(no subject)
Title: A Lover, Not A Nurse
Pairing: Nick Lidstrom/Tomas Holmstrom (RPS Detroit Red Wings)
Rating: PG-13- R for sexual mention/implications
Prompt: Injured
Disclaimer: The following is a work of not for profit fiction and no insult or assumption is implied by the use of the names of the persons therein. Read- It's just for fun and NOT REAL, no matter how fun the pictures would be.
Summary: Nick's hurt and being far too stubborn for his own good.
Nick crossed his arms and glared at the T.V. Oprah was on but she wasn’t really helping his situation much. He sighed and stared at his bandaged knee for a few moments, the cause of all his misery. He’d asked Homer to bring him a drink the last time he’d come upstairs and he was regretting it now because he had to pee.
He sat back and glared at Oprah a little bit more, hoping Homer would come up soon. Tomas had left to go grocery shopping earlier and Nick could hear him singing to himself while he put the groceries away. It was his own stubbornness that wasn’t permitting him to call Homer to come help him up, get his crutches under him and guide him to the bathroom, he knew that. He looked over at the crutches leaning against the wall, wondering if he could manage by himself. He pushed himself up, wincing at the sharp jolt of pain in his knee, and scooted himself toward the edge of the bed, reaching for his crutches. He almost made it too.
Homer heard the thud from the kitchen. He immediately dropped the bag of dog food he was holding and sprinted for the stairs, taking them two at a time and bolting into the bedroom. “Nicky, what are you doing?”
Nick sat up, white-faced and clutching his knee. “I was trying to grab my crutches.”
“Why?” Tomas crouched next to him, moving to help him up.
Nick pushed his partner’s hand away irritably.” I can do it myself, I’m not broken.”
“For sure, you are.” Homer watched Nick attempt to get up and shook his head. “Why won’t you let me help you?”
Nick leaned against the bed, cold sweat beading in his forehead. “Because I can do it myself.”
“No you can’t,” Homer growled. He stood up, grabbed Nick under the arms and hiked him to his feet. “You’re hurt, try maybe asking for help for one time.” He thrust the crutches into Nick’s chest and stomped back downstairs.
Nick crutched his way into the bathroom, grumbling under his breath. If the crutches had been a few inches closer, he’d have been fine, though he knew that wasn’t true. He finished and went back out, cautiously testing one crutch on the first stair before gradually making his way down the stairs and going in search of Homer.
“Tomas?” Nick leaned heavily against the door to the kitchen and looked at Homer’s back. It took him a few seconds before he realized his lover was actually crying. “What’s wrong.”
Homer sniffled and wiped his eyes, trying to compose himself before he turned to face Nick. “Why won’t you let me help you? It’s like you don’t even want me here.”
“Of course I want you here Tomas. You live here.”
Homer slumped against the fridge, defeated. “You want me here because I live here. What’s the point of living here? To do laundry and buy groceries?” He sighed and moved past Nick, who followed him, albeit a bit slower.
“Do you not want to live here anymore?” Nick bit his lip, dreading the response. What would he do if Tomas left him? Tomas was his rock, he needed him.
“Sit down before you fall down, would you? I don’t need to be taking you to the hospital today, for sure.”
Nick lowered himself to the couch gratefully. Homer sighed.
“I do want to live here Nick. I’m happy with you, I just wish you would let me take care of you.”
“You don’t need to take care of me. You’re my lover, not my nurse.”
“You know I could’ve said two years ago the same thing about you.”
“Technically we weren’t together then.”
“But I let you take care of me.”
“Because you couldn’t even get the milk out of the fridge at first and there was no one to look after you. It’s not the same.”
“Yeah it is, for sure. I needed you then, you need me now. Who else is going to get up at five in the morning and get your pills for you? Or walk your dogs? How would you eat if I wasn’t here?”
“Look, you don’t have to point out all the things I’m incapable of doing to make your point, you know,” Nick snapped back. He hated Homer for pointing out how weak and vulnerable he was right now.
“Well fuck, you can’t even get off the bed without falling down. You would make life for yourself easier if you let me help you. It’s okay to say that you need me to bring you a drink or something, I’m not going to point and laugh.”
“I know you won’t.”
“You don’t have to be perfect all the time,” Tomas said quietly. “I like you to be human.” He looked at Nick. “I want for you to ask me for help, I like to know that you actually need me like I need you.”
Nick sat silently for a bit before saying,” I do need you Tomas. I need you more than you could ever possibly imagine.” He reached out and raked his fingers through Tomas’ rough blond hair. “Now how about you help me back up the stairs? I made it down but I don’t think I can get back up.” Much as he hated admitting to being weak, he did like knowing Homer was there if he needed him. “And I don’t want to fall again.”
“You fall, you want I should throw myself underneath you?”
“Catching me should do. Can’t have both of us laid up with bad legs now can we?”
“Would be bad, for sure.” Homer got up and offered his hand to Nick. “Wish you weren’t banged up though.”
“Me too. Any reason why?”
Tomas stared at him for several seconds. “Um, sex? I kind of miss it you know.”
Nick bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself grinning and started up the stairs. He knew Tomas had been suffering. Homer had a significantly higher sex drive than Nick himself did and Nick knew he was feeling the strain of not getting any action. “Well, my knee doesn’t stop me blowing you, does it? I know it’s not the same but…”
“It’s enough, for sure.” Homer cocked his head and gestured for Nick to go first. “Maybe I return the favor?”
Nick made his way to the bed slowly as Tomas shut the door to keep the dogs from interrupting. “You’d better. Now get over here.”