He almost laughed at himself as he pulled the vibrating phone from his pocket. Jacob’s image filled the screen notifying him of a text and Alex’s heart skipped a beat. Alex remembered taking the picture the night before, right after Jacob programmed his information into his phone.

Two texts? How’d I miss the first one Jacob sent? As he read the words, hearing Jacob’s declaration of love. The second text caused his heart to stop. “No.”

Alex stood so fast his chair tipped, crashing to the pavement. Not caring he was now the center of attention, he hit the call button. Straight to voicemail. “This is not happening to me. Not now.” His world began to spin as he heard the blood pumping through his veins. He saw his teenaged self in his bed with a cast from his shoulder to his wrist, and the memory of Jacob next to his bed daily. I’m here for you Alex. “I have to find him.” Alex headed for the nearest casino as he called Alyssa.

“Hi, you’ve reached my voicemail. You’d be better off sending a text as I almost never listen to these things.”

“Damnit Aly, the one time I need you and you’ve turned your goddamn phone off. Shit.”

As he speed walked he scrolled through all of his contacts hoping for some sort of inspiration but not a single name crossing his screen would be able to help. Blinded with worry, Alex slammed into someone knocking them both to the ground.

“Shit. I’m sorry, are you okay?” Alex regained his feet, hand extended to assist the man from the ground. “Eric! What are you doing here?”

“Alex! It’s been ages. Jacob mentioned he’d seen Alyssa. Have you seen him?”

“I…” Alex held up the cellphone in his hand. “He texted. I didn’t hear it. He…he’s hurt. His leg might be broken and he’s been bitten by a snake and his phone goes straight to voicemail.”

“Where?” Eric barked.

“I…I don’t know.” His chest constricted. Breathing proved difficult. “He said the paramedics might not be able to find him because he’s in the middle of nowhere. I can’t lose him now. I just can’t.”

“Fucking flamer.”

The words were almost inaudible. Did he just say that? I must have misheard him.

“You need to breathe.” Eric took him by the elbow and started them both toward the main doors of the casino. “Jacob won’t let a tumble with nature keep him down. He’s made of some pretty strong stuff.”

Once inside he guided Alex to a bench in a corner pulling him down as he sat, pulling out his own phone. “We’ll start with hospitals. Maybe they’ll have a record of him.”

“They won’t. It’s only been a few minutes since I got his text and the paramedics hadn’t found him yet.”

“You need to calm down so we can find Jacob.”

Alex glared at him as he took a deep breath, held it for a moment before slowly releasing it.

“That’s better. Now, what do you mean the paramedics hadn’t found him? Where is he?”

Panic crept back up his spine. “He said he’s out at the lake, alone and in the middle of nowhere.” A tear rolled down his face and for the first time in his life he didn’t care who saw him crying.

Eric moved closer and gave him a few stiff taps on his back. “We’ll find him.”

Alex managed a weak smile for Eric, but he sure didn’t feel it. God, please don’t take him from me. I love him. I know that now, please bring him back to me. Silent tears flowed as Eric gave him a quick but cold bro-hug. He remembered the feel of Jacob’s arms as they were wrapped around him this morning. That was only this morning? Seems ages ago.

As his phone vibrated in his pocket, Alex couldn’t untangle himself from Eric fast enough. Digging into his pocket he pulled it out even as he pushed Eric.

“It’s him.” He swiped the answer button and slammed the phone to his ear. “Jacob? Are you alright?”

“Sir. This is St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Henderson. I see you are the last person in contact with our patient, that’s why I’m calling.”

“Jacob, is he okay?”

“Sir, can you please notify a family member of his destination?”

The calm voice was going to send him over the edge any moment. He wanted to crawl through whatever connection existed and strangle the woman on the other end. Instead the steady voice of Jacob rang through his head and told him to hand the phone to Eric, which he did.

Alex could only listen at this point, not an active participant in his own husband’s medical emergency. “My name is Eric McKenzie, I am Jacob’s cousin. How is he?”

Alex hung on the hope the EMT would divulge some information to Eric. “I understand. Yes.” Their eyes locked and he shook his head. Alex’s heart seized as Eric stood and turned his back to him. All he wanted was to be with Jacob, and Eric’s back was not reassuring. He left him with his phone, and headed for the taxi stand. He knew where his love was, now to get there.

As the taxi rolled up and the valet opened the door, Eric shoved him in as he climbed in after. “No, he doesn’t have any drug allergies that I am aware of.” He covered the microphone and hissed at Alex, “I can’t believe you were going to leave me behind!”

“Where to, folks?”

Alex waited for Eric to take over everything but when that didn’t happen he leaned forward a bit, “St. Dominican in Henderson please.”

“Know it well, great place when you need it.” He turned on the meter and pulled away from the curb. “We should be there in about half an hour.”

Thirty minutes? Fuck. Alex leaned into the seat back frustrated.

“I can see this is more than just a visit.”

“Is there a faster route? My friend…my husband had an accident. The nurse won’t tell me anything.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” The words sunk in through the fog Alex had been in since he got the second text.

He looked in the rearview mirror, waiting for the cabbie to look back. When he did, “Thanks man, appreciate it.”

“No problem. I know some back roads.”

Alex felt like a fool. The fact Eric had been relaying medical history should have clued him in that Jacob was alive. He nestled back into the seat and stared out the window at the mountains surrounding the valley. How could I have been such an ass to him this morning? He doesn’t even know how much I missed him. God why didn’t I tell him how I felt?

