clamped onto the doctor’s throat so fast Sway couldn’t stop his startled yelp. Dr. Dominick made a clipped choking sound. He hacked for air twice, then there was no nothing. Silence. Brian had cut off the doctor’s ability to speak, cry out, yell; had taken away his right to be safe in the work place. Made the doctor taste the same medicine he’d been dishing out. Feel the same discomfort he’d been bestowing on Sway and who knew how many others. Sway watched Brian push his forearm against Dr. Dominick’s chest and use his brawn to raise him a few inches off the floor. Dr. Dominick’s feet dangled, and both his hands shot to Brian’s shoulders. The doctor panicked and tried to gulp in oxygen, his face turning an unnatural shade.

Holy shit! Sway wasn’t sure what to do. What his boyfriend was doing was illegal on all accounts but so was what the doctor was doing. If you can’t take it… don’t dish it out. Sway accepted that creed and sat down in his office chair, swiveled in Dr. Dominick’s direction and crossed one leg over the other. It was his turn to look smug.

“Who are going to report this to, James?” Sway said just as coolly as the doctor had asked him. “The Atlanta PD?” Sway feigned as if he was thinking, “Honey, don’t you have quite a few friends on the force who would be willing to come take the doctor’s statement?”

Brian didn’t take his eyes off the doctor, instead he inched him back down until his feet touched the carpet. Sway wouldn’t’ve cared if Brian let him pass out first. Obviously, his boyfriend was feeling nicer than he was.

“Final. Warning,” Brian growled. He yanked his arm away and Dr. Dominick dropped to the floor, clutching his throat and choking on his saliva. Brian reached for Sway’s hand and clasped it, hauling him from his seat and keeping his body between his and the doctor’s as they left the office, and Dr. Dominick lying on the carpet.

Sway walked proudly down the hall with his dark knight, feeling a million times better and knowing that things were about to change for him. He asked Brian just as they exited the main lobby, “So how was your therapy today, babe?”