It took a few hours of hospitalized bed rest for the fuzziness to lift in Cole's head. Afterward, when the dim memories of Raul’s attack returned, he was horribly, lethally embarrassed.

At first, he hadn't been totally sure that Trent had been at his house. What in the world had the dragon doctor been doing there? What must he think of Cole now?

It was only when a police officer on duty came to take Cole’s statement, and mentioned Trent along with a hint that he was a person of interest, that Cole realized it hadn't been a strange dream.

"It wasn't Trent," he blurted. "It was Raul Bainbridge. He is—He was—We were on and off," he said with a glance to see how the policeman would react. This was a liberal part of the country, but it didn't mean everybody was accepting of same-sex relationships.

Luckily, the officer’s expression remained professional. "Were you and Raul in a fight?"

He thinks it's domestic violence, Cole realized. He shook his head then winced, reaching up to touch at his sore jaw. X-rays showed nothing was broken, but Cole suspected he would be eating soup for the next few days.

"No, he came because he wanted one of my dragons." And he went on to tell the officer, briefly, about Lady and what Trent had suspected of her past.

The officer looked concerned at this. "The people who run those sort of underground fighting arenas also fight dogs and chickens when they can, and we have had no reports of that sort of activity.” He sighed and flipped his notebook closed where he had been writing notes. "But it’s possible to run a base of operations here, and then drive the animals to a larger city to fight. I'll be speaking to Mr. Bainbridge. At the very least, the DA may be able to press an attempted robbery charge, even if it's a misdemeanor. Are you willing to testify?”

Cole hesitated, and then very reluctantly nodded. If it was just for his sake, he might have let it go with a warning, but not if Raul was somehow involved in dragon fighting. That was unforgivable.

The officer nodded and walked out.

Less than a minute later, Trent strode in, looking harried, with a nurse in tow.

It occurred to Cole that the hospital staff had probably kept Trent back until Cole could make his statement alone. Just in case.

He felt his cheeks burn with the implication and it was hard to meet Trent’s eye.

Trent, however, didn't seem to notice Cole's embarrassment. He sat by his bed and took Cole's hand into his own just as he had done in his house. Immediately, Cole felt some of his stress drain away.

"How are you feeling?" Trent asked softly.

"Embarrassed," Cole muttered.

Trent's eyebrows knit. "Why?"

“I…” He looked around this hospital room, as small as it was, and felt a pang of despair. How is he going to afford this? "I didn't want to go to all this trouble."

"Mr. Lambeth," the nurse spoke up before Trent got a word in. "You needed to be observed. Falling unconscious after a head wound is not something that should be taken lightly. In any case, I need to know it's okay to discuss your treatment in front of Dr. Kingston here.” She glanced to Trent. “He's not your doctor."

"It's okay," Cole said. It wasn't like he could become any more embarrassed. Trent squeezed his hand in silent thanks.

"In that case," the nurse said. “I know your doctor has already spoken to you, but everything appears to be normal on your scans. We're keeping you overnight for observation but assuming all is well, you will be free to go in the morning. Try to get some sleep. Just be aware that myself or the other nurse on duty will probably wake you a couple times during the night just to make sure everything is okay."

"I thought you weren’t supposed to sleep with a concussion."

"You're supposed to be observed, which you are.” She nodded to the heart monitor and other beeping machines over Cole’s head. He was given an IV as a precautionary against dehydration, and a little clip on his finger which monitored his oxygen and heart rate. He had been offered painkillers earlier, but had declined. The bill is going to be bad enough as it was.

The nurse bustled out and Cole turned to Trent. “How are my dragons?"

“They’re fine, though I'm sure they're worried about you." A fleeting grin lit Trent's face. "The old Common you have in the paddock outside your house is is amazing. I've never seen a Common so old."

“That’s Bubba," Cole said. He felt his muscles relax back into the bed. That was one worry he could mark off his list. "I can't thank you enough."

"You don't need to thank me at all," Trent said. "Lady was the one who brought me to you. She was going insane. She may have been acting standoffish, but I think she created a little bit of a bond with the rest of your flock."

Cole stared at him. He had heard of dragons knowing that members of their family were hurt even from miles away, but had never experienced it himself. "Really?"

Trent nodded and reached out with a careful hand to cup Cole's cheek. His fingers felt warm against his cool skin. Cole shivered.

“Do you want to tell me what happened?" Trent asked.

It wasn't a demand, just a simple question without pretenses or expectation. The kindness of the gesture made tears start up behind Cole's eyes, which just heaped more embarrassment on the pile. "It was Raul,” he said roughly. “I already told the police. He wanted Lady and he wouldn't take no for an answer.”

“Son of a bitch,” Trent swore.

Cole nodded. "The officer asked if I was willing to testify in court.“

"I hope you said yes."

"I did.” Though he felt bad about it, despite everything. Maybe he was too soft. He risked another glance at Trent and had the feeling that Trent saw through him. “Thank you again for feeding my dragons. It helps knowing that they will be okay for the night.”

To his surprise and delight Trent lifted Cole's hand and brushed his lips in a soft, featherlike kiss over Cole's knuckles. "Anytime. Cole. All you have to do is ask, and I'll be there.”

Their eyes met and that sense of electricity passed between them again, just as it had in Trent's house.

I should've kissed him then, Cole thought.

He would have now, except that his jaw hurt.

“We still have dinner tomorrow," Cole said, remembering with a flush of pleasure.

Trent smiled again and for a moment of fleeting joy, Cole wasn't worried about the impending hospital bill, his own health, or the fact that Raul was a scumbag. It was all washed away by the brilliance of Trent smile and the promise of something new between them.