Jensen reached for the floor lamp by the easy chair in the living room to turn it off before heading upstairs to bed. He was so exhausted that he wondered if he should curl up on the couch for a couple of hours to regain the strength to climb the stairs to bed.

He couldn’t remember when he last had such an exhausting day. At least Les was going to be okay. The doctors said it might be two nights in the hospital for observation, and then he needed someone to help out for at least a few days once they released him. Jensen volunteered to host his best friend. Opening his house for the temporary care was the least he could do.

As he turned toward the staircase, Jensen thought about all of the work to do on Sunday to get the house ready for Les’s convalescence. It was too much to contemplate. He needed sleep. He flipped the light switch at the base of the stairs and heard a knock on his front door.

Jensen’s first instinct was to ignore the knock. Then it came again more insistent. He groaned, “Okay, I’m coming.”

Pulling the curtain slightly aside, Jensen saw that it was Alec. He muttered, “Oh shit,” to himself. He’d forgotten to call Alec or even let him know with a text when he’d return home. The night spent with Alec already seemed like weeks ago. Jensen shook his head in disbelief that it’d actually happened less than 24 hours ago.

As Jensen pulled the door open, Alec said, “Aww, shit, you want to go to bed, don’t you? I see it in your eyes. I’m sorry. I saw your car was here, so I wanted to hear about your friend. Is he going to be okay?”

Jensen gestured for Alec to step inside. “Shit, close that door! It feels like winter out there. That will wake me up.”

Alec stepped inside and offered a hug. “You look tired. Should I help you to bed?”

Jensen accepted the hug and wrapped his arms loosely. He said, “I wish I could say yes, but I’m too exhausted. I need to go upstairs and collapse. Yeah, Les will be fine, but he’s got a broken leg and a couple of broken ribs. He’ll need help when he gets out of the hospital. I’m bringing him here.”

“Oh, shit. Man, I feel for him, and yeah, you do what you need to do. I didn’t hear from you and wanted to make sure all was okay. Last night was outstanding. I want you to know that.”

Jensen nodded and knew that he should have more to say, but his brain wasn’t functioning full-speed. He looked into Alec’s eyes and saw him ready his lips for a kiss. Jensen offered a peck back and said, “So tired.”

Alec said, “Yeah, you get rest. We’ll talk tomorrow. Or…whenever. I’ll get out of your way.”

Jensen knew that he should say something back, and he sensed the disappointment in Alec’s voice, but thoughts about getting the house ready, waiting on Les, and Thanksgiving in a few days clouded his mind. He whispered, “Goodnight, Alec,” as the front door closed.

Les swung his cast-covered leg through Jensen’s front door with the help of his crutches. He said, “You’re a fucking saint to do this. Abby volunteered, but she’s got a husband, kids, and a dog. I’m sure I would get drafted into taking care of one or more of the family. The other option was the insurance company would have paid for one of those home-help nurses. You know, I was thinking that sounded pretty bad. I envisioned a middle-aged woman barking orders at me, but with any luck, I might have gotten a gay guy. It’s a pretty hot fantasy to think about that. Maybe I should reconsider this.”

Jensen pushed the door shut and said, “It takes a lot to get that over-active imagination down, doesn’t it? You’re staying here. That’s decided. You’d do the same for me. I know you would. Besides, I only had to take today off from work. We don’t have school tomorrow, and the next day is Thanksgiving. I won’t have to go back until Monday. By then you should be able to fend for yourself. I won’t kick you out, but you’ll be getting around the house fine.”

Les said, “I might even make it back to work by then. I can take the bus or call for a ride. I’m not helpless.”

“No, I think you should be out of work for a little longer than that. I’m just happy that you’re going to be okay. I was worried as hell when Abby called. She sounded concerned, too. The doctor said he thought you might have suffered a concussion. That’s why they kept you for a couple of nights.”

Les shook his head as he lowered himself onto the couch and laid the crutches in the floor. “I still don’t remember much of anything. It was drizzly out, so I guess the road might have been slick. I remember that ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was on the radio. I’m sure I’ll remember the crash forever now when I hear the song. The cop said he thought I might have hydroplaned. Next thing I knew, the car had spun around, and it was heading for the ditch. Then I blacked out.”

“You hydroplaned, or you fell asleep at the wheel. It was late. What were you doing out at that hour?”

“No, I didn’t fall asleep at the wheel. I don’t do that. I was out late at a bar, and I met an adorable guy. Then, when it sounded like I might have a tiny chance of getting laid, he told me it was his last night in town before going home to Seattle. I didn’t want the one-night stand. He was too cute. I would have fallen for him and then felt a bad hangover in my heart when he left for Seattle in the morning.” Les laid the cast on its side on the cushions of the couch. He adjusted his body until he found a comfortable position. “He was sweet. It wasn’t a waste of time.”

