The Call 1/1
The Call
McRaider
Summary: When Scott got the call; he felt the fear in his stomach mold into terror.
Author’s note: I attribute this to my own bad back which I’d pinched a nerve in at the time of writing this and so it’s twinges off and on. Also there’s a motto that once you’ve got a back problem you’ll always have a back problem, and since we all know poor John had some issues with Dancing on Ice this was born.
Rated: PG
Disclaimer: Obviously I don’t own them; I’m merely playing with them. Obviously this hasn’t and hopefully won’t occur, it’s just a made up version.
Ever since John had hurt his back on Dancing on Ice, his back hadn’t quite been the same. Like most people in their forties he had good and bad days. John had days where he worked for so many hours that he came back home and was one giant knotted muscle. Generally, Scott spent hours just trying to get John to relax enough to get the kinks out.
They were doing stunts for season three, the harness to pull him was hooked up, but it didn’t quite feel right. He was already nervous, knowing he was being yanked backwards. He didn’t usually do these stunts; he was more a hand to hand kind of guy. But he cast a glance over at Eve and Gareth and felt a little reassurance settle into his bones. He was the adult-he was number one, he had to show them how it was done and how it was done properly.
The jerk was instant and so was the pain, John felt his back wrench in two separate directions. Pain blinded him as he cried out and flew backwards. By the time he hit the ground, darkness had engulfed him. He never heard the stunt crew yelling, never heard someone calling for the on set medic and an ambulance.
John roused quickly, but the pain was ever present and he cried out as someone pushed him back down in a prone position. “The medics are on their way-stay still.”
Eve’s voice cut through the haze of pain and he looked up at her, grimacing as another shock of pain tore through his back. “What happened?”
Eve shook her head, “We’re not sure, love. One minute you were fine and the next minute you were screaming in pain. I’ve never been so afraid in my life. They’re going to take you to the hospital, make sure you didn’t break your back.”
“What?”
“John, its okay, just try and relax, Gareth is calling Scott to meet us at the A&E.”
John shook his head, closing his eyes and rubbing them, trying to hide the tears that were forming from pain, “He’s going to kill me-he had a big meeting today.”
o0o
Scott had been in the midst of a meeting about the latest project for the company, his mobile phone went off, buzzing in his pocket and he gave an apologetic glance to his team and looked down to see John’s number flashing on his screen. John was supposed to be in the middle of filming. Glancing at his watch Scott quickly noted it was probably their lunch break. John could wait until the meeting was over-if it was important he’d leave a message or call back. So, Scott continued on with the meeting.
Except that ten minutes later his phone vibrated again, this time it was Gareth calling-he never called Scott unless John couldn’t call for some reason. “I’m sorry, excuse me.” He stepped out into the hallway, trying to quench the nerves in his stomach as he answered the call. “If this isn’t important I’m going to wring his neck,” Scott offered her.
“Scott-there was an accident.” Gareth’s voice, though not grave, sounded firmly shaken.
“What kind of accident?”
“He was doing a stunt-it was so stupid-it was just a stupid accident, but he just started yelling-“
Scott felt his world collapsing, “What happened? Where is he?”
“The medics just got here, their loading him and taking him to the hospital…”
“Which one?” He demanded before stepping back into the room, visibly shaken and pale knowing something had happened to his lover. “Gentlemen, I apologize, but there’s been an accident and John’s been injured.”
o0o
Scott was in such a hurry he didn’t hear their wishes of well for John. He didn’t recall getting the hospital name, or John’s condition. All Scott could see was the daft fool’s face flashing in front of him. They were so close to seventeen years-it was the third year of Torchwood and John had been talking constantly about all the great stunts. Knowing that John was in equally as much danger as Scott at work-didn’t make him feel any better. Scott wasn’t normally a speeder, John was the bad driver-but getting a call that something was wrong and John had been taken to the hospital, drove Scott to no end of worry.
He hurried into the main area, but before he even made it to reception, Eve intercepted him. She offered a brief smile; glad to see he’d arrived. “John’s fine.”
“Where is he? What happened?” Scott couldn’t help but worry. That damn Barrowman risk taking gene was going to get his partner dead-and Scott wasn’t ready for that.
“Their taking some x-rays just in case something is wrong. Listen I have to get back to set, I asked to stay until you’d arrived. The doctor knows you’re here and promised to be out in about fifteen minutes-which was ten minutes ago. Tell John the director and producer told him to just get better.”
“But what happened?”
Eve reached out and gripped her friend’s hand. “We were on the wires, and John had been complaining his harness felt wrong. It was too tight; he wrenched his back pretty hard. I have to go love, call if you need anything,” she pressed a kiss to Scott’s cheek and headed back to the set.
Scott was left to speculate for another several minutes, before doors were pushed open and John was wheeled out in a wheelchair, a nurse right behind him. John looked less than pleased, his face still creased with pain, and in his hand he held discharge papers and pain medication. “Mr. Gill?” The nurse questioned gently.
“Yeah, how is he?”
“He’s sitting right here,” John answered grumpily.
“He needs to take it easy for a few days; if he has back spasms just get him into hot water and give him some of the pain meds.”
Scott nodded, “Thanks.” She nodded and together the two of them helped John stand up, though not to his full height. She gave them both a smile, giggling slightly at how cute a couple they made, before she turned and hurried off.
Scott chuckled softly as he wrapped an arm around his partner’s waist, “Come on tough guy, let’s get you home.”
John waited to speak until they were near the SUV, “You can stop brooding-I’m fine,” John grunted.
Scott let out a weak laugh as he moved over to open the car door. “You daft idiot. What did you do?”
“I tried to call. You wouldn’t have been so worried if you’d answered your phone.”
Scott glared at his partner, “I was in the middle of a meeting, which you would have known if you listened to me occasionally.” The two men were silent, John’s eyes now looking at him. Finally, Scott sighed and shook his head. “I was worried sick.”
“It’s that Barrowman risk taking gene-“
“Which isn’t going to last forever, I’m sorry for yelling-just be careful.”
John nodded. “Sorry.”
Scott helped John ease into the passenger side, before moving into the other side. He watched his lover for a few minutes before chuckling softly, “You’ve got to stop scaring the shit out of me.”
John chuckled and shook his head. “You, how do you think I felt? One minute I’m flying through the air, the next I’m on my back with pain shooting up through my back-I was suddenly terrified I’d finally put myself out of commission for good. I thought I’d broken it.”
“Not exactly Mr. Tough-guy are you?”
“I don’t believe I ever claimed such. Though, don’t tell the fans.”
Shaking his head, Scott pulled in front of their place. “How about we do this once and just get you upstairs and settled up there.”
“That would be amazing,” laughed John, “The meds he gave me are doing wonders, but they won’t be for long.”
Scott nodded. “I’ll even offer you one of my amazing back massages if you think it will help.”
John reached out, before both men got out of the car and he smiled weakly at his lover. “I didn’t mean to scare you-or myself.”
“I know. Let’s get you settled, I can even put a heat pack on it for you.”
“I’d rather have you against it.”
“Only you can make a back injury into a sexual proposition.”
John grinned as Scott opened the door and helped him out. “You love me.”
“Yeah, blinded by love an’ all that.”
The End