He didn’t dare ask to see a mirror, and he had no intention of trying to see his ribs or stomach.
He was happy with his little dark room, spending all his time napping and trying not to move. He could hear Harry’s deep voice every so often, and his laughter. He was outside, obviously. There were other voices, another man, several children, and the occasional woman’s voice.
Asher couldn’t follow what they talked about, but his laughter... the children’s laughter, the man and woman cheering...
Asher was beginning to think he was asleep and dreaming of such things. But Harry would return every so often, smiling. He came to sit beside Asher. “How’s my favourite patient?” he asked quietly. “You were asleep for a long while today.”
“I’m feeling better. Not great but better.”
“You look better.”
Asher touched Harry’s forearm, and he felt like sunshine and dust. They might have been Asher’s two new favourite things. “Have I told you thank you for coming to get me?”
“Only about fifty times so far.”
Asher smiled but it hurt. “Thank you.”
Harry lifted Asher’s hand to his lips and kissed his knuckles. “You’re very welcome.”
Asher wanted to keep his eyes open, as good as he could, anyway, but sleep was getting the best of him again. “Want to stay awake with you.”
“Oh, baby,” Harry whispered. “Go to sleep. Your body needs to heal. I’m not going anywhere. Ahmad has me fixing his roof, and Nour told me hers is next. I’ve already helped with the shade over the vegetable patch. I think they’ve been waiting a decade for someone my height to come to town.”
Asher chuckled but it made everything hurt, earning himself a pained groan.
Harry reached for the pills and water. “You’re overdue for one of these,” he said gently. Asher took it without complaint and closed his eyes.
Harry pressed a soft kiss to the top of Asher’s forehead. “Sleep, baby. I’ll bring you some food soon.”
* * *
Asher felt considerably betterthe next day. Enough that he could sit up, albeit slowly, without feeling as if someone had speared him in the ribs. He managed to use the bathroom and have a bit of a bird bath to freshen up but didn’t argue when Harry helped him back to bed.
At about lunch time, Harry came back in with his phone pressed to his ear. He smiled when he held the phone out. “It’s for you.”
Asher took the phone. “Hello?”
“Oh, my darling, I’m so relieved to hear your voice. How are you?”
Four.
“I feel like I got hit by a truck. How are you?”
“Worried for you. But I have some good news.”
“What’s that?”
“Are you up for travelling tomorrow?” he asked. “That big, gorgeous man of yours said you’re doing better.”
Asher smiled and had to cup his swollen jaw. “Did he now?”
Four was quiet then, clearly hearing Asher struggle. “He sent me photos of your face,” he whispered.
“He did?”
“I wanted you to keep travelling. I wanted to bring you here where you’d be safe. He said you needed a few days. Then he sent me that photo and I could see his point.”
“I didn’t know he did that,” Asher said weakly.