Jensen said, “I can pull the ottoman over there by you if that would be more comfortable. This is your golden opportunity. If you want me to do anything for you, ask now. Once you’re well, it’s every man for himself again.”

“Will you bring me breakfast on a tray and then kneel quietly until I finish? That would be great. I’ll let you give me a sponge bath, too. ALL over.”

Jensen growled, “Don’t take advantage of the help. He might throw you out onto the porch and lock the door.”

“Okay, yeah. I’ll be nice. It could have been a whole lot worse. I’m not sure I see the big downside to a whole day of watching TV and having my meals delivered to me. Hey, you made that birthday cake for me, and I graciously told you to keep part of it. Is there any of that left?”

“I threw out what I didn’t send home with you. It would be stale by now.”

Les shrugged. “I’ve eaten week-old donuts before. I’m not that picky.”

Jensen sighed. “I hate to say it about a friend, but sometimes you’re disgusting. You’ll sleep in my den while you’re here. The real estate agent counted it as a bedroom, and I use it for a guest room when relatives visit. I’ve got one of those fancy air mattresses that feels like a bed. I took the desk and chair out and put them in the corner of the dining room. The shower in the downstairs bath is a little tight, and there’s no tub. So if you need that, we’ll have to figure out how to get you upstairs.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. A hot nurse bathed me at the hospital. Seriously, he was probably only a year or two older than me. I would have said yes if he invited me to his place instead of here. Some things trump the generosity of friends.”

Jensen shook his head and then pointed at the coffee table. “There’s the TV remote, and I’ll be in the kitchen. I’m going to make some lunch for us. I haven’t figured out what yet.”

“Hey, before you leave the room. How are things with the bulldog next door? Is everything still good there?”

“I’m not sure. We sent a couple of texts back and forth yesterday while I was at the hospital. He sounded a little distant.” Jensen didn’t want to mention Alec stopping by after the accident. That interaction was the one that concerned him most.

“I’m just curious, of course, but why didn’t you bring him to the hospital? I say the more the merrier on visitors, and you said he’s working lights again. That’s mostly at night, isn’t it?”

“I didn’t think about it. Anyway, he’s had a lot of time in hospitals lately with his mom’s illness. I doubt that he wanted to set foot inside one again so soon.”

Les furrowed his brow. “What? He’s your boyfriend, and you didn’t think about it? Where’s your brain? You’ve got to include him in things. From the beginning.”

“I was concentrating on you. You’re my best friend, and I’ve known you for years. I get the caregiver thing from my mom. It’s a laser focus. She did a lot for my aunt when she was sick…”

Les waved a hand. “Stop. I get that, but couldn’t he help out, too? He might like to do that. Just because I got hurt doesn’t mean you should disappear from your next-door boyfriend’s life for a couple of days. Is that what you did? Are we starting to understand why he’s a little distant?”

“You wish I would have abandoned you?”

Les held up both of his hands and slowly wove the fingers together. “Who said anything about abandon? You’ve got a great neighbor on the other side, too. I’ve met Cindi before. I’m sure she’d pitch in to help, too, if you asked her. Do you think Alec wouldn’t want to help out? I guess if that’s true he’s not that much of a boyfriend, but I don’t believe it. Did you ask if he wanted to help you get the house ready? You told me that took you three hours.”

Jensen sighed heavily. “I didn’t ask. Shit, now you’re making me feel like a louse. I felt pretty good about bringing you home, and that’s all going south now.”

“That’s not my intent. I think you know that.”

“I know you would never do that, but fuck, I don’t know if I can handle this. There’s you, and Alec, and work. Shit, I have Thanksgiving to think about, too. Let me grab a pillow for you out of the bedroom. My brain hurts.”

When Jensen returned, he encouraged Les to raise up and tucked the pillow down on the couch behind his back. Les said, “Thanks. That feels good. You’re good at this.”

“But you said I’m a fucking pathetic boyfriend.”

“I didn’t say that, but it looks like you might have some work to do. I have a question first.”

Jensen collapsed into the easy chair and said, “I hope this one isn’t going to make me feel even worse.”

“Is he a catch?”

“What do you mean?”

“Does he make you feel good when you’re with him? Does your little heart go pitter pat in your chest?”

“It pounds.”

Les grinned. “And I know I’m not supposed to ask this, but is he good in bed?”

Jensen sighed. “He’s awesome. Seriously.”

Les nearly dragged himself off the couch. Jensen saw fire in his eyes. He asked, “Well, what the fuck are you doing with me then? I don’t care how tired you are. Get off your ass and go next door and take care of that boyfriend of yours! I can hobble to the bathroom and open the refrigerator when I lean on a crutch. You don’t have to worry about me.”

Jensen sighed again. “I’ll do it after lunch.”