Eric handed him back his phone as he pulled up a number on his own. He’d ended the call with the EMT, so Alex hit redial. After a few seconds, he heard Jacob’s mellow voice. “This is Jacob, strange, but I can’t answer this right now for some reason. Leave a message or you could just send me a text.” The steady pace, and strong tone of Jacob’s recorded voice settled some nerves deep inside even as it stirred memories he’d thought long dead. The first kiss they’d shared, Jacob owned his heart that night. Alex knew it then but fear of his grandfather’s recusal kept him silent. Alex ended the call and waited for the longest thirty minutes of his life to pass. He’d be silent no more. Jacob was his.

Eric practically flew from the cab as it rolled to a stop outside the emergency room, leaving Alex behind without a backward glance. Asshole. Alex pulled his wallet out as he looked at the meter. He handed the driver five twenties as he scrambled out of the cab after Eric.

Alex entered the ER scanning everyone for Eric until he spotted him sitting at an intake station. I should go over there. He’s MY husband. Eric appeared to be filling out paperwork so Alex found two chairs together and sat, his right leg tapping out an insanely fast rhythm as he waited. He can answer their questions better than I can, after all it’s been ten years. Even then, I couldn’t have answered anything about his medical history. He stood as Eric stood, hopeful for some bit of news, but he disappeared through a door with the nurse he’d been talking with. Alex rushed across the room to the door, but the lock clanged into position as he reached for the handle. He knocked, while looking through the small window as Eric turned a corner out of sight.

“Can I help you, sir?” Alex turned to the man standing beside him. His stern look could still water. Alex looked through the window at the now empty corridor.

“Yes, please. My husband was brought in and my cousin just went back to see him. I’d like to go too.” He tried to keep the anxiety from his tone, tried to maintain the semblance of being calm and in control. But the sneer on the man’s face informed Alex he would not be getting that privilege.

“Sorry sir, we only allow one person back at a time.” Alex did a double take at the large burly man whose response was polite and not at all angry as he had expected. “If you’ll take a seat, I’ll let you know when you can go back.” A massive paw of a hand landed on Alex’s shoulder and gently guided him over to a nearby chair. “Tell me your husband’s name?”

“Jacob McKenzie. He was brought in due to a rattlesnake bite and broken leg.” Alex sat and looked at the man again, his eyes were gentle and not judging as he’d originally thought. “No one has told me anything. Can you tell me if he’s going to be okay?”

“Give me a minute.” The gentle giant moved to the intake area and started working on a computer. Alex watched every twitch the man produced, the subtle way he bit his lip as he frowned at something he’d read, the slick head tipped to the side when he read something else, a raised eyebrow followed by a sigh and his fingers dancing across the keyboard. Alex was acutely aware of each action and the concern on the man’s face wasn’t helping to calm his frayed nerves.

The man came over to Alex, “Please follow me.”

“Is everything all right? How’s Jacob?” The man kept walking and Alex started to walk faster as an ominous feeling began to overtake him. “Please tell me something.”

Alex pulled up short, stopping a mere inch from the large form. “Like I said, hospital policy is one visitor at a time, not because we are trying to keep people from their loved ones, we don’t have a lot of space back here for extra people. But I think you should be with your husband when he needs you.”

He opened the door and they continued down the hall. “He’s sedated right now.”

“Why?”

“Well, he has a hairline fracture to his shin, and because of the snake bite they are unable to cast it right now. His leg’s in a splint. The doctor decided a solid night’s sleep with some good pain meds would help him through some of the pain. He’ll probably sleep for several more hours.”

A large hand reached for the curtain before them and drew it back only enough for Alex to slip through, finding himself staring at Jacob, but not Jacob. This man had tubes coming out his nose, and machines making noises from all sides. Alex looked around the small space, the width of one person on either side of the bed, a little more at the foot, nowhere for him to sit.

Where’s Eric? Confused, Alex made his way toward the head of the bed on Jacob’s right. He picked up Jacob’s hand without the IV, slowly stroking the back with his thumb as he brushed back a wayward strand from his forehead. “I’m here now. I won’t leave you Jake.” He leaned in closer, kissing the back of his hand.

“Alex, come away. There is nothing you can do for him right now, he just needs to sleep.”

The voice was distant. Familiar. And wrong. He could do plenty right where he was. He ignored the voice. He felt the tug on his arm and shrugged it off.

“Alex, please. He doesn’t know you’re here and he needs to rest.”

Alex pulled his gaze from Jacob’s face to look into Eric’s stern visage. “My place is here. If you need sleep, then go.” As he spoke he watched Eric’s face change, any real concern faded. The color of Eric’s face morphed from his normal tone to a slight red, the vein at his temple pulsing. “I’ve been standing here for I don’t even know how long. Where the hell have you been while your cousin is hooked up to machines and drips and whatever else is keeping him alive?”

“Dramatic much? Geez, I never pegged you for a flamer. I had paperwork to fill out and phone calls to make. His family can’t get here until tomorrow, and I’m making arrangements to get them from the airport to here.” With each word his voice rose until he was practically yelling the last few words.

An orderly entered the tiny space, looking from Alex to Eric. “Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave. This is a place of healing and your yelling is not helping.” He pulled the curtain aside and gestured for Eric to leave.

Alex felt the daggers fly from Eric’s eyes and pierce his flesh and didn’t bother to acknowledge his attitude toward him. He turned back to Jacob, leaned down and kissed his sleeping husband’s lips. “God, he’s a dick.” Did Jake just smile?

“I don’t understand why I have to leave.” The venomous words were thick with indignation. “He’s MY cousin. He’s not even related.”

“I am not leaving my husband’s side until I know he’s out of danger.”

Alex noticed the man place his hand on Eric’s back and guide him from the small cubicle. “They are married. Spousal privileges take precedence here.”