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Kelly had to lean against the railing of his front porch while Nick dealt with the lock and the alar his pal bullet wound just under his left pectoral It had been a long plane ride, even in first class, and the hour-long trip from the airport hadn’t been much better on him He was exhausted, and all he wanted was his own bed

Nick left the luggage at the door and hustled inside to turn off the beeping alarm Kelly didn’t have to tell him the code They all knehere the keys to their castles were: Ty’s and Owen’s security codes, Nick’s yacht, and afroe out of the way Kelly wrapped his arh the front door He could walk on his ohen they’d left the hospital in New Orleans, but after so much travel, he wasn’t actually sure he could any this, bud," Kelly runted "We both know you took that bullet for ue He couldn’t claim he’d taken the bullet on purpose, but if he hadn’t been there, it would have lodged in Nick’s head, and they both kne that would have ended He leaned on Nick until they reached the worn leather recliner in the living room, but he hesitated as Nick tried to help lower hihed "I’et down"

"It’s not like you’re going anywhere" Nick tightened his grip on Kelly’s waist and eased hi your ass upstairs right now, so sit"

"You’re a horrible nursemaid"

Nick pulled the handle on the side of the chair and shot Kelly’s legs out

As soon as the chair stopped wobbling, Kelly closed his eyes and relaxed into its fa their luggage inside, going through the refrigerator Nick gasped and closed the refrigerator door quickly They’d been gone a long ti s roo to put you to sleep and go get soloves"

Kelly ood"

Nick tapped one of the painkillers into his palrinned "Bank shot?"

Kelly opened his mouth, and Nick tossed a pill into it, then another, snickering as he handed Kelly the glass of water He threw a blanket over him, put the television remote and his cell phone within reach, then patted Kelly’s head

"I’ll be back before you wake up"

Kelly closed his eyes, relaxing so the pills could to do their work He knew he didn’t have anything to worry about as long as Nick was on the job

When Kelly awoke, it was to the sound of hu and a hint of Lysol It took him a moment to remember where he was and why he was sore He stared at Nick, as curled on the couch a few feet aith a book

"Hey," he said, his voice hoarse

Nick jerked, glancing up at him He set his book aside and scooted forward, but he didn’t stand "You okay? Need ood What’s that sound?"

Nick went still and listened briefly, then shook his head "I don’t hear anything"

Kelly held his breath and realized the hu bacon?"

Nick began to chuckle, then fought hard to stop "No Do you want me to be?"

"No Yeah Wait, no, no"

Nick waited patiently, still set his brain to work He wasn’t sure if he was hallucinating, if his brain had picked up on all the things Nick had been doing while he’d slept and then replayed the his h, because now that he was fully awake, he was in pain again "Okay, I need another pill," he finally said Nick reached for the pill bottle "But half of it this tied"

Nick merely nodded as he fished a pill out He broke it and popped one half into histhe other to Kelly

"What the hell, O’Flaherty?" Kelly asked, laughing despite how much it hurt to do so

"Consider it payment for services rendered," Nick said as he took a sip of Kelly’s water Kelly gaped Nick laughed harder and handed Kelly a whole pill to add to the half "It’s like a step above Tylenol, don’t hurt yourself"

Kelly was still chuckling while he tried to down the painkillers

"You think you’re going to be ht?"

Kelly peered at the darkened s He dreaded nighttime, because that hen he hurton TV to entertain him in the wee hours when he ide awake, and he’d sped through all the books he had access to It also got lonely, because he wasn’t about to keep Nick awake at night as well as depend on hied "Close enough"

"Well If I sleep here, you can have my bed"

"Doc, if you sleep here I’ll be on the couch in case you need me If you sleep upstairs, I’ll make a pallet on the floor"

"Promise not to roll in your sleep, and I’ll share the bed"